2025-01 Raynors Historical Collectible Auctions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/25/2025
Partially printed signed document “H(enry) Z. Curtis” who on 8/3/1861, was commissioned into US Volunteers Quartermaster's Dept., on 11/26/1861,was commissioned into US Volunteers Adjutant Genl Dept., was Killed on 10/5/1863 at Baxter Springs, KS. The Sprcial Orders 229, 8” x 10” document, is datelined: Helena Ak, July 14. 1862 and provides “Twenty days furlough upon Surgeon’s certificate issued to Sergeant Samuel P. Curtis, 2nd Reg. Iowa infantry” ... by Command of Major General (Samuel Ryan) Curtis and ink signed by by his son, “H(enry) Z. Curtis”. The Battle of Baxter Springs, more commonly known as the Baxter Springs Massacre, was a minor battle of the American Civil War fought on October 6, 1863, near the present-day town of Baxter Springs, Kansas. ... Moving out onto the prairie, Quantrill's column encountered a Union detachment escorting Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt, who was moving his command headquarters south from Fort Scott, Kansas to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Quantrill's men greatly outnumbered the Union forces. Wearing Federal uniforms and thereby taking the Federals by surprise, Quantrill's column killed most of the detachment, including many who attempted to surrender.[2] Among the dead was a military band, Maj. Henry Z. Curtis (son of Maj. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis), and Johnny Fry (first official westbound rider of the Pony Express), a total of 103 men. Also killed was James R. O'Neill, an artist-correspondent for Leslie's Weekly. When a few men escaped to Fort Baxter, soldiers went out to search for survivors. There were few, but Blunt was among them.
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