St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-01-01
Cur Town and Surroundings as
ss KS seen by Others. @ssa 49, ~

Ot1r Town and Surroundings as
seen by Others. aa ~. - n:
We clip the following paragraphs from
letter written by member Of tho Lake
City Company, which was with Capt. Ber-
scr, command, to the Lake City Times:
) Sunday Sept l4dt Marched fifteen
miles and arrived at St. Cloud, at one
o'clDek P. NJ 1t rained till about ten this
morning. The rain had made the roads
almost impossible for men and teams
The men seemed determined to march as
long as possible without complaint, but
some Of them seemed very happy to rest
when We came to halt at the fort in St.
Cloud. Upon our arrival, we Immediately
pitched our tents and proceeded to make
ourselves comfortable as possible. Here
weswere overtaken by field piece of Ar
tillery7-a ten FOUNDER that had been sent
on after US. IT'S Of brass and has the
appearance of being very good Indian
killer 49,
Here we found very good and SUBJ
stantial Fort erected for the protection of
the inhabitants Of the place from ruth
less savages who daily and nightly prowl
around in the neighborhood, or in the
adjacent forests. 1t is ample in its d.
mensions, and the design is such, that
it would require an overwhelming force to
takeit by storm. The Indians have no
arms that can affect it. Altogether it is
really a credit to the genius Of the pro-
jec:or, apd perseverance, Of the citizens in
undertaking and completing so formida-
BILE work in so short time. The outer
wall is a frame work put together and
plaaked up aud down, on the outside,
frpla len totwelse feet and shelving out
s,1,lt .hstt hst Il dssexeept
with . ladder. This wall IL three feet
thick At the base, aud one and a half at
the height Of six or seven feet, filled with
soil, dug from the ground upon which the
Fort stands. There are two entrances, at
which are long heavy gates. The whole
is 50 we'll protected by the arrangement of
the numerous loop-holes, that it is impos-
sible for a foe to approach it with safety.
There is alse an inner wall CT room, of the
same circular form. This is also frame
work, similar to the outer, and so con-
stsacted that it is perfect fort Of itself,
independent of the outer one, and having
all of its advantages, with the additional
advantage Of its being covered with
heavy body of soil. This is, friend tells
me, intended for kind Of sanctu,n, samc-
torum for the ladies', and families of the
citizens to fly to in case Of an attack by
the rcd skins.
The inner room is lined with berths
(similar to those in steamboat) next to
the valr, the centre to be used as gener-
al kitchen. An observatory raised from
the centre and above the whole, is reach
ed by two flights Of stairs, and is supplied
with loop holes, that command view of
the whole surrounding country, and forms
a material part of the defenses of the post,
the distance of rifle shot,. There is. also,
room to store provisions for tive hundred
persons sufficient to sustain them six
mouths. "A good we'll has also been dug
in the fort. This whole work was design
ed and executed in thesshort space Of one
week. Contrary to the expectations ofour
company who had never visited the place
before, we found it truly beautiful place.
| fear that in point of beauty and natural
advantages, it will, in future, become a
rival to our own beautiful
Lake City. And the people too, received
The heartfelt thanks Of our men for the
very friendly reception Of us, and the hos
pitalities extended during our short stay
among them. Very frequent were the ex-
oressions heard of,-"God bless the poor
cannot do too much for them"
Their many acts of kindness proved they
elt at heart, all that their words express
ID. "What good and generous people"
we're the oft repeated CALCULATIONS Of our
nen. Certainly it was like leaving home
Q leave St. Cloud. Everything that cod
o. done to make our men comfortable,
vas done eheenully. Many of our men
their 'blankets and straw" for
nice comfortable bed, and 'ssoldier's fare +,
Or place y !. citizens table, bya special
.@isatiop Hare I made my appearance
j q old ftiDad whom had not heard