1858 Foster Original Watercolor View of Sandy Lake, Minnesota w/ American Indians

This is an 1858 watercolor of Sandy Lake in Minnesota, likely by a young Robert S. Foster, later a Civil War general. It depicts Sandy Lake, a Native American Ojibwe settlement, and fishing activities. When this view was painted, Sandy Lake was the locus of not only the fur trade but also ongoing efforts by the U.S. Government to relocate the Ojibwe deeper into Minnesota territory.

A Closer Look

Sandy Lake is located in central Minnesota. In the early 1800s, it was a key hub for the region's fur trade, part of the vast network controlled by the North West Company and later the American Fur Company. It was also home to the Ojibwe or Chippewa people, who had long inhabited the area and who, at this stage, were deeply involved in the fur trade. The Sandy Lake Trading Post became an essential hub for exchanging furs, particularly beaver pelts. In 1837, the United States signed the Treaty of St. Peters with the Ojibwe, in which they were forced to cede large swaths of their land in what is now Minnesota and Wisconsin. As part of the treaty, the U.S. government agreed to make annual annuity payments to the Ojibwe.

One of the most tragic events in the history of Sandy Lake occurred in 1850 when the U.S. government, under pressure to relocate indigenous peoples west of the Mississippi, attempted to force the Ojibwe to move to Minnesota Territory from their lands in Wisconsin. The government ordered the annual annuity payment to be made at Sandy Lake instead of the usual location. Hundreds of Ojibwe traveled to Sandy Lake in the fall of 1850 to receive the payments and rations, but they were met with delays, inadequate food, and terrible conditions. By the time the payment arrived in December, more than 400 Ojibwe had died from starvation, disease, and exposure. This became known as the Sandy Lake Tragedy, a key event in preventing further forced relocation of the Ojibwe.

Following the tragedy, Sandy Lake's role shifted as European-American settlement increased in the region. In the late 1800s, the area saw significant activity in the form of an emergent logging industry that used the rivers to transport timber. The expansion of railroads brought additional settlement, gradually transforming Sandy Lake from a fur-trading hub into part of Minnesota's growing logging economy. To this day, Sandy Lake holds a special place for the Ojibwe people and their descendants. Not only was it the locus of the Sandy Lake Tragedy, but the land and water continue to hold a deep spiritual and cultural significance for its indigenous inhabitants.

Robert Sanford Foster

While the artist cannot be identified with certainty, it is likely Robert Sanford Foster (1834 - 1903). Foster was born in Jennings County, Indiana. He grew up in Indiana during the western expansion into Minnesota and may have been part of an army surveying campaign there. His most notable contributions came during the American Civil War (1861 - 1865). He started his service as a captain in the 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served under General Lew Wallace and distinguished himself in several early campaigns, earning rapid promotions. Over time, he rose to become a brevet major general in the Union Army. Foster was heavily involved in the siege of Petersburg and participated in the Appomattox Campaign, which led to the surrender of General Robert E. Lee in April 1865. His leadership during these critical campaigns earned him national recognition. In 1858, Robert S. Foster would have been 24 years old. Many young men of his age and background participated in military survey and mapping efforts in the expanding U.S. territories, especially in the upper Midwest. Individuals associated with the army often created sketches and watercolors to document the terrain for strategic or illustrative purposes. While no direct record of Foster's pre-Civil War activity in Minnesota exists, it is feasible that he could have participated in such expeditions as part of his military or personal exploration efforts.

Publication History and Census

As a watercolor, this view is unique. We know of no comparable image or similar work.