CHRISTY, William H. Lettre autographe signée à Georges Washington Lafayette Nouvelle Orléans, 24 juin 1826 3 pp. in-4, trace du cachet de cire avec déchirure sans atteinte au texte, suscription
Estimation :
2000 / 3000
Adjudication :
Invendu
Description
RARE ET REMARQUABLE LETTRE DE WILLIAM H. CHRISTY, “THE LAFAYETTE OF TEXAS" (GARY BROWN), À GEORGES WASHINGTON LAFAYETTE Il se félicite “Through the politeness of Mr Cain" d’avoir appris “directly from you and the General since your return to all the enjoyment of domestic peace and happiness (...) on your return to your native soil, your gouvernment received you with political wisdom, the people with a noble enthusiasm" ; il lui renvoie un document concernant le fils d’un de leurs amis etc... William H. Christy (1791-1865) was a soldier, a lawyer, a merchant, and friend of the Texas Revolution. At the age of fourteen, he joined the staff of Gen. William Henry Harrison and was later assigned to Fort Meigs in Ohio. He distinguished himself in a fight and was twice wounded (1813) and then known as “the hero of Fort Meigs". He served under Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans, and at the end of the war left the army (1816). Christy was most likely “Colonel Christy of New Orleans" who became involved in the Long expedition sometime in late 1819 or 1820 to assist the Mexican independence movement and which failed. He was imprisoned in Mexico City until about November 1821. Christy was admitted to the bar (1823-1833) and served as a member of the New Orleans board of aldermen. In 1826 he completed a digest of the decisions of the Louisiana Supreme Court. By September 1835 he was chairman and treasurer of a New Orleans committee to aid Texas. In 1835, he chaired a meeting that raised money for the Texas cause and took part in the organization of groups of volunteers called the New Orleans Greys. In January 1836 Christy was instrumental in helping Stephen F. Austin, Branch T. Archer, and William H. Wharton. After the battle of San Jacinto (April 1836) his friend Sam Houston sent to Christy the saddle and bridle of Mexican general Martin Perfecto de Cos in appreciation of Christy’s assistance in the Revolution. Houston wrote that Christy’s name would “never be uttered by the people of Texas unaccompanied by a prayer for his happiness and prosperity." RÉFÉRENCES : G. Brown, Volunteers in Texas Revolution : the New Orleans Greys, 1945, p. 11 -- cf. le site de la Texas State historical association
