The following is a transcript of a letter written on 10 May 1847 by John
W. Keller to his father, Frederick Keller of Lititz, PA.
At this point, John had "joined the US Army" to fight in the war with
Mexico. He served in a company of "Kentuckians", all of whom I believe
would trace to the N.E Regions of that state. A good many Kentuckians
are named in this letter and while I have verified their service, I've
yet to have the time to trace any of their roots.
Submitted by Roland Keller, Jan 1997
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On board the ship Remittance, now in the port of New Orleans and bound
for Point Isabella, Texas, this day at 2 o'clock May 10th, 1847
Dear Father,
I expect it will surprise you no little when you receive this letter
and find that I am now in the U. States Army and am determined to fight
for my country. I have been in the Army ever since the 12th of April
which is very near 1 month and ought to have written to you long since,
you must excuse my negligence, for I have been so busy about other
matters, that I could not possibly get time. I enlisted for during the
war with Mexico, let it be long or short. I belong to the 16th Infantry
under Col. P.W. Tibbets, late member of Congress and to the Company of
Captain T.T. Garrard and Lieuts Garrett and Smith, all Kentuckians. Our
company is 108 strong and all fine looking men, Our sergeants are
Garrard, Todd Collins & White. Our Corpls. are Singleton, John W.
Keller, your son, McCoy, and Jackson. I have but a very few moments to
write. But when we arrive at Point Isabella, I will write you a more
satisfactory letter and give you a full description of the Country. I
expect to see a Devil of a time crossing the gulf, but cannot help it.
I am going to the war, that is certain, perhaps never to return. If I
die let me die in defense of my country. No more at present, my love to
all.
John W. Keller
To: Fredrk Keller
Farewell
Sir: I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with your son some
two years ago and had good fortune to get appointment in the army and
your son enlisted to go out to this war with me. Sir, I can say to you
that there is no man in our company that is more beliked by the men and
officers than your son. He has the office of second corpl. in the
Company and would of had an office of higher note but the officers was
nearly made when he joined the Company. No more at present but I
remain, yours truly,
B.H. Garrett 2d Lieut. Inf. U.S. Army
(page 2)letter from John W. Keller, dated May 10th 1847
We are not bound for Point Isabella but for Brazos St. Diego, from
whence we take our line of march to that delightful and healthy spot,
the city of "Monterey The above lines that our Lieut. penned are
satisfactory to me. He requested me to let him write a few lines to you
and I had no objections and he accordingly wrote the above. You may
write to me immediately after you receive this and direct it to
Monterey, Mexico.
Yours very affectionately,
John W. Keller
Farewell
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Transcript of Letter penned by John W. Keller to his father, Frederick
Keller of Lititz, PA. This letter references several of Keller's
comrades in arms and names some of his friends in PA. In this letter,
he also references a desire to someday return to PA, where he "so
carelessly spent the days of my youth." His opinion of Mexicans is
rather blunt.
Roland Keller, Jan 1997
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CAMP OPPOSITE CAMARGO, MEXICO
JUNE 15, 1847
Dear Father,
I received your letter of the 20th of last month last night just about
a half hour before tattoo and I assure you it was the source of joy and
gratification to me. To hear from you first to hear that you are all
well at home, and that things are going on about right, and secondly,
that you are satisified with my conduct thusfar in regards the Mexican
War. But how could I think otherwise, when I for a moment reflect and
think that you are satisified in your mind, respecting its
constitutionality, I say and always have said that the war is a just and
constitutional war and the fiercer and more vigorous we carry it on, the
better for our independent country, I am no longer in that delightful
part of North America, the United States. But I hope I may meet with
success, and after the war is ended with the ˙ellow bellies, which will
be ere many months elaps, I will return and once more be able to breath
the pure atmosphere of the mountains of Kentucky and other states, and
if things change in regard to my affairs, which you gave me a hint of, I
will endeavor to visit my old native state, Pennsylvania, and that
delightful shop and garden of America, Lancaster county, where I so
carelessly spent the days of my youth. I wrote to you last week and
gave you nearly all the particulars so far as respects the war and the
country, and since that time, nothing of any consequence has occurred,
save some little news from the city of Mexico, concerning Santa Anna's
resignation of which I suspose you are appraised of. I tell you again
this is a bad place for news, we hear but little, and what we do hear,
every person elsewhere knows long before it reaches us. The Americans
in Le Camargo say that it is a very difficult matter to get papers up
from the Brazoo, they say it is the fault of the postmaster at that
place, but letters come on regularly and I hope they go to the States
regularly, for I am anxious that you should hear from me two or three
times a month, while I remain in Mexico, and rest assured that I will
apprise you of all the most interesting events and occurrences that
transpire while I am in the Army. I am well satisified and pleased with
my trip, and delighted with performing the duties that are required of
me as corporal and endeavor to discharge them to the satisfaction of my
superior officers, and I am proud to say that a better man in every
respect never trod the Mexican soil than the captain of our Company E.
