File:Fort Dearborn & Chicago in 1831.jpg

I can not believe that Mrs. Kinzie saw the picture until it appeared in her Wau-Bun, It was probably engraved from a sketch by her, and sent to her publishers, without an opportunity for her correction. It is certainly unlike the Fort and surroundings, as I recollect them.

The view appears to be from the north-east, as the enclosure of the Fort was nearly north and south, east and west. The River is intended to be shown inland probably not farther than Dearborn or Clark Streets, as the Agency house was at the corner of North-Water and North-State Streets.

Fort Dearborn is represented as located on a high elevation, much above the Kinzie House. This is incorrect, as the ground at the Foi t was not over eight feet above the River at its lowest stage, while the Kinzie House was two or three feet higher than the Fort.

There was no sharp point in front of the Fort, north, as shown in the cut. The slope to the River was gradual. At no place fronting the north line of pickets was there over 80 feet to the water's edge; and at the narrowest point, opposite the north gate, from 50 to 60 feet.

The bend of the River, westerly from the Fort, was gradual. The direction of the River from the bend, westerly, was almost straight to Franklin Street. From Franklin Street it turned gradually southward to the junction of the north and south branches. The point of junction of the two streams was in sight from the Kinzie House. There was no sharp inlet in front of the Kinzie House, as represented in the cut, but there was a slight bend corresponding with the slight curve opposite. The direction of the cut through the sand-bar and the piers erected conformed to the general course of the River at the Kinzie House.

The cut shows the Block- House to be the highest building. It was considerably lower than the officers' or soldiers' quarters. The brick building, erected in about 1824 or '25, not shown in this cut, was the most prominent structure. It was located about 10 feet south of and parallel with the north picket, and about 10 or 15 feet west of the north gate. It was within the Fort enclosure, and would partially hide in this view the officers' original quarters. There was no fence along the River edge, east of the stockade.