On this day in 1846, the U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico, setting off a conflict that would shape the nation’s future and forge a new generation of American military leaders. Among them was Thomas Wells Childs, an Alexandrian who would go on to earn national recognition for his battlefield heroism.
A seasoned Army officer, Childs became a household name after his leadership at Chapultepec, one of the war’s most decisive and brutal battles. His bravery helped secure the capture of Mexico City—paving the way for U.S. victory and expanding the country’s territory by nearly a third.
Though once celebrated, Childs’ name has faded from public memory. His grave lies quietly in St. Paul’s Cemetery, a testament to both his valor and the city’s long connection to the making of American history.