Journal of William H. Richardson
Item #80155
RICHARDSON, William H. Journal of William H. Richardson, A Private soldier in the Campaign of New and Old Mexico, Under the Command of Colonel Doniphan, of Missouri. New York: William H. Richardson, 1849. 96pp. Including one in-text illustration, plus three wood-engraved plates (including the frontispiece) and one facsimile letter. Original pictorial wrappers. Slightly chipped at foot of spine. Light scattered foxing and staining. A very good copy. Howes R262, "aa." Wagner-Camp 137:4. Graff, Fifty Texas Rarities 33 (first ed). Clark II: 164. Tutorow 2630. Haferkorn, p.50. Rittenhouse 480 (note). Sabin 71093.The second printing of the third edition of this work, after the very rare first edition of 1847 and the second edition of 1848. Richardson's Journal is considered one of the most reliable and valuable works on the Doniphan expedition and New Mexico during the Mexican-American War, and beginning with the second edition it was accompanied by a facsimile letter written by Doniphan praising it for its accuracy. Richardson enlisted as a mounted volunteer due to patriotism engendered on the 4th of July in Carrollton, Missouri. He took part in Doniphan's expedition over the Santa Fe Trail in the fall of 1846, heading south to El Paso by the first of the New Year, then on to Chihuahua and eventually to Matamoros, where the command shipped by boat to New Orleans. By July 10, 1847, Richardson was back home in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, having completed a journey of over 5500 miles. The Mexican-American War is generally considered the first American war to receive extensive media coverage, and public demand for news and information about the conflict was insatiable. The first edition of this fascinating and quite popular military journal cum overland travel was published before the end of 1847 in Baltimore, and it went through two more editions and four more printings by 1850 - all of which are now scarce. OCLC records this second printing of the third edition at eleven institutions, and all editions are scarce in the market.
Price: $3,500.00