Friends in Mexico, foes at Gettysburg: West Point's path

"To characterize the Mexican-American War as only a training ground for the officers who would later serve on both sides in the Civil War is a simplification and a disservice to all who fought between 1846 and 1848, but, at the same time, there is truth to the label. The Mexican-American War provided the theater in which many of the most famous Civil War generals learned the art of warfare firsthand, and they made use of those lessons later to great effect."

"It was during the Mexican-American War that these men developed the strategy and tactics that would dominate the Civil War. Some of these strategies and tactics include: Acknowledging the importance of speed The use of massive artillery bombardments to weaken an enemy's defenses, which was followed by a large-scale infantry assault The importance of reconnaissance and reconnoitering Additionally, many of these prominent generals became acquainted with one another through their service in the war."

The Mexican-American War served as a formative combat experience for numerous West Point graduates who later became leading generals in the American Civil War. Officers learned practical lessons in maneuver, the value of speed, coordinated artillery bombardments preceding infantry assaults, and the importance of reconnaissance. Shared service also revealed personal temperaments, leadership styles, and professional relationships that influenced later commands. Two senior commanders, Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, mentored many of these officers, shaping tactics and approaches; Scott influenced Robert E. Lee while Taylor influenced Ulysses S. Grant. The war therefore shaped military technique and interpersonal knowledge used by both Union and Confederate leaders.

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