September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
Rare partly printed Document March 28, 1866, being a "Special Account" of G.E. Upson, (late) U.S. Commissioner for Negotiating Treaty with Black Feet, July 14, 1865 to March 28, 1866. Total amount of dispersal is for $15,000. A large sum for the period. Unusual. Very good condition. In 1865 Gad E. Upson was sent to negotiate a treaty with the Blackfeet and Gros Ventre. In return for annuities they were to cede the land south of the Teton River so that it could be opened up to white settlement. Not only did Little Dog, the head chief of the Piegans sign the treaty but during the winter 1865 he generously saved a number of snowbound gold prospectors in the Sun River Valley by hunting antelope and giving them the meat. Despite Low Dog's best efforts peace proved to be fragile owing to the racist aggression of a group of prospectors led by John Morgan, who killed four Piegan warriors and sparked off what the famous Jesuit Father De Smet referred to in June 1866 as " A fresh and furious war". Although this caused the Jesuits to withdraw from their mission in the Sun River Valley De Smet was quite clear that "again the whites have given the first provocation, "
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