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Seventy pages (typed) of letters, all are from Adolph Engelmann to his family except one letter (p. 51) is addressed to “Brothers and Sisters;” one to “Engelmann” from a Capt. Adolphus Keller at Saltillo (p. 68); one written by G.A. Koerner, date unknown (p. 69); and one from C.H. Bridges, War Department, 1932, to Otto B. Engelmann regarding his father’s file (p. 70). Otherwise all letters are typed transcripts translated from German, written by Lieutenant Adolph Engelmann (enrolled into service in Captain Raith's Company, second regiment (Bissels), Illinois Foot Volunteer). He writes to his parents during the Mexican War, 1846-1847. Discusses living conditions at his campsites, travel across the prairie and weather conditions, as he makes his way from Illinois south into Mexican territory where he anticipates battle with the Mexican army, which occurs in February of 1947 in “Saltillo,” when Adolph is wounded after a bullet lodges in his inner arm, remaining there until he returns home. Throughout the letters, Adolph details his visit to an Indian camp; writes that “the country was swarming with Indians with hostile intentions.” Writes about his troop's dissatisfaction with their general “whose pettiness becomes daily more apparent” (p. 39) and his impressions of Mexicans as “very dirty . . . picking lice off each other . . . .” (p. 20). Meets a man who tells him that a third of the natives “have long wished for our coming; one third are independent; the other one third are our enemies” (p. 40). He writes that all volunteers of his section are regretful that they ever left home, that it is hard for a “free American to accustom himself to the discipline and Aristocracy of the Army” (p. 47), and that President Polk's administration is “as unpopular with us as it possibly can be” (p. 62). He explains that while his troop marched so far that they long hoped for battle. He writes that the Arkansas regiment has lost men leaving camp as they were “lassoed and dragged by Mexicans” the regiment then took vengeance on between 18-30 Mexican civilians in the hills (p. 57-58)., No date

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 11

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Charlotte Rumbold Papers Series comprises mostly correspondence to and from family members and colleagues from 1918 to 1937. The papers are arranged chronologically and include four letters from Roger Nash Baldwin, a prominent social activist who helped form the American Civil Liberties Union. The Caroline Rumbold Papers Series includes mostly correspondence to and from family members from 1918 to 1929. In the correspondence, their brother Frank Meeker Rumbold referred to his sister Charlotte as "Budge," and Caroline as "Toots" and "Tom." The Engelmann Family Papers Series includes typed translatations (from German) of letters of Lieutenant Adolph Engelmann to his parents during the Mexican War, 1846-1847. Charlotte Rumbold, a seventh-generation members of the Engelmann family, owned these family papers. The papers are arranged chronologically. The General Correspondence Series comprises letters from Charlotte's brother, Frank Rumbold, to his wife, along with several letters from her friend, writer Mary E. Buckley to her friend, Horace Swope. The Charlotte Rumbold Speeches Series includes her speeches on street life and housing conditions. The Caroline Rumbold Travel Diaries Series includes three diaries from her trip around the world in 1928 and 1929. Caroline Rumbold's travel diaries and her letters to siblings from her world tour are similar in content. The Miscellaneous Series includes Caroline Rumbold's scrapbook and Charlotte Rumbold's "Report of the Housing Committee of The Civic League of St. Louis."

Dates

  • No date

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.0 Cubic Feet ( (2 boxes))

Language of Materials

English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510