Member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas (1815–1897). He received the nickname 'Rip' for his peculiarity of including the words ‘Rest in Peace’ after each and every name when composing his company's casualty lists. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel who commanded the Confederate forces in the last engagement of the American Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch on May 12–13, 1865. Handwritten and signed ‘spy report,’ signed “Ford,” one lightly-lined page, 7.75 x 10, no date [but circa April 1865]. Marked “private” at the top, the report reads, in full: “Gen. Nigrite slept within twenty miles of Matamoros last night. His force is reported to be 500 men and 17 pieces of artillery. Gen. Mejia is preparing to fight him. The Yankees may advance simultaneously. There is no doubt but that they are acting in concert. Be ready for emergencies.” Collector’s notation on reverse, in pencil, reads: “Concerning Gen. Nigrite.” In very good condition, with a couple old repairs to paper loss to right edge, affecting a single word of text, light intersecting folds, scattered toning and soiling, and a rough left edge.
Rip Ford's extremely significant spy report touches upon Texan Confederates' little-known wartime relationship with Mexico,. The document also illustrates the aftermath of Napoleon III's plans to reestablish France as a key colonial player on the North American continent. Although undated, historical evidence suggests that this report dates to April 1865, the month before Ford led the 2nd Texas Calvary to victory at Palmito Ranch, the last battle of the Civil War.
Early in the conflict, Ford had secured trade agreements between the Confederacy, the Mexican port of Puerto Bagdad, and the nearby river city of Matamoros; both cities were crucial in sustaining the South's arms and ammunition supply train. This trade agreement remained in effect even as Mexico experienced civil discord of its own. In 1863, as part of Napoleon III’s plan to conquer Mexico, French forces occupied Mexico City and installed a monarch loyal to France. This plan was an eventual failure, but France would maintain a military presence in Mexico for years to come. Likewise, the Confederates remained committed to Mexico and employed agents like Ford to observe how the situation would play out, as this communiqué attests.
Tomás Mejía, the subject of this report, was a conservative, pro-monarchy Mexican cavalry general who sided with the French. Here Ford notes the proximity of Mejia's nemesis General Miguel Negrete to Matamoros and Puerto Bagdad where Mejia was situated. Noting that "Nigrite slept within twenty miles of Matamoros last night…Gen. Mejia is preparing to fight him. The Yankees may advance simultaneously," Ford was conveying intelligence that Union forces and those of Mexican republicans were likely planning a joint attack on their common enemy.
Classified dispatches like this rarely become available on the market. Truly exceptional in its illumination of the Confederacy's strategic relationship with Mexico, the military career of a legend of Texas history, and even the far-reaching colonial ambitions of Napoleon III. The Robert Davis Collection, read more about Robert Davis. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
(inquire for price)
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
