Overview

The “Mississippi Rifles,” so called because they were the firstvolunteer force in American history to have been issued riflesrather than smoothbore muskets, served in the war againstMexico that followed the annexation of Texas in 1845. InPanting for Glory, Richard Bruce Winders skillfully uncovers the contrasting wartime experience of two regiments, the 1st and 2ndMississippi Rifles. The 1st Mississippi Rifles were lauded for their service andremain a familiar part of the history of the Mexican War. Underthe leadership of Col. Jefferson Davis—later the President ofthe Confederate States of America—the 1st enjoyed significantvictories at the Battle of Buena Vista and the Battle of Monterey.The 2nd Mississippi Rifles, by contrast, saw little action andreturned home overlooked and largely forgotten. Panting for Glory contrasts these two experiences to show that the contours of history were sometimes arbitrary and that militaryhistorians, in their analysis of failure, should take into account awide range of factors that influence outcomes, not merely recordsof wins and losses. As Winders concludes, “the 1st and 2ndMississippi Rifles . . . offer the perfect opportunity to examine twosides of war: glory gained and glory denied.”

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9781623494162

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admirably details the life of both units from their inception in mid and late 1846 until each was mustered out of the service in 1847 and 1848 Timothy D. Johnson, author of<i>A Gallant Little Army: The Mexico City Campaign</i>--Tim Johnson (02/12/2016)

.. . admirably details the life of both units from their inception in mid and late 1846 until each was mustered out of the service in 1847 and 1848... -- Timothy D. Johnson, author of A Gallant Little Army: The Mexico City Campaign-- (02/12/2016) Bruce Winders's Panting for Glory: The Mississippi Rifles in the Mexican War sheds new light on the role of the Mississippi volunteers in the Mexican War....a smooth-running narrative from beginning to end... --Christopher D. Dishman, author of A Perfect Gibraltar: The Battle for Monterrey, Mexico, 1846 -- (02/12/2016) It captures the excitement of the battle and contrasts that with the boredom of guard duty... This work effectively shows how the service of these two unites exemplifies the way opportunity and chance affects what kind of war a soldier experiences. --Military Heritage --Southwestern Historical Quarterly

admirably details the life of both units from their inception in mid and late 1846 until each was mustered out of the service in 1847 and 1848 Timothy D. Johnson, author of A Gallant Little Army: The Mexico City Campaign --Tim Johnson (02/12/2016)

Author Information

Richard Bruce Winders is the historian and curator of the Alamo. He is the author of numerous books, including Mr. Polk’s Army: The American Military Experience in the Mexican War and Sacrificed at the Alamo: Tragedy and Triumph in the Texas Revolution.

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