Θ THE OTHER SIDE: OR NOTES FOR THE HISTORY OF THE WAR BETWEEN MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES. WRITTEN IN MEXICO. TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH, AND EDITED, WITH NOTES, BY ALBERT C. RAMSEY, COLONEL OF THE ELEVENTH UNITED STATES INFANTRY DURING THE WAR WITH PORTRAITS OF DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS, PLANS OF BATTLES, TABLES OF FORCES, JOHN WILEY, 1.61 BROADWAY, AND 13 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON. 7374,8 43510859 ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by JOHN WILEY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. T. B. SMITH, STEREOTYPER, 216 WILLIAM STREET. PREFACE. Ir is seldom that a work is presented to the public possessing the double attraction of a literary curiosity, and also one side of a great question entirely original. This book is believed to be the first Mexican historical production which has been deemed worthy of a translation into the English language; and its excellence will insure for its authors a high celebrity as men of taste, learning, and practical discrimination. For these reasons alone it will receive attention. But as an important addition to history, and that especially of the United States, its claims to notice are too numerous to be neglected, or passed in silence. It is true that in one respect it has many errors and mistakes, when speaking of the American operations, opinions, and views: but at the same time it must be remembered that American reports, notes, letters, and books, abound with a still greater number of errors and mistakes, when touching on the Mexican policy and measures. In fact, the latter are far better informed on subjects pertaining to the United States, than are the American people informed on subjects pertaining to Mexico. No better illustration of this remark can be afforded than this work itself. The original intention was not to translate these notes separately, but to incorporate them into a larger history on the war between the two Republics. But being under the obligation of a promise to some of these authors and others of high literary attainments in Mexico to give that nation a fair hearing on so grave a subject, it was finally deemed best to give their story as they have told it. Thus the duty has been discharged, and no further responsibility to them remains than what truth and candor always demand from every writer. For this reason, also, notes have been very sparingly added which might contradict the text; and, in fact, such intention is foreign to this edition. The whole object has been to render faithfully the spirit and meaning of the original, and as such is its only claim to consideration. The notes appended are purely for illustration, and without which many passages would be only imperfectly understood, that were intended for Mexican readers. Therefore the passing over any important event must not be inferred to give assent to what is stated. But, once for all, it may be declared that the intention to write a faithful history was entertained by these authors, and they have performed the task to the best of their fidelity and abilities. To any person at all acquainted with the bitterness of party spirit in Mexico, and the immense stake in life and property involved in their civil contests, it will be amazing how such an impartial history as this could have been composed. The omissions casually indicated in the pages show but too plainly that some circumstances have been entirely suppressed, from the want of agreement among themselves as to the truth. They have, however, briefly made known |