Post by elisabeth on Mar 14, 2006 7:25:51 GMT -6
In The Benteen-Goldin Letters, p. 224 and onwards, there's mention of a proposal by a Mr. Herbert G. Squiers of New York City, formerly an officer in the 7th Cavalry, to publish a history of the regiment.
It's officially sanctioned, as there's a letter (dated 1894) from Lt. Bell, as Adjutant, asking for contributions to it. The plan as outlined was for an edition of 250 copies, with one for each contributor and the remainder to go to libraries or to be "disposed of as he may see fit". It was to contain:
"1. A history of the regiment from its organization to present time.
2. A sketch of the battle of the Washita
3. Of the battle of the Little Big Horn
4. Battle of Bear Paw Mountain
5. Of Wounded Knee
6. Short sketches of every officer who has ever belonged to and served in the Regiment, setting forth service with it as shown by the records. Each sketch to be accompanied by a portrait of its subject."
Benteen, predictably, thinks it's a scam (but takes it seriously enough to fight tooth and nail against Custer's portrait being used as frontispiece!). It's just dawned on me that Garlington's Chronological Sketch of Co. I, also dated 1894, must have been compiled with this book in mind. Perhaps Benteen's two narratives were inspired by it, too; and maybe Gibson's Washita account. If others also drafted contributions -- whether or not the book itself ever happened -- there could be some valuable stuff floating about out there.
Does anyone know if it was ever published? Or, if not, what happened to the contributions?
It's officially sanctioned, as there's a letter (dated 1894) from Lt. Bell, as Adjutant, asking for contributions to it. The plan as outlined was for an edition of 250 copies, with one for each contributor and the remainder to go to libraries or to be "disposed of as he may see fit". It was to contain:
"1. A history of the regiment from its organization to present time.
2. A sketch of the battle of the Washita
3. Of the battle of the Little Big Horn
4. Battle of Bear Paw Mountain
5. Of Wounded Knee
6. Short sketches of every officer who has ever belonged to and served in the Regiment, setting forth service with it as shown by the records. Each sketch to be accompanied by a portrait of its subject."
Benteen, predictably, thinks it's a scam (but takes it seriously enough to fight tooth and nail against Custer's portrait being used as frontispiece!). It's just dawned on me that Garlington's Chronological Sketch of Co. I, also dated 1894, must have been compiled with this book in mind. Perhaps Benteen's two narratives were inspired by it, too; and maybe Gibson's Washita account. If others also drafted contributions -- whether or not the book itself ever happened -- there could be some valuable stuff floating about out there.
Does anyone know if it was ever published? Or, if not, what happened to the contributions?