Lot 827
MEXICAN WAR ARCHIVE
A collection of seven A.L.S. with fine content, penned during the Mexican-American War by different individuals, including letters to President James K. Polk and Senator Henry Johnson that include requests for appointments or promotions and content regarding the war. In an A.L.S. on June 11, 1847, C. F. Cleveland writes to Polk regarding the promotion of "...Seargt. Howard Grey...now in service in...Company E of the 2rd Regt. Fort Brown...a gentleman of high respectability...". An A.L.S. of Captain Eaton pens a lengthy A.L.S. to his wife, 8pp. 4to., "in camp near Monterey, Mex'o", June 6-17, 1847, states he will lead his troops to Matamoros, in part: "...I passed over en route from Monterey...without meeting with any occurrences...I am on board the steamer 'Rough & Ready'...At Reynosa I exchanged boats & am now on board the 'Warren' aground...I shall be at Matamoros a few days, long enough to prepare myself of Colonel [Zachary] Taylor's views...I feel a little down at leaving HdQrs., where I have been on such good terms with our commanding general [Zachary Taylor] ...There seems to be no prospect of an early peace...", and much more. Soldier Charles Burgess bitterly complains, in an A.L.S. 3pp. 4to., "Camp, Buena Vista", Sept. 28, 1847,: "...Since I last wrote...I have been an inmate of my friend Mr. Provost's room, at the hospital, at Saltillo...and still far from cured...There is no intelligence...transferring with this Division of the Army. From continual withdrawals of [his division's] effective force, to reinforce the 'Army of the South', it is reduced to a handful of troops too weak to advance...tempting inducement to the foe to attempt its annihilation...The possibility of destruction is preferable to the seemingly hopeless inertness into which we slumber away our best energies...". Quartermaster G. Barry, forced to resign and return home writes, in an A.L.S. 2pp. 4to. from Wallingford, CT, Apr. 12, 1847: "...on Genl. Scott's arrival at Tampico owing to the reception of bad news from Mrs. Barry's mother...I should like to have been at the taking of Vera Cruz...I had been in the Florida War and done arduous duty for the year in Mexico...having been at the taking of Monterey...". Virginian N. Pebworth appeals for a discharge to his congressman, R. K. Meade, in an A.L.S. 1p. 4to., Buena Vista, Dec. 5, 1847, stating: "...I received by the mail of the 13th Oct. a letter from my wife stating that you had wrote to the Secretary of War for my Discharge, he wrote to Genl. [Zachary] Taylor but not in the form of a Discharge he only referd it to Genl. Taylor and he referd it to Col. Hamtramck he has decided...I [hope] ...asking two of you to see Mr. Marcy again...I am now in my 47 year and in the Servis 12 months and that is as much time as I have to devote to the Servis unless there was a Greater call for it I was a volunteer in the Florida Servis which makes twice if he wil not grant it please see Mr. Polk...". Much more content, worthy of further research. Most letters are in very good condition, with just one exhibiting numerous fold tears and in need of restoration.
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