Stoddard, William Osborn: Ahead of the Army. v1. 5 Jun 2013
 

William Osborn Stoddard (Courtland County, 1835–1925) was an American author, inventor, and assistant secretary to Abraham Lincoln during his first term.

Excerpt
Lest any one should suspect exaggeration in the pictures of Mexican affairs in the old time, which are presented by Señor Carfora, it may be well to offer a few facts by way of explanation. During sixty-three years of the national life of the Republic of Mexico, from the establishment of its independence in 1821 to the year 1884, nearly all of its successive changes of government were accompanied by more or less violence and bloodshed.