Hawk1981
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- Apr 1, 2020
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Following the annexation of the Republic of Texas in 1845, the United States and Mexico engaged in armed conflict over the disputed regions bordering Texas and northeastern Mexico. The United States Congress declared war in May 1846 after the Mexican declaration of a defensive war the previous month. The US Army began operations to invade Mexico. General Zachary Taylor started his advance into south Texas with the aim of occupying Mexican territory as far south as Monterrey.
Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant served in General Taylor's command prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Louisiana along the Texas border. Grant moved with the army when it was ordered to the Rio Grande River and saw action in the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, where he led a cavalry charge. A daring and resourceful soldier, Grant distinguished himself at the Battle of Monterrey by carrying a dispatch past snipers while hanging off the side of his mount, keeping the horse between him and the enemy.
Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant, US Army
General Winfield Scott was selected by President Polk and Congress to lead the United States expedition to assault Mexico City. Scott's army landed a Veracruz in March 1847, and set off on the approximate route of Hernan Cortes when his army assaulted Mexico City in 1519.
Captain of Engineers, Robert E. Lee was one of General Scott's staff officers and landed with him at Veracruz, following the completion of the journey from New Orleans. Lee was one of Scott's chief aides and was instrumental in several American victories through his personal reconnaissance as a staff officer. As related in Grant's Personal Memoirs, "After the arrival of the commanding-general upon the scene, reconnaissances were sent out to find, or to make, a road by which the rear of the enemy's works might be reached without a front attack. These reconnaissances were made under the supervision of Captain Robert E. Lee..." Later in the month, the roads flanking the enemy were completed. "This was accomplished without the knowledge of Santa Anna or his army, and over ground where he supposed it impossible."
Captain Robert E. Lee, US Army
Grant's unit joined General Scott's command at Veracruz with Grant serving as a quartermaster. Lee worked at positioning troops and artillery. Both soldiers were commended for their service, Grant receiving two brevet commendations, and Lee three. The army worked its way to Mexico City fighting battles at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec, where Lee was wounded. Grant participated in the bloody assault of Molino del Rey, and both of the men were among the victorious forces that entered Mexico City.
Captain Lee and Lieutenant Grant were among dozens of American veterans of the war with Mexico who would serve on both sides of the American Civil War. Grant, who would later state that he thought the political reasons for the war with Mexico were a mistake, wrote in his memoirs that "The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times."
Captain Lee won high praise from General Scott when he said that Lee was "gallant and indefatigable," saying that Lee had displayed the "greatest feat of physical and moral courage performed by any individual in [his] knowledge during the campaign." He would continue a distinguished career in the US Army, but would refuse to command it when General Scott advised President Lincoln to offer it to Lee in 1861, stating "I declined the offer he made me to take command of the army that was brought into the field, stating candidly and as courteously as I could that though opposed to secession and deprecating war, I could take no part in the invasion of the southern states."
Lieutenant Grant left the army in the early 1850s after a serious bout of loneliness at a post distant from his family led to problems with alcohol. He tried and failed at several occupations, until returning to the army at the start of the Civil War, and rapidly rising through the ranks to take command of it.
Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant served in General Taylor's command prior to the outbreak of hostilities in Louisiana along the Texas border. Grant moved with the army when it was ordered to the Rio Grande River and saw action in the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, where he led a cavalry charge. A daring and resourceful soldier, Grant distinguished himself at the Battle of Monterrey by carrying a dispatch past snipers while hanging off the side of his mount, keeping the horse between him and the enemy.
Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant, US Army
General Winfield Scott was selected by President Polk and Congress to lead the United States expedition to assault Mexico City. Scott's army landed a Veracruz in March 1847, and set off on the approximate route of Hernan Cortes when his army assaulted Mexico City in 1519.
Captain of Engineers, Robert E. Lee was one of General Scott's staff officers and landed with him at Veracruz, following the completion of the journey from New Orleans. Lee was one of Scott's chief aides and was instrumental in several American victories through his personal reconnaissance as a staff officer. As related in Grant's Personal Memoirs, "After the arrival of the commanding-general upon the scene, reconnaissances were sent out to find, or to make, a road by which the rear of the enemy's works might be reached without a front attack. These reconnaissances were made under the supervision of Captain Robert E. Lee..." Later in the month, the roads flanking the enemy were completed. "This was accomplished without the knowledge of Santa Anna or his army, and over ground where he supposed it impossible."
Captain Robert E. Lee, US Army
Grant's unit joined General Scott's command at Veracruz with Grant serving as a quartermaster. Lee worked at positioning troops and artillery. Both soldiers were commended for their service, Grant receiving two brevet commendations, and Lee three. The army worked its way to Mexico City fighting battles at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec, where Lee was wounded. Grant participated in the bloody assault of Molino del Rey, and both of the men were among the victorious forces that entered Mexico City.
Captain Lee and Lieutenant Grant were among dozens of American veterans of the war with Mexico who would serve on both sides of the American Civil War. Grant, who would later state that he thought the political reasons for the war with Mexico were a mistake, wrote in his memoirs that "The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times."
Captain Lee won high praise from General Scott when he said that Lee was "gallant and indefatigable," saying that Lee had displayed the "greatest feat of physical and moral courage performed by any individual in [his] knowledge during the campaign." He would continue a distinguished career in the US Army, but would refuse to command it when General Scott advised President Lincoln to offer it to Lee in 1861, stating "I declined the offer he made me to take command of the army that was brought into the field, stating candidly and as courteously as I could that though opposed to secession and deprecating war, I could take no part in the invasion of the southern states."
Lieutenant Grant left the army in the early 1850s after a serious bout of loneliness at a post distant from his family led to problems with alcohol. He tried and failed at several occupations, until returning to the army at the start of the Civil War, and rapidly rising through the ranks to take command of it.