Guide to the Documentos para la historia de California, 1846-1847, and especially concerning the Battle of San Pascual: 1846-1876

Processed by The Bancroft Library staff

The Bancroft Library.

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California, 94720-6000

Phone: (510) 642-6481

Fax: (510) 642-7589

Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu

URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Note

This finding aid has been filmed for the National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States (Chadwyck-Healey Inc.)

Guide to the Documentos para la historia de California, 1846-1847, and especially concerning the Battle of San Pascual: 1846-1876

Collection number: BANC MSS C-B 79

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, California

Contact Information:

The Bancroft Library.
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu

Processed by:: The Bancroft Library staff
Encoded by:: Charlotte Gerstein

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Documentos para la historia de California,

Date (inclusive): 1846-1847,

and especially concerning the Battle of San Pascual:

Date (inclusive): 1846-1876

Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 79

Creator: Griffin, John S. (John Strother), 1816-1898

Extent: Number of containers: 1 box and 2 oversize folders

Repository: The Bancroft Library.

Berkeley, California 94720-6000

Physical Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Abstract: Correspondence and papers of an army surgeon, relating to his participation in the Battle of San Pasqual, including medical reports for the troops and correspondence with medical, military and naval acquaintances, some touching upon the effects of the gold rush.

Languages Represented: English

Information for Researchers

Access

Access to originals is restricted. Use photocopy or microfilm only.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Documentos para la historia de California, 1846-1847, and especially concerning the Battle of San Pascual: 1846-1876, BANC MSS C-B 79, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Scope and Content

Although this collection of documents, gift of Dr. Griffin to H. H. Bancroft in 1876, covers the date span of 1846 to 1876, it contains records mainly from the earlier period—medical reports for the troops and correspondence with medical, military and naval acquaintances, and touches on the effects of the gold rush.

A calendar and a partial list of correspondents follow.

Biographical Sketch

John Strother Griffin, assistant surgeon, came with General Kearny from New Mexico in 1846, and was present in the battles of San Pascual, San Gabriel and the Mesa. He was stationed at San Diego and Los Angeles in charge of the military hospital, visited the gold mines in 1849, became interested in Napa lands with Vallejo and Frisbie, and was later stationed at Benicia until 1852. He went east in 1853, and after his resignation in 1854, returned to Los Angeles where he resided and practiced medicine, dying in 1898.

Partial list of correspondents and/or signers of documents

Anselin, Alfred, d. 1853 no. 100-101, 104-105

Botello, Narciso, 1810- no. 200-203

Breckenmayer, F. no. 210-211

Campbell, John, ca. 1822- no. 250-257

Clift, Robert nos. 66-67, 70-71, 76-77

Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876 nos. 262-263, 270-271, 276-277

Deyerle, Charles P., d. 1853 no. 212-215

Easton, Langdon Cheves, 1814-1884 no. 142-145

Eversfield, Charles, d. 1873 no. 18-21

Fisher, L. W. no. 266-267

Flaherty, Michel no. 196-199

Foster, Stephen Clark, 1820- no. 200-203

Fraser, James no. 218-221

Grant, Ulysses Simpson, 1822-1885 no. 228-231

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898 nos. 4-5, 8-11, 22-23, 24-25, 38-41, 50-51, 60-61, 62-63, 72-73, 92-95, 96-97, 98-99, 112-115, 124-127, 130-131, 146-149, 232-235

