University of New Mexico Press The Journal of James A. Brush: The Expedition and Military Operations of General Don Francisco Xavier Mina in Mexico, 1816-1817

Review Racine and Lloyd's edition of the Brush account provides valuable insight on the Mina expedition, with detailed observations on the civilian population during wartime, royalist and rebel commanders' relations with local communities, and Mina's ill-fated struggle to transform his multinational band of adventurers into a new leadership for Mexican independence. This is a uniquely important primary source, with particular relevance for scholars interested in the transnational context of revolution in the Atlantic World.--Barry M. Robinson, author of The Mark of Rebels: Indios Fronterizos and Mexican Independence Product Description Editors Karen Racine and Graham Lloyd provide extensive insight into the Mina expedition during the revolution of Mexican independence as captured in the journal of James A. Brush. General Xavier Mina believed that the best way to overthrow tyranny in Spain was to fight for the independence of the American colonies. A Scottish officer who fought with the British army against Napoleon, Brush joined Mina in 1815 and set sail to Mexico thereafter. Available in English for the first time, this primary document detailing the experiences of the expedition provides a firsthand account of the personalities, the events, and the social world as it was, as well as descriptions of some of the major figures of Mexico's independence era. Racine and Lloyd contextualize Brush's journal with informative notes, annotations, and appendices that include letters, song lyrics, and decrees, giving readers a broader context for the events described. The result is a fascinating look into a significant episode of Mexico's War for Independence. About the Author Karen Racine is a professor of history in the College of Arts at the University of Guelph. She is also the author of Francisco de Miranda: A Transatlantic Life in the Age of Revolution. Graham Lloyd holds an MA in history from the University of Guelph.