That same Theophulos J. Garrard is beliked better by the men of the
whole regiment than any other captain in the regiment. My health is
very good, I thank God can say that I have enjoyed excellent health
since I have been in the Army, and I hope you are all sharing the same
blessing. The health of our regiment is tolerable good, we have had but
few deaths in the regiment, only one died in our company since we left
the States and he died at Brazoo ago and my opinion is that he was a
regular bred habitual drunkard for the last twenty years, and of as a
matter of course could not stand the climate. In short, he was no
account nohow, and I can't see why they enlisted him, but poor fellow,
he showed willingness to fight for his country, and I hope he is now in
a better world. Our Colonel John W. Tibbatts is not here yet, but we
expect him in two weeks with some 200 recruits for this Regt. Leut Col
Henry L. Webb is in command here, and he is a very fine man in every
respect, he wants the men to do their duty and no more, and said the
Government shall and must to the duty to the soldiers. On Sunday
morning the 13th whilst we peraded for inspection, and the way we were
praised by the Leut Col was no mans business. He said we went thru the
exercise like old regulars, and not like new recruits, said he, "men,
you done remarkably well and deserve credit for it." Ever since we have
been here, some have been at work clearing a space of ground for our
regiment, the space is 1080 feet one way and 800 the other, on a
beautiful level spot some quarter of a mile farther up the San Juan,
than our Old Ground. We moved here on the 13th all in regular order and
pitched our tents nice and regular, after which we detailed a guard for
the new ground 12 men were detailed, one sergt and three corpl, I
constituted one corpl, they were divided into three reliefs on the same
night the sentinal of foot number seven fired at two Mexicans, and
raised the alarm, immediately I had my relief peraded and marched them
to the spot, but after searching come time, we found nothing. Every man
was armed in two minutes and a half, and ready for battle, but we could
find nothing, and consequently every man lay down with his loaded musket
by his side so as to be ready at a word, after the first alarm I
received orders to post 35 sentinals around the encampment, instead of
12. And number them differently to what they had been, and also change
the countersign, which I had changed to Col Johnson, after I had them
all nicely posted and numbered, I hurried to the guard tents where I was
received by the officer of the guard and sergt of the guard who had 28
men ready for a relief, which I accordingly numbered and told to lay
down with their muskets in their arms, when one of them said his musket
was the best bedfellow that ever he had. They lay probably twenty
minutes when the sentinal at number 13 fired, and I tell you if ever an
army of men were up and ready in a short time for battle it was the 16th
Regt on the night of the 13th of Jun about midnight, Camargo, but the
next question is what did the sentinal fire at? Why at a spotted mule
that was feeding in the shapperell about 50 yards off. But it looked
exactly like a man, he halted it with who comes there, but the dumb
brute still moving towards him he let drive which was the cause of so
much commotion in camp that night, since that everything has been quite
and peacable, and we are going on with our regular duties and living as
contented as anyone that is 4000 miles from the enemy and I believe
moreso, Leut Garrett told me this morning that he seen a paper which was
printed at Matamoros on the 9th ..... in which was a copy of the treaty
offered by the United States, it rather seems the opinion of the
soldiers generally that the Mexican Government will accept of it, and
