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The Thornton Affair, also known as the Thornton Skirmish, Thornton's Defeat, or Rancho Carricitos,[2] was a battle in 1846 between the military forces of the United States and Mexico 20 miles (32 km) west upriver from Zachary Taylor's camp along the Rio Grande.[1]: 48 The much larger Mexican force defeated the Americans in the opening of hostilities, and was the primary justification for U.S. PresidentJames K. Polk's call to Congress to declare war.[1]: 48
Although the United States had annexed Texas, both the US and Mexico claimed the area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande.[1]: 11 Polk had ordered Taylor's Army of Occupation to the Rio Grande early in 1846 soon after Mexican President Mariano Paredes declared in his inaugural address that he would uphold the integrity of Mexican territory to the Sabine River.[1]: 26
Mariano Arista assumed command of the Division of the North on April 4 and arrived at Matamoros on April 24, making the total force there about 5000 men, and notified Taylor hostilities had commenced.[1]: 47 Arista promptly ordered General Anastasio Torrejón to cross the Rio Grande fourteen miles upstream at La Palangana.[1]: 48
Battleedit
Taylor received two reports on April 24 of Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande, the first crossing below his camp, the other a crossing upriver.[1]: 48 Taylor ordered Captain Croghan Ker to investigate downriver and Captain Seth B. Thornton with two Dragoon companies to investigate upriver.[1]: 48 Ker found nothing but Thornton rode into an ambush and his 80-man force was quickly overwhelmed by Torrejon's 1600, resulting in the capture of those not immediately killed.[1]: 48 Thornton's guide brought news of the hostilities to Taylor and was followed by a cart from Torrejón containing the six wounded, Torrejon stating he could not care for them.[1]: 48
Aftermathedit
In the fierce encounter, fourteen of Thornton's men were killed, six wounded and one was fatally wounded, while the rest were taken prisoner (including Captain Thornton and his second in command Captain William J. Hardee).[1]: 48 Mexican casualties are unknown. Torrejón continued on to the Matamoros-Point Isabel road, surprising Samuel H. Walker's Texas Rangers on April 28, before continuing on to Longoreno to cover the crossing of the main Mexican army.[1]: 48
Following the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Arista and Taylor agreed to a prisoner exchange which resulted in the release of Thornton, Hardee and their men.[1]: 81 Thornton was killed on August 20, 1847 in an engagement at Churubusco outside Mexico City. Coincidentally, this soldier who was wounded at the war's opening act was killed in this last conflict of the war. [1]: 291 [3][1]: 139 [4][page needed]
"The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the Del Norte [Rio Grande]. But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war.".[citation needed]
On May 13, 1846, the U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico, despite the Mexican government's position that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas, which Mexico maintained began south of the Nueces River (the historical border of the province of Texas). Opposition also existed in the United States, with one senator declaring that the affair had been "as much an act of aggression on our part as is a man's pointing a pistol at another's breast".[5] Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanded to know the "particular spot of soil on which the blood of our citizens was so shed" (the spot resolutions).[6] The ensuing Mexican–American War was waged from 1846 to 1848 which cost the lives of many thousands and the loss of all northern provinces from Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war on February 2, 1848, and established the Rio Grande as the border between the U.S. and Mexico, and led to Mexico recognizing Texas as a part of the United States.[citation needed]
^"Rancho de Carricitos - Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)". from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
^Tucker, Spencer (2013). The Encyclopedia of the Mexican-American War: A Political, Social, and Military History. ABC-CLIO. ISBN9781851098538. from the original on March 17, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
^Beschloss, Michael (2018). Presidents of War. Broadway Books. ISBN9780307409614. from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.[page needed]
^. Digital History. Archived from the original on May 7, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2008.
