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Gore, John H. (fl. 1848) Affidavit of Captain John H. Gore 4th Infantry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02305.02 Author/Creator: Gore, John H. (fl. 1848) Place Written: Jalapa, Mexico Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 26 June 1848 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25 x 19.9 cm. Order a Copy

Swears that Ulysses S. Grant asked his permission, on about 7 June, 1848, to "place a bag of public money in my private trunk, saying at the time, that he considered it the most safe place for its conveyance on the march which we were preparing to commence in a few days." Describes the events that transpired: He at first denied the request, but assented because Grant had no trunk or box with a lock to carry the money himself. The same day Grant placed a bag of silver dollars which he knew to be the $1000 belonging to the Quarter Masters Department. He kept the trunk in his room until 11 June, until they marched to Puebla, at which time he kept the trunk guarded by day and in his own tent at night. On the night of 16 June, unknown person(s) cut open the tent while he was sleeping, carried the trunk off, and took the money, as well as some money and possessions of Gore's own, before leaving the trunk in a body of water. As soon as he found the trunk missing, he alerted the commanding officers and searched the camp and the tents. He found the trunk and some of his articles in the water but did not find the missing money. Signed by Captain John H. Gore and 1st Lieutenant H.D. Waller, Judge Advocate of the General Court Marshall.

The letter is written in Grant's own hand, though it is signed by Gore and Waller.

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
Floyd-Jones, DeLancey, 1826-1902
Waller, H. D., fl. 1848

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