Lot
1041 
(Mississippi River - Iowa Territory) "Fort Des Moines, 12th June", red manuscript postmark on tan buff 1836 folded letter to Col. Geo. W. Jones, House Representatives, Washington D.C. endorsed "Free", some interesting content from Postmaster C.A. Carter "…The dragoons under Capt. Summers, Boone & Browne left this on the 7 & 6 inst for Green Bay via Chicago they visit will extend to the Winnebago s. Col. Kearny is at Fort Leavenworth this your friend Shamberg left this week for New Orleans & has made a conditional resignation at the request of Capt. Brown…In a recent visit to Fort Madison I regretted to learn that the appointment of Mr. Berg as P.M. was unpopular…The Mail between this & Fort Madison is not yet carried for lack of instructions from the Dept…", Very Fine, ex-Jarrett. Estimate $400 - 600.
The Fort Des Moines military post was located on the west side of the Mississippi River at the north end of twelve miles of rapids near the junction of the Des Moines River. The end of the Black Hawk War in 1832 opened a large area for settlement, which was later transferred to the Iowa Territory in 1838.
The frontier was expanding after the war and Lieut. George Crossman was assigned to build a fort in 1834. The location was selected to include a steamboat landing for incoming supplies. Lieut. Crossman was assisted a shorter time later when Lt. Col. Stephen W. Kearny with 150 men of the 1st Dragoons. The fort was built without a stockade as the Indians were peaceful during this time.
Realized: $350