John Michael O'Connor, fl. 1812-1824

Jared Mansfield was his father in law. 

The USMA library has two items dealing with O'Connor. The first of these is worth a look. 

• Papers, 1817-1824, SPEC Mss, 28 items
  Summary
  Artillery officer. Correspondence with Thayer, Olmstead and Graham regarding translation of Guy
  de Vernon's work for use as a USMA textbook; correspondence with Jared Mansfield, 1817,
  concerning changes in administration at the Military Academy, Partridge's attempt to arrest
  Mansfield, Partridge's upcoming court martial; Board of Visitor's inspection; correspondence from
  Jasper Lynch concerning Lynch's duel with Lt. Griswold; letterbook, 1817-1818; notebook
  containing historical information on the American Revolution and French military history
• Gay de Vernon, Simon François, baron, 1760-1822, A treatise on the science of war and fortification : composed for the use of the Imperial Polytechnick School, and military schools; and translated for the War Department, for the use of the Military Academy of the United States: to which is added a summary of the principles and maxims of grand tactics and operations / by John Michael O'Connor. In two volumes, with a volume of plates and maps. New-York : Printed by J. Seymour, 1817.  Special Collections USMA:  U102 .G28. 

On 30 January 2008, I examined the O'Connor papers. There are two folders with letters from Mansfield and I made a note of each of them in my TeX file of Mansfield correspondence.

Now I am examining his letterbook/diary; I have the feeling that I have read part of this before. This begins 11 March 1817. Some of the pages are numbered. There are notes on 18 pages. He began this diary ``to record the progress of his Mind, and the prosecution of studies that lay before me.''

``On this day at 11 AM, wrote the last page of the translation of the Polytechnick Course of War \& Fortification in 2 vols quarto. It remains to revise and correct the 2nd vol, then both will be ready for the Press. I beganthe 2nd vol about the 10 or 12 Jany last, so I have not been quite two months engaged at the last volume. I began the first volume in June 1816, and finished the rough draft [he has had trouble with this word and has overwritten it] of it about the first of October. I have not wasted or losta sheet of paper in the whole translation. I did it by order of the Government, who granted my request to translate the work.''

He lists the things he has been reading and sometimes makes a comment about them. There do not seem to be any scientific things.

``West Point, from 16 March to 5 April 1817. Between this period read over \& compared the 2nd vol of my translation with the original, which I found pretty correct with comparitively few errors.''

5 April, Saturday. Bade adieu to WP about midnight ``having spent the Evening with my friends {\em Col. \& Mrs Mansfield \& family}, the most worthy couple I have ever met. Mrs. Mansfield is a lady who cannot be too much loved, admired, respected for every quality \& accomplishment that can adorn \& make human nature lovely. Her daughter Mary Ann (now 10 years old) is beauteous as a Sylph and is the youthful image of her peerless mother --- it would be --- rather an unusual coincidence of events, though very happy one, if this young girl with whom as a child \& a Scholar I have become so fortunate, were destined to be my wife! ``Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished!'' '' [Is this a Shakespear illusion] 

May 1817 in DC. Read article, 30 large quarto pages, on ``Architecture'' in the Dublin 1790 edition of Encyclopedia Brittanica.

14 May 1817: ``Dined en familly with the Honorable Mr. William Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury, a charming, independent, \& magnanimous man. Visited in the Morning the Secretary of War, \& at 2 1/2 PM. his Excellency the President; by both I was graciously received. The President, in reply to my note requesting permission to {\em Dedicate my Translation to him} observed with great modesty that he did not expect or discerve such distinction, but that he left the matter wholly to myself. I replied that I should take the liberty of dedicating my book to him, for thou indeed it could not properly be dedicated to any body else, as it was for national use.''

On the 24th inst completed my arrangements with Mr. Graham Adg Secretary of War \& the President for printing my translation; the arrangement is to me most satisfactory.

``On the 26th made a confidential \& Secret Communication in writing to the President at the request of the Secy of War, on the State of the Cadets \& Military Academy \& on the actions \& conduct of Capt Partridge.''

17 May 1817. ``Had a short interview with the President on the subject [of] my communication yesterday.''

30 May. Saw many printers and engravers in Philadelphia about costs of printing.

New York June 1. ``Visited my long absent friend Colonel Wm McRee, the best and greatest man in America. Saw also Maj Thayer with him, and passed the day in their company.''

14 June 1817. President left NY for WP

15 June 1817. ``A very heavy rain began this morning early \& still continues; it will be a service in renovating the Military Academy \& securing the removal of Partridge --- for there is not a gravelled path or walk at West Point ``\& after a frain one is up to the ancles in mud'' as I told the President.'' Wrote yesterday to Mansfield at WP ``urging him to strike the final blow, and to my sweet young friend Miss Mary Ann Mansfield with a present of Books which I solicited her to accept for my sake.''

28 October 1817. Left New York in the Steam Boat for West Point, to attend as a Witness at the trial of one Capt Partridge, \& arrived at West Point after Midnight. Staid with Col. Mansfield.

25 Nov 1817. Left WP.

25 January 1818. Left NY with my sister Eliza. Inducted her into Mr. Holmes' family, where I had placed her to board.

18 April. Gave my sister Eliza Mary O'Connor power of attorney.

8 May 1818. Have placed 50 copies of my War and Fortification with James Eastburn for sale at \$16 per copy.

Lots of information about money matters.

This ends the document.

There are two folders of letters from Thayer, but I am rather sure they are in the Adams edition.

I have looked through the entire box of O'Connor papers.

Compiled by V. Frederick Rickey, beginning November 2000. Amended January 2008.
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