Original Photograph - Major Tucker Paying At Fort Custer, Montana

PHOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN

Publication: Unknown photographer, 1896, Fort Custer, Montana

6" x 8" black & white photograph that is mounted on a 10" x 12" photo picture board.The photograph is a picture of five men in a room at Fort Custer with two of the men as military officers. The inked caption below the image is in Major Tucker's hand and reads: "Major Tucker paying, Major Whipple verifying each man's amount. McStout placing in envelopes. John Wall sealing. McStones placing envelopes in package." This photograph was presented to General Wm. Smith who had retired a year earlier in 1895, but Tucker and Whipple had reported to General Smith as members of the Paymasters General Corp. The caption reads: "For General Wm. Smith, Compliments, Major Tucker." General Smith was promoted in 1890 to the rank of Brigadier General and named Paymaster General, a position he held until 1895. Major Wm. F. Tucker was promoted in 1903 to Lt. Colonel and named Deputy Paymaster General, in 1907 was promoted to Colonel and named Assistant Paymaster General, and in 1909 he was retired due to "Disability in the line of duty." Major Charles H. Whipple, was the son of Bishop Henry B. Whipple, who was a noted Indian agent in Minnesota and worked in the Department of the Interior. Major Whipple was promoted in 1901 to Lt. Colonel and named Deputy Paymaster General, in 1904 promoted to Colonel and named Assistant Paymaster General, and in 1908 was promoted to Brigadier General and named Paymaster General. Fort Custer [1877-1898] was located on the Crow Reservation a few miles from the Little Big Horn battlefield in Montana. There was quite a bit of activity in the area at the time and its purpose was to ensure that the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow maintained a peaceful existence. It was a large fort with the ability to provide quarters for ten companies plus stables for six troops of cavalry. The 10th Cavalry, which was manned by Buffalo Soldiers were at the fort when it closed in 1898 and most likely the men whose pay envelopes were being filled by the people in this photograph. The picture board is "nibbled" at the top right corner and has a 1 1/2" closed tear to the right-side margin that does not affect either the photograph or the inked caption, else in very good condition.

Inventory Number: 52704