Hammond, Richard Pindell, d. 1891 no. 258-259

Hancock, George no. 280-282

Hancock, Henry no. 288-290

Heiskell, Henry Lee, d. 1855 nos. 16, 90-91, 236-237

Hunter, Jesse D., 1804-1877 no. 74-75

Kearny, Stephen Watts, 1794-1848 no. 3

Lawson, Thomas, ca. 1781-1861 no. 272-273

Murray, Robert, 1822- nos. 12-15, 84-87, 138-141, 165-168, 175-178, 278-279

Noble, Patrick, d. 1848 no. 108-111

Ord, Edward Otho Cresap, 1818-1883 no. 204-207

Pedrorena, Miguel de, ca. 1808-1850 no. 56-59

Perry, Alexander no. 64-65

Pico, Pío, 1801-1894 no. 150-153

Preston, William, 1816-1887 no. 284

Rowan, Stephen Clegg, 1808-1890 no. 78-81

Salmon & Ellis, San Francisco no. 226-227

Sanderson, George B. nos. 26-27, 34-37, 42-45, 52-55

Sherman, William Tecumseh, 1820-1891 nos. 116-119, 120-123, 134-137, 155-158

Smith, Andrew Jackson, 1815-1897 nos. 169-170, 192-195, 242-245

Stevenson, Jonathan Drake, 1800-1894 nos. 179-191

Summers, John Edward nos. 248-249

Swords, Thomas, 1806-1886 nos. 46-49, 161-164, 171-174

Temple, Rafaela (Cota) no. 238-241

Tripler, Charles Stuart, d. 1866 no. 246-247

Turner, George F., d. 1854 no. 222-225

Turner, Henry Smith, d. 1881 nos. 3, 6-7, 28-31

Vallejo & Frisbie no. 216-217

Wheeler, George no. 196-199

item 1.

Invoice of medicine, instruments, hospital stores, bedding, etc. Printed form, filled in. Noted as received at camp. Kearny, May 30, 1846. (oversize)

item 2.

Names of men of K Company killed at San Pascual, Dec. 6, 1846.

item , 3.

Kearny, Stephen Watts, 1794-1848

Orders, Dec. 9, 1846. Written and signed for Kearny by H. S. Turner.

item 4-5.

List of killed in the action of San Pascual. On verso: Quarterly report of sick and wounded of a company of Dragoons on march to California for quarter ending Dec. 31, 1846. In hand of Dr. Griffin.

item 6-7.

Turner, Henry Smith, d. 1881

Quarterly Return of Deceased Soldiers... Dec. 31, 1846. (oversize)

item 8-11.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Estimate for medicines... Dec. 16, 1846.

item 12-15.

Murray, Robert, 1822-

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Jan. 6, 1847, re medical supplies.

item 16-17.

Heiskell, Henry Lee, d. 1855

Circular, Feb. 5, 1847, re medical reports for volunteers.

item 18-21.

Eversfield, Charles, d. 1873

Letter to John S. Griffin, Feb. 10, 1847, sending list of killed and wounded at San Gabriel.

item 22-23.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Letter to T. Lawson, Feb. 14, 1847, reporting his arrival in San Diego and on the battle of San Pascual, Dec. 6, 1846.

item 24-25.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Return of Quartermaster's property received... Dec. 31, 1846, with additional note to General Jessup, Feb. 14, 1847, concerning the report.

item 26-27.

Invoice of medicines...Received from...J. S. Griffin, Mar. 14, 1847, signed by G. B. Sanderson.

item 28-31.

Turner, Henry Smith, d. 1881

Letter to John S. Griffin, Mar. 14, 1847, sending newspapers and reports on military operations.

item 32-33.

Letter to J. Griffin, Mar. 18, 1847, from San Luis Rey. Signature missing.

item 34-37.

Sanderson, George B.

Letter to Griffin, Mar. 19, 1847, re supplies and military operations.

item 38-41.

Quarterly Report of Sick and Wounded at San Diego... Mar. 31, 1847, in Griffin's hand.

item 42-45.

Sanderson, George B.

Letter to Griffin, Apr. 8, 1847, re actions against Indians, arrival of Colonel Mason, activities of Frémont, etc.

item 46-49.

Swords, Thomas, 1806-1886

Letter to Griffin, May 4, 1847, re activities around Monterey.

item 50-51.

Report of Sick and Wounded... May 12, 1847, in hand of John Griffin. (oversize)

item 52-55.

Sanderson, George B.

Letter to Griffin, May 30, 1847, re war news and reports from Mexico.

item 56-59.

Pedrorena, Miguel de, ca. 1808-1850

Letter to J. S. Griffin, May 30, 1847, reporting that things are quiet in San Diego.

item 60-61.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Letter to Thomas Lawson, June 1, 1847, sending reports.

item 62-63.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Letter to Thomas Lawson, June 7, 1847. Mutilated. Sending reports.

item 64-65.

Perry, Alexander

Letter, June 8, 1847, sending forms.

item 66-67.

