Kenton Harper, Mexican War Manuscript Archive, 1847-1848

Lot of 50 letters, consisting of over 175pp of fascinating content dating from January 12, 1847-January 29, 1848. Accompanied by transcription of each letter.



Considering Kenton Harper's education and pre-war experience as a newspaper editor, his letters are long and thorough. He is writing home to his wife Eleanor, whom he called "Ellen," and on a few occasions, he writes to his son Samuel, both residing in Staunton, VA. Harper's letters are written from various locations in Mexico, and his descriptions of the Mexican people and their customs are especially graphic and colorful. While it is impossible to relate all of the strong content in these letters, here are some examples:



*Jan. 12, 1847, Richmond: Harper states, I returned to the city last evening from Fortress Monroe where I took my company on Friday, finding it necessary to come back to attend some business of my own with the Governor, as well as to look after the proper equipment of my men. I have been dealt with very illiberally by the Governor, in regard to my expenditures (all from my private means) in bringing my company on here, but I have no doubt from the feeling in the Legislature as well as in the public mind, that I shall not be allowed ultimately to suffer.



He goes on to talk about equipping the troops...Capt. Huger left Fortress Monroe for New York where he is to embark with the heaviest siege train which has ever been sent out from the country. He bade me good-bye on the wharf as I left, not expecting to see me again as he said until we meet in Mexico. Since my return here, I have learned that the President has agreed that the Va. Regt. shall consist of 12 companies, and it is determined that two of them shall be armed with rifles and bayonets. My company, it is decided shall be one of the two...



He continues...The sword got for me by my friends has arrived, though I have not yet seen it. On page 105 of Jeffries' book, Kenton Harper of Virginia, it says that The Richmond Whig described the sword as "a very handsome one, the sword bore upon its guard the inscription, presented by the citizens of Staunton, VA, to Kenton Harper, Capt. Of the Augusta Volunteers, as a testimonial of their respect and affection for him as a soldier and a gentleman."



*Feb. 19, 1847, Off Point Isabel, to Harper's wife, 4pp: We arrived here last evening, after a voyage of twenty-three days, all well. Havana is a beautiful city, built in the old Spanish style, every house being in truth a castle, capable of easy defense. Harper goes on to give a detailed 2pp description of the buildings and harbor of Havana...There are more than a hundred vessels of different descriptions, with troops, military stores, provitions, etc., all collected here for some vigorous operations against Mexicans.

*Feb. 18, New Orleans, to Harper's wife, with introduction indicating that the description enclosed in the letter had been written with a view to publication. As Harper was a newspaper editor, the following description that he sends home was no doubt printed in the Staunton Spectator.



*March 18, 1847, Walnut Springs, near Monterrey, Mexico, to Harper's wife, 10pp: We left Camargo...with three other companies of the Virginia detachment,...under the command of Col. Randolph, six companies of the Ohio Volunteers, a detachment of Dragoons and Texas Rangers, number about two hundred,...two brass 12 pound pieces, and two 1 pound pivot guns, the whole under the command of Col. Curtis, to open the communication between Camargo and Monterrey which had been cut off by the enemy. Within a few days one of the descending trains and ascending train had been destroyed, the latter with a large quantity of prisoners. The total loss of wagons was about the number 150 which were plundered and burnt, and about 85 of the poor wagoners cruelly butchered.


Harper goes on to describe the difficult march to Mier. I detailed a portion of my command under Lieut. Harmon to take back some wagons to bring up the baggage. They saw four or five Lancers (Mexicans) in the bushes on the way but they were no doubt acting as mere spies... Harper describes Mier and what went on there. When leaving Mier, we resumed the march, and saw on the way a considerable number of dead bodies in horrible condition. He describes one of the prisoners being shot and dying. Harper's command met up with that of General Taylor's, and Harper states that it was strange that Urrea (the Mexican General) with a force of something like four to one, did not attack us. Harper describes Taylor: The General is a remarkable hardy looking man, rather medium height, thick set and stoop shouldered, and would weigh I suppose about 175. In dress etc., he might readily be taken for a wagon master. The army I find are enthusiastic in his presence. Harper's travel log continues...We marched about 18 miles to a deserted ranch, passing in the way a number of our wagons which had been burnt by the Mexicans.Several alarms were made that the Mexicans were coming upon us. Kenton calls the country through which they marched the most miserable I have ever seen. He states that they have not yet entered Monterrey. Our flag was unfurled on every occasion we expected to fight.



