Description:

ZACHARY TAYLOR
(1784 - 1850) Twelfth President of the United States, 'Old Rough and Ready' was also a hero of the Mexican War, taking Monterrey and defeating Santa Anna. Fine content manuscript L.S. 'Z. Taylor L. Col. 8th Regt. U.S. Inf. Comdg', 3pp. 4to., St. Louis, Mar. 30, 1820 with integral address leaf to Brigadier General Daniel Parker (1782-1846), inspector-general of the U.S. Army. In part: '…I have the honor to acknowledge the reply of your letter…in which you ask why I do not since ‘few good officers to recruit under the orders of April 7th 1820'. The printed General Order of that date recd by me, directed all minor recruiting parties to be withdrawn & the recruits together with the clothing & all other public property, to be removed to their respective Regiments & corps: and that for the future, only one officer of each regiment & corps should be employed on that duty…Capt. Humphreys of the 8th [?] Infy was detailed & ordered to Philadelphia on the recruiting service, the place designated by the order. But owing to circumstances not calculated on, & which were not under his control…he was much longer detained on the marsh end of the mil. road where he was on duty…He has however proceeded to his place of destination…If this had been an omission in the Gen. Order furnished me, & it is the wish of the War Department that one other officer of the Regt should be ordered on their duty, it will be complied with the moment I can hear from you on the subject…The officers commanding on the south end of the mil. road...are all charged double rations…when double rations are allowed by regulations…it is in effect the same command, the troops having been removed to this place, by Gen. [?] a few miles distance from the pass, in order as is supposed to enhance the value of his property adjoining the present cantonment. As there might be doubts on the subject relative to the propriety of the change, although it had heretofore been allowed…the Pay Master of the regiment to consent the P. M. Gen on the subject and says he cannot authorise the payment in either case, but the officers had better refer the matter to the Secy of War. I must therefore request to state the case to him that the decision may be had. I must also take the liberty of expressing my surprise that officers employed on the most fatiguing & laborious duties such as superintending the opening of Military roads, erecting barracks etc. with the exception of the engineer & ordnance corps, are not placed on an equality with the rank & file of the Army, who in all cases for extended duty receive additional compensation. The officers also of the two corps above named receive one dollar & fifty cents per day, when superintending Fortifications or other public works, the fatigue & privations of which will not bear a comparison with those attending the opening of roads through a wilderness country…'. Several small holes with light loss and weakness in areas, professionally mended.

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November 14, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

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