Archive Record
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Metadata
Catalog Number |
1805.025.19 |
Collection |
Carlton Birch Letters |
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Letter from James Birch to George R. Birch |
Scope & Content |
A letter from James Birch to George R. Birch about his life as an American soldier in the Mexican War. James described the arrival of reinforcements to his position, his worry about not being paid, and his desire to receive more letters from his family. He mentioned sending items from his travels to the recipient. Although there is no greeting on the letter, the envelope is addressed to George R. Birch. |
Date |
n.d. |
Notes |
The full transcription of the letter is as follows: 25 this Morning I was awakened by my Messmate calling me and telling me that my Boss as he calls the Quarter Master Capt [Captain] O Hara wanted but Little time Does it Require to Dress Here for all you have to do is was [wash] your face and comb your Beard and Hair (I have Not put a Raroz [Razor] to my face for near three Months) this done I was hastening out when who should enter accompanied by the Quarter Master but the Redoubtable Capt [Captain] Walker I was told that I must find quarters for his Men some 300 in Number and thiry [thirty] Horses and a Splendid Body of Men and Horses they are they take their Abode permantly [permanently] with us and it makes me feel confident that the Mexicans will not prowl about here much in future by Walkers own account he has a heavy Debt of Veangeance [Vengeance] to pay for in this Castle he was prisoner with others of the Mier expedition here it was that he with his comrades Drew Beans for Life or Death for the Prisoners were Decimated and every 10th man Shot when Sant [Santa] Anna attacked Parades who was fortified in this castle the flag staff was Shot away and the Mexicans Made Walker Replace it this he Did and in Replacing it he Dropped a 10 cent piece in the [word crossed out] hole that it came out of and swore that if he Lived Long enough he would be Back and Recover it Back he certainly is but as to Recovering the Piece of Money that is Doubtful I have he heard no account of his Doing so to Day but I have been so busy attending to My Duties that I have no time I can only say of his appearance that he is a small Light Made figure Light complexion Sandy Hair with good Regular features and nothing ["Re"; paper missing] he makes but few Remarks but I Notice that when he speaks to his men [paper missing] prompt quiet obedience follows the order atlhough [although] a jollier sett [set] of fellows would be hard to find when off duty We have Now a fine turn out at the Castle 7 companies of the first Regt [Regiment] Pa Volunteers one company Regular Infantry one company Artillery and Walkers mounted Rifleman these alltogether [altogether] Will make a force of something less than goo good effective Men quite sufficient to Man the Batteries and Keep off 20,000 Mexicans [word crossed out] or on the plain flog 5000 of them and when all the [word crossed out] Wagons are unloaded and the Provisions Stowed in the castle we shall have enough to Last over 6 Months I forgot to Mention that the old General Left us this Morning on his way to Puebla and from then is to Mexico Accompanied by part of the New Requisition some 14 companies and a Heavy Train of Artillery and Ordinance Stores Worth and Quitman [Equipment?] are Ahead of him Twiggs with Mexico their Destination where probably Taylor will Join him and in the Halls of the Montzumas [Montezuma] Negotiations will be entered into for Piece [Peace] and when they [word crossed out] Will Settled the Lord only Knows But I must [word crossed out] Close the Return train Starts early to morrow or I would not Sit up after Revelli [Reveille] to write this which will be my Last home if I do not Receive some from there I can see no excuse for you and the Rest of the family not Writing oftener Letters you must Know for you have ["abu"; paper missing] opportunity some to me Free of Postage if Marked for the Army in ["Mex"; paper missing] the paymaster has Arrived And I am Fearful that it will be of No benefit to Me for the Present as capt [captain] Morehead has the Descriptive Roll at Jalapa [Xalapa] where he is quartered with his company and we will Receive but 2 months pay therefore I will Not be paid on the Non Commissioned Staff for I did Not Receive My promotion until Last Month (April) Thomas Received a Letter Dated April 7th in which I mentioned that I had Received the Appointment of Assistant quarter Master in the place of Hairland [Haviland] (Son of the Architect) on the 22d I was fully confirmed and my Advance of pay commenced I receive now 17 instead of 7$ per Month and after the 17th of Next Month (June) we shall Receive 3 1/2 extra for clothing 42$ being Allowed per Year for Clothing 21 of Which we Receive at when mustered into service My only hope is that if I do Not Receive my pay now that the Colonel will Advance it to me for I am satisfied that proper Provision will benefit me more than all the [word crossed out] Doctors in creation So Farewell Give my Love to the Whole family and I will endeavour [endeavor] to procure you the Tip end of old Taylors Nose and Numbers of Mexican Curiosities that Identical 10ct [cent] piece of Capt [Captain] Walkers to Help pay for this Letter Numbers of Lead and Copper Balls which the Mexicans threw at us at Sara gorda [Cerro Gordo] which you can sell to Messrs Forsyth and apply to the same praise worthy purpose and also a commission for Yourself of Lieutenent [Lieutenant] General in in The place of T.H.Benton whom it did not suit and if you prefer it and I Know you are fond of a Sedentary Life we will cover your Posteriors with [word crossed out] Feathers and appoint you Mother of eggs for Sant [Santa] Annas Fighting chickens Yours J Birch 2.M.S.1st Pa Vol [Volunteers] [page break] George R. Birch Of Messrs Forsyth & Brothers Plumbers 7th & Carpenter Philada Pa |
Extent of Description |
1 leaf, 12.875" x 8.75" |
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. |
Multimedia Files |
Click here to view the full transcription of the Carlton Birch Letters Collection. |
People |
Birch, George R Birch, James de Santa Anna, Antonio López Morehead, Turner Gustavus Twiggs, David Emanuel Worth, William Jenkins |
Search Terms |
1st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Mexican-American War Battle of Cerro Gordo Carlton Birch Letters Collection |