Beschreibung:

ALS, 2 1/2 pp., Troy, NY, 14 Jan. 1849. John E. Wool to Gen. Lewis Cass. A distinguished army officer, born to a Revolutionary War soldier, Wool served in the War of 1812 (the "Second Revolution"), the Mexican War, Indian Wars in the Northwest, and the Civil War. As a Brig. Gen., Wool was second in command to Gen. Zachary Taylor in Northern Mexico, and was charged with selecting a site for the battle with Gen. Santa Anna that they knew was coming. It was Wool's selection of Buena Vista and his distribution of the few troops that were present under Taylor that has been credited with the success the Americans had in that battle. In 1848, Zachary Taylor was nominated to run for President on the Whig ticket. One of Taylor's opponents wrote that he had performed poorly at Buena Vista, and the credit for the success belonged to Wool, among others. This was countered (of course) by Whig papers who defended Taylor and implied that Wool was getting undue credit for his role in Northern Mexico (the thanks of the Congress notwithstanding). Wool tried to avoid the printed battle, but when the accusations continued after Taylor's election, he started gathering evidence to defend himself. In this letter, he writes to Lewis Cass, the Democratic nominee (who obviously lost the election in 1848) requesting copies of letters written during the battle about events that happened and Taylor's role. You may have seen the infamous article in relation to myself which appeared, editorial, in the Courier & Enquirer of the 9th Instant. I cannot bandy words with political vampires. Hence I cannot notice the article referred to, nor the one published in that paper the 10th October last, in answer to an article which appeared in the Democratic review. Still it may become necessary at some future time for me to show that I have not acted the dishonorable part towards General Taylor by appropriating to myself honors that belonged to him. I wrote you in answer to a congratulatory letter received from you soon after the battle of Buena Vista; also in relation to the invidious distinction the House of representatives made in regard to myself in appropriating honors to the Generals who fought in Mexico. To this I received no answer. In both letters I think I did ample justice to the conduct of General Taylor. Whether or not, as I retained no copy of the first letter, I would be pleased if you would send me a copy. If you cannot do this I have to request that you will do me the favor to state in a letter, to be used if necessary, what I may have said in that, or any other letter written by me to you, in regard to the conduct of General Taylor in the battle of Buena Vista, and whether I appropriate any honors to myself, which under the circumstances might have belonged to the General. As I have avoided as much as possible notoriety, and have lived retired at my Head Quarters, declining all public demonstrations in my behalf from citizens not residents of Troy, since my return from Mexico, I had hoped to have escaped the notice of political assassins 'and beggars for office.' Signed John E. Wool, with no military rank. Condition: Minor wrinkling at top of pages. Folds as expected. Minor toning in same area as wrinkling.