LOT #60147 |
Sold on Dec 2, 2023 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
John Salmon "RIP" Ford Autograph Letter Signed. ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description
Col. "RIP" Ford Receives "intelligence of the opening of hostilities between the Confederate States and Mr. Lincoln's government..."
John Salmon "RIP" Ford Autograph Letter Signed. Five tall
folio pages, 8" x 12", Head Quarters Rio Grande Military District,
Fort Brown; April 21, 1861.Nine days after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, Col. Ford, of the Second Texas Cavalry, writes to Texas Governor Edward Clark about preparations for the oncoming conflict with Union forces. A month earlier, Clark had served as Sam Houston's Lieutenant Governor and had succeeded in the office when Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. As Governor, Clark moved quickly to address problems brought about by secession. To protect the frontier, regiments of cavalry were enrolled by Henry E. McCulloch and John S. Ford.
Ford writes:
"I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 18th inst Capt. Love [Captain W. P. Love, Confederate spy] arrived here, from Galveston, bringing intelligence of the opening of hostilities between the Confederate States and Mr. Lincoln's government, and of the sailing of an expedition for the coast of Texas, supposed to be destined for Brazos Santiago. Among other things I received a copy of a telegram directed to Gen. Nichols by Hon. John H. Reagan [Texas Congressman, 1857-1861; Confederate Postmaster General], which was intended to warn the Executive and the military authorities of Texas of the impending danger. I very soon determined upon a course of action, but in order to have the opinion of my officers, and to enable them to understand matters fully, and to know my determination, I called a council of war. It was the opinion of all that Brazos Santiago is not ofensible [sic], that the post should be abandoned for the present and that we concentrate and make a stand at this point. Capt. Powers, who was here on business, left at midnight, accompanied by Mr. Lawton of the Engineer Department. To the Captain was assigned the task of superintending the withdrawal of men, ordnance, and supplies of every kind from Brazos Island, and their transportation to this post by steamboats and waggons [sic]. It may not be amiss to say that there is not water on Brazos Island, save beach water of an unhealthy character - there are no rations - it is isolated - can not well be reached by mounted men and is not capable of being made defensible by earth-works. A parapet wall of sand is worthless. The work constructed by General McSead was rendered entirely valueless by a norther [sic] which sprang up a few days after he left. There are no guns of long range on the island. A war vessel could shell a force out of Brazos Santiago without ever coming within reach of any piece we had there. One revenue cutter can make the place utterly useless to us.
On the 19th the men were put to work to repair old Fort Brown, and they are progressing rapidly... It can not be approached without subjecting an enemy to serious annoyance and loss in reaching it from the coast or from any other direction. In the neighborhood mounted troops can be subsisted, and it answers the double purpose of defending Brownsville against the inroads of Black Republicans, and of keeping Matamoros within due bounds. I shall be able to place it in about 10 heavy siege pieces and ammunition for siege purposes. I forward a drawing of the fort. I called upon the Mayor of Brownsville officially requesting aid. He expressed a willingness to co-operate, and with that object in view a committee from the Board of Aldermen called upon me yesterday evening and notified me of their desire to render every assistance in consummating measures of defence [sic]. Mr. Galvon very promptly offered to place anything in his mercantile establishment at the command of the State. Rations can be had here and will be needed, if the enemy land soon. The citizens will furnish hands to work in the trenches, and volunteer companies will be organized. However, it would be improper not to state, that the preparations are not only being made to meet an invading force from the coast but an anticipated raid from Cortinas.
