Collection Summary
Edward Settle Godfrey Papers
1863-1933
1880-1925
1863-1933
1880-1925
MSS22988
Godfrey, Edward Settle, 1843-1932
1,100 items
7 containers
1.5 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Army officer. Correspondence, diaries,
military orders, lectures and writings, newspaper clippings, and printed material
relating mainly to Godfrey's military career.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC
Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and
by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Barry, D. F. (David Francis), 1854-1934--Correspondence.
Brininstool, E. A. (Earl Alonzo), 1870-1957--Correspondence.
Bruce, Robert, 1873- --Correspondence.
Camp, Walter Mason, 1867-1925--Correspondence.
Custer, George A. (George Armstrong), 1839-1876.
Godfrey, Edward Settle, 1843-1932.
Graham, William A. (William Alexander), 1804-1875--Correspondence.
Harvey, Winfield S. Winfield S. Harvey diary. 1868-1871.
Kipp, Fremont--Correspondence.
Taylor, William O., 1855-1923--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States. Army--History.
Subjects
Bear Paw, Battle of, Mont., 1877.
Indians of North America--Wars--1866-1895.
Little Bighorn, Battle of the, Mont., 1876.
Nez Percé Indians--Wars, 1877.
Washita Campaign, 1868-1869.
Occupations
Army officers.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Edward Settle Godfrey, army officer, were given to the Library of
Congress by his wife, Ida Emely Godfrey, in 1935 and 1936.
Processing History
The papers of Edward Settle Godfrey were arranged and described in 1977. The finding aid
was revised in 2010 by Daniel Lorello. The finding aid was updated in 2023 by Maria
Farmer as part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive Description
Working Group.
Transfers
Photographs have been transferred to the Library's Prints and Photographs Division where
they are identified as part of these papers.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Edward Settle Godfrey is governed
by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Edward Settle Godfrey are open to research. Researchers are advised to
contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored
off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Edward Settle Godfrey Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1843, Oct. 9
Born, Kalida, Ohio
1861
Enlisted in Twenty-first Ohio Infantry
1867
Graduated, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
Assigned to United States Seventh Cavalry
1868
Participated in Battle of Washita River, Oklahoma
1869
Married Mary J. Pocock (died 1886)
1876
Participated in Little Big Horn campaign, Montana
1877
Participated in Battle of Bear Paw, Montana
1879
1833
Instructor of cavalry tactics, United States Military Academy, West Point,
N.Y.
1892
Married Ida De La Mothe Emely
1894
Awarded Congressional Medal of Honor for action at Battle of Bear Paw,
Montana
Breveted to major
1896
Commissioned major
1901
Commissioned lieutenant-colonel and organized Twelfth Cavalry, Fort Sam
Houston, Tex.
Commissioned colonel of Ninth Cavalry in Philippines
1904
Commanded cavalry and field artillery school, Fort Riley, Kans.
1907
Promoted brigadier general and commanded Department of Missouri
Retired
1932, Apr. 1
Died, Cookstown, N.J.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Edward Settle Godfrey (1843-1932) span the years 1863-1933, with the bulk
of the material dating 1880-1925. The collection consists of correspondence, military
orders, lectures and writings, subject files, and miscellany. The papers are arranged by
type of material.
The collection documents Godfrey's military career and the various military campaigns
against Native American groups in which he was involved, especially the battles of the
Washita, Little Big Horn, and Bear Paw. Also included is material relating to General
George A. Custer and a diary of Winfield S. Harvey. Correspondents include D. F. Barry,
E. A. Brininstool, Robert Bruce, Walter Mason Camp, William A. Graham, Fremont Kipp, and
William O. Taylor.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged by type of material.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
General correspondence
1
Bound
1
30 Jan. 1863-11 June 1905
30 Jan. 1863-11
June 1905
2
5 Dec. 1906-8 Jan. 1920
5 Dec. 1906-8
Jan. 1920
3
28 Jan. 1920-24 May 1922
28 Jan. 1920-24
May 1922
4
26 May 1922-14 July 1933
26 May 1922-14
July 1933
5
Unbound, 1870-1908
1870-1908
(3 folders)
5
Military orders, 1867-1907, undated
1867-1907,
undated
(4 folders)
5
Lectures and writings file
5
Drafts of lectures, Little Big Horn campaign,
1879-1881
1879-1881
5
Diary, 1 Aug.-24 Sept. 1876,
Little Big Horn campaign
1 Aug.-24 Sept.
1876,
5
Article about "Custer's Last Battle"
5
Drafts
(2 folders)
5
Notes
5
Typescript copy for article as it appeared in
Century Magazine
, Jan. 1892
Jan.
1892
6
Revised article, 1908
1908
6
Bound copy of revised article and related
correspondence, 1915-1920
1915-1920
6
Miscellaneous
6
Subject file
6
Harvey, Winfield S., diary,
1868-1871
1868-1871
6
Little Big Horn
6
Accounts of battle, military dispatches, and
maps, 1876
1876
6
Magazine articles, 1893-1927
1893-1927
6
Newspaper articles, 1876-1930
1876-1930
6
Reno Court of Inquiry, final argument of
Captain Lee against Major Marcus A. Reno, typescript of witnesses'
testimony, and casualty list of Seventh Cavalry
6
History of Seventh Cavalry
6
Correspondence regarding Seventh Cavalry,
1928-1930
1928-1930
7
Miscellany
7
Receipts, certificates, and army miscellany,
1868-1904
1868-1904
7
Biographical material
7
Newspaper clippings, 1892-1931
1892-1931
7
Printed matter
7
1865-1927
1865-1927
7
Undated
Undated