The Long Hunter's Journal

The newsletter of the Utah ALRA

April 2005

Grant Davis, Lieutenant

James Chandler, Sergeant at Arms

Steve Gish, Scribe

Lieutenants Message

I would again like to express my thanks to those who participated in the demos for the spring rendezvous. I feel they were a great success. A special thanks to Gregg Hansen and family for all of their help in setup, the flag ceremony, and continental breakfast they provided.

Since our trip to the Fort Des Chartres gathering this has been on my mind and I would like to address authenticity for a moment. Authenticity is a complex issue and many have strong opinions about this or that. I hear from time to time how authenticity infractions irritate some, are a point used by others to criticize the ALRA, and even cause some to leave the organization. We are all at different levels in our progression in this hobby. However, there are instances due to laziness where we allow infractions to occur. I would ask that we make it a goal to improve our authenticity level, while making necessary allowances due to health, budget, and time constraints. I urge you to continue researching and to share documentation with the group so that we may all benefit. I remain YMH&OS, Grant

May Meeting

The May meeting will be held at Fort Buenaventura on May 5-6. We will have a seminar on salt boiling (bring your empty salt horn or a container for some salt) and also finger weaving. The fort will be available for camping Friday night and there are several members planning on spending the night. Anyone interested in learning to finger weave needs to bring a few yards of at least two colors of yarn and a piece of 5/16" or 3/8" dowel that is about 18" long.  Note: There will not be a meeting in April as the spring rendezvous counts as our April meeting.

Gathering at Ft. Des Chartres

March 17-21 The day was clear and mild when my companions arrived to make the march to Fort Des Chartres where a reunion of Patriots from providences near and far were to meet. Our Sergeant of Arms, James Chandler, was to lead the trek. His experience in the wilderness gave us confidence that all would be well though most of the territory was unfamiliar to him.

We made our way towards the rising sun as we had all settled in the far west of the frontier. We were lighthearted and travel was good. Nearing Elk Mountain we encountered a post rider who said the pass was closed due to a snowstorm. With some despair, we turned to the north and made our way past the village of Casper and on to Cheyenne where once again we could take up an easterly direction.

Night began to close in on us but our Lt. Grant Davis had planned the trek and said if we traveled all night we should arrive at the Fort by early morning. Our pack animal was young and strong and showed no sign of the weight of spruce beer we carried for the gathering.

As we passed through the gates of the fort that is near the Mississippi, our friends who arrived earlier greeted us. Gregg Hansen and wife traveled a few days early to visit the township of Nauvoo. Cap't Matt, who also uses the name John McCann, greeted us as well. He would be quartered with the Surgeon Mark Rutledge.

We were all glad to see our friend Rod McElwee who left our settlement some years earlier. He sends greetings to his old friends. Most of what he said is too lengthily or not fitting for this post. He is a great friend and shared many stories.

A rifle frolic was held and our Lieutenant made us proud when he won the match. He amazed the crowd when he hit a slithering snake at a great distance and proceeded to "ring" the next three targets with his rifle.

A great feast was held in the evening with lots of merriment.

The next morning, we dawned our packs and said goodbye to many new friends and made our way back to the west.

Fort des Chartres History

Fort des Chartres is the last of three eighteenth-century forts by that name erected near the Mississippi River by France's colonial government. From 1720 to 1763 French administration of the Illinois Country was centered at the forts, build successively over a 40-year period on or near the same site.

Fore more than a century beginning in 1673, France claimed the Illinois Country, and undefined area that extended from lakes Michigan and Superior to the Ohio and Missouri rivers. French leaders hoped that the Illinois Country, which was governed from distant Canada, would be a rich source of furs and precious metals. The administration was later moved to New Orleans as part of Louisiana.

