(GEN. GIDEON PILLOW AND HIS MEXICAN WAR INTRIGUE)
$500.00
60078-25
Son of General John Davis, a Pennsylvanian, a colorful character who fought in two wars, served as a United States Attorney, published prolifically, and succeeded in business. Superb content war-date A.L.S. of WILLIAM W. H. DAVIS as Lieutenant in 1st Massachusetts Infantry, 2pp., 4to., Amazoque, Mexico, Dec. 1, 1847, to his father from the front. In part: "... tomorrow we reach Puebla...then the whole Division f six Regiments, takes up the line of march for the city of Mexico. There is no signs of peace. It is thought that when Gen [Winfield] Scott receives his reinforcements he will move further to the interior... We heard from the city [New Orleans] two days ago. Gens Pillow & Worth were under arrest, & Gen. Twiggs is on his way to Vera Cruz as its Governor. What has been the cause of all this no one knows...". What Davis did not know was that Gen. Gideon Pillow had published a letter in the New Orleans Delta under the nom-de-guerre LEONIDAS crediting himself for crucial American victories, credit which rightfully belonged to Winfield Scott. When Scott discovered Pillow's ruse, he arrested and held him for court-martial. Pillow only escaped a court-martial because Maj. Archibald W. Burns, Pillow's regimental paymaster, took the blame. Included with the lot is a letter from Burns shedding light on his motivation, a war-date A.L.S. "A. W. Burns", 3pp., 4to., Camargo, Mexico, Nov. 20, 1846, to NJ Congressman George Sykes. In part: "...I beg leave to enclose to your care a letter from Br Genl G J Pillow U S army on my behalf to the President of the United States, and to ask the favor of you...Immediately upon my arrival at this post, I became acquainted with Gen. Pillow and have had frequent intercourses with him personally and officially...a warm and [?] friend..." Burns also sets forth the army's upcoming movements south, noting: "...the next big fight I think may be looked for at San Luis Potosi and our men are ready and eager for it...they did not participate in the fall of Monterrey...I indulge the hopes that the 'Stars and Stripes'...may yet proudly and gallantly wave over the 'Halls of Montezuma'..." Much more fine content. Both letters are very good. The verso of the Davis letter was used as a cover, and includes a New Orleans stamp cancel dated Dec. 30 and a black "10" postmark. Davis would return to New Mexico in 1853 as the territory's United States Attorney and eventually published El Gringo: New Mexico and Her People, his memoir of the experience.