*March 28, 1847, Camargo, Mexico, to Harper's wife, 4pp: Harper writes about the First Virginia Regiment receiving the honor of making a move to a new station at China, Mexico. Harper states, Whether I live to return, or die in a foreign land, I trust I shall always be actuated, in all my conduct, by a pure and devoted desire for the best interests of those so dear to me...It may be that the war will soon be closed, but God only knows. With "Brasos, April 10, 1847" postmark.



*April 16, 1847, China (Mexico), 4pp: Harper had arrived in China with the Virginia Regiment on April 13, and immediately took possession of the town, raised the American Flag, and set up camp. He depicted the march there with 160 wagons as a tedious and harassing one, and more so as the route was new and unknown. The first two days were the hottest I have ever felt. Harper also provides graphic descriptions of the suffering and difficulties in moving the wagons. He references the regiment's first deaths, and concludes by stating that Gen. Scott has been successful at Vera Cruz and that the enemy near China are exceedingly shy of us.

*June 2, 1847, Buena Vista, 5pp: The Augusta Volunteers had left China, and were in Buena Vista, after a continuous march of ten days...one day we had to go twenty-four miles, twenty of which is without water. The sufferings of the men were very great. He describes the battlefield that lies just before their camp ...and looking over it seems pretty miserable a place...whether the Mexicans will try the fortune of war in the same theater again remains to be seen. The letter also contains a touching poem Harper wrote to his wife.


*June 15, 1847, Buena Vista, 4pp: Within a few days we have had diverse conflicting rumors in regard to the movements of the enemy...One of these reports is that a Mexican force of fourteen thousand has been collected at San Louis Potori, with a view to operations in this quarter, and that Gen. Urrea has certainly recrossed the mountains below us with a force of four or five thousand...the force at this place, which may be said now to be emphatically the key to the whole country between this and the mouth of the Reo Grande, does not exceed fifteen hundred all told; and defeated here there would be no other on the line to make even a tolerable resistance to the triumphant enemy. Gen. Taylor, I have understood, feels deep concern as well as indignation at the critical posture in which he has been placed, by the withdrawal of troops from him, and the failure to supply others in their stead...if the enemy comes in the strength reported, there is no hope for one of us but in victory. Defeat or retreat would be inevitable death to us all. This is decidedly the strongest position naturally that we could occupy shorty of Monterrey, and we should be cut to pieces if we attempted, in the face of an enemy, to fall back...



The next 14 letters from Harper to his wife and occasionally their son, Sam, dating from June 20 to August 21, 1847, are written from Saltillo, Mexico, and include extremely thorough, colorful, and descriptive content. Most letters have integral postal markings on the reverse of the last page (folded covers). Excerpts include:



June 30, 4pp: Three men died in Harper's company. Everything remains quiet in the city - the Mexican inhabitants, I think, are becoming more reconciled to our domination...There has been considerable mortality among the natives of Saltillo since we have been here, particularly among children, and funerals have taken place daily...The explosion of rockets may be heard almost every hour, which...is part of their funeral rites.



July 5, 7pp: In addition to referencing the Mexicans' advance upon US forces, Harper talks about slavery in Mexico. I learned also that it is not infrequently the case that very young persons (minors) are thus auctioned off, whether for their own debts or debts of their parents...It was not but a few weeks since that a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years of age, and a boy of about the same age, were publicly sold in the streets of Monterrey. Harper also references the newspaper he previously edited, The Spectator, which he receives quite regularly.


*July 18: I see that Santa Ana and all the leading Mexicans in their proclamations...speak of the war in which we are waging as against their Nationality and their Holy Religion...The magnificent church in this place, which I have heretofore spoken of bears the marks of two cannon balls, fired against it by order of Gen. Ampudia, on his retreat from Monterrey to enforce a demand upon it for money! Nevertheless, in the face of facts like these, the unprincipled men who rule in turn the poor oppressed Mexicans for their own advantage and aggrandizement will continue to pirate liberty, patriotism, nationality, and their Holy Religion. The truth is that no country on the face of the earth scarcely is worse ground than Mexico...



*July 19: Gen. Cushing has arrived to take command of our brigade...Mexicans are becoming more and more visibly impoverished with their own feebleness and inability to cope with us....A report has just come in that Gen. Raos is approaching with a force of three thousand, and intends to attack us.



