The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-28
Description of Fort Philip Kearney, the
Scene of the Int Masaacre.

From the Aymy and Macy Journal Nooem5er "a.
This new post in the centre of the Mountain
District, Department of the Platte and also in
the heart of the chief hunting ground of the
hostile Sioux and Cheyenues, being also express
sive of the first substantial occupation of the
new short route to Montana, deserves notice.
The expedition which was sent to establish it
lett Fort KeaIney May 10, under command of
Colonel II. B. Darlington, 18th United states
Infantry.
Fort Reno was reinforced, additional defenses
erected, and two companies were advanced to
the Big Horn river, that post receiving the
name ofFort G. f. Smith. Fort Philip Kearney
has been erected by Colonel Darlington, under
his personal planning and daily supervision. 1t
is in the forks OF the Piney Creeks, on natural
plateau 800 by 800 feet, with ndtuIal slope or
9lacis on all sides.
surface, pointed, loop-holed, and after the
general plan of Mahan. AT two corners are
block houses of lS-inch pine logs. The parade
ground is 400 feet square, and was surveyed and
lald out before the turf was cut by any wagon
track. Walks II feet wide cross the parade,
bending around a circle of 10 feet radius, where
Il flag staff of ITO feet displays the national
colors. A graded street of 20 feet borders the
parade. The additional 200 by coo feet is a
Quartermaster's yard, with warehouses and
shops.
East OF the fort and taking in Little Piney,
j. corral for stock, hay, wood, etc., with pail
sade ten feet high, and quarters for teamsters,
citizen employees, etc. Twelve double cabins, a
blacksmith and wagon-shop, and portion OF
tie stabling for mules have been completed.
Two Quartermaster and Commissary build
ings, "a by rs ieet, with ten-foot ceiling, and
similar buildings IN point OF size, for four com.
panIes OF int tntTy, have been completed and
occupied. Guard house and band quarters, 60
bv Is feet, al also in use. The hospital, 81 by
rs feet, with high ceiling, is, before this ready
10 occupati on.
Four hundred and fifty tons of hay have been
cut; two steam saw mills arc In operation; over
twelve thousand pine logs have been cut hauled
and used, and every part OF the work has been
done in the face OF Indians, who have repeat
edly attacked hay and timber parties, and have
made dashes at The pickets within half-a-mile
OF the post.
The work has never stopped, except for the
Sabbath; and it is not within the power OF all
the Indians of the Northwest to assail the place.
The magazine, on the parade, is l6 by l6 feet,
eight feet in the clear OF fourteen inches thick
ness of timber, waterproof, and thoroughly
ventilated, having double doors and turf glacis
sloplng from the caves.
The flagstaff is octagoual for eight feet of
eighteen inches diameter, painted black. The
next twelve feet has siXteen faces dying out to
perfect round, returning to square at the
CrOsstrees.
The gates are twelve feet wide, of heavy
PLANK with small wicket in the right valve,
through which one man only can pass, stoop-
ing. All have locks, and the Wickets are closed
al retreat,
Coal is found at the east gate of the wall,
and pine, hemlock, AMI spruce are without
limit.
We have been TINS particular about this new
fort, so rapidly approaching completion, as
prominent army officer, who recently made II
an official visit, pronounced the stockade the
best he had met, except one built by the Hud.
son Bay Fur Company The command reached
the site of the fort July l5 so that all has been
done in three months. So constant have been
Indian trespasses that the men alternateC
gurrd duty, aud had but every other nj ht fol-
sleep, this not unfrequently disturbed by night
firing upon the pickets.
The main work OF the expedition has beer
successfully accomplished and the permanen
occupation of the route is fixed fact Sup
plies TOR a year are in store, and the ground
work is assured for secure and rapid emlgra
tion TO this new Territory.