Jun 27, 2024 - Sale 2675

Sale 2675 - Lot 207

Price Realized: $ 2,250
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,200 - $ 1,800
(MEXICAN WAR.) Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The President of the Mexican Republic to the Troops Engaged in the Army of the United States of America. Letterpress handbill, 9½ x 6¼ inches; horizontal fold, minor wear and toning. "General Quarters in the Peñon," 15 August 1847
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A successful propaganda effort by Santa Anna, attempting to draw foreign-born deserters from the invading American army. In part: "The circumstances of war have brought you to the beautiful valley of Mexico; in the midst of a wealthy and fertile country. The American Government engaged you to fight against a country from which you have received no harm. . . . I offer you a reward, if deserting the American standard you present yourselves like friends to a nation that offer you rich fields and large tracts of land, which being cultivated by your industry, shall crown you with happiness and convenience. The Mexican Nation ouly look upon you as some deceived foreigners and hereby stretch out to you a friendly hand, offer to you the felicity and fertility of their territory. Here there is no distinction of races; here indeed there is liberty and not slavery."

Several hundred deserters did join the Mexican army, many of them Irish-Americans, and were formed into the San Patricio (Saint Patrick) Battalion. Many were captured and executed as deserters by the Americans, and are still regarded as heroes in Mexico.

This is the first issue, with "only" spelled as "ouly" at the beginning of the third paragraph. Streeter sale I:265 (illustrated).