Henry Martyn Lazelle Diary
Collection
Identifier: MSS-87-SC
Scope and Content
This small collection contains one item, the diary kept by Henry Lazelle during a major military campaign against the Apache Indians from 20 April 1857 to 13 June 1857. The U.S. Army was divided into two columns under the general command of Colonel Benjamin L.E. Bonneville. The diary ends before any major engagements with the Indians, but it is filled with Lazelles impressions of the land and culture of the Southwest.
Dates
- 1857 Apr. 20-June 13
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.
Biographical Information
Born 8 September, 1832 in Enfield Kansas, Henry Lazelle graduated from West Point in 1855. First commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of the Eighth Infantry to the Department of Texas, he campaigned against the Coyatero Apaches in 1856-57, the Navajo in New Mexico in 1856 and the Mescalero Apaches in 1859. During the campaign against the Mescalero, Lazelle was shot through the lungs while fighting in the Sacramento Mountains.
Following his recovery, Lazelle served throughout the Civil War. He was captured by Confederates at Fort Bliss, Texas in May, 1861. While held as a prisoner of war, he was promoted to captain. He was exchanged on July 28, 1862. In 1862-63 he was stationed in Washington D.C. as Assistant Commissary of Prisoners of War. He returned to the field in 1863 as colonel of the New York Volunteer Cavalry. After action near Culpepper, Virginia in 1864, he was breveted major in the regular army. Lazelle resigned his volunteer commission in October, 1864 and served the remainder of the war on two general staffs.
After the Civil War, Lazelle remained in the army and served throughout the South, East and Western United States. Among his numerous posts, he participated in expeditions against the Sioux in Yellowstone in 1872 and 1873. Many of his engagements with Native Americans in Montana and Wyoming took place while guarding surveying parties of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1879 he served as Commandant of Cadets at West Point. Advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he returned to the West as commander of Fort Craig, New Mexico.
Later in his career, Lazelle was detailed as Representative of the United States to witness maneuvers of the British Army in India in 1885. He returned to Vancouver Barracks, Washington Territory until June 1887, after which the army assigned him to Washington, DC to oversee publication of the records of the War of the Rebellion.
Lazelle continued to serve in the army until he retired for disability on 26 November 1894. He was made a Brigadier General on the retired list on 23 April, 1904. Following his retirement, Lazelle divided his time between Winchester, Massachusetts and Canada. During and after his retirement, he published several books. He died in Quebec 21 July 1917.
Following his recovery, Lazelle served throughout the Civil War. He was captured by Confederates at Fort Bliss, Texas in May, 1861. While held as a prisoner of war, he was promoted to captain. He was exchanged on July 28, 1862. In 1862-63 he was stationed in Washington D.C. as Assistant Commissary of Prisoners of War. He returned to the field in 1863 as colonel of the New York Volunteer Cavalry. After action near Culpepper, Virginia in 1864, he was breveted major in the regular army. Lazelle resigned his volunteer commission in October, 1864 and served the remainder of the war on two general staffs.
After the Civil War, Lazelle remained in the army and served throughout the South, East and Western United States. Among his numerous posts, he participated in expeditions against the Sioux in Yellowstone in 1872 and 1873. Many of his engagements with Native Americans in Montana and Wyoming took place while guarding surveying parties of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1879 he served as Commandant of Cadets at West Point. Advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he returned to the West as commander of Fort Craig, New Mexico.
Later in his career, Lazelle was detailed as Representative of the United States to witness maneuvers of the British Army in India in 1885. He returned to Vancouver Barracks, Washington Territory until June 1887, after which the army assigned him to Washington, DC to oversee publication of the records of the War of the Rebellion.
Lazelle continued to serve in the army until he retired for disability on 26 November 1894. He was made a Brigadier General on the retired list on 23 April, 1904. Following his retirement, Lazelle divided his time between Winchester, Massachusetts and Canada. During and after his retirement, he published several books. He died in Quebec 21 July 1917.
Extent
1 Folder
Abstract
The collection consists of the diary of Henry Martyn Lazelle, 2nd Lieutenant U.S. Army, while on campaign against Apache Indians in southwestern New Mexico, 20 April, 1857 to 13 June, 1857.
Alternate Format
Entire diary has been reproduced in New Mexico Historical Review, 23 (Dec. 1948), pg. 269-301 and 24 (Jan 1949), pg. 12-53.
Relevant Secondary Sources
- Reeve, Frank D., ed. "Puritan and Apache: A Diary," New Mexico HistoricalReview, 23 (Dec. 1948), pg. 269-301 and 24 (Jan 1949), pg. 12-53.
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Henry Martyn Lazelle Diary, 1857 Apr. 20-June 13
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by L. Bramwell
- Date
- ©2000
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 87 SC::Henry Martyn Lazelle Diary)//EN" "nmu1mss87sc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu