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Post by Rabble on Feb 7, 2007 2:07:40 GMT -6
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Post by elisabeth on Feb 7, 2007 7:24:39 GMT -6
Fabulous, Rabble -- thanks so much for posting it!
The captions are a bit dodgy, surprisingly for the Smithsonian; they frequently ignore the photographer's own caption, and are sometimes just plain wrong. (E.g. taking the date of a painting for the date of the events it depicts, or misreading the photographer's handwriting so that, for instance, we get Weir identified as being in the 9th Cavalry (!), and Nowlan identified as "Newton"). So it's worth ploughing through the whole album rather than trying to use the search facility, I found. It's glorious stuff anyway, so no hardship!
Of particular interest for the likes of us: no. 206 appears to give us a new pic of Charlie Reynolds. No. 388, depicting Kennedy's death at Washita, has a slightly novel twist on the story. No. 507 is a photo of Carrington which I don't recall seeing before ... no. 508 shows Fort Rice ... no. 539, that fairly familiar photo of a wounded soldier on a travois, has a suggestion that it could in fact be Braden ... no. 541, the well-known Custer/bear photo, has a note from the photographer stating that the man usually identified as Ludlow is in fact -- according to Mrs. Custer -- Charlie Reynolds. Interesting. No. 543, an unidentified troop of cavalry, gives a rather nice hint of how the Gray Horse Troop must have looked en masse; you can see why the Indians were so impressed. Nos. 604 and 612 show the town of Ellsworth ... 621 and 622 are slightly unfamiliar pictures of GAC ... 641 is Sgt. Major Kennedy ... 642 is Dr. Lippincott ... 649 is Robbins ... and 710 is that splendid picture of the 1886 anniversary trip with the group posed on Reno Hill. It's in Where Custer Fell, but in few other places, and the advantage here is that you can enlarge it a bit.
Many other great things besides. Lovely. Thanks again.
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Post by bubbabod on Feb 7, 2007 21:10:17 GMT -6
Rabble, while going through the pictures, under Frontier Life, page 114, there is a picture of Col. Albert Pfeiffer. The name rang a bell. I remember driving with our late friend Perry Baker about three years ago on our way to the LBH, and we stopped at a roadside historical marker. It told of a battle fought, man to man, between a 5'5" white man representing one tribe and a huge Indian representing the other tribe for rights to Pagosa Springs, which was held to be sacred. Here is a better account:
"Albert Hinrich Pfeiffer was born in Germany in 1822. He emigrated to the United States in 1844 arriving in Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory two years later where he joined thearmy and eventually rose to the rank of Colonel. In 1863, while stationed at Fort McRae, near today's Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, he and his wife, along with a party of ten, visited some nearby hot springs which were known for their curative waters. Suddenly attacked by Apache Indians, Pfeiffer was seriously wounded by arrows; one arrow going completely through his body, just below the heart. His wife was carried away by the Apaches, and later killed. Of the accompanying party five were killed, three werewounded and two escaped uninjured.
"Thereafter, Pfeiffer hunted - and killed - Apaches with a passion. He, reportedly, onetime said, "they paid for it, yes they have paid well for it, in blood. I avenge her! I fight 'em night and day - everywhere in all seasons! I track 'em night and day, so they know not any peace nor rest. I shoot down their best and bravest! ... I kill themwhen they stand up and fight me face to face. I have chased 'em for many days - I hadn't stopped in the night sixty or seventy miles every day, and no time to rest nor eat, till they are like famished wolves, and when I catch 'em and kill 'em - kill "em all - I can count every bone in their lean bodies.
"And, that was just for starters!
"Ann, in a work of extraordinary research, has given us the fascinating story of a true frontier hero of the American West. A man whose daily companions were often named Violence and Death. That Albert Hinrich Pfeiffer would eventually die in bed, and not among the cactus and rocks in some lonely place, is a miracle in itself."
James E. "Jim" Perkins, author and historian.
Two nude warriors, one 5' 5" tall and the other a "giant Navajo" agreed to fight a dual to the death armed with Bowie knives. The victor would win the sacred Pagosa Hot Springs. Pfeiffer, the smaller man was the winner; he was representing his friends - the Utes.
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Post by Rabble on Feb 8, 2007 18:31:19 GMT -6
Hi Elisabeth and bubbabod,
Glad that you enjoyed the site, I thought that it was well worth a visit. I see that you have already dissected the details Elisabeth!
A great story as well, bubbabod, thanks for that.
Regards
Rabble ;D
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