ALS, Ft. Washakie, Wyoming, likely in the Jackson Hole area. November 13, no year. Transcription: Dear Judge I expect you will be surprised to get a letter of this date from this place from me, but when I explain the circumstances I hope you will be satisfyed. an individual overtook us yesterday with documents from the Indian Agent stating we were on the reservation and demanded tax. So I thought the best plan to pursue seeing we had unknowingly got on the reservation was for me to come and see the Agent and make the most favorable arrangement possible to cross the reserve. The tax demanded is $270 which you will more than save if we had to around the other way, and I am almost we could not reach our destination this winter our horses is very poor and worn out It would take at least 20 days more to go around the reserve than it will to cross. So you see you will more than save the amount in mens wages. The herd is about 45 miles from here on Big Wind River. So I think we can make the stinking water in twelve days from there. I thought of telegraphing to you for advice how to act in this matter but on second thought I concluded it imprudnet to loose the time required to await an answer. you can see the way in which I had the tax made a light as possible. The agent made out his bill which I enclose. He said he would write to you also. The cattle look very well he have left quite a number of old bulls on the road gave out. Out side of that we have not lost many cattle on the way. I will be back with the herd to night and proceed on our way tomorrow. Would write to my wife now but cannot spare the time. I will write to you again from Stinking water. Hoping ever thing will be satisfactory with you. l remain Yours Respectfully Peter McCulloch Although no year is stated, the "heyday" (Hayday?) of the cattle drive was the 1860s - 1880s, with the number increasing significantly after the Civil War (although Texas herded some of her cattle to the Confederacy during the war). Most of the established trails ran from Texas to Kansas. There were established "tolls" (generally a per-head fee) along trails such as Chisholm, Bozeman, etc. It would appear that this drive from Wyoming was making its own trail across unknown territory. Condition: Excellent, with minor surface soil on folds on verso.
ALS, Ft. Washakie, Wyoming, likely in the Jackson Hole area. November 13, no year. Transcription: Dear Judge I expect you will be surprised to get a letter of this date from this place from me, but when I explain the circumstances I hope you will be satisfyed. an individual overtook us yesterday with documents from the Indian Agent stating we were on the reservation and demanded tax. So I thought the best plan to pursue seeing we had unknowingly got on the reservation was for me to come and see the Agent and make the most favorable arrangement possible to cross the reserve. The tax demanded is $270 which you will more than save if we had to around the other way, and I am almost we could not reach our destination this winter our horses is very poor and worn out It would take at least 20 days more to go around the reserve than it will to cross. So you see you will more than save the amount in mens wages. The herd is about 45 miles from here on Big Wind River. So I think we can make the stinking water in twelve days from there. I thought of telegraphing to you for advice how to act in this matter but on second thought I concluded it imprudnet to loose the time required to await an answer. you can see the way in which I had the tax made a light as possible. The agent made out his bill which I enclose. He said he would write to you also. The cattle look very well he have left quite a number of old bulls on the road gave out. Out side of that we have not lost many cattle on the way. I will be back with the herd to night and proceed on our way tomorrow. Would write to my wife now but cannot spare the time. I will write to you again from Stinking water. Hoping ever thing will be satisfactory with you. l remain Yours Respectfully Peter McCulloch Although no year is stated, the "heyday" (Hayday?) of the cattle drive was the 1860s - 1880s, with the number increasing significantly after the Civil War (although Texas herded some of her cattle to the Confederacy during the war). Most of the established trails ran from Texas to Kansas. There were established "tolls" (generally a per-head fee) along trails such as Chisholm, Bozeman, etc. It would appear that this drive from Wyoming was making its own trail across unknown territory. Condition: Excellent, with minor surface soil on folds on verso.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
