TWO LETTERS FROM JIM GATCHELL, JOHNSON CITY, WYOMING, TO GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL, THE “FATHER OF AMERICAN CONSERVATION” WITH GREAT CONTENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN WEST.
TWO LETTERS FROM JIM GATCHELL, JOHNSON CITY, WYOMING, TO GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL, THE “FATHER OF AMERICAN CONSERVATION” WITH GREAT CONTENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AMERICAN WEST.
Gatchel, Jim and George Bird Grinnell (1849-1938). Grinnell was a prominent conservationist and student of the western American Indian. Offered are two typed letters signed by Jim Gatchel, the owner of the Buffalo Pharmacy, in Johnson County, Wyoming. Gatchell was friendly with both white settlers and the Lakota, having grown up on their reservation and fluent in their language. In 1954, after his death, his family donated his vast collection of gifts from the Lakota and other items to the people of Johnson County who established the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum in 1957.
The letters are addressed to George Bird Grinnell, a prominent American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, author and conservationist. He is best known for spearheading legislation to protect the American bison, for the founding of the first Audubon Society and for studies of the ethnology of the Plains cultures.
The letters, typed on Gatchell’s Drug Store, Buffalo Wyoming letterhead are the following in full:
(1st Letter) September27/27
Dr. George Bird Grinnell,
New York City
My Dear Doctor:
In reply to your letter of 23, inst., will say that while I have a vast fund of information relative to the Wagon Box Fight, have made no attempt as yet to put it in shape for publication.
Am at present working hard –that is for me—on a story of the Custer battle, and as soon as it is finished will start work on the Wagon Box affair.
You are perfectly correct in the opinion that the Wagon Box Fight has been grossly exaggerated.
However, I have found, that with the exception of Gibson and Smyth, the survivors of the fight all tell a much modified tale of the engagement.
As you well know, Col. R.I. Dodge, in his “Thirty-Three Years Among Our Wild Indians,” gave the first account of the Wagon Box Fight, but the story did not attract much attention until many years later when Rev. Brady copied the account, word for word and without credit, in “Indian Fights and Fighters.”
That part of the story, purporting to have come from Gen. G.M. Dodge, where the “Old Frontiersman” tells there being, “Nigh on to eleven hundred of them killed, “ is pure fiction.
As a matter of fact there were not that many Indians in the attack.
In 1894, in company with Frank Grouard, I talked with a Mr. Frank Gordon, who was a teamster employed by the wood contractor, and was in the fight. Gordon’s wife was a Sioux squaw, and knew of the affair from her people. I told them of the story by Dodge, and they both declared the account to be untrue. Gordon was of the opinion that possibly thirty or forty Indians were killed or wounded, and Mrs. Gordon thought not not that many.
Through Grouard I was able to interview a number of Oglallas and they simply laughed at the Dodge report.
Moses Dodge (no ______ with the other Dodge), long a resident of this country, was in the fight, and I covered the affair from every angle with him, and his story checks closely with what the Indians tell me.
Littman, Hoover, Claus, Webber and others tell a story of the affair that makes the Dodge version look ridiculous.
I believe that Gibson was looking for notoriety, and Smyth simply allowed Cyrus Townsend Brady to think for him.
Assuring you that I will get the Wagon Box material in shape as fast as possible, I am
Truly Yours
J. Gatchel
2nd Letter typed on Gatchell’s Drug Store, T.J. Gatchell, Proprietor, Buffalo, Wyoming letter head.
Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell
New York, N.Y.
Dear Sir:
Your very kind and interesting letter received and I appreciate very much your interest in the matter.
In regard the finding of the Cole command, will say that my deductions were made from information received from Mr. W.H. Johnson, (Wm. Devine) of Sheridan, who was a member of the Cole contingent.
Mr. Johnson was positive in the statement that “North was not with the Indians who located the Cole column – that he was well acquainted with North and did not see him until their arrival at Connor.”
However, I am now convinced that your version of the affair is correct. I met Major North a great many years ago, but never had the pleasure of talking Indian wars with him.
