Zachary Taylor Letters mssTaylorz
Melissa Haley
The Huntington Library
May 2021
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Zachary Taylor letters
Creator:
Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850
Identifier/Call Number: mssTaylorz
Physical Description:
2.34 Linear Feet
(2 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1846-1848
Abstract: This collection consists of letters sent by Zachary Taylor while serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War
from 1846 to 1848, primarily to his brother-in-law, U.S. Army surgeon Robert Crooke Wood.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material,
nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and
obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Zachary Taylor letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Letters to Robert Crooke Wood were purchased from William K. Bixby, 1918. The letter to Edward Kent (1848 July 27) was purchased
from George D. Smith, approximately 1920.
Biographical / Historical
Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784-July 9, 1850), the twelfth president of the United States, was born in Orange County, Virginia,
the son of a planter and enslaver, and raised in Kentucky. He joined the U.S. Army in 1808 and was made a brevet major in
1812 following a successful defense of Fort Harrison, Indiana against a Native American attack led by the Shawnee chief Tecumseh.
Taylor fought in the Black Hawk War in 1832 and against the Seminole Nation in Florida from 1837 to 1838; he commanded Fort
Smith in Arkansas from 1841 to 1844. In 1845, Taylor was sent to Texas by President James K. Polk, anticipating conflict with
Mexico over the U.S. annexation of Texas and disputes over national boundaries. During the Mexican-American War that followed,
Taylor led troops in battles at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, May 1846; Monterrey, September 1846; and Buena Vista, February
1847. He was made a major general during the war, which ended in a U.S. victory with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February
1848.
Taylor was elected president in 1848 as a Whig candidate. The potential expansion of slavery into the new U.S. territories
acquired from the war was a primary issue of Taylor's presidency, which included statehood questions for California and New
Mexico. The failure of sectional compromise marked Taylor's short administration.
Taylor owned cotton plantations in Louisiana and enslaved around 300 laborers over several decades. In 1810, he married Margaret
Mackall Smith; the couple had six children. Taylor died in office of gastroenteritis at age 65.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of letters sent by Zachary Taylor while serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War
from 1846 to 1848, primarily to his brother-in-law, U.S. Army surgeon Robert Crooke Wood (1800?-1869). Letters concern war
logistics and strategies; army life; troops movements and health; supplies; General Winfield Scott; the progress of and future
projections of the war; and some reportage of battles, especially of the battle of Monterrey in September 1846. Letters also
discuss Taylor's presidential prospects and potential nomination in the 1848 race; politics; health; and family, particularly
his daughter Ann and her children. All items are autograph letters signed unless noted otherwise.
Processing Information
This collection was reprocessed in 2021 by Melissa Haley as part of the American Presidential Papers Project. The items had
been assembled physically and arranged chronologically by Huntington Library staff in early- or mid-20th century; material
was rehoused during reprocessing. Previously assigned item-level call numbers have been retained. The number of pages for
each item is noted in parentheses in item-level Scope and Contents notes. Page count for letters does not include envelopes
or addressed covers unless noted otherwise.
