Mexican War

MAJOR ALBEMARLE CADY. Signed 1851 Fort Scott Document. 15 ½“ x 10“ unfolded. Lists account of the Regiment for a month period in 1851. Identified as Fort Scott Mo. on the document, now known as Fort Scott Kansas. (H.280) $95.
In the war with Mexico he was at the siege of Vera Cruz and in the battles of Cerro Gordo and Churubusco. In the Battle of Molino del Rey, Cady received the rank of Major for Gallantry and Meritorious Conduct. He accompanied the expedition against the Sioux Indians in 1855, and was in the action at Blue-Water, Dakota, 3 September of that year. On 27 January, 1857, he was promoted major. At the beginning of the civil war he was on duty on the Pacific coast, and remained there until 1864, when he was for a time in command of the draft-rendezvous at New Haven, Connecticut He was retired 18 May, 1864, for disability resulting from long and faithful service, and received the brevet of brigadier-general United States A., 13 March, 1865.
FORT SCOTT. Most of the 6th Infantry, including Company H, were part of Worth's 1st Division in Mexico. Military engagements in Mexico of the 6th Infantry, Company H included the Siege of Vera Cruz (Mar. 9-29, 1847), Battle of Cerro Gordo, Capture of San Antonio and Battle of Churubusco, Battle of Molino del Rey. Company H arrived at Fort Scott in late September of 1848. They replaced 1st Infantry, Company B which had garrisoned the fort during the war. Two months later, 1st Dragoons, Company F also arrived, and for a while, the fort returned to its prewar activities with the dragoons patrolling the frontier and the infantry maintaining the fort and continuing construction of the fort. The construction of the fort ceased however in April of 1850 with the fort essentially complete. The dragoons left Fort Scott in 1850, and for the next two years, company H was left to itself at this lonely post as the frontier pushed westward, making the post obsolete. Company H stayed here until the fort was closed in April of 1853.

CONSTRUCTION OF FORT ASSINNIBOINE, MONTANA. Lot of four stereo views, (W.199) $1275.
    Fort Assinniboine was built in the aftermath of the Custer disaster at the Little Big Horn. It was established primarily to ward off possible attacks by Sioux Chief Sitting Bull hiding in the Cypress Hills and by the Nez Perce, some of whom were also in Canada following the defeat and capture of Chief Joseph by the army in the Bear Paw Mountains in 1877.
    There were some secondary reasons for the structure. Army General William Sherman had envisioned a line of forts near the northern and southern boundaries of the United States. When starving Indians pressed south from Canada pursuing buffalo, cattlemen, miners and other settlers pressured for federal troops to intervene. Control of the large Blackfeet Reservation in northern Montana Territory and protection of trade routes were additional reasons for the fort.
    At the time of its construction, Fort Assinniboine was the most elaborate post in the United States. Unlike earlier frontier posts, it was an offensive fortress and had no perimeter wall. The rectangular shaped post eventually boasted 104 mostly brick buildings constructed over a four-year period. L.K. Devlin was selected to undertake construction. The bricks were manufactured on the spot by Colonel C. S. Broadwater. Much of the work on Fort Assinniboine was done by the troops themselves. Construction progressed so rapidly that the Indians said the Fort Assinniboine "rose out of the ground". At its peak, the Fort housed 36 officers and 453 non-commissioned officers and enlisted men.
    The Tenth Cavalry was dubbed the Buffalo soldiers by the Cheyenne Indians. While it has been reported that the name "Buffalo soldiers" was given because of the troopers’ curly hair, the Cheyenne respected the fighting abilities of the troopers’ and likened their strength and courage to the sacred buffalo. These men were given the worst mounts in all the cavalry, and because of their race, had no chance to become officers. The 24^th and 25^th Infantry black units were also stationed at Fort Assinniboine. The Fort had a multi-racial force that included Native Americans, and whites, as well as Afro-Americans.

FORT STANTON, NEW MEXICO. SUTLERS LETTERHEAD. Imprinted letterhead for John C. DeLany, Post Trader, Fort Stanton, Feb 1884. 10 1/2" x 8". Pen manuscript letter to Browne & Manzanares, Las Vegas. Letter regarding payment, signed in by J. C. DeLany. Browne & Manzanares was a large commission and forwarding firm out of Las Vegas. Scarce fort sutler ephemera. A few insect holes on bottom of paper, not affecting text, a small amount of ink smearing in text, overall VG. (W.505) $275.

FORT UNION POST QUARTERMASTER LETTERHEAD. Imprinted letterhead for Office of the Post Quatermaster, Fort Union, N.M. 1884. 10" x 7 1/2". Pen manuscript letter to Browne & Manzanares, Las Vegas. Letter regarding receipt. Browne & Manzanares was a large commission and forwarding firm out of Las Vegas. Small amount of Insect/ rodent damage along rt center edge, some damage and tears along left edge, small amount of cockling of paper, overall G (W.503); $245.

FORT BENNETT, DAKOTA TERRITORY. Stereo view, 4" x 7". View of " Quarters of Company "E" 11th Infantry Fort Bennett, D.T." handsome period ink id on back. No photographer's imprint. Quite scarce subject matter, my research was unable to locate another view of this fort. Overall fine cond. (W. 193); $750.
Fort Bennett was established in May of 1870, was located on the bank of the Missouri River, app. thirty miles above Fort Sully and below the mouth of the Cheyenne River. Located on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation, in December 1878, the post was designated Fort Bennett, in honor of Captain Andrew S. Bennett, 5th U.S. Infantry, killed on September 4, 1878, in a skirmish with Bannock Indians in Montana. Abandoned on November 18, 1891.

19th C. US SOLDIERS. Cabinet Card, 6 1/2" x 4 1/4" View of two soldiers, late Indian war period, or possible as late as Span Am war. With an enlargement so their insignias, it appears to be 2nd Infantry. If this is correct, after the Civil War, the 2nd Regiment was sent west to fight the Indians. From 1877 to 1886 they are in Washington, Oregon and Idaho Territory campaigning against the Nez Perce then the Bannocks. In 1886 they moved to Nebraska to help fight the Sioux. They were on the Pine Ridge Reservation in December 1890 when the Wounded Knee Massacre took place and remained on the western plains until 1898. . There is a ball point pen id of Jim Robinson cousin on he bottom left of image, and and earlier id of "Ike Robinson son Jim Robinson. Uncle Ike was James Robinson's brother" on back . Image exhibits crazing and light surface scratches throughout image, o/w VG. J.A. Thompson, Elmdale, Kansas photographer's imprint. (Mh.218); 95.

US PAYMASTER WAGON DEADWOOD ROAD TO FORT MEADE. 6 1/2" x 8 5/8" albumen image with id imprinted in negative. Photo by Grabill. This image had been removed from a period album , and then mounted using a archival dry mount tissue onto a four ply rag board. Looking straight on , the image is striking, with strong tonality, good contrast and clarity. However, at an angle, one sees that either the original mounting was poor, or the removal process causes issues. The image has numerous very small creases throughout the area. Sold as is. (Mh220); $500.