These two maps depict the Congressional debate over the nature of the Frontier Defenses between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, illustrating the proposals of J.R. Poinsett and Charles Gratiot. The complete set includes a third map, not present here, which gives the proposal of General Edmund P. Gaines. Both maps depict the states of Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Indian nations bordering them to the west. Military forts and outposts from Ft. Jessup to Ft. Snelling are designated, and notations identify the lands ceded by several Indian nations with dates of the treaties. The threat posed by hostile Indians whose numbers greatly exceeded those of the settlers in the area, resulted in a protracted Congressional debate concerning the defenses required along the frontier. Poinsett's plan is the least detailed. Gratiot’s plan uses color to trace the common roads and rivers and adds a table showing distances between forts and "days of march" at 15 miles per day. These maps are from the American State Papers, circa 1860. The original issue was published in 1838 in Senate Doc. 65, and House Doc. 311, 25th Congress, 2nd Session. Dated 1837 but both published circa 1860.

References: cf (Wheat [TMW] #427; Clausen & Friis #183; Wheat [TMW] #426; Clausen & Friis #182).

Condition: A

The Poinsett map is uncolored, the Gratiot map is in original outline coloring. Both maps have a similar tear at binding trim, closed on verso with archival tape.