The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1854-06-30
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INTERESTING LETTER EHOM KAN
SALT Csrrk, Q IL miles from Fort }
Leasenworth, Kansas Territory
June ,th 1854. y

SALT Csrrk, ala miles from Fort }
Leayenworth, Kansas Territory, !
June 7ih 1854. )
AT the crossing Of this creek, there is at
present an encsmpncnt Of somc three hun
dred Mormons, including men, women, and
children, and about one hundred and fifty
wagons and tents. This e~ncampment Is
composed of Germans, Swiss, N~orwegians,
Scotch and English-all Of whom have
crossed the Atlantic. This place Is TO be
the head quarters for some three thousand
foreigners, who are now on their way hith-
er, previous to their taking up their fegu-
lar line Of march for Utah territory. At
Kansas, a town on the Missouri river, about
thirty miles below, is to be the starting
point of some four or five thousand others
destined for the same territories Of many
wives. In this %enchmpment are many in
t%elligent and scientific gentlemen.
Among others is Mr.. Lober, a Swiss gen.
tleman, intelligent well educated, and a
fine chemist and Machinist. lie is presi-
dent ofthe association and chief elder
Several of their little children have recent
ly died of the Summer complaint, and their
graves are still fresh on yonder mound,
made with human hands, as Mr.. Lober's
Mormon Bible tells him, some 400 or 1900
years ago. In digging these graves, bats
of burnt brick were found, and from this
fact he concludes that there was here once
a fertilization constructed by an intelligent
and powerful race of people previous 10 the
discovery Of this continent by Columbus"
This mound or remnant of a once large for
LITIGATION is commonly known by the name
of" Matrimonial HILL"
1t was here that the chaplain Of Fort
Leavenworth met Lieut.. Hammond of the
army, and his intended better half" alton
horseback, and united them in holy matri-
mony, without the knowledge or consent of
the friends of either party. Here, then,
where the gay and dashing equestrian BRIDE
groom once met, the Mormon mothers have
now deposited the remains of their loved
ones. How sad, how melancholy the con-
trast! No one knows the hardships and
trials a poor emigrant woman has to en-
dure (perhaps she has somc six or eight
children, and one nursed at the breast, as
have been an eye witness to more than
one such case but those who have witness
sed such heart-rcnding scenes.
A few days ngo the delegation OF INDIANS
h-'---H-. f.. tho
wa, and Sac and Fox bands returned to
their homes, well pleased with the treaties
they had made with their Great Father. in
Washington. The Fort Lcavenworth mil
itary reserve is on part of the Delaware
lands, and theirs is said to be the finest IN
all Kansas territory but they say 1t Is
stipulated that no one shall squat or settle
on their land until ii shall have been sur
veyed and put into market for the highest
price. Such a treaty, provided it can be
enforced, will prevent this part of the coun-
try from being settled for at least a couple
of years, notwithstanding the large mum
Der Of persons who are daily riding over
it selecting sites tor towns, farm"houses,
&c.
1t is rumored that Il large number Of des-
peradoes are collecting in Pratt county, Mo-,
for the express purpose of coming over to
take possession " N ef drmis," and estab-
lush at once Gen. Cass' fayorite doctrine,
|" squatter,s sovereignty" BE this ms it
may, the Government my expect TO have
some diff Guilty with the squatters, for such
a fine farming and grazing country as this
is can remain no longer wild and %unculti-
waited. Better land than is here cannot be
found anywhere in this country. Uncle
Sam has two Of the finest and preiuest
farms-one containing 500 acres and the
other 1000 acres, all well fenccd-on the
reserve, that ! have ever seen. 1t is often
asked what the Government intends doing
with Fort Leayenworth? VIII it abandon
the whole reserve, or will it retain only the
quarters and store houses?
| am told that about one fifth of Col.
Steptee's Command deserted before leaving
for California. Does not Congress see that
it is absolutely necessary for the common
soldiers pay TO be Increased5 The routes
TO New Mexico, Utah, California and Ore
gon must be guarded with troops in order
to give protection to emigrants against the
savages Of the p%raries. But can the Gov
ernment expect TO get soldiers for seven or
eight dollars per month, whilst wages for
common ordinary labor is so high? Then
let Congress see TO 1t, and act at once.