The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-10-19

AFRlP 10 TEE DAKOTA FORTS. q. !
Interesting Report Conesrzins. the
Ceuntry.
FoRr TorrEx, D. T., Sept. 2lst. 1871.
EDITOR misunderstanding to prom.
ise, will now write you On account Of our
journey to this place. We left St. Cloud
in the forenoon Of the 9th, reaching Sank
Centre that night, Alexandra the next day.
Pomme do Tsrre tho next. and MoCaulsy-
vile Sept. 18th. Stayed there two nights,
and on the morning Of the 18th crossed
Red River into Fort Abercrombie, and
struck out west from the Fort ; crossed the
Wild Rice four miles out. and at noon
reached the shsyenne, 70 miles. We had
company - far - here, . small party Of
soldiers on their way to escort Gen. Hunt
to Fort Totem. We were invited by the
General to join him and travel together.
but were obliged to decline on soeount Of
going to Fort Ransom hrsa In the after
noon We only made 16 miles. We kept up
the east side Of the sheyenne. % miles from
where we first came to that stream, then
crossed it, and re-crossed it in ten miles
more. Reached Fort Ransom, 10 miles from
Abercrombie, about noon Of the 18th. The
paymaster hal just arrived, and there was
quite stir among the boys. This post is
small one, built Of logs mostly, and has
one company Of soldiers for garrison.
We were treated very handsomely by tho
officers. The post il 1t present command
cd BY Lieut.. Stsffer. We found quarters
with the suffers clerk, Mr.. Dunpier. and
were made very comfortable during our
say.
We flushed our business here by noon
ofthe 18th, and started for Fort Totem,
after having laid in good supply Of pro-
visions and utensils for camping out, for
We were to journey through IN entirely wild
and desolate region Of ono hundred and
thirty-dve miles Of all prairie, with seldom
any water and no timber the whole distance.
We reached Wild Goose lake, 80 miles, that
night. After going through ono fierce
prairie fire, which quite alarmed my COM
panion, We camped here for the first time on
the open prairie. Weather warm and
pleasant. Cooked our coffee and made quite
comfortable meal, and thought 10 were al
right. So we were till about one O'Clock in
the morning, when tho wind changed into
the northwest and blew . furious frosty
gale. We were obliged to hold our ami
mails by the halters to keep them from
breaking away. and finally to hitch up and
leave before five o'clock without breakfast
for either selves or horses. We drove unit!
almost noon before We came to water.
There We crossed the Bald lilly creek,
clear stream Of fresh water. Saw No more
water until night brought % to Lake Jessie
(62 miles) fne body Of partially sslt vstsr.
Here We were lucky, and found IN old hut
with fireplace in one CORNER, where W
were not long in starting rousing fire,
which 10 kept up most Of The night. Pas
SD the night more comfortably than the
previous one. Had our breakfast early
and started out at halt-psst four O'Clock.
We were determined to reach Fort Totem
that day, which Ne did after drive Of 81
miles in severe. cold wind which was as
bad as We generally have it in Minnesota
in January. In ill this distance We have
como over from Fort Abercrombie, 204
miles, the road has been excellent. It is
staked out at every half mile. the entire
way. The stakes al nearly a. tall as
. telegraph pole, and supported by 4 |
mound Of earth thrown around the base.
These stakes can be seea for long dis
lance, and must be Of great service in the
storms Of winter which blow over these
tresless plains with fearful force. We did
not, in this whole distance from Ransom
to Totten, see single person, either white
or Indian, and We found water only at four
places and treesat two. Lake Jessie has
. little timber, aaso Devils Lake, which 10
reached Is miles before We. came to tho
Fort. Found quarters here with Mr.. g.
". Bremen, and We once more ate in q
house and slept in bed. Fort Totem is
a good and substantial fort, built entirely
Of brick and stone. 1t has a fine command
Ing situation about one-quarter of a mile
from DEVILS Lake, Of which there is q
beautiful view. The garrison consists of
two companies Of the Goth Infantry, and
very orderly lot of men they are. A band
OF Indians lives here. This fort is built
on their Reservation, and they are all
about here az thick % blackberries. Major
Forbes, their agent, 10 here, and seems to
take quite lively interest in his charge,
and tho lndins appear to think hs il about
right. Devils Lake is ane body Of w.
tor. and is said TO be Is miles long. We
could not see how large it wa, on account
Of the uneveuness Of tho shore. The coun-
try Is very much broken, and very billy,
and the soil is generally poor. The mail
Is nearly ready to start, and will close.
viii give you a further account Of our
travels, if We do not loose our scalps.
Yours,
-E.C.s.
GoODS ron FHr urLLror,