Copybook of James McLaughlin, U.S.Indian Agent, Devils Lake Agency, Fort Totten, N.D, (Section Seven of Eight Sections) December 1 1877 to January 31, 1878, Original Material, First Time Published

This is Section Seven of Eight Sections…The seventh batch of  64 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.

 December 1877

Letters No. 379-383-384: Dec. 1, Three routine letters.

Letter No. 385:  Dec. 1, November Agency Report.  Indians finally have enough clothing and food for the winter.

Letters No. 386-387: Dec. 1, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 388:  Dec. 3, You have disallowed our cook for this quarter.  Two months into the quarter!!!  He is very important to this Agency as my Indians are scattered on individual plots rather than clustered around the Agency.

Letter No. 389: Dec. 8, Need to pay Jamestown Agent.

Letter No. 390: Dec. 7, Routine transmittal.

Letter No. 391: Dec. 8, McLaughlin answers complaint from Hon. Com. Regarding awarding of grocery bid.  EXCELLENT LETTER..

Letter No. 392: Dec. 8, I may be fired as a result of the bidding complaint. EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO HIS CATHOLIC PRIEST IN WASHINGTON, DC.

Letter No. 393: Dec. 12, More comments to his Agent about his being accused of conniving to defraud justice!

Letter No. 394: Dec. 15, Tidying up loose ends with Jamestown Agent.

Letters No. 395-396: Dec. 14, Questioning freight charge on lumber.

Letter No. 397: Dec. 10, Ordering delivery of a sewing machine.

Letter No. 398: Dec. 15, Resigning as Notary Public.

Letters No. 399-D400-401-402-403-404:  Dec. 15, Five routine letters.

Letter No. 405: Dec. 18, Explaining some errors to Hon. Com.

Letter No. 406-407: Dec. 22-24, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 408: Dec. 24, Explaining why he issued more pork.  Ran out of flour and this was a way for Indians to flavor their food.  EXCELLENT LETTER.

Letters No. 409-410-411-412: Dec. 24-29, Four routine letters.

Letter No. 413: Dec. 29, Recommend we deal with Indian Trader as he is matching Jamestown prices.

Letters No. 414-415: Jan. 1, two routine letters.

Letter No. 416: Dec. 31, December Agency update.  INTERESTING.

Letters No, 417-418-419-420-421-422-423: Dec. 31– Jan. 5, Seven routine letters.

 January 1878

Letter No. 425: Jan. 1, Recap of Catholic School activity to Bishop of Minnesota.  Even ThreeMedicine Men came in to be baptized!!!!!

Letter No. 426: Jan. 5, Routine letter.

Letter No. 427: Jan. 8, Recap of activity to Father Brouillet, Washington, DC, and thanking him for interceding on the accusations from Hon. Com. regarding bid handling.

Letter No. 428: Jan. 11, Where is my stationery.  I am borrowing now.

Letter No. 429: Jan. 10, Powers of Attorney transmittal.

Letters No. 430-431: Jan. 14, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 432: Jan. 17, Regarding Indians freighting from Jamestown.

Letter No. 433: Jan. 19, Routine transmittal.

Letter No. 434: Jan. 15, Regarding payment to cook denied by Hon. Com.

Letter No. 435: Jan. 19, Argument with Hon. Com.over issue of salt.

Letter No. 436: Jan. 19, Routine transmittal.

Letter No. 437: Jan. 19, Regarding payment to cook denied by Hon. Com.

Letter No. 438: Jan. 22, Photo ot Two Bears received.

Letter No. 439: Jan. 22, Estimate of funds received for 1st quarter.  But you have not given me any info on school contract.

Letter No. 440: Jan. 26, Routine transmittal.

Letter No. 441: Jan. 26, Will this Agency share in proceeds of sale of other reservations.?

Letter No. 442: Jan. 26. Transmitting estimates of supplies.  However, you shorted me considerably on last year and we are running out of everything.

Letter No. 443: Jan. 30, Pass to Turtle Mountain vicinity for 11 well-behaved Indians.

