Major John Henshaw, a dutiful regimental officer in the American
invasion of Mexico, was one of only a handful of eyewitnesses to
describe the two major theaters of that war from start to finish.
But unlike most of his peers, he did not see himself as a
conquering warrior and took pride in never having taken a life. He
even wrote, ""If I were alone, no earthly power could induce me to
lend a helping hand in this base and infamous war.""This book
presents Henshaw's recollections for the first time, covering all
the action from the first skirmish in southern Texas to the
collapse of Mexico City. As a member of the Seventh Infantry
Regiment, this pugnacious line officer from New England served
under both of the war's principal generals, Zachary Taylor and
Winfield Scott, and survived seven major battles. His writings
constitute a virtual ""minority opinion"" report on the Mexican
War.Henshaw's recollections include a rare and highly descriptive
account of the siege of Fort Texas (later Fort Brown), plus rich
new details of the storming of the Bishop's Palace at Monterrey,
the bombardment of Veracruz, the assault on Cerro Gordo, and the
savage fighting outside the capital. His records of battles,
marches, and maneuvers greatly augment what is already known about
the campaign, but in addition to reporting daily occurrences and
describing combat in graphic detail, Henshaw also reflected on the
strategies and tactics - and what he saw as shortcomings - of
officers on both sides.Bitingly critical of those in command, of
American volunteers, and of the war's glory hounds, Henshaw admired
the valor of ordinary soldiers on both sides of the fighting. And
in the midst of the carnage, he also found time to describe
Mexico's cities and scenery in rhapsodic prose and express
considerable empathy for its people. In addition to the
""Recollections,"" the volume includes vivid passages from letters
Henshaw sent back to his wife, which supply additional details of
the campaign. Editor Gary Kurutz provides an extensive biography of
Henshaw, as well as comprehensive annotations to the text.What
Henshaw may have lacked as an unquestioning officer he more than
made up for as an astute observer. Offering a decidedly different
view of this war of American expansion, these writings with their
balanced approach lend a fresh perspective among other primary
sources and paint a startlingly honest picture of both Americans
fighting abroad and those they fought.
General
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