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Rare Books
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Manuscripts
The collection consists of a series of 48 letters sent by Francis Baylies to General John E. Wool between 1848 and 1852. Baylies writes extensively, and often scathingly, of antebellum era politics, statesmen, military operations, and military leaders. Individuals discussed (often disparagingly) in the letters include John Quincy Adams,Thomas Hart Benton, Braxton Bragg, James Buchanan, Lewis Cass, Henry Clay, Caleb Cushing, George Mifflin Dallas, Jefferson Davis, Millard Fillmore, Horace Mann, William L. Marcy, Gideon Johnson Pillow, James K. Polk, Winfield Scott, William Henry Seward, Zachary Taylor, Nicholas Trist, John Tyler, J. Watson Webb, Daniel Webster, and Levi Woodbury. Baylies writes frequently of Wool's involvement at the Battle of Buena Vista, the presidential elections of 1848 and 1852, New York state politics, and general social movements, as well as revolutionary activity in Europe in 1848-1849. Also included with the collection is a letter written after Baylies's death by his brother William Baylies and two essays by an unknown author on the Canadian Rebellions of 1838, dated 1862 and possibly expanding on Baylies's earlier research on the topic.
HM 78777.