 

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December 1877

Letters No. 379-383-384: Dec. 1, Three routine letters.

Letter No. 385:  Dec. 1, November Agency Report.  Indians finally have enough clothing and food for the winter.

 

Letters No. 386-387: Dec. 1, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 388:  Dec. 3, You have disallowed our cook for this quarter.  Two months into the quarter!!!  He is very important to this Agency as my Indians are scattered on individual plots rather than clustered around the Agency.

Letter No. 389: Dec. 8, Need to pay Jamestown Agent.

Letter No. 390: Dec. 7, Routine transmittal.

Letter No. 391: Dec. 8, McLaughlin answers complaint from Hon. Com. Regarding awarding of grocery bid.  EXCELLENT LETTER..

Letter No. 392: Dec. 8, I may be fired as a result of the bidding complaint. EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO HIS CATHOLIC PRIEST IN WASHINGTON, DC.

Letter No. 393: Dec. 12, More comments to his Agent about his being accused of conniving to defraud justice!

Letter No. 394: Dec. 15, Tidying up loose ends with Jamestown Agent.

Letters No. 395-396: Dec. 14, Questioning freight charge on lumber.

Letter No. 397: Dec. 10, Ordering delivery of a sewing machine.

Letter No. 398: Dec. 15, Resigning as Notary Public.

Letters No. 399-D400-401-402-403-404:  Dec. 15, Five routine letters.

Letter No. 405: Dec. 18, Explaining some errors to Hon. Com.

Letter No. 406-407: Dec. 22-24, Two routine letters.

Letter No. 408: Dec. 24, Explaining why he issued more pork.  Ran out of flour and this was a way for Indians to flavor their food.  EXCELLENT LETTER.

Letters No. 409-410-411-412: Dec. 24-29, Four routine letters.

Letter No. 413: Dec. 29, Recommend we deal with Indian Trader as he is matching Jamestown prices.

Letters No. 414-415: Jan. 1, two routine letters.

Letter No. 416: Dec. 31, December Agency update.  INTERESTING.

Letters No, 417-418-419-420-421-422-423-424: Dec. 31– Jan. 5, Eight routine letters.

Janaury 1878

 

Letter No. 425: Jan. 1, Recap of Catholic School activity to Bishop of Minnesota.  Even ThreeMedicine Men came in to be baptized!!!!!

 

Letter No. 426: Jan. 5, Routine letter.

 

Letter No. 427: Jan. 8, Recap of activity to Father Brouillet, Washington, DC, and thanking him for interceding on the accusations from Hon. Com. regarding bid handling.

 

 

 

Letter No. 428: Jan. 11, Where is my stationery.  I am borrowing now.

 

 

Letter No. 429: Jan. 10, Powers of Attorney transmittal.

 

Letters No. 430-431: Jan. 14, Two routine letters.

 

Letter No. 432: Jan. 17, Regarding Indians freighting from Jamestown.

 

Letter No. 433: Jan. 19, Routine transmittal.

 

Letter No. 434: Jan. 15, Regarding payment to cook denied by Hon. Com.

 

 

Letter No. 435: Jan. 19, Argument with Hon. Com.over issue of salt.

 

 

Letter No. 436: Jan. 19, Routine transmittal.

 

Letter No. 437: Jan. 19, Regarding payment to cook denied by Hon. Com.

 

 

Letter No. 438: Jan. 22, Photo ot Two Bears received.

 

 

Letter No. 439: Jan. 22, Estimate of funds received for 1st quarter.  But you have not given me any info on school contract.

 

Letter No. 440: Jan. 26, Routine transmittal.

 

Letter No. 441: Jan. 26, Will this Agency share in proceeds of sale of other reservations.?

 

 

Letter No. 442: Jan. 26. Transmitting estimates of supplies.  However, you shorted me considerably on last year and we are running out of everything.

 

Letter No. 443: Jan. 30, Pass to Turtle Mountain vicinity for 11 well-behaved Indians.