The Training Ground

"This book gives an interesting sidelight on the Mexican War and a foretaste of the American Civil War."-Stan Moore, Denver Westerners Roundup -- Stan Moore * Denver Westerners Roundup * "The Training Ground is an interesting, often insightful account of the experiences of U.S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman and Jefferson Davis during the Mexican War. . . . Worth a read for anyone interested in the Civil War and the development of senior military leadership."-A. A. Nofi, NYMAS Review -- A. A. Nofi * NYMAS Review * "Canny in its depictions of intriguing, powerful personalities and Machiavellian politics, meticulous in its textured battlefield and logistical descriptions, The Training Ground has the fast-paced feel of a good historical novel, but it's all well-researched fact."-American History * American History * "Dugard's spirited narrative animates a group of men whose force of character, professional skill and ability to think outside conventional limits revitalized the sclerotic army."-Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly * "Action-packed and peopled by intriguing characters."-Kirkus Reviews * Kirkus *

Martin Dugard is the New York Times best-selling author of such nonfiction titles as The Last Voyage of Columbus, Farther Than Any Man, Knockdown, Chasing Lance, and Into Africa.

Author's NoteAppomattoxPrologueBook One: Line in the SandOne: Corpus ChristiTwo: Rio GrandeThree: Rough and ReadyFour: Fields of FireFive: Call to BattleSix: Fort TexasSeven: ClashEight: Resaca de la PalmaNine: Brown BessTen: VolunteersEleven: Growing UpBook Two: Taylor's WarTwelve: CamargoThirteen: Star-Spangled BannerFourteen: Eager for ActionFifteen: First MississippiSixteen: The WesternerSeventeen: The RiflesEighteen: Supply TrainNineteen: PreludeTwenty: Monterrey, Day OneTwenty-One: Monterrey, Day TwoTwenty-Two: The MortarBook Three: Politics and WarTwenty-Three: Change of CommandTwenty-Four: The Perils of OccupationTwenty-Five: Policy and PowerBook Four: Scott's WarTwenty-Six: TransfersTwenty-Seven: The Artillery OfficerTwenty-Eight: One Step CloserTwenty-Nine: CaliforniaThirty: Taylor Stands AloneThirty-One: The HaciendaThirty-Two: Lobos IslandThirty-Three: InvasionThirty-Four: National RoadThirty-Five: Twiggs's DilemmaThirty-Six: ReconnaissanceThirty-Seven: Pressing the AdvantageBook Five: The Aztec ClubThirty-Eight: "Nothing Can Stop This Army"Thirty-Nine: Old GloryForty: ConquestForty-One: Fourth of JulyEpilogueAcknowledgmentsAppendix AAppendix BAppendix CSelected Notes and BiographiesSelected BibliographyIndex