Excellent coverage of the military and political aspects of the war Any war is a complicated equation requiring multiple authors and perspectives. In this case reviewing the Mexican colonial period and revolution and early American Republic history are all worthwhile in order to better understand where the Mexican War fits within the bigger picture of North American development in the early to mid1800s.Within the parameters of the subject matter covered in this book the author does an excellent job of helping us understand the American political environment as it affects the instigation and prosecution of the war. This provides an excellent background against which the war itself plays out. The author colors in this background with stories of the main players each army's expedition and the major outcomes of each battle. Battle descriptions are tasteful and concise with no hint of jingoism or derogation of Mexico its military leaders or its people.In conclusion this book is wellwritten and the author makes history come alive which is a rare skill for an historian. The book should be a mustread for anybody interested in studying 19th Century American history.
A Great Survey of the MexicanAmerican War I was required to read this book for a military history class and it was used as the main source for battle presentations we did for the war.The book surveys all the major battles including some skirmishes and includes the social & political contexts for both sides as well as fights within the U.S. admin on who should execute certain campaigns in other words political fights.The professor had 1 correction to make Eisenhower refers to Arnold Gillespie but according to the USMC his name is Archibald Gillespie.I found to be a great intro to the war.
Needs a Little More Context This book is a good introduction to the Mexican War for those who are relatively new to the subject matter as I was. You will come away feeling you know about the events of the war. I was a little dissapointed however in the relative lack of political context around the war. The author injects little snippets here and there of the political context but it is very limited and fragmented. And what there is tends to focus more on the personal fueds between and among generals and politicians which is mostly unnecessary and distracting.There are some very interesting political and cultural questions surrounding this small war that have enormous implications. For example the clear connection between expansionism and the growing slavery dispute between north and south. What about the extraordinary fact that it was at heart a war of conquer and conquest of territory? What of the political debate between Democrats who wanted to annex all of Mexico to the U.S.
A Good Introduction Eisenhower's So Far From God is a good book on the subject of the Mexican War but when compared to others on the same subject it's perhaps not as strong. Some of the other reviewers seemed to crave something more more about the Mexican Army and the Mexican People. Well there are other books that do cover those things. So Far From God should be viewed as a good introduction to the military history of the conflict. More recent publications deal with the big picture the politics and the social history etc. Eisenhower's book is a fair treatment however especially considering that when it was published few authors other than Bauer the master on the military side of this conflict had offered much in the way of a history of the Mexican War.Eisenhower deals fairly with the leaders the generals and the Mexican officers and leaders as well. The plain fact is that the Mexican Army performed terribly as a whole despite the valiant efforts of many units and individuals and seldom if ever succeeded in defeating the American Army in any serious engagement. While Bauer's The Mexican War is still the finest military history of the conflict and Winders Mr. Polk's Army the best social study of the American Army on the subject So Far From God remains a steady and accurate depiction of this brief but complicated war.
Very good This is a very readable summary history of the war told in a straightforward style. I do have my usual criticism of such histories inadequate maps.
The best book on this war Interest in the war with Mexico fluctuates from low to none. Most authors simply do not consider this war as anything but a precursor to the American Civil War. These histories focus not on this war but on the junior officers that were important in the next one. This book focuses on the War with Mexico as a standalone event and as part of America's history. In doing so the book is both unique and important. John S. D. Eisenhower is an excellent writer and a respected historian with a number of excellent books to his credit. This is one of his better ones and could be the best overview of this war. It is readable intelligent and accurate with the right amount of looking forward to 1861.
Complete Unjudgemental History of the Mexican War A complete alalysis of the almost forgotten war with Mexico. Mr. Eisenhower leaves judgement to the reader and gives a detailed discription of the war and its battleswith good maps. He introduces many of the future players in the civil war. If the book is written by an Eisenhower it is worth readingin my experiance.
So close to the United States John S.D. Eisenhower is one of the best writers of military history because he can tell you what happened why and how without getting too judgmental about the events. Who was in the wrong is left up to the reader. Was the United States too greedy? Was Mexico too proud?He gives us the facts but in a form that makes it seem like a great military novel. Tons of maps a complete index and the sequence of events in the back of the book all help to support his writing and make things even clearer. There is even two Appendixes Mexico in 1844 and Artillery Used in the Mexican War that you may find helpful.But outside of the weapons used by the soldiers the tactics used by the armies and the battles fought all over the landscape the author brings to life many of the people involved many of which we would meet later in the American Civil War.A must for any library dealing with American History Military History and Mexican History.
Not Eisenhower's best effort Long a fan of Eisenhower's Bitter Woods book about the Ardennes OffensiveI was eager to read his account of the Mexican War. While his account can certainly be called exhaustive it is too often clouded by his personal biases in which he interjects totally superfluous and unwanted opinions about just about everything. He seems to actually believe that he can read minds because most of what he says can only be considered pure speculation something usually undesirable in a history text. He is also quite arrogantin presuming his ethics superior to virtually all persons he writes aboutalthough rather amazingly he writes little of the actions of R.E. Lee a true hero of the war and one Ike Jr would have a tough time finding fault with having been described later by Scott as the very best soldier I have ever seen on a battlefield when he advised Lincoln to select Lee to head the Union army as the Civil War loomed. You'd never know that from reading Eisenhower's text. But perhaps Eisenhower's greatest sin is his penchant fortrying to explain actions of the Mexicans and their government and why Mexico was such a basket case from way before that long ago war until the present day. He certainly is at home describing military actions and strategy but his sociology and civics lecturering is absurdly nonsensical and rather arrogantly condescending concerning just about every one.What a colossal disappointment this book has been.
The US Military Campaign in the Mexican War So Far from God by John S. D. Eisenhower brigadier general in the Army Reserve ambassador to Belgium and president's son is a military history of the Mexican War of 184648. The title is taken from the quote from Mexican General Porfirio Diaz Poor Mexico! So far from God and so close to the United States.I read this book as a counterpoint to A Country of Vast Designs by Robert W. Merry which I have also reviewed on Amazon.com. While Merry's book is historically factual and very well written it did leave me with the feeling that he was less than objective in his favorable treatment of President Polk. Eisenhower's book is a good counterpoint in that it is also historically factual provides far more detail on military tactics and is not biased in favor of Polk. If Eisenhower displays any bias it is toward the field commanders Generals Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor in their dealings with Polk. I can't find much to criticize about Taylor's dealings with the president but I believe there was plenty of fault to be shared between Scott and Polk. Scott was a superb field commander who planned and executed the amphibious landing of his army at Veracruz capture of that city overland march capture of Mexico City and occupation of that city almost flawlessly. He was cited by no less authority than the Duke of Wellington as the greatest living soldier. However Scott was also egotistical insubordinate to both the President and the Secretary of War and fully deserving of his troops' nickname Old Fuss and Feathers.My only criticism of Eisenhower's book is that it needs a better editor. Senator Lewis Cass is cited as the senator from Ohio he represented Michigan. Polk's emissary to John C. Fremont who commanded a US Army expedition in California was US Marine Lieutenant Archibald H. Gillespie Eisenhower renames him Arnold H. Gillespie. These are perhaps trivial errors but they leave me wondering what other errors I might have missed.If you are looking for a detailed description of the US military campaign in the Mexican War read Eisenhower's book.
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