Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, February 5, 1848
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Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, February 5, 1848
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:cnk
student editorTranscriber:spp:smc
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1848-02-05
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Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, February 5, 1848
action: sent
sender: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
location: Toluca, Mexico
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: cnk
revision: tap 2018-11-01
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Page
1
e
This letter is copied in Frances Miller Seward’s hand and
included with four additional letters: November 20, 1847, January 03, 1848,
April 02, 1848, and May 01, 1848.Toluca Feb 5th
1848 –
The last letter I wrote we were just leaving
Mexico for this place, we reached here after 3 days march.
Toluca is situated in the most beautiful valley I have ever
seen, surpassing even the valley of Mexico in beauty as
much as fertility – Every inch of ground is cultivated.
The valley contains as many inhabitants as that of Mexico
notwithstanding the superior size of that city, to any in this.
There are not less than four considerable cities or villages
in sight at one time – Toluca itself contains about 15 or 20
thousand inhabitants, it is at the foot of a small chain of
mountains which rise up in the middle of the valley – a
little to our south is a snow-clad mountain, indeed one is
never out of sight of these in Mexico – this is the fifht fifth
that I have seen – Our first days march from Mexico was
ascending all the way, there being a ridge of mountains
which separated the valley of Mexico from that of Toluca
About the middle of the second day we reached the summit
of this ridge, when we came in sight of the valley –
On the night of this day we stopped at Lerma a town
of 2000 inhabitants, at the foot of the mountains – It is
the most strongly fortified place by nature that I ever saw,
being entirely surrounded by a marsh with only one entrance
from the Mexico road, this is a narrow embankment
about the width of a common road, which has been
thrown up across the marsh. The 3d day we started early
in the morning and reached our point of destination about
12 oclock, took up our quarters in the Convent of El Carmez
which had just been deserted by the Mexican troops – ^The convents here seem to be made for this purpose^ having
room for about 20 times as many monks as are in them
The bridgade was sent here for the purpose of collecting a
tax which has been imposed upon the State of Mexico –
There was a meeting of the Ryuamento (city council) on the
subject a few days since – what they concluded I do not
know, but if paid, the Brigade will undoubtedly return to
Mexico —
Page
2
Two other expeditions of a similar nature, have been sent out
from Mexico to other cities one under Col Clark
under Gen. Lane
I have been promoted to 5th Infantry – shall go to Mexico with the
first train to join my Regiment
e
Editorial Note
The last letter I wrote we were just leaving
Mexico for this place, we reached here after 3 days march.
Toluca is situated in the most beautiful valley I have ever
seen, surpassing even the valley of Mexico in beauty as
much as fertility – Every inch of ground is cultivated.
The valley contains as many inhabitants as that of Mexico
notwithstanding the superior size of that city, to any in this.
There are not less than four considerable cities or villages
in sight at one time – Toluca itself contains about 15 or 20
thousand inhabitants, it is at the foot of a small chain of
mountains which rise up in the middle of the valley – a
little to our south is a snow-clad mountain, indeed one is
never out of sight of these in Mexico – this is the fifht fifth
that I have seen – Our first days march from Mexico was
ascending all the way, there being a ridge of mountains
which separated the valley of Mexico from that of Toluca
About the middle of the second day we reached the summit
of this ridge, when we came in sight of the valley –
On the night of this day we stopped at Lerma a town
of 2000 inhabitants, at the foot of the mountains – It is
the most strongly fortified place by nature that I ever saw,
being entirely surrounded by a marsh with only one entrance
from the Mexico road, this is a narrow embankment
about the width of a common road, which has been
thrown up across the marsh. The 3d day we started early
in the morning and reached our point of destination about
12 oclock, took up our quarters in the Convent of El Carmez
which had just been deserted by the Mexican troops – ^The convents here seem to be made for this purpose^ having
room for about 20 times as many monks as are in them
The bridgade was sent here for the purpose of collecting a
tax which has been imposed upon the State of Mexico –
There was a meeting of the Ryuamento (city council) on the
subject a few days since – what they concluded I do not
know, but if paid, the Brigade will undoubtedly return to
Mexico —
Two other expeditions of a similar nature, have been sent out
from Mexico to other cities one under Col Clark
Birth: 1793 Death: 1860-10-18
,
oneunder Gen. Lane
Birth: 1801-12-14 Death: 1881-04-19
– more are
reported in contemplation –I have been promoted to 5th Infantry – shall go to Mexico with the
first train to join my Regiment