MsC 96

 

Manuscript Register

 

FORT ATKINSON, IOWA MILITARY RECORDS

 

Collection Dates: December 31, 1839 to February 24, 1849

.5 linear ft.

 

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

 

Posted to Internet: April 2002
Addendum: May 2005

 

 

Acquisition Note: This collection of records of the military units stationed at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, 1839 -- 1849 was secured from Congressman Henry Oscar Talle of Decorah, Iowa, for the University Library as a direct result of the interest and correspondence initiated by Mr. George M. Sheets, 1958 -- 1959. Kathie Bordelon contributed two photocopied letters in 2005.

 

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

 

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

 

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

 

Use of Collections:  The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

   

   

History Note

Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, Iowa

1840: Fort Atkinson was erected under orders for its construction by the U.S. Government for the explicit purpose of protecting the Winnebago Indians against their enemies: the Sioux on the North, the Sacs and Foxes on the South, and the encroaching white settlers. The fort overlooks the Turkey River.

1840: Fort Atkinson was named in honor of the U.S. Army District Commander, Brigadier General Henry Atkinson. Fort Atkinson was erected under the supervision of Captain Isaac Lynde with Company F of the Fifth Infantry, a detachment of eighty-two officers and enlisted men.

1841: Captain Lynde's detachment was joined by Captain Edwin V. Summer's detachment from Company B of the First United States Dragoons, bringing the fort garrison up to one hundred-sixty men. Fort Atkinson continued to be a two company post for the next six years.

1844: Reverend J.L. Elliot arrived at Fort Atkinson. He served as both chaplain and schoolmaster.

1846: War with Mexico necessitated the withdrawal of U.S. Army troops from Fort Atkinson, and consequent replacement with Iowa Volunteer units. James M. Morgan of Burlington and John Parker of Dubuque were commissioned captains by Governor James Clarke, and assumed command of the companies known as Captain Morgan's Independent Company of Iowa Volunteers, and Captain Parker's Iowa Dragoon Volunteers.

1847: Formation of a new company known as Morgan's Company of Iowa Mounted Volunteers.

1848: Captain Morgan's Company of Iowa Mounted Volunteers was given its last assignment in September 1848 of escorting the Winnebago tribes to the mouth of Watab River in Minnesota Territory, to which place they were removed by order of the U.S. Government. Upon completion of the assignment Captain Morgan, "Little Red", and his company were discharged from active service.

1848: Captain F.L. Alexander with Company C of the Sixth Infantry, U.S. Army, assumed command of Fort Atkinson from September 25, 1848 to February 24, 1849.

1849: February 24, 1849, Fort Atkinson, Iowa, was abandoned as a military post.

1853: The U.S. Government sold the buildings of Fort Atkinson at public auction for the sum of $3,521.00.

1856: The US Government sold the lands upon which Fort Atkinson rested via Acts of Congress in 1856 and 1860.

1964: Fort Atkinson's site has been converted into an Iowa state park and monument.

References:

 

Scope and Contents

All of the records in this collection are in typed carbon copy form. Knowledge as to the existence of the original documents was not supplied by the donor with the gift.

The records are in very good condition and have been well-preserved. In the absence of access to the original documents, these copies could be of significant importance to researchers and scholars interested in nineteenth century Iowa military history.

Ronald L. Fingerson, August 19, 1964

 

Box List:

 

Related Materials

Travellers and Immigrants Guide to Wisconsin and Iowa. Map in Special Collections cataloged broadside. F581 A2 1838

 

Box 1

 

FOLDER 1

Muster Rolls. Company E, 1st Infantry, US Army. April 30, 1844 -- August 31, 1845. Fifteen pages

Muster Rolls. Company C, 6th Infantry, US Army. August 31, 1848 -- February 28, 1849. Seven pages

Muster Rolls. Company A, 1st Iowa Volunteer Dragoons. September 9, 1846 -- November 5, 1846. Seven pages

Muster Rolls. Company A, 1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry. July 15, 1846 -- July 15, 1847. Sixteen pages

Muster Rolls. Morgan's Company of Mounted Iowa Volunteers. July 15, 1847 -- September 11, 1848. Twenty pages

Wisconsin Volunteers Stationed at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, June, 1848. One page

Buckner, Simon Boliver. Biographical sketch. One page

List of Military Units at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, June, 1840 -- February, 1849. One page

Pleasanton, Alfred. Biographical sketch. One page

2 letters from Contonment Atkinson, one from Lt. D.H. McPhail and one from Capt. Isaac Lynde, regarding the use of stone in construction of the fort rather than wood. Gift of Kathie Bordelon