St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-05-23
Fort Smelling.

uUEIoS OuE SAsAe W SAAuue"poAASS "0
made short call At Fort Smelling. Saw
Col. Miller in his new uniform, = dark
blue frock coat and pants with the large
brass buttons and yellow cord. He looks
we'll and is improving; but still has too
much Of that gait iu which American mel.
chants 60 hurry-scurrying through this
world, hopping over acres Of barrels and
around mountains Of boxes. Col. German
politely offered to make US COMMANDMENT.
chief for twenty.four hours if We prolong-
ed our visit that long; and we feel like
going back to claim tho offer. So that We
may take friend Miller, by authority, and
drill him in tho at Of walking. He has
all the natural qualifications for good Of
6cer: Courage that never falters, promp-
titude and decision in no common degree,
integeity and care for the welfare Of others
which must win the respect and affection
of the men of his command; but he does
not walk we'll for an officer.
We saw his new saddle. holsters and
pistols, superb articles; and Jennie and
Nettie are much happier for having sat
upon his knee, ran their fingers over his
bright buttons and given him a dozen
good kisses and "big hug" God bless
him and make him all that his friends
desire.
Col. German is every inch soldier
Walks as though he stepped to martial
music. Every motion and glance shows
that he was born to command. In any
dress and any place We should have pick
cd him out for soldier. If the Minneso-
ia First does not give good account Of
itself it will surely not be his fault. i" .
Major Dyke has made himself extreme.
ly popular with the entire regiment; but
we did not get good look at him, as we
met for the first time quite number Of
gentlemen in whom We felt unusual in.
terest.
The Fort itself was an object Of curiosi-
ty to US. 1t is situated at the confluence
of the Mississippi, and Minnesota rivers
Going to it by land from Minneapolis one
crosses the stream which makes Minneha-
ha, an a rough wooden bridge, about forty
rods above the tall. The stream is bare
of timber around the bridge and is very
common place creek. There are no rapids
above the falis, and as We drove across the
bridge, man in bare feet with his paata'
looms rolled above his knees, was quietly
wading about in the stream just above the
fall, walked down to the very edge Of the
precipice. stood in the water full tsot
deep, aud looked leisurely down over into
the abyss below. We drove down the
wel;-worn road to the front Of the house
of entertainment on the southern bank
and getting ont clambored down the pre-
cipitous, rocky. and thickl y-weoded bank:
of the ravine, INTO which the stream plum
ees in a bread sheet of white foam I
was not in company dress. The white
, jewels were all gone aud the spring fash
ions not yet arrived. Minne'ha'ha annie
leaAess trees and bare brown rocks i
, beautiful and grand Surrounded by ic
and snow, or cn,bowered in foliage an'
flowers, it would of course be more So
3 The fort is one mile and half below, an
= the stream forms the boundary Of the Fol-
Smelling Reservation, of which Mr.. Stee
e got a dear bargain. 1t is high rollin
0 prairie, unimproved except by the grade
{ bed of the Cedar Valley Rail Road, whic
n is fast washing down and filing up. I
n the right are the remains of fences benin
D which tho soldiers of the Fort used to Gu
a tivate grain and vegetables. There al
G long wooden stables where troop of no
Il sos used to be kept, and two low, stor
f. far n houses. The grave yard lies to Il
e lett, fence broken down; and the Flo
1t buildings are range Of low stone house
to A large gateway in the stone wall "
" guarded by sentinel. To the right Of Il
20 gate, the building is two story, with
" porch running around the second. TIL
" second story is the hospital. To the K
- of the gate is the magazine. Enteri
20 the gate one finds that the buildings 4
X. close an acre in triangular form. The
ne are covered porchcs, and broad graz
at walk around the green space in the cent
an and at the head, facing the gate is c