Charles Howard (photographer) - The Stanton Expedition

The Stanton Expedition

In the spring of 1877, Captain William S. Stanton, Chief Engineer for the Department of the Platte, began preparations for his continued work mapping the major roads in Nebraska and Wyoming. Hearing of Private Howard, Stanton wrote to the commanding officer at Fort Bridger requesting the services of the soldier. "I have thought it would be an excellent opportunity to get a set of photographic views of the posts and the most characteristic features in the scenery of the regions visited," Stanton wrote, "including views in the Black Hills and at the large Indian encampments." The engineering officer also noted that the photographic expedition might also be "to the advantage and perhaps profit of the man himself."

Private Howard was detailed for duty with the expedition, departing Fort Bridger on June 27, 1877. His camera, chemicals and developing equipment were forwarded to Cheyenne shortly afterward, where the expedition assembled on July 5 to make final preparations for their departure. In Cheyenne, Howard produced his first photographs of the expedition, including a view of the Cheyenne Army Depot. From this collection of warehouses, army supplies were unloaded from rail cars and shipped overland to military posts throughout Wyoming. He also made a least four images at nearby Fort D. A. Russell. Stanton's expedition departed on July 11, mapping the road north towards the Black Hills.

The expedition spent two weeks at Fort Laramie and then continued north, arriving in Deadwood on August 11. The expedition then surveyed the road west from Deadwood. Shortly after crossing into eastern Wyoming, the expedition camped near Sun Dance Hill, near present Sundance, Wyoming. Several members of the survey part climbed to its summit and Private Howard photographed the prominent landmark. The expedition arrived at Cantonment Reno (Fort McKinney) on August 26, where Howard produced several photographs of the post and its buildings. The expedition then headed south to Fort Fetterman. Arriving on September 4, Howard also produced images of this post. The expedition then headed south to Rock Creek Station on the Union Pacific Railroad and then returned to Fort Laramie.

The Stanton Expedition next traveled to Camp Robinson and the Red Cloud Agency, arriving on September 30 just over three weeks after the famed Oglala war leader Crazy Horse had been fatally bayonetted. Private Howard produced some of his most important images of the expedition during their four days at Camp Robinson. He appears to have also made a quick trip to nearby Camp Sheridan and the Spotted Tail Agency.

The expedition then headed north to the Black Hills again, this time mapping the northern extension of the Sidney-Deadwood trail. They returned along another Black Hills trail, arriving back at Camp Robinson on October 25, the same day that the Oglala left the Red Cloud Agency for their new home on the Missouri River, escorted by two companies of the Third Cavalry. With winter rapidly descending on the northern Great Plains, the Stanton Expedition departed Camp Robinson on October 28, heading south to Sidney Barracks through four to six inches of snow. The weary party arrived in Sidney on November 2 where Private Howard produced one of his final photographs of the expedition. After four months in the field, the soldiers had mapped some thirteen hundred miles of trails through western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming and the Black Hills of Dakota Territory. "I have made quite a collection of negatives this season," Private Howard wrote to a friend at Fort Bridger, "but had a pretty rough trip of it."

Following the disbandment of the expedition, Private Howard was ordered to accompany Captain Stanton back to Department Headquarters in Omaha where the soldier remained for some eight months, printing his photographs. By early 1878, he had opened his own photographic studio on Douglas Street in Omaha and began selling his images as large format prints, stereoviews and carte-de-vistas. His catalog printed on the back of his stereoviews listed 78 different images for sale.

While in Omaha, Howard apparently met another photographer named D. S. Mitchell who had recently established the Great Western Photograph Publishing Company with his partner, Joseph H. McGowan. The name of the firm soon changed from Mitchell & McGowan to Mitchell, McGowan & Company, suggesting that other photographers became part of the partnership. Based on the fact that the company began printing Howard's views as a set of 43 stereocards called "Military Posts and Indian Views", Private Howard probably joined the firm for a short time. Mitchell's photographic company broke up in the summer and fall of 1878. McGowan moved to North Platte while Mitchell opened a new portrait gallery of his own called the Bee Hive Studio on Sixteenth Street in Omaha. Lacking funds to continue his survey of military roads, Captain Stanton decided not to attempt another summer of field work and released Private Howard from his service in Omaha, sending him back to his old regiment.

