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John Rutter Brooke papers
This collection documents the military career of John Rutter Brooke, primarily in the form of military records generated during Brooke’s service from 1861 to 1902. These papers consist of correspondence, accounts, military directives, pamphlets, invitations to events, commendations, photographs, ma...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Collection: | John Rutter Brooke Papers |
| Collection Number: | 0078 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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| Physical Description: |
13.9 Linear feet ; 27 boxes, 37 volumes, 6 flat files |
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| Summary: |
This collection documents the military career of John Rutter Brooke, primarily in the form of military records generated during Brooke’s service from 1861 to 1902. These papers consist of correspondence, accounts, military directives, pamphlets, invitations to events, commendations, photographs, maps, and books of rules and regulations for military units. The bulk of military papers cover the period of 1888-1902; these documents describe key military campaigns, including two volumes of directives and correspondence issued during the Sioux Campaign, which culminated in Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. These volumes offer a daily perspective on the military movements during the months preceding the massacre at Wounded Knee, during the conflict itself, and in its aftermath. Also richly documented are the Spanish-American War campaigns in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines. Brooke’s service as military governor of Puerto Rico and Cuba are the primary focus of these materials, but there are a significant number of letters from Brooke’s son William, who served in the United States Army in the Philippines. Included in this collection is some personal correspondence between Brooke and his wife, and invitations they received for events both military and private
This collection offers an exceptionally detailed view of official military policies and communications during the late nineteenth century. These papers would be of special interest to those conducting research on United States military policies regarding western Indian tribes during this period, particularly the Cheyenne and Sioux nations. Also of great interest are the papers related to Puerto Rico and Cuba, particularly the controversy about deaths from yellow fever in Cuba during the U.S. occupation. Because of Brooke’s position within the United States Army, this collection provides a broad picture of U.S. military operations and policies. The papers of John Rutter Brooke include correspondence, accounts, regimental reports, military orders, and pamphlets that primarily pertain to his career in the United States Army, 1861-1902. Brooke’s military papers document the activities of the 53rd Pennsylvania volunteer regiment during the Civil War; the 3rd Infantry division and 7th Cavalry during the Indian Wars; the 1st Corps of the Army during the Spanish-American War; and Brooke’s service as military governor of Puerto Rico and Cuba, as well as his service in the Departments of the Missouri, the Platte, the Gulf, and the East. The collection is particularly rich in its documentation of the United States Army’s “Sioux Campaign” during 1890-1891, containing extensive correspondence during the height of the Ghost Dance on the Standing Rock and Pine Ridge reservations, and the ensuing military build-up, which escalated into the massacre at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. |