With the Dawn Wayside

The “With the Dawn” wayside provides a glimpse of the violent aftermath of the Battle of Palo Alto.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Brownsville, TX

Quote Text

I saw two large graves newly covered with brush and dirt….What havoc and what horrid wounds our artillery made! I saw heads and limbs severed from their bodies and trunks strewed about in awful confusion….such ghastly spectacles I hope never to behold again. ~ Madison Mills, assistant surgeon

Our troops have to lament the loss of 352 men dispersed, wounded and killed, the last worthy of national recollection and gratitude for the bravery with which they died fighting for the most sacred of causes. ~ Mariano Arista, general

Main Text

At sundown, the shooting stopped. Both armies camped in place on the battlefield. Men worked through the night to aid the wounded and bury the dead.

At dawn, General Arista ordered his army to withdraw south five miles to a densely wooded ravine called Resaca de la Palma. When General Taylor’s men crossed this scorched prairie at midmorning, ,any were shocked to see close at hand the destruction their artillery had wrought.

Taylor’s troops then marched south following Arista. The two armies would clash again in the afternoon.

Image Descriptions 

Center
Black-and-white drawing of Mexican casualties lying amongst cannons and equipment.