Beschreibung:

-1919; 71 items. Sheldon Keeny was a career soldier in the latter half of the nineteenth century, serving five terms of enlistment with the 4th Artillery (1864-1867), the 4th Cavalry (1872-1877), and the 1st Artillery (1878-1892). Born in Collinsville, Conn., in 1849, and all of 5'6" Keeny became a prototype of the western non-commissioned officer, recommended by Capt. Thomas Ward 1st Artillery, in 1880 as one of my best non-commissioned officers, honest, faithful, sober, and reliable under all circumstances, and I am sure he will make a very desirable policemen or door-keeper. It seems fitting somehow that the actions of the 4th Cavalry while Kenny served in it became the basis of the John Wayne film, Rio Grande. The Keeny archives provide a running overview of the life and career of this expert marksman during the course of his long service. By far the most important item is a 68pp diary kept during his Indian War service with 4th Cavalry in Wyoming, August 6, 1876-March 17, 1877. After Custer's defeat at Little Big Horn in July 1876, the 4th Cavalry was ordered north to reinforce the command of General George Crook, and upon hearing of a Northern Cheyenne war party in Wyoming, they were diverted west to counter the threat, culminating in the cataclysmic defeat of the Northern Cheyenne in the so-called Dull Knife fight, named after the Northern Cheyenne leader Dull Knife (or Morningstar). Keeny's diary begins in Wyoming as the regiment was moving into position. Some extracts provide a sense of Keeny's rough, but informative style: From the Big Horn Mountains on Aug 14, he writes: A report in camp that 100 squaws came into the Reservation during the nite Aug. 16: Wm War & myself assended the hiest Bluff hear Near our Camp a nice col Breaz up thare & splendid grass in the brakes. We could see several miles a round & too Indian viliges of 150 to 200 lodges below our camp a few miles... Aug 31: I went into the Post I saw a Dead Indian at the Guard House & another was put in irons for murdering a white man & to Mexicans for smugling whiskey to the Indians... Sept. 2: A lot of Indians in the Post having a pow wow skirmish drill & target practice... Sept. 21: A Partey of General Crooks men came in to day with a pack trane. They ar hard looking men & have seen hard time. Friday 22nd Crooks men leave hear today for fort Larmie. Oct. 22: sadeld up & took one dase rations leaving at 9 P.M. Staring towards Spotid Tale Traveling on the trot & gallop nearly all nite a bout 4 a.m. we came to an Indian camp a[t] da lite we jumpt it but they was no shots exchanged they surrendered & the squaws commenst to pack up. We got coffe & hen burnt up what the squaws did not have packt... On Oct. 31, notes Californie Jo was shot dead in his dug out. On the march Nov. 8: turned the mules lose this morning did not leave until 9.30 A.M. pasing some wagons burnt by Indians & say a dog that was still staing thare...Snow and bitter cold in next few days, nothing by sage brush for wood and move to Wind River, man in 5th Cavalry dies of drinking bad whiskey. Despite the weather, McKenzie pressed on. On November 23, the regiment was called out after discovering Dull Knife's camp along the North Fork of the Powder River: left this morning with 15 dase rations on the Pack mules leaving out A tent behind & taking two Bed Blankets on our horse & 100 Rounds of Carbine & 36 of Pistol ammunition marcht about 20 miles. Camping on Crazy Womans Fork... 3 p.m. saddle up a gane Traveling a long the foot of the Big Horne mountains & over some vary rough countrey all nite some times on the guns. Sat. 25. We charged on the Indian camp at a bout 6.30 A.M. our first lieut kild & one man of my co. shot through the hart & to wounded 18 wounded up to this time & fiting still going on in the Hills. 5 p.m. few inlisted men kild & one comishioned offier & 25 twenty five men wounded. I am on guard... Nov. 28: had to ford the creke & some of the [men[ got thare feat wet hard travelin