Public-domain ebook
The War with Mexico, Volume 1 (of 2)
Language: en1,434 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: History - American·History - Modern (1750+)·History - Warfare
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #44437.
About this book
The work is a scholarly, two‑volume history of the Mexican‑American War, published in 1919 by the Macmillan Company and written by Justin H. Smith, a former professor of modern history at Dartmouth College. The opening pages explain the book’s physical layout, side‑page headers, map illustrations, and extensive notes, before launching into a preface that argues the conflict has been eclipsed by later wars yet remains worthy of study for its territorial stakes, diplomatic complexity, and the lessons it offers about conducting military operations in distant, unfamiliar lands. Smith emphasizes the breadth of his research, citing personal examination of more than 100,000 manuscripts, 1,200 books and pamphlets, and 200 periodicals, as well as access to archives in the United States, Mexico, and several European nations. He also notes fieldwork in Mexico, conversations with veterans, and the assistance of prominent officials, all aimed at producing a “correct and complete view” of the war.
The narrative combines a formal, early‑20th‑century academic voice with meticulous citation practices, reflecting the era’s emphasis on exhaustive documentation. Smith’s style is dense but readable, interweaving political, diplomatic, and military analysis rather than offering a purely tactical account. Readers who enjoy detailed historiography, primary‑source scholarship, and a comprehensive treatment of 19th‑century American expansionism will find this volume rewarding, especially those with an interest in the interplay of war, nation‑building, and international relations.
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Right-side page headers contained descriptions of the current topics covered by the two open pages. These were retained and are placed on separate lines prior to the paragraph where the topic is introduced, and enclosed in brackets, as [Sidenotes]. The choice of that position is not always obvious and should be regarded as approximate. Should the topic persist over multiple pages, any redundant headers have been removed.
Illustrations, all but one of them maps, are denoted with square brackets as [Illustration: <caption>] at approximately the point where they were printed. The captions are usually printed on the maps themselves. Where there is no obvious title to the map, the caption has been provided from the table of illustrations.
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