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Walter S. Schuyler Archive Including Family Papers, Photographs, and Reports From his Service in the Mexican Border War. ...
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$906.25
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Description
Walter S. Schuyler Archive Including Family Papers, Photographs, and Reports From his Service in the Mexican Border War. The lot includes a record book with clipped articles, not dated; one book titled "History of Forty-Sixth Infantry Volunteers," published in 1901; one inscribed state of New York certificate for serving in the Philippine Campaign, dated September 22, 1916; two telegrams dated March 9 and 11, 1911; typed daily journal dated February 7 to March 1, 1911; seven photographs, four related letters dated February 4, 1910 to April 20, 1932; and six additional documents dated September 2, 1776 to 1802. Documents are written in pencil and ink and measure, on average, 7.5" x 10".A decorated U.S. general, Schuyler participated in numerous wars throughout the nineteenth century, including the American Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, the Philippine American War, and the Mexican Border War. Schuyler received several domestic and foreign awards for his service, including the New York State Spanish American War Medal, the Chinese Order of the Double Dragoon, and the Russian Order of Saint Stanislaus. While serving in the Mexican Border War, Schuyler commanded the Department of the Colorado, Fort Riley, and the Department of California.
This lot includes a certificate awarded to Schuyler for his service in the Philippine American War (1899-1902) by the State of New York in 1916. The certificate measures 7" x 5" and has a long inscription by Schuyler presenting it to Roy Robertson for his "service under all conditions."
Schuyler was promoted to brigadier general in January 1911 and was put in charge of the Department of the Colorado at Fort Huachuca. Located fifteen miles from the border with Mexico, Schuyler observed and reported on the activity there. An offshoot of the Mexican Revolution against dictator Porfirio Diaz, the Mexican Border War largely consisted of small skirmishes between U.S. forces and rebel war bands, called "insurrectos" in Schuyler's records. Led by popular leader, Pancho Villa, revolutionaries fought for democratic and land reforms aimed at improving the lives of working-class Mexicans. U.S. involvement in this decade-long revolution reached a peak in 1916 when Villa attacked an American border town in New Mexico. In response, U.S. General John J. Pershing launched an expedition to find and capture Villa. Though they were unsuccessful in locating Villa, they did kill two of his top lieutenants.
Schuyler's journal reports record several early scuffles between U.S. forces and Mexican revolutionaries. On February 7, 1911, Schuyler reported that "The insurgents have torn up the railroad track for about 250 miles between Juarez and Chihuahua. It is understood a government officer in command of about 700 men is marching toward Juarez, but he is probably now not nearer than 250 miles."
On February 19, 1911, Schuyler criticized his colleague's judgment, writing, "In the fight of the other day at Mexicali Colonel Vega must have been a perfect fool, for he led his men against an old channel of the river without reconnaissance [sic], and they practically tumbled headlong upon the insurrectos breastworks, and were at the mercy of their occupants."
Schuyler included two typed reports from a subordinate in New Mexico. The first, dated February 21, 1911, was written by Lieutenant Edwards of the 4th Cavalry and described an attack by Mexican revolutionaries. He wrote, in part, "Mormon Bishop Johnston and his son have come in from the Mormon Colony and report that 60 insurrectos attacked Ascension and killed several Ruralies. J.F. Sanford and son of Ascension just arrived and report that they were ordered by the Jefe to leave the town. They abandoned their store at Ascension and came here on horseback. They report that they were chased for some distance by Insurrectos near Ascension and the son shot one of the Insurrectos following them. Bishop Johnston's son states that he with another American were held up by Insurrectos yesterday about 12 miles south of Palomas and compelled to remain in rear of Insurrecto column until their arrival at Palomas where the Americans were released and permitted to come on in here. Palomas was taken by 60 Insurrectos under Boscas at about 11 am today. These Insurrectos are all armed with rifles or revolvers and have some equipments, taken from the Ruralies at Ascension." The term "ruralies" referred to Mexican vaqueros or cowboys who did not necessarily support the revolutionist cause.
Two days later, Edwards reported again: "I have the honor to report that the Insurrectos left Palomas late Monday evening February 20th and that another detachment arrived at Palomas yesterday. We arrested four members of the Mexican Gendarme yesterday. They were under orders to report at Juarez and attempted to take the train from here. They stated that they had hidden their arms near Palomas on the approach of the Insurrectos and that the Insurrectos had taken their horses... Insurgents seized Inter-California train Packard four forty five this Tuesday afternoon. Cut wires Calexico Andrade. Came into Algodones estimated thirty five strong. Captured train and American crew just on Mexican side about six forty. Some resistance offered by Mexican Customs officials. One Mexican Customs official killed, one wounded, customs house burned, Insurgents reported taking train back to Packard."
The takeovers and seizures mentioned by Edwards functioned as part of the Mexican rebels' campaign in Baja California throughout 1911. Led by Ricardo Flores Magon, insurrectionists targeted recently built railways that traveled between San Diego, Arizona, and Baja California. Rebels hijacked trains and wrought havoc in border towns like Palomas, Algodones, and Tijuana.
In addition to reports from his own soldiers, Schuyler included a typed translation from the Villista rebels to pro-Diaz federal troops. It states, in part, "You are our brothers, through your veins runs the same blood that runs in ours. The uniform you are wearing does not separate you from us; nothing can break the links of most pure fraternity that will unite us forever. We have the same fatherland, we were born in the same land and the same glorious flag sheltered our cradles; the same ideals should unite us, and those are the moral and material improvement of the Mexican people, for the glory of our common country, which is our mother... Reflect, soldier, brother of ours: You are not defending in this fratricidal fight the rights and interests of the country, nor the integrity of our soil, which is what the army is intended for. At this terrible moment you are defending the rights and interests of an ambitious man, of a traitor who has trampled on the laws; you are defending the interests of Porfirio Diaz and his circle of friend [sic], which is a circle of ignominy, treason and infamy."
This plea reflected the fundamental ideological differences that caused the revolution to last for ten years. The United States engaged in the border war with insurgents throughout the entirety of the Mexican Revolution, officially ending the conflict only eighteen months before Venustiano Carranza was elected as the first president of the new Mexican republic.
There are also seven photographs, including portraits of Schuyler as a cadet at West Point and as a young soldier.
Schuyler was descended from Philip Pieterse Schuyler, a Dutch-born colonist who arrived in New Netherland in 1650. There are five documents from Schuyler family members from 1776 to 1800 including a letter, a land deed, and other legal documents.
There is a small notebook containing clipped articles regarding various family members and Schuyler's career. Also included is a typed letter signed by Elihu Root concerning Schuyler's promotion to brigadier general in 1910; and a letter by Schuyler's nephew Walter Schuyler Grant sending a typescript of an essay on Schuyler.
Condition: Documents toned and creased along folds. The typed reports are housed in marbled boards, but are not bound. Paper loss at margins of several documents, not affecting text. Individual reports are held together with a straight pin at upper left corner or with paper clips. Documents from the 1770-1800s are toned with foxing and flattened folds. West Point portrait of Schuyler has tears to the mount, and a corner has been torn away. Photograph of cadets has heavy wear and multiple tears to the mount. Record book containing clipped articles has heavy wear to the boards and heavy damage to spine with potential water damage. Certificate has dampstaining.
Auction Info
2023 September 21 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6272 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
September, 2023
21st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 4
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