Today, the Infantry Soldier Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin remembers when General Zachary Taylor arrived at Aransas Pass with eight companies of infantry on July 25, 1845.
From the Life of General Zachary Taylor by Joseph Reese Fry, published in 1848:
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In reply to inquiries by General Taylor of the War Department respecting the position he should take, he was directed, generally, to be governed by circumstances, to avoid all aggressive measures, and to hold his force ready to protect the territory of Texas “to the extent that it had been occupied by the people of Texas.”
The Rio Grande was indicated, by the secretary, as the boundary between Mexico and Texas, to which the Army of Occupation was to approach, as nearly as prudence would permit. For this purpose, it was necessary to pass the Nueces.
A letter from the department, dated in the following month, contains this passage:
“Should Mexico assemble a large body of troops, on the Rio Grande, and cross it with a considerable force, such a movement must be regarded as an invasion of the United States, and the commencement of hostilities. You will, of course, use all the authority which has been, or may be, given you, to meet such a state of things. Texas must be protected from hostile invasion, and for that purpose, you will of course employ, to the utmost extent, all the means you possess, or can command.”
At the same time that these instructions were sent to General Taylor, a naval force was dispatched to the gulf of Mexico to aid him in any hostile operations which might occur. To this result, affairs were rapidly tending.
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Head-Quarters 1st Military Department.
New Orleans, La., July 20, 1845.
SIR: I respectfully acknowledge your communication of July 8, covering the instructions of the Secretary of War of the same date, relative to the Mexican settlements on this side of the Rio Grande.
Those instructions will be closely obeyed; and the department may rest assured that I will take no step to interrupt the friendly relations between the United States and Mexico.
I am gratified at receiving these instructions, as they confirm my views, previously communicated, in regard to the proper line to be occupied at present by our troops.
I am sir very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding.
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Head-Quarters Army of Occupation.
Steamship Alabama, Aransas Pass, Texas, July 28, 1845.
SIR: I respectfully report my arrival at this place on the 25th instant, with eight companies of the 3d infantry, it having been found necessary to leave two companies of that regiment, to be brought over in other transports.
The troops are temporarily established on St. Joseph’s Island. I am waiting the report of a boat expedition sent to Corpus Christi Bay before I determine on the site of an encampment.
I hope to receive the necessary information in the course of the day, when I shall immediately commence the removal of the 3d infantry to the point selected. The position will probably be “Live Oak Point,” in Aransas Bay, some ten miles from our present position.
I am very anxious to establish myself at the mouth of the Neuces, but the extreme shoalness of the water will, I fear, present an insuperable obstacle, unless we can procure lighters of much lighter draught than those we have at present.
The difficulties of effecting a debarkation on this coast, and of establishing depots for supplying the army, are much greater than I anticipated, and will render our operations at once embarrassing and expensive.
Between Pass Cavello and Brazos Santiago, there is no entrance for vessels drawing more than seven or eight feet; and the prevailing winds render the operation of lightening extremely uncertain and hazardous.
We have been favored with fine weather, and, should it continue, the other transports, which may now be expected, will be enabled to discharge without difficulty.
We had a very favorable run from New Orleans; and I am happy to state that the health of the command was greatly improved by the voyage. The eight companies have scarcely any sickness at this time.
The day before leaving New Orleans, I received from Major Donelson a communication dated at Austin, on the 7th of July, informing me that the convention had unanimously accepted the proposition of annexation, and suggested that two companies should be posted at Austin.
I still deem it best to concentrate my force until our relations with Mexico shall become settled, and until the country can be examined, and the best mode of supply ascertained.
I hear nothing important from the Mexican frontier. Some Indian depredations are committed from time to time near Corpus Christi, and will claim my first attention after I can get established.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding.
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Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation.
Corpus Christi, Texas, August 15, 1845.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, by New Orleans papers of the 7th instant, I have received intelligence of the preparatory steps taken by Mexico towards a declaration of war against the United States.
I shall spare no exertions to meet suitably this probable change in the relations between the two countries; and the additional force ordered to join me, as announced in your communication of July 30, will, I trust, enable me to do something more than maintain a merely defensive attitude on the Neuces.
This will depend upon the demonstrations made by Mexico along the Rio Grande, in regard to which the Secretary of War has solicited a report.
I am enabled to say, upon information which is regarded as authentic, that General Arista was to leave Monterey on the 4th of this month for Matamoros with 1500 men —500 being cavalry.
I learn, from the same source, that there are 500 regular troops at Matamoros.
In regard to the force at other points on the Rio Grande, except the militia of the country, I have no information; nor do I hear that the reported concentration at Matamoros is for any purpose of invasion.
I have but just arrived at this place, and hope in a few days to be able to obtain more full and precise intelligence concerning the movements of the Mexicans.
I shall not fail to communicate promptly to the department all such intelligence upon which I think reliance can be placed.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., commanding.
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The Mexican-American War officially began April 1846 and ended February 1848.
The Infantry Soldier Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin shows with an image of General Zachary Taylor, circa 1848.
