The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-09-21
Up the Missouri.
Military Men and Matters at Fort Leaven-
worth.

published at that time:
May II. 1858. Left St. Louis on the Pa
clfc railroad, so called because it is
hoped that at some future day it may be
extended to the Pacific coast. Qt may
be added here that it was then the only
railroad west of the Mississippi river.
A short distance from the city we whiz-
zed through three tunnels and great part
of the way was through high lodges. We
crossed the long bridge at the Gasconade,
where terrible accident had taken place
short time before. The steamer Silver
Heels, taking on freight here, had on
board Gen. Persifer F. Smith and staff
on their way to Fort Leavenworth.
On arriving at Kansas City, where the
steamer F. H. Aubry was awaiting the
arrival of the train, we went on board
for the trip up river. We got one of the
best staterooms, but some twenty or
thirty passengers were not so lucky and
had to sleep on the cabin floor. The
boat had been built only five years, but
was so fiimsily constructed that she was
all out of shape. and it looked as though
a person with a pair of heavy boots
might kick her upper works off in a few
minutes. The great difficulties in navi-
eating the Missouri are snags, sawyers
and bars, and it is often necessary to
back, go sideways, or round and round, TO
get ahead. Just after dark snag poked
itself up through the deck, frightening
some of the passengers. That night
what did we not suffer from the perma-
nent tenants of our stateroom. An old
rhyme tells US that
There are small bugs with peaked heads
That do inhablt peoples beds,
and they were in ours in such numbers
that ! resigned my bed in their favor.
We W ere SIX tours and half in the
night getting 16 II miles ahead, and to
run on bar three or four times day
was a common occurrence. The bluffs all
along the river are filed with soft coal
which can be dug out with very little la
Dor and is sold for cents bushel. At
Lexington there is hemp factory, two
or three saw mills and large flour mill,
but the greater part of the town is hid
den by the bluff 1t is only so miles from
Leavenworth by land, but 1870 by the
river.
Early the next morning we arrived at
Leavenworth City, and it seemed Won
derful that SO large town could have
grown up where three years before there
was not house.
Two miles farther on brought US to
Fort Leavenworth. A government
steamer was at the landing with 300
recruits on board. The fort was found
to be quite city in itself, and all was
hustle and confusion. The troops with
which we go have gone into camp pre-
paratory to starting on the march to
Utah. Gen. Smith arrived during the
day, but was very feeble and saw no one
but the doctor. 1t seems to be the gen.
eral opinion that he cannot live long,
and how he could expect to cross the
Plains in his condition was beyond the
comprehension of any one.
News arrived yesterday mot otnciaD
that Brigham Young had consented to
let Col. johnson, commanding the first
division of the Utah army, enter Salt
Lake City, and it seems to be considered
correct by everyone here.
May 20, 1858. Gen. Smith died even
sooner than expected. Last Tuesday
evening at 80 he breathed his last,
and his funeral took place yesterday.
1t was the first military funeral | had
ever seen and was most impressive.
First came the 4th regiment of artillery
in full uniform, trailing their arms, their
regimental colors draped in crepe; then
the batteries of light artillery, their
brass pieces draped with crepe; then the
LIST Cavalry and End Dragons, mounted.
with drawn sabers; then the hearse,
covered with the American flag, while
The dead officers horse was led close be-
hind, saddled and with his boots and
spurs in the stirrups. This was to me
the most touching part of the whole dis
play. IN the rear walked the staff Off
GERS, two abreast, in full uniform. AT
ter marching around the garrison, the
band playing the Dead March, they went
to the landing, where a volley was fired
and the coffin was placed on board the
steamer Emma to go down river.
Gen. VIM. F. Harvey succeeded Gen.
Smith in command at Fort Leaven-
worth. He had been brevetted ''for
gallant and meritorious service in the
Indian war in Florida and in the war
with Mexico, and was considered very
much of a martinez and the most fluent
user of profane language in the U. S.
army. IL was told of him that on
tour of inspection about the fort he
stopped in the carpenter shop to criti-
else, in his vigorous language, the work
OF one OF the men, when the man turned
on him and retaliated in kind-only more
so. Gen. Harvey passed on, and moth
ing more was said, then or later, and
the man kept his job.
&c -