Authorship of Squier and Davis' Map of the Marietta rthworks: A Belated Correction James L. Murphy T.he Historical Society

It is well known that Squier and Davis in a head. Davis, upon learning that he would their classic Ancient Monuments of the Mis­ not be included as coauthor, had sissippi Valley, first published in 1848 by the written an angry, hurt letter (September 22, as the initial volume 1847) that marked the beginning of the end of their Contributions To Knowledge, relied of his friendship with Squier. Whittlesey, upon the work of several other Ohio anti­shocked to find no mention of previous q notably S. P. Hildreth, James workers in the field, including himself. wrote McBride. and Charles Whittlesey. It is per­a stinging letter to Squier (December 6,1847) haps less known that Squier, who did the and also wrote to suggesting that actual writing of the was somewhat his work would not be properly acknowledge igent in acknowledging the use of the in the Smithsonian Insitution pub­ notes and maps of these other archaeologists lication. McBride appears to have taken the and that before the was finally matter in stride, tnough a friend of his wrote a published even he and Dr. E. H Davis had letter highly critical of Squier to the Cincin­ become so estranged over acknowledgement nati Gazette. McBride did make certain that and rights to the artifact collection that Squier full credit would be given to him and the seriously considered legal action. people who helped him survey his sites in the Squier and Davis actively solicited the aid Smithsonian memoir. and. to be fair to Squier, of Hildreth. McBride. Whittlesey, and other it should be pointed out that he did give full antiquarians of the as shown by cor­credit to the surveyors and delineators of the respondence in the E. Squier collection at maps used in Ancient Monuments of the the Library of Congress. Davis, who through­MissisSippi Valley. He was even able to mol­ out displays a concern with proper lify Whittlesey with a "long and candid letter" acknowledgement of others' work, asks (June 11, 1847) and get him to agree to 18, 1846) "What do you propose to do with "put right" the matter with Henry. our McBride's labours, etc.? Would it secretary of the Smithsonian, and with the not be well to his paintings and his con­American Ethnological to both of sent to use them for this workT He was also which institutions Whittlesey had (June 15, 1846) concerned about credit due his mind. himself: "My fellow, amidst all your Although Whittlesey averred that he was success, don't forget your friend at home. "not particularly in matters of this Meet (sic) out to him equal credit and a due sort," no one familiar with his life and work share of the honours, etc." can fully the statement. for Whittlesey McBride gave consent to Davis the follow­was always extremely sensitive regarding ing month and Whittlesey in the winter of criticism and proper acknowledgement of his 1846. though complications prevented his own "contributions to knowledge"; in fact. his furnishing any detailed information until July. actions in this particular instance belie his 1847. By that Squier was hard at work words. It is all the more remarkable. there- writing what was to be the preliminary that he let publish the survey of published by the American Ethnological the extensive Marietta earthworks (Figure 1) ciety, and Davis was admonishing in him under his narne, for the work was not actually (July 1, 1847) that "We must put McBride's done by Whittlesey. Squier, it should be name to all of his surveys, state their location noted, Whittlesey ample enough on the plates. I understand that the old man to make up for any previous slight: "The map has some fears that he will not here presented is drawn from a careful sur­ receive the credit that he is entitled to." vey of these works, made in 1 by Charles With publication of Squier's Observations Whittlesey, , Topographical neer of on the Aboriginal Monuments of the Missis­ the State, under the law authorizing a Geo­ sippi Valley by the American Ethnological and Topographical of Ohio. It Society in November, 1847, matters came to has never been published; and its fidelity, in

20 every may be on .. The topo­Mapping the Marietta earthworks seems to graphy of the map, and the accompanying have been Curtis' only venture into arch­ sections, are features which every intelligent eology. Graduating from West Point in 1831, inquirer will know how to " he was employed as an engineer on construc­ This "Squier and Davis" or "Whittlesey" tion of the National Road. In April 1837 he survey the Marietta works was actually chief of the Muskingum performed by Samuel R. Curtis. Whittlesey River improvement project. serving until May did not get around to acknowledging this fact 1839. He reSigned as adj utant-general of until forty years later when, in 1885, Ohio in order to fight in the Mexican War. he revised his "Ancient Earth Forts of the later moving to Iowa, served in Congress, Cuyahoga Valley, Ohio", originally published where he promoted the Pacific Railroad, and in 1871 as Tract 5 of the Western was made a major-general during the Civil Historical This revision was never War, being in charge of the Department of the published, but Whittlesey's handwritten re­Missouri. Following the war he was appointed vision of his account of previous to a commission the construction tions in Ohio has preserved. To his of the Union Pacific railroad and died in 1 discussion of Squier and Davis' work, he while engaged in this work. appended the following statement: "My friend and classmate the late Gen. R. Curtis in 1838, wh ile a Civil of the State and upon the Muskingum improve­ ment. made a complete survey of these REFERENCES works, including profiles of the elevations Squier. Ephraim 1847 Observations on the aboriginal monu­ and ditches. This plat he placed in my hands. ments of the Mississippi Valley. New which with my other plans of York: Bartlett & Welford. 79 p. 1839-40. A copy was furnished to Mr. Squier Squier. and Edwin Hamilton Davis (page 73) which by mistake he has credited 1848 Ancient monuments of the to me, an error which has not been Valley. Smithsonian Contributions to corrected." Knowledge. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.

21 OHIO.

CA,..,. IYIt~II~r,y ,r;...... ft.. /'J1. "

" , '.' -"". .... , I• •• ' • •.110 •

•

,"

.'" , · ,·ti,,",~

r ... I • , j ' ". ---'/

22