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Nathaniel Michler Autograph Manuscript. ...
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Description
Nathaniel Michler's notes and journal entries kept as he made his way to Fort Yuma to begin work on the Mexican-US boundary surveys in 1854
Nathaniel Michler Autograph Manuscript. Approximately 200
written pages of a leather-bound notebook measuring 4 x 6 ¼ inches
and recording events occurring from September 20 to December 9,
1854. Michler was an army officer and geographer; he is noted for
his reconnaissance of the country between Corpus Christi and Uvalde
in 1849 and his reports issued with William H. Emory's Report on
the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey (1857-1859).
These notes and journal entries were made as he traveled from New
York to San Francisco, eventually making his way to Fort Yuma in
1854.Michler writes on the first page: "Notes of a Trip from New York to San Francisco, via Aspinwall & Panama and from San Francisco to San Diego: September 20th to November 1st/54." The first section contains 78 pages and begins with an overview of the Gadsden Treaty of June 30, 1854 recording the task he has been assigned: "On the 29th of August I received orders from the Commissioners placing me in charge of the Party appointed to run that portion of the line on the Pacific side commencing at the Junction of the Gila & Colorado River near fort Yuma and working eastward until I should meet the Party operating westward from El Paso: both parties then uniting and returning home through Texas..." He describes boarding the ship North Star on September 20 in New York and gives the details of his fellow passengers. They arrive in Aspinwall (Colon), Panama on September 28 and later depart the Bay of Panama on October 1. Michler makes careful observations of his surroundings and reports his arrival in San Francisco on October 16.
There are blank pages, and the manuscript resumes again recording events from November 1 to November 12 and covers his arrival in San Diego Bay with descriptions of the army barracks, different populations in the area and an excursion to surrounding missions. In part: "...The rest of the small population is a motley collection of the lower class of Mexicans, degraded Indians of the Diegoan [Diegueno] tribe, and Jews, and other whites calling themselves Mexican Americans, but of the lowest stamp... Their only occupation seems gambling and practising at the bar of grocery where the vilest of liquors are sold, or billiards room is the only resort of all..."
There are additional blank pages, and the final 100 pages of the notebook contain journal entries dated November 13 to December 7, 1854. These entries record his journey from San Diego to Fort Yuma and the final page lists the distances along the various stops along the way to Fort Yuma. These pages record his difficult journey describing the rough and often beautiful terrain, abandoned wagons, and poverty-stricken populations observed along the way. On November 30 he writes about coming across a Diegueno tribe in San Felipe, a location he describes as "the most beautiful I had seen." The condition of the tribe was in contrast to the beauty that surrounded them. He writes: "They speak of their comfort and happiness when the good priests were amongst them, & the utter poverty and great suffering since the Missions were given to the people. They do not belie their words - they certainly look as if poverty had a tight grip on them. A white man by the name of Smith has a small store near the village for the purpose of trading with the Emmigrants. Selling sugar, coffee, calicos at most exorbitant prices..." A long entry dated December 3 makes note of seeing an "Expressman" from Fort Yuma and having regret that he did not have a letter to send. Michler is a careful observer and this third portion of the notebook is the most interesting and appears to be an actual journal written contemporaneously.
A lengthy manuscript deserving of research and transcription.
Condition: Heavy wear to leather binding, with a portion of the spine missing at bottom. Scattered toning and foxing throughout but more so to the first 60 pages. Pencil annotation by a previous collector on the first page.
Auction Info
2024 April 5 Historical Manuscripts Signature® Auction #6285 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2024
5th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 10
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