Diary of Electus Backus, 1851-1852.

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Diary of Electus Backus, 1851-1852.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122332632

The diary, which covers November 23, 1851-April 18, 1852, details Backus's experience as commander of Fort Defiance, Arizona, and particularly the army's interactions with the Navajo, the Hopi, and the Apache Indians, including the Indians coming to the fort to trade and buy supplies, Backus's relationships with various Navajo chiefs, and failed treaty negotiations with the Navajo by Edwin Sumner and Territorial Governor James S. Calhoun. Backus also describes his frustration with late supply shipments, his fear that his troops will starve, and the various problems brought on with the winter weather including the death of cattle and horses. Backus also mentions gold and "jewel" mines in the area.

48 pages, bound volume, 20 cm.

Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6683081

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

Backus, Electus, 1804-1862.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6445rdt (person)

Electus Backus was born in New York in 1804. He was the son of Colonel Electus Backus who was killed at Sackett's Harbor in 1813. The younger Backus graduated from West Point in 1824 and fought in the Seminole and the Mexican wars. In June 1850, Backus, who was Major of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, was assigned command of Fort Defiance, Arizona. Backus died in Detroit in June 1862, just after he was made Colonel of the 6th U.S. Infantry. From the description of Diaries and Letters of Elect...

United States. Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6km312r (corporateBody)

The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1 and United States Code, Title 10, Subtitle B, Chapter 301, Section 3001. As the largest and senior branch of the U.S. military, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which wa...

Calhoun, James S., 1803?-1852

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s185k1 (person)

Backus, Electus, 1804-1852.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6st7sxh (person)

Electus Backus was born in New York in 1804. He was the son of Colonel Electus Backus who was killed at Sackett's Harbor in 1813. The younger Backus graduated from West Point in 1824 and fought in the Seminole and the Mexican wars. In June 1850, Backus, who was Major of the 3rd U.S. Infantry, was assigned command of Fort Defiance, Arizona. Backus died in Detroit in June 1862, just after he was made Colonel of the 6th U.S. Infantry. From the description of Diary of Electus Backus, 185...

Sumner, Edwin V. (Edwin Vose), 1797-1863

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sf30jr (person)

American army officer. From the description of Autograph approval and signature on docketing slip of an undated application to the Governor of New York for recruits, [n.d.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270574229 ...