Beschreibung:

An extensive archive of civil war correspondence and associated material from Nicholas Lowthian, who participated in thirteen major battles, including the siege of Fort Ridgely in 1862 and the Battle of Vicksburg in 1863. He enlisted as a private in Company C, Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, and was discharged in March 9th 1865. After the war, he settled in South Dakota, was a delegate to the state's Constitutional Conventions in 1883/85, and became a State Senator from 1893-97. This historic lot includes: 1. Approximately 160 Autograph Letters Signed, 140 from Lowthian, mostly to his wife, and app. 20 to Lowthian from family members, various places including Fort Snelling, Fort Ridgely, Germantown, Tennessee, the battlefield at Vicksburg, and elsewhere, March 16th 1862 -Februay 24th 1865, mostly 8vo, numerous examples on rare pictorial letter sheets. General age toning and folding creases, overall very good. An important and comprehensive archive of correspondence covering many battles and skirmishes, including the following from the Battlefied at Vicksburg, May 25th 1863. In part: "We have got them completely hemed in. The right of the army rest on the Miss. River on the north side of the city and the left wing rest on the Miss. River on the south side of the city and the Gun boats are in the front. Our forces around the city, I believe, 125,000 men and then we have a guard in the rear of us on the Black River to protect our rear. But the country is very hilly and every hill that is in their lines has got a fort built on it and the hills are so steep that a man can hardly clime them, let along their breast works. If I ever get out of this and I trust the Lord will spare my life and protect me through all the dangers that I have to pass through, I will write you a full account of this campeign" This letter also included an autograph sketch of the battlefield at Vicksburg in Lowthian's hand. There are two complete printed transcriptions of the correspondence included with this lot 2. Fort Ridgely Medal, "Presented by the State of Minnesota to N. I. Lowthian." Brass medallion, 38 mm diameter on brass epaulet pin. Verso with inscription, "Ti-Yo-Pa Na-Ta-Ka-Pi," in the Sioux language, "They kept the door shut." In August 1862, the Santee Sioux of Minnesota under Chief Little Crow began an uprising after their annuity distribution was delayed, and the perceived failure of the U. S. Government to provide adequate rations and supplies to support the tribe. In little over a month, they killed approximately 800 settlers and soldiers and caused extensive property damage throughout the region. Fort Ridgely, about twelve miles from the Lower Sioux Agency, became a refuge for white civilians trying to escape the mayhem of what came to be known as the Great Sioux Uprising.. In August, the fort's commander, Capt. John S. Marsh, set off with most of his men for the Lower Sioux Agency, but were ambushed and Marsh and half of his soldiers were killed. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Timothy Sheehan moved his troops in to protect Fort Rigeley, Private Lowthian among them. On August 20, about 400 Sioux attacked the fort but were repulsed. On the 22nd, 800 Sioux attacked the fort again, but the garrison and civilians held the fort. There were about 180 soldiers and civilians defending the fort during the Fort Ridgely siege. Lowthian sent several letters to his wife from Fort Ridgely describing the battles and their aftermath, including one dated August 27th, in part: "We left here for Ripley and had got two days on the road towards there when an express from fort Ridgely over took us with orders from Captain Marsh for us to return-that the Indians had broke out and were killing the whites. We started back at 6 oclock in the evening and were back at the fort at 9 oclock in the morning. Captain Marsh went up to the Agency with 40 men. There was over one half killed and the captain was drowned. On the 20th the Indian