Colonel Francis S. Belton Mexican War Letters

Manuscripts, documents, and personal ephemera related to Col. Francis S. Belton, a career US Army officer and veteran of the War of 1812, the Indian Wars, and the Mexican-American War. The bulk of the archive relates to the military occupation of Mexico City. Acting as lieutenant governor of Mexico City, Belton had significant responsibilities for the administration of the city. Thirty-one documents offered here, most of which are in Spanish with handwritten notations on verso in English, reflect these responsibilities and present a fascinating glimpse into the military occupation of the city. Most of the documents date to the weeks and months just after the occupation, September - December 1847, and deal with issues such as property disputes, war dead, prisoners, and acts of violence and other illegal activity perpetrated by American soldiers.

Finding aid available here. Materials provided by Special Collections and Archives at the University of Texas at Arlington.

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Letter to Harriet Kirby Belton

Letter to Harriet Kirby Belton from [Benjamin F. Laued]
Letter from Harriet Kirby Belton

Harriet Kirby Belton

Letter from Harriet Kirby Belton to [Lieutenant General Leath] asking to be given a pension
Letter from Francis S. Belton to his wife and son

Francis Smith Belton

Letter from Francis S. Belton to his wife and son updating them on his life and the war, written at Palacio Nacional, Mexico City
Letter to Francis S. Belton from the Office of the U.S. Attorney

Letter from the Office of the U.S. Attorney [J. A. Spencer] to Francis S. Belton
Letter from Francis S. Belton to his wife and son

Francis Smith Belton

Letter from Francis S. Belton to his wife and son updating them on his life and the war, written at Tacubaya, Mexico City
Letter to U.S. Army

Letter to the U.S. Army governing in Mexico City, written in French, one page certifying a party of soldiers pillaged a house
Letter to U.S. Army from Ygnacio Encinas

Ygnacio Encinas

Letter from Ygnacio Encinas to the U.S. Army governing in Mexico City complaining about a U.S. serviceman, written in Spanish with short English translation
Letter to U.S. Army

Letter from [Balthasar F.] to the U.S. Army governing in Mexico City, written in Spanish with English translation
Letter to U.S. Army from Ignacio Esteves

Ignacio Esteves

Letter from Ignacio Esteves to the U.S. Army governing in Mexico City complaining about a U.S. serviceman, written in Spanish with short English translation
Letter to President William Henry Harrison

Unsigned letter to President William Henry Harrison discussing performance of officers