Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

Vi INTRODUCTION.
esting events in which the troops of Ohio participatad, together with
such incidents of Taylor's campaign as seemed necessary to afford
the general reader a clear, connected, and comprehensive view of
the war in Northern MIexico. He has quoted only such Orders,
-Dispatches and official documents as were required to elucidate the
narrative; the interest of which he has sought to enhance by occasional extracts from the only history of the war as yet published
by Mexicans. To his surviving fellow-soldiers, who are all doubtless content (for the true soldier is never covetous of praise,) with
the meager account of their -services moldering in the archives of
the War-Department, these chapters may serve to recall many
scenes which time, perhaps, has already partially effaced from the
tablet of memory. An eye-witness of what he describes, the
writer confidently claims for it the belief of the reader; for
though his little book be but a trifling contribution to the history of
the war, it is one of facts,-collected from notes taken almost daily
during the campaign.
It has been no part of his purpose to discuss in these pages the
question of " the origin of the war." Concerning that, our politicians have scarcely yet ceased to pass resolutions and malie
speeches. The mists of passion and prejudice still hang like the
smoke wreaths of battle over the unfortunate controversy. Time
will soon dissipate them, and the impartial pen- of some future
historian will treat the subject in a manner which its magnitude
and interest and justice to both nations require.
However the final decision of the grave question of its causes
may-affect the character of our government, all will agree that its
prosecution and results redound greatly to the credit and permanent
benefit of the United States. For, to judge it fairly,-as a military
transaction,-the numbers and positions of the forces actually