The Mexican-American War Experiences of Twelve Civil War Generals - (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War) (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Historians have tended to downplay the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) experiences of United States Army officers who went on to form the leadership corps of both armies during the American Civil War. This volume, edited by Mexican-American War expert Timothy Johnson, argues instead that scholars should view the conflict as a formative experience for the three hundred-plus future Civil War generals who served in Mexico as lower-grade officers. For many of them, it was their first combat experience. West Point had provided an excellent education in specialized fields, but the Mexican laboratory equipped a generation of young officers with practical lessons in strategy, tactics, logistics, and interpersonal relationships. Thus, the Mexican-American War was an important proving ground for young officers who would command forces in both the Union and Confederate armies a decade and a half later. A dozen distinguished Civil War scholars contributed essays to the collection. Each explores the Mexican War influence on the leadership of a prominent Civil War general, bridging the gap between the two conflicts and suggesting discernable connections. They reveal that the lessons young American officers learned in Mexico were often more subtle than explicit, explaining why scholars have neglected the war with Mexico in many cases when analyzing Civil War generalship. Overall, the volume clarifies that the Mexican-American War played a central, albeit understated, role in developing Civil War leadership and command practices."--

Book Synopsis

Long overshadowed by the American Civil War, the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) has received significantly less attention from historians partly because of its questionable origin and controversial outcome. Rather than treat the conflict with a form of historical amnesia, the contributors to this volume argue that the Mexican-American War was a formative experience for the more than three hundred future Civil War generals who served in it as lower-grade officers. The Mexican War was the first combat experience for many of them, a laboratory that equipped a generation of young officers with practical lessons in strategy, tactics, logistics, and interpersonal relationships that they would use later to command forces during the Civil War.

Review Quotes

"The Mexican-American War Experiences of Twelve Civil War Generals fills a critical gap in understanding the formative years of some of the Civil War's most important military leaders."--Christopher D. Dishman, author of A Perfect Gibraltar: The Battle for Monterrey, Mexico, 1846

"This impressive collection of essays by a talented team of scholars highlights how the Mexican War experience shaped the Civil War careers of twelve prominent officers including U. S. Grant, George McClellan, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. An insightful and useful resource for all interested in the military and political history of the era."--Joan Waugh, author of U. S. Grant, American Hero, American Myth

"Timothy Johnson has put together an all-star lineup of Civil War historians to examine one of the most important influences on Civil War generals, the formative experience of the Mexican War. The resulting book offers valuable insights into the practical experiences that shaped the generals who shaped the Civil War."--Steven E. Woodworth, author of Manifest Destinies: America's Westward Expansion and the Road to the Civil War

About the Author

Timothy D. Johnson is the Elizabeth Gentry Brown Professor of History at Lipscomb University. His previous books on the Mexican-American War include A Gallant Little Army: The Mexico City Campaign and For Duty and Honor: Tennessee's Mexican War Experience.