TAYLOR, Zachary (1784-1850). Autograph letter signed ("Z. Taylor"), as Lieutenant Colonel in the U. S. Army, to Hon. J. H. Eaton. Fort Snelling "near the falls of St. Anthony," 6 July 1829.

2 pages, 4to; custom slipcase.

Taylor writes to Secretary of War J. H. Eaton (1790-1856) as Lieutenant Colonel in the U. S. Army at Fort Snelling "near the falls of St. Anthony" on the Upper Mississippi Taylor recommending J[ohn] C[raighead] Culbertson as Sutler.

Culbertson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1791, fought in the War of 1812. Taylor provides a detailed history of Culbertson's service, describing his involvement on the Niagara frontier "in most of the hard fought battles in that quarter," and describing how he was wounded at the Battle of Bridgewater. After he was wounded, Culbertson "continued to serve with reputation in the peace establishment." Taylor mentions Culbertson's service in Baton Rouge, Council Bluffs and the Yellowstone. On the news that Culbertson's post was to be broken up and "the troops removed to Prairie du Chien" Taylor concludes: "I hope Capt. Culbertson will be given the Sutling of the post occupied by the greatest number of companies of the 1st Infy., by complying with which request, [Eaton] will confer not only a particular obligation on me by the officers generally at that post."

Taylor, who served as President from March 1849 until his death in July 1850, was a Major general whose reputation as "Old Rough and Ready" was a result of his Seminole War and Mexican-American War victories which won him election to the White House.

Property from the Patrick Atkinson Collection, Minneapolis, Minnesota