From Mexico, Gen. Zachary Taylor Writes: “Cherish the patriotic sentiments you have expressed, as well as love of country, so as to be ever ready to… lay down your life for her should the sacrifice be necessary.”

“I must say you are of too tender an age to undergo the hardships common to a camp life; the long marches the troops here have to make under an almost tropical sun, require men of mature age, physical abilities & great endurance; even many such have sunk here under the fatigues & privations referred to, more than have fallen by the bullets of the Mexicans.”

General Taylor and his men were positioned by President Polk on the Rio Grande when the Mexican War broke out. On May 8, 1846, just days after the declaration of war, Taylor commanded American forces at the Battle of Palo Alto, the first battle of the war. It was an American victory, one he followed up the next day with another success at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. Taylor had defeated the Mexican forces even though they greatly outnumbered his own. These victories gave him recognition and made him popular, and within weeks he received a brevet promotion to major general and a formal commendation from Congress. After these triumphs Taylor was directed to move southwest against Monterrey. In September 1846 he arrived and encountered a city almost perfectly protected by mountains, a river, and a vast plain. Monterrey’s ideal defensive position inspired more than one U.S. soldier to call the city a perfect Gibraltar. Taylor engineered one of the army s first wars of maneuver at Monterrey by sending the bulk of his troops against the weakest part of the city, and embedded press reporters who wrote eyewitness accounts of the action for readers back in the States. The first day of fighting was difficult for the Americans, but they soon adjusted their tactics and began fighting building-to-building. It was the first urban warfare in the U.S. Army’s history. The following day, U.S. artillery began a systematic bombardment of the Mexican positions, leading the Mexican commander to request a parlay. The two generals agreed on an eight-week armistice and the Mexican forces marched away with their weapons on September 25, 1846, giving the city over to the Americans. Although President Polk was displeased with the armistice, the American public saw the Mexican retreat from a strongly-held fortified city as a great victory.

After the Battle of Monterey, President Polk ordered the bulk of Taylor’s veterans and regulars to join an expedition under Gen. Winfield Scott, who would land at Vera Cruz and march on Mexico City. Taylor was to defend his position near Saltillo with 5,000 inexperienced troops. Mexican General Santa Anna, recognizing this as a military opportunity, moved quickly to catch the Americans while they made their transition. He and an army of 20,000 Mexicans hurried north to crush Taylor before turning south to deal with Scott. Taylor, hearing of the Mexican movement upon his position, deployed his outnumbered command in a mountain pass near the Hacienda Buena Vista, where his small numbers might do the most good. Santa Anna ordered an all-out assault on February 23, 1847, and had broken the U.S. line by mid-day. Taylor rushed forward his only reserves, the 1st Mississippi Rifles under Col. Jefferson Davis. These troops stabilized the U.S. line by routing a Mexican cavalry breakthrough. Santa Anna’s attack stalled. Then Taylor launched a surprise counterattack, and the Mexican offensive was stopped altogether. Fighting with volunteers, Taylor had thrashed an enemy that was more than three times larger than his own forces. More than 3,400 of Santa Anna’s men lay dead or wounded; Taylor lost 650. Another win for Taylor, who was by now lionized at home.

Americans wrote congratulatory letters to Taylor. He was far too busy to answer many of them, but one specific letter from a 17-year old who had volunteered to enlist appears to have stood out from the others and demanded a response. Autograph letter signed, two pages, Camp near Monterey, Mexico, July 7, 1847, to “Mr. Philip F Coghlan,” describing the nature of military service in Mexico, offering him instruction on how to conduct himself in the future to the benefit of his country, but perhaps more importantly, shedding light on his own character.

“My brave young Countryman, I have recvd. your letter of the 7th. ultυmo from Belleville, Illinois, which has just reached me. I have read it with feeling of pride, interest & pleasure; & while I greatly admire & appreciate your patriotic feelings, which has induced you to offer your services to aid in carrying on this war, yet from long experience in military matters, I must say you are of too tender an age to undergo the hardships common to a camp life; the long marches the troops here have to make under an almost tropical sun, require men of mature age, physical abilities & great endurance; even many such have sunk here under the fatigues & privations referred to, more than have fallen by the bullets of the Mexicans. I must therefore recommend to you not to think of taking the field as a soldier in any capacity in which you are likely to be placed in for some years to come, but continue to cherish the patriotic sentiments you have expressed, as well as love of country, so as to be ever ready to fly to her standards when your services were required & even to lay down your life for her should the sacrifice be necessary. Wishing you prosperity & marked distinction among your fellow citizens, which you cannot fail to reach by industry & perseverance combined with correct principles. I remain with considerations of High Regards, Your Obdt. Svt. Z. Taylor, Majr. Genl. U.S. Army.” The integral address leaf addressed in Taylor’s hand is still attached.

Taylor’s autograph letters signed from Mexico during the years of his historic victories (1846-1847) are extremely uncommon. This is the first we’ve had, and a search of public sale records reveals but two others having been offered for sale since 1978.

Taylor’s victories in Mexico catapulted him to the status of a national hero, and by 1849 he was the 12th President of the United States. As for Coghlan, he took Taylor’s advice to heart. He went on to serve as an officer during the Civil War in the 40th Missouri Infantry. Afterwards he was a Missouri state representative.