Letter and Sketch from Camp Floyd, Utah, 1858, by German Immigrant and Artist Private Henry Sommer, Incl. Mormon and American Indian Content

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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
  Sommer, Henry (ca 1829-1894). German-American soldier, Private, Co. E, 7th US Infantry, who served as sketch artist for Capt. James Simpson's 1859 surveying expedition from Camp Floyd to California. 4pp, "Head-Quarter of the 7 Rgt of US Infantry at Camp Floyd Utah Territory am 2. October 1858." Letter in German with detailed pencil sketch above the heading. Addressed to "Mein lieber Freund!" ("My dear Friend!"), likely Henry Voigt, a German-American who co-founded the notable printing and etching company Kimmel & Voigt on Canal Street in NYC. The artist now known as Henry Sommer was born Henry V.A. Von Beckh in Kassel, Germany. He trained as an architect before immigrating to the United States in 1857. Unable to find adequate employment, Sommer enlisted with the US Army at New York City in December 1857. By March 1858 he was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, from which he would travel to Utah Territory as part of the Utah Expedition against the Mormons. The expedition ultimately settled at Camp Floyd, Utah Territory, which would grow to become the largest military garrison in the United States at the time. In this extraordinary letter, Sommer describes his overland journey from Fort Leavenworth, providing vivid description of the landscape and Camp Floyd, as well as his experiences with Native Americans and Mormons. Writing from his "linen tent...approx. 1400 miles from Fort Leavenworth and 3500 miles from New York,"  Sommer paints a picture of his travels. He writes in small part: "The dusty ground is my chair and my knapsack is my desk. Five months of marching brought me and my regiment here....In Europe I read about the American adventurers and admired the progress of the explorers of nature - now I have for myself heard the night songs of the wolves, seen the Wigwams of the Sioux, the Cheyenne, Snakes and other indians - and acquainted myself with the way of life and dresses of the redskins, tasted the smoke of a pipe of peace (wampum) and listened at the fire of these indigenous nature people to the 'Tallalulluh.' The walk of the redskins in their present territory is not as tall anymore as I read. They sneak around camp of the palefaces hoping for a bisquit and trade their buffalo skins for blankets or used soldier clothes. The indians, adapting to the white men, they also take on their vices and misbehavior. The Great Spirit is no longer feared or revered." On the state of the "Mormon Rebellion," Sommer offered this candid assessment: "The Mormons are defeated. The government is in the hands of U.S. Brigham Young's power is broken." Sommer's regiment's arrived at Camp Floyd sometime after September 4, 1858, and began to expand the encampment. "This is the headquarters of General Johnston," Sommer wrote. "Cedar Valley here is a good area. The farmers around bring masses of fruit, melons, peaches, eggs, butter, flour, potatoes and onions to our market. 50cts for a pound of butter, 12 cts for 12 eggs, flour 5 or 6 cts per pound. The women I saw - some men have 3 or 4 - looked healthy, blue-eyed and well shaped....The hustle and bustle of soldiers, workers, ordnances, adjutants, mule riders and wagon trails, in short, everything, makes our camp a lively place."  Presumably intending to convey the "hustle and bustle" he had described, Sommer's sketch atop the letter shows a large and active camp scene, including at least a half dozen fixed structures, dozens of camp tents, soldiers and wagons, and several tipis, all stretching back into the mountainous horizon. Significantly, the original sketch on this letter is likely then to be one of the earliest known images of Camp Floyd. Though pages 3 and 4 are incomplete, it appears that Sommer goes on to inquire as to the possibility of his artwork being utilized in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper. It is this inquiry which potentially corroborates the unidentified recipient of the letter. Consignor relates that this letter descended through the family, and is likely connected to the great-great grandfather of the consignor, Henry Voigt. Like Sommer, Voigt arrived in the US from Germany in the 1850s. He would eventually co-found the commercial printing company Kimmel & Voigt, which would print etchings for many artists of the day. Knowing Voigt was a fellow German immigrant located in NYC within the same timeframe as Sommer, and knowing of Voigt's artistic associations, it is reasonable that Voigt was indeed the recipient of this letter.Sommer's talent as a sketch artist was known among his fellow soldiers and officers, and would lead him on adventures far beyond Camp Floyd. Determining that cameras were not well-suited for his expedition to California from Camp Floyd, Capt. James Simpson of the US Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers sought to find a sketch artist to accompany him on his journey west. Simpson was acquainted with Sommer's commander, Captain Henry Little, who had sketches by Sommer in his quarters. Upon discovery of those sketches Simpson requested that Sommer join his expedition to California. From May through August 1859 Sommer would traverse the west and sketch the mountains and valleys, along with the Great Salt Lake and Lake Tahoe. Sommer's artwork would eventually be published in Simpson's final report published by Congress. Upon return to Camp Floyd from Simpson's surveying expedition, Sommer served as clerk for Lieut. Col. Pitcairn V. Morrison and was discharged in March 1860. Sommer later served again with the 2nd US Infantry during the Civil War where he was breveted for gallant and meritorious service at Wilderness and Spotsylvania. He settled in Philadelphia after the war and died there in 1894.An exceedingly rare offering from one of the American West's earliest and least known artists. Letter comes with a complete translation from old-style German script into modern German, and a partial English translation. 

  Condition

  Both pages of letter are in multiple pieces. Page 3/4 has major loss at bottom corner affecting large portion text. Overall toning and some minor soil. Non-archival adhesive on pages. See cowans.com for detailed images.
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