Lot
592 
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) St. Louis, Mo., 5, Nov 24, red integral rate cds on folded letter to his brother in St. Charles, Mo., letter datelined "Santa Fe, Saturday, Sept 30th, 1848" with content…I am tried & out of patience waiting to hear from you but I do not believe it is your fault. It is because we have no established mails, no responsibility, no regularity no nothing reliable, as to time, in the way of getting news. I fear the letters maybe detained in the frontier Post Offices on acct of non-payment of postage to the old line, for as yet in the absence of any regulations all letters (except to the Army) are treated as foreign & the postage required at the last office thru…I expect this will leave tomorrow & probably get across the Plains in about 20 days…Among other inducements I had for staying here was the exception & which I still entertain that Congress will make liberal awards of Lands to actual settlers as well as to those who shall soon hereafter become citizens of this Territory. The "Apache" Indians killed some Spaniards near Taos, 75 miles distant in the mountains few days since & one Com. Dragoons left yesterday to chastise them. (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Realized: $525
Lot
593
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) Fort Leavenworth, Mo., Jul 25, cds with manuscript day and "10" rate, on folded letter to his father in Jacksonville, Ill., letter datelined "Fort Man. Indian Territory, half way to Santa Fe, July 2nd, 1848" with content…We arrive at this place on yesterday after a toilsome march of 400 miles from Fort Leavenworth…This is situated upon the Arkansas River a beautiful steam which has its rise in the mountains & which is truly refreshing to the weary traveler. Not much of importance has occurred on our journey there has been considerable sickness but no death. An advance company had an engagement with some Comanche Indians a few days since which resulted in killing several of the Red-skins without loss on our side the particular division to which I belong was some distance behind & I was with them in change of the Hospital Wagons which place my duties require me to occupy. (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Realized: $550
Lot
594
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) Independence, Mo., Aug 19, cds with matching "5" rate handstamp on folded letter to this brother in St. Charles, forwarded to Jacksonville, Ill. with "St. Charles, Mo., Aug 26" cds and manuscript "Ford 5/ 10" rerating, letter datelined "Wagon Mound, 120 Miles from Santa Fe, July 23rd, 1848" with content…I seize a few passing moments, as we have just met a Train for the States, again to inform you of my whereabouts we are still on the great plains slowly wending out way to the point of our destination have been among the mountains several days & enjoy a delightful collection atmosphere, night very collection we cross a branch of the Rocky Mountains running die on white Ivory to Texas, in which State we have been traveling since we left the Semirone (Cimmaron River) but are now within 25 miles of the Mexican line & 40 miles from the first & most northern Spanish settlement called "Bagus" (Las Vegas)…We have heard of the ratification of the Treaty of Peace at Fort Man but had not there nor have we yet counter order which must come to us through the commander of our Battalion who from last accounts was in Chiwawa (Chihuahua, Mexico) we will go to Santa Fee at least & there probably either be dischd or march to Fort Leavenworth. (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
This letter carried by a returning wagon train was placed in the mails at Independence, Mo. then sent to St. Charles and on to Jacksonville, Illinois. The small town of Wagon Mound is one of the historic landmarks on the Santa Fe Trail.
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Realized: $800
Lot
595
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) Independence, Mo., Sep 29, cds with matching "5" rate handstamp on folded letter to his bother in St. Charles, Mo., letter datelined "Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 26th, 1848" with content…I seize a few moments at ten o'clock this evening to write a few lines as opportunity offers to send it to the States & perhaps directly to you be a gentlemen who leaves in the morning. Our Battalion arrived from below about a week ago. Detachments of which, however have been arriving every few days for about two weeks & I understand all are now up from that region & the last of which took their departure for the states a few day ago. This leaves but a 150 men to garrison this place…i believe it is owning to the wanton abuse of the American soldiers, otherwise the mass are unquestionably satisfied with their present situation, for all know & admit the war has been money in their pockets, even to the very making of many. (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Realized: $675
Lot
596
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) Independence, Mo., May 25, cds with manuscript "5" rating on folded letter to his brother in St, Charles, Mo., letter datelined "Santa Fe, N.M., April 4th, 1849" with content…The reception of your last letter just as this particular time is well fitted to my purposes & feelings, for I was almost on the point of starting for California. I have nearly completed my arrangements & expect to start in a day or two in company with about forty others. We take two or three wagons with provisions for 60 days about which time with expect it will take us to perform the trip. It is from here by the practicable wagon route not less than 1200 miles, are only half-way from St. Louis. I presume the excitement here concerning the Grand El Dorado (Great Gold Discovery), is best as some start of foot & risk getting a mule by trading with the Indians…Our party expect to follow generally the road laid down on the maps by Coln. Cook, from this place we go down the Chiwawa (Chihuahua) road within about 60 miles of El Paso, thence strike across to the Gila (River) a little below the "Copper Mine" down the south side of this River to its mouth, then either cross the Colorado (River) or make a raft & go to its mouth there take shipping. (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Realized: $1,450
Lot
597
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) Westport, Mo., 27 May, manuscript postmark with "10" rate on folded letter to his father Jacksonville, Ill., datelined "Fort Leavenworth, Missouri Territory, May 14th, 1848" with interesting content after Bateman enlisted in the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 1st regiment of Missouri Volunteers…The Fort is beautifully situated on the left bank of the Mo. River 482 miles from St. Louis & 993 miles from Santa Fe. The "Great Plains" which intervene & which we have to cross come up almost in sight of the Fort; a vast amount of Government stores are collected here of almost every kind in the way of transports provision munitions of war & men. The first train is expected to start on tomorrow & the last about the 20th of May following; in it I expect to go; there are 6 or 7 hundreds men Infantry and Calvary quartered here & some 6000 oxen & about 700 heavy wagons. The Trains are drawn by Oxen 12 to 15 miles per day is all they expect to make. I do not think we can reach Santa Fe much before the 1st of September & our final destination before 1st of November. The Indians are round about us on our three quarters here, but are entirely peaceable and have made considerable advances in civilization (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
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Realized: $550
Lot
598
(E.B. Batemen Correspondence) West Port, Mo., June 24th, manuscript postmark and 5 rating on folded letter to his brother in St. Charles, Mo., letter datelined "Council Grove, on the Santa Fe Trail, June 13th, 1848" with content…We have passed though the Stockbridge, Delaware, Shawanee & now among the Kansas tribe of Indians, which last gave their Big "War Dance" a few days since, & such a sight as mortals could never conceive or much less believe, expect it could be see - I will not attempt a description but if ever Providence permits us to meet again of this & many other things I will give you a full acct. We have lain at this place Eleven days & take up the line of march tomorrow. there is about Nine hundred troops moving to Mexico on this route this spring, all recruits form different Regiments & Battalions, how large a band of us will finally be together will not probably be determined until we reach Fort Mann, 250 miles further on. (See website for images), Very Fine.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
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Realized: $900