The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 104, July 2000 - April, 2001 Page: 121

Book Reviews

itself to a certain spaciousness and catholicity. Furthermore, it incorporates
material that has been known for at least a decade as the so-called "new school"
of military history.
For those whose particular interests lie in areas related to Texas history, there
are additional rewards although some of the material remains incidental and
unattached to the central thrust of the encyclopedia. Nevertheless, for those inter-
ested in such matters, they will find references to James Bowie, David Crockett,
Anson Jones, James P. Henderson, Texas Tories, Rancho Davis, and others. To be
sure, this information is accessible elsewhere and in a more complete form, but its
inclusion in this single volume doubtless is a convenience to the reader.
It is a pleasure to draw attention to the maps. Some are period pieces. Robert
Wilson's "Valley of Mexico," William Emory's "The United States and Their
Territories," and the "Battle of Cerro Gordo," by Maj. W. Turnbull and Capt. J.
McClellan (often confused with G. B. McClellan) are examples. For the most
part, however, the editor himself is the volume's cartographer, and he has done
a very good job. Maps not easily available, such as "The Siege of Fort Texas, 3-10
May 1846," and "The National Road to Mexico City, Profile of Elevation" are
particularly helpful and welcome inclusions. Additional useful information is
contained in the twelve appendices.
In sum, the work is a solid, attractive, well-turned-out, one-volume reference
that should prove useful for years to come. There is little adversely to criticize. It
is pithy, balanced, and attractive. The reviewer offers only one suggestion, and it
in no way detracts from the work's worth. It would be nice to see the editor
expand this brief volume into a more massive, multi-volume offering complete
with annotative references; such an effort would be of enormous value. To cite a
single example, Perry Jamieson's excellent entries on both American and
Mexican military tactics, already among the more nearly complete descriptions,
could be even longer inasmuch as one could enjoy an elaboration on his incisive
comments. What is true for Jamieson is no less true for others. Should such a
massive effort be produced, one would hope it could come under the already
impressive editorship of Donald Frazier.
Southwest Texas State University James W. Pohl
The U.S-Mexican War (i846-z848). Documentary educational version. By Carol &
Thomas Christensen. (Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton: KERA TV, 1998. Pp.
x+244 + 2 video. Epilogue, legacy, final words, time line, bibliography,
image credits, index. ISBN 0-912333-44-8. $175.00, paper & videos.)
It has been more than a century and a half since the end of the U.S.-Mexican
War, but like the U.S. Civil War, many of the wounds caused by this conflict have
yet to heal. In their four-hour video series and companion workbook, Dallas PBS
station KERA has done an admirable job of addressing not only the military issues,
but also the legacy and consequences of this struggle between two neighbors.
The video features both American and Mexican historians who eloquently
provide insightful analysis and perspective on the politics of nineteenth-century

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