Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 367
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5
George S. Patton Uses "N" Word & Racial Slur in WWI
George S. Patton Uses "N" Word & Racial Slur in WWI
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5
Description:

George Patton Jr.
Paris, France, July 14, 1917
George S. Patton Uses "N" Word & Racial Slur in WWI
ALS

GEORGE S. PATTON JR., Autograph Letter Signed, to his mother, Ruth Wilson Patton, July 14, 1917, [Paris, France]. 2 pp., 8.25" x 10". With envelope, 5.5" x 4.25", with Patton's signature at upper left underneath an "A.E.F. PASSED AS CENSORED" cancellation. Letter has expected folds; very good; envelope has address cut away; French postage stamp.

In this fascinating letter to his mother, Captain George S. Patton writes from Paris, where he witnessed a French Bastille Day parade from a raised gallery, or tribune. This parade was notable because it marked the first time American soldiers participated in the annual parade. Patton attended the parade as a guest of a French major and the major's wife. He describes the Chasseurs Alpins, elite French infantrymen who specialized in combat in mountainous terrain, and a group of airplanes that flew over the parade. He also offered a racist description of the Senegalese Tirailleurs, one of several battalions of colonial infantry in the French Army that served on the Western Front in World War I.

Patton traveled to Europe as an aide to General John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). A few months later, he was placed in charge of establishing a Light Tank School for the AEF.

Complete Transcript
July 14 17
Dear Mama:
I left here at five this morning to see the parade I went with Maj. Desgeorges & his wife of the French Army. The Maj. was in charge of a tribune so we had fine seats. Being French we got there an hour and a half too soon (Pa should have been there) but it was most interesting as we were the only foreigners in the tribune. At first they decorated 260 regimental colors kissing each then they decorated a lot of officers with much kissing. There were detachments of all the 260 regiments present and a brigade of Chasseurs Alpine in all some 30 000 men and twenty five aeroplanes were right over head like a lot of buzards. Every time a flag would come by the people would cheer like mad, especially one little boy who was just behind me and nearly made me deaf. The Chasseurs Alpine were the favorites and their general who is a regular Brig. General was the hero he was dressed to kill and always is even in battle he kissed his hand to the ladies and rode a beautiful horse beautifully.
The Chasseurs Alpine (Blue Devils)have refused to change to the sky blue uniform saying they are not afraid to be killed and prefer to die dressed as their ancestors. They wear a dark blue almost black uniform with a funny sort of black cap like a [Tamoshanter?]. They are five troops supposedly the best infantry in France.
There were some nigers Senagalee who looked like trained monkeys.
None of the French march like our men. They look around in ranks and talk.
I did not see ten officers who did not have at least a wound chevron, some had as many as eight. The man I was with Maj. Desgeorges has 54 wounds but he got most of them at one time from a shell.
It was very impressive for one was looking at men who had suffered. At real [?] it reminded me of Napoleons Army.
Give my love to all your devoted son,
George.

Historical Background
By 1917, George S. Patton had graduated from West Point, competed in the Olympics in Sweden, redesigned U.S. cavalry combat, designed a new sword for those tactics, and battled Mexican bandits. In 1910, he married Beatrice Banning Ayer (1886-1953), the accomplished and highly educated daughter of a Boston industrialist, and they had two daughters by 1917. In late May 1917, Patton traveled to Europe as an aide to General John J. Pershing (1860-1948), commander of the American Expeditionary Force.

They left New York on May 28 aboard the RMS Baltic. The RMS Baltic was one of the "Big Four" of the White Star Line, some of the world's largest ships. All four of these British luxury ocean liners were refitted for military service as transport ships during World War I.

During the voyage, officers received instruction in French for two hours daily. As Patton was already reasonably fluent in French, he gave French classes to the enlisted men. On May 29, he wrote in his diary, "The boat has about a hundred trucks on her and several ‘tanks' without the armor she would surely be a fine prize for a U-boat." On June 3, he recorded, "Got civilian clothes for all members of the expedition.... The idea is that if we are torpedoed the Germans will be less likely to shell the boats if they see no uniforms.... The temperature of the sea which has been 52F is now 60 which will be a comfort if we have to get in it." They reached Liverpool on June 8, and after spending some time in London, went on to France by June 14.

On June 22, Patton took his first flight, in a Farman biplane at the flying grounds: "I had always thought it would frighten me but it did not one feels perfectly safe and the machine seems as steady as a church." On Friday, July 13, Patton noted in his diary, "Maj. Desgeorges asked me and Queck to go to the review with he and his wife in the morning."

George S. Patton Jr. (1885-1945) was born in California and educated at the Virginia Military Institute and United States Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1909. An avid horseback rider, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the cavalry. In 1910, he married Beatrice Banning Ayer (1886-1953), the daughter of a wealthy Boston businessman. He competed in the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, in the modern pentathlon, where he finished fifth behind four Swedes. He then traveled to France, where he learned fencing techniques. Returning to the United States, he redesigned cavalry saber combat doctrine and designed a new sword. In 1915 and 1916, Patton participated in the Pancho Villa Expedition in Mexico as Commander John J. Pershing's aide. In the spring of 1917, he accompanied Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, to Europe. Patton took an interest in tanks and was soon training crews to operate them. By 1918, he was in command of a tank brigade. After World War I, he served in various army posts and began to develop the methods of mechanized warfare. At the beginning of World War II, Patton worked to develop and train armored divisions in the army. In the summer of 1942, he commanded the Western Task Force in the Allied invasion of French North Africa. He commanded the Seventh U.S. Army in the successful invasion of Sicily in July 1943. After the Normandy invasion of June 1944, Patton's Third Army sailed to France and formed on the extreme right of Allied land forces. Through speed and aggressive offensive action, the Third Army continuously pressed retreating German forces until it ran out of fuel near Metz in northeastern France at the end of August. When the German army counterattacked in the Battle of the Bulge in mid-December 1944, Patton's ability to reposition six full divisions to relieve besieged Allied forces in Bastogne was one of the most remarkable achievements of the war. As the Germans retreated, Patton's Third Army advanced, killing, wounding, or capturing 240,000 German soldiers in seven weeks before crossing the Rhine on March 22. After the end of the war in Europe, Patton hoped for a command in the Pacific, but after a visit to the United States returned to Europe for occupation duty in Bavaria. In December 1945, the car in which he was riding collided with an American army truck at low speed, but Patton hit his head on a glass partition, breaking his neck and paralyzing him. He died twelve days later at a hospital in Germany. He was buried among some of his men of the Third Army in an American cemetery in Luxembourg.

Ruth Wilson Patton (1861-1928) was born in California. Her father was a pioneer and real estate developer in southern California, serving as mayor of Pueblo de Los Angeles around 1850. She married George William Patton (1856-1927), the son of a Confederate colonel and graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, in 1884. They settled at Lake Vineyard, California, where they raised produce and operated a winery. In 1902, he began working for Henry E. Huntington's real estate development company, and he served as the first mayor of San Marino from 1913 to April 1922 and again from October 1922 to 1924. They had two children, George S. Patton Jr. and Anne Wilson Patton (1887-1971).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: Letter: 8.25" x 10.5" Envelope: 4.25" x 5.5"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

November 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000