<P> The Mexican - American War was the first American war that was covered by mass media, primarily the penny press and was the first foreign war covered primarily by American correspondents . Press coverage in the United States was characterized by support for the war and widespread public interest and demand for coverage of the conflict . Mexican coverage of the war (both written by Mexicans and Americans based in Mexico) was affected by press censorship, first by the Mexican government and later by the American military . </P> <P> The coverage of the war was an important development in the U.S., with journalists as well as letter - writing soldiers giving the public in the U.S. "their first - ever independent news coverage of warfare from home or abroad ." During the war, inventions such as the telegraph created new means of communication that updated people with the latest news from the reporters, who were on the scene . The most important of these was George Wilkins Kendall, a Northerner who wrote for the New Orleans Picayune, and whose collected Dispatches from the Mexican War constitute an important primary source for the conflict . With more than a decade's experience reporting urban crime, the "penny press" realized the public's voracious demand for astounding war news . Moreover, Shelley Streetby demonstrates that the print revolution (1830s - 1840s), which preceded the U.S. - Mexican War, made it possible for the distribution of cheap newspapers throughout the country . This was the first time in American history that accounts by journalists, instead of opinions of politicians, had great influence in shaping people's opinions about and attitudes toward a war . Along with written accounts of the war, there were war artists giving a visual dimension to the war at the time and immediately afterward . Carl Nebel's visual depictions of the war are well known . </P> <P> By getting constant reports from the battlefield, Americans became emotionally united as a community . News about the war always caused extraordinary popular excitement . In the Spring of 1846, news about Zachary Taylor's victory at Palo Alto brought up a large crowd that met in a cotton textile town of Lowell, Massachusetts . New York celebrated the twin victories at Veracruz and Buena Vista in May 1847 . Among fireworks and illuminations, they had a "grand procession" of about 400,000 people . Generals Taylor and Scott became heroes for their people and later became presidential candidates . </P> <P> After the declaration of war on May 13, 1846, U.S. forces invaded Mexican territory on two main fronts . The U.S. War Department sent a U.S. Cavalry force under Stephen W. Kearny to invade western Mexico from Jefferson Barracks and Fort Leavenworth, reinforced by a Pacific fleet under John D. Sloat . This was done primarily because of concerns that Britain might also try to seize the area . Two more forces, one under John E. Wool and the other under Taylor, were ordered to occupy Mexico as far south as the city of Monterrey . </P>

U.s. army general who won several victories in the mexican-american war