He also received new men from training camps. Wool reinforced Taylor with about 2,000 men. President Polk was displeased and revoked the armistice. Monterrey surrendered September 24, its defenders being granted an eight-week armistice while they withdrew to the south. Fighting raged for days, and the city had to be taken street by street. After receiving supplies and reinforcements, he arrived before Monterrey on September 17, with 6,000 men, to face 8,000 Mexicans. On May 9, at Resaca de la Palma, the Mexicans were again beaten, and fled across the Rio Grande. On May 8, 1846, at Palo Alto, 2,300 United States troops defeated 6,000 attacking Mexicans.
Taylor had already fought two battles before Congress declared war. Mexico had a regular army of about 32,000, and a large federal territorial militia.
The volunteers signed mainly for periods of six months or one year. Congress authorized the President to increase the size of the regular army to 15,000 men and to raise 50,000 short-term volunteers. The United States entered the war with an actual army strength of only 7,365 men.
