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Quarto bifolium ca. 24,6x20.2 cm (9 ½ ? 7 ¾ in). 3 pp. Brown ink on yellowish wove paper. Blind-stamped papermaker's monogram in the left upper corner of the first page. Addressed, stamped, and sealed on verso of the last leaf. Fold marks, slightly age-toned, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand. A historically important original autograph manuscript letter written by Corp. B. Wingate the very same day the siege of Veracruz ended with Mexico's surrender, triumphantly writing to his folks back home in Indiana about " one of the greatest battles ever won by American arms, " talking about Mexican soldiers flocking to General Zachary Taylor, the next US President, and " beging [i.e. begging] for something to eat, " fiercely stating that the city of Mexico " must hear the barking of our buldogs [i.e. bulldogs] before walls ," and enthusiastically predicting the near end of the warfare after the American capture of the " third strong place in the world; " also mentioning General Winfield Scott whose heroism " must gane [i.e. gain] for the commander the name that will last for ages to come ." Dated 29 March 1847, this first-hand, triumphant account of the siege of Veracruz offers a unique insight into the decisive battle of the Mexican-American War. The battle of Veracruz, a twenty-day siege of the key Mexican beachhead seaport, was a pivotal stage of the Mexican-American War. The American army undertook its first successful amphibious landing when under the command of Gen. Winfield Scott, a force of 12,000 landed three miles southeast of the city on March 9, 1847. After an artillery bombardment and a twenty-day siege, the town's outnumbered garrison surrendered to the US troops. Having secured Veracruz, Scott's army launched the war's final thrust: a six-month, 265-mile fighting march to the "Halls of Montezuma" at Mexico City. This patriotic letter was written by Corp. B. Wingate, an American soldier and participant in Winfield Scott's siege of "the third strongest place in the world," only a few hours after the end of the battle. The author addresses the text, full of grammatical mistakes, to his folks (M.H. Wingate and Miss E. Wingate) back home in Lexington, Scott County, Indiana, and recollects " one of the greatest battles ever won by American arms. " Wingate talks about the devastating loss of the Mexicans and proudly states, " thare [i.e. there] is scarcely an American whose heart would not have leaped with joy this morning ." In the next passages, the author details the number of casualties, praises the strength of the US troops, enthusiastically predicts the near end of the war, and writes about the immense destruction produced by the hostile army of " proud America ." The author claims that Mexico City " must hear the barking of our buldogs [i.e. bulldogs] before walls " and triumphantly talks about Mexican soldiers begging General Zachary Taylor for something to eat. Wingate also mentions Winfried Scott, whose heroism in the siege of Veracruz " must gane [i.e. gain] for the commander a name that will last for ages to come ." Near the letter's close, the author expresses his desire to march further to the capital city and menacingly notes, " commone sence will tell them [the Mexicans] to avoid that if possible ." Overall, a historically important original autograph manuscript letter from a soldier on the front lines of the war vividly describing a crucial victory of the United States in the Mexican War. The text of the letter (original spelling and punctuation preserved): " I take pen one more to give you the nuse I am tolerabel well in body and vary well in spirits for I trust that thare is scarcely an American whose heart would not have leaped with joy this morning for to have seen the stars and stripes of proud America awavering in the brez over the citty and castle of Very Cruse the third strones place in the world. I wrote James Powers a letter on the 25 while the thunder of the cannons of our bat. Seller Inventory # MA53
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