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THE FETTERMAN MASSACRE

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
THE FETTERMAN MASSACRE
SAMUEL M. HORTON Assistant Surgeon who, with Fetterman, garrisoned the Bozeman Trail. Horton was also part of Smith's relief column that rescued Capt. James Powell the following year. It was Horton who examined Fetterman and Brown's wounds and confirmed that Fetterman did not commit suicide. Scarce partly-printed D.S. signed twice, 24pp. folio, Plattsburgh Barracks, NY, June 21, 1872, a "Return of Medical Property". Very good. The story has long been told that Fetterman and Brown committed suicide by shooting each other in the head. Refuting this is Horton's official report, which stated: "Col. Fetterman's body showed his thorax to have been cut crosswise with a knife, deep into the viscera...I believe that mutilation caused his death". Regarding Brown, Surgeon Horton stated: "...a hole made in his left temple by a small pistol ball; the latter most probably caused his death". It is probable that Brown committed suicide. An Oglala warrior, American Horse, later explained that he ran an officer down with his horse. After dismounting, American Horse hit the officer with his club then cut the throat with his knife. American Horse's description of his killing of the soldier and the wounds that the surgeon found on Fetterman matched such an attack. Along with HENRY LIPPINCOTT, another physician associated with the Fetterman Massacre, typed D.S., 1p. 4to., New York, 1902, attesting to a man's illness. Two pieces.