The collection is made of miscellaneous letters, documents, and journals related to Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Bainbridge (1803-1857) and William A. Ellery (1795-1873) during and immediately following the United States War with Mexico, 1846-1848. The items span from 1840 to 1850. The topics addressed in the letters and documents concern the Mexican War, Mexican and United States politics, personal matters, and financial matters. For details about each document, see the inventory located under "Detailed Box and Folder Listing" below.
Henry Bainbridge was born in New York in 1803. He graduated from West Point in 1821, and his military career spanned three decades. He saw active duty in the Seminole Wars, in the military occupation of Texas, and the Mexican-American War.
Bainbridge served as second lieutenant of the 3rd infantry on frontier duty in Wisconsin and Michigan from 1821 to 1826. He worked in the recruiting service from 1826 to 1828 before serving as first lieutenant of the third infantry in garrisons and on frontier duty in Missouri, Louisiana, and what would become Oklahoma. He became captain of the 3rd infantry on June 15, 1836, serving in Louisiana, Florida, Missouri, and Texas. He fought in the Battle of Palo Alto, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, and the Battle of Monterrey, where he was wounded and subsequently breveted major on September 23, 1846, for gallant and meritorious conduct. He became major in the 7th infantry on February 16, 1847, and received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel on August 20, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Contreras and Churubusco. He was involved in the capture of Mexico City. He continued to serve in Missouri, Florida, Kansas, and Texas. He became lieutenant-colonel of the 1st infantry on June 11, 1851, and served in Texas until he perished aboard the steamship Louisiana when it caught fire and sunk in Galveston Bay on May 31, 1857.
William Almy Ellery was born in Rhode Island in 1795. He was a merchant in New York City. He married Jane B. Mackie, cousin to Henry Bainbridge, on March 30, 1835. They had three children, William Almy Ellery, Jr., Catharine Almy Ellery, and Henry Bainbridge Ellery. William Almy Ellery passed away on January 31, 1873.
