Fort Mackenzie

BODMER, Karl (1809-1893).
Fort Mackenzie - August 28th 1833, Tab., 42 (State 1).
Aquatint engraving with original hand color.
From: "Travels in the Interior of North America".
Paris, London, & Coblenz, 1839-1843.
16 1/4" x 21 3/8" sheet, 24 1/4" x 29" framed.
With Blindstamp.

Not quite three weeks after their arrival at Fort McKenzie, Maximilian and Bodmer witnessed from the rampart of the fort a surprise attack by almost six hundred Assiniboins and Crees on the Blackfeet camp outside the fortress walls. Maximilian described the early morning. "On the 28th of August, at break of day, we were awakened by musket-shot....When we entered the court-yard of the forest, all our people were in motion, and some were firing from the roofs. On ascending it, we saw the whole prairie covered with Indians on foot and on horseback, who were firing at the fort; and on the hills were several detached bodies...They [Assiniboins and Crees] had cut up the tents of the Blackfeet with knives, discharged their guns and arrows at them, and killed or wounded many of the inmates, roused from their sleep by this unexpected attack."