This is Buck T - I was hoping some of you might be able to recommend a good book on the Mexican-American war that is a pleasurable read and reasonably concise. Not looking for a long, dry, academic account. Thanks in advance.

Hey Buck, no fighting in the War room! Where you been?

Overall: So Far From God by Dwight Eisenhower's son John
From the Mexican perspective: A Glorious Defeat by Henderson
Recent: A Wicked War by Greenberg
Historical Novel (but still good): Gone for Soldiers by Michael Sharra's (Killer Angels and For Love of the Game) son Jeff.

Thanks, I bought So Far From God on Amazon. This is one area of US History where I have not studied at all.

good suggestions !

I remember the Eisenhower book as pretty good
also the Shaarra book was interesting

Mr Polk's army I read but don't remember any stirring history - but a very detailed analysis

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Polks-Army-American-Experience/dp/1585440337/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1519839974&sr=8-19&keywords=war+with+mexican

The Ike book is a good one. He also does a good job with the Mexican Revolution as well.

Mexico City is a quick (and relatively cheap) trip from Dallas or Houston. The Convent of Churubusco, Chapultepec Castle and the Zocolo are all relatively close in proximity. Those sites were key points in the war. The Convent (now museum of intervention) is pretty neat. Always seems empty. Frida Khalo's house is nearby as well (if interested.)

For those in the know: I am trying to figure out which San Patricio Brigade member was spared the gallows pole and ended up fighting for the Union at Gettysburg?

I've never heard of that before and doubt it is true. I think 35 were put on trial and 7 were spared. The seven spared, Including John Riley, were lashed severely and then branded with "Ds" for Deserter, evidently two of the seven were branded on the hip versus the face and supposedly Riley was branded twice, the first time with a backwards D. He supposedly endured the lashing without a cry but gave it up when he was branded on the face.

The seven survivors supposedly either stayed in Mexico taking land promised to them by the government or returned to Ireland. None went back to the US that I have ever read.

I read a book about the "San Patricio Batallion" I forget the name of it but in all 72 were captured and 50 were executed, 30 at Chapultepec, the 16 at San Angel,4 at Mixocac Village(2 were hanged and 2 were killed by firing squad, only reason they were shot was because they were captured and joined under protest and did not fire on U.S troops). One San Patricio was recognized when Chapultepec surrendered and was shot on sight. Most Patricio's did not live off of the Mexican land since there were a large number of fraudulent claims by other deserters who tried to pass themselves off as Patricios.

Interesting note, the effectiveness of the San Patricio's led indirectly to the rise of ethnic units such as the Irish Brigade, the IX corp and other units as they felt Irish would fight better with fellow Irish and the same with Germans