Pam C. (PamC) reviewed The Mexican War Correspondence of Richard Smith Elliott (American Exploration and Travel Series) on + 117 more book reviews
From the dust cover: When General Stephen Watts Kearny's Army of the West marched into Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 18, 1846, Richard Smith Elliott, a young Missouri volunteer, was included in its ranks. In addition to Lieutenant Elliott's duties in the Laclede Rangers, he served as a regular correspondent to the St. Louis Reveille. An entertaining and educated observer, Elliott provided readers back home with an account of the grueling march over the famous Santa Fe Trail, the triumphant entry of the army into Santa Fe, the U.S. Occupation of New Mexico, and the volunteers' eventual return to St. Louis.
Noted southwestern scholar Mark L. Gardner and Marc Simmons present here, for the first time, all of Elliott's letters published in the Reveille under his nom-de-plume, John Brown, using passages from his autobiography for the same period to fill in a break resulting from a few missing letters. Also included are Elliott's literary sketches, drawn from his Mexican War experiences and the people he met and served with. The editors' introduction and comprehensive notes provide insight into Elliott's political, social, and literary milieu and into the historical background of the people and places he portrayed.
Elliott's correspondence invokes the nope and fears of the men, the drudgery and hardship of the long mark to Santa Fe, and the comraderie of the troops. Including details of the resistance to U.S. occupation, the bloody Taos Revolt, and the military campaign that crushed the insurgents, Richard Smith Elliott's writings provide a fascinating firsthand account of the American Southwest during perhaps its most tumultuous period.
Noted southwestern scholar Mark L. Gardner and Marc Simmons present here, for the first time, all of Elliott's letters published in the Reveille under his nom-de-plume, John Brown, using passages from his autobiography for the same period to fill in a break resulting from a few missing letters. Also included are Elliott's literary sketches, drawn from his Mexican War experiences and the people he met and served with. The editors' introduction and comprehensive notes provide insight into Elliott's political, social, and literary milieu and into the historical background of the people and places he portrayed.
Elliott's correspondence invokes the nope and fears of the men, the drudgery and hardship of the long mark to Santa Fe, and the comraderie of the troops. Including details of the resistance to U.S. occupation, the bloody Taos Revolt, and the military campaign that crushed the insurgents, Richard Smith Elliott's writings provide a fascinating firsthand account of the American Southwest during perhaps its most tumultuous period.
Leo T. reviewed The Mexican War Correspondence of Richard Smith Elliott (American Exploration and Travel Series) on + 1775 more book reviews
Elliott was a printer by trade, a lawyer by profession, and interested in public service throughout his life. He was part of the Volunteers raised in St. Louis that went to Santa Fe and occupied New Mexico.
s the authors note in their excellent introduction, this was America's first war that gained foreign territory (Indian wars and General Jackson's operations in Florida not counted). They are careful students of Elliott's career and have found numerous period photos to illustrate this well-bound book. Index, bibliography, and extensive endnotes.
Obtaining microfilm of the St. Louis Reveille, where Lt. Elliott's dispatches were printed, was admittedly wonderful in compiling this book. One recalls that Mark Twain's writings published in various issues of Nevada Territory newspapers have not survived.
s the authors note in their excellent introduction, this was America's first war that gained foreign territory (Indian wars and General Jackson's operations in Florida not counted). They are careful students of Elliott's career and have found numerous period photos to illustrate this well-bound book. Index, bibliography, and extensive endnotes.
Obtaining microfilm of the St. Louis Reveille, where Lt. Elliott's dispatches were printed, was admittedly wonderful in compiling this book. One recalls that Mark Twain's writings published in various issues of Nevada Territory newspapers have not survived.
