Returning from Point Isabel to Fort Texas on May 8, Taylor's army came across Mexican Maj. Gen. Mariano Arísta and his troops drawn up in a line of battle nearly one mile long. The two armies fought at Palo Alto.  When dawn came the following day, the Mexicans had withdrawn further down the road toward Fort Texas where they assumed a defensive position where the road crossed a dry ravine, or resaca.  In a bloody battle the Americans broke through the Mexican line, sent Arísta's army reeling in panic back across the Rio Grande, and relieved the defenders at Fort Texas.