Edgar Allan Poe to Sylvanus Thayer — 1831-03-10

Edgar Allan Poe to Sylvanus Thayer — 1831-03-10 Historical printed letter from James A. Harrison, Life and Letters of Edgar Allan Poe, volume II (1903), appendix. Catalog identity RCL-064. The historical editor’s introduction is retained alongside the letter to the West Point superintendent. The local PDF preserves the selected source pages unchanged. Searchable text is unreviewed repository OCR and retains recognition errors and historical editorial notes. This is a historical printed witness, not an autograph manuscript or a modern critical text. [Source scan page 505] APPENDIX. 449 POE TO COLONEL S. THAYER. MARCH 10, 1831. THIS important letter, recently discovered, may not settle definitely the vexed question as to Poe's where abouts during the year or two after he left West Point; but it does throw light on his intentions at that time, and it is highly valuable as being the only direct letter from the poet during his military career. It is directed to the Superintendent of the Military Academy. It was first printed in the New York " Sun" of October 30, 1902, with the statement that it had been found by Captain Gilbert of the Artillery Corps, U. S. A., in an examination of the manuscripts left to the Asso ciation of Graduates by the late General Cullum. The "Sun" version of the letter is as follows: — NEW YORK, March 10, 1831. SIR : Having no longer any ties which can bind me to my native country — no prospects — nor any friends — I intend by the first opportunity to proceed to Paris with the view of obtaining thro' the interest of the Marquis de La Fayette an appointment (if possible) in the Polish Army. In the event of the interference of France in behalf of Poland this may easily be effected — at all events it will be my only feasible plan of procedure. The object of this letter is respectfully to request that you will give me such assistance as may lie in your power in furtherance of my views. A certificate of " standing" in my class is all that I have any right to expect. Anything farther — a letter to a friend in Paris — or to the Marquis — would be a kindness which I should never forget. Most respectfully, Yr. obt. s't, EDGAR A. POE. COL. S. THAYER, Supt. IT. S. M. A. VOL. II. — 29