5pp ALS to Friend Brown, Pine Ridge Agency, D.T., Sept. 10, 1887. The quixotic Valentine McGillycuddy became famous for what he saw as his efforts to build a peaceful coexistence between the Lakota and the U.S. government. A Medical officer with the cavalry during the Indian Wars, McGillycuddy became an Indian agent at Pine Ridge, befriending Crazy Horse, while alienating the influential Red Cloud and many other Lakotas. In many ways, his self-professed attempts to make peace with the government created rifts within Pine Ridge with potentially incendiary consequences. His tenure there was marked by frequent allegations of impropriety and mismanagement, some politically motivated and some not, with the pressure eventually leading to his resignation. In this fine letter written while serving at Pine Ridge, McGillycuddy catches up with an old acquaintance, apprising him of his appointment to Pine Ridge and the fallout since: As you surmise I am the �Black Hills� man.... The Spring of 1876 however found me in the Big Horn, as medical officer with Gen. Crook fighting Sitting Bull, during which campaign we had some fighting to do with the �noble red man� and I got some lively scares. From that time until the spring of 1879, myself and wife remained in various parts of the Sioux Country as medical officer with the army and Indians, sometimes fighting some times doctoring. In �79 I was appointed agent here, and here I am, but have had one eternal fight against squaw men and old Red Cloud until the 19th of Aug. when I started up a racket here, and arrested the old heathen. The Eastern Philanthropists are now investigating me for stealing cruelty to the poor Indian, etc., but the young Indian bucks are backing me and I am �on deck� yet. They are now talking of assassinating me. It is quite a job to manage 8,300 Indians with troops 60 miles away, but all I ask is to let me alone. I want no troops, we can settle this little thing ourselves. I have a company of 50 of the finest mounted Indian police you ever saw, and they are solid with me... An exceptional letter revealing of one of the west�s reforming Indian agents. Condition: Excellent condition with minor age toning and some iron spotting at edge of sheet.
5pp ALS to Friend Brown, Pine Ridge Agency, D.T., Sept. 10, 1887. The quixotic Valentine McGillycuddy became famous for what he saw as his efforts to build a peaceful coexistence between the Lakota and the U.S. government. A Medical officer with the cavalry during the Indian Wars, McGillycuddy became an Indian agent at Pine Ridge, befriending Crazy Horse, while alienating the influential Red Cloud and many other Lakotas. In many ways, his self-professed attempts to make peace with the government created rifts within Pine Ridge with potentially incendiary consequences. His tenure there was marked by frequent allegations of impropriety and mismanagement, some politically motivated and some not, with the pressure eventually leading to his resignation. In this fine letter written while serving at Pine Ridge, McGillycuddy catches up with an old acquaintance, apprising him of his appointment to Pine Ridge and the fallout since: As you surmise I am the �Black Hills� man.... The Spring of 1876 however found me in the Big Horn, as medical officer with Gen. Crook fighting Sitting Bull, during which campaign we had some fighting to do with the �noble red man� and I got some lively scares. From that time until the spring of 1879, myself and wife remained in various parts of the Sioux Country as medical officer with the army and Indians, sometimes fighting some times doctoring. In �79 I was appointed agent here, and here I am, but have had one eternal fight against squaw men and old Red Cloud until the 19th of Aug. when I started up a racket here, and arrested the old heathen. The Eastern Philanthropists are now investigating me for stealing cruelty to the poor Indian, etc., but the young Indian bucks are backing me and I am �on deck� yet. They are now talking of assassinating me. It is quite a job to manage 8,300 Indians with troops 60 miles away, but all I ask is to let me alone. I want no troops, we can settle this little thing ourselves. I have a company of 50 of the finest mounted Indian police you ever saw, and they are solid with me... An exceptional letter revealing of one of the west�s reforming Indian agents. Condition: Excellent condition with minor age toning and some iron spotting at edge of sheet.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
