Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-23
COL. LIES RETURN,
The Work of Building Fort Assinniboine
Completed-Arrival Home of the Work.


The Work of Building Fort Assinniboine
Completed-Arrival Home of the Work.
men.
Written in bold, perpendicular characters,
the metropolitan hotel register, last night,
bore the signature of Assistant Quartermas-
ter Col. J. G. G. Lee, fresh from the new
military post known as Fort Assinniboine,
last evening. The repotorial optic rested on
the signature and straiShtway inquired for
the writer.
"The colonel is at supper, and will be out
in few minutes,' was the response of the
atfable clark, whereupon the GLOBE lit a
fresh Havana and proceeded to wait until
the gastator, performance was over. He
appeared directly, tall, broad. ohested and
tawny Rs chestnut.
The GLOBE extern, ed its right duke, which
was grasped with a hearty welcome. The
fact Is, said the colonel, am glad to meet
you. Have read the GLOBE regularly since
my departure, SO you see, am posted. The
compliment was duly acknowledged, and as
Col. Lee was fatigued with travel and sur
rounded by host of friends, all of whom
claimed his attention. the twain got down to
business. A five minutes conversation fol-
lowed during which Col. Lee briefly out
lined the summers work at Fort Assinni-
boine, which is herewith presented to the
readers of the GLOBE.
''In the first place." said the colonel, "we
took with US two hundred and ten rnechan-
les, all of whom arrived home safely, and
during the summer we have not lost a single
man, and the fort has been slngularly free
from sickness"
AS to tho character and progress of the
work, Col. Lee spoke in words of the high
est CONNER dstion. Upon arriving ut Milk
river last summer, the work on Fort ASSN
niboine had been scarcely more that started
Great difficulty was encountered IN procuring
brick in sufficient quantities to carry for
ward the work, and in this particular the
completion of the fort was very materially
retarded.
Notwithstanding the serious drawbacks en-.
countered, the work was brought to compile
ton Oil the 18th lns., and as perfect mill
tary p, st, in point of equipment, and perfect
adapiability for which it was designed, AS
sinniboine is not exceiled by any military
post on the continent.
AS originally designed, the post was in
tended to accommodate six companies O!
troops, but owing to the comprehensive
manner in which the work was executed, the
fort is at present calculated to furnish quar-
ters for eight companies of soldiers.
The fort is constructed of brick and pre-
sents thoroughly substantial and handsome
appearance. AS present constituted the post
affords complete protection for the inhabi-
tants of large tract of arabic and fine
grazing country.
Directly under the shadow, 80 to speak
of the forty ninth parallel, the fort will be-
como one of the most permanent and fore
most border posts on the western frontier.
AS a military rendezvous On the border OF
Montana the value of Fort Assinniboine
cannot easily be overeetimated, protecting
with perfect security all the passes between
Bear Point and the Little Rocky mountains.
During the ensuing winter it is proposed
to have eight companies at tbs post, consist
ing of six companies of the Eighteenth in
fantry and two companies of the Second
cavalry.
Some idea of the perfect security afforded
by the past may be learned from the sapient
remark passed by that most incompatible of
modern warriors, Sitting Bull, who, on view
ing the station from a distance, exclaimed
thatit was "a great city" and that he didn't
want to G. me any NJ arer.
In abiding to the trip home, Col. Lee said
and one-half days, the first of the journey
being q march of sixty-hve miles from the
post to the Missouri river. He was accom-
panied by 100 mechanics, the remainder
having arrived lest week, and the ability, in.
dustry and sobriety of the men we're alluded
to in the most complimentary language
Their earnings average about $500 per man
In speaking of the trip home, Col. Lee ad-
verted to the splendid condition of the Mis-
souri, river, which has been almost wholly
cleared of the distractions under the active
supervision of the United States engineer.
In conclusion, too much cannot bs said in
the way of communication concerning the
admirable manner in which Col. Lee has ex.
ecuted his difficult and important trust. Ar
irving at the post last June, he and his men
have not slept under cover, save the shelter
afforded by the overhanging armament OF
heaven. Over four months have elapsed
since his arrival at the contemplated fort,
since when he has succeeded in constructing
the most substantial and thoroughly ap-
pointed military fort in America