An Artillery Officer in Mexico

Robert Anderson, best remembered as the commander of Fort Sumter at the beginning of the Civil War, was a captain in the 3rd Artillery Regiment.  He was stationed in Tampa Bay when he received orders to go to Mexico.  Where others kept journals, Anderson was a prolific writer of letters.  Those to his wife were collected and printed in 1911.

The letters begin in November on the very day that his wife departed by carriage from Tampa Bay bound for her father's estate in Georgia.  Anderson spent the next month or so packing, selling, or donating all their belongings.  Though he had moved aboard the John Potter - a brig that would transport him and his company to Tampico - in December, it did not leave port until January.  The trip to Tampico was uncomfortable.  He arrived in Tampico in the last week of January and spent several days aboard ship until it could enter the harbor and lodgings ashore were settled.  The entire month of February was spent in Tampico and Anderson relates the adventures of Col. De Russy.  By the end of the month, he feared that Colonel Gates - commander of the 3rd Artillery - would retain his company to garrison Tampico.  He dodged that fate and sailed to Veracruz.  Here he was in his element, commanding one of the batteries during the siege.  After the city was taken, he was stationed at the famous fort, San Juan de Ulua.  It was a flee-infested mess.  Happily, his division set off for the interior a week later.  His company was not engaged at the battle of Cerro Gordo.  Over the following months, he was stationed in Perote Castle, Tepeyahualco, and Puebla.  In August, the army moved on Mexico City.  He was seriously wounded during the battle of El Molino del Rey.  Just over a month later, he was sent back to the United States to recover.

Anderson spends most of his time telling his wife about his daily life in the various places he stayed, the accommodations, the men he socialized with, the food he ate, the cost of food, the oddities of Mexico, and most especially his desire to rejoin his wife.  The letters are more of a travelogue than a military campaign record.  This is a very devout man who closes most letters by praising God.  He refers to his letters as 'chats' with his wife and is always eager for mail to arrive or to have an opportunity to send mail.  He numbers his letters so that she can know if she missed one.  Once deep into Mexico, he warns her that the mails are often intercepted.  The letters were generally sent as a packet, with many days detailed before being sent.

Anderson is a man who does not seek praise or favor but often feels he has been overlooked.  He is occasionally miffed to see comparative novices getting high rank in newly formed regiments while established officers are not considered.  He is no fan of President Polk, viewing him as a politician of the worst sort.  On the other hand, he has the highest of regard for General Winfield Scott.  The clash of personalities within the military is often on display in the letters.  Anderson was more partial to Ethan Allen Hitchcock than William Jenkins Worth.

Anderson was 41 when he set foot in Mexico.  His wife, Eliza, was 19.  She was the daughter of General Duncan Clinch.  Anderson died in 1871 and his wife died in 1905.  His daughter discovered the cache of letters and, after redacting purely personal details, had them published.

Interesting but not for everyone.