709. PHILIP KEARNY (1815-1862) Union major general who served in Napoleon III's guard, lost an arm during the Mexican War, and led with distinction in the Peninsula campaign. He was killed at Chantilly. Good content A.L.S. 1p. 4to., [Mexico], Feb. 6, 1847 to Gen. Winfield Scott, "...I feel that...injury...may be done my company...The detachment of 10 dragoons that accompanied Lt. Ritchie have been attached to Col. May's Company. This, I trust, is merely contemplated as temporary...I fear that this will be assumed as the grounds for a transfer...you may be pleased to issue instructions for said men of this company...to join as quickly as possible-and wherever the Company may have proceeded, if embarked before their arrival at the Brazos..." A month earlier Kearny was in command of a detachment of ten dragoons accompanying Lt. John Richey who was delivering dispatches from Scott to General Taylor. Against Kearny's orders, Richey went into town, was brutally murdered, and his dispatches stolen and delivered to Santa Anna. The lost dispatches led directly to Santa Anna's attack on the weakened Taylor at Buena Vista. Here, Kearny feels Scott will not restore his command in retribution for his failure to protect Richey. Fine, matted with a photo, framed. $500-700