PATTON, GEORGE S. (1885-1945). American army officer and pioneer of tank warfare during World War I. As one of America’s leading generals, Patton contributed enormously to the Allied victory during WWII; nicknamed “Old Blood and Guts.” ALS. (“George S. Patton”). 2pp. Tall 4to. “400 miles into Mexico,” April 12, 1916. To his father, GEORGE SMITH PATTON, SR. (1856-1927). Patton’s orthography has not been corrected.

“Dear Papa, Your letter from the Col. Club got in to day finding me about 400 miles into Mex. We are camped on a hill over some nice green wheat so the wind which is blowing like hell makes no dust. The valleys are most fertile but the mesas are desert.

We rode 90 miles yesterday by water getting in about 9:30 pm a train of eleven trucks following us was fired at but no one was hit one man got a bullet through the hat. I had the leading car and knew nothing about it until the trucks got in. One dodge car bringing up the rear was abandoned and the S-O-B’s burned it we brought it in this morning.

This is three times now that I have just missed being shot at I hope yet to get one of them. We are away out in front of nearly every thing and have fifty eight men with us which is enough to beat all Mexico. I have done little horse back riding lately in fact my horses are 200 miles behind me. We are south of Chichua City some where but don’t say it. I have very good reason to think that this affair will last several months longer and the longer it lasts the less is the chance of our getting out.

We dropped 1500 feet yesterday so it is much warmer it has been bitterly cold in the mountains. I am in excellent health and eat enormously the only diversions are eating and sleeping.

If you could send me a pipe and some tobacco it would be nice send only 1st class male. Much love your devoted son…”

In 1915, Patton reported for duty at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, beginning his distinguished military career as an aide-de-camp to General John J. Pershing the following year. In 1916, U.S. troops stationed at Fort Bliss patrolled the Mexican border and monitored the volatile events precipitated by the Mexican Revolution.

The United States officially supported the government of Venustiano Carranza, much to the displeasure of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. On March 9, 1916, Villa and his men crossed the border into Columbus, New Mexico, killing and wounding soldiers and civilians. On March 14, less than a week after the initial raid, President Woodrow Wilson ordered Pershing to pursue Villa, who was hiding with his men in the Mexican countryside, in an operation known as the Punitive, or Pancho Villa, Expedition. Pershing established headquarters at Casas Grandes in Chihuahua, the “Chichua City” of our letter., and at Patton’s request, Pershing offered him the command of the 13th Cavalry’s Troop C.

Roughly a month after the date of our letter, on May 14, 1916, Patton confronted the enemy in what would be the first motorized attack in American military history. In June, Patton helped kill Panco Villa’s second-in-command, Julio Cárdenas, using his new Colt .45. As a souvenir, Patton took Cárdenas’ spurs, which are now in the Museum of World War II, founded by autograph dealer Ken Rendell. Although the expedition’s purpose was to capture Villa, American military intervention in Mexico was unwanted by the rival Carranza regime, which captured American soldiers, cut off Pershing’s supply lines, and was otherwise hostile to the presence of American troops. Villa remained at large and his raiding parties on border towns continued, although the U.S. troops did hamper their movement. Most American forces withdrew from Mexico at the beginning of 1917. Pershing later claimed he could have been victorious but for the restraints imposed on him by President Wilson.

Written in pencil on the recto and verso of a single sheet. Folded with normal wear and slight browning on the second page. In fine condition.