Description:

FIGHTING PANCHO VILLA PHOTO AND LETTER GROUPING

A rare and fascinating grouping including a photograph album, clippings, and letters from James D. Ferguson of Co. K, 4th Texas Infantry, most gathered while Ferguson was serving on the Texas/Mexican border in the Big Bend in 1914-1916 as Pancho Villa and other guerillas raided settlements near the U.S.-Mexico border. The highlight of the group is a scrapbook containing 47 postcard photographs depicting images from the bloody border conflict, soldiers of the 4th Texas, casualties, prisoners, and much more, including an execution of an American soldier. About half of the photos bear captions in the plate indicating they had been taken by a local photographer and were likely sold to soldiers for a few cents each. Those photos show scenes from Columbus, New Mexico, the scene of a raid by Pancho Villa which incited a punitive expedition by Pershing and young George Patton. Scenes include: soldier Ferguson; 4th Texas members in posed and candid images in the field and at camp; wounded and killed Mexicans and Americans, some bodies burned including a black Buffalo soldier (Columbus); a game of baseball, marches, etc. There are also a few war-related clippings from Waxahatchie papers, and a trimmed cabinet photo, presumably of Freguson. Included also are three A.L.S.''s written by Ferguson to various family members, all on letterheads with each page bearing a printed photograph of American soldiers in action in the Southwest. All of the letters, 7pp. 8vo. total, were written in pencil from Alpine, Texas. They read, in part: "[Nov. 1, 1914]...went to a Halloween Party last night and had a fine time [?] go with a girl here...[Oct. 28, 1916]...we have to have our guns and bayonets clean...Company A had a fight with a bunch of Mexicans yesterday and killed about 50...I will have to close and get chow...[Nov. 5, 1914]...am sure sleepy as was on guard duty last night. I am sending you some pictures of only 1/5 of the company...". With a fourth letter Freguson sent as a civilian from Mineral Springs, 1922. The 4th Texas was charged with patrolling a very active 600-mile stretch of the Big Bend in Texas. A fine grouping of rarely-encountered photos and letters.

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April 18, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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