France surrendered Illinois, along with most of its North American possessions, to Great Britain in 1763. The British named it Fort Cavendish but had little use for it. It was abandoned in 1771, ending its use as a military post. Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

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Fort Buenaventura Spring Rendezvous Report

The Utah ALRA gathered in support of the Fort Buenaventura spring rendezvous over Easter weekend. The Lieutenant and drillmaster Gregg arrived at the fort early Friday morning to set-up ALRA demo central. The McCarthy's were already established in their camp on the Eastern shore of the lake. Dry ground was at a premium and so the Lieutenants marquee was squeezed into the space between McCarthy's and the forts hide teepee on the edge of the lake. Friday evening saw the arrival of Lynn Kalan, Terry Pendley, Pat Lakin, and the long lost former Lieutenant Wendell Smith and Family. A frigid night was followed by a chilly morning. Drillmaster Gregg and his entourage arrived at dark-thirty Saturday morning to prepare for the flag raising and several members were enlisted as oxen to pull Gregg's cannon to a safe firing lane. We had a good company of 12 riflemen with flag bearers, musicians, and camp followers to boot. Upon completion of the flag ceremony the Drillmaster paid the participants with 5 schilling notes for their service and the militia was dismissed.

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All returned to lawn on the East side of the lake to setup for historical demonstrations. Gregg Hansen and Family demonstrated dipping fine beeswax candles. Steve Gish showed how to weave on an inkle loom. James Chandler and Terry Pendley manned a static display on powder horns, trekking, and 18th century shot gunning answering many questions from onlookers. Trent Isaacson showed passerby's how to make char clothe. Kirk Davis, John McCann, Pat Lakin, and others showed how to cast round balls. Grant Davis sat astride his stitching pony and worked on a 18th century leather gentleman's purse (wallet), a much overdue IOU from the Christmas party for Steve Gish. Marsha ward displayed her fine bonnets and other knitted items and showed how they were constructed. Kevin McCarthy demonstrated card weaving and Tracy McCarthy spun some wool on her spinning wheel. Friends of the McCarthy's whose names still escape me (sorry!) demonstrated tatting and did period cooking. Darwin Lowry showed his period instruments and let kids play the drum while he fifed a tune. Wendell Smith came over at lunchtime to demonstrate cooing a beautiful salmon on the coals and all present devoured the treat. The fort had a large crowd on Saturday and the demonstrations were very busy for a few hours mid day. Many members gathered around the fire Saturday night for merry making and camaraderie. Cody Wright even dropped by for a visit. A good time was had late into the evening. All retired to spend a somewhat warmer night in their blankets. Some of the demos continued on Sunday, but the crowds were much smaller despite Sunday being nicer weather. James and Sue Stone, Jake and Tracy Jasperson, and Curt Butters and family dropped in for a brief visit on Sunday.

Rapine Bag Moulds

rapine.jpg (7188 bytes) I spoke with the owner of Rapine Bullet Mould Company and he IS still taking orders for bag moulds. There have been many rumors surrounding the status of his company and many thought it out of business. He has been seeking a buyer for some time as he is at the age he would like to retire. He thus far has had no takers on buying the business. He has cut off sales to dealers, as he is now a one-man band and couldn't keep up with the demand. However, he does have some moulds in stock and if not he can mill them up with a three to four week delivery time. He says he welcomes individual orders and says he will continue making moulds until someone buys the company or they bury him, which ever comes first. He was great to work with and his reputation for making quality moulds is well known. He charges $65.95 + shipping for a bag mould of any size. He can be reached at (215)679-5413. -Grant

Fort Bridger Clothing Contest

The Fort Bridger Rendezvous Association has asked the ALRA to be in charge of judging the clothing contests at the rendezvous this year. Tim Tanner (Idaho ALRA) and Grant will put together a committee of ALRA and AMM to judge the contest.

