THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 477 



Having sometime since obtained permission from the Secretary of War to accompany 

 the regiment of the United States dragoons in their summer campaign, I reported my- 

 self at this place tvro months ago, where I have been waiting ever since for their or- 

 ganization. After the many difficulties which they have had to encounter they have 

 at length all assembled, the grassy plains are resounding with the tramxiUng hoofs of 

 the prancing war-horse, and already the hills are echoing back the notes of the spirit- 

 stirring trumpets, which are sounding for the onset. The natives are again " to be 

 astonished," and I shall probably again be a witness to the scene. But whether the 

 approach of eight liundred mounted dragoons amongst the Camanchees and Pawnees 

 will afford me a better subject for a picture of a gaping and astounded multitude 

 than did the first approach of our steamboat amongst theMandans, &c., is a question 

 yet to be solved. I am strongly inclined to think that the scene will not be less wild 

 and spirited, and I ardently wish it, for I have become so much Indian of late that 

 my pencil has lost all appetite for subjects that savour of tameness. I should delight 

 in seeing these red knights of the lance astonished, for it is then that they show their 

 brightest hues, and I care not how badly Vv^e frighten them, provided we hurt them 

 not nor frighten them out of sketching distance. You will agree with me, that I am 

 going farther to get sitters than any of my feUow-artists ever did, but I take au in- 

 describable pleasure in roaming through nature's trackless wilds and selecting my 

 models, where I am free and unshackled by the killing restraints of society, where a 

 painter must modestly sit and breathe away in agony the edge and soul of his ins])ira- 

 tion, waiting for the sluggish calls of the civil. Though the toil, the privations, and 

 expense of traveling to these remote -paTts of the world to get subjects for my ijencil 

 place almost insurmountable and sometimes painful obstacles before mc, yet I am 

 encouraged by the continual conviction that I am practicing in the true school of the 

 arts ; and that, though I should get as poor as Lazarus, I should deem myself rich in 

 models and studies for the future occupation of my life. Of this much I am certain, 

 tiiat amongst these sons of the forest, where are continually repeated the feats and 

 gambols equal to the Grecian games, I have learned more of the essential parts of my 

 art in the three last years than I could have learned in New York in a lifetime. 



The landscape scenes of these wild and beautiful regions are of themselves a rich 

 reward for the traveler who can place them in his portfolio, and being myself the 

 only one accompanying the dragoons for scientific purposes, there will be an addi- 

 tional pleasure to be derived from those pursuits. The regiment of eight hundred 

 men with whom I am to travel will be an effective force, and a iierfect protection 

 against any attacks that will ever be made by Indians. It is composed principally of 

 young men of respectable families, who would act on all occasions from feelings of 

 prido and honor, in addition to those of the common soldier. 



KEVIEW OF THE TROOPS. 



The day before yesterday the regiment of dragoons and the Seveuth Regimeut of 

 liifantry stationed here were reviewed by General Leavenworth, who has lately ar- 

 rived at this post, superseding Colonel Arbuckle in the cominaud. 



Both regiments were drawn up in battle array, in fatigue dress, and passing through 

 a number of the maneuvers of battle, of charge and repulse, &g., presenting a novel 

 and thrilling scene in the prairie to the thousands of Indians and others who had 

 assembled to witness the display. The i^roud and manly deportment of these young 

 men remind one forcibly of a regimeut of independent volunteers, and the horses 

 haA'e a most beautiful appearance from the arrangement of colors. Each company 

 of horses has beeu selected of one color entirely. There is a company of bays, a 

 company of blacks, one of whites, one of sorrels, one of greys, one of cream color, 

 &c., which render the companies distinct and the effect exceedingly pleasing. This 

 regiment goes out under the command of Colonel Dodge, and from his well-tested 

 qualifications and from the beautiful equipment of the command there can be little 



