Captain John Stuart Letter, 1836-06-18
Scope and Contents
This eleven page letter, written on June 18, 1836, to Adj. Gen. R. Jones, from Fort Coffee, discusses the situation of the troops in Arkansas Territory.
Dates
- Creation: 1836-06-18
Creator
- Stuart, John, -1838 (Correspondent, Person)
- Jones, Roger, 1789-1852 (Recipient, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Access if by appointment only.
Biographical / Historical
John Stuart of Kentucky served as a private in the Thirty-ninth Infantry from July 20, 1814 to June, 1816 and sergeant until August, 1819. He was then appointed second lieutenant in the Seventh Infantry on August 13, 1819 and became first lieutenant on October 6, 1822. He was commissioned captain June 30, 1828. Part of the Seventh Infantry came to Fort Smith in 1822 and to Fort Gibson in 1824, and from 1831 the whole regiment served at Fort Gibson for nearly ten years. Stuart therefore saw nearly all of his army service in the Indian Territory. He was a man of keen perception and deep interest in his surroundings and particularly in the Indians with whom his service brought him in contact. In charge of Company C, Captain Stuart reoccupied the abandoned Fort Smith in 1833 and the next year was directed to move his force ten miles up the river and establish a new garrison at a place that became known as Fort Coffee. Here he served until 1838 when he was ordered to abandon Fort Coffee and move his command to a point near the Arkansas line on the Illinois River and establish a new post which was called Fort Illinois then FortWayne. This was an unhealthful spot where a number of the soldiers died and on December 8, 1838, the toll of death included Captain Stuart himself. – Grant Foreman
Extent
1 item (11 pages.)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Description
A handwritten letter, in fair condition.
Subject
- United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 7th (Organization)
Geographic
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum Repository
1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd.
Tulsa Ok 74127
918-631-6441