Sign up to receive email notices of recent acquisitions.
Lobos Island Made April 1st 1847.
Lobos Island, Mexico, 1 April 1847. Map size, 20.5 x 17 cm. Sheet size, 25 x 19.5 cm. A fascinating, highly detailed manuscript map of Lobos Island, just off the east coast of Mexico, made by an American soldier stationed there during the Mexican-American War. This map was drawn by William D. Garrison (1826–1847) of Camden, New Jersey, who fought in the Mexican-American War with Company D (Cambria Guards) of the 2nd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. Although he traveled with the volunteers in 1846 he did not officially enlist until 21 Jan. 1847. William would pass away on 11 July 1847 from illness at the Castle of Perote in Mexico City, aged twenty-one. Lobos Island served as a staging ground for Gen. Winfield Scott’s invasion of Mexico City via the port of Veracruz. The present map depicts “Camp Winfield” on the western part of the island. Identified on the map are doctor’s and colonel’s tents; camps of companies D, G and B; “tent of your worshipful serv[an]t” (Garrison himself), and a flag staff—“erected by the crew of the sloop of war St. Mary.” At the island’s eastern end, a camp for sick soldiers and those afflicted with smallpox is indicated. “Battalion parade grounds” are located throughout the island and a guard house is shown at the south-western shore. Between the Mexican shore and the island pilot and provision boats are indicated, and off the island’s north shore a shipwreck is identified. Several ships are shown at the island’s entrance and one vessel is identified as Gen. Veazie. Garrison provides measurements of the island in the upper-right, which he evidently made himself: “1000 steps in length, 500 in breadth, 2400 in circum. Ea[ch] step 28 inches.” A few manuscript calculations appear at the bottom-left. “About February 10, it had been discovered that smallpox had spread aboard [General Veazie]… [w]hen the General Veazie reached Lobos it was placed under immediate quarantine. The men were to remain aboard until all signs of smallpox had vanished or until the army had vacated the island. At the height of activity on Lobos, two thousand troops were arriving each day. From the shoreline, the anchorage began to take on an appearance of a forest of ship masts and sails. By Late February, the troops on Lobos Island began breaking camp and re-embarking aboard the transports, in preparation for the naval assault against Vera Cruz. The First Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers boarded their respective vessels February 25 and the Second Regiment on the 28 and March 1. When the fleet departed two days later for Anton Lizardo, they did so without Companies B, D, and G of the Second Regiment, who were still quarantined aboard the General Veazie. Lieutenant Colonel Geary was also left behind to serve as their commanding officer. With the island deserted, the three companies were finally allowed to disembark. They were to remain there under the command of Lt. Colonel Geary until all signs of smallpox had disappeared; at which point they would be allows to rejoin their regiment.” (Robert Van Trombley, Pennsylvania’s Role in the Mexican American War) The present map came to us with a description indicating that it was formerly accompanied by several letters written by Garrison as well as a poem written in his memory upon his death. REFERENCES: Van Trombley, Robert. Pennsylvania’s Role in the Mexican American War (2013) at chroniclevititae.com CONDITION: Old folds, some damp-staining, some loss to the right margin but no losses to the manuscript text.
Item #5267
Sold
Add to Wish List