GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON JR. - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 02/03/1916 - HFSID 350556

GEORGE S. PATTON
Patton writes to his aunt from Fort Bliss Texas
ALS: "Your devoted nephew/George", 1p, 7½x10½. Ft. Bliss, Tex, 1916 February 3. To Aunt Nanni. In full: "I am very sorry to hear that you have been sick and hope that you are much better by now. But don't try to get up too soon. I have had a little Gripe my self lately but am well now. This is a most uninteresting place and the feeling that I will not be here long keeps me from taking much interest in it. I think that every one here would rather be in the Islands. With lots of love." AUNT NANNIE (Anne Wilson, his mother's sister) helped raise Patton and his sister, Nita. In 1915, Patton was sent to Fort Bliss where the post commander was Brigadier General John J. Pershing. Mexico was then in turmoil as the consequence of revolution, and Army troops were guarding the border to prevent depredations against American life and property. Patton led routine cavalry patrols. Despite the arrival at Fort Bliss of his wife Beatrice and their two daughters, Patton found the post uninteresting and wished he and his family were on Santa Catalina Island where he and Nita often passed summer vacations along with Aunt Nannie. Patton's feeling that he would "not be here long" was prophetic. Exactly five weeks later, on March 9, 1916, Mexican bandit Pancho Villa crossed the border and attacked Columbus, New Mexico, leaving 17 Americans dead in reprisal for President Wilson's support of Provisional Mexican President Carranza, Villa's political and military rival. General Pershing was ordered to lead a U.S. expedition to bring Villa to justice. Lieutenant Patton took part in Pershing's pursuit of Villa following which he was promoted to Captain. He was assigned to Pershing's staff at the head of the American Expeditionary Forces and was sent to France in May 1917, after the U.S. entered WWI. Light folds, not at signature. Fine condition. Surface scratch at lower right of frame. Framed by the Gallery of History to an overall size of 38½x22.