Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858 to David Connor

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02354 Author/Creator: Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858 Place Written: Anton Lizardo, Mexico Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 December 1846 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 26 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Written aboard the U.S.S. Mississippi, Perry discusses visiting Captain George E. Lambert of HMS Endymion regarding two prisoners who were taken aboard the Palsot for attempting to reconnoiter the enemies' powder magazine and brought to Vera Cruz. Perry mentions the departure of the Morris, a ship carrying provisions for Connor's ship, the McLane, and suggests he stock up on water while in Tampico, Mexico.The war with Mexico brought Perry the principal wartime command of his career. He was initially sent to the Gulf of Mexico as vice commodore of the American squadron with orders to relieve the ailing Commodore David Conner

Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858
Connor, David, fl. 1843-1847

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources