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William S. Dutt Correspondence: Finding Aid
mssDutt correspondence
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Title: William S. Dutt Correspondence
Dates (inclusive): 1859-1864
Collection Number: mssDutt correspondence
Creator: Dutt, William S.
Extent: 36 items, photostats.
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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.
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
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.
[Identification of item]. William S. Dutt Correspondence, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Copies made from originals owned by Jack R. Smith, November 1946.
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.
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.
The letters are arranged chronologically.
Comanche Indians
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Aug. 11) to “Brother David.” Box 1 (34).
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Sep. 11) to “Brother.” Box 1 (35).
Fort Bascom (N.M.)
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Apr. 25-26) to “Brothers.” Box 1 (32).
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, May 13) to “Brother.” Box 1 (33).
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Aug. 11) to “Brother David.” Box 1 (34).
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Sep. 11) to “Brother.” Box 1 (35).
Mexicans--New Mexico
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Apr. 25-26) to “Brothers.” Box 1 (32).
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, May 13) to “Brother.” Box 1 (33).
Navajo Indians
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Jan. 20-Feb. 3) to “Brothers.” Box 1 (29).
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, Apr. 25-26) to “Brothers.” Box 1 (32).
Pueblo Indians
- Subject in William S. Dutt letter (1864, May 13) to “Brother.” Box 1 (33).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Dutt, William
S.
Comanche Indians.
Mexicans -- New Mexico -- 19th century
-- History -- Sources.
Navajo Indians.
Pueblo Indians.
Colorado -- History --
19th century -- Sources.
Fort Bascom
(N.M.)
Fort Garland
(Colo.)
Fort Sumner
(N.M.)
Fort Union
(N.M.)
Fort Wingate
(N.M.)
Missouri -- History --
19th century -- Sources.
New Mexico --
Description and travel.
New Mexico -- History
-- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
Santa Fe
(N.M.)
Taos (N.M.)
United States --
History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives.
Letters (correspondence) -- United
States -- 19th century.
Stats (copies)