1867 Indian Wars Diary Wagon Train Gold Railroad Scout

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Original hand written 1867 diary of Terence J. Cartwell. Mr. Cartwell was a Union Civil War Veteran who had enlisted as a Pvt. with the 84th Indiana Infantry Co. C. on 7/24/1863 and was mustered out on 6/14/1865. He was serving as the 84th Indiana Infantry Brig. Quartermaster Sgt. at the time of discharge. This is one of three diary's from him that I plan on listing the others date from 1866 and 1869. First entry in dairy (Jan. 1st 1867) finds him back in Indiana. "Went to Hartford and from t to Spelling at Cow Cob. Recd. a leter from Cousin Sid". Most of the few months have scattered entries (probally half the days have entry of some sort) with general info I.E. meeting with Veteran friends, writing and receiving letter the weather, work and just day to day activities. One notable exception was Jan. 10 and the 11th when he was doing clerk work for the House of Represenitives. Things start getting real interesting around the middle of April when he starts his journey west. He arrived in Omaha by the 7th having traveled by ship and train. Has day to day travel information. Found it interesting that baseball was being played at the time. He talks about going to see Omaha & Ft. Calhoun play. The 14th first mentions Indians seems a number of Railroad workers were killed the day before. May 10th "Hired to a train to go the Ft. Phil Kearney at $40 per month. Wrote a letter to lu and went to the train in the evening". For the next 18 days talk about travels, trail hands holding out for more wages and even traded for a few blankets. The 29th reports that while hunting with the Pawnee saw 600 Sioux but did not cross the river to w they were. Continues with day to day travel including Indian attack on ranch across from them on the Platte River killing two and running off stock. June 15th they were in sight of Julesburgh and seeing General Sherman passing them going east. July 2nd found them at Ft. Larimie and arrived Ft. Phil Kearney on the 25th July (please note alot interesting day to day information but can not rewrite the entire diary). Talks about off loading freight, getting settled in another indian attack stealing horses and cows among other things. August the 2nd has entry on one of the most famous battles of the Indian Wars "The Indians attacked the ft. at 9 A.M. simutaniouly they attacked the wood train who fought them for 4 hours until reinforcements came up. Wistons & Porters stock all captured-loss 5 soldiers & 1 lt. killed. Guinn and his party got cut off and had to make for the mountains-lost everything they had. It seems from this day on confrontation with indians was a common occurance. Dec. 7 talks about train arrival with wounded from fight at Buffalo Wallow. Until the last entry of the year he talks about doing some prospecting, the constant indian confrotations, Shawnee, Pawnee and Arapahoe Indians coming into the fort sometimes in large numbers. Seems Indians even deliveried the mail at times. Other forts and individuals mentions throughout. Day to day expenses are also in back. He did alot of wheeling and dealing. Overall just a very insightful look at the times from one mans eyes. Seems diary is complete with a few loose pages. Binding is a little loose and leather cover is very worn as shown. T are some smudged pages and some text hard to read but again this was not written at some desk but alot was written on the trail under less than desirable condition. Writing in ink and pencil. Take a look at other auctions for other diaries by Mr. Cartwell along with some Civil War Letters. Although auction is being ran without reserve I reserve the right to close it early. I have seriously considered keeping this for myself as I doubt I will ever see another original Indian Wars era item with as much interesting reading. So if interested throw in a bid early just to let me know t is some serious interest. read more

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