Captain E. Simpson, Jr’s. Journal, Personal Letters & Official Documents -Vera Cruz, Mexico 1914. SOLD

Captain E.Simpson, Jr’s. Journal, Personal Letters & Official Documents -Vera Cruz, Mexico 1914. This small but important archive of Journal, letters, and official documents give a great account of Captain Simpson’s involvement in the Navy’s roll during the military actions in the Tampico Affair at Vera Cruz.  The 1914 action began with nine American sailors were detained by Mexican authorities when they came ashore to obtain supplies. Commanding Admiral Henry Mayo, demanded their release, the raising of the American flag then saluting of same with a 21- gun salute, and a formal apology.  When that demand was not met, and no diplomatic relations with Mexico, due to an over-through of the current government, American naval and marine and eventually army forces began to occupy the city and surrounding region.

The collection consists of :

• Several letters to Simpson’s wife beginning on April 25, 1914.  The first letter was written on the Salon Peatro Variedades stationery,  a “picture theatre” used as headquarters for the 3rd Regiment, Naval Brigade. Simpson at the time was commanding the battleship Minnesota, and describes bring the ship into the harbor and next morning, coming ashore to take command of the 3rd regiment, which comprised naval battalions from the Minnesota, Michigan, and Louisiana, & (eventially) North Dakota.    April 29th, 16 page letter (1st four written on USS Minnesota letterhead), all in-depth action!   April 30, 5 pg letter, Simpson mentions to his wife that some of what he wrote was confidential, and reminds her of that, concerning conversation, of which he was a part, involved admirals, Fletcher, Badger, and their respective staffs. He has some problem with Adm. Fletcher and is not sure why he was sent back to the Minnesota.  Simpson feels confident it was a misunderstanding, and has support of Adm Badger in the matter, (described in detail in the first long letter). Army now taking over Vera Cruz…Minnesota’s battalion soon to go aboard ship. The officers that he had all the real work with the Navy taking Vera Cruz… May 1,  2 pg.  Diplomate O’Shanghnessey (Charge’ d’Affaires at embassy in Mexico City), and Mrs., returning to New Orleans on USS Yankton, (a naval yacht)…mentions he has asked Adm. Fletcher if they can have a talk…not mention it to a soul…   May 5th, 6 pg large format letters,   sending mail by a torpedo boat leaving for Galveston…(the apparent problem was initially between Captain Rush, who supposedly held command over the naval regiment, thinking Simpson was only in command of the Minnesota battalion. Fletcher explained, and Badger agreed, that Simpson being the junior to Rush, was sent to his ship to squelch any problems while actions were going on in Vera Cruz.. both admirals knew Simpson’s quality, and that he was not to be concerned in the least about the decision to send to Minnesota…S was invited to dinner on the USS Arkansas by Adm. Badger, with guests, Fletcher, Beatty, Bouch, General Funston, and three of his staff….along with five captains from the fleet, Rush, Gibbons, Milback, Anderson, and self…(mentions that Rush had said S was temperamentally unsuited for command a regiment on shore….S goes on to describe all of what he accomplished while ashore, (an extensive list)…more about the engagement, political talk concerning the affair, etc….received a letter from Adm. Mayo, who had to place Marine Col. Lejeune.  (see letter by separate photo)…much more…   May 9th.  Vera Cruz.  20 pg letter on blind stamp Minnesota stationery.   Communications a problem until the cable office was under American control….standing by to get refugees out with rebels attacking the town…Minnesota hoisted Admiral’s flag after establishing Martial law…Adm. Winslow has arrived and forming a special squadron…talks about dying the sailors white uniforms khaki color, as it would have been criminal to send them ashore in their whites, and their blues were too hot….They used coffee aboard the Minnesota to create the khaki color…more about cleanliness ashore…more.
