ART OF SETH EASTMAN — McDERMOTT 587 



possessed of the same artistical ability, avIio combined with it a thor- 

 ough knowledge of Indian character. Illustrate such a work by all 

 moans, set Capt. E. to work upon it, and our country will possess a 

 history of its original inhabitants which will reflect credit upon the 

 administration under whose direction it is produced." Eastman, nat- 

 urally, was eager for the appointment, but it was slow in coming. 



Late in the summer of 1848 Eastman received orders transferring 

 hun to Texas and near the close of September he started down the 

 Mississippi. With his pencil in his hand at every moment military 

 duties would permit, he recorded many scenes on the river. Among 

 the excellently detailed (and dated) drawings made near Fort Snelling 

 before he left is "Miss. Eiver. ]\Iendota from Fort Snelling, 809 

 miles from St. Louis, Sept. 1848." Dropping down the river with 

 tlie artist we may note as representative of his interests and his skill 

 such views as the beginning of "Miss. River. Praiiie La Cross, 90 

 miles above Prairie du Chien, 647 miles above St. Louis, Oct. 1848" 

 and "The ]\Iountain that Soaks in the Water, Miss. River. 690 miles 

 above St. Louis" (Mount Trempeleau). A wealth of other sketches 

 in the Peabody Museum and the Minneapolis Public Library, regis- 

 termg the Upper Mississippi scene, form a pictorial report of great 

 value. 



Early in October Eastman passed through St. Louis [14] (his 

 friend Heniy Lewis was then in Cincinnati at work paintmg his 

 panorama) . By December the captain was out beyond San Antonio, 

 deep in the heart of Texas. His first impressions of the Southwest he 

 put into a letter to his friend Henry S. Sibley [15] : 



Camp of Co. D. 1st Inf. near Fredericksburg, Texas 

 Dec. 9tli 1848 

 Dear Sibley, 



I have at last arrived at my journey end. and landed I know not where — but 

 in a very fine country, full of game and Indians. We have been travelling ever 

 since leaving Fort Snelling till yesterday, M'hen we arrived at a halt, for a few 

 months, at least, — AVhen we arrived at New Orleans, we expected to go on 

 directly to the Rio Grande — but the Texians kicked up an Indian excitement, 

 which caused Gen' Twiggs to order my company up into these regions, and 

 Burbauk's and Scott's about 70 miles further west — This place is a dutch settle- 

 ment, about eighteen months old, about 80 miles north of San Antonio — and 

 pretty well into the Cumanche country. There [.s/c] trading post is here — 

 Besides the Cumanches, we have the Delawares, Shawnees, Wakoos, and 

 Lassan [?] Indians — Santa Anna, the Cumanche chief is to visit me in a few 

 days, when I am to hold my first talk with his honor — The country is full of 

 games — small games — such as Buffalo, Bear, Deer, Catamounts, Tigers, Turkies 

 in droves, a few quail and ducks — It would surprise you to see the herd of deer 

 that we saw on our route — They are very tame and easily killed — Buffalo meat 

 sells in town at 3 cents per pound a deer one dollars — Salt 8 cents per pound 

 Flour $20 per barrel. Vinegar one dollar per gallon etc. etc. 



