Beschreibung:

1p, 5" x 8", 17 Oct. 1890. Stamped at top Fort Apache, Arizona, Office of the Post Quartermaster. Receipt from J.C. Beveridge of $4.58 for the loss of a case of axle grease from a wagon. Signed by William Harvey Smith and stamped 1st Lt. 10th Cavalry / Post Quartermaster. Born in Missouri, William Harvey Smith entered USMA in 1879, graduating in 1883 with a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 10th Cavalry. On a visit to the Academy, Oscar Wilde reportedly pronounced him the handsomest man in America (Annual Reunion. Third Wisconsin Veteran Infantry Association, United States Military Academy Association of Graduates, 1896 [sic]: 19). When war with Spain erupted, Smith reported declined appointments as AAG and with Bureau of Information in order to fight with his unit. He did, and "died with his boots on," July 1, 1899 on "Kettle Hill" in San Juan. The 10th Cavalry was one of the first units called up when war was declared. A large part of the reason for this was that it was a "Colored" unit, and, at the time, black soldiers were believed to be immune from tropical diseases. As a unit of "Buffalo Soldiers," the 10th was one of only a few units of experienced African American soldiers, and thus was one of the first on the field of battle. (See www.spanamwar.com/10thcavhist.htm) Provenance: The Thomas Minckler Collection of Western Americana Condition: Heavily toned, tear in upper right corner, archival tape repair on verso.