The Mackenzie Raid

by Red Reeder

All through the Spring of 73 Mexican bandits and marauding Indians had ravaged the border. Now General Phil Sheridan had chosen the battle-wise Colonel Mackenzie for the "unauthorized" punitive raid into Mexico, if the U.S. Fourth Cavalry crossed the border, Mackenzie knew that he alone would carry full responsibility for the raid.... If he failed he and his entire command would be left to die at the hands of the Mexican outlaws.

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2011

About the author

Colonel Russell Potter Reeder Jr., who wrote as "Red" Reeder, was an officer in the United States Army. He wrote children's books and military nonfiction.

Reviews

[John Peel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fictionalized account of a raid into Mexico led by Colonel Ranald MacKenzie in 1873 - completely illegal, but with the tacit support of President Grant. It was aimed at destroying Mexican renegades and Indians who would raid into Texas and then flee across the Rio Grande into Mexico, where the US Cavalry couldn't follow. MacKenzie planned and executed a precision raid that put an end to the renegades. The novel was later the vague basis for the TV series "MacKenzie's Raiders" (1958-59).

It's an interesting slice of history, but the novel is very uneven. There are certainly some nice touches, but it's clear that the writer isn't very disciplined, as the points of view switch, sometimes in mid-sentence. Parts are good, parts are embarrassingly poor. On the whole, though, it's a decent read.