^"Abraham Lincoln Protests the Mexican War". Digital History. from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
External linksedit
History channel "The Mexican–American War"
Battle report and list of casualties
A Continent Divided: The U.S.–Mexico War, Center for Greater Southwestern Studies, the University of Texas at Arlington
April 27, 2024
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Thornton Affair news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 The Thornton Affair also known as the Thornton Skirmish Thornton s Defeat or Rancho Carricitos 2 was a battle in 1846 between the military forces of the United States and Mexico 20 miles 32 km west upriver from Zachary Taylor s camp along the Rio Grande 1 48 The much larger Mexican force defeated the Americans in the opening of hostilities and was the primary justification for U S President James K Polk s call to Congress to declare war 1 48 Thornton AmbushPart of the Mexican American WarRancho de CarricitosDateApril 25 1846Location2 5 miles east of Bluetown Texas26 03 43 N 97 47 03 W 26 0619 N 97 7842 W 26 0619 97 7842ResultMexican victory Start of the Mexican American WarBelligerents United StatesMexicoCommanders and leadersSeth Thornton William J HardeeAnastasio TorrejonStrength80 1 1 600 1 Casualties and losses14 killed6 wounded1 fatally wounded59 captured 1 Unknown Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 Declaration of war 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground editAlthough the United States had annexed Texas both the US and Mexico claimed the area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande 1 11 Polk had ordered Taylor s Army of Occupation to the Rio Grande early in 1846 soon after Mexican President Mariano Paredes declared in his inaugural address that he would uphold the integrity of Mexican territory to the Sabine River 1 26 Mariano Arista assumed command of the Division of the North on April 4 and arrived at Matamoros on April 24 making the total force there about 5000 men and notified Taylor hostilities had commenced 1 47 Arista promptly ordered General Anastasio Torrejon to cross the Rio Grande fourteen miles upstream at La Palangana 1 48 Battle editTaylor received two reports on April 24 of Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande the first crossing below his camp the other a crossing upriver 1 48 Taylor ordered Captain Croghan Ker to investigate downriver and Captain Seth B Thornton with two Dragoon companies to investigate upriver 1 48 Ker found nothing but Thornton rode into an ambush and his 80 man force was quickly overwhelmed by Torrejon s 1600 resulting in the capture of those not immediately killed 1 48 Thornton s guide brought news of the hostilities to Taylor and was followed by a cart from Torrejon containing the six wounded Torrejon stating he could not care for them 1 48 Aftermath editIn the fierce encounter fourteen of Thornton s men were killed six wounded and one was fatally wounded while the rest were taken prisoner including Captain Thornton and his second in command Captain William J Hardee 1 48 Mexican casualties are unknown Torrejon continued on to the Matamoros Point Isabel road surprising Samuel H Walker s Texas Rangers on April 28 before continuing on to Longoreno to cover the crossing of the main Mexican army 1 48 Following the Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma Arista and Taylor agreed to a prisoner exchange which resulted in the release of Thornton Hardee and their men 1 81 Thornton was killed on August 20 1847 in an engagement at Churubusco outside Mexico City Coincidentally this soldier who was wounded at the war s opening act was killed in this last conflict of the war 1 291 3 1 139 4 page needed Declaration of war editUpon learning of the incident President James K Polk asked for a Declaration of war before a joint session of the United States Congress and summed up his justification for war by famously stating The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the Del Norte Rio Grande But now after reiterated menaces Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced and that the two nations are now at war citation needed On May 13 1846 the U S Congress declared war on Mexico despite the Mexican government s position that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas which Mexico maintained began south of the Nueces River the historical border of the province of Texas Opposition also existed in the United States with one senator declaring that the affair had been as much an act of aggression on our part as is a man s pointing a pistol at another s breast 5 Congressman Abraham Lincoln demanded to know the particular spot of soil on which the blood of our citizens was so shed the spot resolutions 6 The ensuing Mexican American War was waged from 1846 to 1848 which cost the lives of many thousands and the loss of all northern provinces from Mexico The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war on February 2 1848 and established the Rio Grande as the border between the U S and Mexico and led to Mexico recognizing Texas as a part of the United States citation needed See also editList of battles of the Mexican American WarReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Bauer K J 1974 The Mexican War 1846 1848 New York Macmillan ISBN 0803261071 Rancho de Carricitos Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park U S National Park Service Archived from the original on December 24 2018 Retrieved April 25 2018 Tucker Spencer 2013 The Encyclopedia of the Mexican American War A Political Social and Military History ABC CLIO ISBN 9781851098538 Archived from the original on March 17 2022 Retrieved December 25 2021 Beschloss Michael 2018 Presidents of War Broadway Books ISBN 9780307409614 Archived from the original on July 2 2020 Retrieved June 30 2020 page needed A Controversial War Digital History Archived from the original on May 7 2008 Retrieved August 10 2008 Abraham Lincoln Protests the Mexican War Digital History Archived from the original on September 9 2017 Retrieved November 11 2017 External links editHistory channel The Mexican American War Battle report and list of casualties A Continent Divided The U S Mexico War Center for Greater Southwestern Studies the University of Texas at Arlington Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thornton Affair amp oldid 1220718292, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
