“M is for Mexican War [1846-1848]. Following the War of 1812, many Americans—including a number of South Carolinians—migrated west where they obtained liberal land grants from the Mexican government. The successful 1836 Texas revolution laid the seeds for potential conflict, especially once Texas became one of the United States. The war began when Mexican forces ambushed an American patrol. John C. Calhoun opposed the war, believing it posed a grave danger to southern political power. The first Palmetto Regiment of ten companies was not called to active service; a reformed regiment did serve with distinction. When peace came in 1848, the survivors mustered out in Mobile, Alabama, and had to find their own way home. By the end of the year, the Mexican War was all but forgotten in South Carolina.
Dr. Walter Edgar has two programs on South Carolina Public Radio: Walter Edgar's Journal, and South Carolina from A to Z. Dr. Edgar received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1969. After two years in the army (including a tour of duty in Vietnam), he returned to USC as a post-doctoral fellow of the National Archives, assigned to the Papers of Henry Laurens.