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Description

Rare map of the United States, published by W.J. Stone in Washington, DC., which was apparently prepared for some sort of survey focusing on Frontier American Forts, especially those established to defend against Indians on the Western Frontiers and in Florida and Alabama.

The primary emphasis of the map appears to be the various forts in the Old Northwest. The dating of the map is probably best established by the existence of Fort Calhoun. The name "Fort Calhoun" first appears on one of the maps made by Major Long, in 1819-20. The fort was ordered by Secretary of War John Calhoun to protect the fur trade. It does not appear on military records. The "works at the Council Bluff" was, instead, named "Fort Atkinson" in 1821 in honor of the first commander. The history of the area dates to Lewis & Clark's Council with the Indians in August 1804.

Other forts named include Fort Snelling (established 1820), Fort Howard (1816-1852), Fort Winnebago (1828-1845), Fort Armstrong (1816-1836), Fort Crawford (1816-1830, 1832-1856); Fort Leavenworth (1827); Fort Townson (1831-1865), Fort Jessup (1822-1846), Fort Gibson (1824-1847); Fort Smith (1817-1824, re-established 1838); Fort Brook [sic], Florida (1823-1887); Fort King, Florida (1827-1842); and Cantonment Montpelier, Alabama (1817-1821), which was built for bivouacs and training on David Tate's plantation after the Mim's attack.

The map is difficult to date, because of the conflicting dates associated with the naming of Fort Calhoun, but was most likely prepared circa 1836, at about the time of the formation of Wisconsin Territory and Iowa Territory, in 1836. Curiously, most of W.J. Stone's work was printed in the 1820s, which suggests an earlier date, but an earlier date for the map cannot be reconciled against the naming of the two Territories.

The map is apparently quite rare. We have not located any references to the map, nor do we know the source.