Ord, Edward Otho Cresap

Papers, consisting of his contract for the survey of Los Angeles, 2 autograph field reports, 1 autograph letter signed, 1 autograph letter unsigned (retained copy), 4 autograph fragments of a memoir, plus 2 letters by others, and a military order in a secretarial hand. Pacific Northwest, 5 May 1856–6 November 1858, with undated material ca. 1849



Manuscript, mostly 4to (one folio), 56 pages written; formerly folded, a few small fold- or edge-tears, occasional stains. Green half-morocco clamshell box, gilt-stamped title on spine and two other boxes detailed below.

Having served in the Seminole War, and the Mexican War, Edward Ord (1818–1883) saw extensive action in the Civil War, at Vicksburg, Richmond and Petersburg. After the war, he commanded the departments of Arkansas, California, Texas, and the Platte.

The present documents derive from the period between the Mexican War and the Civil War, when he was stationed in the Pacific Northwest fighting Indians, after he had completed his famous surveys of Sacramento and Los Angeles, the contract for which last is included in this lot. Some of the papers seem to be fragments of his memoir, posthumously published by the Zamorano Club, on his visits to Los Angeles and San Bernardino. The papers are as follows:

Camp near the Mouth of Rogue River, [Oregon], 5 May 1856: skirmishes with Indians.

"Capt. Ords report of engagement at Mack-anootry village," Camp at Mouth of Rogue River, O[regon] T[erritory], 27 March 1856, to Colonel R.C. Buchanan, Commander District of Southern Oregon & Northern California, with a private letter to Molly appended at the end, 14 April: Skirmishes with Indians.

I.G. Chandler, Autograph letter signed, 1 page (10 x 8 in.; 254 x 204 mm), Headquarters, Mouth of Illinois River, 28 May 1856, to Ord; formerly folded, some fold tears repaired: Reports an attack on Capt. Smith at the Big Bend and orders him to march there as soon as possible.

"Order No. [in pencil:] 6 of the Campaign of B dispatches," Headquarters Fort Oxford, O[regon] T[erritory], 4 July 1856: The war against the local Indian bands having come to an end, the various companies are ordered in various directions.

Edward O. C. Ord. Autograph letter (retained copy) signed ("E.O.C. Ord"), 2 1/2 pages (10 x 8 in.; 255 x 200 mm), Camp of the Four Lakes, [Washington Territory], 4 September 1858, to R. Murray in Benicia California; formerly folded, a few stains: Offers some details on the battle of Four Lakes, and asks him to take care of some business at home.

Edward O. C. Ord. Autograph letter (retained copy), 2 pages (10 x 8 in.; 255 x 200 mm), Camp Falls of the Spokane, [Washington Territory], 6 September 1858, to Captain E.D. Keyes, commander battalion, 3rd Artillery; formerly folded, a few stains: Reports on Indian skirmishes.

Morgan, M.R. Autograph letter signed, 4 pages (9 3/4 x 7 3/4 in.; 248 x 196 mm), Fort Vancouver, W[ashington] T[erritory], 6 November 1858, to Ord; formerly folded, a few stains: Military business relating to the breakup of the company, and re-stationing of personnel.

["Notes on the disposition of California," no place or date but probably 1849]: "The proper disposition of California and New Mexico being now the prominent topics and having been a close observer as well as participator in the scenes enacted in those countries ... I may as well go over the ground for the benefit of all concerned. The newspapers and numbsculls who know not what they say, are apt to repeat the cry, of why don't Congress settle the question, without reflecting that this question ... involves the future fate of a land ... [of immense extent and diversity of climate and population] ... Congress are in duty bound to get information before they legislate ... The people of the United States are too apt to judge of other states by the happy condition of things in their own well governed land ... Do those who reflect for a moment believe that the ignorant, submissive and down trodden indians & creoles which formed the population of the Mexican States of California and New Mexico were fit to enjoy this dangerous power of self government before the late war, and if they were not fit to enjoy it under the Mexican flag, does the change of flags suddenly spread wisdom over the land and enable the population thereof to form themselves into free & Sovreign States ...[discusses the first California Constitutional Convention of 1849, acts of the legislature, and the prospect of introducing slavery into California] ... I have lived about half my life in free states since arriving at manhood - don't own a slave and don't want to, and shall be glad when the more northern of the slave states, undisturbed by fanatics, shall abandon it as they undoubtedly will in all the Country where white men can live and labour in health - but is it likely that slavery will go to a country where white labor can compete with it on even terms ... experience and common sense say no."

[Notes on government administration and social customs in Mexican California, no place or date, beginning mid-sentence]: " ... I must remark here that the intelligent people of the United States have no appreciation of the complete demoralization which prevails all classes through out Mexico. No Mexican official or dignitary places the slightest confidence in the word of another unless he knows the spoken interests will accord with his words, and their idea of interest is the interest of the day ... The army is recruited not by enlistment nor even by a fair draft system, but in the Capitol or other cities where a demand for soldiers occurs, a special and attractive spectacle is given by the government at the principal theatre or some other place of amusement and as the crowd passes out of the doors - all that are not well attired are seized and marched off to the barracks, clad in a makeshift uniform, and marched at the point of the bayonet to the front ... In Monterey, only a few months ago, a prominent citizen was seized and held for ransom until he accidently escaped."

[Fragmentary brief notes on a trip from Monterey to San Diego and San Bernardino, no place or date, possibly notes for his "the City of Angels and the City of the Saints"].

[Docketing title:] "Notes of Report on the Country from San Diego to San Bernardino," 1849, 3 pages, 4to; formerly folded. Tan half-morocco folding-case, gilt-stamped title on spine.

City of Los Angeles. Manuscript contract in Spanish, signed by E.O.C. Ord, Jose del C. Lugo, J. Temple, for Ord's survey of the city, in payment for which $3000 will be due. Los Angeles, 22 July 1849, 1 1/2 pages (12 1/2 x 8 1/2 in.; 318 x 215 mm); formerly folded, initial blank leaf mended, some wear at folds. Half-morocco clamshell box, gilt-stamped title on spine. From the collection of Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang foundation (sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 20 June 1979, lot 634).