Gone for Soldiers : A Novel of the Mexican War

Rating:
Summary: I liked it
Review: Following the approach of the 3 Civil war books, we take a ride with Robert E. Lee and Winfield Scott through the landings at Vera Cruz with the march to Chapultepec and Mexico City.

The chapter tags are mainly:

Robert E. Lee the old new captain(40 years old) immediatly shows his talent for the battle field as a scout and engineer which is immediatly recognised by Winfield Scott. You watch him perform his functions with skill and daring and yet still have moments of doubt. You watch him grow into the postion and see the makings of the future commander of the South.

Winfield Scott, ol Fuss and Feathers, comes to highly regard Lee and shows it by desiring his company more then his staff. Scott the commanding General deals with goverment politics, glory hunting divisional comanders as he tries to lead the army in a new way of combat versus the outdated principles of Napoleon. The author did a good job at trying to get his feeling for the man across. He a soldier to the core and dispises political people and the glory seekers. He can't stand his son-in-law, his adjunt, and he torments his Sargent to no end. You see him become a diplomat and is actually offered Dictatorship of Mexico. All in all you get a good introduction to one of America's best and probably most unknown generals. Much of his acomplishments were overshadowed by the Civil War. A tribute to the man is the fact that the West Point Uniforms are the uniforms Scott's troops wore in the War of 1812. Also, the Duke of Wellington called him the best soldier of his generation.

Along the way you meet other personalities.

The dark and brooding Thomas Jackson as Lee remarked "This man needs War" You get to a chapter of his famous duel with Mexican Cannons at Chapultepec.

Ulysis S. Grant and his attack at the gates of Mexico City.
Joseph E. Johnston - you see who the friendship was developed with Lee and later lost in the Civil War.

Pete Longstreet
George Picket.
Commadore Mathew Perry.
P.G.T Beuregard

All in all it's a good read and will give you a taste of an ignored war.