Osprey Men-at-Arms 56 : The Mexican-American War 1846-1848

'There never was so fine an American army', wrote a young second-lieutenant, John Sedgwick, in describing the troops under Major-General Zachary Taylor in 1846. Another then second-lieutenant, destined to see many more armies; U.S. Grant, also thought highly of the troops which fought in Mexico: 'Every officer, from the highest to the lowest, was educated in his profession... The rank and file were probably inferior... to the volunteers that participated in all the later battles of the war; but they were brave men, and then drill and discipline brought out all there was in them.'. Philip Katcher writes the story of the regulars and volunteers who fought in the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, detailing the infantry, cavalry, artillery and staff of both the American and Mexican armies. His investigation of tactics, organisation, recruitment and uniform prove a fascinating and insightful read, from the story of a butcher elected as captain by his men on the promise of 'fifty dollars of whiskey' to the elation of Private T.D. Tennery upon his regiments finally receiving a consignment of new clothing. Contemporary photographs, museum pictures and eight full page colour plates by Gerry Embleton with commentaries detail everything from shoulder straps to sword belts.

Contents

• The Volunteers
• The Infantry
• The Artillery
• The Cavalry
• The Specialists
• The Staff
• The Mexican Army
• The Infantry
• The Cavalry
• The Artillery
• The Specialists
• The Staff
• Battles and Participants
• The Plates