Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/571

Rh  of the two governments, supplied him with excellent means of producing an impartial history of the war. This, he states in his preface, was his aim; and it must be admitted that he has succeeded as far as all reasonable expectation could desire. The work contains an account of all the operations during the war, down to the time of the evacuation of Mexico, preceded by an introductory chapter on Mexican relations with the U. S. previous to the breaking-out of hostilities. Ripley criticises the military movements of the different generals on either side, his observations being made with reference to the approved maxims of great military men. Both Scott's and Taylor's errors in generalship are exposed, as well as those of their opponents. At times the author is somewhat prolix. He supplies good plans of all the principal battle-fields.

Scott's Memoirs. 8vo, 2 vol., pp. xxii. 653. New York, 1864. The first volume is devoted to the early life of the autobiographer, and to his career while serving in the U. S. army in Canada, and during the Chippewa and Black Hawk wars. About 250 pages of the second volume are occupied with the Mexican war and matters connected with it. But little information is obtained from the general's narrative additional to that furnished in his own despatches, which he frequently reproduces in the Memoirs. He gives some account of his differences with the U. S. government and Taylor, which could be of vital importance to no one but himself. He enters, moreover, into an explanation of his quarrel with Trist — pp. 576-80 — attributing its initiation to feelings of mutual dislike that accidently arose between them at Washington, and to his own belief that the commissioner's known prejudice against him had much weight in his appointment. The offensive tone of Trist's letters is attributed to ill health; Scott speaks of him as a most amiable companion, and regrets that he was afterward neglected by the U. S. government.

Raphael Semmes, Service Afloat and Ashore during the Mexican War. 8vo, pp. 479. Cincinnati, 1851. The author was flag-lieut of the U. S. home squadron operating in the gulf of Mexico. After the capture of Vera Cruz, he was despatched to the seat of the Mexican government to treat about the exchange of prisoners. In the prosecution of this mission he joined the American army at Jalapa, and was attached to Scott's staff as a volunteer aide-de-camp. From this time he followed that general till his entry into the Mexican capital, and had ample opportunities not only of obtaining material for a history of that campaign, but also of making himself familiar with the habits and customs of the Mexican people. His work, which from its title would lead the reader to suppose it confined to naval and military operations, is largely taken up with descriptions of the people and country and Mexican history, the portions of it devoted to the war being comparatively small. The work met with so favorable a reception by the public that within a year a second edition was issued. This induced the publishers, in the absence of the author, to issue an abridged form, omitting those portions not directly connected with the campaign under Scott, who was then a candidate for the presidency. The title assumed for this smaller 8vo of 367 pages is: The Campaign of General Scott in the Valley of Mexico; by Lieut Raphael Semmes, U. S. N. Cincinnati, 1852.

Edward D. Mansfield, The Mexican War: A History of its Origin, and a Detailed Account of the Victories, etc. 8vo, pp. 365. New York, 1849. This work is valuable as being based chiefly upon public documents, copies of which occupy a large portion of it. Its principal characteristic is an absence of prejudice, and an evident desire for impartiality. On pages 143-62 will be found a translation of Santa Anna's account of the battle of Buena Vista. The author remarks in his preface that he has 'felt no pleasure in tracing the causes which led to this war.' Only a rapid sketch is given of the events connected with New Mexico and California. Mansfield was a graduate of the U. S. military academy. During the time of Scott's candidateship Mansfield published Life and Services of General Winfield Scott. 8vo,