Item No. 8444885

An 1847 autograph letter signed by U.S. Army Captain John B. Grayson (later a Confederate general), written upon looted stationery of the Mexican government’s Minister of State. In the letter, Grayson, who was then General Winfield Scott’s chief commissariat, writes to General George Gibson, the Army’s commissary general in Washington, about the capture of Mexico City, the transmission of documents, and the cost of rations. It was written September 27, 1847, just days after the capture of Chapultepec and the storming of the city gates.

Grayson notes in the opening of his letter that since his previous letter of September 1, “we have changed places with the Mexican Army & authorities, as the head of this sheet will indicate.” He adds that “the English Courier leaves here for Vera Cruz,” and so he would take the opportunity to update Gibson on matters with a letter, although “with little hopes of its ever reaching you.” This is likely in reference to the dangerous route back to Vera Cruz through Puebla, which was subject to attack by guerrillas.

He goes on to discuss having drawn $60,000 in August, then $100,000 more on the date of the letter, presumably to purchase rations locally. “I will also require about $200,000 more in the course of next month on the same point,” he adds. Despite the lack of regular supplies, he notes, “my department has never wanted for anything since the interruption of our communications with Vera Cruz.” He concludes, however, that “the cost of the ration in Puebla was 26 cents, & here is is 32¢, with every indication of its being higher.”

Grayson signs off promising to send additional commissary documents at a later date, once “a train leaves here for the Coast.”

The letter was written on two pages of a four-page bifolium letter sheet measuring about 8 1/4” x 10 1/2”. The letterhead likely belonged to Juan Almonte, as the heading reads, Correspondencia Particular del Ministro de Estado y del despacho de Guerra y Marina (private correspondence of the Minister of State and the Minister of War and the Navy). The lettersheet was also addressed and used as a cover with postmark, resulting in some minor loss to the back sheet, not affecting content. Otherwise fine. The full transcript appears below.

Grayson continued in army commissary roles after the Mexican War, but resigned in 1861 to join the Confederate service. He was appointed a brigadier general, but soon after arriving at his command in Florida, he took ill with pneumonia and tuberculosis, and died October 21, 1861.

27th September, 1847

General
I had this pleasure on the 1st instant, enclosing you my Monthly Summary Statement for August, since which time we have changed places with the Mexican Army & authorities, as the head of this sheet will indicate. Tomorrow, the English Courier leaves here for Vera Cruz, & I avail myself of this opportunity of advising you of the position of our department in this quarter, though with very little hopes of its ever reaching you.

On the 31st Aug’t, I drew on the A.C.S. in New York for $60,000 at ten days after sight & in favor of S. S. Hargons, & I have this day drawn on the same & in favor of the same person for $100,000. I will also require about $200,000 more in the course of next month on the same point.

My Department has never wanted for anything since the interruption of our communications with Vera Cruz, if I except money & which I have had always to raise on drafts on Vera Cruz & the United States.

The cost of the ration in Puebla was 26 cents, & here is is 32¢, with every indication of its being higher.

In a very few days, I will have my Quarterly papers for the 2nd & 3rd Quarter of 1847 ready to forward to you, together with my monthly summary statements since May last, but cannot possibly forward them until a train leaves here for the Coast.
I am, General, Very Respect’y
Your mo. Obt. Sevt.
John B. Grayson
Capt. & C.S.

General George Gibson
Commissary General of Subsistence
Washington City

P.S. I enclose the two letters of advice with my receipts in order to diminish the number of packages. Please to forward them to the A.C.S. New York.