MO 1975.33a.7: California Lancer - / Naval Sketches of the War in California Meyers No 3.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Sketches of the - War - with Views of Ports in Columbia, Mexico, upper & lower California
Artifact IDMO 1975.33a
Object Type
Album
Artist
William H. Meyers
(American, 1815 - 1851)
Date1846-1847
Mediumleather, paper, paint (watercolor), ink, pencil
Dimensionsoverall (volume) H 17 3/4 in x W 11 1/2 in x D 1 in (45.1 cm x 29.2 cm x 2.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionA leather-bound volume containing 55 original drawings and sketches (plus one printed map) made by William H. Meyers, gunner on the sloop-of-war DALE, during the naval operations along the coast of California in 1846-1847. The drawings and sketches are done in watercolor, wash, ink, and pencil. Two of the pages include handwritten narratives. The volume's title page is handwritten in ink: Sketches / of the / - War - / with / Views of / Ports in / Columbia, Mexico, upper & lower California / by Wm H Meyers. The following page has a pencil index of 38 titles.
Original or descriptive titles for the sketches and drawings:
MO 1975.33a.1: Printed map of west coast of California.
MO 1975.33a.2: U. S. Sloop of War Dale at anchor in Mazatlan / Commander Wm W McRean U.S.N. / No 1.
MO 1975.33a.3: U. S. Sloop Warren cutting out the Malek Adhel - Mazatlan harbor - Mexico - No 4.
MO 1975.33a.4: U. S. Sloop Dale at San Jose - extreme point of lower California / Commander Wm W McRean USN / No 2.
MO 1975.33a.5: U. S. Sloop Dale off La Ligas rocks - coast of California Comm Wm McRean / No 16.
MO 1975.33a.6: U. S. Squadron at anchor on Monterey California June 12 1847 / No 12.
MO 1975.33a.7: California Lancer - / No 3.
MO 1975.33a.8: Retreat of the Americans at San Pedro under Captn Mervine U.S.N. / No 7.
MO 1975.33a.9: Night at San Pasqual / No - 5.
MO 1975.33a.10: Battle of Santa Clara Jan 2nd 1847
MO 1975.33a.11: Gen'ls Flora's charging the left wing of Stockton on the river Gabriel Jan 8th 1847 / No 9.
MO 1975.33a.12: American Party under R F Stockton crossing the river San Gabriel Jan 8th 1847 / No 8.
MO 1975.33a.13: American force under Commodore R. F. Stockton encamped on the Battle ground of San Gabriel Jan 8th 1847 / No 10.
MO 1975.33a.14: Battle of the plains of Mesa Jan 9th 1847 / No 11.
MO 1975.33a.15: U.S. Ship Dale Lt. Comd. Yard at isla Pericos - Gulf of Panama / No 14.
MO 1975.33a.16: U.S. Ship Dale Lt. Com at Yard anchored at Taboga - Gulf of Panama / No 15.
MO 1975.33a.17: U.S. Ship Dale lying at La Paz - lower California No. 29
MO 1975.33a.18: Review of the Seamen and Marines of U S Ship Dale, at La Paz by Col W Burton - U.S.A. No 19
MO 1975.33a.19: Mechanical drawing in pencil and ink.
MO 1975.33a.20: Bombardment of Mulejé by U.S. Sloop Dale and Landing of seaman and marines Oct 2nd 1847 - No 20
MO 1975.33a.21: Defeat of the Mexicans at Mulejé by the Seamen and Marines of the U.S. Ship Dale / No 21.
MO 1975.33a.22: U.S. Ship Dale burning the Madelena in the Gulf of California near the island Tortuga - No 27
MO 1975.33a.23: Landing of Seamen & Marines of U.S. Ship Dale at Loreto - Lower California No 28
MO 1975.33a.24: U.S Ship Dale and Libertad lying at Escondido - Lower California No 30
MO 1975.33a.25: Detailed map of the city of Guaymas with notations.
MO 1975.33a.26: Detailed map of the city of Guaymas with notations.
MO 1975.33a.27: The Launch of the U.S. Sloop of War DALE surprising the Mexican Camp at Bacochivampo Nov 11th 1847 No 22.
