[Autograph Letter Signed by Lieutenant W.M. Littlejohn to Lieutenant Charles Kitchell Gardner, While Stationed in West Florida After the 1810 Rebellion, Describing the Area Around Him, and Twice Commenting on the Lack of Local "Female Society"]

Pass Christian, West Florida [present-day Mississippi]: June 4, 1811. [3]pp., on a single folio sheet, addressed and docketed on verso of integral leaf, postmarked at New Orleans on June 14. Original mailing folds, a few fold line separations, some with old, small tape repairs, light toning and foxing. Very good condition. An intriguing manuscript letter from Lieut. W.M. Littlejohn to Lieut. Charles Kitchell Gardner, written from Pass Christian, then in Orleans Territory now in Mississippi. Lieutenant Littlejohn was stationed at a United States Army cantonment at Pass Christian which was established in the aftermath of the rebellion in the Republic of West Florida in 1810. The army was dispatched to the area to keep the peace between the parties, namely the United States, Spain & factions supporting the Republic of West Florida. Littlejohn's letter opens with the news that his passage took him through Natchez, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans on his way to Pass Christian. Littlejohn then provides an informative, then somewhat jarring assessment of Pass Christian: "This place is most delightfully situated on the sea shore & abounds with fish crabs & oysters -- it is also said to be the most healthy part of the country, but that is counterbalanced by the total want of female society, & the sea breeze & bathing which adds life & vigour wastes their precious gifts for nothing."

Littlejohn then describes his quarters and doubles down on the lack of female companionship: "The cantonment is well built & convenient for the number it was intended for, but not being sufficient for the last detachment we have to commence our own quarters which is no contemptible undertaking at this hot season, with men unaccustomed to the climate & without tools to work with.... This is the first time I have been in a country where there were no Ladies & on that account would prefer being at Washington where there is such elegant society." In the course of describing the setting, weather, general situation at the camp, and so forth, Littlejohn names the companies of troops present, several of the officers, some of the movements of said officers, and more. He comments on the lack of significant activity, noting that "there is not the smallest hope of any fighting with the Spaniards," though he does expect "a small skirmish between two great men" at some point.

All artifacts of military activity from this era in Orleans Territory east of New Orleans are extremely scarce, as is the New Orleans postmark from its pre-statehood period.