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THBRare Nez Perce Indian Agent Letters from Lapwai and Lewiston, Idaho, 1877, Plus
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About Auction
LiveSep 8, 2017 - Sep 9, 2017
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (427)
- Lot Description
Lot of 4 letters dating from the Nez Perce War, which lasted from June through October of 1877, and approximately one year after Custer's defeat at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
Monteith, John B. ALS as Nez Perce Indian Agent at the Lapwai Reservation. 1p, 5.25 x 8.25 in., Lapwai, Idaho Territory. June 22, 1877. Addressed to "Maj Boyle."
Watkins, Erwin C. ALS as General Inspector for Indian Affairs. 1p, 8 x 10 in., Lapwai, Idaho Territory. June 28, 1877. Addressed to "My Dr. Major."
Merriam, Henry Clay (1837-1912). Medal of Honor recipient, inventor of the "Merriam Pack," and career military veteran. ALS as Lt. Col., 2nd Infantry Regiment, during the Nez Perce War. 2pp, 8 x 10 in., "Lewiston, Idaho." August 8, 1877. Addressed to "Capt. W.D. Boyle/ Fort Lapwai."
Sully, Alfred (1820-1879). West Point graduate, veteran of the Civil War and multiple Indian Wars, and son of noted American portrait painter Thomas Sully. ALS as Colonel, 21st Infantry Regiment, during the Nez Perce War. 2pp, 8 x 10 in., "Lewiston, Idaho." August 8, 1877. Addressed simply to "Capt."
Indian Agent Monteith requests in his short missive written on official "Office Indian Agent, Nez Perce Indians," letterhead that Maj. Boyle "Please confine the prisoner in charge of [illegible] in your guard house until further orders." Just days later, Inspector Watkins writes on "Office Indian Agent, Nez Perce Indians," letterhead that "If the officers who are enroute to the front will wait till the Indian Scouts can be got in readiness, Monteith and I will accompany them. This will make a larger party, and I think they can be in readiness to start at an early hour in the new morning. Say 5 o clock. The Inds. are not all here yet or might start sooner. Please send word if they will wait."
The remaining two letters are military correspondence related to the US Army's efforts to force several bands of the Nez Perce tribe onto a reservation in Idaho. The first letter contains details on General Oliver Otis Howard's troop movements. Howard was commander of the US Army's Department of the Columbia which had jurisdiction over the area, and he was actively engaged with efforts first to negotiate with the Nez Perce and later with efforts to capture them. Lt. Col. Merriam writes, "Genl. Howard's column will reach Missoula today and will continue pursuit of hostiles up Bitter Root valley, whither they had gone very leisurely after passing Capt. Rawn. The newspaper reports are confirmed. The vols. refused to fight because the Indians promised good behavior towards settlers in Bitter Root, and then the Indians skirmished around Rawn's position. On the 2nd instant they had only got thirty-five miles from Missoula up to Bitter Root valley." The second military letter describes orders relating to the procurement of a competent surgeon for a seriously wounded man.
Condition
All letters are in good condition.
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