TAYLOR ZACHARY Autograph Letter unsigned to Winfield Scott (

Sale 2228 - Lot 136

Unsold

Estimate: $ 8,000 - $ 12,000

TAYLOR: NOT "DEEPLY MORTIFIED AT BEING SUPERSEDED" TAYLOR, ZACHARY. Autograph Letter, unsigned," to Winfield Scott ("Genl"), incomplete retained draft, cordially pledging to support him until November when he must attend to his "private affairs," complaining that it would be difficult to carry out his orders without more support, and laying out his plans to advance toward the Mexican capital. 3 1/4 pages, 4to, written on a single folded sheet; marked bleed-through overall, minor scattered toning especially at folds. [Camargo, 1846]

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". . . I recd several letters from gentlemen . . . stating that you would be assigned to this comd, & were apprehensive I would be deeply mortified at being superseded, which they very much regretted. In reply I informed them I thought your rare experience & position entitled you to the situation, that I was gratified it had [been] entrusted to such able hands, & take your [or]ders with with [sic] great pleasure, giving you all the support in my powers until Novr, at which time I ought to leave for the U. States whether I was first or second in command, to attend to my private affairs . . . ; I neither asked or expected anything & was satisfied it had been determined at Washington that someone else was to be charged with the management of this war, more especially as I had never been consulted directly or indirectly as regards it[s] management, the number & description of troops to be employed, or in fact anything in relation to the subject. . . . I hope to leave here in ten days for Saltillo 250 miles distant by the way of Monter[r]ey with 6000 men half regulars, the balance volunteers, which is the largest amt of force we can get the necessary transportation for; & that for the most part pack mules, where if I succeed in reaching it . . . throw up a strong field work as a place of arms, to bring forward as large a force as can be sustained there, after which to act as circumstances may seem to warrant; on the contrary if there are no supplies to be had at or near that place, we must . . . fall back within reach of our supplies on the Rio Grande, take Vera Cruz as soon as the season will permit & march on the City of Mexico from that place. . . ."
The present letter conveys Taylor's bitterness about having to conduct a campaign against Mexico with insufficient troops and supplies after the bulk of his trained troops were diverted from his Army of Occupation for Scott's use in central Mexico. Rather than fall back, Taylor plans to advance to Monterrey and Saltillo, where he would be in a position to cut off enemy communications between Mexico City and the northern provinces. Perhaps this move was influenced by the pressure he would have felt to achieve the glory neccessary if he were to be a successful presidential candidate in the coming election. It is significant that Taylor states his intention to return to the U.S. in the same month as the election.