Floyd-Jones, De Lancey.

De Lancey Floyd-Jones was born into a prominent Long Island, New York, family on January 20, 1826. His parents were General Henry Onderdonk Floyd-Jones and Helen Watts (De Lancey) Floyd-Jones. De Lancey Floyd-Jones graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point on July 1, 1846, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army’s Seventh Infantry. His nickname at West Point was “Davy Jones,” and some of the letters in this collection appear to be signed “Davy.”

Lieutenant Floyd-Jones served in the United States Army during the Mexican War from 1846 to 1848. On his way to join his unit in New Orleans, his ship sailed through a major Atlantic hurricane in September 1846; the first letter in this collection describes that experience. On arriving in Mexico, Floyd-Jones served in the garrison at Monterrey and was promoted to second lieutenant in the Fourth Infantry. He saw combat with the Fourth Infantry in the battles of Veracruz (March 1847) and Cerro Gordo (April 1847), as well as in the campaign in August and September 1847 that resulted in the capture of Mexico City. He received a brevet promotion to first lieutenant on September 8, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct during the battle of Molino del Rey. He received a regular promotion to first lieutenant on January 1, 1848. After the fall of Mexico City, Lieutenant Floyd-Jones continued to serve in the Fourth Infantry’s occupation force at Mexico City until United States forces withdrew in the summer of 1848 after Mexican ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

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