Copybook of James McLaughlin, U.S.Indian Agent, Devils Lake Agency, Fort Totten, N.D, (Section Five of Eight Sections) July 2, 1877 to August 31,1877,Original Material, First Time Published

This is Section Five of Eight Sections…The fifth batch of 53 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). Most of the letters in this Section Five were typed with my 1911 Underwood in the 1970’s.

 

July 1877

Letter No. 257, July 7,  Flour and Sugar

Letter No. 258, July 7, Louie Longee bought 12 gallons of whisky and got roaring drunk, got Indians drunk.  He is a half breed.  Do we punish the seller for selling to an Indian or do we punish Louie for bringing booze to the Reservation as a white man?

Letter No. 259-260, July 7, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 261, July 7, Beat 75 cents/100 lbs and you can haul the flour.

Letter No. 262, July 7, Third quarter estimate of funds.

Letter No. 263, July 10, Please rehire T. B.Harris as Jamestown Agent.

Letter No. 264-269, July 14-16, Five routine letters.

Letter No. 270, July 16, “A Kicktomonni” and friends have my permission to visit Fort Berthold.

Letter No. 271, July 16, Pass to identify Indians on buffalo hunt.

Letter No. 272, July 17, Identifying Scouts who served during Minnesota Massacres.

Letter No. 273, July 17, Going to Jamestown to pick up stock.

Letter No. 274-276, July 21– Aug. 1, Three routine letters.

August 1877

Letter No. 277, Aug. 1, Report on Operations for July.  Excellent description of Indian progress at this Reservation.

Letter No. 278, Aug. 1, Routine letter.

Letter No. 279, July 31, Burial and disposition of Indian dead and mourning in poverty…times are changing.

Letter No. 280-284, Aug. 4-11, Five routine letters.

Letter No. 285, Aug. 11, Certification as to why I bought Mill supplies at open market and not by contract.

Letter No. 286-295, Aug. 11-23, Ten routine letters.

Letter No. 296, Aug. 25, ‘Sisters’ need half fare tickets.

Letter No. 297-301, Aug. 27, Five routine letters.

Letter No. 302, Aug. 28,I closed down another Medicine Dance!

Letter No. 303, Aug. 26, About Indians moving between Standing Rock and Devils Lake Agencies.

Letter No. 304, Aug. 23, One routine letter.

Letter No. 305, Aug. 28, Out of cod liver oil and magnesia.

Letter No. 306-310, Aug. 28-Sep. 1, Five routine letters.

Letter No. 311, Aug. 31, Hauling flour from Jamestown.

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July 1877

Letter No. 257, July 7,  Flour and Sugar

Letter No. 258, July 7, Louie Longee bought 12 gallons of whisky and got roaring drunk, got Indians drunk.  He is a half breed.  Do we punish the seller for selling to an Indian or do we punish Louie for bringing booze to the Reservation as a white man?

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Letter No. 259-260, July 7, Two routine letters.

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Letter No. 261, July 7, Beat 75 cents/100 lbs and you can haul the flour.

Letter No. 262, July 7, Third quarter estimate of funds.

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Letter No. 263, July 10, Please rehire T. B.Harris as Jamestown Agent.

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Letter No. 264-269, July 14-16, Five routine letters.

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Letter No. 270, July 16, “A Kicktomonni” and friends have my permission to visit Fort Berthold.

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Letter No. 271, July 16, Pass to identify Indians on buffalo hunt.

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Letter No. 272, July 17, Identifying Scouts who served during Minnesota Massacres.

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Letter No. 273, July 17, Going to Jamestown to pick up stock.

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Letter No. 274-276, July 21– Aug. 1, Three routine letters.

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August 1877

Letter No. 277, Aug. 1, Report on Operations for July.  Excellent description of Indian progress at this Reservation.

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Letter No. 278, Aug. 1, Routine letter.

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Letter No. 279, July 31, Burial and disposition of Indian dead and mourning in poverty…times are changing.

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Letter No. 280-284, Aug. 4-11, Five routine letters.

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Letter No. 285, Aug. 11, Certification as to why I bought Mill supplies at open market and not by contract.

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Letter No. 286-295, Aug. 11-23, Ten routine letters.

 

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Letter No. 296, Aug. 25, ‘Sisters’ need half fare tickets.

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Letter No. 297-301, Aug. 27, Five routine letters.

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Letter No. 302, Aug. 28,I closed down another Medicine Dance!

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Letter No. 303, Aug. 26, About Indians moving between Standing Rock and Devils Lake Agencies.

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Letter No. 304, Aug. 23, One routine letter.

Letter No. 305, Aug. 28, Out of cod liver oil and magnesia.

 

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Letter No. 306-310, Aug. 28-Sep. 1, Five routine letters.

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Letter No. 311, Aug. 31, Hauling flour from Jamestown.