The Rifle Rangers

by Mayne Reid

"The Rifle Rangers" by Mayne Reid is a novel published in 1850, set during the Mexican War of 1846-1848. Captain Jack Haller leads a newly formed American volunteer battalion through dangerous missions in Mexico's Tierra Caliente region. As the Rangers navigate battles with guerrilla forces and attempt a siege of Vera Cruz, Haller becomes entangled with a local family whose son is trapped in the besieged city. Based on Reid's own military service, the novel captures the perils and adventures of American soldiers in unfamiliar territory.