Interesting letter written in Fort Myers, Florida by John Trout Greble, an 1854 graduate from the U. S. Military Academy. After graduation, Greble was assigned to serve in the 2nd Artillery, first at Newport, Rhode Island, and then in Tampa, Florida. It was while serving in Florida that he wrote the following letter to his mother in September of 1855. Greble’s letter is well written and clear, and he primarily discusses the various forts he spends time in while on duty.

Late in 1856, Grebe returned to the Military Academy where he taught geography, history and ethics. When he wanted more active service, he was sent to Fortress Monroe late in 1860 and helped secure it for the Federal government at the onset of the rebellion. In June 1861, he was detailed with two guns to accompany the expedition to Big Bethel and when the Union troops were repulsed, “by his management of the guns he protected them from pursuit and destruction. Just at the close of the action, when he had given the orders to withdraw his guns from the field, he was struck by a rifle ball on the right temple and instantly killed. For his bravery in the two days’ action, he was brevetted captain, major, and lieutenant colonel, on the day of his death.”

The letter itself is in very good condition and retains its original envelope, which bears a rare Tampa postmark.



[Mexican American War, Civil War, Union, Confederate, War of 1812, Texas, Texana, Paper Ephemera, Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, Sam Houston, James K. Polk, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee]