DATE: 1875-01-20
CREATOR: Nell, Thomas
EXTENT: 1 letter, quarto on folded folio sheet
SCOPE: This collection consists of one retained manuscript copy of the letter that Thomas Neill wrote to the German sisters. The letter is 2 pages. Additional information is contained within the collection as well; two photocopied articles about the captivity of sisters Sophia and Catherine German, by Native Americans in the Cheyenne nation (or Tsitsistas nation in their Algonquian language), as well as the manuscript dealer's bibliographic notation.
HISTORICAL NOTE: John and Lydia German, as well as their seven children, were moving by wagon via the Smoky Hill Trail to Colorado when they were attacked by a group of Cheyenne, or Tsitsistas, Native Americans. Both parents and three of the seven children were killed and scalped. Four girls were taken captive. The two youngest girls, Addie and Julie, aged 5 and 7 respectively, were rescued in a military raid in November 1874.
After the rescue of the two youngest girls, a letter was written, addressed to Sophia, aged 12, and Catherine, aged 17, by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Neill. The letter advised the sisters to read it to Grey-Beard or Stone-Calf to secure the sister's release and for the individuals who kidnapped them to submit themselves to the mercy of the government. The sisters were rescued in March 1875 and reunited with their sisters at Fort Leavenworth.
ACCESS: This is collection M-370. This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the collection may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, depending on condition. Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building. More information about conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page.
RESTRICTIONS: None
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.”
INVENTORY
A digital reproduction of the letter is available on the UMSL Digital Library.
