2021-05 Raynors HCA Live
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/22/2021
A rare Fort Towson, Choctaw Nation, soldier's letter, 2pp. 4to., Smith B. Terry, Co. C, 3rd United States Infantry, "Fort Towson, January 1st, 1840," written to his brother. Fort Towson was established in 1824 to quell conflicts between Native American's and the early settlers claiming the region as part of Arkansas Territory. The fort served as a military outpost between the United States and Texas, which at that time was part of Mexico. Fort Towson served as a gateway for settlers bound for Texas during the 1830s. Notables who passed through its gates included Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Stephen F. Austin. When the Choctaw and Chickasaw were displaced from their lands in the southeastern United States, the fort served as a point of dispersal upon their arrival in the West. The fort was also an important staging area for US forces during the Mexican War of 1846. The fort was abandoned in 1856 when the frontier moved West. During the Civil War, however, it served for a time as headquarters for Confederate forces operating in Indian Territory. In 1865 General Stand Waite surrendered his command near the fort and became the last Confederate general to lay down arms. The letter, reads, in part:"àfrom Boston I went to New York, from there to New Orleans on board of a ship, thence up the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Arkansasàto Fort Smithàby land one hundred and twenty-five miles to Fort Towson where we arrived the 3rd day of May being in all 96 soldiersàit is a long route to get to a military postàthe post is situated inàthe Choctaw Nation West, among the Choctaw Indiansàthere is a little disturbance among the Cherokees at Fort Gibsonànorth of hereàthe government is building barracks here and it requires a great many men to be on extra dutyàthe men at work receive 15 cents a day & a gallon of whiskey, or 18 cents without the whiskeyàthe noncommissioned officers and privates have a temperance societyàwhich numbers about 30 to which I belong. Each member has to pay 12 1/2 cents per month as funds to the society. This sum suppliesàeverything necessary for its use and some tenànewspapers exclusively for their own use when they hold meetings twice a monthàwe have accounts here of eventsàin the North such as elections, murders, bank suspensions, firesàdirectàSmith B. Terry, C Company, 3rd Infantry, Fort Towson, Arkansas, Choctaw Nation Westà". The original transmittal leaf, addressed: "Mr. John Terry, Jr., Hanover Center, Grafton County, New Hampshire," with a rare "Fort Towson, Ark., Jan. 2" postmark and manuscript "25" post rate, is included.
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