TAYLOR, Zachary. Letters of Zachary Taylor from the Battlefields of the Mexican War. Reprinted from the Originals in the Collection of Mr. William K. Bixby, of St. Louis, Mo. With Introduction, Biographical Notes, an Appendix, and Illustrations from Private Plates. Rochester, N.Y., 1908. [i-vi] vii-xxvi, [2], 1-194 pp., frontispiece (included in pagination), 5 plates. 4to (28.5 x 21.5 cm), original indigo quarter cloth over slate blue boards, printed paper labels on upper cover and spine. Boards somewhat faded, endsheets lightly foxed; the portrait, plates, and text very fine. Bixby’s signed presentation to Roland G. Hazard, St. Louis, April 15, 1914, on front flyleaf. A fine copy.

First edition, limited edition (#83 of 300 copies, initialed by Bixby). Connor & Faulk 738: “Most of the letters are addressed to Taylor’s son-in-law, Dr. R.C. Wood. In the appendix is a lengthy letter to Buchanan on the matter of his mistreatment by the War Department.” Haferkorn, p. 67. Howes T78. Tutorow 4054.

The letters begin on May 9, 1846, immediately after the Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, at which General de la Vega was captured. Taylor significantly notes, “The war I have no doubt is completely brought to a close on this side of the Rio Grande.” The last is written on December 10, 1848, from Baton Rouge. In that letter, he regrets his election to presidency: “I sincerely thank you & dear Ann for your kind congratulations on acct of my success in reaching the office in question, which I look upon more as a bed of thorns than one of roses.” This series of letters is highly important, embodying as it does Taylor’s personal, intimate thoughts available nowhere else.