LOT #47132 |
Starting Bid: $4,000
Civil War Soldier's Archive by Martin Luther Moore with Texas Content....
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Description
An extensive correspondence documenting "Rip" Ford's activities along the Rio Grande
Civil War Soldier's Archive by Martin Luther Moore with Texas
Content. Comprising more than 80 letters written by Martin
Luther Moore, quartermaster of the 94th Illinois Infantry, while
his regiment was stationed in Brownsville, Texas, dated September
12, 1863 to August 3, 1864. Spanning Moore's entire tour in Texas,
the letters combine detailed accounts of military life on the Rio
Grande with commentary on national politics, the progress of the
war elsewhere, Northern elections, and Moore's strong religious
convictions, including frequent reflections on temperance,
morality, and the conduct of officers and enlisted men. Moore
traces the movements of Confederate commander John Salmon "Rip"
Ford, whose growing influence along the border loomed over the
regiment's time in Texas.The earliest letters document Moore's journey by steamer from Yazoo City to Carrollton, Louisiana, and onward to Brownsville. Once in Texas, Moore immediately began reporting on local conditions and the unusual strategic situation faced by the Union forces. Across the Rio Grande, Matamoros, Mexico, had become a crucial outlet for Confederate cotton exports, allowing the South to evade the Union blockade. Although the 94th Illinois never launched a full-scale offensive against these operations, Moore's letters make clear that tension was constant, with the ever-present possibility of violence. Confederate forces under Colonel Ford protected this trade while quietly building strength, leaving Moore's regiment in an uneasy standoff against Confederate troops and Mexican authorities.
Moore's letter, dated December 2, 1863, recounts an encounter with an enslaved man involved in transporting cotton for the Confederacy: "I have a n****r who was driving a team in a train loaded with cotton for this place, about 40 miles distant the Retreating Rebs met the train Burned the Cotton (to prevent it falling to the hands of the Feds) and ordered the train to return this darkie said he lost some of his oxen that night and in hunting them next morning he made a straight course for Brownsville, to see the Yankees! He didn't find his oxen says there are but few white men, but what are engaged in the Rebel Army in the interior of Texas, but plenty of Darkies at home to do the work, whom they dare not arm with muskets. He is a man of more intelligence than 3/4ths of the native Texan whites that I have yet met with and I believe that when the darkies find out that the Yankees are coming into the State on every side they will be of but little use to their masters at home, and if one can arm them and put them into the service the Texans will find tis no use to fight. Hope so at least."
Two weeks later, on December 15, Moore comments on reports of Union victories elsewhere while noting the fragile calm around Matamoros, where armed groups threatened the city and refugees crossed the river in anticipation of violence: "If Charleston has fallen Grant been as Victorious as represented and Meade allowed to act unrestrained by the Sec of War I think the CSA will soon come to ahead and 'bust.' Texas affairs seem to remain quiet, we are recruiting Mexicans Loyal Texans and n*****s in this department...There has been an armed force threatening Mattamoras for about a week, many are coming to this side thinking the city will be destroyed; but there is much uncertainty in their movements as they all seem to depend on the amt of money to be made..."
Despite the lack of open battle, Moore frequently wrestled with the moral weight of the conflict. On January 22, 1864, he reflects on the possibility of harsher campaigns ahead and recounts a prayer meeting attended by a Mexican congregant who praised the arrival of Union troops: "The Southern people say that total extermination is the only guarantee for a permanent peace such terms seem very harsh for a Christianized nation either to have to dictate or execute to so large a portion of the Commonwealth yet unless the blind demon of ambition is dethroned and reason restored, I fear the Spring Campaign will be more dreadful than any other portion of the war has been...I have often thought since coming here of what a Mexican (who, with his wife are members of the Pres. church and regular attendants at our meetings) referred to, a few evenings since at Prayer meeting in some remarks he made in his broken language. He blessed God for sending the Yankees here with their religion to enlighten and purify society..."
