William Davidson Fraser letter books and Mexican War diary, 1837-1847.

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William Davidson Fraser letter books and Mexican War diary, 1837-1847.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702161193

Two letter books containing copies of letters written by Fraser, using the name William Smith, Jun, 1837-Jan, 1838, and Jul, 1838-Mar, 1839, copied in manuscript in an unidentified hand; and a holograph diary, kept by Fraser during the Mexican War, Jan-Sep, 1847. Letters, dated at Rochester, New York, most to General Charles Gratiot or General J. G. Swift, concern Lake Ontario harbors at Oak Orchard Creek, Genesee River, Oswego River, and Sodus Bay. The letters discuss funding and planning of works at these harbors, and they report progress of construction. Diary entries concern Fraser's work on fortifications in Monterrey, including discussion of construction, employment of Mexicans and United States soldiers as laborers, the occupation of Monterrey, and operations of the United States Army in Mexico.

3 v. (in 1 box)

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 8021048

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

United States. Army. Corps of Engineers

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jh793p (corporateBody)

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is an engineer formation of the United States Army that has three primary mission areas: engineer regiment, military construction, and civil works. The day-to-day activities of the three mission areas are administered by a lieutenant general known as the commanding general/chief of engineers. The chief of engineers commands the engineer regiment, composed of combat engineer army units, and answers directly to the chief of staff of the army. Comba...

Swift, J. G. (Joseph Gardner), 1783-1865

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j397nn (person)

Joseph Gardner Swift (1783-1865) was a civil engineer and officer in the U.S. Army. He was one of two students of the first graduating class in 1802 of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. By the age of twenty-eight he was a colonel and Chief Engineer of the Army. His projects included the completion of Fort Clinton (New York City) and during the War of 1812 the fortifications of western Long Island harbors and New York City. He resigned his commission in 1818 and served as Surveyor of the P...

Gratiot, Charles, 1786-1855

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jw8wrd (person)

Born in Missouri, 1788, the son of Charles Gratiot and Victoire Chouteau; appointed to West Point by Jefferson; graduated from the academy, 1806 as 2nd lieutenant of engineers; captain, 1808; served with distinction in War of 1812; major, 1815; lieutenant colonel, 1819; from 1819 to 1829 erected forces of Hampton Roads, including Fortress Monroe; became colonel and principal engineer, Bureau of Topographical Engineer, Washington, in 1828; appointed inspector of West Point; held offices until Dec...

Fraser, William Davidson, -1856

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63z1rwj (person)

William Davidson Fraser graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1834. While at the Academy, his name was William Smith; he later changed his name to William Davidson Fraser. Fraser served as superintending engineer for improvement of Lake Ontario harbors, 1837-1839, and during the Mexican War, he repaired and reorganized the fortifications of Monterrey, Mexico, 1846-1848. After the Mexican War, Fraser continued to serve as an army engineer. He died in Key West, Florida, in 1856. ...