NO. 3 SETH EASTMAN BUSH NELL 5 



man, who was to judge and umpire tlie play which was to take place 

 among the women, who were divided into two equal parties, and were 

 to j^lay a desperate game of hall, for the valuahle stakes that were hang- 

 ing before them." 



Catlin's original painting of the game witnessed by him and de- 

 scribed in the preceding quotation, is now in the collection of the United 

 States National Museum, Washington. It reveals many details similar 

 to those shown in Eastman's painting believed to have been sketched at 

 the same place a few years before. Both represent the level area bor- 

 dered by the river with hills beyond, groups of Indians gathered to 

 witness the play, and the stakes " which were hung on a pole resting on 

 crotches," to be awarded to the winners of the game. 



In 1835 Catlin wrote : " Praires du Chien is the concentrating place 

 of the Winnebagoes and Menomonies, who inhabit the waters of the 

 Ouisconsin and Fox rivers, and the chief part of the country lying east 

 of the Mississippi and west of Green Bay." 



FORT SNELLIXG 



Fort Snelling or, as it was originally named. Fort Saint Anthony, 

 was the second army post to which Lieutenant Eastman was assigned 

 with the First Infantry. This was in 1830 and it is evident he went 

 direct from Fort Crawford, up the Mississippi to the mouth of the 

 Saint Peters. Several sketches in one of his sketch books, showing 

 A'iews along the river, are believed to have been made at that time. 



Fort Snelling occupies the summit of a high cliff at the junction of 

 the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, the latter formerly known as the 

 Saint Peters. This prominent point is on the left bank of the Min- 

 nesota and right bank of the Mississippi, and was visited and described 

 by Pike in 1806. Eleven years later, in 18 17, Major Long recom- 

 mended the establishment of an army post at the continence of the 

 streams. Lieutenant Colonel Leavenworth, with a detachment of the 

 Fifth Infantry, arrived at the mouth of the Saint Peters River 

 September 17, 18 19, and " on the loth of September, 1820, the corner- 

 stone of Fort St. Anthony was laid. The barracks were at first log 

 structures." ^ Col. Josiah Snelling arrived at the post and relieved 

 Leavenworth about the beginning of September, 1820. Later the name 

 of the new commander was applied to the fort. 



The young lieutenant did not remain long at Fort Snelling at this 

 time and from 1831 to January 9, 1833, was " on topographical duty," 



^ Neill, Rev. E. D., Occurrences in and around Fort Snelling from 1819 to 

 1840. Coll. Minnesota Hist. Soc, 1865. 



