A Guide to the Albert G. Brackett Letters, 1846-1863

Biographical Note

Albert Gallatin Brackett was born on 1829 February 14 in Cherry Valley, Otsego County, New York. He moved to Indiana in 1846 and volunteered for service in the Mexican War. As an officer in the 4th Indiana Volunteers, Brackett participated in campaigns in Huamantla, Puebla, and Atlixco. Following his discharge, he returned to Indiana and began a medical practice. In 1855 Brackett resumed a military career as a captain in the U.S. Cavalry and served on the Texas frontier. He left Texas upon the surrender of federal troops in 1861 and served in the Union army throughout the Civil War, rising to the rank of colonel. After the war, Brackett participated in Indian wars in the West and returned to Texas again as commander of Fort Davis. He retired from the Army in 1891. Brackett died in Washington, D.C., on 1896 June 25 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Brackett was the author of two books that drew on his military experience: General Lane’s Brigade in Central Mexico (1854) and History of the United States Cavalry (1865). In 1853 he married Martha Briggs, with whom he had a son. After their divorce in 1867, he married Rose Knight.

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Scope and Content Note

The bulk of the items in the Albert G. Brackett Letters are from Brackett to family members. His Mexican War letters contain descriptions of Texas and Mexico, comments on military life, and references to battles, written as he moved from camp on the Rio Grande to Puebla, Jalapa, Puebla, Perote castle, and Huamantla. He includes some battle descriptions and mentions many of his fellow soldiers and the officers commanding them, including Samuel Walker and commanding general Joseph P. Lane. Post-war letters from his residence in Indiana and Illinois primarily deal with family matters. His letters from Texas date from 1856 to 1860, following the resumption of his military career, and describe scouting expeditions, his fellow soldiers, and family matters. Written from Fort Mason, Fort Clark, Fort McIntosh, and Camp Hudson, Brackett's letters also mention such notables as Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee, John B. Magruder, and Charles E. Travis.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

No restrictions. The collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Please be advised that the library does not hold the copyright to most of the material in its archival collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Albert G. Brackett Letters, 1846-1863, Doc 5173, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Margaret Beach Anderson, 1949.

Processing Information

Processed by Warren Stricker, 1996.

Finding aid edited and encoded by Caitlin Donnelly, 2010 July.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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