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Quarto (ca. 27x21 cm). A bifolium and a single leaf with 5 pp. of text. Brown ink on thin wove paper. Both leaves with blind-stamped papermaker's monograms in the left upper corners. Addressed, stamped and sealed on verso of the last leaf. Fold marks, paper slightly age-toned, the last leaf with a minor loss on the right margin after opening, affecting several letters, but overall a very good letter written in a legible hand. Historically significant original autograph signed letter, addressed to noted US military officer George A. McCall, who took part in the Florida War (Second Seminole War, 1835-1846), Mexican-American War (April 1846 ? February 1848), and American Civil War (1861-1865). The letter was written by McCall's elder sister Mary Dickinson McCall and was sent to the "4th infantry, Texas," via the "care of a quarter master, U.S.A., New Orleans." Written just a few weeks after the Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846), the first major battle of the Mexican-American War, the letter talks about McCall's heroism and leading role in the battle, and public praise and enthusiasm in Philadelphia after the release of General Zachary Taylor's (1784-1850, the commander of the US forces during the war) official report. Mary McCall also talks about her brother's "comfortable quarters in Matamoras," his potential move to Monterrey and contemplates when the war will end. An extensive passage is dedicated to the anecdote about US General Winfield Scott and his letter to the Secretary of War, mentioning the "hasty bowl of soup," which caused a series of jokes in the American press. The second part of the letter, dated "June 16" is dedicated to John Cadwalader's letter to the American President (James K. Polk, in office: 1845-49), in which he asked to acknowledge McCall's service during the "first Florida War." The letter also talks about or mentions several notable American public figures, who were McCall's acquaintances, including Joseph R. Ingersoll (1786-1868, US Representative from Pennsylvania in 1841-49), "Mr. C. Biddle" (apparently, Charles J. Biddle, 1819-1873, participant of the Mexican-American War and US Representative from Pennsylvania's 2nd district in 1861-63), W.L. Marcy (1786-1857, US Secretary of War in 1845-49), John M. Read Jr. (1797-1874, Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 1846), and others. The letter also contains family news, mentioning several members of the McCall family, including his cousins Peter McCall (1809-1880, the Mayor of Philadelphia in 1844-45) and John Cadwalader (1805-1879, US Representative from Pennsylvania in 1855-57, US District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1858-79). Overall an interesting extensive source on the history of the early period of the Mexican-American War. George Archibald McCall corresponded extensively with his friends and family. A collection of his letters reporting about the events of the Second Seminole and Mexican-American Wars, which possibly included his letters to Mary Dickinson (addressed as "My Dear M?"), was published under the title "Letters from the Frontiers, Written during the period of Thirty Years' Service in the Army of the United States" (Philadelphia, 1868; see more ). Excerpts from the letter: " We have just finished reading Genl. Taylor's official reports & I cannot delay for a moment the pleasure of complimenting you, my dearest brother, on the mention made of you in them. I have no words to express the heartfelt thankfulness & gratitude we feel that you have been preserved in safety from such imminent peril or the joy and happiness we experience in learning that your noble conduct has been so fully appreciated by all your superior officers. How shall I commence to tell you all the compliments we have received? The first exclamation we hear from all sides is: Well, your brother is the hero among all the heroes. Mr. Joseph Ingersoll who has just returned from Washington, told Peter that you were decidedly the most distinguished man in t. Seller Inventory # M38
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