Seth Eastman

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Seth Eastman (1808-1875) - Born 24 Jan 1808 in Brunswick, Maine. A career U.S. Army infantry officer and accomplished artist. Died 31 Aug 1875, Washington, DC.

He entered the United States Military Academy 1 Jul 1824 and graduated 1 Jul 1829 in the Class of 1829 ranking 22nd out of 46. He entered service as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Infantry stationed at Fort Crawford, Wisconsin. In 1833 he returned to the United States Military Academy at West Point as an assistant instructor of drawing (as used in mapmaking and illustration) where he served for seven years.

He served in the Second Seminole War and in the U.S. Civil War until he was retired 3 Dec 1863 for disability, "resulting from long and faithful service, and disease and exposure in the Line of Duty." He continued to serve in non-combat roles throughout the war and was promoted to the rank of Bvt Brigadier General, U. S. Army on 9 Aug 1866.

He was placed under orders to the Secretary of the Interior, September 1867, to February 1870 during which he completed a series of paintings for the U.S. House of Representatives depicting American Indian life. In 1870 he was commissioned by Congress to create a series of paintings of the important U.S. fortifications. He completed 17 paintings before his death in 1875.

General Eastman died 31 Aug 1875 in Washington, DC and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, DC.


His wife, Mary Henderson Eastman, author, born in Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia, in 1818. She married Captain Eastman in 1835, and resided with him for many years at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and at other frontier stations. Her portrayal of Indian life is the fruit of long observation and familiarity with the Indian character. She published:

  • "Dacotah, or Life and Legends of the Sioux" (New York, 1849).
  • "Romance of Indian Life" (Philadelphia, 1852).
  • "Aunt Phillis's Cabin," a reply to Mrs. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852).
  • "American Aboriginal Portfolio." illustrated by her husband (1853).
  • "Chicora and other Regions of the Conquerors and the Conquered" (1854).
  • "Tales of Fashionable Life" (1856)
  • Numerous stories and sketches in magazines.

Their son, Robert Langdon Eastman, born in Maryland about 1840; died in Washington, D. C., 9 November 1865. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in May 1861, and, being ordered at once to the seat of war, was engaged in the battle of Bull Run. From that time he was on duty with the Army of the Potomac, rising to the grade of captain, till he was prostrated by disease contracted in the service. After the battle of Malvern Hill he was ordered to West Point , and, though suffering from illness, performed the duty of assistant professor of drawing and of ethics until it was impossible for him to continue.

Father: Robert Eastman

Mother: Sarah Lee Eastman

Marriage:

  • Wakanin ajin win (1815-18??) - Married 1830 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Marriage dissolved in 1832.
  • Mary Henderson (1818-1865) - Married 1835 at West Point, born in Virginia about 1818; died in Washington, D. C., 24 Feb 1880.

Children:

  • by Wakanin ajin win
    • Mary Nancy Eastman (1832-1858)
  • by Mary Henderson
    • Robert Langdon Eastman 1836-1865) born in Maryland
    • Thomas Eastman (1838-1888) born in New York
    • Virginia Eastman (1843-????) born in Minnesota
    • Frank Eastman (1844-????) born Minnesota
    • John Eastman (1845-????) born Minnesota
    • Harvey Eastman (1853-????) born Washington DC

Assignments:

Personal Description: Height: Build: Hair Color: Eye Color:

Links:

Sources:

  • John Francis McDermott, Seth Eastman, Pictorial Historian of the Indian (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1961)
  • John Francis McDermott, Seth Eastman's Mississippi (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1973)
  • A Seth Eastman Sketchbook (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1961)
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