Examples of Howard's Photographs From Stanton Expedition, 1877:

Cheyenne, July 1877

• Cheyenne Depot. Possibly by Private Howard. Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point. Published in Paul Hedron, Fort Laramie in 1876 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988) p. 55.

Fort Laramie, July or September 1877

• Fort Laramie. Denver Public Library and National Archives.
• Old Bedlam, Fort Laramie. American Heritage Center.
• Post Trader's store. Possibly by Private Howard.
• Indian Graves near Fort Laramie. Smithsonian Institution.
• Platte River Bridge. Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point. Second example sold on eBay Sept. 2008.

Black Hills, August or October 1877

• Sundance Hill, Black Hills." Taken Aug. 19–20, 1877. Denver Public Library.
• "51. Camp in the Black Hills." Possible view of Stanton Expedition encampment. Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.
• possibly "52. Custer City." Mislabeled as Camp Sheridan. Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.
• "53. Bear Rock near Custer City on French Creek, Black Hills." Same image published by Stanley J. Morrow. Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.
• "56. Deadwood City, D.T." Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.
• "60. Leed's City" . Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.
• "Blacksmith Shop, Custer City." Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.
• Unidentified group, possibly of surveyors on Stanton Expedition. Private collection. Sold on eBay Dec. 2007.

Cantonment Reno/Fort McKinney, Aug. 1877

• "3. Group of Officers, Fort McKinney, Wyo." Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point.
• "8. View of Fort McKinney, Powder River." Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point.
• "12. Work in a Frontier Post; erecting quarters at Fort McKinney." Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point.
• "Ruins old Fort Reno." Probably by Private Howard. Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point.

Fort Fetterman, Sept. 1877

• Fort Fetterman. Nebraska State Historical Society
• Camp of 2nd Cavalry, Fort Fetterman. Two known copies: Signal Corps Collection (RG111), National Archives; second example in private collection.
• Group of Officers, Fort Fetterman. American Heritage Center.

Between Rock Creek and Fort Laramie, Sept. 1877

• "28. Laramie Peak." Bourke Diaries, U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point.

Camp Robinson and the Red Cloud Agency, Oct. 1877

• Camp Robinson. U.S. Military Academy and South Dakota Historical Society.
• Red Cloud Agency. Wyoming State Archives.
• Crow Butte. Denver Public Library
• Arappahoe Chiefs, 'Group'. Denver Public Library
• Gen. Bradley's Quarters, Camp Robinson. Denver Public Library
• Group of Officers, Camp Robinson. Denver Public Library
• Post Sutler Store, Camp Robinson. Denver Public Library
• Red Dog's Village. Nebraska State Historical Society.
• Beef Issue, at Red Cloud Agency. Nebraska State Historical Society.
• Little Big Man's Tepees, Red Cloud Agency. Smithsonian Institution.

Camp Sheridan and the Spotted Tail Agency, Oct. 1877

• Camp Sheridan, Nebraska. U.S. Military Academy and Smithsonian Institution.
• Sioux Village on White River. Smithsonian Institution and Denver Art Museum.
• Minneconjoux Village. Denver Art Museum.
• Beef Issue at Spotted Tail's Agency, Neb. Princeton University and U.S. Military Academy.
• Spotted Tail's Family. U.S. Military Academy and Museum of New Mexico
• Crazy Horse's Grave. Bourke Collection, U.S. Military Academy.
• Crazy Horse's Grave. Sold on eBay Sept. 2008.

Sidney Barracks, Nov. 1877

• Sidney Barracks. Denver Public Library