The Spot Where "American Blood was Shed on American Soil"
Los Indios, Cameron County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The spot where "American blood was shed on American soil" April 25, 1846 Here Captain Philip Thornton and 62 dragoons were attacked by Mexican troops.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
On April 25, 1846, a company of U.S. dragoons under Captain Thornton was attacked by Mexican troops in the disputed territory north of the Rio Grande. The clash left several Americans dead and gave President Polk the claim that "American blood" had been shed "on American soil." Within weeks Congress declared war, and the skirmish here became the opening act of the Mexican-American War.
Why it matters
This small, contested encounter supplied the rallying phrase that carried the United States into a war which added the Southwest to the nation and hardened the debate over slavery's expansion.
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Related people
- · Captain Thornton
Related events
- · Thornton Affair
- · Mexican-American War
Themes & tags
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