Collection of approximately 76 drawings and sketches made by Brown in watercolor, oil, pastel, wash, pencil and ink. Thirty-one drawings depict army forts and western scenery, including Ringgold Barracks, Los Morus, Port Isabel, and San Jose, Texas; Forts Dalles and Nachess and Mt. Hood, Oregon Territory; Forts Stillicum and Taylor, Washington Territory. and The two volume diary is a corrected typescript containing extracts from a diary Brown kept from 1849 to 1859, and includes 24 ink and wash drawings. Brown describes towns, forts, and missions in Texas and the Pacific Northwest; travels by land in Texas; conflicts with Indians in Texas, Oregon, and Washington; cholera and typhoid epidemics; travelling with his family; marching to Arkansas; spending time with Robert E. Lee; and travelling to the Pacific Coast via steamer. The 24 ink and wash drawings depict the front of the Alamo and the mission of La Conception, San Antonio; Mexican women making tortillas; breakfast on the march; the head of Las Morus River; officer's quarters at Ringgold Barracks, Fort Vancouver, and Fort Dalles; "Chenoweth, chief of Dog-River Indians, hung at Cascades"; and "Cut-Mouth John, friendly Cayuse Scout".
Description:
Accompanied by a container list (in box 1)., Brown, an army surgeon and self-taught artist, served at several military posts in Texas and the Pacific Northwest in the 1850s. During the Civil War he served with the Army of the Potomac and in the Assistant Surgeon General's office in Louisville., and Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum on the Winlock William Miller, Jr. Memorial Fund, 1997, and from William Reese Company on the Winlock William Miller Jr. Memorial Fund, 1998.
Subject (Geographic):
Alamo (San Antonio, Tex.)--Pictorial works, Fort Dalles (Dalles, Or.)--Pictorial works, Fort Naches (Or.)--Pictorial works, Fort Ringgold (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Fort Ringgold (Rio Grande City, Tex.)--Pictorial works, Fort Vancouver (Wash.)--Pictorial works, Hood, Mount (Or.)--Pictorial works, Oregon--Description and travel, Oregon--Pictorial works, Port Isabel (Tex.)--Pictorial works, Texas--Description and travel, Texas--Pictorial works, Washington--Description and travel, and Washington--Pictorial works
Subject (Name):
Brown, Joseph B., 1822-1891, Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870, and United States. Army Military life
Subject (Topic):
Indians of North America--Texas, Indians of North America--Wars--1815-1875, Indians of North America--Wars--Oregon, Indians of North America--Wars--Washington (State), Missions, Spanish--Texas--Pictorial works, Pacific Coast Indians, Wars with, 1847-1865, and Voyages to the Pacific coas
A letter discussing the inequalities and lack of scale in the brevet system which affects many of the men fighting in the Mexican War. General Kearny is disturbed that Lt. Elwell has not received a brevet promotion for his heroic service and harshly criticizes General Harney’s actions.
Subject (Name):
Boone, Nathan, 1782-1857?, Elwell, Richard S., Gibbs, Alfred, Graham, Lorimer, Harney, William Selby, 1800-1889, Kearny, Philip, 1815-1862, Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870, Mason, Richard Barnes, 1797-1850, Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866, United States. Army --Promotions, United States. Army. Cavalry, 1st, United States. Army. Cavalry, 2nd, and Worth, William Jenkins, 1794-1849
