The Mexican Paradox
passed. Destitute of equipment and transportation, they were compelled to fret in idleness until discharged. Called out for three months they returned home without the satisfaction of having fired a shot. Their losses by death were 145 — just 25 less than were killed and wounded in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Casualties of carelessness nearly equaled those of battle. Which is a mighty good reason why men should hate to volunteer, and expose themselves to a futile death.
Now think of this: While some 20,000 volunteers were hastily dispatched to the theater of war, not a solitary wagon reached General Taylor until after his capture of Monterey. The fact of it is, there was neither gossip nor information on file at Washington as to whether or not wagons could be used in Mexico. We had no Bureau of Military Statistics. When Taylor began his march on Monterey with 6,000 men, for lack of transportation and subsistence he was compelled to leave behind him 6,000 other men.
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