come to terms. If such be the case, the war will soon come to a close,
and I think if they are sensible and know which side of their bread is
buttered they will be glad of the opportunity. And if they do not come
at this time, Uncle Sam has Bohogs enough on this line to make them come
it, contrary to their expectations and rather sooner than they would
like to depart this life. However, do not believe that the friendly
Mexicans, on this line are entirely in favor of piece with the "Estados
Unious" as a term the United States in their language some of them have
large flocks of goat and some have cattle and sheep and they bring any
quantity of goat milk in our camp every morning, they sell it at 6cents
a pint, the milk is very good, but I was never in favor of goat milk and
consequently, I don't make use of it, I would like very well to have
just about 1 gallon of buttermilk or sweetmilk at this time, it seems to
me I could pour it down like soap sudds in a sink hold, as regards
liquar, I don't noe any whatever, there is some here, but my opinion is
it will kill any man in this hot country. And I find that those that
didn't make use of it fare far better than them that use it. I at all
events prefer letting it alone, The weather at this time is
unaccountable hot, and were it not for the continual breese that is
stirring, a person could not live here, and a person can see these
yellow bellied Mexicans half naked with very broad rimed hats on, some
loafing about in the hot sun, and some working, some few are industrious
and some are as lazy as anything can be, those that are industrious keep
themselves tolerable clean and look tolerable decent but others live
like hogs. They build their huts out of cane and mud, and have no
chimney, nor anything to sit on old dried cow hide answers for seats and
bed and table they have no plates nor forks and are certainly the
filthiest of the human race. The women are about the same some clean
and decent while others are dirty and filthy as I have seen but five or
six Mexican ladies that I considered in any way handsome. In short I
have made no choice yet and don't think I shall because I am conciety
enough to believe I that I can do better in the states. Whenever you
hear any person say that the Mexicans are handsome, don't believe it and
think they are a deceitful set of rascals that will rob, steal, murder
every opportunity they have or get. We boys find it tolerable difficult
to get them to understand our language, as well as for us to understand
them. But some of us are learning tolerable fast and will now give you
what little news I have of present & close, Gen Taylor is ordered not
move on to San Louis Potosi, but to remain where he is, as Camp Taylor
is miles this side of Monterrey, our Regt will be stationed along this
line to garrison the Provinces and Company E will probably march on to
Cerralvo or Meir. I don"t know which place nor how soon the last I
heard of Gen Scott he was Puebla, and I suppose he is in the halls of
the Montezumas as presently and from all appearances he will have no
more fighting shortly, everything appears to be quite and calm, and the
work is going on smoothly and nice. No more as present. Give my love
to dear Mother, Sister & Brother & my compliments to all & everybody.
I remain your Dutifull Son
John W. Keller
16 Inf U.S.A.
Write to me immediately and tell F Christo to write to me and give me
all the news that is in or about Hernhutt, also tell F Pain to to write
to me immediately, direct to John W. Keller. Camargo Mexico 16th Regt
Company E. Care of Capt Garrard. If there should be a wedding you must
inform me of it as soon as possible.
Farewell
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This is the transcript of a letter from John W. Keller to his brother,
Frederick Hiram Keller of Lititz, PA.
