Newberry Library - Benjamin Henry Grierson papers, 1865-1890

Benjamin Henry Grierson papers, 1865-1890

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Open book Benjamin Henry Grierson papers, 1865-1890

Title Benjamin Henry Grierson papers, 1865-1890

Creator Grierson, Benjamin Henry, 1826-1911

Date 1865-1890

Place Oklahoma--Fort Sill, Texas, Texas--Fort Concho, Texas--Fort Davis

Language English

Subjects Frontier and pioneer life, Indians of North America, United States

Description Formerly known as Ayer MS 343a.

Summary Covering a quarter of a century of military service, the Benjamin H. Grierson Papers include correspondence; orders and reports (both manuscript and officially printed); miscellaneous military documents; miscellaneous material both professional and personal; some memorabilia, including cartes de visite of Grierson; and eleven maps, both published and manuscript. The outgoing correspondence is mainly to Grierson's wife, Alice Kirk Grierson, consisting of more than a hundred letters and telegrams. Among the few other letters are some to his brother John Grierson, to Indian Commissioner Felix Brunot, to President Grant, and to Generals Sheridan and Sherman. The large collection of incoming correspondence contains a number of letters from Grierson's adjutants, Henry E. Alvord, Robert G. Smither and Samuel L. Woodward, as well as letters from Felix Brunot, William B. Hazen, Generals Ranald Mackenzie, Philip Sheridan and William T. Sherman. Other miscellaneous letters include one from William T. Sherman to Winfield Scott Hancock written in 1867 in praise of Grierson. The military documents include journals of expeditions, orders to Grierson, and reports from Grierson, both officially printed and handwritten, and other miscellaneous military material include endorsements, pamphlets, rosters, etc. Among other miscellany are extensive reports and information on the 1887 Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation in New Mexico, newspaper clippings, poems and maps.

Biographical/Historical Note United States Army officer. Benjamin Henry Grierson was born in Pittsburgh in 1826, grew up in Ohio, and finally settled in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he taught music and started a business career. At the start of the Civil War Grierson volunteered and soon became a staff officer in command of several cavalry divisions, achieving distinction during the years of conflict. Although not a graduate of West Point, after the war Grierson decided to remain in the Regular Army. Given the rank of colonel, he accepted the appointment to organize the 10th U.S. Cavalry, one of two mounted regiments composed of black enlisted men and white officers that became known as the Buffalo Soldiers. He was brevetted brigadier general and major general in the regular army in 1867, beginning a long and vigorous career serving on the western frontier. Grierson headed the District of the Indian Territory, commanding Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, from 1867 until 1869. He selected the site for Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and commanded the post until 1872. After two years supervising recruiting efforts in St. Louis, in 1875 he was sent to Fort Concho, Texas, where he then commanded the District of the Pecos from 1878 until 1880. In the following years he was in charge of the District of New Mexico and then the Department of Arizona. For nearly a quarter of a century Grierson was actively engaged in scouting and exploring throughout the western states and territories, often in the midst of the most hostile Indians of the frontier. He was known to treat both Indians and his black troops as tolerantly as was possible and seems to have earned affection and loyalty from those men who served closely with him. Grierson married Alice Kirk in 1854, and they had seven children. Alice died in 1888, and in 1897, Grierson married the widow Lillian Atwood King. In 1890, after finally being awarded the rank of brigadier general in the regular army, Grierson retired to his ranch in Concho, Texas. He died of a stroke in 1911.

Extent 2 linear ft. (5 boxes)

Format Correspondence, Manuscripts, Records

User-Contributed Transcription HeadquartersDistrict of the Indian TerritoryFort Gibson C.N. July 14 1868Grierson, B. H.Colonel 10th U. S. CavalryBreved Major General U.S.A.Comdg. Dist. Ind. Terr.Reports his expedition from Fort Arbuckle C. N. to theWichita Mountains

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

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

Link to Catalog View record

BibID 991343308805867

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 1906px × 2397px 13.10 MB

File Created 02/17/2023

Filename 991343308805867_Ayer_MS_3039_BX_04_FL_0181_00016-0.TIF

Unique Identifier NL11M1I8

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