FILISOLA'S 1836 ACCOUNT OF THE MEXICAN RETREAT FROM TEXAS - ORIGINAL WRAPPERS
107. FILISOLA, Vicente. Representación
dirigida al Supremo Gobierno por el General Vicente
Filisola, en defensa de su honor y aclaración de sus
operaciones como General en Gefe del Ejército sobre
Tejas. Mexico: Ignacio Cumplido, 1836. 82 pp. 8vo,
original brown printed wrappers within ornamental border,
stitched. Fragile wraps with very slight wear and a few
light spots, occasional light foxing to text, still a fine
copy, in the rare wraps. Contemporary ink ownership
inscription on upper wrapper. Preserved in dark brown
morocco and marbled boards folding case.
First
edition. Basic Texas Books 61: "The best
contemporary account of the Mexican retreat from Texas
after the defeat of Santa Anna." Eberstadt, Texas
162:293: "Seldom found with the printed wrappers." Fifty
Texas Rarities 17n (citing the English edition printed
in Columbia, Texas, a copy of which will be offered in our
Auction 11). Graff 1321. Howes F127. Palau 91610. Raines,
p. 82. Streeter 853: "The classic account of the retreat of
the Mexicans through Texas after the battle of San Jacinto
and a masterly defense by Filisola of his acts in ordering
and conducting the retreat. In an order dated May 31, 1836,
Tornel, the Secretary of War had relieved Filisola of his
command, replacing him with Urrea, and...after the news of
the public treaty made by Santa Anna at Velasco...he was
commanded to return to Mexico and stand trial for his
conduct.... Here he gives a detailed account of the
retreat, in which the charges against him made by his
former subordinate Urrea, and others, are shown up in
beautiful fashion. That Filisola's reply struck home is
shown by Urrea's statement [in] his
Diario...Militares...that Filisola's
Representación 'insults me, abuses me,
satirizes me, and belittles me.'... At his trial [Filisola]
was exonerated." Vandale 66.
Pingenot:
One of the primary accounts of the Texas Revolution from
the Mexican point of view. Filisola, a native of Italy who
participated in many battles of the Napoleonic wars,
received a colonization grant in Texas in 1831, and served
as second in command to Santa Anna during the Texas
campaign.
See
Handbook of Texas Online (Vicente Filisola). With
the original edition, we include a copy of the 1965 Texian
Press edition in English (mint in d.j.).
(2 vols.)
($1,500-3,000)