Re: Greenlee in Mexican War
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In reply to:
Greenlee in Mexican War
Jean McBride 12/29/05
Jean:
Francis M. Greenlee was a private in Company A, 2nd Regiment of Mississippi Volunteer Infantry. This company was raised as the "Lowndes Guard."
A diary kept by the regiment's surgeon, Dr. Thomas Neely Love, mentions Francis on several ocassions:
"April 3d...There was a large ranche on the other side of the river near the base of the mountain called 'Lacenda Aloris' (what beautiful names these Mexicans have?). We rested here for about an hour...Here in the waggon [sic] poor Greenlee breathed his last--If he had been discharged at Matamoras he might have been saved--though it is hard to tell the destiny that awaits us here--we are but frail mortals, and life sometimes clings to us with a slender thread. He is gone--he was a good innocent boy--he has, poor fellow, found an early grave in a distant country. He sleeps in a lovely spot in the enemy's county--no companion will perhaps ever find his grave, over which to stre the flowers, in kindness, in tenderness, and fond remembrance of his youthful virtures."
"April 8, 1847, Camp Near Monterey. We arrived at this camp on the 6th inst....We have had a long disagreeable march--much burdened by the great number of sick....The scanty supply of waggons [sic] furnished us, the feble [sic] cribbled [sic] condition of our men, the appearance of 4 cases of small pox...Two of our men died on the way: Francis Greenlee of Company A and [Benjamin W.] Guffee of Company H. Greenlee was one of the men I recommended to remain in Camargo. I think it is more than probable he would have died if he had remained. His was a case of chronic diarrhoea [sic] which approached to typhoid fever."
Love's diary was published as:
A SOUTHERN LACRIMOSA: The Mexican War Journal of Dr. Thomas Neely Love, Surgeon, Second Regiment Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, U.S.A. edited and annotated by H.Grady Howell, Jr. Chickasaw Bayou Press, 1995.
I checked other diaries and references to the 2nd Mississippi in my files, and did not locate any other reference to Francis. It sounds as if he was a beloved member of his regiment and they buried him, with much regret, in Mexico. I am sorry for his loss. I hope the above information helps you in your studies.
May I ask if you have any other information or photos of him? I would certainly like to add any info to my files tat you may have uncovered.
With warmest regards,
John Adams-Graf
[email protected]