Lot
56 
Fort Leavenworth, Mo., Sep 16, cds with manuscript day and matching "5" cent rating on 1846 folded letter from Private O.P. Bampass, Company "I" 4th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers at Fort Leavenworth shortly after Gen. Kearney occupied Sante Fe and speaks of getting "…72 cts for every twenty miles coming up to be paid the first payment at Bents Fort…"; some fold separations and minor staining, Fine and interesting early Mexican War trail letter.Estimate $500 - 750.
This letter refers to Bents Fort during Pre-Colorado Territory, which was a celebrated fur trading post built in 1848 by four Bents Brothers. Kit Carson was employed there as a hunter from 1831 to 1842 when he left to join the Fremont Expedition. The post was a real Fort with walls 15 feet high and 4 feet thick.