Post by ahmann on Oct 25, 2011 10:38:31 GMT -5
here is the letter that I transcribed to make it easier to read:
Grand River DT
Dec. 12, 1873
Dear Harry,
Yours of Nov. 25, was received this afternoon. It is now 10 o’clock pm but as I am not sleepy and have been writing letters, I concluded that I would drop you a few lines. Regarding myself I must say that I am getting along finely. I am now around without the aid of a cane and in a short time will be all right. The wound is still troubling me some but not very painful and can stand I think another pull with them some of these days. Am glad that you are pleased with your trinkets. They were the best that I could get especially as the Indians left here so soon. Some of them were procured from the Blackfoot and some from the Sioux Indians. The arrows are not poisoned. The tweezers that you received have a history. The custom of the Indians of all tribes is to not wear whiskers. Consequently, they all carry these tweezers to pull them out. Well this pair belonged to an Indian the Chief of the Blackfeet tribe whose English name was Grass. His Indian name I do not remember but he died here in the hospital this summer and I got the tweezers. He was a friend of the white man and a brave and noble Indian. Poor fellow had been neglected by his doctor when I found how low he was I took him into the hospital so as to give him a comfortable place to die. He appreciated my kindness to him and told me that had he been with me 2 weeks sooner he was satisfied that he would have lived, but felt grateful to me for all the kindness to him and hoped to meet me in the happy hunting ground. I felt really sorry to see Grass die, much as I dislike Indians for he was a good Indian and a true friend. No doubt he had when a young man taken many a white man’s scalp in order to raise him to chief of his tribe, but for the past 20 years he had been a good friend to the white. For the sake of my friendship to Grass take good care of the tweezers. The clay from which the pipe is made is of a peculiar quality which only exists somewhere in the Black Hills and the Indians are more reluctant to part with pipes than anything else for it is so hard to get and they have to travel long ways to procure it. These same Indians give a pony for a pipe. Yes Mr. Thob? is right most any of these streams up in this country will petrify anything. It is owing to the ? of the atmosphere. You can see how those fish are petrified. Wood becomes so exposed to the air and partially in water. Well have I answered all of your questions as it is getting late will close now and go to bed. I am glad to know that you like your trinkets and am glad to hear from you. Hope you will write often and remember that I will always take a lively interest in you and your welfare and any time would be pleased to hear from you. Be as good a boy in the future as you have always been in the past and you will find that you will prosper. Write to me often and I will always be glad to hear from you and answer your letters. Give my love to uncle and Aunt and Ella and write again soon.
Your affectionate cousin
Dr. A.H. Mann US Army
Post Surgeon
Grand River DT
Grand River DT
Dec. 12, 1873
Dear Harry,
Yours of Nov. 25, was received this afternoon. It is now 10 o’clock pm but as I am not sleepy and have been writing letters, I concluded that I would drop you a few lines. Regarding myself I must say that I am getting along finely. I am now around without the aid of a cane and in a short time will be all right. The wound is still troubling me some but not very painful and can stand I think another pull with them some of these days. Am glad that you are pleased with your trinkets. They were the best that I could get especially as the Indians left here so soon. Some of them were procured from the Blackfoot and some from the Sioux Indians. The arrows are not poisoned. The tweezers that you received have a history. The custom of the Indians of all tribes is to not wear whiskers. Consequently, they all carry these tweezers to pull them out. Well this pair belonged to an Indian the Chief of the Blackfeet tribe whose English name was Grass. His Indian name I do not remember but he died here in the hospital this summer and I got the tweezers. He was a friend of the white man and a brave and noble Indian. Poor fellow had been neglected by his doctor when I found how low he was I took him into the hospital so as to give him a comfortable place to die. He appreciated my kindness to him and told me that had he been with me 2 weeks sooner he was satisfied that he would have lived, but felt grateful to me for all the kindness to him and hoped to meet me in the happy hunting ground. I felt really sorry to see Grass die, much as I dislike Indians for he was a good Indian and a true friend. No doubt he had when a young man taken many a white man’s scalp in order to raise him to chief of his tribe, but for the past 20 years he had been a good friend to the white. For the sake of my friendship to Grass take good care of the tweezers. The clay from which the pipe is made is of a peculiar quality which only exists somewhere in the Black Hills and the Indians are more reluctant to part with pipes than anything else for it is so hard to get and they have to travel long ways to procure it. These same Indians give a pony for a pipe. Yes Mr. Thob? is right most any of these streams up in this country will petrify anything. It is owing to the ? of the atmosphere. You can see how those fish are petrified. Wood becomes so exposed to the air and partially in water. Well have I answered all of your questions as it is getting late will close now and go to bed. I am glad to know that you like your trinkets and am glad to hear from you. Hope you will write often and remember that I will always take a lively interest in you and your welfare and any time would be pleased to hear from you. Be as good a boy in the future as you have always been in the past and you will find that you will prosper. Write to me often and I will always be glad to hear from you and answer your letters. Give my love to uncle and Aunt and Ella and write again soon.
Your affectionate cousin
Dr. A.H. Mann US Army
Post Surgeon
Grand River DT