On the prairie of Palo Alto
Subtitle: historical archaeology of the U.S.-Mexican War Battlefield
By: Charles M. Haecker and Jeffrey G. Mauck.
Contributors: Mauck, Jeffrey G. 1959-
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Texas A & M University military history series ;; 55
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: College Station
Language: eng
Number of pages: 227
Subjects: Archaeology and history -- Texas -- Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site.; Mexican War, 1846-1848 -- Battlefields -- Texas.; Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site (Tex.); Texas -- History, Local.; Texas -- Antiquities.
Description: The Battle of Palo Alto marked several firsts in American history: a new generation of professional soldiers - Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade, and James Longstreet - provided a wealth of expert knowledge to their senior officers; the military demonstrated the superior qualities of their newly introduced "flying" artillery, one that would see fruition during the far greater epoch of the Civil War; and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy experienced their first major test.

The battle was essentially an artillery duel that pitted highly effective U.S. canon against Mexican cannon of antiquated design. Although the Mexicans attempted flanking and frontal attacks on the U.S. lines, they were repulsed with heavy losses. Unable to maneuver, and confused and bloodied after standing all day under artillery fire, the Mexicans withdrew. In On the Prairie of Palo Alto, Charles M. Haecker and Jeffrey G. Mauck use an interdisciplinary approach, coupling the research of a historian with that of a historical archaeologist, to present an accurate version of how the battle developed and concluded.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [205]-220) and index.