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ALS signed “E. V Turner, Capt.,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, April 3, 1843. Handwritten letter to his superior, "Col. H. Wilson, Fort Crawford," sent from Fort Atkinson, detailing a heinous act of Indian savagery on the frontier, while noting escalating tensions between whites and Winnebagos in the region. In part: "I have had a busy week here in consequence of the horrible murder at Wilcox's settlement on the 25th ulto. I had the good fortune to catch the three murderers in 36 hours after they committed the act, and I have them not in my guard house, in irons. I took them down to Wilcox's last Saturday for the purpose of having them identified by the wounded children and they, at once, clearly recognized them, which secures the conviction of these fiends.
This outrage was accompanied by a crime, hitherto unheard of among Northern Indians—It seems the Indians went to the house on Friday morning the 24th of March, and remained there through that day and the next—the house was occupied by two men—Atwell and Teagarden and three children of the latter—one a boy of 14 yrs another boy of 9 yrs and a little girl between 7 and 8, the mother was absent at a neighbour's.
On Saturday evening the Indian began to show hostility—the father Teagarden was drunk and had gone to be with the children—the Indians first killed Atwell—they then tied the hands of Teagarden, and threw a bottle at his head, which roused him, and he sprang up perfectly sober, but his hands being tied he was entirely in their power—they beat him for some time, and then shot him through the head—they then killed the youngest boy, by beating out his brains, and gave the oldest boy five dreadful wounds in the back, with a spear of some kind—the infernal villains then, all of them, ravished the little girl and afterward wounded her as they had the boy in the back—they then set fire to the house, and went out, it is supposed, to find a horse that was near by. The little girl first recovered consciousness, and roused her oldest brother who had fainted—these children then escaped out of the burning house…Dr. King who has visited them, thinks the little girl may live, but he has but little hope of the boy.
It is said that 4 Winnebagos were murdered by whites last month, 3 men and a woman. One man by a Dr. Taylor at Hewitt's settlement, without the least prosecution, another by a whiskey dealer on the Mississippi in a drunken brawl, another by a trap gun set in a house, and the woman by being horribly used, after tying and beating the husband, by a number of soldiers near Fort Crawford.—I mention this, Colonel, in all frankness, knowing that you will not suppose for a moment, that I intend to convey any reflection upon yourself or officers—I am too old a soldier, not to know the impossibility of controlling soldiers, at all times, when out of sight…It is plain that an instant stop must be put to such conduct on the part of the whites, or it will be utterly impossible to keep the Indians quiet on this frontier." In fine condition, with light staining, and a small area of seal-related paper loss to the integral address leaf.
The Western Americana auction of Jochen Zeitz.
