(Trail Letter) (Santa Fe) Santa Fee, Nov. 6. Army occupation period manuscript marking on stampless folded letter headed "Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 22nd 1847", from Mexican-American War soldier William H. Snyder to his brother in Belleville, Illinois, carried up the Santa Fe Trail by military express to Missouri and mailed with "Independence, Mo., Nov. 16" large cds and "10" manuscript rate marking, couple tears with stamp hinge mends in the address panel, Very Fine, the earliest recorded example of this rare "Santa Fee" Military manuscript marking. Estimate  $750 - 1,000. Letter speaks of excursions against the Indians and Mexicans including "A great deal of talk has been made about a threatened insurrection and Indians but the whole affair dwindled down to about thirty or forty lodges of Arapahos, which the Lt. Col. got up an expedition against. The expedition turned out to be rather an unfortunate affair, for after much labor they succeeded in bringing in five Indians and through some mismanagement let them go again." and, referring to the Chihuahua Trail, "We intend before long starting for the south in an expedition against Chihuahua & Durango… we daily receive news that the Mexicans… have for some time been anticipating an invasion from this quarter and are preparing to give us a warm reception.". $0 (Image)