The Mexican War 1846-1848

Osprey Essential Histories #25

by Douglas V. Meed

The war with Mexico was the one of the most decisive conflicts in American history. After smashing Mexico's armies the young republic bestrode the North American continent like a colossus with one leg anchored on the Atlantic seaboard and the other on the Pacific. It was a bitter, hard fought war that raged across Mexico through the northern deserts, the fever-ridden Gulf cities and the balmy haciendas of California. This book covers the full course of the war, ending with General Winfield Scott's march from the captured port of Vera Cruz to Mexico City, fighting all the way.

Genres: History, Military History, War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, American, American History

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2002

Reviews

[Declan Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mexican War was seen as an opportunity to gain terrority but also as a worry for those in the North-East of the new USA to give a majority to slave-owning states in the senate.

Mexico held vast swathes of land in modern day Texas and other southern states, and the newly elected President James Polk offered to buy the land. When the Mexicans refused the offer war was almost inevitable.

An interesting view of the events leading up to the war and the battles themselves (as you would expect from the Osprey series). I knew nothing about this era in USA history and this book definitely provides new knowledge to those in the same boat. An interesting period now almost entirely forgotten in America.

[Moises Cordova · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag.

Brief and easy to read at the start, good summary of Texas revolution, good comparison of american and mexican troops, very unbiased at the beginning.

However at the end it becames kind of loose and apologist, for example:

He describes the mexican spy company as "renegades and political disidents" when in reality they were just normal bandits.

When american troops entered Mexico city they were attacked by the civilian population however the author blames common criminals for the attacks.

[Brian Thorson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good orientation to the Mexican War supported by helpful maps of key battles and terrain.

[Ryan McCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read for someone wanting a quick 80 something page overview of the war. Suggest Timothy Johnson's, A Gallant Little Army, for a more in depth look at the US side of Scott's campaign. Meed however, provides both sides to the story and a good overview of all of the US-centric campaigns fought during this period.

[Bruinrefugee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book in the series, covering the overall sweep of the war and its interesting details in an interesting and readable fashion. In addition, it's chock full of good maps to help keep track of what was happening. Highly recommended.

[Mark]

Decent overview... just suffers a bit from being written to a standard formula.

[Sean Chick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The parts about the Mexican experience is good, but most of the book is dry and plodding.