"DRAGOON PICKETS ATTACKED"
U.S. Army Dragoons on the Coalville Trail -1858
by Artist Frank M. Thomas
Original Art Canvas, 8 sq. ft. (30" x 40") - Found in the artist's collection
Historical Background:
7 May 1858, Eastern Washington Palouse Hill Country, Coeur d'Alene War: Lieutenant Colonel Edward Steptoe's 1st dragoon Regiment horse soldiers encountered a large, determined war party of 1,200 mounted Spokane, Yakima, Palouse, and Coeur d' Alene warriors on the Coalville Trail.
Since his small force consisting of 164 lightly armed men, each issued only fifteen rounds ammunition, Steptoe wisely turned back down the trail. The determined Indians fell on the rear of his column, attacking his defending pickets all morning.... as the horse soldiers retreated southward, toward Fort Walla Walla. [In today's army, using its military jargon, this would not be described as a retreat but a retrograde movement.]
Darkness found them in a defensive position atop a hill that today bears the name Steptoe Butte. Lt. Col. Steptoe, not lacking in courage, wanted to fight it out from that position, but wiser heads among his junior officers and NCO's convinced him that discretion is the better part of Valor. In darkness they buried their cannon and their dead, then before dawn slipped out and down the trail.
Finally, in April, 1862, LDS Church President Brigham Young received a telegram from United States President Abraham Lincoln authorizing him to raise, equip and arm a company of cavalry for service on the Overland Trail, to be funded by the U.S. Government. (See Deseret News, 7 May 1862.) When requisitioned on short (two day) notice by Territorial Adjutant General Daniel Wells, the Legion¹s horses were quickly supplied by Orin Porter Rockwell.
Under command of Major Lot Smith (the "Mountain Fox"), Utah Territory's Nauvoo Legion horse soldiers (all volunteers, many former members of the Mormon Battalion, U.S. Army) took to the field in Wyoming.
Our Territorial Nauvoo Legion militia was a forerunner of Utah¹s Army National Guard, and is, today, found only in the lineage of southern Utah¹s modern 2/222 Field Artillery Battalion, now (during 2006-07) on active duty...service in Iraq.
The artist, Frank Thomas, a former Utah National Guard officer, once commanded Service Battery, 2/222 Field Artillery, Beaver, Utah. He has portrayed himself in this painting as the buckskin-clad scout reporting to Major Lot Smith. The current (2006) commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Rawlinson, is portrayed as the horse soldier on the far right.
Canvas Art Print Offerings:
18" x 24" (signed by artist/rolled - ready to stretch)..........................$181.50
tube shipped.......................+$13.50
18" x 24" (signed by artist/stretched - ready to frame)......................$211.50
flat package shipped.............+$21.50
24" x 32" (signed by artist/rolled - ready to stretch)..........................$272.25
tube shipped.......................+$12.50
30" x 40" (signed by artist//rolled - ready to stretch)..........................$404.25
tube shipped.......................+$17.50
(NOTE: The rolled print may be stretched in most frame shops before framing.)
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Lithographic [Art Paper] Print Offering:
15" x 20" (signed and numbered by artist - ready to frame)......................$70.00
Plastic wrapped/flat package - shipped.............$13.50
*Please note*: Artist Frank Thomas' studio lithographic art print and giclee' canvas art print sales have now been resumed as of November 1st, 2008. He and his wife, Patreecia, have completed an eighteen month mission in the Ohio-Cleveland Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the Kirtland Historic Village Sites, Kirtland, Ohio. He was asked by LDS Church General Authorities to paint early Church history scenes of 1830's Kirtland.
He has now returned home to his art studio at 206 North 100 East, Holden, Utah 84636 and is producing LDS historical paintings and Old West paintings at that site. His art prints may be purchased online by credit card or by personal check.
Call Frank at his Studio" (435) 795-2206 or (435) 406-9526, or contact directly by email wildgoose@crystalpeaks.com.