"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. (This is an automatically generated summary.)