THE GEOKGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 239 



Macinac, and many others may be found in the Museum of the Military 

 Service Institution, at Governor's Island, New York Harbor. In histo- 

 ries of States or cities wherein forts, posts, or barracks are situated can 

 generally be found views of them. 



A series of paintings showing the principal forts on the Atlantic 

 coast of the United States by Colonel Eastman, executed prior to 1865, 

 can now be found hanging in the room of the House Committee on 

 Military Affairs in the Capitol at Washington. A distinction must be 

 kept in mind, however, between forts or posts established by or belong- 

 ing to individuals or corporations, or fur trading companies, and those 

 established by governmental authority. 



333. Prairie du Chien, five hundred miles above Saint Lonis, Upper Mississippi, 



United States garrison. Painted in 1836. 



(Plate No. 233, page 144, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



In 1880 a city of Wisconsin, with a population of 2,777. 



Prairie du Chien has been one of the earliest and principal trading posts of the 

 fur company, and they now have a large establishment at that place ; but doing far 

 less business than formerly, owing to the great mortality of the Indians in its vi- 

 cinity, and the destruction of the game, which has almost entirely disappeared in 

 these regions. The prairie is a beautiful elevation above the river, of several miles 

 in length, and a mile or so in width, with a most picturesque range of grassy bluffs 

 encompassing it in the rear. The Government have erected there a substantial fort, 

 in which are generally stationed three or four companies of men, for the purpose fas 

 at the Fall of Saint Anthony) of keeping the peace amongst the hostile tribes, and also 

 of protecting the frontier inhabitants from the attacks of excited savages. There are 

 on the prairie some forty or fifty families, mostly French or half-breeds, whose lives 

 have been chiefly sp>ent in the arduous and hazardous occupations of trappers, and 

 traders, and voyageurs, which has well qualified them for the modes of dealing with 

 Indians, where they have settled down and stand ready to compete with one another 

 for their shares of annuities, &c, which are dealt out to the different tribes who con- 

 centrate at that place, and are easily drawn from the poor Indians' hands by whisky 

 and useless gewgaws. 



The consequence of this system is, that there is about that place almost one con- 

 tinual scene of wretchedness, and drunkenness, and disease amongst the Indians 

 who come there to trade and to receive their annuities, that disgusts and sickens the 

 heart of every stranger that extends his travels to it. 



When I was there Wa-ba-sha's band of the Sioux came there, and remained several 

 weeks to get their annuities, which, when they received them, fell (as they always will 

 do) far short of paying off the account, which the traders take good care to have stand- 

 ing against them for goods furnished them on a year's credit. However, whether they 

 pay off or not, they can always get whisky enough for a grand carouse and a brawl, which 

 lasts for a week or two, and almost sure to terminate the lives of some of their numbers. 



Prairie du Chien is the concentrating place of the Winnebagoes and Menomonies 

 who inhabit the waters of the Ouiscinsin (Wisconsin ?) and Fox Eivers, and the chief 

 part of the country lying east of the Mississippi and west of Green Bay. — G. C. 



334. Chippewa village and dog feast, at the Falls of Saint Anthony ; lodges built 



with birch bark ; Upper Mississippi. Painted in 1835. 

 (Plate No. 238, page 138, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 The encampment of the Chippeways, to which I have been a daily visitor, was 

 built in the manner seen in Plate No. 238 (No. 334) ; their wigwams made of birch 

 bark, covering the frame work, which was of slight poles stuck in the ground and 

 bent over at the top, was to give a roof-like shape to the lodge, best calculated t9 

 ward off rain and winds. 



