Lot
2047 
1847 (Mar. 23) San Francisco Cal. to New York N.Y. via St. Louis Mo., folded letter datelined "St. Francisco March 23d 1847" from Allen Putnam to Col. Henry Stanton, Asst. Quarter Master General, reads "I happy to inform you of the safe arrl of the S. Drew to this Port in 53 days from Valparaiso. I found Perkins here. She did not stop anywhere after leaving Valparaiso. The Loo Choo has not arrd; she sailed from Valparaiso a few hours before us. I beg you will excuse these few lines, as I have not time write any more at this time, the express being ready to start for Monterey…", entered mails with red "St. Louis Mo., Aug 26" cds and matching "STEAM 10" straightline rating handstamp, upon arrival in New York the "10" was crossed out and manuscript "f" for free as Stanton enjoyed the franking privilege; small edge tear, Very Fine.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE USE CARRIED OVERLAND BY BRIG. GENERAL KEARNY FROM CALIFORNIA TO FORT LEAVENWORTH.
This letter was carried by military express to Monterey and then overland May 31, 1847 by Brig. General Stephen Watts Kearny to Fort Leavenworth arriving on August 22. At Fort Leavenworth, Kearny, on his way to Washington D.C., boarded the steamboat "Amelia" August 23rd to St Louis and deposited his mail. They were postmarked upon arrival in St. Louis August 26th with 10¢ due. nnKearny was returning from the campaign that conquered California during the Mexican War; he brought Lt. Col. John C. Fremont with him - under arrest - for attempting to usurp Kearny's authority there. The trip over the California-Oregon trail took 66 days. Putnam had apparently been in charge of the ships mentioned in the letter that were carrying supplies to the Army in California.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $2,500
Lot 2048
Stephen W. Kearny Signed Discharge, document datelined "Head Quarters, 1st Regt. Dragoons, Fort Leavenworth, Mo., June 16th, 46" regarding the appointment of Sgt. J. Haley in place of John Walker for…the necessity of there being a Sergeant Major on the expedition to Santa Fe now before us, signed "S.W. Kearny, Col. 1st Dr."; some light discoloration, F.-V.F.Estimate $500 - 750.
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Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
2049
Brigade Order No. 1, May 25th 1846, from Bela M. Hughes, Br. Gen. 1st Brigade 15th Div. Mo. Militia reading "The Regiment comprised in the bounds of Clinton County…the object of which is to guard this frontier from any attack from any quarter, war having already commenced with Mexico…", Very Fine, ex-T. Alexander.Estimate $500 - 750.
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Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
2050
Santafe Dec. 4, 1846, dateline on folded cover to Weston, Mo. carried by Military Courier over the Santa Fe Trail entering the mails at Independence, Mo. with bold "Feb. 12" cds and manuscript "5" rate at right, Very Fine and attractive.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE ITEM CARRIED BY MILITARY EXPRESS FROM SANTA FE BY CAPT. WILLIAM S. MURPHY.
Letter written by Albert G. Wilson who was appointed Chief Sutler to Co. Sterling Pricenn
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Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
2051
(Monterey) "Harbor of Monterey, California, January 27, 1847", dateline on folded letter signed by Capt. Christopher Quarles Tompkins, 3rd Artillery to Genl. Roger Jones Adj. Genl. U.S. Army, Washington D.C., entered mails with red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Apr 22" cds with due rating crossed out as this was endorsed official mail, the report states "…shall report to Brig. Genl. Kearney who is reported to be at the Pueblo de Los Angeles" and remarks "Left New-York July 14th 1846 - arrvd Monterey 27 Jany. - voyage of 6 mos 13 days - extraordinary length" which refers to his voyage on the USS Lexington that included some famous passengers Lt. Henry Hallack, Lt. Edward Ord and William Tecumseh Sherman, prior to arriving in Monterey, January 12th 1847, she landed a party at San Blas, Nayarit, and captured several enemy guns, and during the war operated along the West Coast transporting troops and assisting in the blockade, Very Fine, ex-J. David Baker.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A WONDERFUL EARLY MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR MILITARY LETTER FROM THE HARBOR OF MONTEREY.
