Manuscripts
George S. Patton letters to Eleanor Banning Macfarland and John Cobb Macfarland
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- Description
- Two letters from General George S. Patton (1885-1945) to his cousin Eleanor Banning Macfarland and her husband John Cobb Macfarland. The letter to Eleanor is dated October 21, 1918, and was written while Patton was recovering from a leg wound he received in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during World War I. Patton congratulates Eleanor on the birth of her daughter, Anne Banning Macfarland Brown (who had been born in July), sends his best wishes to various relatives, and notes that "I will be out [of the hospital] in a week or so...and can get back in the show and have some fun" (Patton returned to duty on October 28 but saw no further action before the armistice of November 11). The letter to John Macfarland is dated October 8, 1940. Patton thanks Macfarland for his congratulations (probably on Patton's promotion to brigadier general on October 2). Patton writes that "if and when" the United States entered World War II, he hopes he will "have the guts to put my theories of personal leadership into action." He further notes that he feels that he is "better situated to be killed than most as I have had out of life about all there is to get." He also comments on missing the recently deceased Eleanor, who was "very like a sister" to him.
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