Soldier’s Letter: Second Colorado Cavalry (KS, 1864-1865)

July 30, 2011

Roy Alden Atwood 1864, Alphabetical Order, Images, Kansas, Military Papers, S, United States, US Civil War-Era Papers Leave a comment

SOLDIER’S LETTER:  SECOND COLORADO CAVALRY

Publication History:

Place of Publication: Kansas City and Fort Riley, Kansas

Frequency:  Weekly

Volume and Issue Data:  Vol. 1, Nos. 1-50, 1864-1865

Size and Format:  7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in.; four pages, four columns; pages 1, 2, and 4 were printed, but page 3 was blank for individual soldiers to make personal comments or statements

Editor/Publisher:  Printed content’s editor and proprietor, Oliver V. Wallace

Title Changes and Continuation:  None

General Description and Notes:

The Soldier’s Letter was a regimental paper published between 1864 and 1865 for the Second Colorado Cavalry:  “A Regimental Paper–To Accompany the Regiment.”  The paper was priced at 10 cents per single copy.  The paper’s motto, “The Flag We Fight Under,” was accompanied by a Union flag graphic.

Published at Kansas City and Fort Riley, Kansas, the printed pages included poetry, history and specific military news items.  Letters were also included, as were extracts from the Journal of Commerce, Illustrated News, and Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.  Several items discussed aspects of the Civil War.  Letters from Fort Larned, Kansas, described problems with Indian attacks and illnesses.

The blank pages contained the comments and statements of soldiers in the regiment.  The handwritten pages included news items, poetry and proverbs.  Vol. 1, No. 20, dated March 18, 1865, addresses “Young Men.”  They are encouraged to maintain high morals and to take as their “motto:  self-reliance, honesty and industry.”

Information Sources:                                                                      

Bibliography:  None

Locations:  Western History Department, Denver Public Library, Denver, CO

The Redwing Carrier-Pigeon (KS, 1886)

July 22, 2011

Roy Alden Atwood 1886, Alphabetical Order, Images, Kansas, Organization Newspapers, R, United States Leave a comment

Redwing Carrier-Pigeon (KS, 1886)

Publication History:

Place of Publication: Barton County, Kansas

Frequency:  Weekly

Volume and Issue Data:  Vol. 1, No. 2, Dec. 2, 1886

Size and Format:  Single column; masthead includes motto: “Justice and Impartiality”

Editor/Publisher:  H.C. Banke (1886); Dec. 2, 1886 paper identifies two women and one man as part of the “editorial staff,” and refers to the Redwing Literary Society, as if it were a primary sponsor and/or publisher

Title Changes and Continuation:  Unknown

General Description and Notes:

The second number of this paper, signed by H.C. Banke, complains about the lack of news around town and urges contributions.  The editor writes:

“Owing to the fact that but few contributions have arrived during the past week, and some of those that have arrived have been very dull, we have not such a large and interesting paper to present as we did last week.  But believing that, what little we have will be cheerfully accepted by the members of the lyceum, this, No. 2 of our Lines, will be dedicated.  Invitation is extended to all the members of the Redwing Literary Society to contribute something towards making the Red-wing (sic) Carrier-Pigeon interesting, which will also add to the well fare of our Society and to individual pleasure.  All contributions which are not disrespectful or too personal in their nature will be cheerfully excepted (sic), and if they arrive before Wednesday will be published in the current issue of the paper.  However, everything of a personal or disrespectful nature will be avoided from obvious reasons.

“The editorial staff is now composed of Mrs. H.E. Smith, Mr. B.C. Cofer and Mrs. L.J. Gifford.  Contributions sent to either of the before mentioned ladies will reach the editor-in-chief safely.  Contributors are requested to send their contributions and to them will be most convenient.”

Information Sources:

Bibliography:  Robert F. Karolevitz, Newspapering in the Old West:  A Pictorial History of Journalism and Printing on the Frontier (New York:  Bonanza Books, 1969), p. 87; Bob Karolevitz, “Pen and Ink Newspapers of the Old West,” Frontier Times, 44:2 (Feb.-March 1970), 30, 62

Locations:  KSHi-Topeka; front page, Vol. 1, No. 1, Dec. 3, 1886, reproduced in Karolevitz (1969), p. 87, and Karolevitz (1970), p. 30.

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