The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-03-09
First Painting of Smelling Is
Brought Out.
MAJOR E. H. RANDALL'S STORY
This Historic Relic Has Been Pre-
scented to the Slate Histori-
cal Society

Winona, March IA photograph of
the earliest painting OF Fort Smelling
in existence, made in 1851, and the only
one there is, has just come into posses
sion of the Minnesota State Historical
society through the efforts of Major f.
H. Randall of this city and Congress-
man James A. Tawney. 1t presents a
different view of the fort than anv that
has yet come into possession of the So
ciety.
In giving an explanation of how this
picture came to be made and of the
difficulties experienced in locating it and
in getting photograph made of it at
the present time, Major Randall said:
''When the State Historical society
learned of this picture it became quite
anxious to possess it or photograph of
it, as the society considered that it
would make valuable addition to the
early day history of the state, and T
agreed to do what could to help them
secure it.
''When l was stationed at Fort Smell
ing in 1851, as deputy paymaster for the
United States government, which posi-
ton carried with it the title of major,
there being at that time no other paying
station nearer than st. Louis, had
Sergeant Thomas, who was good deal
of an artist, paint a picture of Fort
Smelling as it appeared at that time.
The view painted was that of the front
of the fort, which presented totally
different appearance than it does now.
There was stone wall, now removed,
with the round tower at one end and
the octagonal tower at the other. The
picture also showed the old moss build
ing and hospital.
"Soon after the picture was painted l
was ordered from Fort Smelling
to Fort Ridgely, located about
eighteen miles north of New
Ulm On the Minnesota river. Before
leaving | gave the picture of the fort
to Lieutenant Nelson. Afterwards Lieu
tenant told me that he had disposed of
the picture, and the matter slipped out
of my mind until recently when l re-
called it in conversation with an Off
cial of the state historical society. Upon
my referring to it he requested me to
endeavor to get hold of the picture for
the society, and 1 promised to do so.
"It ran in my mind that Lieutenant
Nelson told me he had given the pic
ture to the military academy at West
Point and | wrote there to get informa-
ton concerning it. l wrote to the COM
mandant at West Point. and he referred
the matter to the chaplain, who is the
acting librarian there. He wrote me
that the picture was not at the acad-
envy, but he was under the impression
that he had seen it somewhere, and sug-
gested writing to the Corcoran gallery
at Washington. | did so, bit without
success, and similar letter to the
Smithsonian institute showed 1T was
not there either.
'.When Congressman James A. law
ney was home in the holidays | spoke
to him about my search, and he SAID
there were number of paintings OF
old forts in the committee room OF the
committee on military affairs III con-
gress, and possibly this painting might
be there. He promised to look the mat
ter up, and after returning to Wash
ington wrote me that he had found the
missing picture, his description giving
assurance that it was the one wanted.
referred this letter to the State Hlstori'
cal society at st. Paul and Secretary
Warren Upham wrote directly to Mr.
Tawney, requesting him to secure pho
tograph of the painting and forward II
and the bill to the society. MIR. Iawney
had the photograph made as requested
and sent it on to the society with his
compliments"