Manuscripts

Manuscripts regarding the U.S. Army in the American Southwest

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Description: This group of items consists of four manuscripts written by George H. Pettis regarding his experiences in the 1st Regiment of Infantry, California Volunteers in the American Southwest in the 1860s and 1870s. Two of the manuscripts are about the Civil War in New Mexico, and mention specifically Confederate Captain John Baylor, and the Union General H. H. Sibley, Captain Isaac Lynde, and General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby. The other two manuscripts discuss Pettis' experiences in the Indian Wars in New Mexico and Texas including the Battle of Adobe Walls in 1874. He talks about Kit Carson, Colonel James H. Carleton, Fort Bascom, Fort Craig, and Fort Fillmore. He also talks in detail about the Navajo, Apache, Jicarilla, Kiowa and Ute Indians.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: approximately 1877.
Call number: mssHM 68406-68409
Creator

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

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Photographs of Western U.S. Army Forts

Visual Materials

Views of frontier United States Army forts in Wyoming and Nebraska made by Pvt. Charles Howard, 1876-1877, and two views of Fort Wingate, New Mexico, ca. 1870s by an unidentified photographer. The photographs are mostly broad views of the military posts and their surrounding landscapes, showing cavalry, barracks and other buildings. The forts illustrated are Camp Canby, Camp Sheridan and Camp Robinson in Nebraska; Fort Fetterman, Fort Laramie and Fort McKinney in Wyoming Territory; and Fort Wingate in New Mexico. Besides views of the forts, there is one view of the town of Cheyenne; the Red Cloud Indian Agency, Nebraska; and a group portrait of soldiers and their families at Fort Wingate.

photCL 292

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Manuscript regarding vigilance committees

Manuscripts

In this manuscript, Fairchild tells the story of a hanging he witnessed in San Andreas, California in 1850. Fairchild remembers that a Chilean miner, named Joaquin, who had stabbed a man, was first tried and then hung by a vigilance committee. Fairchild also talks about life in the camp including crime, mining, and competition with other miners.

mssHM 68185

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William S. Dutt Correspondence

Manuscripts

The collection includes 36 letters, all photostats, written by William S. Dutt to his family. During his time in Missouri, Dutt wrote about the people he encountered including "darkeys," and immigrants from the South and Germany. During his time in Colorado, Dutt expressed his derogatory views about Mexicans, "greasers," "savages," slaves, and the Confederacy. After October 1862, Dutt talks about his military experiences in various Southwestern towns, military forts, and with various Hispanic and Native American groups. Among the military installations he visited were: Fort Garland, Colorado; Fort Union, Fort Sumner, Fort Wingate, and Fort Bascom, New Mexico. Among the places he visited were Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also wrote thorough descriptions of his experiences with Apache, Comanche, Navajo, and Pueblo Indians.

mssDutt

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Captain H.J. Farnsworth letter to General Montgomery Meigs

Manuscripts

This letter, which Captain Farnsworth wrote at the request of General Meigs, concerns the conditions of the Quartermaster Departments at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley, Kansas, and at Fort Union, New Mexico. Farnsworth, who was the Depot Quartermaster at Fort Union, also suggests ways to improve the methods of procuring supplies for western military depots. Also included is a typescript of the letter

mssHM 63951

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William S. Dutt letter to "Sister." 1 item

Manuscripts

The collection includes 36 letters, all Photostats, written by William S. Dutt to his family. The letters are arranged chronologically. During his time in Missouri, Dutt wrote about the people he encountered including "darkeys," and immigrants from the South and Germany. During his time in Colorado, Dutt expressed his derogatory views about Mexicans, "greasers," "savages," slaves, and the Confederacy. After October 1862, Dutt talks about his military experiences in various Southwestern towns, military forts, and with various Hispanic and Native American groups. Among the military installations he visited were: Fort Garland, Colorado; Fort Union, Fort Sumner, Fort Wingate, and Fort Bascom, New Mexico. Among the places he visited were Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also wrote excellent descriptions of his experiences with Apache, Comanche, Navajo, and Pueblo Indians.

mssDutt

Manuscripts regarding the U.S. Army in the American Southwest

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Lauren Winfield Aldrich papers

Photographs of Western U.S. Army Forts

Manuscript regarding vigilance committees

William S. Dutt Correspondence

Captain H.J. Farnsworth letter to General Montgomery Meigs

William S. Dutt letter to "Sister." 1 item