Battles of the Mexican-American War

The following are known Battles of the Mexican-American War. This list includes all major engagements and most reported skirmishes.

The list includes all battles and skirmishes taking place during the Mexican-American War; this includes two major engagements, the Battle of Palo Alto, and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, which took place prior to the official state of hostilities existed between the two powers.

Battles of the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848

Key: (A) - American Victory; (M) - Mexican Victory; (I) - Inconclusive.

Important Note: It is a common misconception to confused "Monterrey, Mexico", with "Monterey, California". These are, in fact, two very different battles.

Battles of the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848

Key: (A) - American Victory; (M) - Mexican Victory; (I) - Inconclusive.

1846

• April
  • 25/26th: Thornton Affair - Skirmishing in South Texas

• May
  • 3-9th: Siege of Fort Texas - Mexican Army besieges "illegal" American outpost(I)
  • 8th: Battle of Palo Alto - Army under Mariano Arista invades "American" Texas(A)
  • 9th: Battle of Resaca de la Palma - Arista is defeated by Zachary Taylor(A)
  • 18th: U.S. troops occupy Matamoros, Mexico[?] with no resistance

• July
  • 7th: Battle of Monterey - U.S. Navy occupies Monterey, California (A)
  • 14th: U.S. troops occupy Camargo, Mexico[?]

• August
  • 18th: Battle of Santa Fe[?] - Stephen Kearny[?] occupies Santa Fe, New Mexico (A)

• September
  • 21-23rd: Battle of Monterrey - Pedro de Ampudia fights Zachary Taylor to a draw (I)

• October
  • 7th: Battle of Dominguez Rancho[?] - Californeros[?] clash with John C. Freemont[?] (M)

• November
  • 14th: U.S. Navy occupies Tampico, Mexico[?]
  • 16th: U.S. Army occupies Saltillo, Mexico[?] without incident
  • 16th: Battle of Natividad[?] in Northern California (A)

• December
  • 6th: Battle of San Pascual[?] - Californeros and Presidial Lancers defeat Stephen Watts Kearny[?]. (M)
  • 25th: Battle of El Brazito[?] - U.S. forces attack El Brazito, New Mexico[?] (A)

1847

• January
  • 2nd: Battle of Santa Clara[?] - Clash in California. (A)
  • 8th: Battle of Rio San Gabriel[?] - Part of a series of battles for control of Los Angeles (I)
  • 9th: Battle of La Mesa[?] - Yet another battle for Los Angeles (I)
  • 24th: Battle of Cañada[?] - U.S., Mexican forces clash in New Mexico (A)
  • 24th: Battle of Mora[?] - U.S., Mexican forces clash in New Mexico (A)

• February
  • 3rd-4th: Battle of Pueblo de Taos[?] - Rancheros and Militia oppose U.S. forces (A)
  • 22-23rd: Battle of Buena Vista[?] - Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna engages Winfield Scott in one of the largest battles of the war
  • 28th: Battle of the Sacramento[?] - Californeros engage American troops in Northern Caifornia (A)

• March
  • 9th-29th: Battle of Veracruz[?] - Beginning with Marine landings, U.S. forces besiege and gradually encircle Mexican Marines and Coast Guard in vicious twenty day siege (A)

• April
  • 18th: Battle of Cerro Gordo[?] - The "Thermopylae of the West" (A)

• June
  • 6th: Skirmish at Las Vegas, Nevada (A)

• August
  • 17th: Battle of Contreras[?] - Santa Anna fails to support Mexican line at a critical moment; turns victory into rout. (A)
  • 18th: Battle of Churubusco[?] - San Patricios[?] and Regulares hold a fortified convent against Winfield Scott; San Patricios decimated. (A)

• September