The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-04-12

! Fort Towson il situated the east bank Of
Gates Creek, just one mile IRON our village, about
six miles north of Red River, and about the same
distance east of Kamichi, in lat 80 81 north, and
long 95 OF west.
In approaching it from the praries, the garrison
presents a very beautiful appearance. The build
ings, who are very commodious and comforta-
ble re principally frame, and front on the parude
ground, forming hollow square. The command
ants quarters, in the rear, show to great advaht
age, and, in short, every thing about the place in
dica,es strict military discipline and good order
We know of no place where one could sr end
summer more pleasantly than there. We take
great pleasure, occasionally in visiting the officers
OF the garrison, and exchanging the sautations OF
the day.
IL is within ten minutes ride of those beautiful
rolling prairies, which reach far the eye will
carry, and which are here and there dotted with
little patches of timber, forming islands, as it were,
In The great SEA grass How delightful it is, to
rise at The beat OF revee, and sally out into those
vast pastures and the herds Of cattle and sheep
quietly grazing around, listen TO the twiter of the
myrads of birds that fill the air with melody, and
nhale the soft breezes that come laden with the
perfumes of natures flower garden. One almost
instinctivey exclaims--
AVE. this is freedom these pnre skies
Were never stained with village smoke!
Around, where ere | cast my eyes,
Are endless wa tss, by plough unbroke."
Fort Towson was first established in the year
1923, and occupied until 1929, when it was aban-
doned. A short time after the troops were with
drawn, it was burned down. 1t was rebuilt in the
year 1881, by companies A, C., G and |, of the 81
Infantry, under the command of then, Major G. w
Kearny, who was relieved as follows: Capt. Mel
son; Lieut.. Col. Vose; Maj Henry Wilson Capt.
Allen, of the 4th Infantry, company K; Major
Fonteroy, ID Dragons; Brew. Maj Beal; Col.
LOOMS, with 9Th Regt. Infantry. Captain Il. l..
Alexander, in May, 1916, having been ordered to
NewOrleans, detachment of fifteen men of the
Inf TRY ypa off mfr ha LOT
Lieut. J. ID. Bacon, who was relieved by Lieut..
Foot and he by Lieut.. Davis, of the same regiment,
who was relieved by companies d and X of the
5!h Infantry, in 1913, under command of Capt. X.
o. Marcy, and him relieved by Brew. Lieut.. Col.
AJa'crombe, and him relieved by the present com
maitHni, Capt 1saac Lynde, company +, 9Th Inf.
ufiicss,, Brew. Captain Charles s. Hamilton, A.
9. 81 Lieut. w. N. r. Beal 7. c. Madison,
Surgeon; Rev. S. Corley, Chaplain.
Immediately in the rear of the buildings is ra-
vine about eighty feet deep, varying In breadth
from a few yards to half mile, and bounded on
tic opposite side by rolling hills, densely covered
with oak and pine Through this ravine runs
Gates Creek, which is supplied by good springs in
the pine hills, north. west of the Fort and emptes
into Red river short Distance from the mouth OF
kiamichi. This bottom, which is covered with
hickory, scrub-oak ETC, presents marshy surface
Immediately in the vicinity oil the Fort the soil,
which is composed OF light sand and clay, is very
productive. Upon the prairies, the soil, although
superficial, is much richer, based upon thin
stratum of limestone.
We had almost forgot to mention fine chaly-
beate spring within ten minutes walk of the Fort,
which is often used for medicinal purposes
At present the supplies for Fort Ouachita and
Fort Arbuckle, are sent to this post, from New
Orleans and hauled from here by wagons, a dis
lance to the former of about eighty-ve miles, and
to the latter OF about one hundred and fifty miles
nearer by one hundred miles than any other point
OF steam navigation.
We authorized to say, by one who has resided
at the Fort since 1882, and who is connected with
the army, that there is Fort the United States
that can boast of better health.
In conclusion we return our thanks to our friends
at the garrison, for their assistance V giving this
history.
Population l0l blacksmith shop; one
wagon and carpenter shop one bakery; one suit
lers store Doaksville lntelligencer