Related Materials
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mexican War, 1846-1848 -- Campaigns -- Mexico
Mexican War, 1846-1848 -- Sources
Monterrey, Battle of, Monterrey, Mexico, 1846
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1848
United States -- Politics and Government -- 1845-1849
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866
Wood, R. C. (Robert Crooke), 1800-1869
Box 1, Folder 1
Letter written from camp three miles from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Point Isabel, Texas HM 23139
1846 May 9
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (2 pages)
Box 1, Folder 2
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Point Isabel, Texas HM 4114
1846 June 3
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (3 pages)
Box 1, Folder 3
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4115
1846 June 12
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (3 pages)
Box 1, Folder 4
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4118
1846 June 21
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 1, Folder 5
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4119
1846 June 24
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (3 pages)
Box 1, Folder 6
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood HM 4120
1846 June 30
Scope and Contents
(4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 7
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4121
1846 July 7
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover with note. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 8
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4122
1846 July 14
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 1, Folder 9
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4123
1846 July 25
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 1, Folder 10
Letter written from Matamoros, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood HM 4124
1846 August 4
Scope and Contents
(4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 11
Letter written from Camargo, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood HM 4125
1846 August 11
Scope and Contents
(4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 12
Letter written from Camargo, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4126
1846 August 19
Scope and Contents
(4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 13
Letter written from Camargo, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4127
1846 August 23
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 1, Folder 14
Letter written from Camargo, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4128
1846 September 3
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 1, Folder 15
Letter written from camp at Cerralvo, 75 miles from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4129
1846 September 10
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled locations as Surralvo and Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (3 pages)
Box 1, Folder 16
Letter written from camp at Marin 25 miles from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4130
1846 September 16
Separated Materials
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 17
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4131
1846 September 28
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 18
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4132
1846 October 12
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 2, Folder 16
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Major E.G.W. Butler, Louisiana HM 21004
1846 October 19
Physical Description: Item tipped in to binding with portrait copy of Taylor.
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Addressee probably Edward George Washington Butler (1800-1888), who served as a major
general in the Louisiana State Militia from 1846 to 1847. (6 pages)
Box 1, Folder 19
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4133
1846 November 26
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover with note. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 20
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4134
1846 December 10
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 21
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4135
1846 December 13
Physical Description: Signature has been cut out.
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 22
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4137
1847 January 26
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (3 pages)
Box 1, Folder 23
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 23140
1847 January 30
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (2 pages)
Box 1, Folder 24
Letter written from camp at Agua Nueva, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas HM 4138
1847 February 9
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Agua Nueava. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 1, Folder 25
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico to Robert Crooke Wood, Fort Polk, Texas, Baton Rouge, Louisiana HM 4139
1847 March 20
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 2, Folder 1
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4140
1847 April 4
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has envelope. (4 pages)
Box 2, Folder 2
Letter written from Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4141
1847 May 9
Physical Description: Signature has been cut out.
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 2, Folder 3
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4142
1847 May 30
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter is initialed, no signature; final page written on addressed cover. (6 pages)
Box 2, Folder 4
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Jesse Atwood, "Present" (camp near Monterrey) HM 20722
1847 May 31
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (1 page)
Publication Note
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Not in Letters of Zachary Taylor from the Battle-fields of the Mexican War.
Box 2, Folder 5
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4143
1847 June 23
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (7 pages)
Box 2, Folder 6
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4144
1847 July 13
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 2, Folder 7
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4145
1847 August 5?
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Date and location identified in Letters of Zachary Taylor from the Battle-Fields of the
Mexican War. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 2, Folder 8
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4146
1847 August 24
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Publication Note
In Letters of Zachary Taylor as August 25.
Box 2, Folder 9
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4147
1847 August 31
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. (4 pages)
Box 2, Folder 10
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4148
1847 September 8
Scope and Contents
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Final page written on addressed cover. (2 pages)
Box 2, Folder 11
Letter written from camp near Monterrey, Mexico, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4149
1847 October 5
Separated Materials
Taylor spelled location as Monterey. Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 2, Folder 12
Letter written from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Robert Crooke Wood, New Orleans, Louisiana HM 4152
1848 February 18
Physical Description: Signature has been cut out.
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (4 pages)
Box 2, Folder 13
Letter written from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Richard T. Allison, Baltimore, Maryland HM 4153
1848 June 25
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)
Box 2, Folder 14
Letter written from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Governor Edward Kent, Bangor, Maine HM 23138
1848 July 27
Scope and Contents
Letter signed; has addressed cover. (3 pages)
Publication Note
Not in Letters of Zachary Taylor.
Box 2, Folder 15
Letter written from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Robert Crooke Wood, Baltimore, Maryland HM 4155
1848 December 10
Physical Description: Last page has been cut, with some text missing on address page and possibly in final page of letter.
Scope and Contents
Letter has an addressed cover. (5 pages)