Clift, Robert

Letter to J. S. Griffin, June 12, 1847, re hospital abstract.

item 68-69.

U.S. to Dolores Sepúlveda, July 17, 1847. Statement of money owed for rental of a house by Griffin and A. J. Smith for one month.

item 70-71.

Clift, Robert

Letter to J. S. Griffin, June 24, 1847, stating he has received receipts.

item 72-73.

Quarterly Report of the Sick... June 30, 1847, by Griffin.

item 74-75.

Hunter, Jesse D., 1804-1877

Certificate, July 16, 1847. Mutilated.

item 76-77.

Clift, Robert

Certificate re hospital property in San Diego, July 16, 1847.

item 78-81.

Rowan, Stephen Clegg, 1808-1890

Letter to Griffin, July 28, 1867, re naval operations.

item 82-83.

List of sick, July 1847.

item 84-87.

Murray, Robert, 1822-

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Aug. 17, 1847, reporting on fever at Monterey, death of J. Minor, etc.

There is no no. 88-89.

item 90-91.

Heiskell, Henry Lee, d. 1855

Circular, Aug. 31, 1847. Printed form filled in, requesting reports.

item 92-95.

Proceedings of a military commission... Sept. 20-21, 1847. Trial of John Smith. Griffin was a member of the commission.

item 96-99.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Quarterly Report of Sick and Wounded... Sept. 30, 1847. 2 items, one for regulars and one for volunteers. By Griffin. (oversize)

item 100-101.

Anselin, Alfred, d. 1853

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Oct. 5, 1847, re medicine found in possession of Archibald Wassell.

There is no no. 102-103.

item 104-105.

Anselin, Alfred, d. 1853

Letter, Oct. 6, 1847, concerning the drug theft mentioned in preceding letter.

There is no no. 106-107.

item 108-111.

Noble, Patrick, d. 1848

Letter, Nov. 21, 1847, reporting on his experiences in Mexico, and giving news of various mutual army acquaintances.

item 112-115.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Letter to Thomas Lawson, Nov. 22, 1847, sending reports and mentioning thefts of medicine and other supplies.

item 116-119.

Extracts from Blackstones' Commentaries. Certified a correct copy by W. T. Sherman, Monterey. Nov. 29, 1847.

item 120-123.

Sherman, William Tecumseh, 1820-1891

Orders no. 77, Nov. 29, 1847, on behalf of R. B. Mason, re military commission at Los Angeles trying John Smith and John Stokely.

item 124-127.

Report on explosion at Guard House in Los Angeles, Dec. 9, 1847. Draft, by Griffin?

item 128-129.

Quarterly Report of the Sick... Dec. 31, 1847, by Griffin. (oversize)

item 130-131.

Quarterly Report of the Sick and Wounded... Dec. 31, 1847. Printed form, filled in, by Griffin. (oversize)

There is no no. 132-133.

item 134-137.

Sherman, William Tecumseh, 1820-1891

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Jan. 10, 1848, re activities of mutual friends and life in Monterey; report on gold mine activity.

item 138-141.

Murray, Robert, 1822-

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Mar. 3, 1848, re supplies, reports, etc.

item 142-145.

Easton, Langdon Cheves, 1814-1884

Letter to Thomas Swords, Mar. 10, 1848, re Dr. Griffin's trunks.

item 146-149.

Quarterly Report of Sick... Mar. 31, 1848, by Griffin. 2 items, one for regular troops, and one for the volunteers.

item 150-153.

Pico, Pío, 1801-1894

Letter to Stoneman, Aug. 7, 1848.

There is no no. 154.

item 155-158.

Sherman, William Tecumseh, 1820-1891

Orders no. 59, Aug. 28, 1848, by order of R. B. Mason.

item 159-160.

Unsigned note of man leaving for the gold fields, Sept. 24, 1848.

item 161-164.

Swords, Thomas, 1806-1886

Letter to Griffin, Sept. 28, 1848.

item 165-168.

Murray, Robert, 1822-

Letter, Oct. 10, 1848, re medical practice at Monterey, military activities. Comment on number of deserters.

item 169-170.

