Edgar Lewis letters to Mrs. W. B. Lewis

A group of six autograph letters, with envelopes, written by Edgar Lewis to his mother in Mystic Bridge, Connecticut. The letters provide a first-hand account of post-Civil War military life in the Western Frontier during the late 1860s. Lewis chronicles some of his activities while stationed at Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas river, Fort Arbuckle in the Cherokee portion of Indian Territory, and Wewoka in the Seminole region of the Territory. He describes episodes of his life on army posts including his particular passion for hunting, refers to encounters with various Native Americans and to various military duties he had to perform; Lewis also comments on life in the Indian Territory, including episodes of crime and violence. The letters and envelopes are in good condition, though one letter appears to be burned along the bottom edge, there is no loss of text.