Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-08
THE GREAT PRAIRIE STORM,
vts Terrors Rear Fort Observation-Disclosures
from One ct the Soldiers.


from the St. Paul Pioneer, Feb. 2S.l
We are indebted to Capt. Fisk for the following
copv of letter frora his brother who is member of
Company A, Second Cavalry, and who was one of the
party of soldiers who we're out in tue recent terrible
storm on the prairie, where Capt, Field aat three
others are supposed to have perished:
P0RT WADswoRTH, D. T., Feb. 10. 1866
DEAR BRoTbER:--Ah bout a week ago our company
Mimi, and report for duty. On the 18th inst, Lieut..
Briefly with detachment of the compa4y, left here
for Abercrombe. and on the & Eth Capt fieia. With
miles Of the Twin Lake station which is some thirty
five miles from this post. we were caught IN terrible
storm-just such Storm apprehenG, as you expe-
renced while travelling in this vicinity in the winter
of '5S, and from your description OF which, Teem-
bered from long ago. feel that prohted ana per
haps saved my life, in this instance The blowing
snow tbreequarters in our face, and fairly dark
ened the day. while the whzzing currents OF air which
swept it FER that bleak plain were so tempered with
frost that it like keen ather knives
on any exposed surface fthe human kind.
We soon lost our road, and general feeling OF
alarm and dependency creqt CyeT the men; but
did not long hesitate to what should dof and so
by wheeling my horse to the reverse quarter of the
wind knew it would bring me to some one OF the
de Prairie, which vas about fifteen miles distant.
Twelve of US got in about dark and soon after four
more, who we're badly frozen and chilled.
We got fire kindled and managed to keep alive
through the long. Greary night. 1t was dreary, be-
cause while we felt comparatively secure ourselves
we apprehended more intense suffering and perhaps
death to our comrades, who were yet wandering
about on the plains. Three of our number had frozen
Our teams and thirteen Iaau with them stad out on
the prares all night about two miles from Early
next morning one man came in and reported one
man dead and Others badly frozen. The Iheremom-
eter stood all night at thirty degrees below Zero and
as it was attended with the Verg worst storm of this
most unprecedented winter, you can form some idea
of the danger which surrounded us. Neither indians
nor rebels would have been any comparative terror to
the raids of Old Boreas of that night What made our
rpnIXr hQf
our clothes. becoming Gampened or wet at the com
mencement of the storm, fro4e stiff about US.
We worked all the next day getting IN G4T poor
hovs and teams 1t was painful to see cur brave
comrades frozen and chilled so that they could
scarcely stir or speak.
God only knows how we managed to live through
the second night But yesterday morn dawned, and
we put all our badly frozen into one six mule team
mounted our horses and made on for Fort WadS-
The Lieutenant and rode in. distance o fifteen
miles aaa through deep snow, in one hour and a
quarter. Captain Davy, who is ever prompt and on
hand in emergencies, at once got out three teams,
lots of buffalo robes, blankets &c, and started to
meet and bring in the sqfererss Now, we are all
and the rest of US in comfortable quarters.
But while we congratulate ourselves as we now do,
there is gloom and sadRea3 lingering, IN contem
Capt Field, who, with three of the boys, left Us
about half an hour before the storm prevailed and
pushed ahead for the station. We fear he did hot
get through, but may have perished with his men,
for the chances are against them.
All here think it miracle that any of US got
back. Old voyageurs employed about this post, say
that they meyer before witnessed or experienced
worse storm in this whole Northwestern country:
froze nothing but my face slightly coming in yester
| day; but you may be assured that no amount would
induce me to pass through the same again. During
three nights and days got only five hours sleep
We left here about two o'clock a. m and got nothing
to eat until next day at noon, when procured q
cup OF coffee and slice Of frozen bread which dearh
of food sure did not help any Of US from freez
ing But in all this experience, remember your ad
wee OF years ago, sleep little if at ALL exercise con
tnualy if necessary, to keep up circulation and tt
never allow myself to get despondent." Have no
| time 20 give details, but believe me gratefully,
| Your brother, A. j. FIsK.