Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-01-27
What the army is Doing at Fort Brideer.

Times. writing on the 1st of December, says
the Utah army reached Fort Bridger on the
18th of November, where it will encamp for
the winter:
The wall of the Fort is built of cobble stone
laid in mortar, flour feet thick at the bottom
about two feet thick at the top, and twenty
feet in height. Adjoining this wall is large
coral, inclosed by stoue wall of the same
description, about eight feet in height. These
improvements were found uninjured, but the
wooden gates, (Which were very strong,)
were almost entirely consumed by fire; all
the buildings which surrounded the Fort,
were also burned to the ground. Hearing
that there were vegetables at Fort Supply,
there to-day to see what could be found
On arriving at the spot, I realized, for the
first time in my life, what had imagined of
the appearance Of a sacked, burned. and aban
doned village. The place was marked by
the blackened and charred timbers sticking
up in every direction, and by the tumbling
adobe walls and mud chimneys. There was
a sense of desolation about those ruins, of a
recently beautiful settlement which was, to
say the least, unpleasant, The Fort had been
surrounded by pckcts, which had been burn
ed down with the buildings. This settlement
contained about eighteen houses, besides a
grist and saw mill There were about fory
acres of potatoes in the ground, but they
were all spoiled by the frost We found, by
poking about among the ruins, hole con-
tanning about three bushels Of excellent pota-
toes. We found patch of turnips and beets
uninjured by the frost, and of them we Sc
cured good supply. The wheat had been
cut before the Mormons left, and had been
burned in the stack. In the meadow there
was FIVE acres of hay cut, and lying as it had
been raked up at the time of cutting
inst before leaving the place black and
white cat ran out toward Us, from under q
pile of half burnt timber. We gave her food
and tried to capture her She would not al
low that, but persisted in keeping her lonely
watch over the ruins of her old home
We are all very busy building houses here
for our winter quarters. Ours is rooted,
and tomorrow we hope to daub the chinks
with mud; it will then be finished, and we
will have a comfortable place for the winter.
We have had the site of our City" survey
ed and laid out. Judge Eckles finished his
house first therefore, in his honor, We call
the place Ecklesville.
DR.. Forney, the Superintendent of Indian
Affairs, is putting up large Office on one
| side of the square As you may readily con-
ceive, We have all styles of buildings, but
the fayorite seems to be hole dug in the
ground with a tent pitched over it, and 3
| fireplace at one end.
Our City" is built in pretty bend of th'
creek. It is contemplated to build cour
| Honse and jail The first session of th
United States District Court for this distric
was held at Ecxlcsville to day. Er. McCarty
a wagonmaker of Russell & Waddell, was pu
on trial for shooting soldier few days since
It seems that party of drunken soldiers at
tackled him with stones, and struck him seY
eral times. He finally, in self-dcfcnee, sho
one of them, and it is supposed the soldie
cannot live. McCarty was acquitted. Gov
crnor Cummings has concluded not to build
house, but live in tents this winter. He ha
sent proclaim alton to Brigham and the Nor
mons, by Grow and Southworth, two Nor
mon prison ers, who wero released for tia
purpose.
Mr.. Perry has built a log store; Mr.. Lis
ingston pole store, and Mr.. Gerrish fran,
store, which arc covered with canvass.
is also contemplated to erect building ft
Photographic gallery; we shall, therefore
be able to send you views of our City,
Fort Scott, and the encampment, as well a
of the plizzes and costumes of the resident:
Fort Bridger is being converted into reg
ular ratification Our winter quarters ar
well selected, the army is camped in fin
timbcrs, which affords shelter from the wind
and good material for building. The so
diers are all provided with the Sibley ten
which is shaped like lodge, in the centre
which a large fire can be built. All Il
Government mules, except few kept fl
hauling fire. wood, have been sent to Henry
Fork for the winter. under the protection
several companies of dragons.
just before breaking up from Blacks Forl
, we were joined by Mr.. Jesse Jones and Mr
Mogo, (wife of the former United Stat
Surveyor in Utah, both of who IN had mac
their escape from Salt Lake City. They t
ported that all the Gentilcs had been order,
to leave the Territory. The Mormous in Il
city had been several to the stores of Messr
Livingston & Kincaid, and Gilbert & Gerris
and helped themselves to such things as tn,
} needed without paying for the same. On Oh
occasions whole company which came =,