B. Tiernan was an American who spent time in the Territory of New Mexico. The collection includes a holograph letter written to Harvey Whitehill, Sheriff of Grant County, NM, dated March 26, 1900. It was sent from Tiernan's office in Galveston, TX. The letter recounts his 1880 arrival in the Territory of New Mexico and his first meeting with Sheriff Whitehill. It also relates their encounter with the Warm Springs band of the Tchihendeh Chief Victorio's band of central Apaches on Copper Creek, northwest of Silver City, and their subsequent rescue by the 6th Cavalry regiment under Captain Madden, and the 9th regiment under Colonel Hatch.