Manuscripts
Daniel Aldrich letter to John C. Hays
Image not available
You might also be interested in
Image not available
John White Geary letter to John C. Hays
Manuscripts
Captain Geary reports to Colonel Hays that the San Francisco Rangers are organized and ready for duty.
mssHM 20171
Image not available
Daniel Aldrich letter to John C. Hays
Manuscripts
This is a list of fifty military volunteers pledged to go to San Diego as part of Aldrich's Rangers.
mssHM 4195
Image not available
John McDougal letter to John C. Hays
Manuscripts
McDougal requests that Hays recruit a volunteer force of one hundred men to counter aggressive behavior of Indians near San Diego. The Indians have assembled in large numbers, and "have assumed a hostile and menacing attitude." Signature may not be McDougal's.
mssHM 20173
Image not available
Lauren Winfield Aldrich papers
Manuscripts
The group includes a handwritten draft and a typed transcript of Aldrich's manuscript entitled "Brief reminiscences of the soldiers life on the plains and in the mountains during the early days of 1867-8-9 to 70." This memoir discusses Aldrich's experiences serving as an army scout in Nebraska and Wyoming at forts along the route of the Union Pacific Railroad construction. Aldrich was assigned to Fort Laramie, Fort Russell, Fort Fetterman, and Fort Kearny. He describes his regiment's skirmishes with the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Sioux Indians, as well as their dealings with the Pawnee scouts. Aldrich also talks about a treaty with Chief Red Cloud, his relationship with Major Frank J. North and Captain Luther H. North, and an expedition into the Yellowstone River Valley. Also included are several pieces of correspondence, certificates, and discharge papers related to Aldrich's military career and his duties for the National Indian War Veterans
mssHM 65812-65821
Image not available
Daniel Thomas Chandler documents
Manuscripts
Two of the five items are reports written by Chandler, and addressed to Major William Augustus Nichols, detailing his expedition to the Gila River in 1856 with the U.S. 3rd Infantry. These reports include details regarding his experiences with the Mimbres and Mogollon Apaches, the geography of the land, military movements, his troops and their casualties. He specifically mentions Dixon Stansbury Miles, Lieutenant Colonel John H. Eaton, the Navajo Indian Delgadito, and Fort Craig, NM. Also included in these documents is a disability certification by Assistant Surgeon General Glover Perin, a power of attorney from a fellow soldier, and a Quarter Master Department receipt for $100,000
mssHM 61151-61155
Image not available
Daniel Miller letter to William Miller
Manuscripts
Letter written from Daniel Miller near Petaluma, California, to his brother William in Newburn, Virginia. Miller writes of the difficulties of driving cattle over the Oregon Trail and through the Salt Lake Valley to California, and of cattle that were "likely stolen" by Mormons in Utah. He writes of stopping with the remaining cattle in the valley outside of San Francisco and of the trouble in owning land since "nearly all the country is claimed by grants made by the Mexican Government." He writes of his trip to San Francisco and details the high cost of goods in the area, but notes that he is also selling cattle for good prices. Miller also writes of gold mining and that he plans to avoid the practice since "many thousand dollars worth of [gold] dust...disappears in a few hours at the gambling tables." Miller concludes that "I have as yet not regrets about the move [to California], except the loss of our children" (Miller's three young daughters died during the journey to California).
mssHM 74319