4667 FIRST HAND DESCRIPTION OF "FETTERMAN MASSACRE".

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 200.00 USD
Estimated at 400.00 - 600.00 USD
6 pages from Ft. Kearney written by Thomas H. Mallory to Albert Holman Dec. 29, 1866, six days after Colonel William Fetterman and his command were wiped out near Fort Kearney by Cheyenne and Sioux led by Crazy Horse and Red Cloud. "On the 21st instant one of the most horrible massacres… took place 4 miles from this place…The Indians had been throwing themselves insight along this Ridge nearly every day… some of the most daring ventured within a few 100 yards of the Fort. They had once been driven off and followed up by about 75 cavalrymen… one Lieutenant and a Sergeant was killed… approach nearer the Fort and seemed more anxious to have a fight. Col. Fetterman with the command of 79 started out to drive them off, or, as the soldier said who volunteered to have some fun, under orders from the Colonel commanding the post not to go beyond the Ridge out of sight… contrary to those orders the command crossed the Ridge and soon the regular discharges of small arms were heard the firing was kept up for about an hour, then all was still… nothing but Indians were insight and they were just finishing their hellish work of scalping and mutilating the bodies… not one of the 81 men who went out was left alive…". Much more detail as mutilation of bodies, and further actions. There is a page missing at end but postscript page has full signature. Rarely seen lot and content from such a historic event. CONDITION: good to very good, light staining. PROVENANCE: Martin Lane Historic & Western Americana Lifetime Collection. (02-22027/JS). $400-600.