Fine Books and Manuscripts

History of the Spirit Lake Massacre and Captivity of Miss Abbie Gardner. Des Moines: Mills & Co., 1885.8vo (194 x 138 mm) Engraved frontispiece, engraved plates and woodcut illustrations. (Some light browning.) Publisher's gold-stamped brown cloth (some wear to spine ends, hinges starting or loose, corners lightly bumped). FIRST EDITION. After the Spirit Lake Massacre, an attack by a Wahpetuke band of Santee Sioux led by Inkpaduta against the settlers in the Okoboji and Spirit Lakes area in northwestern Iowa in which approximately 35 settlers were killed, Gardner, along with 3 other young women, were taken captive. A FINE ASSOCIATION COPY. Charles Flandrau was appointed U.S. Indian Agent in the summer of 1856, tasked with improving conditions for the Sioux along the Minnesota River. The lands the Sioux were granted were not adequate for agriculture, and in the winter of 1856-1857, they faced a severe food shortage. Inkpaduta and his band asked for help from the settlers, and were harshly turned away; the events of the winter of 1856-1857 culminated in the Spirit Lake Massacre in March. Flandrau organized an armed militia to pursue Inkpaduta, but failed to catch him. Flandreau is mentioned on pp.192-193. Howes S-330.