Copybook of James McLaughlin, U.S.Indian Agent, Devils Lake Agency, Fort Totten, N.D, (Section Eight of Eight Sections) February 1, 1878 to March 23, 1878, Original Material, First Time Published (end of copybook)

 

This is Section Eight of Eight Sections…The eighth batch of 50 Letters of 493 Devils Lake Copybook Letters. 

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This copybook encompasses all the official letters written by Indian Agent, James McLaughlin, during this time frame.  It is the closest one can come to a diary of daily life at Devils Lake 1876-1878 (albeit from a white man’s perspective)

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Originals of this Material were Donated to National Archives November 2005, as requested, since it was stated that these letters had been written “on government time,”  hence they did not belong in private hands.

As copies of the letters are posted the index item will be highlighted.  Subject Matter of Letters deemed important will also be highlighted.  All letters in this copybook are included (no matter how routine sounding). The letters in this Section Six were typed with my 1911 Underwood in the 1970’s.

February 1878

Letter No. 444: Feb. 1, February Agency Report.  GOOD DETAILS.

Letters No. 445-446: Feb. 2, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 447: Feb. 2, “Brave Bear,” murderer of the Delorme Family, is here.

Letter No. 448: Feb. 2, Routine letter.

Letter No. 449: Feb. 2, Please tell me how to fill out new supplies issued form which seems to require an inordinate amount of detail.

Letter No. 450: Feb. 7, Asking Commanding Officer for help.

Letter No. 451: Feb. 5, Health Issues.  EXTREMELY INTERESTING DISCUSSION OF OLD WAYS VS. NEW WAYS OF LIVING.

Letter No. 452: Feb. 8, Care and feeding of domestic animals on reservation.

Letter No. 442: Jan. 26,  Estimates of Supplies, however you shorted me on everything.

Letter No. 453: Feb. 9, On teaching the Indians about Agriculture.  VERY INTERESTING PROGRAM.

Letter No. 454: Feb. 9, Routine letter.

Letter No. 455: Feb. 15, Supporting a claim for 5 oxen pulled by Indians.

Letter No. 456: Feb. 16, Routine letter.

Letter No. 457: Feb. 16, McLaughlin’s full biography from birth, April 16, 1842 to this letter, Feb. 16, 1878.

Letter No. 458: Feb. 18, Pass to Indians traveling to southern Dakota.

Letter No. 459: Feb. 18, STORY OF DELORME MASSACRE AND THAT ‘BRAVE BEAR,’ THE MURDERER, IS IN THIS AGENCY.

Letter No. 460: Feb.19, DON’T MOVE THE TWO COMPANIES OF CAVALRY FROM FORT TOTTEN.  THIS POST IS TOO ISOLATED AND VULNERABLE TO ATTACK BY HOSTILES, EVEN SITTING BULL, OR HIS WARRIORS, WHO MIGHT SEEK NOTARIETY.

Letter No. 461: Feb. 23, Sewing Machine payment and troubles.

Letter No. 462: Feb. 23, A Reverend has defaulted on his interest payment.

Letter No. 463: Feb. 23, I need the wagon.  No snow for sledding this winter.

Letter No. 464: Feb. 28,  On how he has induced Warriors to cut their hair by giving them priority in lines.

March 1878

Letter No. 465: Mar. 2, Ordering a Santee Agency Newsletter.

Letters No. 466-469: Mar. 2, Four routine letters.

Letter No. 470: Mar. 7, On ordering clothing and goods for the Indians.

Letter No. 471: Mar. 7, Supplies and Annuity Goods wanted for Fiscal Year.

Letter No. 472: Mar. 9, My Jan. 26th order of wheat seed has not arrived.  Need it asap, together with other seeds.

Letter No. 473: Mar. 16, Telegram regarding Delorme Family Massacre.

Letter No. 474: Mar. 16, On feeding ‘Wapepe’ until Marshal arrives from Bismarck.

Letter No. 475: Mar. 15, On claiming against Indians who may have killed his cattle.

Letter No. 476: Mar. 17, ONE DELORME MURDERER KILLED DURING ESCAPE TRY.  MORE INFO ON THE CRIME.

Letter No. 477: Mar. 16, Out of sugar, so can’t send samples.

Letter No. 478: Mar. 15, On appointment of laborer.

Letter No. 479: Mar. 16, On powers of attorney.

Letter No. 480: Mar. 18, MORE ON THE DELORME CRIME AND CAPTURED MURDERERS.

Letter No. 481: Mar. 16, I can buy tea and pork.

Letter No. 482: Mar. 13, On why his wife is working for him.

Letter No. 483: Mar. 16, Need a fresh beef issue to make up for ban on guns and lack of wildlife.

Letter No. 484: Mar. 19, Pass for well-behaved Indian family.

Letter No. 485: Mar. 19, Pass for 2 Indians and a horse.

Letter No. 486: Mar. 23, Pass for well-behaved family of killed murderer of Delorme Family is going back to Crow Agency.

Letter No. 487: Mar. 23, Proposal for Indians to furnish wood to Fort Totten.

