Large Historical Archive, Paul H Weinert Papers and
Photos as Medal of Honor
Recipient for his actions in the Battle of Wounded Knee,
participation as Cavalry Flag
Bearer in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, his Military career,
and subsequent private life as an American Hero.
Interests: American Westward Expansion, Battle of Wounded Knee or Wounded Knee
Massacre, Medal of Honor Recipient, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, Impact on Native
American Culture resulting from American's Manifest Destiny
Author's Note: Paul Weinert was a Man of His Times, meaning that he lived his entire
life within the boundaries. norms. and mores of his contemporary culture. Weinert
peaked at the culmination of America's own version of Manifest Destiny, culminating in
Westward Expansion at the detriment of the Indigenous Native American Culture. At
that time in American History, the Native American was seen as a pediment to
Westward Expansion and advancing "civilization" to the western United States.
Although near the end of the protracted Native American Culture mass extinction, the
near-final major blow was the Battle of Wounded Knee, now commonly known as the
Wounded Knee Massacre, seen clearly in history as a retaliation to "Custer's Last Stand
at the Little Big Horn". At that time in history, the white popular version of the story
dominated the American Culture, and was a view that Paul Weinert believed as not only
defensible, but honorable. Weinert lived his entire life as an American Hero, and while
reprehensible in retrospect, it is unlikely Weinert knew anything other than adoration in
his lifetime. Time lends perspective.
Description: Significant archive of photographs and papers associated with Paul H.
Weinert, one of twenty soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor for action at Wounded
Knee who later joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West traveling show, comprising material
associated with both of these aspects of his life and career. As a member of Battery 'E'
of the 1st Regiment of US Artillery, Weinert took part in what was then called the Battle
of Wounded Knee, but is now typically referred to as the Wounded Knee Massacre
Wounded Knee: On December 29, 1890, a detachment of the 7th Cavalry, supported
by a battery of Hotchkiss guns from the 1st Artillery, surrounded a Lakota encampment
near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. It is said that when the cavalrymen made
contact to confiscate their arms, the gun of Black Coyote—a deaf Lakota who did not
want to give up his expensive rifle—accidentally went off, prompting the American
troops to fire on the largely disarmed and helpless Native American Indians. When
commanding officer Lt. Harry Hawthorne was wounded, Weinert assumed command
and directed the artillery fire, successfully clearing out a key position in a ravine that had
been occupied by Sioux warriors. He and the second cannoneer remained under heavy
fire throughout the battle, advancing their gun after each discharge to attain better
positions. In the end, between 250 and 300 Lakota men, women, and children were
killed in the lopsided fight, which saw just 25 American deaths. Note: Author suggests
further reading on the topic, including the Wikipedia page
Weinert was one of twenty men awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at
Wounded Knee, his citation reading: 'Taking the place of his commanding officer who
had fallen severely wounded, he gallantly served his piece, after each fire advancing it
to a better position.' In modern times, these Medals of Honor have proven
controversial—in 2001, the National Congress of American Indians passed two
resolutions condemning the military awards and called on the US government to rescind
them, though that has not taken place. In addition to his military service throughout the
1890s, Weinert joined the famous traveling Western show of William F. 'Buffalo Bill'
Cody, serving as its cavalry standard bearer in 1896.
Highlights include:
Photographs:
Three original mounted albumen photographs of the aftermath of the Battle of
Wounded Knee published by the Northwestern Photographic Co. of Chadron,
Nebraska, all with titles inherent to the image. Includes: an 8 x 5 photograph entitled
"Gathering up the Dead at the Battle of Wounded Knee S.D.," showing a horse-drawn
cart filled with bodies in the foreground, with cavalry officers on horseback silhouetted in
the background; an 8.5 x 6.5 photograph entitled "Birds Eye View of Battlefield at
Wounded Knee, S.D. looking North," showing Big Foot's camp three weeks after the
massacre, with bodies of four Lakota Sioux wrapped in blankets in the foreground and
American soldiers amid scattered debris of the camp in the stark distance; and an 8.5 x
6.5 photograph entitled "Birds Eye View of Can[y]on at Wounded Knee, S.D.," showing
a wagon chassis with two dead horses in the foreground, and soldiers standing amidst
the corpses of Native Americans scattered about the base of the canyon in the
background.
Ten mounted albumen portraits of Paul H. Weinert throughout his military career,
highlighted by a rare early oversized portrait of him wearing his newly earned
Medal of Honor, affixed to a 7.75 x 10 mount. Others include two different earlier
cabinet portraits of Weinert in a military coat; an early cabinet portrait of Weinert by M.
Hofsteater of the Wisconsin Territory, showing him in formal attire and holding his cap
with the insignia of Battery 'E,' 1st US Artillery; another cabinet photo by Hofsteater,
showing Weinert in uniform beside his horse; two identical cabinet photos by A. H.
Baumann of Crawford, Nebraska, showing him in uniform with the insignia of Troop 'L,'
1st US Cavalry, with his Medal of Honor on his chest; a cabinet photo by Fiero's Studio,
showing Weinert with three medals on his chest (including the Medal of Honor); and two
identical oval portraits of Weinert wearing his medals by Barrows of Boston.
Two different albumen photographs on 8.5 x 6.5 mounts showing American
soldiers at their encampment.
A square albumen portrait of a cavalry officer on horseback affixed to a 5.25 x
5.25 mount, inscribed on the reverse in ink, "Compliments of Mildred, Taken Apr.
16, 1899."
