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Title: Archive of letters from Grierson and his wife, books about him, etc. Author: ** Place: Various places Publisher: Date: c.1855-1984 Description: Comprises: Nine A.L.s. written from Benjamin Grierson, stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to his father. 2 to 6 pages each, signed B.H.G. Nov.-Dec., 1866. * Three A.L.s. from Alice Grierson, at Fort Sill, to Ben[jamin] Grierson. 2 to 4 pages each, April-May, 1872. * A.L.s. from Helen Davis, at Fort Grant, to Aunt Alice [Grierson]. * Two A.L.s. from Brig. Gen. W. Hoffman, at Fort Leavenworth, to his subordinate Capt. Robinson, regarding placement and fencing of his camp. Each 1 page, June 21 & June 22, 1867. * Manuscript poem, Gypsey Song, on single sheet, with envelope (torn) addressed to Gen. B.H. Grierson at Fort Davis, TX. No date. * Printed broadside, “Campaign Song. Written by B.H. Grierson, of Meredosia, Ill… Offered for sale by the Meredosia Wide-Awakes.” (Stain and repair at top edge.) [c.1855-60]. * Book, by R.W. Surby, “Grierson Raids, and Hatch’s Sixty-Four Days March, with Biographical Sketches, and the Life and Adventures of Chickasaw, the Scout.” 396 pp. 8 (of 9) lithographed plates. Gilt-decorated cloth. Howes S1140. First Ed. Inscription from Harvey Grierson, dated 1921, on front endpaper. (Spine faded, some rubbing, lacks a plate.) Chicago: Rounds & James, 1865. * Book, Reprint of above with addition of “Morgan’s Disastrous Raid Through Indiana and Ohio.” Wrappers. (Worn, edges stained, paper darkened and brittle.) Washington: National Tribune, [1897]. * Book by William H. & Shirley A. Leckie, “Unlikely Warriors: General Benjamin Grierson and His Family.” Jacket. First Ed. Norman: Univ. of Oklahoma Press, [1984]. Benjamin Henry Grierson, 1826-1911, bandleader and musician turned soldier, was famous (or reviled, depending on allegiances) for the raid he led through Mississippi during the Civil War. Following the war he served on the frontier, and in Texas, and organized the 10th Cavalry, the “Buffalo Soldiers,” of black enlisted men and white officers. The nine letters from Grierson form the most significant portion of the archive, beginning just as he arrived at Fort Leavenworth in the middle of November, 1866, and was involved with the organization of the 10th Cavalry. On Nov. 15th, “We arrived here safely yesterday…” Nov. 24th, “No other officers of the 10th Cav. has yet reported to me, but I expect some next week, after which I hope to see the regiment filling up more rapidly…” Nov. 27th, “Captain Davis of the 10th Cavalry reported for duty yesterday. He will be ordered to Memphis Tenn. to recruit for the 10th Cavalry at that point…” Dec. 11, “I yesterday received from the Treasury Dept. at Washington a draft on the 1st National Bank of Leavenworth for 2000$ for the recruiting service, the amount for which I made an estimate in Sept. If some officers will only soon report for duty, I think I can have the regiment mostly filled up by Spring… The quality of horses brought in are not of the best…” Plus much reference to pay, military grade, uniforms, and other matters. The three letters from Alice Kirk Grierson, whom B.H. Grierson married in 1854, are also quite significant, being a frontier army wife’s reflections and observations while briefly separated from her husband. On April 29th, 1872, “There has been a detachment of the 4th Cavalry here, I believe brought a `cattle thief’ as prisoner. Capt. Robinson received a message from the commanding officer Sunday afternoon, to cook supper for 20 of the 4th cavalry, Capt. R. immediately `bucked’ at this…” Lot Amendments Condition: Just light wear to the letters, most near fine to fine, the books as described above. Item number: 163037