At the age of nineteen, Richard Coulter enlisted in the Westmoreland Guards in his hometown of Greensburg, Pa. The ranks of the Guards were filled with the sons of the elite families of Westmoreland County, and Coulter was certainly among the elite. His uncle, for instance, had a long record in public service, including stints as mayor of Greensburg, representative in both the state and national congresses, and appointment as Justice of the state Supreme Court. Though his father had died when Richard was barely three, through family connections, he was able to study law at Washington and Jefferson College, and earned entry to the bar when only nineteen. Not long after, the Guards were mustered into the federal service as Company E , 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, and sent south to fight in the Mexican War.

Coulter's regiment was involved in several key engagements, including Winfield Scott's capture of Vera Cruz, the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec, and the capture and occupation of Mexico City. An outgoing man, voluble and educated, Coulter took a dim view of what he saw as immorality and corruption in the army, disapproving of the unscrupulous vanity of John White Geary, and feeling disappointment or disgust at the drunkenness, disorder, and lack of discipline in the ranks.

In June, 1848, the regiment left the capital, and were mustered out of the service at Greensburg one month later. Though he left the army, the army never seems to have left Coulter. During the 1850s, he was active in militia units, and when the Civil War broke out, he raised the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, serving as its colonel for the duration of the war. "Fighting Dick" was wounded in action three times, rose to Brigadier General, and was breveted to Major General before returning home. A successful coal mine developer and banker, he died in Greensburg in 1908.

Scope and contents:

The Richard Coulter typescript is a lengthy, detailed account of the experiences of a private soldier participating in the American invasion of Mexico, 1846-1848. Educated, observant and possessing a biting wit, Coulter has left an unusually insightful document, which he attempted to make as comprehensive as possible. He took great pains to describe all aspects of a soldier's life during the war, from mustering in to life in the camps, interactions with Mexican civilians, descriptions of the cities and countryside, the battles and their aftermath, strategy, morale, and attitudes. His particular disdain for Generals John W. Geary and Thomas Childs reaches a level of vitriol seldom seen, and often borders on the comic.

Related collections:

A typescript of the diary of Thomas J. Barclay, also of Company E, 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry, is also included in the Mexican War Collections.

Reference:

The Coulter journal has been published as: Peskin, Allan, ed. Volunteers: the Mexican War journal of Private Richard Coulter and Sergeant Thomas Barclay, Company E, Second Pennsylvania Infantry (Kent, Ohio, 1991). Clements call number: 950 Co.

Coulter, Richard. "The Westmoreland Guards in the War with Mexico, 1846-1848." Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine 24 (1941), 101-126, includes excerpts from the Richard Coulter and Thomas Barclay journals.

Provenance:

The original of the Coulter journal is now lost. It appears likely that this typescript was prepared in the 1930s or 40s for Richard Coulter, Jr.

1847 January	Organization of the 2nd Pennsylvania River journey to New Orleans Army celebration--with food stolen from civilians Tale of a drunken soldier
1847 February	Rough crossing of Gulf of Mexico--seasickness Poor quality of food rations Lobos Island; Washington's Birthday celebration Assignment to Vera Cruz expedition
1847 March	Journey to Vera Cruz; landing at Sacrificios Island Siege of Vera Cruz and capture Introduction to tortillas Laundry
1847 April	Description of Vera Cruz; march to Jalapa Battle of Cerro Gordo Aftermath: immediate putrefaction of dead bodies of soldiers and horses
1847 May	Attendance at a bullfight Gen. Thomas Childs (1796-1853) forces disgusted soldiers to kneel to passing Roman Catholic procession
1847 June	Soldiers paid; description of how they spend their money March through Mexican countryside Castle of Perote
1847 July	Muster and inspection by Lt. Col. John White Geary (1819-73), who makes a "considerable fool of himself" A cowardly soldier Description of Puebla and its Cathedral Mexican hocus-pocus doctor saves soldier's life New ideas of organizing messes Contempt for regimental officers General Childs an insufferable "sulky school boy" Sightseeing trip to Cholula
1847 August	Guard duty at city prison, Puebla March from Puebla; battles of Contreras and Churubusco
1847 September	Execution of 16 deserters near San Angel Battle of Chapultepec Description of statue of Charles IV of Spain
1847 October	Tobacco distributed to troops Earthquake; bullfights Dead soldiers embalmed and sent to Pennsylvania Reflections on battle of Molino del Rey and condemnation of Gen. Winfield Scott's (1786-1866) handling of the matter Halloween
1847 November	All Saints' Day celebration Elections to fill vacancies in regiment: "rascality" of Geary in gaining sway; celebrations of the victorious Gen. David Emanuel Twiggs (1790-1862) oversees a public whipping (he enjoys it) and causes a civil disturbance
1847 December	Fate of a drunken soldier; Theater Incompetence of a Dutch officer Description of San Angel Distrust of raw recruits All liquor in San Angel locked up by military order Christmas Eve and Day
1848 January	New Year's Day celebration Mexican civilians attack soldiers of the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment; army returns favor with a general killing Discontent at not being discharged Staging of a phony duel Gen. Geary's gambling habits Winfield Scott has his eye on the Presidency Death and funeral of Daniel Webster's son Putting out a fire
1848 February	Snide song (8 verses) about Geary Increased instances of soldiers' dissatisfaction and violence Geary reads nasty passage about self when helping himself to a private soldier's journal
1848 March	Skirmishes and casualties Feast of Camoral Notice of Ash Wednesday (a new thing to Coulter) Death of John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) reported; ceremonies on that behalf Stingy soldier's greed with food Description of a battle ground
1848 April	Treaty ratified by U.S. Senate Attempt at robbery of a Mexico City bank by U.S. soldiers Maundy Thursday/Good Friday/Saturday (but no mention of Easter Sunday) Escape of a South Carolina soldier being held for murder
1848 May	Searching for soldiers' graves in order to disinter (and send to Pennsylvania?) Massachusetts soldier murders his wife Geary's schemes for promotion Treaty ratified by Mexican Senate
1848 June	March to coast Mexican countryside scenes Boat journey to New Orleans
1848 July	Transcript of a court martial Muster out of service, Pennsylvania

Subject index to the Richard Coulter Journal

Back to brief guide

Return to:

Homepage	Manuscripts	Collections	Staff	Hours and policies