Sutter, John August

Autograph letter signed ("J. A. Sutter" with an elaborate paraph), 3 pages (10 3/4 x 8 3/8 in.; 273 x 212 mm) on a bifolium of blue paper, Hock Farm, 25 June 1851, to General John Wilson (at San Francisco), verso of second leaf with autograph address ("pr. Messers Freeman & Co's. Express") and reception docket, also hand-stamped "Gregory's Express" and "Not Paid"; small seal tear and loss, backed with tissue on recto of first leaf and verso of second. Half honey morocco portfolio.

Sutter supports Peter Lassen's claim to land in the Sacramento Valley. John Sutter is best known for his role in the California Gold Rush, but it is not widely understood that the discovery of gold, while on his land, was not a boon for him. Sutter had immigrated to California from Germany in 1838, taking a very round-about and not always reputable path (deeply in debt, he abandoned his wife and children in Switzerland).

Sutter received an enormous grant of land from Monterey Governor Juan B. Alvarado, which he developed as New Helvetia. But despite his generally good relations with the Mexican government, he welcomed the United States annexation of California. The discovery of gold at his sawmill almost led to his ruin, as his lands were overrun and his property destroyed by hordes of "forty-niners." At the time this letter was written, Sutter was a captain in California's militia. He had re-established himself at Hock Farm on the Feather River, and from there he sent this endorsement of Lassen's claim to a large tract in New Helvetia above Hock Farm.

"Mr. Lassen got my favorable information to the Govt. Under Genl. Micheltorena I helped the Office of Military Commander of the Northern frontier, and encharged with the Justice, and just about a few day's previous our Marching from the fort New Helvetia, I received on my request by a courrier the Document which empowered me to give every person which previous applied for land a Copy of the same, which shall be respected in the whole Republic of Mexico (as a title until the Govt. had time to give every one, or one after one a title in one form, as they had no time than to do much writing, as the Native Californians which were the Rebels blokaded the General with his Mexican Troops, and I received Orders to March and join him with my forces, from Monterey we was Marching in two Divisions, of the 2d. I was the Commander, downwards to the South, and after we lost the Battle of Canvenga [Cahuenga] and I had been made a prisoner of War, the Genl. capitulated, and left with his troops for Mexico. As we were encamped in the Mission, the General Don Manuel Micheltorena and Governor, held on my request a Speech to the mounted Rifle Compy. about 100 Men and all my Staff & Officers of the other Companies, that every one should be entitled to a Grant of land, on our return from the Campag [Campaign]. All what would be necessary would be to produce a Certificat from me; and it would have been done so but we had the bad luck to loose the battle, Mr. Peter Lassen has been a very good Soldier and the Armer of the Mounted Rifle Company."

After some further discussion of the documentation of Lassen's claim, Sutter tells Wilson that he is not able to find his wife a native servant: "I am very sorry it lays not in my power to send a little Indian Girl to Mrs. Wilson as they cannot more be obtained in this vicinity. I think it would be much easier to get one through Mr. Lassen." Lassen Peak and Lassen County are named for Peter Lassen, a Danish-born blacksmith and early California settler. A significant letter, with an unusual combination of express cancellations.