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Collection Reference Number GLC00155.01
From Archive Folder Documents Relating to 1848 
Title Wellington Cleveland Burnett to his parents about his enlistment and his promotion to sergeant
Date 4 April 1848
Author Burnett, Wellington Cleveland (1829-1907)  
Document Type Correspondence; Military document
Content Description Writes about his enlistment and his promotion to sergeant. Tells his family about his ability to learn the drills faster than anyone in his company and mentions having seen combat. Discusses camp life, rations, and not having a uniform. Mentions the possibility of a promotion to lieutenant. Impression in the upper left-hand corner of an eagle clutching a scroll with a picture of a galleon.
Subjects Mexican War  Soldier's Letter  Global History and Civics  Latin and South America  Military History  Battle  Military Camp  
People Burnett, Wellington Cleveland (1829-1907)  
Place written Cuernavaca, Mexico
Theme The Mexican War
Sub-collection The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information Duty Sergeant Burnett enlisted in Dayton, Ohio, with the 15th Infantry, E Company. The Burnett family lived in Highland, Michigan, but had strong roots in Connecticut and Massachusetts. After the Mexican War, Burnett served as brigadier-general of the California National Guard under the administration of Governor John Neely Johnson. Burnett was a California pioneer who won distinction in the legal profession as well as a public official and leader. He was one of the foremost members of the San Francisco bar at the time of his death. Burnett was a descendant of a signer of the Mayflower Compact, a Minute Man, and a Revolutionary War soldier.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Related documents Map of the valley of Mexico which has been a field of battle  
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