2021-05 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2021
War-date Confederate Soldier Autograph Manuscript Signed by "Simeon E. Hamilton, Capt. Co. 'B' 2d Choctaw Cavalry C.S.A" 2pp. octavo with colored pencil sketch by Captain Hamilton of his tombstone with date of death as February 4, 1864. This manuscript was removed from a Johnson's Island Prisoner of War albumen and contains a nice viewpoint of the Choctaw's by Captain Hamilton. Titled "Savage and Civilized" 1863, it reads in part: "...On the 26th day of August 1863 I was taken prisoner and left in Fort Smith, Arkansas until 19th Sept....I was often asked by the federals whether the Choctaws are living in huts or houses or pursuing the habit of hunting or farming. In that I am 25 years old but never saw any Choctaws live in huts or follow after game for a living. I was raised in habits of farming and agriculture. And many Choctaws - I will say a majority lives in good houses - fine buildings just as well as any white man...I was asked if I can read and write my own name. I said yes sir!...I got to Johnson's Island where I see many officers holding high rank in the Confederate service. All surprised to see me - Indian, some wild Indian. I thought strange and lonesome - no friends...and felt myself very poor...when Sunday come I went to hear the preaching and went in and hear very attentively but I was surprised to see and hear many things going on during meeting and preaching...some laughing...some playing cards...some dancing...some uttering a profane language...I thought to see every man listen and attentive but see all and altogether another way. Savage Choctaw Indians who they are termed attendance on Sabbath day preaching is quite different - in some meeting there be hundred and fifty or two hundred persons attending, when preaching is to commence every man takes their seats.... No laughing or giggling...All set there till the preaching is over...Choctaw is not savage in preaching and not living in huts or making their living after hunting buffalo or deer...They plant cotton, spin and weave clothing of their own manufacture et et et. My father raised me in farming and I am now a prisoner on this Island (Johnson's)..." Fine condition. 1st Choctaw Cavalry War [also called 2nd Choctaw Regiment] was organized during the summer of 1862. Formerly Battice's 1st Choctaw Cavalry Battalion which in May contained 216 effectives. Assigned to the Department of the Indian Territory, the unit skirmished and raided the Federals. Later it lost 4 killed and 4 wounded at Poison Spring and surrendered in June, 1865. Colonel Simpson N. Folsom was in command.
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