mexican war - Scott J. Pearson’s Book Review

James K. Polk by John Seigenthaler

By Scott J. Pearson | September 27, 2023October 20, 2023 by Scott J. Pearson

US President James Polk (1845-1849) elicits strong opinions from those aware of his record. They either love him for his effectiveness and performance or hate him for his difficult personality and the Mexican War. So-called “Young Hickory,” styling himself after “Old Hickory” Andrew Jackson, Polk set out to be a one-term president and to accomplish four specific goals outlined in his inaugural. He accomplished all of them and died a few months after leaving the…

A Ballad of Love & Glory: A Novel

By Scott J. Pearson | December 3, 2021December 3, 2021 by Scott J. Pearson

Many historians consider America’s Mexican War of the 1840s to be an unjust war, one primarily waged to grab land for the extension of slavery and thus of human greed. Because of this motive and rampant nativism in the US Army, many immigrant soldiers deserted the American army to join the Mexican forces. This story tells of these soldiers’ formation of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion (many immigrants were Irish) and of their historical leader John…