The American Mexican War

 Fun Fact #680

Rise of the Comanche

In the aftermath of war (1680s), the Pueblo peoples successfully pushed the Spanish out of what is now New Mexico and would successfully prevent their reentry for the next 12 years. Yet from the ashes of the Spanish settlements a minor nation then-known as The Padouca found that there were valuable resources left behind, in particular Horses which the Pueblo had released. 

Learning how to ride and use horses from a handful of Spanish survivors, The Padouca quickly adapted to Equestrian life. This then allowed them to hunt large dangerous prey easier –particularly Bison who they invented new maneuvers to manipulate large herds at a time. Yet tactics proved useful on other humans as well, leading to the Ute referring to the Padouca as “Kimantsi” (Enemy) when talking to The Spanish. The Spanish then wrote down the name as “Comanche” creating the name of one of the most famous Tribes of The American West.

Fun Fact #681

Lords of The Plains

Now armed with horses and an alliance with the Ute, The Comanche quickly spread across much of Texas, New Mexico, Spanish New Mexico, Colorado, and Oklahoma. Their expansion –and raiding of the Taos area (New Mexico)-- led to a Spanish retributionary war, led by the Apache and Puebloan. Despite the Comache’s speed, the Ute traveling on foot slowed the group down long enough for the Spanish to catch up and win the war. The terms offered were favorable but in 1767 –after a number of Comanche were sent as slaves to the Carribean– the peace broke and The Comanche once again went about raiding and began enslaving those on the Western plains. Yet facing “The 5 Civilized Tribes” to their north backed by The French and Spanish to the south the Comanche found they couldn't hold territory –yet their nomadic nature lent itself well to Guerilla fighting. 

Finally Spain and her allies agreed to come to peace terms if The Comanche nation could agree on a singular leader to negotiate for them. Thus seeking peace The Eastern Comanche assassinated The Leader of the Western Comanche White Bull and installed Piedro Vial as the Comanche leader. The peace which followed saw The Comanche recognized by Spain as “Lords of the plains”  and enlisted them as an Ally in the war against the Apache who had been mistakenly attacked during the war, leading to their own war with Spain. This alliance also saw a now unified Comanche continue to grow in power for years to come.

Painting of the Comanche known as “The Division of Two Tribes”  owned by the American Travel Advocacy “Legends of America”

Fun Fact #682

The Comancherian Empire

Despite their newfound Alliance, Spain continued to hold that the lands run by the Comanche were property of Spain. Yet they would find that Spain’s Area of Actual Control had trouble moving north as The Comanche continued to push out tribes not associated with them. The most notable of these groups were The Apache who were pushed out and became known as the Lipan. Indeed with fewer and weaker allies Spain found that they only held this land on paper. 

Meanwhile The Comanche formed powerful alliances with The Northern Tribes –in particular the Osage and Wichita would go on to serve as intermediaries with outsiders and the Comanche. By this point The Comanche “Empire” was at its peak with the ability to exert confluence on lands far away from their territory. From Louisiana and Arkansas, to Arizona and Wyoming, to as far south as Durango and Nuevo Leon they would have an impact on settlers seeking to build homes there. Even the Burgeoning United States began to know both of The Comanche and sought to make treaties with them –particularly around the Buffalo Trade.

While no official Map of Comanche Territory was made by the Comanche, the above image shows what was generally agreed upon as being in their direct control, although their influence through other tribes extended far beyond their "home Range"

Fun Fact #683

The Father of Texas

Seeking to rebuild his fortune outside the reach of Virginian Debt collectors, Moses “The Lead King” Austin obtained an “Emperasarial grant“ from The Spanish Colonial Government for a league of land and permission to settle 300 families there. He was the first Emprasario of Texas, but he never returned to the land. After his death Moses’ son Stephen finished the effort of gathering families for the settlement –notably only accepting those who could read and write, and ordered each adult settler to own a “Spanish Carbine”.  “The Old 300” left New Orleans for Texas on May 4th, 1821. 

It was only after arriving they became aware of two main issues. The First issue regarded The Comanche who inhabited the area. No matter Austin's background in making Lead Ammunition greatly aided the colony's ability to defend itself. Austin also sent back maps and instructions for others seeking to settle in Texas, leading to a constant supply of American Colonists to the area. The second issue proved more difficult however as Spain lost its colonial possessions and they were now squatting on Mexican land. Yet to do anything about this “Austin Texas” The Mexican Army would have to cross Comanche territory. Something that they deemed unworthy of the risk at the time (but would come up later in The Texas Revolution).