Calendar of Events

Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous 2005 Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous July 10 - 18, 2005. DIRECTIONS - Take Hwy 150 south of Evanston, WY (10 miles) to the turn off for Sulphur Creek Reservoir. Head east at that turn and follow the signs. Approximately 15 more miles. Elevation: 8,000 ft. Cost to camp $25 per person before June 1, $30 per person after June 1 or at the gate. Registration and additional information can be found at: http://www.rockymntnatlrendz.com/rendezvous2005.html

Historical Notes

Sullivan's Store, 1st July, 1779

Sr, This is to inform you of the most singular event that perhaps you ever met with. -One of my Expresses, (Viz,) James Cook on his return from Wyoming this day, about the middle of the afternoon, in the Swamp was fired upon by Indians & Tories, --he supposes between Thirty and Fifty shot. One Shot went thro' his Canteen, one thro' his Saddle, one thro' his Hunting Shirt, one was Shot into his Horse. Two Indians or two Tories being yet before him, both discharged their Pieces at him, through down their Firelocks with a determination to Tomahawk him-- advance within Eight Yards of him, at which Time he, with a Bravery peculiar to himself, fired upon them, killed one of them on the spot and wounded the other, not withstanding he through his tomahawk at the Express, missed him, but cut the Horse very deep upon the Shoulder. He got hold of Cook, thought to get him from his Horse, tore his Shirt, which is stained much with Indian Blood; the Horse being fettered by his Wound raised upon his hind Feet, trampled the Indian or Torie under him, who roared terribly, at which time Cook got clear; the other Indian at seeing him get off, raised the Whoops as if all Hell broke loose. He supposes he rode the Horse afterwards near four miles, but by the loss of Blood began to Stagger, when he alighted, took off his Saddle and Letters, ran about a Mile on foot, where he fortunately found a stray Continental Horse, which he mounted & rode to this place. It is easy to account for his getting the Horse as there are numbers of them astray in the Swamp. Mr. Cook's Firelock was loaded with a Bullet & Nine buckshot, & the Indians being very close together when he fired is the reason why one might be killed and the other Wounded. From a Perfect knowledge of the man's Sobriety, Integrity and Soldierism, no part of this need be doubted.

I am Sir, your most obt Humble servt, Alex'r Patterson

Directed,-- To His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esqr, Present.

Pennsylvania Archives, Series 1, Volume VII, Page 527

Ash Cakes - Henry's Journal Our provisions were exhausted. We had no meat of any kind. The flour which remained, so far as I know, was divided fairly and equally, among the whole of the troop, the riflemen shared five pints of flour per man. During the night, and the ensuing morning, the flour was baked into five ash cakes, under the ashes, in the way of Indian bread.

Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Volume XV, Page 98

WILLIAMSBURG, October 3 Capt. Thomas Rowland, of Botetourt, last week, in this city, made an experiment of his new method of loading and firing rifles, which shows the rifles may be easily be loaded and discharged in as short a time as musket generally are, with their useful certainty as to aim, and with triple execution in time of action. He shot twelve balls into the compass of a large handkerchief, at a distance of fifty yards, in four discharges of his piece, in the space of 52 seconds. Several of the balls were within six inches of the center, but three of the twelve would have missed a man's body. In another experiment after firing thirty balls in ten discharges, the rifle appeared as clean and cool in the barrel, though she was not wiped during the experiment, as if she had not been fired more than once. Capt. Rowland's method is looked upon valuable discovery; having rendered that instrument of death, which is already so much dreaded by our enemy, capable of being infinitely more destructive and terrible, and that by a simple and easy operation.

VA Gazette, 1777

For the VIRGINIA GAZETTE (Jan 27, 1776) --- The MAKING of BAY SALT Low marshy ground, disposed of nature for the reception of sea water, when the tide swells, and provided with banks and sluices to retain the same, they call sea marshes. The salt marshes, the bottoms thereof they ram with great care, are divided into squares, pits, basons, separated by little dikes; and into there basons, when the season is at hand, the let in the sea water. The salt season is from the middle of May to the end of August.

This article is lengthy but can be found in the Virginia Gazette. The Virginia Gazette is located on "Colonial Williamsburg's "Portal to American History." http://www.pastportal.com/browse/vg/

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