William S. Dutt Correspondence, 1859-1864

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Summary

Creators:
Dutt, William S.
Abstract:
This collection contains photostat copies of 36 letters written by William S. Dutt (1836-1866) to his family, writing about his life and people he encountered in Missouri and Colorado in 1859-1860, and his military experiences in various Southwestern towns following his enlistment in the New Mexico Volunteers in 1862, as well as his experiences with Native Americans.
Extent:
1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William S. Dutt correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes 36 letters, all photostats, written by William S. Dutt to his family. During his time in Missouri, Dutt wrote about the people he encountered including "darkeys," and immigrants from the South and Germany. During his time in Colorado, Dutt expressed his derogatory views about Mexicans, "greasers," "savages," slaves, and the Confederacy. After October 1862, Dutt talks about his military experiences in various Southwestern towns, military forts, and with various Hispanic and Native American groups. Among the military installations he visited were: Fort Garland, Colorado; Fort Union, Fort Sumner, Fort Wingate, and Fort Bascom, New Mexico. Among the places he visited were Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also wrote thorough descriptions of his experiences with Apache, Comanche, Navajo, and Pueblo Indians.

Biographical / historical:

William S. Dutt (1836-1866) was born in 1836. He left Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in April 1859 on a steamboat, first to Cincinnati, Ohio, and then to St. Louis, Missouri. From there, he moved to "Shoal Creek Prairie," close to Aviston, Illinois. After farming for three months, he moved again to Gasconade County, Missouri, where he taught grade school until March 1860. Dutt continued to make his way West, first to Leavenworth, Kansas, in May 1860, and then to Denver, Colorado, by July. When the Civil War started, Dutt was mining in Colorado. He planned to return to his family in the East but instead was recruited in October 1862 by the New Mexico Volunteers to serve in Company M, 1st Cavalry. Dutt worked his way up to sergeant and remained in the military until his death. Dutt allegedly died at the age of 30 in a battle with Native Americans on December 25, 1866, at Tetterman's Gap near Butte, Montana.

Acquisition information:
Copies made from originals owned by Jack R. Smith, November 1946.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William S. Dutt correspondence, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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