Moore also speculates at length on Confederate strategy. In a very interesting April 18 letter from Fort Brown, he considers the possibility of the Confederacy seeking French recognition through Mexico: "My mind has dwelt much upon the matter, and I cant conjure up any better plan than for the Rebs to slip out through the large gap left for them above us on the Rio Bravo into Mexico, get the French to acknowledge the Confederacy, and join them in arms and by their influence with the Mexicans to give the Confederacy along with Mexico into the hands of the French. Should this be the plan the last ditch will be found far to the Southwest of this when Mexico will be taken in charge by US and the French with all the rebel allies driven into the last ditch which may be the Gulf of Mexico or some other mill pond somewhere in this region."
Less than two weeks later, on April 29, Moore records the first serious rumors of Rip Ford raising a force near Brownsville and comments on news of the Fort Pillow massacre: "We hear Forest has taken charge at Fort Pillow and Blockaded the River, how discouraging things look...The monotony has however been broken for the past 3 days by a threatened attack upon this place by one Col Ford who is said to be in comd of 1500 men...the prevailing opinion this evening is that his (Fords) design is to harass our scouts and outposts and prevent any advance towards the interior while the main Rebel force are pressing upon Banks."
By late June the threat had intensified. On June 23, 1864, Moore describes a raid that captured a group of conspirators, including Mexican officers allegedly plotting with Ford to seize river transports and take Matamoros: "There is quite a little stir in camp tonight resulting from rumors of Ford again. Pickets have been doubled and we are ordered to be in readiness for action at any moment. We now have but a small force of cavalry and Ford may think it a favorable time for him...Yesterday our Regt was sent out a couple of miles to bring some Mexicans that were thought to be engaged in a conspiracy both against Mexico and this Govt who it is supposed was plotting with Ford. But we were successful in capturing the very Genl himself and most of his staff, who was stopping at a branch in the bend of the River about 2 miles below our camp. We brot in, in all about 30 prisoners many of whom were Mexicans living along down the river, but who it is said were engaged in this Conspiracy and they intended to take our River transports and join another Mexican Genl who is in sympathy with the Rebels, and try to get possession of Matamoras. But I think their plans are foiled and their prospects dull for success in this direction."
These events only delayed the inevitable. In July 1864, Ford's "Cavalry of the West" advanced on the region, and Union commanders chose evacuation over defense. Moore's July 15 letter records the end of their time in Brownsville: "I regret to say that is seems a settled fact that Brownsville is to be speedily evacuated...we have been required to occupy and fortify this place and improve the condition of things generally...all to no purpose, and now the buildings and works must be destroyed or be occupied by Rebels before we are out of sight of the place, and rebels too of a mean and contemptible class who have not the pluck to fight for their cause but lay around Matamoras watching a chance to cheat steal or decry some US Soldier into some den of inequity and Rob and perhaps murder him..."
One of the final letters, dated July 31, finds Moore reflecting on his final days in Texas: "The two days before we left camp, I spent most of the time on the other side in Matamoras amongst the Rebels, tho I am sorry to tell you that my unpleasant stay among them was of no avail in accomplishing the desired end. On Tuesday I sent my clerk over there on the white mule, which was admired by all, and some secesh seized it and claimed it as their property by virtue of Texas brand on it. The claim was contested consequently the mule was taken in charge by the Mexican authorities untill I was notified to appear and substantiate my claim. I went over and tried every means for recovering the favorite mule...but the claimant had his allies by whom he could prove anything he chose and the Mexican Alcalda gave him the white mule of which you have already heard much. So on leaving Texas I leave all here for which I had formed any particular attachment...So far as our course in Texas is concerned I cannot regard the result in the least favorable towards Union and the Cause for which we are contending, but Evil in result...I have just learned that Ford took formal possession of Brownsville with about 400 men the 2nd evening after we left. Which I have no reason to doubt being true."
As Moore wrote, Ford's forces had moved in and formally occupied Brownsville and Fort Brown by the beginning of August. The town and fort remained in Confederate hands until the end of the war, confirming Moore's view that the long Union presence in Texas had achieved little lasting effect.
Condition: Generally very good, with expected toning and mailing folds. Age-related wear throughout, including occasional fading, staining, separations, and chips or minor loss, generally not affecting text or legibility. Letters are primarily written in ink, with a small number in pencil.
Auction Info
2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction #6328 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February
26th
Thursday
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