Jun 12 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2708 -

Sale 2708 - Lot 200

Estimate: $ 4,000 - $ 6,000
(WEST.) Correspondence of a regimental cavalry commander in Wyoming and Utah, chasing Indians by the Overland Trail. 28 items, most of them letters and orders addressed to George G. Briggs as colonel of the 7th Michigan Cavalry, with a few his retained copies of outgoing orders; generally minimal wear. Various places, bulk July 1865 to February 1866
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Additional Details

"One of your men was frightfully murdered by the Indians "

George G. Briggs (1838-1912) spent the Civil War in the 7th Michigan Cavalry, part of Custer's Michigan Brigade. Shortly after the Confederate surrender, he became the regiment's final colonel in May 1865. They were sent west to Fort Halleck, Wyoming to protect a segment of the Overland Trail stagecoach route. They later moved to Fort Douglas, Utah in October 1865, where they remained until mustered out in December.

These letters are addressed to Colonel Briggs from July 1865 to February 1866; they cover hostilities with Indians, drunken and unruly troopers, and protecting stagecoaches on the Overland Trail.

An unsigned letter from the commander of the District of the Plains dated 27 July 1865 explains the responsibilities of protecting the Overland Trail, with "13 men at each stage station between LaPorte and Sulphur Springs" for escort duty.

A letter from Captain James G. Birney is dated from the Big Thompson River in Colorado, 29 August 1865: "After an unsuccessful pursuit of the Indians, we had reached this point when a party of citizens . . . reported that they had left the Indians four miles from this point with sixty head of horses. . . . Their stock is nearly played out, and I think we can at least get back the stock. . . . Our mistakes yesterday were caused by the ignorance of the guide."

Captain William H. Tubbs of a different unit writes socially from Fort Connor, Wyoming on 3 September 1865: "Wild big game in abundance as well as Indians. By the way, some of our scouts, Pawnees, got into a party of Cheyennes, fought them, killing several, and found several books belonging to men in your regiment. . . . It has frightened us for fear some of your men have been killed by these devils."

Captain Birney writes again on 13 November 1865 from Fort Bridger, Utah, passing on a complaint from the fort's longtime sutler and judge William A. Carter that soldiers were making off with his horses and mules.

An undated partial letter from William d'Alton Mann, founding colonel of the 7th Michigan, seeks help in obtaining a brevet commission as brigadier general. He adds: "I saw that one of your men was frightfully murdered by the Indians a while since."

Two letters are dated after February 1866, including a mimeographed circular letter from General Philip Sheridan dated Chicago, 30 July 1880. Sheridan requested testimony from officers who had served at the Battle of Five Forks in April 1865. Sheridan had feuded with General G.K. Warren at the battle and relieved him of duty, and fifteen years later the matter was being fully investigated.


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