Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents) PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD A Thunder of Cannon Archeology of the Mexican-American War Battlefield of Palo Alto TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER ABSTRACT LIST OF FIGURES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. INTRODUCTION Park Purpose Archeological Investigations at Palo Alto 2. ENVIRONMENT General Ecology Soils of Palo Alto Salt Prairie Soils Levee Soils Transition Soils Wetlands Vegetation Tamaulipan Brushland Salt Prairie Wildlife Tamaulipan Brushland Salt Prairie Wetlands 3. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Taylor's Army of Occupation: Corpus Christi Prelude to War The Battle of Palo Alto Post-Battle History May 9, 1846 To May 8, 1893 Post-1893 To The Present Recent Research 4. WEAPONS, ACCOUTERMENTS AND THE SOLDIER Mexican Firearms India Pattern Musket Baker Rifle http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:03 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents) Paget Carbine Escopeta Pistols, U.S. and Mexican U.S. Firearms Models 1816/1822 and 1835 Muskets Shotgun Hall Rifle Weapons of the Texas Volunteers Edged Weapons Bayonet The Lance Swords Cannon and Cannoneers Round Shot Shell Spherical Case Canister Grapeshot U.S. Artillery Mexican Artillery Uniforms, Accouterments and the Soldier U.S. Army The U.S. Soldier The Mexican Soldier Tactics Line Formation Column Formation Skirmishers Square Formation 5. DOCUMENTARY ANALYSES Historic Maps The Berlandier Sketches The American Maps Lieutenant Scarritt's Sketches Aerial Photographs Palo Alto Pond (Area A) Matamoros/Point Isabel Road Segment (Area B) The Resaca (Area C) Tanques del Ramireno Road (Area D) Motitas (Area E) Marshy Area (Area F) Lomas Tendidas (Area G) 6. ARCHEOLOGICAL FIELD RESEARCH METHODS Research Proposal Proposed Investigative Theory and Practices United States Arms and Equipment Mexican Arms and Equipment Testable Assumptions: Battlefield Locations Proposed Field Methods Orientation http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:03 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents) Survey Recordation and Collection Laboratory Methods Applied Field Methods of the 1992, 1993 Field Seasons Orientation 1992 and 1993 Surveys 1993 Survey Methods 7. ARTIFACT DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES Artillery and Firearm Ammunition Lead Balls, General Lead Balls From Palo Alto Battlefield Spherical Case and Shell U.S. Iron Shot Mexican Cupreous and Lead Shot Solid Shot/Cannon Balls Iron Cannon Balls Cupreous Cannon Balls Firearm Parts Edged Weapons Buckles Buttons Uniform Brass and Accouterments Personal Possessions Farriery and Horse Tack Hardware Miscellaneous Artifacts Bone, Human 8. CONCLUSION Recommendations REFERENCES CITED APPENDIX A— Glossary of Terms APPENDIX B— Human Skeletal Remains from the Battle of Resaca de la Palma Eric A. Ratliff APPENDIX C— Finding a Face: El Soldado Mexicano 1835-1848 Kevin R. Young LIST OF FIGURES 1. Region map 2. Vicinity map 3. Aerial photograph of Palo Alto Battlefield (omitted from the online edition) 4. Soil map of Palo Alto Battlefield NHS http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:03 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents) 5. Major wetlands 6. Map of brushlands, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site 7. Mixed Salt-Borrichia Prairies 8. Burning off of mixed cordgrass-mesquite 9. Map showing the vicinity around Palo Alto at time of battle 10. Initial battle lines around 1 P.M. 11. A Cazadore in action at Palo Alto 12. Mexican Fourth line regiment, under artillery attack 13. Battle lines, approximately 2-4 P.M. 14. Final battle lines, approximately 5-7 P.M. 15. Lieutenant Scarritt's sketch of earthen fortification 16. India Pattern "Brown Bess" musket 17. U.S. Model 1836 flintlock pistol 18. U.S. Model 1842 percussion cap pistol 19. U.S. Model 1816 flintlock musket 20. U.S. Model 1835 flintlock musket 21. U.S. Model 1835 flintlock musket 22. Ammunition for smoothbore artillery 23a. Trajectory of a solid round 23b. Problems in firing spherical case shot 24. U.S. fieldpiece 25. Mexican fieldpiece 26. Berlandier's first sketch map of the battle 27. Berlandier's second sketch of the battle 28. Mexican battle map (Map A) (1846) 29. Ramsey's map (1850) 30. Stewart's map (Map D) (1887) 31. Henry's map (Map B) (1847) http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:03 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents) 32. Dobbins' map (Map C) (1846) 33. Lieutenant Scarritt's first sketch 34. Lieutenant Scarritt's second sketch 35. Lieutenant Scarritt's third sketch 36. Metal detector survey of plowed field 37. Metal detector survey in vegetated field 38. In situ Mexican cannon ball 39. Survey areas (omitted from the online edition) 40. Metal detector survey of SA 308 41. Artifact distribution (omitted from the online edition) 42. Lead balls 43. Lead ball patterning within SA 209 44. Cannon shot and shell fragments 45. Cannon balls 46. Firearm parts 47. Trigger guard parts of an India Pattern musket 48. Paget carbine 49. Second pipe, India Pattern musket 50. Terminal ramrod pipe, India Pattern musket 51. Butt plate, India Pattern musket 52. Side plate, India Pattern musket 53. Briquet sword hilt, from Mexican battle line 54. Intact briquet sword hilt 55. Buckles 56. Buttons 57. Uniform brass and accouterments 58. Personal possessions 59. Personal possessions, wine bottle fragments 60. Farriery and horse tack http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:03 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents) 61. Mexican bridle 62. Coscojo 63. Hardware 64. Battle map of Resaca de la Palma 65. Skeletal remains, from Mexican mass burial at Resaca de la Palma 66. Bone buttons, from mass burial at Resaca de la Palma 67. Tibia of RES 15 from mass burial, showing imbedded lead ball 68. Humerus of RES 28, showing sword or bayonet cut To Jack and Mary Haecker <<< Previous <<< Contents>>> Next >>> paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm Last Updated: 25-Feb-2009 http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/contents.