Memoranda of Orders And Circulars, Dept of Dakota – Fort Assiniboine, MT. 1886

Memoranda of Orders And Circulars, Dept of Dakota – Fort Assiniboine, MT. 1886. This document is from the archive of Colonel D.D. Van Valzah, who commanded units of the 25th, 20th, and 24th U.S. Infantries during the Indian Wars.  This document of 15 pages is very informative, regarding just about everything you needed to know about the Army’s business in the Dakotas in 1886, including citizens, Indians, cavalry horses & equipment, troops, target practice, recruits, ordnance, quartermaster, and subsistence departments, and much more.

Dated January 1, 1886.  Some soiling and light stains, with some insect damage on the back few pages at the back.

David Dougall Van Valzah, (1840-1919).  Born in Illinois, and entered military service from Pennsylvania as a 1st Lieutenant in the 12th U.S. Infantry on 14 May, 1861, and promoted to captain on 10 August, 1864.  After the Civil War he was transferred to the 30th U.S. Infantry, and then under the Army’s restructuring, was unassigned until 1869, than assigned to the 25th (Black) Infantry in December of 1870. He remained with that regiment until his promotion to major and transferred again to the 20th Infantry on October of 1886. Promoted again in October of 1891, he was transferred to the 24th Infantry, (the other Black infantry in the Army), as Lt.Colonel.   Prior to the Spanish American War, now as colonel, Van Valzah took command of the 18th Infantry.

During the Civil War, he received brevet commissions; Brevet captain for gallantry at the Battle of the Wilderness, Va, 23 May, 1864, and the campaign before Richmond, Va.  He retired on 20 June, 1899, due to poor health from hard service in the Philippines with the 18th Infantry.