Letter No. 488: Mar. 23, Ordering garden seeds.

Letter No. 489: Mar. 23, TWO MORE DELORME FAMILY MURDERERS ARE AT STANDING ROCK AND SHOULD BE ARRESTED.

Letter No. 491: Mar. 23, Pork order.

Letter No. 492: Mar. 23, Pork order.

Letter No. 493: Mar. 23, Routine b/l transmittal plus can my wife and child get round trip passes.

Letter No. 494: Mar. 23, Letter #490, Routine transmittal….END OF COPY BOOK

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February 1878

Letter No. 444: Feb. 1, February Agency Report.  GOOD DETAILS.

Letters No. 445-446: Feb. 2, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 447: Feb. 2, “Brave Bear,” murderer of the Delorme Family, is here.

Letter No. 448: Feb. 2, Routine letter.

Letter No. 449: Feb. 2, Please tell me how to fill out new supplies issued form which seems to require an inordinate amount of detail.

Letter No. 450: Feb. 7, Asking Commanding Officer for help.

Letter No. 451: Feb. 5, Health Issues.  EXTREMELY INTERESTING DISCUSSION OF OLD WAYS VS. NEW WAYS OF LIVING.

Letter No. 452: Feb. 8, Care and feeding of domestic animals on reservation.

Letter No. 442: Jan. 26,  Estimates of Supplies, however you shorted me on everything.

Letter No. 453: Feb. 9, On teaching the Indians about Agriculture.  VERY INTERESTING PROGRAM.

Letter No. 454: Feb. 9, Routine letter.

Letter No. 455: Feb. 15, Supporting a claim for 5 oxen pulled by Indians.

Letter No. 456: Feb. 16, Routine letter.

Letter No. 457: Feb. 16, McLaughlin’s full biography from birth, April 16, 1842 to this letter, Feb. 16, 1878.

Letter No. 458: Feb. 18, Pass to Indians traveling to southern Dakota.

Letter No. 459: Feb. 18, STORY OF DELORME MASSACRE AND THAT ‘BRAVE BEAR,’ THE MURDERER, IS IN THIS AGENCY.

 

Letter No. 460: Feb.19, DON’T MOVE THE TWO COMPANIES OF CAVALRY FROM FORT TOTTEN.

 

 

 

Letter No. 461: Feb. 23, Sewing Machine payment and troubles.

 

 

Letter No. 462: Feb. 23, A Reverend has defaulted on his interest payment.

 

 

Letter No. 463: Feb. 23, I need the wagon.  No snow for sledding this winter.

 

 

 

 

Letter No. 464: Feb. 28,  On how he has induced Warriors to cut their hair by giving them priority in lines.

 

March 1878

Letter No. 465: Mar. 2, Ordering a Santee Agency Newsletter.

Letters No. 466-469: Mar. 2, Four routine letters.

Letter No. 470: Mar. 7, On ordering clothing and goods for the Indians.

Letter No. 471: Mar. 7, Supplies and Annuity Goods wanted for Fiscal Year.

Letter No. 472: Mar. 9, My Jan. 26th order of wheat seed has not arrived.  Need it asap, together with other seeds.

Letter No. 473: Mar. 16, Telegram regarding Delorme Family Massacre.

Letter No. 474: Mar. 16, On feeding ‘Wapepe’ until Marshal arrives from Bismarck.

Letter No. 475: Mar. 15, On claiming against Indians who may have killed his cattle.

Letter No. 476: Mar. 17, ONE DELORME MURDERER KILLED DURING ESCAPE TRY.  MORE INFO ON THE CRIME.

Letter No. 477: Mar. 16, Out of sugar, so can’t send samples.

Letter No. 478: Mar. 15, On appointment of laborer.

Letter No. 479: Mar. 16, On powers of attorney.

Letter No. 480: Mar. 18, MORE ON THE DELORME CRIME AND CAPTURED MURDERERS.

Letter No. 481: Mar. 16, I can buy tea and pork.

Letter No. 482: Mar. 13, On why his wife is working for him.

Letter No. 483: Mar. 16, Need a fresh beef issue to make up for ban on guns and lack of wildlife.

Letter No. 484: Mar. 19, Pass for well-behaved Indian family.

Letter No. 485: Mar. 19, Pass for 2 Indians and a horse.

Letter No. 486: Mar. 23, Pass for well-behaved family of killed murderer of Delorme Family is going back to Crow Agency.

Letter No. 487: Mar. 23, Proposal for Indians to furnish wood to Fort Totten.

Letter No. 488: Mar. 23, Ordering garden seeds.

 

Letter No. 489: Mar. 23, TWO MORE DELORME FAMILY MURDERERS ARE AT STANDING ROCK AND SHOULD BE ARRESTED.

 

Letter No. 490: Mar. 23, Pork order.

Letter No. 491: Mar. 23, Pork order.

Letter No. 492: Mar. 23, Routine b/l transmittal plus can my wife and child get round trip passes.

Letter No. 493: Mar. 23 Routine

END OF COPY BOOK