Manuscript and letters of Electus Backus, 1848.

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Manuscript and letters of Electus Backus, 1848.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122565209

The manuscript relates Backus' experiences with the First Infantry Regiment during the Mexican War, from his departure from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in May 1846, until he left Vera Cruz in July 1848 to return home to the United States. Backus describes in detail his regiment's march; their occupations of Burita, Reinoso, Veracruz and Mexico City; the Battle of Monterrey; his time in charge of the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa; and the violence which continued after the official end of the war. Backus specifically mentions Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, Mariano Arista, Antonio Canales, and Antonio López de Santa Anna. At the end of the manuscript are several newspaper clippings regarding Electus Backus and the Mexican War. Accompanying the manuscript are two letters written by Backus further describing his experience in the Mexican War. The letters are addressed to Senator Alpheus Felch and to Backus' father-in-law, General Hugh Brady. The manuscript and letters may have been written by Backus to support his request for a promotion. There are also several sketches of Monterrey, which are drawn by Backus.

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Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens

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SNAC Resource ID: 6766861

Related Entities

There are 9 Entities related to this resource.

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wx874x (person)

Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786 – May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as a general in the United States Army from 1814 to 1861, taking part in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the early stages of the American Civil War, and various conflicts with Native Americans. Scott was the Whig Party's presidential nominee in the 1852 presidential election, but was defeated by Democrat Franklin Pierce. He was known as Old Fuss and Feathers for his insi...

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dp4v09 (person)

Zachary Taylor (1784-1850), the twelfth president of the United States. In 1841, he was appointed to the command of the Sourthern Division of the United States. In the spring of 1845, Taylor appointed to command the Army of Occupation stationed in Corpus Christi. In May 1846, Taylor led his army into north Mexico. Following the battle of Monterey, Taylor was ordered to join General Winfield Scott at the siege of Veracruz. Taylor's victory at at the Battle of Buena Vista made him a national hero....

Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794?-1876

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mp52hr (person)

Epithet: President of Mexico British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000297.0x000203 Commander in chief of Mexican Army and President of Mexico during war with United States (1846-1848). Letter thanks Don Juan Valdivia for providing lumber and use of his estate for defense against possible Spanish invasion (1829). From the description of Antonio Loṕez de Santa Anna letter, 1829. (University of the Pacific)...

Brady, Hugh, 1768-1851

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kh25rz (person)

Born at Standing Stone, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1768; ensign in the army of General Wayne, 1792; returned to his home, 1795; received a captain's commission, 1798; occupied land near Pittsburg; resided then at Northumberland, 1807-1812; went again to the front and served during the Canadian campaign in command of 22nd regiment infantry; colonel of 2nd infantry, New York, 1819; brevet. brigadier-general, 1822; placed in command of the Northwest territory headquarters at Detroit, 1825 until his dea...

United States. Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6km312r (corporateBody)

The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 and United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001. As the largest and senior branch of the U.S. military, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which wa...

Backus, Electus, 1804-1862.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6445rdt (person)

Electus Backus was born in New York in 1804. He was the son of Colonel Electus Backus who was killed at Sackett's Harbor in 1813. The younger Backus graduated from West Point in 1824 and fought in the Seminole and the Mexican wars. In June 1850, Backus, who was Major of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, was assigned command of Fort Defiance, Arizona. Backus died in Detroit in June 1862, just after he was made Colonel of the 6th U.S. Infantry. From the description of Diaries and Letters of Elect...

Arista, Mariano, 1802-1855

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gf0t68 (person)

Secretary of war for Mexico. From the description of Letter, 1848. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122536945 President of Mexico (1851-1853). Born 1802 in San Luis Potosí; died 1855 on board the vessel Tagus en route from Lisbon, Portugal, to France. Other offices held: brigadier general, member of Tribunal de Guerra, member of Junta del Código Militar, Inspector of the active militia, Comandante General of Tamaulipas (1839), General en Jefe del Ejército del Norte (1840), ...

Felch, Alpheus, 1804-1896

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6028qhz (person)

Resident of Houlton, Maine, later Monroe and Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michigan state supreme court justice, 1842-1845, Democratic governor, 1846-1847, and United States senator, 1847-1853. From the description of Alpheus Felch papers, 1817-1896. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34419272 Lawyer, Governor of Michigan, and U. S. Senator from Michigan. Born in Limerick, Me., Sept. 28, 1804; graduated from Bowdoin,1827; studied law, was admitted ...

Canales, Antonio, 1800?-1852?

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hd83q9 (person)