INDIAN WARS - FORT JAMES DAKOTA TERRITORY 1866 Soldier's Letter - INDIANS & MORE

Description

3 pg. letter, approx. 7-3/4" x 9-3/4", dated at
Fort James, Dakota Territory, July 6th, 1866
, from Lt. Mott Hooton, 13th U.S. Infantry, to his Aunt Susan.
A scarce Indian Wars letter from the short-lived Fort James, which was built in 1865 and abandoned in 1867. It was located in present day Hanson Co., South Dakota, on the James River at its junction with Shell Creek.
The writer of this letter,
Mott Hooton
, (1838-1920), was a Civil War veteran who in 1866 was commissioned a 1st Lt. in the regular army - 13th U.S. Infantry, and had a distinguished 30 year career, mostly at Western posts, including receiving a Brevet of Major for his 1876 running battle with the Sioux Indians at Spring Creek, Montana. He retired with the rank of Brigadier General.
Great content
, writing of the terrible mosquitos at the Fort, of his 140 mile horseback ride to Sioux City, where they encountered many Indians heading for the Buffalo Range. More good content.
Includes:
"Dear Aunt Susan,
... I am very well and in good spirits, barring the Musketoes which are perfectly terrible. They are so numerous that we have to make a great smoke every evening to drive them away. They kill horses here sometimes.
The other day I started at three o'clock in the morning for Sioux City, which is 140 miles from here. Another Gentleman and I rode on horseback whilst the four horse ambulance came on in the rear. After riding twelve miles, my friend suggested that we should strike off on the Bluffs to see some Indians which were on the route for the Buffalo Range. After riding ten miles we saw one or two Indians on the top of a hill. They looked very picturesque. Rode over and came in sight of them in motion. There were three hundred lodges, about fifteen hundred souls. It was a striking scene. There were some on horseback, some on foot, squaws riding on primitive carriages made of tent poles fastened like shafts to a horse. We rode with them a short and distance and retraced our steps. Came up with the ambulance about eleven A.M. After riding fifty-five miles in eight hours I was quite tired. After resting, we got into the ambulance and rose over thirty miles to Yankton, making about 90 miles travel by five P.M. This is nothing...it is a common occurrence to ride or drive 80 or 90 miles a day.
We are very busy fixing up the Post. There is nothing of any interest transpiring. The routine labor in fixing and repairing wells and roads, cutting wood and receiving and storing supplies. I am Quartermaster and Commissary both...
My address is
Fort James
Dakota via Yanton
Yours affectionately,
Mott Hooton
P.S.
Tell Joe and Creigh to write. Where is Sallie Rhoads"
Normal folds. Fine.
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