Lot
533 
(Mexican-American War Letter) "Cold Spring, Texas Territory, August 27, 1847", dateline on folded letter from Private Huling Major of Company "E", 1st Regiment Infantry Illinois Vols. to Belleville Ill., endorsed "From the Army" bottom left, carried by military express to the Missouri River where it was placed on board a steamboat bound for St. Louis, entered the mails in St. Louis with red "STEAM 10" straightline for 10¢ postage due, letter reads, "The opportunity I am embracing myself of is that of Four Companies of Mo. Volunteer Cavalry being the last of Col. Price's Regiment the Colonel himself accompanying it looking jovial and hearty in fact his whole appearance calculated well to influence strangers in his favor and bearing indications of a noble and generous spirit and one that would be kind considerate and indulgent to his men or those at all palaces under his command…we shall make an early start in the morning travel further and finally without doubt be the first company of the Illinois Regiment in Santa Fee…"; some light soiling, Very Fine and scarce Mexican-American War Trail Letter from Texas.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
An additional note added to the letter by J.F. Snyder reads, "Huling Majors returned from the war and married the "Adorable" daughter of Mr Aaron Prims. Then he went to California leaving his wife with her parents, and there seems to have disappeared perhaps died in some obscure mining camp. He was a fine house carpenter and good hearted clever fellow. We shall miss him." Complete images:
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Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
534
Galveston Island Texas, Jan 26th, 1838, dateline on four-page folded letter entered the mails with red cds "New Orleans, La Jan 29" with manuscript red "25" rate marking to Geneva, New York; letter from Chas Roff reads, in part, "…You are told that no danger is apprehended from the ravages of war whether from the mexicans or indians but I am told quite the revers when traveling in this countery I am told that I was in danger of faling in with a company of hostile indians. The frontier inhabitance live in continual fear the indians who are prowling about the settlements of the whites stealing every thing they can lay their hands upon…many families have this summer past been driven from the frontier settlements and some women and children inhumanly butchered and now I can assure you that an attack is expected from the Mexicans as they have lately given intimations that cannot be misunderstood many fear that the Mexicans and indians will united thire forces together…should the black hearted Mexicans unite with the Red skins of the forest there can be but little doubt but the sun of Liberty that now shines on Texas will yet go down in darkness anarchy and Blood…I have been on the battle ground of San Jasinto where the ground is literly covered with human bones for a large space there was about 1000 mexicans kiled here and left to rot on the ground…", and much more, some splitting along folds with tape repairs and minor paper loss, F.-V.F.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
AN IMPORTANT AND HISTORIC LETTER REGARDING INDIANS AND WAR WITH MEXICO.
The Battle of San Jacinto was a decisive 18-minute battle on April 21, 1836, where Texan forces led by General Sam Houston defeated the Mexican army under General Antonio López de Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution. The victory secured Texan independence, with Mexico losing control of the territory and surrendering its leader in the conflict. Mexican forces suffered approximately 630 deaths, while the Texan forces had nine killed and 30 wounded.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
535
Camp near Fort Laramie [Wyoming] May 30th, 1852, dateline on four-page letter with cover (which may not have been used to send the letter) postmarked with black cds "San Francisco Cal. 1 Sep" tying horiz. pair of 1851 3¢ dull red with correct addressee (same as salutation on letter) in Chester, Illinois; letter reads, in part, "…I have not written to you from Fort Kearney…we then went to the Fort and mailed our letters it was then determined to go three miles past the Fort and camp until monday & I intended to write on Sunday to you and carry my letter to the fort but we were unable to find wood or grass and consequently were obliged to go farther…am now 8 miles from Fort Laramie in good health, fine spirits and as happy as men generally git to be on this earth. I have an idea you would hardly know me I am nearly as dark as an Indian…we have averaged 22 miles a day since we left Salt Creek which is 3 miles from Fort Leavenworth…I have seen several very pretty women on the road (most of whom are going to Origon) but have not talked with any of them the sight of a pretty woman is good for a man in bad health out here…write upon the reciept of this direct to Sacramento City…A. Taylor."; cover with edge and corner wear, Very Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
536
Fort Laramie (Wyoming) July 9 1849, dateline on bluish four-page folded letter addressed to Mr. G.S. Palmer, Athens, Maine, with red "STEAM 10" handstamp of St. Louis; interesting contents read, in part, "…It may be interesting to you to know what we are doing out here, and to many others, and the mail goes out tomorrow, you may want to know how long it will take a letter to go across the continent allmost. I wrote to the P.M. the 20 of May…We arived at Fort Kerney the 17 June its former name Fort Charles- left the 20 arrived here 8 july…Fort Kerney is on Platt at the head of grand Island three hundred miles from Ind. It is a government post, twenty mud houses three companys of soulders to protect emegrants…the cholera has followed emigration to this place It has fritened the Indians away all most Graves strew the way between here and Ind. Looks like a graveyard in some places. Government has just bought this Fort It is now a government station some soulders here to protec emigrants…Had it not been for the cholera we should been four hundred miles father along we have lost four of our party died of cholera…[unsigned]", edge wear and toning at folds of paper, Fine, One of the very earliest letters from Fort Laramie by an emigrant crossing the plains. Great content.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Current Opening Bid: $1,900
