Leaders for Manifest Destiny: American Volunteer Colonels Serving in the U.S.‐Mexican War

Abstract

As regimental commanders, American volunteer colonels were vital to their nation’s effort in the U.S.‐Mexican War, raising volunteer soldiers who agreed to serve outside U.S. boundaries. Fourteen of 63 colonels belonged to the Whig party, indicating that Whigs were not monolithic in opposing the war. The colonels accumulated a mixed wartime record of leadership, and their backgrounds varied greatly. Some had no military experience prior to 1846, but others had graduated form West Point, served in the Regular Army, seen combat in war or on the frontier, or held rank in a state militia. The colonels also varied widely in holding political office before and after the war. Several of them were experienced politicians before 1846 and later held notable offices after the war, showing that most colonels were recognized figures in their state.