Wounded Knee Collection

Publication: 1890,

A unique small collection of Photographs, Government Reports, a Hotchkiss gun shell casing collected from the battlefield at Wounded Knee, and a copy of the book, Eyewitness To Wounded Knee. More details below. PHOTOGRAPHS: An Autographed Cabinet Card of Corporal Paul H. Weinert, 1st U.S. Artillery, Battery E, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his role at Wounded Knee. The Seventh Cavalry was supported by 4 Hotchkiss guns. When his commanding officer, Lt. Harry Hawthorne was severely wounded, Weinert assumed command of the Hotchkiss guns, and under heavy fire directed the devastating fire of the Hotchkiss guns throughout the battle. Photograph by A. H. Baumann of Crawford, Nebraska. Cabinet Card 4.375"x6.5"--Image 4"x5.625". Clean, sharp image in uniform and wearing his Medal of Honor. PHOTOGRAPH #2: Boudoir Cabinet Card of Sioux leader Big Foot, in death, at Wounded Knee. A grotesque, classic image of Big Foot's frozen body on the battlefield. Photograph issued by George Trager's Northwestern Photographic Company of Chadron, Nebraska, as noted in print on Big Foot's leg in photograph. Larger format Boudoir Cabinet Card 8"x5"--Image 7.5"x4.25". Considerable, uniform fading, accordingly Fair condition. PHOTOGRAPH #3: Boudoir Cabinet Card of "The Medicine Man", in death, at Wounded Knee. A gruesome, classic image of the frozen bodies of The Medicine Man and others on the battlefield. Photograph issued by George Trager's Northwestern Photographic Company of Chadron, Nebraska, as printed in the lower left corner of the photograph, "The Medicine Man taken at the Battle of Wounded Knee SD, Copyrighted by the Northwestern Photograph Co., Jan 1st 1891, Chadron Neb". Large format Boudoir Cabinet Card 8.5"x6.5"--Image 7.375"x5.5".Moderate fading to image, with some soiling to upper, blank portion of photograph. PHOTOGRAPH #4: Boudoir Cabinet Card of "US Camp at Pine Ridge, SD". Shows a large number of white Army tents in the foreground and more in the background. Circa 1891. Imprint on verso indicates the photograph was issued by Northwestern Photographic Co., Chadron, Neb. Larger format Boudoir Cabinet Card 8.5"x5.375"--Image 7.125"x4.25". Slightly faded, with scuffing at right edge of photograph. PHOTOGRAPH #5: Photograph of U.S. Army wagon marked "Fort Robinson". Six mules are hitched up to a U. S. Army wagon with a canvas cover imprinted Fort Robinson, under which is a small illegible imprint, followed by Mfg. Co., under which is imprinted in larger print U. S.. Photographer not identified. Circa 1890. Photograph is mounted on a decorative, stiff board for framing. Board 9"x7"--Image 6.75"x4.75". A clean, sharp image. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS: Disbound from the Sixtieth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior-1891. Pages 179-196. Includes 3 reports of interest: "Account Given By Indians Of The Fight At Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, December 29, 1890.", and 2 Letters of Commissioner Of Indian Affairs To Secretary Of The Interior..., one "In Regard To Treaty Stipulations With The Sioux", and the other "Relating To Amount Of Subsistence Supplies Issued To Sioux". Plus a large folding map of all Indian Reservations in the United States-1891. Disbound document is fragile, with brittle paper resulting in a few very short closed-tears in blank fore-edge, not affecting text. Map in fine condition. SHELL CASING FROM HOTCHKISS GUN, collected from the Wounded Knee battlefield. 6" Empty Brass Hotchkiss Gun Shell Casing, imprinted diagonally on shell "HOTCHKISS PATENT PARIS", with a small diamond-shaped hallmark imprint underneath PA in PATENT. This came from the estate of Mr. Jess Pavey of Royal Oak, Michigan who died in 2000. Jess Pavey was a prestigious dealer in American antiques, long considered one of Detroit's foremost dealers in antique Americana. Pavey's file card shows the Hotchkiss shell casing to have been purchased from an Ohio auction house, and it being accompanied by a letter from Fort Meade, South Dakota dated February 16, 1895, however the letter was no longer present. Based on Mr. Pavey's reputation, his file card reference to a letter which presumably discussed the shell casing, and a written statement by Mr. Mike Brackin, of Manchester, CT expressing that based on his "expertise in artillery" he was confident that the shell casing is of circa 1890 production, we believe this to be a genuine artifact from Wounded Knee. The Hotchkiss gun had devastating effect on the Indians fleeing or seeking refuge in the ravines, and they drew a lot of fire from the Indians during the battle. BOOK: Eyewitness At Wounded Knee--Second printing, 1991, University of Nebraska Press. Authors: Richard E. Jensen, R. Eli Paul, and John E. Carter. This excellent work is the first study of the photographic record of the tragic events at Wounded Knee. The photographs described above, Big Foot and The Medicine Man are presented on pages 111 and 112. Most interesting, Medal of Honor recipient, Paul H. Weinert appears in a photograph with a Hotchkiss gun on page 128, with a lengthy caption about him that provides additional information regarding his experiences during the battle. The ammunition for the Hotchkiss gun appears in the photograph. A truly unique and interesting collection! Additional information provided upon request.

Inventory Number: 50668