(When J.W. says "unconscious of anything that had happened or was then
going on" he was again referencing the issue of his conduct that caused
him to hastily leave PA. His brother Hiram, to whom this letter is
directed, later moved to Williamsport where he was a carpenter and
served two terms as mayor in the 1880's)
Roland Keller Jan 1997
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CERRALON, NEW LEON, MEXICO
FEBRURY 17 1848
Dear Hiram,
I received your welcome letter in due time and was happy to hear of your
health, etc. Your occupation may suit you very well, probably you need
a little "sweetening" occasionally. It may be your intention to follow
it for a livelihood, it is a profitable business and you may do well at
it. I am sorry to inform you that I cannot give you anything worthy of
communication, nothing of importance has transpired since we have been
at this place and I do not believe that there ever will be another
regular battle in Mexico, we may have some little guerrilla fighting
occasionally, but not shortly, because there are no Mexicans on this
line that will fight, or they would have attacked us long since. When
we first arrived here at Cerralon last August the 11th, there were some
two or five hundred lancers lurking around this neighborhood waiting for
an opportunity to give us thunder and rub it in, which made us keep our
eyes skinned. Well, one evening about 5 O'clock sometime in Dec, the
alarm was given that 400 lancers were within half a mile of us. Well,
we all flew to arms and in two minutes we were ready for action. Every
American not belonging to our army in Cerralon armed himself and waited
the attack. Two companies of Rangers and two of Infantry went up the
road to meet them while the remainders stayed in town to defend our
commissary stores, etc. As it happened, there was a train coming in
from Monterrey that evening and they had attacked that about one mile
from town and succeeded in driving off some sixty pack mules. But when
our Rangers came in sight of them, they fled taking what plunder they
could and making their way into the Chaparall. But our brave Yankee
boys pursued them so close that they let all holds go and left
everything behind. So that was the last of the fight at or near
Cerralon. All I can tell you now is that we are here, inactive, and
doing nothing and anxious for peace or war, one of the two. But I had
rather hear of an honorable peace, than to receive any present whatever
because I am tired of this inactive life and would be glad to change it
and what is more this miserable hot country. The filthy Mexicans and
their ignorance. I do think that if ever I return to the states again I
shall thank myself fortunate and will try and stay there. I always was
fond of curiosities and I had a desire to come to Mexico and try
warfare, to see what virtue there was in soldiering. But my word for
it, I found none and shall never forget the twelfth of April 1847, the
day I bound myself to Uncle Sam for "Daring." I will here add, that I
would not advise you to follow my example in that respect, for if you do
you will surely rue. But if I should be so fortunate as to return in
three or four months from this, I shall never regret my trip to Mexico
for it will be worth more to me than I would have made in the States in
the same length of time. You have no doubt heard that Gen Scott is
recalled and I think it perfectly right. I never was in favor of him,
and never will be. There is one thing pretty certain, and that is if
the administration is of one party and the commanding generals of the
other, things will not work well. My opinion is that if Democratic
Generals would have had the command in Mexico, they would have managed
things in a different way to what they have been managed and the war
would now be closed. Notwithstanding prospects of peace are somewhat
flattering in these diggings. But I can see nothing to that effect in
the slips that father sends me so regularly, for which I am very
thankful. I believe I have received every letter that he has sent me
since I landed at Brazoo. And must acknowledge that I have been rather
careless and negligent about answering them. But I hope he will excuse
me and pardon me, for he knows all about life of a soldier in the States
and that is nothing to compare with a soldier's life. I supose Edward
is not satisfied and contented. Give him and his lady my love and tell
them that I expect to see them ere long in a flourishing condition. I
wrote to Oliver some two months ago. I hope he received my letter and
will not fail to answer it. By this time he is a free man and from all
accounts a very steady young man. May he continue so. Father seems to
be well pleased with Oliver and I hope he will have the pleasure of
saying the same of you. I often have to think of the last time I saw
Oliver, with Martin in his arms, and when I left the room for the south
you were at school unconcious of anything that had happened or was then
going on. But I supose you soon learned what was to pass. However it
is all over and the least said is the soonest mended. I must now close
hoping that this may find you in good health. My health is very good
and has been ever since Dec. Give my love to Father, Mother, Sisters
and brothers and all relatives. My best respects to Mr Raurd, and
family, Frank Lennerss, George Greider, Charles and Agustus Sturgis, Mr
Zeltzman and Captain Blickenderfer and all inquiring friends and tell
them to write me. You will not forget to write soon.
I remain your affectionate Brother
John W. Keller
Sgt Co e 16th U.S. Infantry
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TRANSCRIPT OF LETTER WRITTEN BY JOHN W. KELLER TO HIS FATHER, FREDERICK
KELLER OF LITITZ, PA
Cerralon New Leon Mexico
March 20, 1848
My Dear Father and Mother,
Having just returned from the plaza, where we had gone at 10:00, to
pay honor due the Honorable John Q. Adams, or at least so ordered by the
Adjt. Genl. of Washington, and as all duties are suspended for this day,
I avail myself of the opportunity to write an answer to the letter which
I recieved last night at tattoo from you, dated February 22nd and
happily recieved by your son in a distant land who was called upon to
take up arms, and defend his country from all harms. In honor of the
deceased we fired 13 guns at the break of day and fire at intervals of
1/2 hour, 1 gun until sunset, when we will fire 29 and quit. I have but
little or no news to give you at this time. Prospects of a speedy peace
are bright, indeed more so than ever they have been. But I fear the
American Congress. I am like the Old French Man of Orleans. He said
"d--n the American Congress, cheats a poor Frenchman out of four bitte."
