Mexican Campaign. 15 letters “Gogo” (or L.A.) from Ensign Ga - Lot 504

Lot n° 504
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Mexican Campaign. 15 letters “Gogo” (or L.A.) from Ensign Ga - Lot 504
Mexican Campaign. 15 letters “Gogo” (or L.A.) from Ensign Gabriel-Antoine-Georges de PARIS LA BROSSE (1838–1916), November 1861–May 1862, to his mother; approximately 175 pages, in-8 format. A very interesting collection of letters regarding the Mexican expedition. The first two letters, from Paris and Cherbourg, were written prior to departure aboard the aviso *Le Marceau*, on which Ensign Georges de Paris embarked on November 11, 1861, under the command of Admiral de La Roncière. After a stopover in Tenerife (November 22–25), where the division gathered before heading to Martinique and Havana, and then on to Veracruz. A long letter (December 20–22) recounts his impressions of Martinique and Jamaica. The first letter from Mexico is dated Vera Cruz, January 19, 1862; from this point on, the letters are lengthy, written over several days (a “little journal”), full of details about the operations; some letters are 25 pages long, and one is 38 pages long! We can provide only a brief overview. Vera Cruz, January 19. Landing at Sacrificios, “an island 2 miles from Vera Cruz,” from where troops, horses, artillery, and provisions must be transferred by small boats; Georges obtained command of two 12-pounder guns from Captain Bruat. – Camp de la Soledad, February 2: march inland. – Camp de la Tejeria, February 20: Since the guns under his charge were too heavy, it was decided to abandon them, and he joined Captain Bruat’s battery; explanation of the “gourbi”; arrival of General Prim at the camp. – Camp Cordova, March 5. The expedition marches on; wounded in the foot, he is unable to walk and must follow the column on horseback. – Orizaba, March 8: “brief journal of the Division’s march,” in the mountains, under fire from the Mexicans; crossing of the “Tchikiuit”; arrival and encampment at Cordova; as the Mexicans were evacuating the city, a massive explosion at an ammunition depot in the fort’s underground tunnels killed 1,000 and wounded 500: “I pity them with all my heart, for to tell you the truth, I have no animosity toward the Mexicans, and God knows I would not wish to wage war against them. I even hold them dear to my heart, for they have made this an extremely pleasant expedition for us, and I am most grateful to them.” General Lorencez has arrived in Veracruz. While the division is advancing toward Tehuacán, the British remain in Córdoba and the Spanish in Orizaba. Disease is spreading among the troops. Explanations regarding command and service. Paris resumed writing his letter on the 11th, at the Ponte Colorado encampment, and explained the difficulties of setting up field batteries across the mountains and through the clouds. Arrival in Tehuacán on the 15th; difficulties finding lodging; on the 19th, he describes his quarters and sketches his canvas bed attached to his mess kit. On the last page, he has drawn a small map to explain the march through the mountains. – April 7. They retreated toward Cordova; reflections on political procrastination; arrival of General de Lorencez with his troops; life in camp; military Mass… – Cordova, April 18, then Orizaba, April 23–26. Meeting in Orizaba of the council of allied plenipotentiaries; heated discussions between General Prim and the admiral, who no longer wishes to negotiate with Juárez. “Departure of the Spaniards and the British. The French remain alone in Mexico. The admiral informs the Juárez government that he does not recognize it,” and that he will march on Mexico City. On the 19th, the march begins; at the village of Fortin, the head of the column encounters the Mexican cavalry; charge by the African chasseurs. “General Almonte, who arrived from France with General Lorencez and who represents the reactionary faction favorable to French influence, has issued two or three proclamations here in which he styles himself Commander-in-Chief and Supreme Leader of the Republic. […] It is likely that as we advance, we will be joined by band leaders, who cannot yet come to us because if they were caught, they would be immediately shot, but who will take advantage of the first break in the weather”… Paris made a copy of the map of Mexico to allow his mother to follow the operations. Details of the 10 planned stages from Orizaba to Puebla. – Guaquichula, May 2… to May 21. Account of the march toward Puebla, marked by various attacks on the column by the Mexican cavalry, which was growing increasingly stronger. The letter resumes on May 10 in Amozoc, with an account of the disastrous Battle of Puebla (drawing of the Puebla site, dominated by the Church of Guadalupe). Retreat to Orizaba… Enclosed: – a large map drawn on tracing paper and annotated (27x61 cm) in black and red ink with highlights, a road map from Veracruz to Mexico City (from
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