Worrell (Edward) journal of campaign through the south western and western prairies in the months of May and June, 1833, May and June 1833

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Summary

Title:
Edward Worrell : A journal of a campaign through the south western and western prairies in the months of May and June 1833
Dates:
May and June 1833
Abstract:
Two copies (one full, one partial) of a daily journal kept by U.S. Army surgeon Edward Worrell. The journal is noteworthy for its insights into the day-to-day life of a solider in the American West, as well as the attitudes of such soldiers on Native American culture.
Extent:
1 volume 68 leaves : paper ; 250 x 205 mm.
Language:
Materials are in English.

Background

Scope and content:

This bound manuscript includes the full text of a daily journal kept by Edward Worrell, an assistant surgeon who was part of an 1833 U.S. Army expedition to confront and contain the Pawnees in present day Oklahoma, and what appears to be a partial second draft of the same journal. Located in the Three Forks Region of present day Oklahoma (then Arkansas), Fort Gibson was actively engaged in attempts to diplomatically and forcibly convince local tribes and those relocated from the East to recognize the sovereignty of the United States government. The 1833 expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel James Many was the second such expedition to originate from Fort Gibson, and like the 1832 campaign, ended in failure. The detachment consisting of two select companies of the Seventh Infantry and three companies of Rangers traveled 513 miles in 55 days, however, the soldiers were slowed by their heavy equipment, lack of sufficient provisions, disease, and extreme weather conditions. On June 30, 1833 they returned to Fort Gibson having had only indirect interactions with members of the Pawnee tribe. Throughout his journal, Worrell comments on the day-to-day life of a member of the U.S. Army and the beauty of the prairie, while also recording events of potential military importance. It seems as if he later attempted to produce a version of his journal for public or private circulation; the partial second draft is divided into chapters with brief summaries at the head of each chapter.

Biographical / historical:

Edward Worrell was born in Delaware; he left civilian life to serve as an assistant surgeon at Fort Gibson, a post he held from 1832-1833. He was honorably discharged in 1842 and died in 1877.

Acquisition information:
Purchase, Zeitlin Books, ca. 1930s.
Processing information:

Processed by Jonathan Naito with assistance from Jain Fletcher; finding aid created with assistance from Laurel McPhee, September 2004, in the Center For Primary Research and Training (CFPRT).

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Physical description:
68 leaves : paper ; 250 x 205 mm. Layout: Average of 25 lines of writing per page. Script: Cursive. Binding: Paper boards.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Manuscripts.

About this collection guide

Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-09-29 16:08:37 -0700 .

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Restrictions:

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Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
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