Veracruz

[Re: “What We Learned from the Battle of Veracruz,” by Lt. Col. Robert Mackey, June:]. Mackey wrote that William T. Sherman was a participant in the fighting in Mexico. Alas, he was not, much to his disgust and frustration. Instead, he was sent to California, which had previously been seized by American forces.

One other clarification: The author states that Matthew Perry was in command of naval forces during the battle. Actually, David Conner was the senior naval officer in the early phase of the operation and was in command during the successful amphibious landing. Overdue for retirement, he was relieved by Perry between the time of the landings and the surrender of Veracruz. So the author is correct, but I thought I’d add my bit recognizing the important contribution of Commodore Conner.

Jim Roberts
Long Beach, Calif.

Robert Mackey responds: While Sherman was a latecomer to the war, it was a seminal event in putting the important role of the West Point–trained professional, vs. the militia leader, as the senior “war fighter” in the minds of most Americans. The Civil War would prove that once again, as men from new graduates of the Class of ’61 to older soldiers such as Sherman, Jackson, et al., were the first to be placed in positions of responsibility on both sides.