Lot
610 
[Mexican War] 1845 (Jul. 11) New Orleans, La. To Burlington Vt. and Forwarded To Montreal L.C., folded letter with blue "New Orleans La. Jul 11" cds, blue manuscript "10" rating, red "Burlington Vt. Aug 13" cds with "forwarded 5" rating added and totaled to "15", Montreal Aug. 14th backstamp and manuscript "1/1½" due rating, Very Fine, ex-Golden, Steinhart. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
WHILE ON HIS WAY WITH HIS INFANTRY TO FIGHT IN TEXAS, GENERAL HITCHKOCK EXPRESSES GRAVE MISGIVINGS OVER THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
The letter is rated 10¢ from New Orleans to Burlington Vt. (Over 300 miles), forwarded to the border and charged an additional 5¢ U.S., total 15¢ collect (9d Cy equivalent), plus 4½d Canadian postage, totaling 1/1½ Cy collect.
The letter is from General E.H. Hitchcock to his brother regarding Texas and the Mexican-American War. The letter reads, "I arrived here yesterday with the 3rd Infantry on my way to Texas. The 4th Ify left its camp near Jesup a few days before me and occupies the New Orleans barracks… destined also to Texas… A company of Arty is expected daily from Charleston that is placed under orders of Gen. Taylor [Zachary Taylor, future President of the U.S.]… The 2nd Regt of Dragoons is to proceed overland from Jesup to the Western Texas Frontier and more regiments are promised. We have various reports from Texas and it now seems settle that Annexation is to take place for better or worse. The movement of troops from the U.S. is a precipitate measure resorted to at Washn in ignorance of the real state of public feeling in Texas and from a feverish anxiety to take some step of an overt kind to force annexn all events… I will not undertake to speculate upon our prospects. We are going to a new and comparatively unknown coast at a sickly season for an unholy purpose.".