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Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
 

Three Hundred Supply Wagons / Trescientas carretas de viveres

 
 
Three Hundred Supply Wagons / Trescientas carretas de viveres Marker image. Click for full size.
Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, May 25, 2014
1. Three Hundred Supply Wagons / Trescientas carretas de viveres Marker
Inscription. [English]
Imagine the open prairie before you filled as far as the eye can see with 300 army supply wagons. Under the canvas tops were tons of food, weapons, and ammunition — enough to keep 2,800 soldiers going for about four months.

These vital — and vulnerable — supplies caught the eyes of both commanders. General Taylor placed his wagons behind the battle line. He kept his foot soldiers close to his supplies, and relied on his artillery. Hammered by the American cannon, Mexican General Arista ordered cavalry charge after cavalry charge, trying to destroy his enemies' train.

If the General had only have let [our] infantry charge we should have put on the finishing stroke, but the General is a very cautious man, and would not leave his train.
— John Porter Hatch, 2nd lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Regiment
The transport-service consisted … of four-wheeled wagons, each drawn by six mules, and …carrying about 2000 pounds. … Operating chiefly in a country destitute of supplies … the train … consisted of upwards of 300 wagons. There were, therefore, two objects before the General — one to give battle to the enemy, the other to protect this train.
— George Deas, 1st lieutenant, 5th Infantry Regiment

[Espanól]
Imagine usted la
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llanura hasta donde alcanza la vista repleta de 300 carretones de abastecimientos militares. Bajo los toldos de lona había toneladas de alimentos, armas y municiones — suficientes para mantener 2800 soldados activos por cerca de cuatro meses.

Estos importantes-y vulnerables-despensas llamaron la atención de ambos jefes. El general Taylor situó sus carretas detrás de la línea de batalla. El mantuvo su infantería cerca de sus provisiones y confió en su artillería. Apaleado por los cañones estadounidenses, el general mexicano Arista ordenó repetidos ataques de caballería tratando de destruir los suministros del enemigo.

Si el General le hubiera permitido a nuestra infanteria atacar, le hubiéramos dado el golpe de gracia [a los mexicanos], pero el General es un hombre muy precavido y no se aleja de su tren de campaña.
— John Porter Hatch, subteniente, 3 regimiento de infantera

El servicio de transportación consistia … de carretas de cuatro ruedas, cada una halado por seis mulas … y acarreaba cerca de 900 kilos. Moviéndose … en un territorio escaso de provisiones … el comvoy consistia de 300 carretas. Habia, por lo tanto, dos objetivos para el General: uno, combatir al enemigo, el otro proteger este convoy.
— George Deas, teniente, 5 Regimiento de Infanteria
 
Erected by
Three Hundred Supply Wagons / Trescientas carretas de viveres Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, August 28, 2022
2. Three Hundred Supply Wagons / Trescientas carretas de viveres Marker
National Park Service.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Mexican-American. A significant historical date for this entry is May 9, 1846.
 
Location. 26° 1.426′ N, 97° 28.309′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. Marker can be reached from Paredes Line Road (County Road 1847) north of State Highway 550, on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the trail in Palo Alto Battlefield National Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7200 Paredes Line Road, Brownsville TX 78526, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Cavalry Charge / Se lanzaba la caballería (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chosen Ground / Arena decidida (approx. 0.2 miles away); Border War / Guerra de fronteras (approx. 0.4 miles away); Palo Alto Battlefield (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Palo Alto Battlefield (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Battle of Palo Alto (approx. 0.9 miles away); Historic Battlefield Trail (approx. 0.9 miles away); "Rancho Viejo" (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownsville.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on September 21, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.   2. submitted on November 12, 2022, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas.

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May. 10, 2024