MO 1975.33a.28: Bombardment of Guaymas Novm 17th 1847 by US Sloop Dale No 23
MO 1975.33a.29: Defeat of 400 Mexican troops at Guaymas Novm. 17th 1847 by 70 US Seamen and Marines of US Sloop Dale No 24
MO 1975.33a.30: Seamen of U.S. Sloop Dale in possession of the fort - dislodging the enemy from the surrounding houses - Guaymas - No 25
MO 1975.33a.31: Unfinished pencil sketches of an unnamed ship.
MO 1975.33a.32: Cochori 80 men to 14.
MO 1975.33a.33: Pueblo Cabo.
MO 1975.33a.34: Encampment on Yaqui River.
MO 1975.33a.35: Watercolor sketch of the ship, CHILE.
MO 1975.33a.36: Illustrated description of "Mexican Houses."
MO 1975.33a.37: Cueva - San Vincente.
MO 1975.33a.38: Christmas harbour - Kerguelens land 48° 29’S – 68°. 40’E.
MO 1975.33a.39: Hand drawn map of SAN BLAS.
MO 1975.33a.40: Seal Rock - Cape Haro - Gulf California.
MO 1975.33a.41: Hand-painted map of Acapulco.
MO 1975.33a.42: TETAS de Cabra Mexico.
MO 1975.33a.43: Chiltépéni - Y Circori - Bay Mexico.
MO 1975.33a.44: Outline map of Guaymas and adjoining area.
MO 1975.33a.45: Rough sketch of unidentified village.
MO 1975.33a.46: Drawing of an unidentified seaside village.
MO 1975.33a.47: Snug Corner Cove / Prince Wms Sound.
MO 1975.33a.48: Karakakooa Bay - Haawaaii.
MO 1975.33a.49: St Peter & St Paul - Karmrscharka -.
MO 1975.33a.50: - Huaheine - Society isles.
MO 1975.33a.51: - Morai - Tongaraboo / Lat 21.°S – Long 175°-W.
MO 1975.33a.52: Anamooka - Friendly isles / Lat 21.°S 175° W.
MO 1975.33a.53: Rough pencil sketch of an unidentified waterfall.
MO 1975.33a.54: Drawn map of Tiburon and adjoining area.
MO 1975.33a.55: MEXICAN LANCER.
MO 1975.33a.56: Libertad - tender of the Dale engaging the Mexicans at Punta Sombrero - Lt Craven - commanding No.26-
Historical NoteWhile he was governor of New York, Franklin D. Roosevelt purchased this original volume of drawings and sketches by William H. Meyers on August 18, 1930 for $900 from Francis D. Brinton. The artwork was considered the only known illustrations of an important phase of the 1846-1848 war with Mexico.
Born in Philadelphia in 1815, Meyers began his career in the United States Navy as an enlisted man and then worked as a civilian at the Washington Navy Yard before being appointed to the Warrant Officer rank of Gunner in 1841. Meyers served on board the sloop-of-war Dale during the naval operations along the coast of California from 1846-1847 during the Mexican-American War.
In 1939, Random House published the book, "Naval Sketches of the War in California,” featuring 28 reproductions from the original sketchbook. A limited-run publication, 1000 copies of the book were printed by the Grabhorn Press. In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s own words regarding his collection of Meyer’s works, written as the Introduction to the publication:
"He participated in many of the scenes depicted, and for the others had the privilege of discussion with eyewitnesses. There seems to have been no facile pen among the handful of bold, hard-bitten husky sailors, marines, soldiers and frontiersmen who won that empire for us. No doubt pen and paper were scarce in that primitive region. Complicated war operations scattered through a thousand miles of virgin coast and country gave little opportunity for writing or sketching. Thus the very dearth of adequate contemporary literature adds much to the historical value of Gunner Meyers’ brush.
In many years of collecting sketches, paintings and engravings relating to the Navy of the United States, I had found virtually none which had connection with naval operations in the Pacific in 1846 and 1847. When, therefore, I had the opportunity a few years ago of acquiring the original sketch-book of Gunner William H. Meyers, USN, I realized its historical value.
Not only do these sketches fill a definite gap in the history of this Nation and of our sister republic of Mexico, but they also throw an interesting light on the conduct of land and naval warfare less than a hundred years ago."
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesUnited States Navy Materials (National Archives Identifier 782673)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view