The New York herald., 1844-09-11
Fort Smelling, Iowa.
Correspondence Of the HERALD

r01 SnefHng descrt0ed-EnJoyn'enfs Uuhln ana
Scenery withom-Literature and the Ladies-In-
dian Fights, Fishing, Shooting Grouse, and
Going to Wfddings and Cold Weather.
Mr. BENNETT:
Having an opportunity TO send to New York,
cannot let it pass without giving youa brief sketch
Of matters and things at this beautiful post where,
as visitor, have been enjoying the kind hosp
tality of its officers.
The fort is situated at the junction Of the st.
Peters with the Mississippi River, an almost
perpendicular bluff Of lime and sand stone, one
hundred feet above the water, and as you approach
it from below, presents the appearance of very
strongly fortified pace-the wall at one point on
that side being fifty to sixty feet high and termin
ating at the southwest angle with large round
tower pierced with many tiers Of loop-holes. The
ground. plan of the fort resembles badly jammed
cock-hat. AS you enter the sally pert, and passing
the courthouse, (now used for chape) reach the
battle-ground, you are pleased with the nicely
cut green sward which yesterday perfumed the air
with the odor of a thousand clover blossoms. The
company quarters, though old and rickeuy, are
kept clean and in perfect order Enter the officers
quarters, which are equally old and ricketty, and
almost ready to tumble on their heads, and you
will see what taste, refined and educated, can do
in. hiding hideous deformity. An air Of comfort
reigns, and what would otherwise appear desolate
and gloomy, is made cheerful and bright by the
genius and smiles Of the accomplished and elegant
II you have taste Tor the fine arts itscan be in
step into the paror Of Captain E., where you may
see some OF the most perfect illustrations Of do.
mestc Indian life, such as the alp-dan6e, the
medicine dance, ballplaying, and the like. One
Of the best pictures represents s9uaw in the fore
ground dressing deer-skln, and her llege lord
sitting at the door. OF his lodge, quietly smok
ing. After examining these paintings, if you can
break away from the charming society of the lady
who presdes among these pictures, just ascend the
round tower and look up the valley OF the ST. Peters
on scene OF SURPRISING beauty. The deep, dark
the broad, green intervale which is bounded on
one side by steep bluff, and the other by the
less abrupt, but more lofty eminence of "Pilot
hnob TIL How me scene grows upon you as hy you y
higher-the river more serpentine. Those stone
buildings you see down the river little just below
| the Roman Catholic Chapel, are the house and
store Of Capt, Sibley, of the American Fur Com.
pany, fine fellow, who loves to chase buffalo, and
wlllgive friend a warm greeting and good glass
Of wine The stone house which you see up the
| water, where ysu will find spring of the most
delicious water On this, the left bank Of the Mis-
sissppl, some desperate conflicts have been had be-
tween the siouY and Chppewas, who have dyed
almost every rod OF that vast plain with their blood.
But thanks to the efforts OF the military at thispost
which effected one year since treaty OF amlty be-
tween these two tribes, who had been al war with
each other from time immemorial. We will defer
further examination Of the scenery hereabout till
we take trip to the Falls Of st. Anthony; mean
while let us call on the commanding officer, Capt
B., commanding in the absence of COL Wilson
Here we are Introduced to the daughter Of dis.
tnguished General IN our army, and are received
with kind and hearty hospitality, which none but
| the refined and good know how to extend. short
conversation cOnvnces you that the honor and
prosperity of his corps lies near the Captains heart,
aud you do not feel surprised that under his admin
stration the command is in perfect order. One la
dy after another drops in, and presently find
aeIvec surrounded nv a Which for infplli-
gence, and every thing else that goes to make good
society, will compare with any drawing room in
the country. Some of the best familiesln the land
have contributed to make female society here
what it Is. And that love OF elegant literature
which has been cultivated in some Of the best
schools Of America, finds continual qualification In
the Post Library, which is enriched by the best
publications Of England and our own country early
after they appear. 1t would seem that the charm
OF such society was enough without the accom-.
pllshment of music. Yet we cannot withdraw TILL
we have heard the light guitar, and listened to the
song OF one whose voice has held in breathless ad-
miration hosts of auditors in drawing rooms be-
yond the mountains This is not the season Of par
ties, which, during the winter, am assured, come
of with as much pomp and ceremony as the crowd
ded city can boast. 1t is now the middle OF the
| grousng season, and at "dewy eve'' the merry
| sportsman feels more inclined TO court Morpheus
| than the smiles Of the ladies'.
BY law among sportsmen here, no grouse may
be killed before the 29th of July but on the
evening of that bloody day many a poor mo-
l ther, VINO In the morning could boast oil q
fine brood, goes childless to bed. All who can
be spared from duty on that day brush the morn
ing, dew and return early in the evening loaded
with the spoi!s Of victory Every officer in the
lain, Rev Mr.. C., and one would suppose from
his dogmatic manner that he too would be fond Of
field sports, but believe he is eminent in pisca-
tory way only. His peculiar church notions lead
MIN to prefer personiication of st. Peter with
| his rod and line. When there are SO many COM
petitors for the palm. il seems some merit to carry
it off. To the uninitiated IT would seem to belong
| to the one who killed the most game, but old
sporfsmen say that the glory Of the thing lies in
the manner If killing rather than in the fact.
However this may be-. all acknowledge that Capt.
| he who shoots birds over Fop may be more
| finished sportsman.
| Though this is not the season Of parties the
| monotonous life Of the garrison was varied not
| many evenings since by wedding party, on
the occasion Of Miss Mary. Ann Milligan be-
coming the wife OF Edward Wilson, Of "the
regular army" A. large party. composed Of
invited guests, assembled on that Interesting occa-
sion to witness the imposing ceremony. The fair
bride looked, as matter Of course, pretty and
pleased just all the girls do when they are about
| to accomplish what to many seems 10 be the end
and aim OF their existence, as the job was done
cording to the "solemn and impressive" forms Of
the Episcopal Church it was done rightly, but
1 from the length OF time 1t took, one would have
supposed that the parson was splicing hawser or
"the main BRACE" rather than tying knot in the
silken cord of matrimony
| am glad TO announce the fact that Capt. Plum
/ mer has recently arrived with power as Quarter
mnster to repair the uncomfortable quarters at this
post II is quite bad enough that officers who give
themselves the service of their country, should
| be compelled TO live in lsuch limited quarters as
4 they do, without being subjected to the nconve-
nence and discomfort Of leaky and decayed build
ings. We have had Plummer, and Carpenter,
and Wood enough, and plenty Of Gear, all the
| time, and frst-rate Capt. ID. Backus, with men
as true as Steele, but till now Government have
| withheld authority to proceed with the repairs.
| In point of salubrity, there is no place in the
country that will surpass Fort Smelling. There is
| no disease peculiar to this climate, and the few
| deaths that have occurred have been from violence
| or freezing while in a state OF intoxicafion. To
breathe the air it comes sweeping over the rosy
praires, seems like drinking from the fountain Of