Mr. W.G. Angus, of Buffalo, was well acquainted with Major North, having served in the same command with him, and assures me that any statement he made to you can be relied on.
Have spent most of my spare time this summer on the “Wagon Box” fight and in endeavoring to find the exact location of the fight. Have learned a great many things relative to the affair, but up to date have not satisfied myself that the exact location has been found.
Have a long interview, secured by Mr. Burt Griggs, of Buffalo, from Mr. Frederick Claus, of Lincoln, Neb., who is a survivor.
Mr. Claus gives a very interesting account of the battle, and I am firmly convinced comes very near telling the truth.
From his description of the field it is impossible for either Littman or Gibson to be right in their location.
I interested myself in the “Wagon Box” fight location some twenty-seven years ago, and in company with Frank Grouard visited what was at that time pointed out by Mr. Dodge, of Gilman Dodge and Co and Sam Stringer, who were both at Phil Kearney at the time of the fight, as the site of the engagement, but the new locations are at least a half mile west of this place.
At the Litman location and the Gibson location there is absolutely no indication of the ground having been occupied, while at the site shown me at the time as above, on last Sunday our part found two Springfield shells, an iron hub ring, three bolts, a piece of ox bow, a lynch pin and several other pieces of iron.
Some months ago I received a letter from a man who was with the party that went to the relief of the wagon box detail and he informed me that the wood choppers had a camp on the south side of Little Piney that was burned on the same day as the Powell fight; that it was on the west side of the ridge, and in a place that would not be likely to be disturbed; that some Government wagons had been among the property destroyed there by the Indians, and that undoubtedly some evidence could still be found.
He described the place as being about a mile and a half soutwest of the Wagon Box fight. Powell describes it as being about a mile south-west.
After considerable scouting around we found the place beyond the shadow of a doubt. Found the iron of a lynch pin Government axle, several hub rings, two tires and considerable other iron.
There was also evidence of the place having been occupied as a camp.
Clause describes the battle site as being safe from attack on the North-east side – the Dodge site answering this description – but on the other hand he also states that the Indians charged from the north-west – an impossibility as this location.
Maghill – the man with the relief party – says the site was on the North side of the road about two or three hundred yards.
Gibsons location answers that part of the description, but there was no protection on any side.
Litman’s location has a small draw running on the north and west, but not enough to afford any protection. It is south of the road.
Do you have any idea how long the “Wagon Box” corral was used as a camp?
Have you ever visited the place in the old Hosburg pasture where the rock fortifications were built at the north end of the ridge?
From what I have been able to learn of the affair it has been greatly overdrawn and I am convinced that not to exceed fifty Indians were killed in the fight. Clause states that not to exceed 60 Indians were killed.
Will be very glad to hear from you at any time and will be glad to give you any information I have at any time.
With kindest regards,
I am Respt.
T.J. Gatchell
(Written on bottom of second page.)
Was out to the site of “Phil Kearney” this summer with two men who helped ____ the fort. Thos E.H. Lewis and John Ryan, both ____ of the Wyoming Soldiers home.
Lewis stated that he had a sub-contract in 1867 and passed the site of the Wagon Box Fight a great many times, but was unable to find the locations. He is going out again and may be able to determine the place.
Respt
TJG
Both letters are typed and signed on 8 x 10 inch stationary with the second having a written paragraph at the end. Very minor expected age chips at stationary edges, overall in vg cond.
The primary emphasis of the letters is the “Wagon Box” fight which was fought on August 2, 1867, in the vicinity of Fort Phil Kearny during Red Cloud's War. A party of 26 soldiers and 6 civilians were attack by several hundred Lakota Sioux. The soldiers held their ground as they were armed with newly supplied breech-loading Springfield Model 1866 rifles and lever-action Henry rifles, plus being barricaded behind a defensive wall of wagon boxes to protect them. The first assault on the wagon box corral came from mounted warriors from the southwest, but the raiders encountered heavy fire from the soldiers. The attackers withdrew, regrouped, and launched several further attacks on foot. They killed Powell's second-in-command, Lt. Jenness, and two soldiers. The battle continued from about 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 pm.