Page 121 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript Americana - Sale 2310 - April 16, 2013

265 ● (TEXAS.) Newell, Chester. History of the Revolution in Texas. Folding map.
x, [2], 215 pages. 12mo, publisher’s cloth, front joint starting, minor wear; short closed tear
and minor edge wear to map; early gift inscription on front pastedown.
New York, 1838 [3,000/4,000]
FIRST EDITION, issue with dedication on page [iv] and map dated 1838. Newell disputes the
rumors that the population of Texas is mostly composed of “criminals, of insolvent and fraudu-
lent debtors, of outlaws, and bad characters of every description”—rather, only “a large part of
the people of Texas are of the character described” (page 190). Clark, Old South III: 215;
Graff 3010; Howes N115 (“aa”); Jenkins, Basic Texas Books 151A (“one of the earliest
books published about Texas after it became a republic. . . . Of considerable historical value”);
Raines, page 154 (“One of the rare and reliable books on Texas”); Streeter Texas II:1318.
264 ● (TEXAS.) Howland, Benjamin W. Pair of a soldier’s colorful letters describing
Indians, Mexicans, and great herds of cattle. Autograph Letters Signed to “friend
William.” 7 pages, about 7 x 5 inches, on 2 sheets; minor wear.
Fort McKavett, TX, 9 February and 26 April 1876 [300/400]
Benjamin W. Howland (born 1855) of Westport, MA enlisted in the 10th United States
Infantry Band. These letters describe his impressions of frontier Texas. “There are very few
people that die out here from sickness, but there is plenty of them that gets shot every day. They
do not think any more of shooting a man out here than they do of killing a pig in Westport. . . .
The Indians and Mexicans are quite troublesome around here this winter and the Mexicans are
raising particular hell down on the Rio Grande. They are killing the settlers and stealing all
the cattle they can find. . . . If you were a good shot and a smart horse thief you could make a
good living, but if not you would stand a poor chance. I suppose you know Texas is one of the
meanest places in the world for a northern man to get along in. Of course, there are some
honest people in Tex, but they are few and far between. . . . I see more cattle here in one day
than I ever saw in my life before I came out here. . . . I have not seen one herd go by with less
than 20,000 head of cattle in it and some herds have as many as 200,000.”