Pvt. Samuel E. Chamberlain, an American soldier from New Hampshire, joined the 1st Dragoons under General John Wool in a spirit of adventure.  His memoirs of the Mexican War, published as My Confession, includes several unusual watercolors and provides a highly romanticized picture of troop travels and battles in northeastern Mexico, and Mexico City although he never fought there.  Chamberlain focused not just on battles but "fun and frolic", fandangos and festivals, nights of which he described as: "wild fun and unlicensed debauchery, wine and aguardiente, cheap and abundant, the women fine shaped, with black flashing eyes, and very accommodating!"

Chamberlain created this watercolor of Linares from the stories and sketches of other soldiers.  His portraits of Monterey were likewise the product of his imagination. He never saw Linares, nor was he present at the the Battle of Monterey.