Mexican-American War

Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States, was born near Barboursville, Virginia on November 24, 1784.  A hero of the Mexican-American War, he only served 16 months of his time in office.

On November 7, 1848, the War Department established a post on the Rio Grande that would later come to be known as Fort Bliss.

Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry was born on April 10, 1794, in Newport, Rhode Island

On March 9, 1847, the US launched its first large-scale amphibious assault during the Siege of Veracruz.

On May 8, 1846, future President Zachary Taylor led U.S. forces to their first major victory of the Mexican-American War at the Battle of Palo Alto.