Year: 1862

back to the country is scarcity of water and
timber. In many places where there is wa.
ter, it is of such nature that no use can be
made of it. Wells have been dug here al
the Fort, but the water was found so strong.
ly impregnated with "alkali'' that no use
could be made 1t, and every particle of water
that is used here is drawn from the river by
teams kept for that purpose. Missouri waite,
is considered here to be" very fair although
from every barrel full can be extracted
about two water pail's full ofmud Persons
troubled with "chronic constipation" would
undoubtedly find this country very congena
to their health. s


The only way the troops can survive hero
during the summer, is by providing an abun
dant supply Of ice. The men are now very
busy filling the ice houses They have al
ready put up two hundred loads, and have
not got more than half DONE There is ice in
the houses now that was put there yeal
ago. Tell Col. S. that he need have no fears
Of the ice moulding" for we expect his
Irish friend back here to take care of it, and
we have no doubt he will attend to his duty
faithfully, and give tho ice so thorough al
airing each day, that there will be bu,
little danger from this source.


fkAlhlE DOGS.


About half mile from the Fort is village
ofprairie dogs, which is an object of consid.
cradle curiosity to those unaccustomed to the
habits Of these singular animals. These dogs
congregate in large villages, and dig their
burrows adjoining each other. The dirt
thrown from the holes, forms conical eleva-
tons, varying from three to five feet in
height. In the centre Of these mounds, are
the entrances to the houses" These ami
mails seem to be governed by sort of militia
ry discipline instituted for their personal pro-
lection and safety. They have "guards''
regularly posted around the suburbs of the
town." whose duty it is ever to be on the
alert, and give immediate alarm upon the APP
proach of danger. These dogs arc very keen
of sight, and As soon as the sentinels observe
any object approaching which threatens their
safety, they at once sound the alarm by a
sharp yelp, whercupon the busy inhabitants
hasten to their holes, and disappear from
view. The sentinels are the last to retreat
from their position, frequently maintaining
their posts at the risk Of personal safety
The prairie dog is very difficult to capture,
but when caught, is readily tanned These
dogs belong to the class of animals called hi





be seen of them in the winter


We have man in the hospital here whose
history is somewhat interesting. His name
is Henry Morse. lie has been for several
years in the employ of the American Fur
Company Last July, he started, in COM
pany with man by the name of Fish, to go
from Fort Alert to Fort Union. When with
in eighty miles of Fort Union they were sur
rounded by party of Sioux Indians. An
Indian rode up to Morse and told him to get
off his horse, but he refused to comply. In
dian then says" where going" "To Fort
Union" Friend to Crows 2" "No'--
" You live among the Crows, and you our
enemy; get off horse or kill ou.' Morse
attempted to draw his pistol, when the In,
dian gave him blow, paralyzing his arm
The Indians then commenced shooting ar
rows into him, and he fell from his horse
The shock of the fall revived him somewhat,
and by desperate effort he managed to get
his pistol from his pocket. At this time a
young Indian was approaching him with the
intention of taking his scalp, but upon seeing
the pistol in the hands of Morse he turned
and fled. The chief then made speech
something as follows: We have got their
guns and two horses and there is nothing
left but one pistol. FIVE attempt to get this
some of us may get killcd-the pale faces
will die from the wounds we have inflicted,
and we will not cndanger our own lives by
attempting to get their scalps and the pistol"
Upon this the savages left. The two men
then crawled together, and each pulled the
arrows from the other. Morse had seven ar
rows in his body. One entered his shoulder
hlaIa an1 mt; Yh,n,,rh Tia, c;u
lung, came out in front. These unfortunate
days. At this time Fish says to Morse
leave me and try and reach the Fort-l
cannot travcl-if you get to the Fort send for
me-" Morse started, and, being almost fam
ished for want Of food, it occurred to him to
try eating grasshoppcrs, having often seen
Indians eat them. He caught n big, fat one,
and commenced chewing tit proved too
much for him, and set him vomiting so vio-
lcntly that he thought he should die sure
Before he had recovered from the effects of
this novel meal so as to be able to resume his
journey, he was found by party of Crow
Indians wEo knew him. They took him to
their camp, and showed him every kindness
lie remained with the Crows until he came
to the conclusion that If his wounds did not
kill him, the medicine man" would with
his heroic treatment" and he resolved to
leave them. lie procured skiff and started
for this place, and reached here after jour-
ney of eight wees. He is still here in the
hospital and suffers very much from the ef-
fects of his wounds, although he appears to
be slowly improving. Fish was found and
taken to Fort Union, and, in all probability,
died there, as his wounds were such that it
was hardly possible that he should recover.


Since writing the above the buffalo hunt
ers have returned, and we are feasting our
selves upon the buffalo steak---not the kind
that Sccord's "Dayc" brought from the val
ley Of the Little Sioux, but the real, genuine
article. There arc four hundred Indians in
the hunting party, and they are killing the
buffalo in great numbers.


The young men here wish me to say that they
are under great obligations to Mr.. G. NJ. Har-
rls for very generous supply of newspapers
received from him since they came here
The friends Of the boys may be assured that
favors ofthis kind are fully appreciated.


s. N. PIERCE


Our ANSWER. Iittle while after the fall
Of Fort Sumter the oycrjoycd chief Of the bo-
gr,s Southern Confedcracy got up the follow
ing very courteous. Kitty, and gcntleinanly
dispatch, for the special benefit of the Presi-
dent Of the United State.


'With mortar and cannon paixhan and pctard


We tender Old Abe our Beau-regard"