When the Mexican–American War began in the spring of 1846, Reid was working as a correspondent for the New York Herald in Newport, Rhode Island (which would later become the setting for yet another novel).
Când a început Războiul Mexicano-American în primăvara anului 1846, Reid lucra pe post de corespondent pentru New York Herald la Newport, Rhode Island (care va deveni mai târziu locul unde se petrecea acțiunea unui alt roman).