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[Indians - Cherokee Nation] Cantonment Gibson, Ar., Jul 7, excellent strike of black cds and matching "Free" handstamp on neat 1842 folded letter to the Adjutant General of the U.S. Army in Washington D.C., endorsed "On Pub. Service", the letter is datelined "Head Qt. 1st Regt Dragoons/Camp at Fort Gibson, July 4th '42" and reads "In compliance with instructions from the commg. General of the 2nd Dept., I shall leave here this day to resume command of the Post of Fort Leavenworth" and signed by Col. S. W. Kearny; Extremely Fine, ex-Bleuler. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL LETTER FROM CHEROKEE NATION WITH THIS RARE CANTONMENT GIBSON MARKING.
Cantonment (Fort) Gibson was located on land within the Cherokee Nation, adjacent to the western border of Arkansas. Because it was in unorganized territory it bears the letters "AR" at the base of the townmark, having been assigned to Arkansas for administrative purposes.
Col. S. W. Kearny, for which Fort Kearny, Nebraska was named and who was known in his time as the "Father of the Calvary". He marched against the Cherokees in 1839 with ten companies of dragoons, the largest mounted force ever assembled. He was later named the military Governor of California after the Mexican-American war.
Realized: $1,600