2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
KIRBY, Edmund. (1794-1849) Uncle to both Ephraim Kirby and Edmund Kirby (later Kirby-Smith), War of 1812 officer, Army Paymaster, personal staff officer to Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, brvt. Colonel in 1847 for gallantry at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec. Autograph Letter Signed, “E. Kirby” 3p. quarto, September 20, 1846, Monterey, with integral leaf addressed to Brigadier General Townson, it reads in part: “...The army approached Monterey yesterday. The advance with which was General Taylor and staff was fired on from a battery of twelve pounders, and instead of entering the town without resistance the camp was pitched nearly three miles from the enemys batteries. The city stands at the foot of the Sierra Madre...To the right...stands the Bishop’s Palace, a stone pile strongly fortified and garrisoned...Still further on a higher eminence is a redout. In front of the town is a stone church converted into a redout. There are other numerous batteries well garnished with artillery. At one o’clock today Worth’s Division moved out of amp...and gained the road to Saltillo...At sunset the enemy opened upon him from the battery beyond the Bishop’s Palace. He will probably sieze that position at dawn. ...A party has gone out to plant our mortars and before dawn our batteries will all be established within range...Sept. 22nd. The batteries on both sides opened at half past eight yesterday morning and the firing only ceased at dark to be resumed at sunrise this morning. The defense is obstinate and our success not so complete as we hoped for. Early in the day a battery at the tower end of the town was carried by the 1st, 3rd and 4th Infy. and a corps of volunteers who entered teh neighboring streets but retired under a withering fire from the barricades, batteries, and houses. The Mississippi and Tennessee Volunteers dispute the honor of being first to enter the works. Our loss in officers was very severe as you can see from the official dispatches. The 3rd Regt. alone numbers Major Lear mortally wounded, Captains L.N. Morris, G.P. Field, and Barbour, Adj. Irwin and Lt. Haslett killed and several wounded...The captured battery contained four guns...Worth’s operations have been marked by the highest gallantry and are the admiration of the army. His division is in the highest condition and will accomplish all taht the same number of men can...I have just returned from the front and seen the American flag waving over the Bishop’s Palace. It’s capture was a most brilliant achievement - the enemy being apparently drawn out by a ruse and our men entering the place pell mell with them...” VG.
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