Lot
2030 
(Santa Fe Trail - Batemen Correspondence) The E.B. Batemen Correspondence, 1848-1852, the important group of 8 folded letters with integral address leaves written between January 4th, 1848 and February 14th, 1852 by E.B. Bateman, a surgeon in the U.S. Army who served in the Mexican War at Santa Fe and then got "Gold Fever" and traveled 135 days overland from there to California, to his father in Jacksonville, Illinois and his brother in St. Charles, Missouri, first January 4th 1848 from Lawrenceville Ill. while traveling, then April 22nd from St. Louis stating "I now belong to the Army of the U.S. and start to day for Mexico where I expect to be attached to the Medical Department of the Army…We go from here to Fort Leavenworth by water - thence across the Plains through Santa Fee & with troops about 700 strong"; May 18th from Fort Leavenworth sent via steamboat with St. Louis red "STEAM 10" straightline, June 13th datelined "Plains - Council Grove, one hundred & fifty miles from Ft. Leavenworth" reading "We left the Fort on the 20th of May & arrived as above on the first of this month having been out twelve days…The country between here & fort is without exception the most beautiful I have ever seen…I was appointed "Assistant Surgeon" to Detachment of one Battalion & two Regiment in all numbering about 300 men…It is 650 miles from here to Santa Fee & much include both the hot & dry season. This has been a pleasant encampment, good water & bathing, plenty of fine Mulberries & Strawberries & surrounded by Indians (Kansas) whose character I have had a good opportunity of studying. They gave their "War Dance" a few days since at which there was a large assembledge."; Sept. 6th 1848 Santa Fee N.M. letter via "Mr. Bullard to States" to Lexington Mo. requesting things to be sent from home; Oct. 2nd 1848 Santa Fee, N.M. letter sent via St. Louis Mo.; Dec. 25th 1849 Stockton Cal. gold rush letter with blue manuscript "Stockton Cal. Dec 28. 1849" postmark and "40" cent rating to his brother reading "…It appears strong to me that a young, enterprising man like your self; who could come here be immensely useful and make a princely fortune in a few years. You'bottom left perish in remaining where you are, no matter what (affairs of the heart) you may or may not be enjoying in, let them be consummated, deferred or dissolved & not prevent you from coming to this "Land of Promise"."; and final Feb. 14th 1852 Stockton Cal. letter with blue "Stockton Cal. Feb 24" cds and matching "Paid" "6" rating handstamps reading "…I send this by the Express, which will probably reach you soon, or perhaps two or three days sooner than they will reach St. Charles…", F.-V.F. and wonderful correspondence. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
Ebenezer Bower Bateman was born on July 4th 1820 at Fairfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey. His father and family were in the second wave of settlers to arrive in Morgan County, Illinois, in 1833. At the age of 27 on April 15th 1848 he enlisted in the Army of the West joining the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 1st Regiment at St Louis, Missouri. He enlisted for one year or the duration of the war. On April 20th 1848, he was mustered into military service at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and assigned to Lt A. Allen's Detachment. He served in the Army of the West, until he was discharged from military service at Santa Fe, New Mexico, August 20th 1848.
The word spread rapidly of a large gold discovery had been made in California in 1848. This created much excitement in Santa Fe, and Mr. Bateman like many others caught the 'Gold Fever' and decided to go to California in the spring of 1849. He joined a small group of 60 travelers and took the southern route to California. They traveled south to Socorro, and then west traveling down the Gila River crossing the Colorado River just above present day Yuma, Arizona. This was the main route to California at that time. He resided in California until his death in 1890.
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Realized: $4,500