Document1A (In early 1846, on Polk's orders) the troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor arrived at the Rio Grande, across from the city of Matamoros, thus occupying the territory in dispute and increasing the possibilities of a confrontation.. In the eyes of the (Mexican) government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico... As a consequence, the Mexican government reaffirmed the instruction to protect the border, meaning the territory located between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River - an order which led to the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.. . (One article) in the daily El Tiempo ... stated: The American government acted like a bandit who came upon a traveler." Source: Jesus Velasco-Marquez, Institute Tecnologico Automomo de Mexico, "A Mexican Viewpoint on the War With the United States, " Voices of Mexico, Issue #41, Center for Research on North America (CISAN), National Autonomous University of Mexico, 2006. 1. How did the disputed border between Texas and Mexico lead to conflict in 1846