[BUENA VISTA, BATTLE OF]. CURRIER, Nathaniel (publisher). Flight of the Mexican Army. At the Battle of Buena Vista Febr. 23 1847. [along bottom] Lith. & Pub. By N. Currier. Entered According to Act of Congress in the Year 1847 by N. Currier, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Southern District of N.Y. 152 Nassau St. Cor. of Spruce N.Y. [at bottom] 455. Print: image area: 21.4 x 32 cm; overall sheet size: 25.5 x 35.4 cm. Contemporary hand-coloring. Professionally matted. Slight darkening and chipping of margins, otherwise very good.

First edition? Currier 2009. Garrett & Goodwin, p. 560. Peters, p. 245. This variant has a drum at lower left.

One of the more bizarre scenes in the history of Mexican-American War lithography, of which Currier issued two versions. Almost nothing is depicted but backs—hundreds of them—as the army marches away on the evening of February 23. The only break in the monotony is a few bodies in the foreground and on the battlefield. In the far distance, the cavalry retreats.