Wiley Pope Hale letter, 1846 December

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Letter written by Wiley Pope Hale of the 2nd Tennessee Regiment, at the Camp of General Quitman's Division, Hacienda Sant Ingracias, near Hidalgo, Mexico, to Harriet A. Hale, dated December 28, 1846.

The letter reads:

[page 1]

Dear Mother,

As we have encamped at an earlier hour to day than on any other day during our march, I have concluded to spend the leisure time in writing to you. In my last letter which was written from Camargo, I informed you that we had received orders to march from that town to join Genl Taylor at Montemorrelles. In obedience to that order we left Camargo, on the 8^th Dec, & arrived at Montemorrelles on the 18^th when we met Genl Taylor who had arrived there from Monterey on the same day with the main body of the army. We had, however scarcely, pitched our “field worn tents,” upon the plain before the beautiful city of the mountains “(Montemorrelles”) when we again received orders to leave immediately and march with all haste to attack Genl Urrea at Victoria. Genl Taylor having received an express from Genl. Worth at Saltillo , that Genl Santa Anna was advancing with a large [page 2] force against him, he (Genl Taylor) left Montemorrelles in a few hours after our arrival with the entire Regular Army to reinforce Genl Worth at Saltillo, at the same time dispatching Genl Quitman with five Regiments of Volunteers (amounting to about 2500 men) against Victoria. We now are on our march to that city. Genl. Urrea is said to be encamped there with about 5000 Mexican cavalry. We are anxious to meet with the gentleman, as he is the same individual who, ten years ago, ordered the massacre at Goliad where Charles Haskell and his brave companions were so inhumanly murdered. If we find him at Victoria we will pay him up for old scores. Our present force consists of the 1^st & 2^nd Regiments of Tennessee Volunteers, Regiment of Mississippians, Regiment of Georgians, The Baltimore Battallion, and one company of “Flying Artillery.” Capt. Bob Foster is with us in fine health and spirits. He sends his best respects to you. He is one of my best friends here.

We have now been on the march about 3 weeks, and are now within 3 days march of Victoria. There are various opinions about the prospects of a battle [page 3] at that place. Genl Urrea is certainly there but whether he will give us a fight or not is extremely doubtful. I think that he will absquatulate before we get there. If we do not have a fight at Victoria, it is probable that we will continue on to San Louis Potosi, to meet old Santa Anna himself.

The health of our Regiment is now first rate – We left all of our sick at Camargo, and there is not, now, a single sick man in the “Avengers” Hiram Tomlin is as fat as a bear, as is also, Jo. Freeman, Allick Henderson Sam Lyon & the rest of the boys. We left at Camargo the following members of our company: viz: Bowling Cross – Wm Browning – Woodle - & Allix an den Tyner – who were too sick to stand the march. We are now marching through one of the most delightful countries in the world – The road runs along parallel with a range of tall blue mountains at the foot of which is a beautiful green valley intersected at distances of a few miles, with rivers, and mountain streams of the purest water. This valley is thickly settled with wealthy Mexicans, who live [page 4] in beautiful white cottages surrounded by extensive fields of sugar cane, and groves of orange, lemon, citron, pommegranate and every other description of tropical plant & fruit. It is now the dead of winter, and yet the weather is so extremely hot that I am compelled to go without my uniform except when on duty – I wish you could eat some of the fine oranges which I have now in my tent piled up as high as my head – they are twice as large as any I ever saw, and when pulled fresh from the trees – of the finest flavor – you never see any in the United States to compare with them – The Mexicans dont seem to value them and cultivate the tree more for the shade than the fruit. The water mellons here are also very fine though not so large as ours in Tennessee. The Mexican citizens along our route have been remarkably kind & friendly and furnish us with any thing we want. Well, I have written this much without knowing when I may have an opportunity of sending my letter – However I will continue to write whenever I have time and send them all by the first opportunity – there is no communication with the States – I will finish this at Victoria – farewell, dear mother, your son  Wiley

Identifier

sc.0024.001_007.001

Date

1846 December 28

Subjects

Hale, Wiley Pope, 1821-1847.

Recommended Citation

"Wiley Pope Hale letter, 1846 December" (2021). Letters. 7.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/speccoll-mss-halewp1/7