Description:

(AMERICAN PRIVATE IN MEXICAN WAR)
Superb content war-date A.L.S. from soldier William A. Campbell, 4pp., 4to., Island of Lobos, Feb. 22, 1847, relaying to James Clarke of Greensburg, Pa. the conditions of his encampment and other war news. In part: "...On Sunday 14 Feby. we landed on this Island... Our journey over this stormy water was rendered doubly unpleasant by the number of men aboard, being nearly four hundred, and the terrible storms which we encountered... This Island is in the Gulf seven miles from the mainland... the 'Cambria Guards' is anchored out, and has one or two cases of smallpox... if Jimmy Polk, and Congress were compelled to live as we do, they would soon bring the war to an honorable close... I learn that Genl. Scott has arrived here with five regiments of troops and that we will leave in a few days for Vera Cruz...". General Winfield Scott and Commodore David Conner had chosen Lobos Island as an ideal gathering point for a Vera Cruz invasion after Scott learned that the English had frequently used the island for their smuggling operations. Campbell also judges his Pennsylvania Regiment as superior to the Mississippi and other troops he has seen: "...the men of the South cannot be compared with the men of the North, in any respect. The regiment from Miss has lost over one hundred and fifty men from disease... our Regiment has lost five or six only and they were killed in different ways...". Campbell fought for Pennsylvania's Second Regiment, mustering in as a private from Westmoreland County, and grew up in Greensburg. According to local records, Campbell returned from the war very ill and died shortly afterwards. Verso used as a cover, stamp canceled at New Orleans on March 1, with a black "10" postmark. Age toned, minor folds with a small seal tear on third page not affecting signature, else fine.

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November 20, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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