Trooper Philip Welsh has run up a sizable bill with the post sutler and the merchant asked Welsh’s company commander Captain Burgwin to extract payment. Unfortunately, the commanding officer died in battle at Taos. The sutler has requested that Lt. John Love find out whether the soldier paid the bill. Philip Welsh stayed in the army after the Mexican War and was found serving Company F at Cantonment Burgwin in 1855. While serving there he has lost his horse pistol and is being assessed $13.00 by the government for the weapon. “You’ll never get rich. You son of a bitch. You are in the Army now.”
Fort Scott MO
April 18, 1848
Lieut John Love
U S Army
Most Worthy old friend:
It is necessary for us to call on some friend to serve us, and as our acquaintance with you gives us claim on you, we respectfully ask this favor of you to learn from Philip Welch in some way if you can, if he ever paid a note to us for $66.28 dated about the 20th March 1844. Which note was given to Capt. Burgwin the same year some time to collect. He was so kind as to receive it and said it should be paid, to enable him to collect it he regulated his trade with Mr. Rice to $3.00 Per Month. We are of the opinion that the Captain collected the amount and hope you can learn from Welch if he has or has not paid the amount &c. Soldiers like he may plead payment had you not first said you have the note and want him to pay it and in this way he will say what has been done or what amount he has paid. You will please do the best your can and write us so we can send a copy of your letter to his Capt. Burgwin’s Father. Private Charles Lynch, late of Company A 1st Dragoons deserted from this post under the command of Capt Burbank and gave himself up at Fort Leavenworth and was not tried for desertion and afterwards sent to Santa Fee. We certified it for Lieut Wallace on the Council of Administration. This account was all created before and previous to his desertion which was the 7th May 1847, owing us Ninety Six dollar and Thirty Seven cents, ($96.37) and forwarded to Col. Wharton, and the Col. cannot Say but that he has forwarded it to Santa Fe &c. This is a tricky man, if you do not know him, please collect it for us. William Bushnell of the same company left here owing us Fifteen dollars ($15.00) and has, we learn, also gone to Santa Fee. He is a good man and believe he will pay if he has not already done so—”you will certainly serve us much by giving us your kind ade [sic, aid] and assistance in these bothersome matters. We shall enclose this letter to Col. C. Wharton and call his attention of the certificate. Whether he has in his recollection or not forwarded to Santa Fee. For this and all of your kindness we shall ever be thankful, and should you be able to give the wanted information as in the case of Welch please [indecipherable].
And if you should be able to make the collection, pay yourself and send us the balance to us in some shape through Col. Wharton. We have but little news in the States to give at this date. The county is quiet save the difficulties with Mexico, and all are on the look out for the ratification of the treaty by the Mexican congress—”the rupture or revolution is France may result [indecipherable] to the Old World, should it, it will be a very good thing for the United States. The health of our county is generally good. Col. Douglass your old friend is very well, and family, he has a fine daughter. She commands much attention. Your colt he aimed to race for you is Dead—”The loss of our mutual friends by the Mexican War is very great. So many valuable lives lost—”our county is clad in Mourning—”You must meet with many Privations in Mexico. You must be loansum [sic] news very old before you get it out to you—”Dr. W. Wammon is at this Post with his family. He has two fine Daughters. Mr. Bugg is absent to St. Louis with Lieut Wallace, our H. T. Wilson is married and flourishing at Scott. He was married on the 28th of last September to a plane [sic] country Girl and if you were in the States, you should marry, and pleasant life to live, a step every good man should take. We do not know who you may have about you that we knew, but would be pleased to be kindly remembered to youself, Capt. Grear and all of our acquaintans [sic] with you.
We have the honor to be your very
Sincere and obt Servts
Respectfully
Wilson & Bugg