"When the author of the following letters was taking his rough and hurried notes in the confusion of the march, and sometimes during the din of battle, he had little thought of giving them to the world. The friend [David Holmes Conrad, cf. footnote], however, to whom the letters were addressed ... recommended their publication, to which the author assented on condition of that gentleman's making the campaign complete by giving, from official documents, the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. This he was kind enough to undertake, and from his pen came the spirited sketches at the end of this volume"--Page [i]. Signatures: pi² 1-20⁶ 21⁴.

Appendix (pages [199]-247): The siege of Vera Cruz (pages 201-212); Cerro Gordo / David Holmes Conrad (pages [213]-225) -- List of officers of the U.S. Army and volunteers, who were engaged in the battles of the valley of Mexico (pages 226-247).