Winter 2006 Research Review

[Diane Merkel]

The Research Review is out and looks wonderful. I just picked it up from the post office, so I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Congrats to three of our "boarders" for contributing articles to it: John Mackintosh, Marc Abrams, and Fred Wagner.

Just Fred's luck: He's on the road somewhere and hasn't seen his article yet.

[elisabeth]

Just got my copy. What a great issue! Fred's article is superb, and so are all the others. Excellent reading.

[markland]

Sheesh, the Pony Express took its time delivering mine as it only came today. The first thing which caught by attention was Susan Michno's article on the Box family. To add something to it, here is the original statement I transcribed on 9/24/2002 from microfilm at the National Archives.

Billy

Mrs. James Box Statement
Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs 1824-1881
M234 roll 375 frame 405
National Archives & Records Administration
Transcribed by Billy Markland

Transcriber’s Note: I have inserted the quotation marks to improve readability on Mrs. Box’s comments.

Statement of Mrs. [Matthew?] Box, made to Captain Andrew Sheridan 3rd U.S. Inft. Bvt. Maj. U.S.A.
Commanding Post Fort Dodge Kansas


Fort Dodge Kansas
October 20th 1866


Major

My name is Mrs. [Matthew?] Box, am about forty two years of age – was born in Gibson Co., Tennessee, went to Texas when I was about eight years old – Was married to James Box when I was seventeen years of age. After we were married we lived in Titus Co. three months & then moved to Hopkins Co. (Westport) – we lived in Westport Hopkins Co. for a long time, all my children but one were born in Westport – About the breaking out of the late rebellion, we moved to Montague Co., Texas on the western frontier, the cause of our moving was owing to my husband being a Union man & did not wish to fight in the rebellion – It was sometime in May 1861, that we moved. There were five families of us, all relations. While we were living in Montague Co. my husband learned that one of his brothers was laying at the point of death & that another of his brothers had had a leg amputated, in Hopkins Co. & that they wished to see him at once. So we started, and went to Westport Hopkins Co. & stayed with my husband’s brothers until they were nearly well; I should say about five weeks. We started for home about the 10th of August last – my husband had put a quantity of leather in one wagon to take home – there being no leather in Montague Co. On our journey home, it rained a great deal – About five days after we started, & when we were within three miles of our home, my husband saw somebody on the hill, whom he supposed to be one of his neighbors – He said to me – “I wish that man would come down to us, so that I could borrow his horse for our jaded one & then we could get home faster”. I looked in the direction when he pointed & said – “Why there are three or four of them”! He then said, “they are Indians – we are gone. Margaret – get my sixshooter [sic] quick”! Margaret went to get it & before she could give it to him, the Indians came upon us & shot him in the breast. He fell over in the Wagon – Pulling the arrow from his breast, rose & fired at them – He was then shot through the head by an arrow – He pulled the arrow from his head, jumped out of the wagon, and ran round to the left side [where?] he fell to the ground – The Indians then scalped him twice, & cut his left jaw. They then pulled me out of the wagon by the hair of the head – robbed and took everything from the wagon – Took Josephine Maizie & Ida & tied them on ponies – They put Margaret on one but she jumped off, & ran round to her father, & held him, until they pulled her from him. They put Margaret back on the pony and started off on a gallop – We travelled fourteen days (night and day) before we stopped – about eleven days after we were taken, my baby Laura died – they took her from me, and threw her in a ravine – we travelled on until we got to the camp, where all the Indians were – I stayed in this Camp about four days with my children, when they moved me off about six miles further to another camp, where I stayed until they brought me in here. I had to pack wood and water. When I delayed they would whip & beat me & even the squaws would knock me down – I was very sick while with the Indians, notwithstanding, they would beat me. It was a terrible life – they gave us nothing to eat but boiled meat, nothing whatever but that. My husband’s three brothers are still living in Texas – Wade Box lives in Johnson Co. Texas. Young Box lives in Hopkins Co. Texas (Westport) & John Box in Westport Hopkins Co. Texas – My mother brother and niece are living at our home in Montague Co., 25 miles from Gainsville.

/signed/ Mary [Matthus?] Box

Head Quarters Ft. Dodge K. Oct. 20th 1866

I certify the foregoing is the statement made to me of treatment the Box family received from the Kiowa Indians in Montague Co. and while at Indian Camp. (by Mrs. Mary Box)

/signed/ /Andrew Sheridan
Capt. 3rd Inft. & Bvt. Maj. U.S.A.
Commanding Post

[jdmackintosh]

admin said:

The Research Review is out and looks wonderful. I just picked it up from the post office, so I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Congrats to three of our "boarders" for contributing articles to it: John Mackintosh, Marc Abrams, and Fred Wagner.

Just Fred's luck: He's on the road somewhere and hasn't seen his article yet.

Thanks, Diane, I enjoyed writing the article and glad you liked it. Great job, Marc and Fred on your articles.