Correspondence Concerning Indian Affairs and Military Activities at Standing Rock Indian Agency, Ca 1870s-1890s, Incl. References to Sitting Bull

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American Historical Ephemera and Photography

By Cowan's Auctions

Nov 19, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-11-19 10:00:00 2020-11-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American Historical Ephemera and Photography https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-historical-ephemera-and-photography-5894
Cowan’s Auctions, a Hindman Company, is pleased to present the November 19 Fall Auction, featuring over 400 lots of historically significant photography, manuscript material, artwork, and other ephemera dating from the 18th through the early 20th century, including the Civil War. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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• Lot Description
  Lot of 19 documents spanning 1874-1895, including 8 documents referencing conditions at Standing Rock Indian Agency [Fort Yates] and military activity during the pivotal months surrounding the Battle of the Little Bighorn. As a group, the documents track heightening tensions between the Plains Indians and the US military which culminated in the Great Sioux War of 1876 and later in the 1890 killing of Sitting Bull. Majority of the documents are addressed to US Indian Agents serving appointments at Standing Rock Agency, including Edmond Palmer (appointed 1873), John Burke (appointed 1875), and James McLaughlin (appointed 1881). Particularly notable are the following: a telegram to Agent Burke at Standing Rock, DT, from Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Q. Smith, January 18, 1876, noting that "Sect'y Interior directs that all sales of arms & ammunition to your Indians be stopped & any such articles liable to reach Indians seized"; a July 26, 1876, telegram to Burke from Smith stating "Allow military to so far control your Indians as to prevent any from joining hostiles and the latter or other familiars from coming in except by unconditional surrender...Issue no rations to such except as prisoners assure all peaceable Indians full protection and kind treatment"; and a January 2, 1891, copy of Division Commander General Nelson A. Miles communication to the Dept. of Dakota decrying the actions of Sitting Bull and commending the Indian Police on the leader's arrest.Other documents in the collection of significance include a Nov 27, 1874, letter to Agent Edmond Palmer from Indian Commissioner Edward P. Smith noting the three hundred lodges of Indians living across the river from the agency and denying a request for troops to force Indians back to their reservation; a letter of May 7, 1875, to Burke from Smith relaying that a lack of funds would prevent an Indian delegation from from traveling to Washington, DC,  but noting that they would "have a hearing in their own country before any cession of the 'Black Hills' country is made to the United States"; and an 1886 letter from a Powderville, Montana, resident noting that Sitting Bull had recently passed through the area. A Department of Interior Circular addressed to Agent Burke, signed by Indian Commissioner Smith, dated February 29, 1876, directs Burke to "issue no license or permit to any of the Indians of your agency to go South of the North Platte River until further advised. / This is done in accordance with a recommendation made by Brigadier General Geo. Crook...to whom request had been made by the Governor of Colorado for protection of the settlers at Pawnee or Lower Platte against the incursions of hostile Sioux Indians...The Indians should be given to understand that the presence of any of their number in the country below the line indicated will be regarded as an evidence of hostile intent, and that they will be treated by the Military accordingly."Documents unrelated to the military conflict with the Indians include a letter from Winifred Jennings, an Indian rights activist; a subpoena for "H.S. Parkins" to appear before the US District Court of the Third Judicial District of the Territory of Dakota, dated December 2, 1879; and a letter from a journalist at the publisher Charles Scribner's Sons requesting photographs of "the Sioux outbreak of 1876" from James McLaughlin, Agent at Standing Rock Agency, dated January 7, 1895.Documents descend directly through family of consignor. Consignor relates that this collection of documents was found in an envelope (included with lot) marked "letters concerning military activities at Fort Yates in the early 70s" written in the hand of Leo C. Harmon (1871-1952). Leo Harmon was born at Grand River Agency but raised at Fort Abraham Lincoln where his father, Captain William Harmon (1835-1903), was appointed Post Trader on May 8, 1876. 
  
  Provenance: Descended Directly in the Family of Eagle Woman Who All Look At; The Estate of Leo and Margaret Harmon

  Condition

  All documents legible with expected wear and toning given age. Majority of documents with double hole punch along left edge line.
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