Jackson, Thomas J. ("Stonewall")

Autograph letter signed ("TJ Jackson"), 3 pages (10 1/2 x 8 1/4 in.; 265 x 211 mm), Camp near Vera Cruz, Mexico, 31 March [1847] to his uncle, Isaac Brake; address panel on verso with postmark; skillfully silked with minor loss. Dark blue half-morocco clamshell box, gilt-stamped title on spine.

A warm and informative letter to Uncle Isaac. Jackson fondly reflects on the past and reports on the present in his lengthy letter to his uncle, Isaac Brake. He begins his letter with a touch of nostalgia: "I remember with no small degree of pleasure the happy days which I have shared under your hospitable roof and in the agreeable society of yourself and family. Since those happy days I have seen many vicissitudes of fortune but in all the changing scenes the hand of an allwise God can be seen."

Surrender at Vera Cruz. Jackson then expounds on his travels: "Since leaving home I have been in may of the large cities of our own country and in some of those of the enemies among the latter may be enumerated Matamoras, Monterey, Saltillo, and Vera Cruz. He provides detailed information on his current activities in and around Vera Cruz: "[Vera Cruz] in connexion with the castle of San Juan Dueloa surrendered to us after a long siege we landed on the 9th of this month near the city and in the same night the enemy commenced their fire on us which was kept up with occasional intermissions until we had so bombarded and cannonaded them as to induce them to surrender which they did day before yesterday giving up their arms and all public property themselves retiring into the interior with the understanding that they should not take up arms against us during the present war." Jackson confirms his troops occupy both town and castle and confirms his losses are small, "not exceeding in my opinion 20 men killed . . . .". He then turns to another victory, albeit with losses: "General Taylor has obtained a great victory over General Santa Anna but sustained a loss in killed and wounded of about 700 men . . . ." He closes his letter sending family greetings and in a postscript requests that his uncle should not allow any part of his letter be published.