Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-14
M0rrester 4ailp Spp.
Incidents Relating to the History of Fort


From the st. Paul (Minnesota) Press, Maya
The re-occupation of Fort Smelling as mil.
itary station, by the First Regiment of Min
nesota volunteer militia, revives our interest
in the old scenes and times which constitute
its romantic history. In our childhood we
read of the Falls of Saint Anthony as the ex-
treme limit of the wilderness, and no fortifica-
ton OF the Rocky Mountains seems now so
remote as Fort Smelling did twenty years ago
American civilization has made both localities
the Falls and the Fort-central to the pro
gress of settlements, and to our just anticipa-
tons of future colonization. Still, it is diff
cult to divest Fort Smelling Of old associations
Nor need we.
In 1917 Major Long, in report to the war
department, recommended the site for per-
manent fort. In 1919, three hundred men of
the Sixth Regiment, under the command of
Col. Leavenworth, left Detroit for the purpose
of commencing the fort. They came by the
way of Green Bay and Prairie du Chen At
this point detachment was left, and the re.
mainder assembled the Mississippi On the
18th Of September they established canton
ment on the south side of the Minnesota, at
the present ferry.
In the spring of 1920 the troops were moved
from the south side Of the Minnesota to a spot
near the present St. Louis HOTEL which was
designated as Camp Coldwater." In July,
1870 Gen. Cass and Mr.. Schoolcraft, on their
way from Lake Superior and the Upper Mis-
sissppi TO Prairie du Chen visited the post
They were pleased with the fertility of the
SOIL and learned that green peas had been
raised and eaten by the fifteenth of June.
Two block-houses, on the site of the present
fort, were erected about this time. During
the summer Leav enwOrth was relieved and
Col Smelling resumed the command. BY
order from Washington, he demanded of the
Siseton Dakotas the murderers of certain
whites on the Missouri
One day in November contrary to his ex-
pectation, one of tie murderers, an old chief,
substitute for his son, were voluntarily
brought TO the encampment. The delivery
was accompanied with much ceremony. A
procession was formed at some distance from
the garrison, and marched to the center of the
parade. 1t was preceded by Ssseton bear
ing the British flag. The murderer and the
Chief, who offered himself as an atonement for
his son, followed with their arms pinioned, and
large splinteTs of wood thrust through them
above the elbows, TO indicate as it was thought
their contempt of pain and death. The rela.
tives and friends followed, and on their wav
joined them in the death dirge When they
arrived in front of the guard the British flag
was laid on fire pr pared for the occasion,
and consumed The murderer then gave up
his medal, and both of the prisoners were sur
rendered.
In June, 1928, the first steamboat made its
appearance at the fort, much to the astonisl.
ment of the savages, who placed their hands
over their moutll-their usual way of express.
ing astonishment-and called it fire boat"
salute was fired from the fort, as it was ex-
pected that the inspector general was on board,
and it was returned from the boat. The Indi-
ans knew not what to make of it, and they
were greatly alarmed, until all was explained
Additions were made to tile society of the gar
rison several officers who had been absent
returned to their regiment, bringing wives and
sisters, so that al one time the company num-
bered ten ladies'. There were six companies,
which, fully Offered, would have given eight
cen or twenty officers, but there were seldom
or never that number present at one time
We are informed by Mrs. Smelling that dur
ing 1924 the commandant was visited by Gen.
Scott and suite, and the fort was completed.
Heretofore it hal been called Fort st. Antho-
ny, but Gen. Scott issued an order giving it
the name of Fort Smelling. He expressed his
appreciation of the construction and site OF the
fort, ETC., spent a week with his friends and
visited the Falls and chain of lakes, where
they used to amuse themselves fishing, and
where the water was so clear they could see
the fish playing about the hook. One of the
lakes Mrs. Smelling named Scott Lake.