The letter left Monterey on January 28 aboard the sloop-of-war USS Dale, which was taking its captain, Commander McKean, to Panama so that he could return to the United States because of ill health. It arrived at Panama City on March 15, where McKean joined forces with Lt. Gray and Major Emory, who were carrying dispatches to the United States from Commodore Stockton and General Kearny, respectively. The three crossed the Isthmus to Chagres on the east coast, carrying this letter. The HMS Clyde then carried them from Chagres (departed March 28) to Jamaica on April 1, where they transferred to the HMS Dee (departed Jamaica on April 3 and arrived in Havana on April 10). The ship Globe then took the letter to New York, where it arrived on April 21, 1847 and was rated for seven cents postage due including a two cents ship fee. Upon arrival at Washington it was recognized that the recipient was entitled to receive mail free of postage and the seven cents postage due was crossed out.nnIllustrated: "Mails of the Westward Expansion, 1803 to 1861" by Walske and Frajola as fig. 4-22 on page 70.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $1,000
Lot
2052
"Monterey California, April 27th 1847", dateline on Autograph Letter Signed by "S.W. Kearny, Brig. General and Gov. of California" to John Burton, Alcalde of Pueblo de San Jose, in the letter Kearny decrees that Burton stay all proceedings in the case of Gabriel Castro very scarce. Antonio Hermano as Burton had defied his early decree and "given judgment & issued an execution to be levied by a Sheriff against various parties of the Property of the Defendant", Very Fine, ex-J. Drew.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE GEN. KEARNY SIGNED LETTER AS GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.
Gen. S.W. Kearny was Governor of California from March 1, 1847 to May 31, 1847, when Col. R.C. Mason was appointed Governor by Kearny.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $3,250
Lot
2053
Fort Leavenworth, Mo. Jul 10, postmark with manuscript "10" rate on folded cover to Illinois, letter sent by Pvt. Uriah Thomas 1st Reg. Illinois Vols and datelined "Fort Leavenworth July 9th 1847", letter with interesting contents and a wonderful handdrawn Map of Fort Leavenworth in green and blue ink with hand notations, some light aging, Very Fine and attractive, a historic item.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
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Current Opening Bid: $550
Lot
2054
Camp near old Camp Calhoun New Mexico, September 10, 1847, manuscript dateline on folded cover to Missouri, postmarked "Independence, Mo. Nov. 4" cds with manuscript "10" rate, carried eastbound by military courier through unorganized territory beyond the boundary of the United States up the Santa Fe Trail, entered the mails to St. Genevieve, Missouri, some age toning & edge wear, Very Fine and rare.Estimate $500 - 750.
A fascinating letter from Lieut. John Boardman, Comp. 75, Santa Fe Battalion, Missouri Vols. to his brother at St. Genevieve, Missouri. nnLetter reads in large part:nnWe are once again on our way to the Navajo lands. I visited our old camp and the graveyard of the Volunteers. I found the widow of old Sandra living there she treated me very kindly and set before me some delicious grapes from the those vines we used to run through in going for water. The men are all in good spirits with the exception of making themselves rich by the stock we will take from the Indians.nnWe have three companies with us and 12 men from the artillery with one piece of Howitzer the whole commanded by a Major Walker we intend to remain among the Indians two months. We are living very well at present. Plenty of watermelons, cantaloupes, grapes, peaches, green corn, onions, etc. The Spaniards have put in very large crops of corn down here and it looks very fine.nn
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Current Opening Bid: $250
Lot
2055
Mexican-American War Folded Letter, Datelined Companie "E" 1st Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, September th 30, 1847, folded cover to Belleville, Ill. with notation "St. Clair County from the Army" with red "STEAM 10" handstamp of St. Louis, letter with excellent contents which includes, I have come across some of your old chums John Gray and Thomas Short. We are here together in Santa Fe…Thee are 25 hundred volunteer men here at this time. There are a good many of them ordered. Of course Newbe (Colonel Edward W. B. Newby) is not thought more of than a dog. There is not a man that likes him here. He was shot at 7 times by his own men and he was obliged to get in the wagon and ride., plus much more, please see our website for full transcription, Very Fine.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN OUTSTANDING COVER CARRIED BY MILITARY EXPRESS UP THE SANTA FE TRAIL TO THE MISSOURI RIVER TO ST. LOUIS WHERE IT WAS PLACED ABOARD A STEAMBOAT.
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Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
2056
From U.S.A., Santa Fe, manuscript endorsement at bottom left on folded letter datelined "Santa Fe, New Mexico Jan. 16", 1848 to Illinois, cancelled by "Fort Leavenwoth, Mo." with manuscript Mar. 4 (1848) date, addressed to Lebanon, Illinois with manuscript "10" rate, lengthy letter with fascinating military contents which includes, Our Reg. is still cooped up here in this place having nothing to do but drill! drill! I have no news of importance to communicate for we have no prospect of any fighting, for all the enemy that could be mustered in N.M. has lately been attacked and beaten. Last several months a Mexican marauder by the name of Cortes has been prowling through the country with about 10 men. On the 22nd of Nov. Capt. Armstrong of the Mo Battalion found out his whereabouts and attacked him with 40 men, took several horses, three tents and camp equipage putting them all to flight., plus much more, please see our website for full transcription, Very Fine.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A REMARKABLE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR LETTER FROM AN ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER IN NEW MEXICO. SOLDIER LETTERS FROM ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED IN THE "ARMY OF THE WEST" ARE RARE AS SO FEW MEN SERVED IN THESE REGIMENTS.
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Current Opening Bid: $750