Description
Handwritten letter from Gen. Zachary Taylor, five days before his election as President of the United States, denying a leave of absence for Lt. Charles B. Brower during the Mexican-American War.
Framed letter, white matte, lithograph of Gen. Taylor next to letter. Full piece measures 14″ x 21″, museum glass, wood border with gold leaf. Typed transcript of the letter affixed to verso. Letter on blue stationery, previously folded. The letter was written by General Zachary Taylor at the Headquarters of the Western Division at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on November 2nd, 1848.
In the letter, he acknowledges receipt of the letter from Mrs. C.B. Brower of Brooklyn, N.Y., requesting a “leave of absence be grated your husband, Charles B. Brower, Lieut. 3rd Infy.”
Since Lt. Brower was the only officer of his company, the “public interest and rules of the service will not permit compliance with your wishes. Whenever there may be another officer of his company on duty with it, I will gladly entertain this request.” The respectful letter closes by suggesting that “he make the application himself, through the proper channels, as required by army regulations.” The letter is signed “Z. Taylor,” and hand addressed to the recipient.
This leave of absence was requested by the wife of Lt. Charles B. Brower of Brooklyn, NY. Brower was a member of the Third Regiment of the United States Infantry, serving in the Mexican-American War. He served under Gen. Winfield Scott, from his landing at Vera Cruise to the conquest of Mexico City. He took General Nicolas Bravo prisoner at the Battle of Chapultepec, delivering the prisoner to General Cadwallader. Brower died in 1853 after returning to New York.
In the election of 1848, Zachary Taylor, the Whig candidate, secured victory over Lewis Cass of the Democratic Party and Martin Van Buren of the Free Soil Party on November 8th, 1848. Taylor, a renowned military leader due to his successes in the Mexican-American War, entered the political arena with minimal campaigning and no prior political experience. Following his victory in 1848, Taylor kept his distance from Washington, not resigning his command of the Western Division until January of 1849.