A square albumen photograph showing a cavalry officer on horseback holding an
American flag with a Native American Indian in front of him, affixed to a 5 x 5
mount, with a studio's backstamp, "D. J. Schmedlie, 3330 Franklin Ave."
Four 8.5 x 6 albumen portraits showing artillery batteries from afar, with ink
notations to several of the images (presumably identifying Weinert), affixed to
larger mounts. One is annotated on the reverse of the mount, Light Batteries E & K - 1st
N. Y. Artillery, Captains Allyn Capron & J. W. Dillenback, Presidio, San Francisco,
California, 1889, Presented to M. P. H. Weinert, St. George Hotel, Brooklyn, N.Y., Sept.
13th 1900."
An unusual 10 x 8 albumen portrait of American officers posing with their
bicycles, Weinert identified with an ink notation, affixed to its original Spencer of
Chicago mount.
A 9.5 x 7.25 mounted albumen photograph by N. L. Stebbins of Boston, showing
Weinert and three others on horseback.
Two different albumen photographs of a troop, both affixed to gray 6.5 x 4.25
mounts, one showing cavalry officers standing atop their horses, and one showing the
men dressed in matching white outfits with hats.
Two identical albumen photographs of a group of men in their barracks, featuring
Weinert at the center with his Medal of Honor on his chest, affixed to 6.5 x 5.5
mounts.
A 6.25 x 4 albumen portrait of an artillery company (presumably the Battery 'E' of
the 1st Regiment of Artillery), affixed to a trimmed Northwest Photographic Co.
mount, advertising their views of Wounded Knee on the reverse.
A 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photo of three cavalry officers by Morris of Santa Cruz,
California.
An albumen photograph of the peace council between the Sioux and Chippewa at
Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show on September 11, 1896, affixed to its original 11 x 9.5
mount with printed caption, taken by S. W. Bailey of Ashland, Wisconsin. The reverse of
the mount bears an affixed printed transcript of the council's proceedings.
An albumen photograph of the men in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, captioned
within the image, "Dressing Room at Buffalo Bill's Wild West 1897," affixed to a 12 x 10
mount.
A 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photo of legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley by Stacy of
Brooklyn, bearing Oakley's facsimile signature on the mount.
A glossy 5 x 4 photo of cowboys and Native American Indians on
horseback,
perhaps during a rehearsal for Buffalo Bill's show.
A 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photo of Chief Joseph and his family by E. B. Snell, Elite
Gallery, Wellington, Kansas, showing the leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallowa)
band of the Nez Perce at the center. Erroneously identified on the reverse in modern
ballpoint as "Red Cloud."
A 2.5 x 4 carte-de-visite–style card reproducing a cabinet portrait of "Jack Red
Cloud," chief of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, by Trager and Kuhn, Crawford, Nebraska,
with the studio's name inherent to the image.
Also includes an assortment of Weinert family photographs.
Letters, Documents, and Ephemera:
An original admission ticket for the 1897 season of "Buffalo Bill's Wild West and
Congress of Rough Riders of the World," authentically signed along the bottom in ink
by Buffalo Bill, "W. F. Cody."
Four of Paul H. Weinert's military commissions, dated from 1890 to 1898, with
appointments including: "Corporal in Light Battery 'E' of the 1st Regiment of Artillery"
(1890); "Sergeant in Light Battery 'E' of the First Regiment of Artillery" (1891); "Corporal
in Troop 'C' of the Fifth Regiment of Cavalry" (1894); and "Sergeant in Troop L of the
First Regiment of Cavalry" (1898).
Two of Paul H. Weinert's Army of the United States discharge papers: one
discharging him from service in the "First Regiment of Artillery" in 1891, recording his
military record on the reverse, which notes his receipt of the Medal of Honor, "Awarded
a medal for distinguished service at Wounded Knee Creek S.D, Dec. 29, 1890 by U.S.
Congress"; and one discharging him from service in the "Fifth Regiment of Cavalry" in
1895. Both certificates describe Weinert's character as "Excellent."
Three ALSs by Paul H. Weinert, totaling seven pages on five sheets, all dated
1903, including two to his wife and one to his son. Weinert writes about general matters,
saying that he plans to buy a new toothbrush and necktie, discussing an upcoming
carnival, and expressing his love for his wife. The longer love letter to his wife closes
with sickeningly sweet expressions of his affection: "Well, my own dear darling tootsie
tootsie duckie dumpling huckleberry juice sweetie sickiemore weenie write soon and
often to your own loving lemon pie pumpkin squash snoozer, Paul H. Weinert, Met. Park
Police, Revere Beach, Mass."
Also includes ephemera such as a few newspaper clippings, a few letters sent to
Weinert, and condolence letters sent to Weinert's wife after his passing.
Condition: In overall very good to fine condition. Various sizes. Contained in binder
with pocketed pages.
$4,750.00
849-117
10 Days Before the Masses...AAAWT Advance Notice Email Program
We offer a 10 Day Early Preview to All AAAWT major Web Site Updates
including Bulk Item Adds,
Special Offerings, MAD, Man-at-Artms, and BEE Ads, plus the earliest possible pre-announcments for
Major Gallery Updates, Mass Price Reductions, Special Interest Sales. Choose from "Arms Only",
"Art and Antiques Only" or 'All Updates" Just one or two emails per month with a no-hassle Opt-Out
option with every email. When you sign up here, you will be redirected to the apprpriate Advance Email
Sign-up Confirmation Page, confirming that your entry was successful, and placing you to do some shopping! Welcome to our Advance Notice Email Program!
