Bedford County residents participated in the Mexican War, variously known as the Mexican-American War. The war was known in Mexico as the American Intervention. The Republic of Texas had been declared as an independent and sovereign nation on 02 March 1836. The boundaries of the Republic were never really settled satisfactorily between the Texans and the Mexican government. The U. S. government under President James Polk approached the Texan government in 1845 concerning a possible annexation and admittance into the United States as the 28th state. The Texan Republic accepted the offer and became that 28th state on 29 December 1845.
U. S. officials then contacted the Mexican government with a request to purchase a strip of land between the Nueces and Rio Grande rivers. The offer was rejected by Mexico. President Polk ordered Major General Zachary Taylor to take his troops into the disputed territory. Mexican forces attacked the Americans at an outpost located near present-day Brownsville, Texas, killing twelve of them and capturing fifty-two. The U. S. Congress responded by declaring war on Mexico on 13 May 1846.
The United States army launched three primary campaigns into Mexico. Brigadier General Stephen Kearny invaded Mexico along the Pacific coast in what was known as the California Campaign. With 1,700 men, and the assistance of U.S. naval forces under Commodore Robert Stockton, he captured Santa Fe and California. Brigadier General Zachary Taylor led an army southward into northeast Mexico. His army of 2,400 men was met in battle at Palo Alto by 3,400 Mexicans under General Mariano Arista. After two days of fighting, the Americans were victorious and continued farther south into the heart of Mexico. Monterrey was captured and then Taylor’s 4,000 men won a stunning victory over 20,000 Mexicans in the Battle of Buena Vista. A third major campaign was led by Major General Winfield Scott with 12,000 U.S, troops against Veracruz. The city was taken after a brief siege, then Scott's army continued on to capture Mexico City.
Two companies were recruited in Bedford County to go to Mexico, one of which became part of the Second Regiment: Company L. That company was also locally known as the 'Independent Greys'. It was recruited by Lieutenant Crittenden in the summer of 1846. Information on this company can be found in the History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Co's, Pennsylvania. The second company was recruited by Captain Samuel M. Taylor on 06 May 1847.
The same information appears in History of Bedford and Somerset Counties Pennsylvania on pages 130 and 135.
The Mexican War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on 02 February 1848. During the Mexican War there were roughly 13,283 deaths and 4,152 wounded.