*July 25: Harper writes, We are looking with great anxiety for the next news from Gen. Scott and the city of Mexico... He also discusses the Americans, which engage a large share of the active business here, including American stores, hotels, eating and drinking houses, and livery stables, mostly kept by discharged soldiers...The fact is, where ever the Army goes, the country seems to be Americanized.



*August 7: Harper describes a horrible murder of a yellow boy who had traveled with an American as a servant, robbed his master, and was in turn murdered by Mexicans for the gold he had previously stolen. Harper writes, The Mexican character is...the most treacherous possible. They may profess to have become very much attached to you, and beg to be taken into your service...yet at the moment they have the chance to rob or murder you, they are pretty certain to do it.



*August 12: Harper describes another bloody affair between Negroes and Mexicans, which may have been a result of the murder of the yellow boy. He speculates that the Negroes may have cut the Mexicans with knives as an act of retaliation. He also mentions two dragoons that were killed within two miles of town by a small party of Mexicans.


*September 12, 1847: A few days ago a party of about one hundred dragoons were sent out to scour the country west of the road to Monterrey, where it was reported guerrilla parties were being formed to plunder and destroy our trains. Harper also mentions Major Chevalie, who had resigned command of the Texas Rangers on account of his poor health.


*Sept. 18, 1847: Harper received a message from General Wool regarding the appointment of officers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder of two men from Illinois regiments, possibly by Mexicans. He described the revolting character of the murders, in which the men were enticed, it seems, by the Mexicans, to a neighboring ranch, to take a game of cards, and while engaged at playing, were suddenly fallen upon and cruelly murdered....No doubt all the Mexicans whose participation in the bloody deed is established will be executed...scarcely a week passes that we do not lose men in some way - and the most probably conjecture is that they are murdered.



*September 30, 1847: We have just received news of the entrance of Gen. Scott into the City of Mexico, after a series of very severe and bloody battles - Santa Ana report says, has retired 120 miles in this direction with the remnant of his army - about seven thousand men.



*October 10, 1847: Harper mentions General Wool's desire to make him Inspector General of the Division, but Harper writes I prefer adhering to my Regiment. - I want all in services, to hail, emphatically from Virginia, and am disinclined, therefore, to accept a position which would be likely to make me lose that distinctive character.



*October 28, 1847: Harper discusses a Mexican that was executed for the murder of two Americans at the Alamo, with two of those involved in the crime sentenced to five hundred lashes each. "The execution," he says, "produced great excitement amongst the Mexicans of Saltillo." The Mexican authorities claimed the right to try the criminals, stating that "capital punishment is a relick [sic] of barbarism, which no civilized nation now sanctions!...But Gen. Wool did not heed their remonstrance.


*November 6, 1847: Their guerrilla parties, however, are becoming more numerous and more active; but whether it is the result of a concerted policy, or of the mere breaking up of their armies and the dispersion of their unpaid, starving soldiers, over the country, is impossible to say.


*December 17, 1847: Harper states that a Military occupation of Mexico would be an expensive operation to our Government, and wholly fruitless for any just national ends and objects; while its conquest and incorporation, with its mongrel, depraved, and ignorant population, could not prove otherwise than ruinous to our free institutions - an unmitigated curse to us. He also describes a severe fight that took place under Captain Lewis, during which approx. sixty Comanche Indians attacked fifteen of his Texas mounted men in the neighborhood of Parras.


*December 26, 1847: This day one year ago, the Augusta Volunteers left their homes and friends to serve their Country in a foreign war; and circumstances as they now are, it is, doubtless, to most of them, a day of sad retrospection and melancholy reflection.Harper notes that out of the eighty men that comprised the company when it arrived in Mexico, only fifty-four remained, with eight killed and eighteen sent home, disabled by disease.


*January 3, 1848: Harper offers a detailed description of the military execution of Victor Galbreath, a Kentucky native who lived in Illinois before the war. He writes, It was truly a most solemn and impressive scene...the poor culprit deported himself with great firmness. He marched to the place of execution unbound, keeping step to the music, and taking his seat upon the coffin eight paces in front of the firing party, he folded his arms in his lap, and straightened himself up so as to present his full front to the fatal volley. The first fire, I regret to say, did not prove entirely effectual, and he had to be dispatched by reserve files. This is the first military execution, I believe, which has taken place upon our line, and I pray God it may be the last.

Each letter has been transcribed and each page placed in an acid-free sheet protector.