Extremely Important Buffalo Soldier Document

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

THE ORIGINAL penned report of the captain commanding the famous "BUFFALO SOLDIERS" of the black U.S. 9'TH Cavalry and 41'st U.S. Colored Infantry, filed immediately upon return from a "SCOUT" and a heated Indian engagement in which two men (including George Albee) eventually received the Medal of Honor for heroism…and twice endorsed (with remarks) by the famous Indian fighting General RANALD S. MACKENZIE, then commanding the 24'th (Colored) U.S. Infantry. An exciting and quite fabulous original document. Filed at "FORT MCKAVETT, TEXAS OCTOBER 14, 1869" addressed to the Adj. (and acting Ass't Adj.) General of the 41'st U.S. (Colored) Infantry at Fort McKavett (also has original signature of Capt. Henry Carroll, 9'th Cavalry "Commanding scout." Three large 8 x 12½ sheets (both sides) total 6 highly detailed pages. Opens with specifics of how Carroll took command of various units "…for the purpose of scouting the headwaters of the Colorado and vicinity…left this post September 2 and proceeding to Fort Concho, Texas…Capt. Heyl 9'th Cavalry and Lieut. George Albee 41'st Infantry [joined the scout there]…proceeded from there…marching [130 miles] to first running water on the Colorado River…" and continues at great length and detail about their tracking hostile Indians and the heated engagement with them "…running fight for 8 miles… 3 men wounded…loss of the Indians estimated at 25 killed and wounded… all wereremoved by the Indians during the fight. Five Indian saddles were emptied but it was impossible to get their bodies as they fought desperately to cover them. The squaws were active in taking off the wounded during a fight…estimated there were from 200 to 250 [Indians]…armed with muzzle [loading] cavalry carbines, pistols, lances, and bows and arrows. Quite a number of the men had their clothes and accoutrements perforated with bullets and arrows…the command was scattered in the charge…closed up when the Indians fled not wishing to risk further loss…condition of our animals left no hope of being able to overtake them"…after following them they ran into what was apparently a very large group of "six or seven hundred warriors estimated by our guides" and finding the men and their horses fatigued "…and having expended much of our ammunition, it was not deemed advisable to follow…" and much, much more. All-in-all the captain summed it up that they had "…been absent 42 days during which time the command marched 637 miles, most of which was over a rough country, poorly watered." He specifically mentions the heroism of Captain Heyl, 9'th Cavalry (with details) and that of Lieut. Albee 41'st (colored) Infantry "…who with two men attacked and drove 11 Indians from the hills…and succeeded in reconnoitering the country beyond and in the presence of a large body of Indians;" ends report "Although the majority of the enlisted men of the command had never seen an Indian before their behavior was excellent." A truly fascinating account ACCOMPANIED WITH a fourth sheet detailing how this exact report was forwarded to "General Headquarters, Subdistrict of the Pecos" WITH THE ORIGINAL SIGNATURE OF RANALD S. MACKENZIE / COL. 24'TH INFANTRY / BVT. BRIG. GENERAL, COMMANDING." Also, a larger endorsement dated "Fort Clark Texas June 3, 1869" in which Mackenzie specifically "calls the attention of the Major General Commanding to good conduct in the skirmish on the Pecos River of Captain Heyl…..and Lieut. Albee in the pursuit [described in] the report…" with a second, original, full autograph signature of Ranald S. Mackenzie (who was undoubtedly among the most famous of all Indian fighting officers with a career of gallantry that began in the Civil War). Accompanied with photostatic evidence of Albee's award of the Medal of Honor for that exact engagement as well as copy of very lengthy penned bio sketch of Albee and copy of an original photograph of Albee wearing Medal of Honor at neck. It would be hard to find a better example of an actual eyewitness report filed immediately upon return from the engagement and with the countersignatures of the most famous Indian fighting general. Light normal aging. Exc.

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