细节
TAYLOR, ZACHARY, President. Autograph letter signed ("Z Taylor Lt. Col. 1st Regt. U.S. Infy.") to Col. R. Jones, Adjutant General in Washington, D.C.; Louisville, Ky., 6 September 1830. 1 page, 4to, 250 x 201 mm. (9 7/8 x 7 7/8 in.), three very light stains at top, imperceptibly silked, otherwise in fine condition.
TAYLOR ON HIS APPOINTMENT BY MADISON: "I THREW MINE ASIDE AS A PIECE USELESS, OR BLANK PAPER"
A relatively early letter, in Taylor's bold hand, responding rather sarcastically to a request for information regarding Taylor's brevet commission as Major, granted some eighteen years earlier by President Madison. Taylor, a career soldier, had been commissioned Lieutenant in 1808 and captain in 1810, then in 1812 he successfully defended Fort Harrison (on the Wabash River) from an assault by a far superior force of Indians. In recognition of that victory he was granted the first brevet appointment ever made within the U.S. Army. During the ensuing War of 1812 many other officers, some of whom had not seen combat, received similar commissions, which Taylor obviously resented deeply. In the demobilization after the War of 1812, Taylor was again reduced to captain, and resigned from the Army in June 1815, but rejoined a year later. He had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1819 and by the date of this letter had not received a promotion for a full 11 years:
Taylor writes: "Sir, Your circular of the 2nd ulto. on the subject of the Brevt. Commission which was confer[r]ed on me by President Madison during the late war (& which was addressed to me at St. Louis), has this moment reached me at this place; In reply to which I have to remark that not having been benefitted as a number of other officers were who received commissions of that description (some of whom too without having heard the report of hostile gun) I threw mine aside several years since as a piece useless, or blank paper. I must therefore refer you to the Army Register of 1812 for the information requested, to accomplish the object in view."
TAYLOR ON HIS APPOINTMENT BY MADISON: "I THREW MINE ASIDE AS A PIECE USELESS, OR BLANK PAPER"
A relatively early letter, in Taylor's bold hand, responding rather sarcastically to a request for information regarding Taylor's brevet commission as Major, granted some eighteen years earlier by President Madison. Taylor, a career soldier, had been commissioned Lieutenant in 1808 and captain in 1810, then in 1812 he successfully defended Fort Harrison (on the Wabash River) from an assault by a far superior force of Indians. In recognition of that victory he was granted the first brevet appointment ever made within the U.S. Army. During the ensuing War of 1812 many other officers, some of whom had not seen combat, received similar commissions, which Taylor obviously resented deeply. In the demobilization after the War of 1812, Taylor was again reduced to captain, and resigned from the Army in June 1815, but rejoined a year later. He had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1819 and by the date of this letter had not received a promotion for a full 11 years:
Taylor writes: "Sir, Your circular of the 2nd ulto. on the subject of the Brevt. Commission which was confer[r]ed on me by President Madison during the late war (& which was addressed to me at St. Louis), has this moment reached me at this place; In reply to which I have to remark that not having been benefitted as a number of other officers were who received commissions of that description (some of whom too without having heard the report of hostile gun) I threw mine aside several years since as a piece useless, or blank paper. I must therefore refer you to the Army Register of 1812 for the information requested, to accomplish the object in view."