[ Autograph ] John W. Crawford 1847-1917 "Captain Jack", American scout who served Merritt and Crook, and Chief of Scouts for the BlackHills Rangers. Later in life he became the author of over 100 short stories. Fine content A.L.S. "J. W Crawford Capt. Jack", lp. 4to. on his "The Poet Scout" letterhead, Fort Craig, N.M., July 15, 1886 Crawford writes to E. F. Gladwin, in part: "...If I were to comply with your request, nine tenths of those who might read my account of the most memorable conflict of my life on the plains would look upon it as a good story for dime novel readers at present both backs and fronts of my hands are blistered with pick hammer and sun at the mines where I have been hard at work for the last two weeks and I am not only tired out but so sleepy I can scarcely keep my eyes open having driven all night last night..." Horizontal fold starting to split, otherwise fine. Tipped to a larger sheet.