Wiley Pope Hale letter, 1846 August

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An incomplete letter written by Wiley Pope Hale of the 2nd Tennessee Regiment, at Camp Tennessee opposite Burito, Mexico, to Harret A. Hale, dated August 17, 1846.

The letter reads:

[page1]

Camp Tennessee Opposite Burito Mexico

August 17^th 1846

Dear Mother,

I would have written to you several days sooner but for the fact that I have been so very busily engaged in assisting in the organization of our Regiment. Before commencing this letter, I must again be permitted to complain of you all for not writing oftener. I have only recieved two letters from home since I have been in Mexico, and I have written regularly once a week. I wrote sometime since to Bob Taylor and to Sal but have not yet received an answer to either. We are still encamped on the banks of the Rio Grande but will leave in a few days for “Camargo” on our way to attack the city of “Monterey” I am happy to inform you of the organization of our Regiment at last. The East Tennessee troops joined us about two weeks since and the election for field officers took place on the 8th inst. I know that you will be rejoiced to [page 2] hear that Genl. Wm. T. Haskell has been elected Colonel of our Regiment. I give below the “Field & Staff” of the Regiment which you can give to Mr. Gates for publication.

(2nd Regiment Tennessee Volunteers

Field

Wm. T. Haskell  Colonel Commanding

David H. Cummings  Lt. Colonel

(No Major yet elected)

"Staff "

Doct. David McKnight  Surgeon

Doct. Enoch P. Hale  Assistant  Surgeon

1st Lt. Wiley P. Hale   Adjutant)

1st Lt. Wm B. Davis Quarter Master

Legrand M. Jones  Sergeant Major

Isaac Nichol  Quarter Master 's Sergeant.)

You will perceive from the above that I have received the appointment of "Adjutant" of the Regiment. I have now the rank and pay of “Captain of Infantry”. The gentleman who has been appointed Assistant Surgeon is from East Tennessee, and is a distant relation of ours. I think that he was appointed through my influence. I wish you to send a paper containing the above list of officers to Uncle Sam Hale in Va. (The health of [page 3] that part of the Regiment from the Western District is remarkably healthy for this climate, but the East Tennesseans who are principally from the mountains are very sickly indeed. We lost three men in 24 hours out of the East Tennessee Battallion.) We have heard with sorrow and regret of the deaths of Wm. Turley, Thos D Connally and several others, and we all are extremely anxious about the health of our relations and friends in Jackson. We almost fear to open our letters for fear of hearing of the death or sickness of some one dear to us.

(The sick of the “Avengers” are all recovering very fast. Hiram and Maxcy Theus have both been sick but are now going about again. Stillwell also has recovered. Tom Spurrier who came near dying from the bite of a “tarantula” has entirely recovered.) Tell Mrs. Talbot and Mrs. Jackson that Jo Freeman still continues one of the most healthy and robust members of our company. Jo is one of the best soldiers I have ever seen. All the rest of the company are in good health.

I took a trip a few days since to the city of Matamoros in company of several of the Avengers amongst whom were Max Theus Alex Henderson and Alex. Greene. We [page 4] all marched up to the city a distance of 30 miles on foot. As the weather is extremely hot here we choose the night for our journey.   After walking about ten miles from our camp, we heard the noise of "fiddling and dancing” about a hundred yards from our road. We concluded to find out what it meant. We reached the place from which the music proceeded. What a sight was here presented! It was a Mexican Fandango! There were about a hundred Mexican Ladies and gentlemen assembled for a ball! They recieved us very politely and asked us by signs to participate in their amusements. We remained about three hours dancing with the dark eyed beauties of the Rio Grande and then resumed our march for Matamoros. We found the road very thickly settled with Mexicans who invariably treated us with great respect and kindness. The road however is said to be dangerous to travellers. The Mexican Ladies are not beautiful not half so beautiful as ours. They dress however with great taste and neatness and they remarkably graceful in dancing. They are very fond of waltzing, though we [rest of letter missing]

Identifier

sc.0024.001_003.001

Date

1846 August 17

Subjects

Hale, Wiley Pope, 1821-1847.

Recommended Citation

"Wiley Pope Hale letter, 1846 August" (2021). Letters. 3.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-halewp1/3