A Bivouack In Safety Or Florida Troops Preventing A Surprise. This inhuman war has already cost the people of the United States $30,000,000, without any prospect of its being brought to a termination.

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Artist/Maker Henry Dacre (American, born c. 1820)

Lithographer Henry R. Robinson (American, died 1850)

Publisher Henry R. Robinson (American, died 1850)

Datepublished 1840

MediumLithograph

DimensionsComposition: 10 1/4 × 16 1/4 in. (26 × 41.3 cm) Sheet: 11 1/2 × 17 1/8 in. (29.2 × 43.5 cm)

Credit LineThe Beinecke Lesser Antilles Collection of Hamilton College

Object number1973.6

Not on view

DescriptionA parody of President Martin Van Buren's efforts to end the Second Seminole War in Florida, which was considered by many to be a costly and wasteful endeavor. In 1840, the army began using Cuban blood hounds to hunt the Seminoles. Here, a number of dandified soldiers are show inside an extensive tent while the dogs stand guard. Tent with 6 troopers in bizarre costume, at ease; file of dogs in uniform.

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Additional Details

Provenance 1971: Hamilton College, by gift of Walter Beinecke, Jr.

Markings None noted.

Published References Hough, Samuel J. and Penelope R.O. Hough, THE BEINECKE LESSER ANTILLES COLLECTION AT HAMILTON COLLEGE: A CATOLOGUE OF BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, PRINTS, MAPS, AND DRAWINGS (Trustees of Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, 1994), 338, catalogue no. P49.

Signature Signed "HD" at lower left in stone.

Inscribed "A BIVOUACK IN SAFETY OR FLORIDA TROOPS PREVENTING A SURPRISE. / This inhuman war has already cost the people of the United States $30,000,000, without any prospect of its being brought to a termination." at lower center in typeset in black ink; "H.P. Robinson" on verso at lower right in pencil.