Description:

Grover Cleveland rewards an Indian fighter from the Great Sioux War of 1876 for his bravery in the months after Custer's last stand

Partly-printed Document Signed, "Grover Cleveland," as President, 1 page, 15.5" x 19", Washington, May 9, 1894, a military appointment of Benjamin C. Lockwood as "Captain BY BREVET... for gallant service in action against Indians at Spring Creek, Montana, October 15 and 16, 1876." Countersigned "Daniel S. Lamont," as Secretary of War. Expected folds, else very fine condition with an intact embossed blue seal of The United States.

The Battle of Spring (or Cedar) Creek (October 21, 1876) was part of the Great Sioux War of 1876 that had claimed the lives of George A. Custer and over 250 of his men at the Battle of Little Big Horn in June 1876. That autumn, General Alfred Terry led one prong of an offensive against the Lakota Sioux under Sitting Bull. The battle erupted after filed talks between Col. Nelson A. Miles and Sitting Bull, who offered, in exchange for ammunition for hunting, not to molest federal troops if they agreed not to bother them. Because some chiefs under Sitting Bull wanted to continue the fight, the talks broke down the next day. After a sharp firefight, the Lakota Sioux withdrew only to be pursued by U.S. troops. On October 27, approximately 2,000 men, women, and children surrendered and agreed to return peacefully to their reservations. Sitting Bull, together with his more ardent followers, fled to Canada where they remained in exile for the next four years before returning to the United States and surrendering.

Benjamin Curtis Lockwood (1844-1926) was born in Frankfort, Kentucky and enlisted as a private in the 6th Kentucky Infantry at the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1864 he was appointed a 2nd lieutenant in the 54th Kentucky. He retained the same rank when he joined the 31st U.S. Infantry in 1869 and was promoted to 1st lieutenant the same year. By the time of his retirement from the service in 1907, he had risen to the rank of brigadier general. Interestingly, when Lockwood received this brevet captain's commission in 1894, he already held the rank of major! (Historic Elmwood Cemetery & Foundation, Detroit)

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