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:03 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon-Archeology of the Mexican-American War Battlefield of Palo Alto PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD A Thunder of Cannon Archeology of the Mexican-American War Battlefield of Palo Alto A THUNDER OF CANNON Archeology of the Mexican- American War Battlefield of Palo Alto By Charles M. Haecker With Contributions By Michael Farmer Eric A. Ratliff Norman L. Richard Dr. Alfred T. Richardson Kevin R. Young 1994 Southwest Cultural Resources Center Professional Paper No. 52 National Park Service Divions of Anthropology and History Southwest Regional Office Santa Fe, New Mexico TABLE OF CONTENTS paal/thunder-cannon/index.htm Last Updated: 25-Feb-2009 http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/index.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:05 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Abstract) PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD A Thunder of Cannon Archeology of the Mexican-American War Battlefield of Palo Alto ABSTRACT Palo Alto battlefield is the site of the first major engagement between the forces of Mexico and United States during the Mexican-American War. The May 8, 1846 battle was the first between the United States and a foreign power since the War of 1812. In addition, it was the first major test of graduates of the United States Military Academy against a foreign army. Of all Mexican-American War battlefields on United States soil (Texas, California, and Mexico), Palo Alto is the only one that has retained its general physical and visual integrity. Because of its historical significance, Palo Alto Battlefield NHS was established June 23, 1992, when the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act (P.L. 102-304) established a 3,400-acre national historic site. As part of the planning process for the new park, the National Park Service authorized an archeological sample survey of the battlefield as a follow-up to a 1979 preliminary archeological investigation of Palo Alto. The resultant 1992 and 1993 archeological surveys, conjoined with documentary research, have contributed information needed for the general management plan of the park. In addition, the synthesis of archeological and documentary materials derived from this investigation has produced interesting, sometimes even surprising, insights into the actual conduct of this battle. Recommendations for future work within the park are also presented. Frontispiece. "The Battle of Palo Alto", ca. 1846 lithograph by Carl Nebel. The hills seen on the horizon do not exist in reality—the region surrounding the battlefield, like the battlefield itself, is virtually flat. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/abstract.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:06 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Abstract) The battle scene is the U.S. army, looking toward the Mexican battle line to the south. Photo of lithograph courtesy U.S. Library of Congress. <<< Previous <<< Contents>>> Next >>> paal/thunder-cannon/abstract.htm Last Updated: 25-Feb-2009 http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/abstract.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:06 PM] Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Acknowledegments) PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD A Thunder of Cannon Archeology of the Mexican-American War Battlefield of Palo Alto ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project involved the cooperative efforts of many people, and the resulting report would have been inadequate without their interest, expertise and very active support. I would like to express my appreciation to those listed below for their particular contributions. With the National Park Service Regional Office in Santa Fe, I thank now-retired Regional Archeologist Ronald Ice, Regional Archeologist Larry Nordby, and Associate Regional Director Richard Smith for their direction and encouragement. I am also indebted to: Division of Anthropology Archeologist Jim Bradford, for whose patience, expertise and insights I greatly appreciate; Regional Historian Neil Mangum, who made a number of useful observations and reviewed the report draft; the Division of History also contributed funds toward the publication of this report. I thank Carmen Silva for her exacting line drawings; Division's Scientific Illustrator Jerry Livingston, who produced meticulous artifact photographs; and to Cultural Resources Assistant Rose Ortiz, and Editorial Assistant Sarah Chavez, who were assigned the difficult task of converting drafts into a presentable document. I also acknowldege the expertise contributed by Remote Sensing Archeologist Art Ireland and his assistant Ron Brown, who, together, provided data control points required for piece plotting the artifacts. Deborah King supervised the artifact curation, and was assisted by Kim Lennox and Heather Young. Ms. Young also conducted in-field artifact curation during the 1993 field season. Many people from the Brownsville area made significant contributions. I would like to thank Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Superintendent Tom Carroll for his unstinting support during and after the fieldwork phase of the project including his contribution of park funds towards report publication. Tom, together with Park Historian Dr. Aaron Mahr, took time from their busy schedules to carefully review and comment on the report drafts. Bruce Aiken, Executive Director, Historic Brownsville Museum, shared his extensive knowledge of the region's history. Dr. Anthony Zavaleta, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Brownsville, and Tom Fort, Assistant Director, Hidalgo County Historical Museum likewise provided their valuable insights. Palo Alto Battlefield Chairman Walter E. Plitt III shared his intimate familiarity of Palo Alto battlefield and battle history; both he and his wife Molly also were liberal with their Texan hospitality. Special appreciation is extended to Dr. Vidal Longoria, Emilio Sanchez, Kay Evanoff, Bert Wheeler and Francille Dudley. These five individuals gave their permission to the National Park Service for conducting the archeological survey on their properties as well as loaning the recovered artifacts for study. Without their essential cooperation, this project would have ceased to exist at its inception. Dr. Alfred Richardson and Norman Richard, professors of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Brownsville, conducted exhaustive faunal and floral studies of Palo Alto battlefield. Michael Farmer, National Audubon Society, likewise made a natural resources survey of the http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/paal/thunder-cannon/ack.htm[8/12/2013 4:58:08 PM]

Palo Alto Battlefield NHS:A Thunder of Cannon (Table of Contents)

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