The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-11-15
Our Expcciitionary Correspondence.
CAMP ON THE PLATTE RIVER,
AMY RON IIrAu EcnA IA lakz

Army FOR UTAH, sept. ~, 1871
Description and History Of Fbrt Lara~is-Ros-
eontre sutzh a, Old Tropper-His Carer and
-Adcenfurss az Narrated by HimsslE-Hs P1se-
cstion by the Mormons-71e Great kiA N;ssrod
Of the Rocky Mountains-7ns Pursuit Of L4sera-
ture under D.1icuLiss-A noo Annotasor Of
Shakspee-7ne Mountain Sheep of ne "By6alo
Rnnge"-h Bonne BoIche--A Coming Rfeai-
Mormon Threats against Uncle Sam.
In the present letter shall go back to tho point
from whence my last letter dated and attempt
a brief description Of Fort Laramie, which is
the only place of any interest upon that section Of
the route.
This military outpost is erected within the angle
formed by the confluence of the Platte and Laramie
rivers and ia the last mark of civilization east OF Salt
Lake City. In this fast and continually scceerating
age, after leaving railroads and steamboats,, and
journeyng at the snails pace Of fifteen miles day
for GOO miles, over OF the most monotonoos
deserts in the universe, and suddenly coming upon
this oasis, ensconsed in a quiet little nook OF
the valley. with its neatly whitewashed ex-
terror. and presenting more the semblance
Of hamlet than a military station. our
imaginations invountarily carry ~ back 10 our
homes in the East, and for the moment we lo~e
sight of the unwelcome reality that we are In the
baby more insulated from civilization than We
would be at almost any other point occupied by
white men upon this continent.
This poet, A. you very probably aware was
formerly occupied a. depot by the American Fur
Company, and for many years WAS place OF rem
devious for Indian traders, trappers and mountain
men, who, after collecting their annual quantum OF
peltres, here found a ready market for them; and
this, no doubt, has been the scene Of many rO Cr-
ing froc and personal encounter, which the meet
ings never fail 70 call forth.
This anomalous class Of hardy mountaineers-
these veritsbe and unaloyed cosmopoliter, whose
idiosyncrary enables them 70 find home wherever
game abounds, their kettles are boiling and their
blankets are spread-were In the prosperous days OF
rhe fur companies, when beaver skins aold for ten
dollars pound, quite numerous; but since the sub
sttuion Of silk in the manufacture Of hats and the
consequent diminished demand for furs, they have
rapidly passed away, and u " seldom now that one
Of the old stock u seen We had the good fortune
10 meet az Fort Laramie that celebrated veteran
hunter, trapper, trader guide, &c, Jim Brdgcr,"
who has passed the greater half Of his wild aud adj
venturous life in the mountains, far removed from
all intercourse with the civilized world, and sur
rounded by savage neighburs, who acknowledge no
social obligations in common with the pale faces.
He is man Of about sixty years Of age with tall
gaunt figure, somewhat bent by toll and exposure
and possessing firm, open and generous cat OF
countenance, Indicative Of the noble impulses which
generally characterize the frontier man and hunter.
His history, tceming as u does with romantic ad-
venture and startling incident IL 20 me interesting
In the highest degree, and, when related by him in
the peculiar language Of his class l. exceedingly p
quaint.
native Of the Old Dominion, he, thirty-ave years
ago, while yet boy, assembled the Missouri river 10
near ts sources, and was employed in that country
for several years trapper and hunter. His adj
ventures during this period, among the Black Feet
and other hostile tribes, abounded with interest and
excitement From thence be wandered southwest
into the Great Basin Of Utah, visited the present
site OF Salt Lake City. the Great Sat Lake, ana
found hs way south into Lower California, aud wls
probably the first and only white mln wa has ever
descended the Colorado river Of the Wet
He was subsequently with Fremont and Stansbury,
az guide and after encountering all the various
changes known 10 that caprcious damsel Fortune,
he finally halted upon Blacks Fork, Of Green river,
where he erected an establishment which has since
been known "a Bridgers Fort. Here he hung up his
rife and hunting implements, laid aside his rowing
habits and resolved 10 spend the remainder Of his
DAYS In the quiet enjoyment Of home and for seve-
raj years did thriving business both in trading with
Indians and California emigrants. But this happy
state Of things not destined to continue his
prosperity excited the cupdity Of the Mormons, who
demanded monopoly Of the emigrant traffic and
came upon him with large force, obliging