Since being acquired, this has been stored inside an acid free sleeve and board in a protective box. The storage room is kept in a dark, humidity controlled and air conditioned year round 72 degrees.. A great piece of CIVIL WAR History... With a Captain Curtis Biography. Here's an interesting story about the Captain!
Charles and his wife served the Union Army on the plains of New Mexico and in a fort when he & his 200 soldiers were attacked by 3000 Indians. They expected to be overpowered any minute and a soldier was detailed to stand by his wife with gun loaded, ready to shoot her the minute the Indians raided. This was the only merciful course to take. Fortunately they were able to drive them away.
Captain Charles Curtis wrote a fiction NOVEL in 1898 entitled, Captured by the Navajos. Here's a Review of this Book on AMAZON. "Captured by the Navajos" by Captain Charles A. Curtis, USA, recounts the adventures of a detached Union Army unit out of Santa Fe, New Mexico territory, during the second year of the Civil War. The tale swirls around two teenaged boys who have an honorary rank of Corporal (later promoted to Sergeant) within the unit, many encounters with "rids" (Navajos, Santo Domingos, and Apaches), a couple of horses that are special to the boys, the omnipresence of an extraordinary dog named "Victoriana" (aka "Vic"), and a fair lass named Brenda who unfortunately is captured by the Apaches.
Unlike the romanticized Hollywood Westerns, "Captured by the Navajos" rings with authenticity of the hardships and dangers of the trail and army life in the Old West - I suspect that the author probably drew from his own experiences, which made for more of a first-person account versus a tale conceived out of an author's usual research and creativity. This is the Captain Curtis BIOGRAPHY as assembled by "look for a grave" authors...Curtis served the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War. He offered his services to the state and was appointed drillmaster. He was engaged in1861 in drilling and instructing volunteers and received a degree of A.
He accompanied the 6th Maine volunteers to Virginia, as instructor of field officers of the regiment, and saw active service with his regiment until June 1862. He served for a short time as assistant adjutant general on the staff of General W S Hancock. On April 17, 1862, he was appointed second lieutenant, 7th US infantry, for extraordinary merit. Charles was transferred to the 5th US infantry, April 28, 1862 and joined his regiment at Fort Craig, New Mexico. He was then promoted to first lieutenant on March 30, 1864 and brevetted (promoted without an increase in pay) captain on September 27, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services" during the war.He served against the Texas forces at Rio Grande in 1862, and during 1862-?? Fought against the Indians of the Southwest.
He served in Indian wars until he retired in 1870. He served against the Texan forces on the Rio Grande, 1862-65; engaged in the Indian Wars in New Mexico, Arizona, California and Colorado, 1865-69; was in command of camp at Los Valles Grandes, New Mexico, October 3, 1863 - June 9, 1864; Fort Reynolds, Col.
November 17, 1867 - April 1, 1869; was retired from active duty December 15, 1870 for wounds received in line of duty, was given full rank of captain, U. By special act of Congress in 1899. He was continuously on duty as military instructor at educational institutions. Charles was Professor of Military Science and Tactics by assignment of the President of the US (Grant) at Norwich University, Vt. He compiled the first book of regulations published by the university and made several changes in the organization of cadet corps. Captain Curtis was professor of military science at the Shattuck School, Faribault, Minn. 1880-85; East Florida Seminary, Gainesville, Fla. 1885-89; Kenyon Military Academy, Sweet Springs, Mo. 1890-92; the Howe School, Lima, Ind. Around 1895 he moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he became professor of military science and tactics at the University of Wisconsin, his last position. There he had found the honor of commanding the largest cadet corps in the United States. Nicholas, Wide Awake, Youth's Companion, Harper's Young People and other periodicals, and wrote one book, Captured by the Navajos (1898). He was a Mason and a member of several historical and military societies. Because of wounds received in the line of duty, he was retired from active service on December 15, 1870 and was given full rank of captain by act of Congress in 1899. In 1905 they were residing in Madison. He died May 26, 1907 in Madison, and is buried at the Nation Cemetery in Arlington, VA. Jack Sell ONE OF A KIND. Sell is a Registered Dealer with the U. We are proud that some of our memorabilia was on display in the SMITHSONIAN, Washington, D. Heimdell51 Praise: Great guy; very prompt & efficient service & exc. Packaging; got a free bonus too! Hardfindz What a cherished piece! Thanks for making this a reality. Jimsoden Praise: Great packing, good emails, very generous with his time and effort, class act!!! Belfast Praise: Wonderful Ebayer & with genuine COA's too!Petrpark What can I say! I own a piece of the Death Star & cinematic history.