An American Soldier Writes Home From The Mexican-American War – “I Shall Go Home To Farming Or To California…I Don’t Know Which My Time Is Up Here”

(MEXICAN WAR). ALS. 2pgs. June 18, 1849. [place illegible] An autograph letter signed by an American soldier on duty during the Mexican-American War. Writing to his brother in college, he hopes that the war will end soon enough for him to make it through alive. “[…] my neglect in not answering your last letter the fact is I have had so much on my mind for the last 2 months that I hardly know what I am about have recd several dispatches from Mexico since I wrote you last all of which tend to make the prospect than less & less flattering the grand trouble is that their congress will not reach our bill this session owing to business of more information brought on by revolutionary movements in that unsettled country and if the bill does not pass I shall not lose all hope but it places too far in the future to be relied on much I did think I should be present at commencement but feel too hour altogether after my Mexican entity shall however see you on your arrival home as I think I shall spend the month of July at home shall probably go down about the 10th & think it probably stop some time. I have not heard from home in a long time they were all well when last they wrote presume that to be the case now we as a city remain without the cholera at present though there have been or 3 cases which have terminated fatally what do you intend going after you graduate I believe I shall go home to farming or to California I don’t know which my time is up here the first of next month and the two opposition lines that are about going into opperation [sic] here will effectually kill the time so not I am out of business although the first of July you must have your eyes & ears open & not throw away money upon cut honors as it is termed for it is all a humbly yours [signature illegible]. Some powerful sentiments. The letter is in fair condition with large areas of toning, deep folds, and a small tear in the lower left-hand corner.