Raynors HCA 2016-10
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/21/2016
Memphis, Dec. 13, 1866. 4pp., on a folded quarto sheet. Old fold lines. Minor soiling. VG. LaGrille searching after his wayward son, who had apparently run off with a group of Mexican Republican troops. The Andrew Johnson administration not-so- surreptitiously supported Benito Juarez's rebellion against the government of Emperor Maximilien, resulting in American "troops" south of the border. LaGrill, having seen news of his son in the paper, writes in large part, “Yesterday I received a copy of the RIO GRANDE COURIER dated Oct. 23, 1866. It records the capture of a band of marauders under one Col. Young. In the list of prisoners appears the name of Joseph LaGrill my oldest son a lad of only 16 years. This is the first intimation I had of his whereabouts. He was an "Apprentice" on board of the U.S. School Ship Sabine, Capt. R.B. Lowry commanding and therefore belonged to the U.S. Government. He was persuaded as I believe by some man to desert from the Sabine and he finally fell into the hands of one B.S. Osbon, who prevailed upon him, as I believe by glowing tales, to accompany him on a cruse in the Mexican Republican service without my knowledge or consent. How he came to leave Osbon or how he found his way into the band with which he was captured I know not, nor is it important. I make no doubt he has been led into it by misrepresentation and false promises. "It is now nearly two months since he was captured and I have no means of knowing where he is. The paper says he with others was lodged in your County Jail. If in your power will you confer a favor on a sorrowing Mother and Father to inform us of his whereabouts and the circumstances which surround him? If you do so you will bring us under lasting obligation. I desire if possible that he be returned to his ship and trust that his past experience will be a good lesson to him. I have written to his captain and sent him the paper with the account of his capture. I will also write to the Navy Department, who will, I hope, take charge of him. If you can and will do anything for me in placing him in charge of some Naval Officer I shall ever feel grateful to you. "This B.S. Osbon [sic] is an uncle to my son by marriage who I believe is somewhere about or in Brownsville. I cannot close this letter without warning the citizens against him both in regard to his honesty and integrity. If you know him and want any further information about him I will furnish it. I hope, sir, that my son's extreme youth and want of experience will plead for him. (He is only just turned 16 years.) I hope and trust that your authorities will be prevailed upon to deal mercifully with him and return him to his ship...." The chaotic events along the Rio Grande border in the fall of 1866 were later recorded by the alleged villain of this letter, Captain Bradley S. Osborn, who in 1906 published his memoir, SAILOR OF FORTUNE, written by Mark Twain's good friend, Albert Bigelow Paine. Osborn was hired by the government of Benito Juarez, then fighting against the French regime of Emperor Maximilien I, to form a Mexican Naval force. Osborn was ordered to capture the city of Matamoras, across the river from Brownsville, held by a group of drunken Mexican "Revolutinists" who broke from the Juarez Army. He successfully launched his assault in a Mexican gunboat, supported by mercenary troops of an "American Corps," led by an ex-Confederate colonel.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.