Sixteen Mexican War letters begin from New Orleans Barracks on October 3, 1845, shortly after his U.S. Army enlistment, and conclude at Camp Jefferson Davis in East Pascagoula, Mississippi on September 2, 1848. Six of the letters were written from Texas, four from Camp Corpus Christi, one from aboard the steamboat Rough & Ready on the Rio Grande, and one from camp on the Rio Grande opposite Matamoros, Mexico. In addition to observations on troop and supply movements, Robinson comments on political and military topics, and reports news of family and friends.
Camp Corpus Christi Texas
Dec. 29 1845
Dear Brother,
As I wrote to you from New Orleans about the 1st of Oct. & again immediately after my arrival at this place & have heard nothing from you in reply, I am induced to write again thinking that my letters may not have reached you. Another reason for again addressing you is that in all the letters I receive from Maria she asks whether I have yet heard anything from you. In her last which I received yesterday she repeats the question again & adds that they have not heard from you since you left New Orleans. Your friends at Hartford are all well. Your father was in Washington at the time Maria wrote where he went just before the commencement of the session of Congress. Judge Niles has lately led to the altar a lady of Columbia Co. N.Y. & has taken his bride & Kate to Washington. Maria says that Father writes that "the judges wife is a very pleasant & agreeable woman to all appearance, not pretty or ugly-- thirty five years old & would pass for forty--seems quite sensible. The judge seems quite fond of her. Mr. Grant who went to the wedding said that the judge was quite gallant - carried her basket, etc. Maria & Augusta Niles went to the wedding & are to spend some weeks in Albany." I do not know that all this will interest you much but I thought it might & as I have not much else to write about have concluded to give it to you.
I have already given you a description of our camp & as there has been no change in the affairs of the Army since I have very little to write about. The town of Corpus Christi is improving rapidly. A great number of buildings have gone up since we arrived here -- One theatre opened at which there are performances every night & another and larger one being built -- A newspaper press established from which the first number of the Corpus Christi Gazette is to be issued on New Years day -- & a new Hotel # opened called "King House". I did not commence this with the intention of writing a long letter, but because I am anxious to hear from you & still more anxious to see, I was in hopes you would accept my invitation to visit me & since the Cincinnatti commenced her trips between here & Galveston have actually been disappointed at not seeing you. If I could do so I would certainly make you a visit & I do hope you will be able to come over here. I think you would find some amusement here for a few days & I assure you it would be a great pleasure to me to receive you. If you conclude to accept my invitation, when you arrive here ask for the "5 Infy. Camp" & come directly to my tent. If you cannot come, at least let me hear from you.
Affectionally Yours
John C. Robinson
E. M. Pease Esq.
Brazoria
#All these enterprises will be sustained while the Army occupies this position, but we expect that the camp will be broken up in the spring. Part of the troops will leave Texas & the remainder will go to the points they are to occupy permanently.
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John C. Robinson
Corpus Christi
Dec 29. 1845