Smith, Andrew Jackson, 1815-1897

Muster Roll... Oct. 31, 1848. (oversize)

item 171-174.

Swords, Thomas, 1806-1886

Letter, Nov. 24, 1848, re happenings in military circles, from Washington, D.C.

item 175-178.

Murray, Robert, 1822-

Letter, Jan. 2, 1849.

item 179-191.

Stevenson, Jonathan Drake, 1800-1894

Letter, Feb. 7, 1849, re collecting horses and mules for him on the way north, and enclosing authorization for Griffin to do so, in both English and Spanish.

item 192-195.

Smith, Andrew Jackson, 1815-1897

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Mar. 3, 1849, giving news of military and naval events in the San Francisco area.

item 196-199.

Flaherty, Michel and Wheeler, George

Bond, Mar. 14, 1849.

item 200-203.

Contract between John S. Griffin and the Indian Domingo, Mar. 28, 1849, with signatures of Stephen C. Foster and Narciso Botello.

item 204-207.

Ord, Edward Otho Cresap, 1818-1883

Letter, May 21, 1849, re his surveying, etc.

item 208-209.

Provision return... May 21, 1849

item 210-211.

Breckenmayer, F.

Letter, July 25, 1849.

item 212-215.

Deyerle, Charles P., d. 1853

Letter to Griffin, Sept. 20, 1849, re medical supplies.

item 216-217.

Vallejo & Frisbie

Statement re ownership of a farm in Napa Valley, Oct. 11, 1849.

item 218-221.

Fraser, James

Letter to Griffin, Oct. 26, 1849, re the purchase of a sailing vessel.

item 222-225.

Turner, George F., d. 1854

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Jan. 25, 1850.

item 226-227.

Salmon & Ellis, San Francisco

Letter to J. S. Griffin, July 1, 1850, re business in San Francisco.

item 228-231.

Grant, Ulysses Simpson, 1822-1885

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Jan. 5, 1852, sending certificate requested. Certificate included.

item 232-235.

Griffin, John Strother, 1816-1898

Letter to C. M. Hitchcock, Jan. 9, 1852, protesting the order to go to San Diego.

item 236-237.

Heiskell, Henry Lee, d. 1855

Letter to John S. Griffin, Mar. 6, 1852, re Griffin's application for a copy of his commission.

item 238-241.

Temple, Rafaela (Cota)

Letter to John Griffin, June 1, 1852.

item 242-245.

Smith, Andrew Jackson, 1815-1897

Letter to Griffin, June 12, 1852, re business transactions and military activities.

item 246-247.

Tripler, Charles Stuart, d. 1866

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Sept. 8, 1852, requesting a more accurate report on the sick.

item 248-249.

Summers, John Edward

Letter, Jan. 24, 1853, re life in Oregon.

item 250-257.

Campbell, John, ca. 1822-

Letter to Griffin, May 29, 1853.

item 258-259.

Hammond, Richard Pindell, d. 1891

Letter to Jefferson Davis, July 15, 1853, introducing Dr. Griffin.

There is no no. 260-261.

item 262-263.

Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876

Special Orders no. 111, Aug. 17, 1853, granting Griffin leave of absence.

There is no no. 264-265.

item 266-267.

Fisher, L. W.

Letter to Griffin, Sept. 13, 1853, with news from San Francisco.

There is no no. 268-269.

item 270-271.

Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876

Special Order no. 148, Nov. 5, 1853, for Griffin to report to New York.

item 272-273.

Lawson, Thomas, ca. 1781-1861

Letter to William Preston, Nov. 12, 1853, re furlough for Dr. Griffin.

There is no no. 274-275.

item 276-277.

Cooper, Samuel, 1798-1876

Special Orders no. 153, Nov. 14, 1853, extending Griffin's leave of absence.

item 278-279.

Murray, Robert, 1822-

Letter to Griffin, n.d.

item 280-282.

Hancock, George

Letter to Mrs. Christine K. Griffin, Aug. 21, 1853.

There is no no. 283.

item 284-287.

Preston, William, 1816-1887

Letter to Griffin, May 18, 1854.

item 288-290.

Hancock, Henry

Letter to J. S. Griffin, Feb. 7, 1876, re location of old "Loma."