Mexican War, 1846 to 1848

United States U.S. Military  Mexican War

Introduction
The Mexican War (also known as the Mexican-American War, the First American Intervention, and the U.S.–Mexican War) resulted from the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Thirty-five thousand U.S. Army troops and 73,000 state volunteers fought in this war. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states, such as Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas. The war took place from April 25,1846 to February 2, 1848.

War with Mexico was declared on May 13, 1846. However, units of soldiers were organized in Texas in the fall of 1845. Volunteer units were organized from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland and the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,South Carolina, Tennessee,Texas and Virginia. One unit was composed of Indians and one of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-the Mormon Battalion. Regular Army units included the 1st Regiment of Dragoons, 2nd Regiment of Dragoons, 3rd Regiment of Dragoons, Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, 1st Regiment of Artillery, 2nd Regiment of Artillery, 3rd Regiment of Artillery, 4th Regiment of Artillery,1st through 16th Regiments of Infantry, Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen.


 * Report of the Secretary of War Military Reports Received From Commanders
 * Map of the United States in June of 1846.

Chronology of Major Events

Statistical Summary - number of troops who served

The U.S. Department of Defense estimated the total number serving as 78,718. (2)

Statistical Summary - Casulaties

States and Territories
States and Territories that existed during the war.

Additional State Records
The Mexican War was fought before these states existed, however, these states have information specific to their area on individuals that served in the war.

Research Tools
Military Records: Pre-WWI Pension Applications (16 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.


 * Norman E.Tutorow. comp.and ed. The Mexican-American War. an annotated bibliography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1981
 * Elizabeth R. Snoke. The Mexican War. a bibliography of MHRC holdings for the period 1835-1850. Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania: {s.n.], 1973
 * Mark Crawford,David S. Heidler, Jeanne T. Heidler. Encyclopedia of the Mexican War. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio, 1999
 * Steven R. Butler. How to Find Your Mexican War Ancestor.Richardson, Texas : Descendants of Mexican War Veterans, c1994

Websites

 * Concise History of the War
 * Maps of the War
 * Reading List
 * Online resources
 * NARA Military resources:Mexican War,1846-1848
 * Center for Greater Southwestern Studies A Continent Divided: The US Mexican War
 * Library of Congress A Guide to the Mexican War

Additional Sources for Further Reading

 * Brooks, Nathan. A complete history of the Mexican War : its causes, conduct, and consequences ; comprising an account of the various military and naval operations, from its commencement to the treaty of peace ... (1849)


 * Chidsey, Donald Barr. The War with Mexico. (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1968).


 * Manfield, Edward D. The Mexican war, a history of its origin : and a detailed account of the victories which terminated in the surrender of the capital; with the official despatches of the generals; to which is added, the treaty of peace, and valuable tables of the strength and losses of the United States Army. New York : A.S. Barnes & Co. ; Cincinnati : H.W. Derby & Co., 1849


 * Merk, Frederick. History of the Westward Movement. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1980). Chapter 39..


 * Oberly, James W. "Military Bounty Land Warrants of the Mexican War." Prologue, vol. 14 (Spring 1982) p. 25-34.


 * Singletary, Otis A. The Mexican War. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1960).


 * Smith,Justin. The War War with Mexico. 2 vols. New York: Macmillian Co., 1919


 * Wilcox, Cadmus. History of the Mexican War. Washington,D.C.: Church News Publishing Co., 1892


 * Weems, John Edward. To Conquer a Peace: The War Between the United States and Mexico. (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc. 1974).


 * Williams, T. Harry. The History of American Wars: From Colonial Times to World War I. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1981).