Seeking to resolve this after they were firmly established, Empresario Stephan visited the Mexican seat of power and reestablished Moses’ land Grant for “The Little Colony of Austin” with the Mexican Authorities. For his efforts Stephan F. Austin is remembered for the first large-scale successful settlement of Texas (numbering in the 1,000s of families by the time of his death) and gained a spot in legend as “The Father of Texas”.

Fun Fact #684

 Rise of The Rangers

After Texas gained its independence from Mexico it found that it too would have trouble controlling the territory as the Comanche now began to raid Texan settlements in addition to those allied to Mexico. This Conflict now known as The Comanche Wars saw The Country of Texas wage war and place bounties on Comanche while also maintaining hostilities with any Mexican forces that strayed too close to Texas. Yet after several years The Comanche sought peace as they could not sustain a war on 3 sides (The 5 tribes to the north, Texas to the East, Mexico to the south). But the peace delegation was killed by a Texan Militia seeking the return of their captured families (See “The Council House Fight). 

Upon hearing of the Delegation’s murder, The Leader of the Comanche: Chief Buffalo Hump (yes that was his actual name) led “The Great Raid of 1840” where they decimated any settlements they encountered on their ride to The Gulf gathering captives, horses, and riches along the way. Upon their march home however they were spotted by Texan Rangers who quickly assembled the local Militias. 

Using Plum Creek to guide their way, The Comanche were caught off guard by the Texan Rangers. Rather than stay and fight, The Comanche released their captives and fled. Yet The Rangers gave chase turning into a fighting retreat the length of the Creek known today as “The Battle of Plum Creek”. Eventually the comanche released the over 3,000 horses laden with loot and female captives managing to lose the Rangers in the chaos allowing The Comanche returned home only with the children they took as captive. 

Despite the end of the war, The region of the Great raid continued to be vastly depopulated with some settlements left in ruins to this day. It also saw the Mexican settlements inside Comanche territory begin to leave heavily on the Texan side further eroding Mexican control of their remaining land in New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming and even places which had never seen a Texan –Like California. Yet Texas itself came out of this fight gutted in its heartland and in need of allies, making The United States appear very favorable for an alliance. 

Fun Fact #685

The Disputed Grande

When The US annexed the independent State of Texas in 1845, it greatly angered the Mexican government who had an ongoing border dispute with Texas (was the border at the Rio Grande or the Nueces River?). Aware of the issue and seeking to avoid war, The US sent a delegation to Mexico City to purchase the disputed lands. Yet they were barred from the city, forcing their unsuccessful return. Seeing war was on the horizon, US Democrat President Polk moved 80 troops into Texas to defend the major settlements –including the disputed territory. Seeing the move as an invasion, Mexican forces attacked US Troops within Texas on April 25th, 1845 starting The Mexican American war.

Fun Fact #685

The March to Mexico

After the War kicked off in 1846 The US moved quickly to prevent Mexico from mounting a coordinated effort. To aid in this, multiple fronts were opened in the war simultaneously with separatists in Oregon and California coordinating to seize control of Alta California from Mexico, while The Pacific Squadron Navy blockaded Baja California, effectively trapping much of the Mexican Navy in the Sea of Cortez. Then other Mexican lands (modern Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and parts of Wyoming) refused the call to war with the US. Meanwhile The American Army marched south across The Rio Grande, finding little resistance as much of the area was still depopulated from The Comanche Wars.

Yet it was US Army General Winfield Scott who took  Mexico City via an amphibious landing on March 9th 1847. Peace would not be so easily won however as several disparate parts of the Mexican army continued to trickle in continuing the war despite a handful of peace treaties. Finally, Peace Envoy Nichlas Trist successfully concluded the war with The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ending the War and having Mexico recognize the cession of the territories where Mexican rule was too far stretched to be effective (present day: Texas (disputed lands), California, Nevada, Utah, as well as parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming). The Conflict even created the opportunity for President Polk to peacefully negotiate the sale of Oregan to The US.

While today the treaty is well regarded by The US, it is still regarded as a national embarrassment in Mexico, as the war severely weakened Mexico’s economic power and shrunk its size by more than half (55%). Most harmful however was the impact it made on The Mexican Military, as the start of the war saw only 7 of their 19 states send soldiers. This also led to the Military being split between the Permanent Forces and the Active Militias since the two refused to work together for differences in training. The Mexican army also was still using weapons from the Napoleonic wars (Brown Bess Muskets) while the US and even some of the Comanche had modernized with Colt Revolvers, and Springfield Rifles. Thanks to these exposed weaknesses,the political rifts by state only widened and created many of the political divides which haunt Mexico to this day.