José de San Martín: Inventory of Letters

Following is a partially annotated inventory list of 45 autograph letters of General José de San Martín and three letters addressed to him that are held in the Department of Special Collections, University of Notre Dame. The collection was purchased by Robert O'Grady (ND '63) and presented to the University in March 2002. Apart from two letters reproduced in Documentos del archivo de San Martín (Museo Mitre, Buenos Aires, 1910), the remainder are not known to have been published.

Please refer to the collection description for more information and a biographical sketch of San Martín.

1. To: Brigadier Don Juan José Carrera
  Date: October 19, 1814
  Issued from: Mendoza, Argentina
  Comments: Asks that Carrera leave Mendoza for San Luis where he should await orders from O'Higgins.
     
2. To: Brigadier Don Juan José Carrera
  Date: September 4, 1815
  Issued from: Mendoza, Argentina
  Comments: San Martín writes to Carrera that the charges against him have been dropped. He asks Carrera to tell him where will go to next in order that he can report the destination.
     
3. To: Brigadier Don Juan José Carrera
  Date: September 4, 1815
  Issued from: Mendoza, Argentina
  Comments: He replies to Carrera that he is not the one to decide his transfer order, but he is waiting for a reply.
     
4. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: March 4, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
  Comments: San Martín sends a report by the North Division Commander, Juan Manuel Cavot, to O'Higgins.
     
5. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: March 5, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
  Comments: Attached is a report on the forces and armament of the Chilean and Peruvian Royalist forces. (The report is not included with the letters.)
     
6. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: May 15, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
  Comments: Reports that Sergeant major, Lucio Mansilla, will go to Buenos Aires as requested.
     
7. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: May 16, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
  Comments: Will send Lieutenant Coronel Anacleto Martines to the Supreme Director for sentencing for unspecified actions.
     
8. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: June 2, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
  Comments: Asks that farmers in Chacabuco be compensated for grazing Army horses. A handwritten note requests that they be paid. Signed by "Quintana".
     
9. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: June 4, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
10. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: June 8, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
11. To: José de San Martín, from General Brayer
  Date: May 23, 1818
  Issued from: Mendoza, Argentina
  Comments: Asks San Martin for 800 pesos to pay for the printing of a regulation, which cost 8 pesos each. He also mentions an upcoming trip to Buenos Aires.
     
12. To: José de San Martín, from General Brayer
  Date: June 23, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
13. To: José de San Martín, from Graciano Palacios
  Date: June 18, 1817
  Issued from: San Felipe
     
14. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: June 26, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
15. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: August 29, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
16. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: September 11, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
17. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: October 17, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
18. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: October 20, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
19. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: October 21, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
20. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: Mes de America 20, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
21. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: Mes de America 20, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
22. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: Mes de America 21, 1817
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
23. To: Don Joaquín de Echevarría, Ministerio de Estado en el Departamento de Gobierno
  Date: December 6, 1819
  Issued from: Mendoza, Chile
     
24. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: January 19, 1819
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
25. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: February 23, 1819
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
26. To: Armisticio de Suspensión de Hostilidades
  Date: April 4, 1819
  Issued from: Santiago?
     
27. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: February 20, 1820
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
28. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: April 13, 1820
  Issued from: Santiago, Chile
     
29. To: Ministro de Estado en el Departarmento de Guerra
  Date: October 13, 1820
  Issued from: Pisco, Peru
     
30. To: Bernardo O'Higgins, Supreme Director of Chile
  Date: October 14, 1820
  Issued from: Pisco, Chile
  Comments: Believes the war is close to being decided in the republicans' favor. He requests more troops to land on Peruvian coast. Once the Peruvian coast is free of royalists, Chilean commerce will profit from open markets there.
     
31. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: November 29, 1820
  Issued from: Pisco, Peru
     
32. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 1, 1820
  Issued from: Supe, Peru
  Comments: Requesting arms to replace shortages.
     
33. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 3, 1820
  Issued from: Supe, Peru
  Comments: "... it is important to amaze those watching our political development and teach the enemy that power is always linked to the efficiency of the will."
     
34. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 5, 1820
  Issued from: Supe, Peru
  Comments: The Numancia battalion arrives to join San Martín's forces.
     
35. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 5, 1820
  Issued from: Supe, Peru
  Comments: The Frigates Nueva and Benganza arrive carrying 1,000 men from the coast of Africa.
     
36. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 19, 1820
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Requests recognition of Spanish soldier to join Chilean forces.
     
37. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 21, 1820
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Reports on the movements of the cavalry, battalion no. 5, Hunter battalion, and the Numancia battalion.
     
38. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: December 21, 1820
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: San Martin sends a list of officers who are being returned to Chile for breaking military rules.
     
39. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: January 4, 1821
  Issued from: Retes, Peru
  Comments: Bernardo Monteagudo is conferred the office of General Marine Auditor.
     
40. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: January 28, 1821
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Reports that the Vice Royalty is failing, and recommends that Zenteno ask Argentina to confront the remaining Spanish forces in Upper Peru, along with a request for an expedition of 500 to 1,000 men to approach these forces in Arequipa.
     
41. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: February 26, 1821
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Reports on the successful efforts of the Chilean navy to capture the speedy schooner Aranzazu. This gain offsets the loss of the gunboat Valpariso that was run aground to avoid capture in Ancon. Finally, the campaign against in the Andes and around Lima continue according to plan.
     
42. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: February 27, 1821
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Due to the number of fronts the war is being fought on (Andes, Lima, and ports, such as Callao), San Martín will recruit slaves. He also asks for more arms. He notes the Spanish forces victory at Cuenca was short-lived.
     
43. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: February 29, 1821
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Requests medicines for illness that has debilitated large numbers of soldiers.
     
44. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: March 3, 1821
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Requests more sabers for the cavalry. The letter includes a handwritten note from O'Higgins ordering that a shipment of 200 sabers be sent to Peru.
     
45. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: April 4, 1821
  Issued from: Huaura, Peru
  Comments: Four men, found guilty of military violations are sent to Chile. O'Higgins writes on the letter that Sargeant Nicolás Rivarroel was sent instead of Melchor Velaslo.
     
46. To: Señor Don Jorge de Echeverria, Ministro de Estado, Chile
  Date: May 3, 1821
  Issued from: On board the Motezuma opposite Callao, Peru
  Comments: Requests that de Echeverria show O'Higgins the enclosed issue of El Pacificador that includes false information to make Spanish believe the army has found a royalist weapons cache.
     
47. To: Director Supremo Bernardo O'Higgins
  Date: July 21, 1821
  Issued from: Lima, Peru
  Comments: The flags taken by the Spanish in Rancahua have been recovered. They are being sent to Chile.
     
48. To: Coronel Don Zenteno, Ministro de la Guerra
  Date: July 27, 1821
  Issued from: Lima, Peru
  Comments: Acknowledges receipt of letter containing declarations by Commander Commodore Hardy.

Return to top of page