Lot
537
Ft Larama [Wyoming] June 8th, 1850, dateline on four-page folded letter; entered the mails with manuscript "Jackson Point Mo. Aug 19" postmark and matching "10" rate manuscript to Kentucky; great trail letter from emigrant reads, in part, "…we have been travling every day for upwards of one month we are now at Larama six hundred & fifty miles from St. Jos or the point we started from. We have averaged about 22 miles per day…I see any number of wagons scatterd along the road I think that the many sights that I have seen has very well rewarded me for my trip so far. I do not know how the remainder of the trip will go. there has been from May the 1st up to the 7th of this month 15,145 men, 193 women and 192 children Passed this post for Cala and I don't beleve theres one half passe yet…our next Breech will be Ft. Hall which is about three hundred mils from this Post…Jas C Porter", light toning at cover folds, F.-V.F., Pencil notation on verso indicates "unique" Jackson Point, Missouri manuscript postmark.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $950
Lot
538
(Trail Letter) Fort Laramie June 10 1859, dateline on letter only (no cover) with contents, in part, "…We arrived here last night after tramping up the monotinous Platte Valley for nearly four weeks without the slightest variation in scenery. I have been very anxious to reach here for some time in hopes of hearing from home. I paid a dollar to cross the river on a raft last night and run a great risk of being drowned to get to the Post Office and then found excellent centering neither letter or paper, since which I have felt like crying, and swearing alternately. I see no way now of hearing from you untill next fall. If you receive this by the fourth of july write immediately and direct to Placerville (Hangtown) and the letter will get there by the time I do. If you do not receive it so soon direct to Marysville…Seeing some buffaloe on the sand hils about six miles from the road one morning just as the train was starting out I sent the train on and with Mr. Shrake and two others and two horses we started after them expecting to overtake the train at noon. We followed the buffaloe back for about ten miles when we came in sight of an immense herd of at least one thousand…It seems as though the whole world was on the way to California. There is no end to the big droves of cattle that are going across and three fourths of all the Pikes Peak People are going through…Frank,", Very Fine and an outstanding trail letter.Estimate $300 - 400.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
539
Pacific Spring [Wyoming] July 11th 1847, dateline on four-page folded letter with manuscript postmark "Oregon Mo. Aug 19 / 47" and matching "10" rate addressed to Ohio, letter reads, in part, "…You will see from the superscription of this letter that I have at last arrived upon the waters which run to the west (or rather S.W.) as I presume I am upon the waters of Green river on the Great Colorado of the west, which empties itself into the gulf of California. We have passed the summit of the Rocky mountains…I embrace the opportunity of sending a short note by Mr. Finley of Illinois who has spent sometime in Oregon and is returning to the States (as called) and about to spend the evening with us and who had the kindness to offer to bear the same to the nearest P. office upon his route home…At Kansas (or Kaw) village the indians stole 4 of our cattle. We detained 2 days in making efforts to recover them, but finally failed…also to pass though the territory of the Pawnee indians- the worst tribe on the route- our road was good…At Laramie we were among the Sioux indians. They stole one horse from our company & perpetrated some minor thefts but upon the whole they are the finest specimens of the indian that I have seen…Upon Sweet Water we found 140 armed Mormons under Capt. Brown being a detachment of the Mormon Battalion taken into the U.S. service last season…Mr. Finley & companions like Oregon well. They are going back I never felt better. This is hasitly written with the paper lying on a meal bag…J.S. Snook[?]", light wear and toning at folds with some minor separation, F.-V.F., this cover is the subject of an article written by Dr. Milgram for the Dec. 2020 issue of Western Express.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE AND EARLY TRAIL LETTER DESCRIBING IN DETAIL THE ARDUOUS TRIP UNDERTAKEN IN 1847.
Pacific Springs - an extensive marsh in a bleak, dry landscape is in a low place just west of South Pass. For emigrants on the Oregon Trail, it was the first source of good water after crossing the Continental Divide. From the east-flowing rivers and streams they had followed for so many miles, the pioneers had finally arrived at water that would end up in the Pacific Ocean.
The town of Oregon, Mo. was established in 1841. The name refers to the Oregon Country, which was at the time considered a prime destination of pioneer emigrants passing through the area. A post office called Oregon has been in operation since 1843. It was a significant trading post in the Platte Purchase region of Missouri for the first couple of decades of existence.
Current Opening Bid: $500