Newberry Library - Letter Louisville, Ky., to W.S. Hamilton, St. Francesville, La., 1825 Dec. 21

Letter Louisville, Ky., to W.S. Hamilton, St. Francesville, La., 1825 Dec. 21

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Open book Letter Louisville, Ky., to W.S. Hamilton, St. Francesville, La., 1825 Dec. 21

Title Letter Louisville, Ky., to W.S. Hamilton, St. Francesville, La., 1825 Dec. 21

Creator Atkinson, Henry, 1782-1842

Date 1825

Place Great Plains, Missouri River

Subjects Indians of North America, Paddle-wheels, River boats, United States

Description Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
Text of letter on p. [1]-[6]; address on p. [8]
For more information, consult the Special Collections Info. File.

Summary Dec. 21, 1825, letter from Atkinson to William S. Hamilton, a fellow North Carolinian and friend with whom he had joined the army on July 1, 1808. To Hamilton, who had resigned his military commission in 1817, Atkinson describes his recent expedition up the Missouri. He lists the seventeen Indian tribes he met in council and the number of warriors in each; mentions the paddle-wheel keel boats; and notes that the trip was completed without loss of life. Atkinson also comments on fellow officers and on his hopes for an impending marriage. In fact, he and Mary Ann Bullitt of Louisville were wed the following month.

Biographical/Historical Note Career army officer, commander of two expeditions to the upper Missouri River (1819 and 1825), and founder of the Jefferson Barracks. In 1825 Atkinson led a large force up the Missouri from Council Bluffs in keel boats propelled by hand-driven paddle wheels of his own design. As United States commissioner with Benjamin O'Fallon, Atkinson negotiated treaties of trade and friendship with seventeen Indian tribes and returned his escort intact to Council Bluffs.

Extent 1 item (2 folded sheets (8 p.)) ; 25 cm

Format Correspondence, Manuscripts

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection, Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 38

BibID 134962

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2354px × 2944px 19.86 MB

File Created 09/08/2023

Filename 991349628805867_Ayer_MS_38_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11OL3L

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