Wiley Pope Hale letter, 1846 September

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Letter written by Wiley Pope Hale of the 2nd Tennessee Regiment, Camp Tennessee opposite Burito, Mexico, to Harriet A. Hale, Jackson, Tennessee, dated September 1, 1846.

The letter reads:

[page1]

Camp Tennessee Opposite Burito Mexico

September 1st 1846

Dear Mother,

I wrote you a few days since, but as our “sick” men are just about being sent home, I seize this opportunity of writing. The curling smoke of the steamboat “Rough & Ready” is now seen ascending the “Rolling Rio Grande? For the purpose of conveying our Regiment to Camargo, as I am writing, so I will be compelled to write this note in haste. We send home about 125 men from this Regiment on account of sickness, 10 of whom belong to the “Avengers”. Jo Echols or some other of our boys can give you all the news from our Regiment and the Army generally.

Last night a most horrible tradgedy was enacted in sight of our camp. There have been stationed just below us on the river several other Regiments of Volunteers, among whom is a Georgia Regiment which was ordered on board of a Steam Boat for Camargo. After two companies had got on the boat, a quarrel and finally a fight ensued among themselves. Another Regiment (from Indiana) was sent for to quell the riot. A regular engagement then took place [page 2] between the Georgia and Indiana Regiments which lasted about 15 minutes, during which Col. Baker commanding the Indiana Regiment was shot through the neck and some 8, or, 10 men killed dead or thrown overboard the boat. Among the dead, I hear with regret, is Lieut Ogilsby of Indiana who was one of the most promising young officers in the service. The Georgians are now under guard and will be sent to genl. Taylor’s head quarters for trial. The dead were buried this morning below our camp.

I wrote to Sal a few days ago by mail which letter will probably reach you some weeks before this. In that letter I gave her an account of the death and burial of poor Stilwell. Since his death Maxcey Theus has been very sick and delirious all the time. Poor fellow! It was indeed distressing to hear him talk of his home and mother! We start him home this morning in care of careful attendants but I fear that he will never recover. All of the “Avengers” who remain now are in good health and are anxious to prosecute the Campaign against the Mexicans. I have never been unwell a minute since I left Jackson. Why dont you all write oftener? I have only received one letter from you since I arrived in this country [page 3] I fear that most of your letters never reach me on account of being missdirected. Hereafter direct your letters to me as follows:

To Captain Wiley P. Hale

Adjutant of the

2^nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers

Army of Invasion

Mexico

I enclose some wild flowers which I gathered on the “banks of the Rio Grande” which I want Sal to give to Miss Caroline Haskell. Tell her I know not the emblem, and as Flora does not mention them, she can give them emblems herself.

I must now close, as the boat is coming and I must attend to getting my Regiment ready to embark. Give my love to Sister, Sal, Bob Lizzy, Ann Tone[?] and all the family.

Farewell Dear Mother

Your Affectionate Son

Wiley

Identifier

sc.0024.001_004.001

Date

1846 September 1

Subjects

Hale, Wiley Pope, 1821-1847.

Recommended Citation

"Wiley Pope Hale letter, 1846 September" (2021). Letters. 4.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-halewp1/4