On the 17th inst. I received a communication from citizens living in the vicinity of rancho Baston, some forty miles above this...Capt. Littleton was previously marching his company to the neighborhood of that ranch. I notified him of the state if things, and ordered him to beat Zamora if he crossed...I am confident there is danger of a descent from Cortinas. The opinion is general among the Mexicans, and they ought to know. In relation to the rebellion in Zapata county, the report of Capt. Nolan, and the letter of Mr. Redmond...will place you in possession of the facts. I think Capt. Nolan acted promptly, boldly, and properly. It is the only appropriate way to treat traitors, who avow against the authorities of the State. I hope the affair will end in nothing more serious, yet if, as some suppose, Cortinas is implicated in the matter there is no telling what may happen. It would certainly be very consoling to the gentlemen at Austin who have had a hand in this affair to know they have so able a backer as Gen. Juan Nepomuceno Cortinas. I have strenuously endeavored to preserve the most amicable relations with the authorities and people of Mexico. Maj. Edwards reported that two of his command had been imprisoned without cause in Camargo, and that he wrote the Alcalde a very sharp letter. The Alcalde wrote to Gen. Garcia, that the men were arrested for fighting in the street, and, that upon their representation Maj. Edwards wrote him an insulting letter. I believed Maj. E. was to blame, and addressed him a communication - a copy of which is sent. I also forwarded a copy of the communication to Gen. Garcia... I am determined, as far as able, not to give our neighbors any just cause to complain of our want of friendship or a disposition on our part not to reciprocate acts of kindness and comity.
Capts. Nolan and Donelson have been ordered to this point. Capt. Littleton has been directed to hold himself in readiness to move at a moments [sic] notice. Capt. Tomlinson will be stationed at Carrizo. Capt. Benavides will remain near Fort McIntosh. If Mr. Lincoln's army lands near Brazos Springs, I anticipate giving them something to do all the way up. They shall be fired upon from every place affording shelter to a sharp shooter. Their march shall be no holiday parade. I shall hold Fort Brown as long as I can offer resistance. Do not think, however, that we have the most distant idea of not being able to beat back the Black Republican hordes who would come sword in hand to force a president upon us elected in violation of the spirit of the Constitution & as an enemy to the Constitutional rights of the South..."
There are numerous cross-outs and additions in Ford's hand, indicative that Ford carefully considered his report prior to sending it to the Governor. Signed, "John S. Ford / Col. Commandg / Rio Grande Mil. Dist." Housed in a custom dark brown half smooth calf slipcase with blue and gray marbled boards. The matching label on the upper board is misdated to April 21, 1836.
Ford acquired the nickname "RIP" when, as adjutant during the Mexican War, he would write the official letters announcing deaths, adding to the letters "Rest in Peace" or "R.I.P." During the Civil War, Colonel Ford played multiple parts in the Confederate war effort. He was one of the prime movers of and a delegate to the Texas Secession Convention, initiated a trade agreement between Mexico and the Confederacy later in 1861, and was engaged in border operations that sought to protect Confederate-Mexican trade. At the end of the war, he commanded the southern division of Brigadier General James E. Slaughter's Western Sub-District of Texas in the Brownsville area. On May 13, 1865, more than a month after Lee's surrender, Confederate forces routed Union troops at Palmito Ranch, chasing them for seven miles to Brazos Island. As Ford was leading his men to victory, the Confederate Governors of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri were authorizing Gen. Kirby Smith to disband his armies. A few days later, federal officers from Brazos Santiago visited Brownsville to arrange a truce with General Slaughter and Colonel Ford. The Battle of Palmito Ranch was the last land engagement of the Civil War.
Letters of this legendary Texas Ranger rarely appear at auction, and when they do, they are usually later reminiscences of events rather than detailed accounts as they unfolded, as is the case here. The legendary Ford writes to Clark, in his capacity as a Confederate array officer serving as colonel of the Second Texas Cavalry. In addition to concerns about invading Union forces, Ford makes mention of possible attacks from Mexican bandits. In May 1861, Cortinas invaded Zapata County and attacked the county seat, Carrizo. He was defeated by Confederate Captain Santos Benavides and retreated into Mexico; Cortinas lost seven men, while eleven others were captured by Benavides and hanged or shot.
Condition: The letter is creased along folds with minor staining and toning. Irregular margins and ink stains throughout. There is a stain and slight imprint from two paper clips on the first page.
Auction Info
2023 December 2 The Ted Lusher Texas History Collection, Part One Signature® Auction #6281 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
2nd
Saturday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 291
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms