William Davidson Fraser letter books and Mexican War diary, 1837-1847.

3 v. (in 1 box)

English

Purchased from Goodspeed's Book Shop on the William Robertson Coe Fund, 1965.

This material is open for research.

William Davidson Fraser graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1834. While at the Academy, his name was William Smith; he later changed his name to William Davidson Fraser. Fraser served as superintending engineer for improvement of Lake Ontario harbors, 1837-1839, and during the Mexican War, he repaired and reorganized the fortifications of Monterrey, Mexico, 1846-1848. After the Mexican War, Fraser continued to serve as an army engineer. He died in Key West, Florida, in 1856.

Two letter books containing copies of letters written by Fraser, using the name William Smith, Jun, 1837-Jan, 1838, and Jul, 1838-Mar, 1839, copied in manuscript in an unidentified hand; and a holograph diary, kept by Fraser during the Mexican War, Jan-Sep, 1847. Letters, dated at Rochester, New York, most to General Charles Gratiot or General J. G. Swift, concern Lake Ontario harbors at Oak Orchard Creek, Genesee River, Oswego River, and Sodus Bay. The letters discuss funding and planning of works at these harbors, and they report progress of construction. Diary entries concern Fraser's work on fortifications in Monterrey, including discussion of construction, employment of Mexicans and United States soldiers as laborers, the occupation of Monterrey, and operations of the United States Army in Mexico.

June 14, 2025

William Davidson Fraser Letter Books and Mexican War Diary. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

William Davidson Fraser Letter Books and Mexican War Diary. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.