Lot 306: TAYLOR, ZACHARY

306. ZACHARY TAYLOR (1784-1850) Twelfth President of the United States, "Old Rough and Ready" was also a hero of the Mexican War, taking Monterrey and defeating Santa Anna. Good content, lengthy A.L.S. "Z. Taylor" as 1st Infantry Commander, 4pp. 4to., Natchitoches, [n.d.], to Col. George Gibson in Washington, concerning provisions for various forts. In part: "...Your letter of the 18th July was received during my absence to Fort Smith to which place I was ordered as a number of a Genl Court martial, ordered to convene at that place on the 10th of August last. Lt. Philbrick has not yet arrived, nor had he been notified of his appointment when I left Fort Smith, on the 30th ult. Capt. Birch agreeable to your wishes relieved Lt....I found on my arrival here which was on the 19th that a deposit of provisions...I have not been able to ascertain having been considerably indisposed since my return. I however ordered Lt. Hongach [?] to notify Goodletts agent without delay that he was ready to receive the deposit then due which prevailed during the last summer...that we cannot rely on procuring the article of cornmeal in sufficient quantity and as a substitute, should the deficiency be considerable. I will have the provisions in store at Natachches inspected immediately and such as may be condemned...of such as may be unfit for you to this place will cost the quartermas[ter's] department between two and three dollars...which in all probability is more than they would bring when offered for sale. The company at Sulfphur Fork is provisioned to include the 28th of February...in returning from Fort Smith I hailed at that place three or four days part of my commanding station there while there a gentleman by the name of Woodward who resides a few miles of where the...are stationed informed me, that he wished to make proposals for supplying the troops on Red River with rations for 1823...Mr. Woodward is a gentleman of good standing where he is known and I have no hesitation in saying that he will comply strictly with any proposals he may make in relation to the subject in question. I am fearful Lt....will never be able to settle his accounts...". Expertly presented in double-glass with dark green matting, and set into a dark wood frame. A bit of roughness to margins here and there and a couple of negligible spots, overall very good condition. $1,200 - 1,500