• Journal.  Khaki colored cloth covers.  Main journal begins on April 28, 1914, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Thursday.  32 pages filled with orders, actions, sharpshooters, snipers, artillery, troop placements, natives bringing in wounded, visiting HQtrs with Capt, Anderson, established hospital, sent Minnesota battalion to outskirts to relieve Michigan men, discovering large amounts of hexigonal powder, black powder, rifles, bayonets more, last entry – not a shot fired al night and journal ends, signed by S, April 25th.     June 9, 24 pg letter on blind stamp letterhead, USS Minnesota.   Off Tampico, Mexico. All men of war, whether US, or foreign us the Minnesota for Central Post Office….British, Dutch, and occasionally German, French, and Spanish ships are here….He mentions that two Mexican gunboats were prevented (under command of Huerta, Gen. and dictator) from blockading and bombarding Tampico….all good information, problems with Mexican navy, political concerns, this general that admiral… all interesting descussion.   May 10, same stationery, from United State Atlantic Fleet, Fourth Division, USS Connecticut, Flagship. off Tampico, (a copy letter from Adm. Mayo to S, sent home to wife)…Mayo in receipt of a commendation letter from Capt. Rush…Mayo continues..”It is perhaps needless for me to tell you how warmly i congratulate you and the officers and men whom you commanded for have so conducted yourselves under hostile fire and adverse circumstances as to call for such praise….more”
• Journal.  Khaki colored cloth covers.  Main journal begins on April 28, 1914, Vera Cruz, Mexico, Thursday.  32 pages filled with orders, actions, sharpshooters, snipers, artillery, troop placements, natives bringing in wounded, visiting HQtrs with Capt, Anderson, established hospital, sent Minnesota battalion to outskirts to relieve Michigan men, discovering large amounts of hexigonal powder, black powder, rifles, bayonets more, last entry – not a shot fired al night and journal ends, signed by S, April 25th.
• Typed autographed letter on rear admiral stationery, by H.T. Mayo to S, (see photo) discussing Colonel Lejeune  replacing Simpson.
• Pamphlet, Organization of the U.S. Naval Forces On Shore At Vera Cruz….April 21-30, 1914.  Printed by “Press of the U.S.S. New Jersey, signed by Simpson on cover.
• 1st Battalion information concerning Landing Force.  April 30. 2 pages. by J.W. Greenslade.
• Typed Roster of Minnesota’s Battalions, 4 pages with some manuscript corrections.
• Large stack of Orders, 21 items, some signed or initialed by Simpson, others.
• Typed Memos, 8 total regarding battalions, Louisiana, and Michigan.
• Typed letter, 1 page. April 30, from Captain Rush, to Capt. Simpson, regarding Appreciation of war services in the seizing and occupation of Vera Cruz.  True copy. signed by Simpson.
• Typed Reports, 3 pages  regarding duty performed by Minnesota’s Battalion (2 pages), one page from surgeon on injuries received by Minnesota’s Bn.
• Typed Report of USS Michigan. 2 pages.  Report on Operations of Third Regt. of Naval Bde at Vera Cruz.
• Typed letter on US Atlantic Fleet letterhead, to Capt. Simpson, May 10, 1914, by RADM H.T. Mayo, This is the letter mentioned in a personal letter to S’s wife, along with a 2 page typed letter from Admiral Mayo.
• U.S.S. Minnesota  list of confidential publications, received from Capt Simpson to new Captain Casey B. Morgan. most copies are signed. 6 pages.
• U.S.S. Minnesota, U.S. Navy Yard, Phila.. Dec. 31, 1914 from Captain Morgan.  Morgan writes that he found Simpson’s journal (listed here) in a draw of his dest aboard Minnesota, and sending it to him.
• Navy Department Bureau of Navigation, Washington, D.C.  May 29, 1914 from Victor Blue (rear admiral and then Chief of Bureau) to Simpson, referring to a letter regarding Simpson’s “sizing up the situation in regard to the Minnesota and Kansas, but not in regard to Connecticut….”  Signed by Blue. Also included is the letter Blue referred to, S’s copy letter dated May 13/14 concerning a “rumur.”  see photos.
•    And some loose papers.

A wealth of information on the actions regarding the fight and occupation of Vera Cruz.  There is hardly anything related to this period of history for sale to collectors or institutions, and all found was currently in institutions. I separated this out of the main part of the collection because it would add to much financial weight to the buyer of medals, insignia etc.