I can find nothing new in the Ledger you sent me this time, and
for this reason, this news originated in Mexico, and we knew all about
it ere it reached you. And I suppose it did not reach Washington until
the 21st of last month. But I am now anxiously looking for news and I
can assure you nothing could give me more pleasure than to hear that
Peace was actually ratified by our Government and Orders for us to leave
this miserable country and its filthy population. You may depend that a
twelve month trial has taught me a lesson that I never shall forget, but
do not understand me to say that I am sorry that I came to Mexico, no
never. But as matters are working now, I can assure you would tire any
man, let him be who he would, unless he prefered the life of a soldier
to any other. That is not the way with me. The time has been, when I
took some delight and pride in soldiering. But now I have enough, and
would be willing to quit. I had some faint hopes fo getting an
appointment in the Army. But since I have seen that Citizens have been
appointed to fill vacancies in our Regiment. And men too, who knew
nothing about military tactics, I have given up all hopes there was but
one man appointed in the Regiment and he was our 1st Sergt William
Garrard. He is gone to Monterey to report himself in person to Col.
Tibbatts. I recieved a letter from him yesterday and he stated that
they had Washington papers to the 23rd of February, and that peace was
undoubtedly made and Genl Wool was confident of it, at least he was
making preparations for marching, so as to be in readiness, he is a
particular friend of mine, I would not have written it if it were not
so. He is a fine intelligent young man and deserved the appointment of
2nd Lieut. We are nearly the same age, only I am exactly eleven years
the oldest, and by the time this reaches you I will be 27 years old, and
six years four months from home, a long absence. But I hope it will not
be much longer until we may meet again. I was pleased to hear that
Edward is doing a good business and living fine, even if his business
were ever so dull. It would then be much better than soldiering. No
doubt he will do well, because he was a very steady young man when I
left and if he continues so, there will be no danger. I was much
pleased to hear of Oliver and Hiram. As to Oliver, I had no doubt but
he would make a steady man. But Hiram, I thought would be like myself,
that is wild and full of fun, etc. I think you are pursuing a very good
plan in letting Hiram go to Bethlehem to learn the house carpenter and
cabinet business. And were it not for the small stain in my character,
which I have in Litiz, I sorry to say through the aid of a real
gentleman followed me to Salem. But which never molest me at any other
place, a better family and venture to day could not be started. Please
accept my particular thanks for those papers which I so often receive
enclosed in your letters, and I hope you will continue to send them
often. Believe me, nothing gives me more pleasure and comfort in this
barren country, than to receive a letter from you or anyone of litiz. I
am indeed very anxious to receive a line or two from Dr. Hull, a man
whom I considered a true friend to our family, and I yet believe it was
through him, and by his aid that you thank God have become temperant,
and are again restored to your former mind and happiness. Give him my
compliments, and best wishes for his future welfare. My friend, Aaron
Trager, you say is no more. He has paid that debt which we all owe and
are about to pay, and A. Miller, also. Thus they drop one-by-one, and
when I return I may miss several of my old comrades. I wish you would
dog Edward's memory about writing to me as I think he is rather slow
about it. And, tell Hiram and Oliver to write to me frequently. Give
my love to sisters and brothers and all relatives. My respects to
Zitzman, Blickensderfer, Geitner, F.L. Lennert "der Hahn das dei
sand-kernlein um dei ecken fliegen macht nach aller lust, und shwingt
den fliegle in glariger ordnung." No more at present,
I remain your dutiful son
John W. Keller
Sgt, Co E, 16th U.S. Infantry
Cerralos, Mexico
cy to Fred Keller, Esqr
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