Early Map of Indian Reservations Showing Military Outposts
"Map Showing Indian Reservations in the United States West of the 84th Meridian and Number of Indians belonging thereto"
Color lithograph map, 1881, showing "Indian Lands as established" (tan), "Lands, the Indian title to which is being extinguished" (pink) and a very small amount of "Lands to be established as Indian Lands" (shaded), showing also, with a small flag, "Stations occupied by U.S.Troops", published to accompany the report to Congress of the Commissionier of Indian Affiars, with horizontal and vertical folds as issued (now flattened); some very slight toning on a few folds but otherwise in very good condition
Sheet 15 3/4 x 19 3/4 inches
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This map is one of the earliest in a series of five that were published by the Government between 1881 and 1892 showing the changes to the reservation system (a version of this map had been printed to accompany the Commissioner's Report the prior year, 1880, which is almost identical in most respects but uncolored).
The Report of the Commissioner, which this map accompanied, is interesting for the blunt tone it takes right from the start about the reservation system; "Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the annual report of the Indian Bureau for the year 1881. / In the outset, I desire to urge with earnestness the absolute necessity for a thorough and radical change of the Indian policy in some respects…”, and later goes into details about the failures of the reservations [the report is viewable online].
While a few of the later maps show the dwindling number of military forts, this map, prepared in the final stages of the Sioux War and while militry engagements were stil occuring in the south-west, is interesting for what it shows of a less-settled situation.
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