Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

1805.025.17

Collection

Carlton Birch Letters

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from James Birch to his Wife Amanda Birch

Scope & Content

A letter from James Birch to his wife Amanda about his life as an American soldier in the Mexican War. James wrote this letter on May 2, 1847, at the camp near Xalapa. He described the battle of Cerro Gordo which he was unable to fight in due to suffering from dysentery and sun stroke. James also mentioned traveling in Mexico and an encounter with women, as well as the high prices of goods. James signed the letter with his updated position, Quarter Master Sergeant of the 1st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Date

May 2, 1847

Notes

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

May 2d 1847 Camp Near Jalapa [Xalapa]
My Dear Wife

Here we are in Camp about 3 Miles beyond the Beautiful City of Jalapa [Xalapa] and its [it's] still More Beautiful Senoras [Señoras] whom I cannot help occasionally taking a Sly Look at You have Received before this News of the Glorious Victory of Serra Gorda [Cerro Gordo] and I Regret to say that I could not be there the day before the Battle I was sick from the effects of a Sun Stroke and which I had got on the third days March from Vera Cruz I was burning up with fever and suffering from severe dysentary [dysentery] but towards Evening I felt a Little better I put my Arms and accoutrements in order and Reported myself for duty for I was determined to be there if I had to crawl there but an order came from the colonel to Repair to his quarters which I did and I Received from him orders to Remain behind and take command of the guard Detailed to protect the Baggage train which as quarter Master Seargeant [Sergeant] of the Regiment was my duty he expressed great Regret that I could not be allowed the privelage [privilege] of being shot and gaining glory but he said that the mexicans might make a detour around the Hills and attack the guard and try to get our Baggage and that I might have a chance of making a good fight with this consolation I was obliged to stay behind I can give you No description of this Battle sufficient for me to say is that it was one of the Most Brilliant Battles of the whole campaign Gen [General] Scott Rode out as cool as a summers morning and Returned about 3 oClock with Vega and other Mexican generals of distinction amidst the Cheers of the whole line smiling Like a Basket of Chips at every Body and I can tell you that the old man Setts [Sits] on his Splendid Horse He Looks [word crossed out] Like a whole team he does the old Critter [page break] and we will Make him president the old Rat in spite of all the Locofocus in creation our Regiment behaved gallantly the [they] charged up to within 70 yards of one the fortifications when they had orders to Halt the firing I was told by several whom I conversed with on the subject and who gave me a description of the Battle was tremendious [tremendous] Bullets of every description flew amongst them Like hail and Strange to say not one man of the Regiment was Killed and only 2 or 3 slightly wounded our men Stood the fire firmly and their situation for a short time was such as to make the sloutest [stoutest] quail but no such disposition was shown by any one and firmly they stood their ground and waited anxiously for the order to charge which order they never Received Twiggs attacked the fort from the opposite side with his Regulars and soon the white flag hung over the fortifacation [fortification] and the enemy surrendered Notwithstanding all [word crossed out] the gallantry and firmness of the Pennsyl-vanians we were the subjects on the next day of the grossest misrepresentations but since justice has been done us at one time our Colonel had orders from the general to Retreat which orders was disobeyed you could not conceive the Rapidity of forcing unless you Heard it no interception for a moment for near an hour of cannonading and musqutery [musketry] on the part of the Mexicans and the steady up Hill work. with the Bayonet on the part of our troops Near 4000 Mexicans were taken prisoners [word crossed out] and about 6000 Stand of arms and over 40 pieces of cannon some of which were the most Beautiful in Point of Workmanship and ornament I ever seen and one Brass 64 Pounder was Splendid poor fellows this place was the scene of their former glory and great appeals had evidently been made to them for at this place they had defeated the spaniards and declared themselves free from spain. Every preparation had been made to annihilate us if we come straight up the Road but Scott made them open their eyes when in the morning the [they] found that we had dragged Heavy morters [mortars] and cannon up a Steep mountain and then carried them around on the top and planted a Battery within Half a mile of them which Knocked one of their fortifications in to a cocked Hat in Less than half an hour and they Knew nothing of it until it opened fire no wonder St Anna [Santa Anna] made every preparation to Retreat and Said we were [page break] the devil and had it not been for the haste of Twiggs who wanted to do something extra Sant [Santa] Anna would have been completely Surrounded and taken prisoner as worths [Worth's] division was working their way around the Hills to Cut him off and a Remarkably tight Chance of escape he had Harvey with His dragoons pursued him to Jalapa [Xalapa] took his carriage and a good deal of Money but enough of the Battle the scene after was Horrible as I witnessed the next day I Rode over the Battle field and never wish to witness another I Bought a Beautiful sword (which I now wear) for a canteen of water from a mexican I would not have taken it if it had not a been that he was obliged to give it up my orders to move the teams on immediately after the Battle was countermanded and we Remaineded [Remained] for 2 days after the Battle to bury the dead and take care of the wounded my office Entitles me to this Privelage [Privilege] of Riding and drawing Rations for a Horse and I had a Beautiful Mustang Pony given to me when I Left Very [Vera] Cruz which I Rode all along was here Stolen from me an [and] I had to foot it from Serra gorda [Cerro Gordo] to our present encampment and a great Loss he will be if I cant [can't] manage to get another as we start for mexico in a few days I have had Myself Reduced twice to one Shirt by thievery on the 2d day of our Landing My Knapsack and all my clothes with my Blank was Stolen from the place of deposit an [and] a complete new Rigg which I had Bought at a very High price I was Robbed of Here 1.75 for A striped shirt such as would cost at home 75 cts [cents] my great Boots the soles dropped off and I was obliged to give 3.00 for a pair of Brogans such as cost 1.25 in Phiada [Philadelphia] but such is a soldiers Luck and I am not alone in my next Letter I will give you a full description of the City of Jalapa [Xalapa] and the Surrounding Scenery which is the most Beautiful I ever beheld also the Black eyed Spanish girls who are certainly Beautiful I hope Corporal Warham has arrived Safe with the Painting and that Longmire has Read you the Long Letter I sent him in all my Letters from you and Thomas no mention is made of Father why it is so I Know not and to hear of him at all times gives me pleasure and I Like not such forgetfulness of him [page break] give My Love to all Father Mother Sister and Brothers with my Good Wishes to all my Friends who come to see you Tell Thomas to place but Little faith in Warham who Kept out of harms [harm's] way and never smelt [smelled] gunpowder or Heard a Bullet Whistle I have a good many curiosities which I will try and get sent Home some I have with me and some are packed up at Vera Cruz I must close as the mail will

So good by for the Present and I will try to write to you soon although it is first hard to get time 2d to get ink 3 to get paper 4th to get pens and after it is wrote to get it Carried

So Farewell with the Love of
Your Husband
James Birch
Quarter Master Seargeant [Sergeant]1s Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteers

[page break]

Mrs James Birch
Care of T. Birch Jr
6th & Chestnut
Philadelphia
Pa

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 9.75" x 15.625"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Excellent

Condition Notes

Noted as "poor" on 10/05/2005, as the letters were in a scrapbook titled, "Record in War." However, the collection was conserved by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA), Philadelphia, PA, in 2010. Each item was removed from the scrapbook and placed in individual folders.

Legal Status

On loan from The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia.