The Long Hunter's Journal
The newsletter of the Utah ALRA
August 2005
Grant Davis, Lieutenant
James Chandler, Sergeant of Arms
Steve Gish, Scribe
Lieutenant's Message
We are busy with preparations for Fort Bridger. I am looking forward to spending time with friends. I hope to see many of you there. Good luck in your packing and travels, we will see you there!
New Patriots
Congratulations to James Stone and Trent Isaacson for obtaining the status of Patriot! They did a fantastic job on their bibliographies and they were just accepted by the National Standing Committee on Authenticity (NSCA). They are numbers 241 and 242 respectively. Great job guys. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah! Bobbie Tyree from Florida also had his bib passed and is number 243.
Fort Bridger Rendezvous
The Fort Bridger Rendezvous will run September 1-6. Many of us will be camped together in Quiet Camp #2 (Q2). Rutledges from California along with a new California Patriot Cal Forman will be attending Bridger this year as well as the Millers and Randy Pewtress from Las Vegas. We look forward to spending time with them as it has been a while since they have made the journey.
We have been asked to do the flag raising ceremony Saturday morning at 8a.m. Also, many of you expressed interest in doing demos Saturday from 10-2. We will be doing those in Q2. You can do your own demo or assist with several the Lieutenant will setup.
We will have our yearly potluck dinner Saturday evening at 6pm in Q2. For those of you that are new and don't know the drill, please bring an 18th-century dish to share, as well as your personal eating utensils and beverage. We will try to have a musician or musicians there for our entertainment. If there are any that have avoided the pot luck in years past due to not having the resources available to make a potluck item, I would like to offer that you may pay a small sum towards the ham purchased by the club. This way you may attend the potluck guilt free. This in no way excuses any of the rest of you from cooking! We will take care of several business items at the potluck as well. Our newly elected Western Partisan Mark Rutledge will give us a short address. We also hope to ascertain the location for the Christmas Party. If you are interested in hosting it, please let the Lieutenant know.
Finally the ALRA is in charge of judging the clothing contest on Sunday. Tim Tanner (ALRA-Idaho) and Grant Davis will arrange a panel of judges.
Rope Making
Duane Dyer and wife Elizabeth presented a nice demonstration on Rope Making. With a simple wood "contraption," for sake of a better description, rope can be easily made. The process begins with stretching a piece of jute twine to a little over tree times the length of the finished rope. This was divided in three equal lengths between a person holding a dowel and the "contraption." The "contraption" was spun in a clock-wise direction until the three strands were twisted very tight. This length was divided again three times and then spun in a counter-clockwise direction until very tight, thus making the rope. This was called a "three by three." Other combinations can be made. Contact Duane if you're interested. He has several "contraptions" to loan out.
What is linen?
Linen is NOT exclusively flax, nor is it the weave. Linen is a cloth made from the "bast" of plants. Bast is the stalk fibers of plants like hemp, flax, and nettles. All these fibers were available and made into 'linen' during the ALRA time period.
For instance, Russian sheeting was made of hemp fibers but called linen. Currently, fabric dealers define linen both (or either) by the fiber origin and the weave. Today, if it looks like traditional linen, it is often called linen--even if it's made from polyester! -Sparks (aka James Stone), using Mrs. Stone for a reference source.
Utah Ladies Journal
Crystal Frazier is doing a fantastic job creating a Ladies Journal for the Women of the Utah ALRA. However, she e-mailed recently to say that in spite of sending out stamped post cards she has only heard back from 6 individuals interested in receiving the Ladies Journal. She asked that if you are interested to please let your intentions be known. She is leaving shortly or has already left to attend school in New York, so e-mail will be the best way to contact her. Her address is crystaliz247@yahoo.com.
Accomplishments of Note
Gregg Hansen took first place in the Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous cannon shoot. Way to go Gregg!
The ranger uniform that Marsha Ward made for Rex won the sweepstakes award at the Tooele county fair and is on its way to the state fair. Congratulations Marsha!
2005 Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous
A small contingent from the Utah Garrison of the American Long Rifle Association attended the 2005 RMNR. The setting was in the foothills of the Unita Mountains near Sulfur Springs about 40 miles from Evanston, Wyoming.
As with many recent Rendezvous, the camp was on private land with a mixture of aspen trees and sagebrush. The long-term camps and trader's road enjoyed the best spots. With a little bit of searching, suitable short-term spots could be found though some distance from the action. For a mere five-dollar entry fee, all events could be entered and repeated each day! Some hooters were relocated to make it more convenient to campsites. All in all, the Booshway and his crew did a good job at a difficult task.
Our own Gregg Hansen took the Cannon Shoot! Huzza, Huzza, Huzza!
Three individuals of note attended the Rendezvous; Mark Baker, Scott Sibley and Lance Grabowski. The event also draws many artisans in weaving, copper ware, bow making, blacksmithing and other crafts. See the following web sites:
http://www.delarondeforge.com/
Mark Baker, who now resides in Tennessee and teaches school, is originally from Utah. He attended the RMNR with two friends, John Howe and Tom Roberts, both are school teachers from Iowa. All three were found to be easy-going and very approachable. Baker was promoting his new book, A Pilgrim's Journey, which is a collection of past articles from the Muzzleloader magazine he's authored. Baker gave two seminars; Packing Light and Shooting Rapidly using a loading-block. Unfortunately, this writer left the Rendezvous prior to the latter so cannot pass along any "tips." Of course, the loading-block is on the ALRA "Challenge List" and therefore not used by (most) members until documentation can be established.
From Left to Right: Mark Baker, John Howe, Tom Roberts, Scott Sibley, and James Chandler. Baker was camped in an open-face shelter that made it easy to examine his accoutrements.
Of Note: Baker says "Hi" to Scott Rawley and Dave Morby and his friends in Utah. He said, "Looks like the Utah boys have it together."
Lance Grabowski would have gone unnoticed by most unless you were involved in Rendezvous for a lot of years or if you are Ole Jensen. I searched the web as he suggested and came up with some "hits." Grabowski is an AMM member and has been involved in "Buckskinning" for over 35 years. He spent two years at Fort Laramie living in a tepee and demonstrating the ways of the mountain man to tourists and has posed for many will known western artists as a "fur trapper." He duplicated Jedediah Smith's 1826 ride from Bear Lake Utah to San Bernardino, California. National Geographic wrote about the trip.
Scott Sibley was also easily approached and gifted to long conversations. Sibley lives on a 40-acre ranch in Northern Wyoming. He says he has about a thousand raw horns, enough to last him his lifetime. He produces the horn and his wife Cathy does the scrimshaw work. Sibley uses modern techniques like Rit dyes and Tempera paint to achieve an aged look to his horns. If you wish to see his work, go to the Track of Wolf web site or talk to Capt. Matt (John McCann) or Dwayne Dyer, both have Sibley horns.
Book Reviews:
A Pilgrim's Journey by Mark A. Baker -- This book is a compilation of the first ten years of Mark Baker's column from Muzzleloader Magazine. A Pilgrim's Journey contains over 300 pages of treks, scouts, hunts and how-to. Baker shares his knowledge and insights gained from wilderness experiences, extensive research, and from his partners and mentors along the way. From flintlocks, moccasins, and clothing to shooting bags, accoutrements and knapsacks, Baker explores the way of life of the Colonial woodsmen.
Recreating the 18th Century Powder Horn by Scott & Cathy Sibley -- Sibley demonstrates the horn making process in step-by-step full color photographs. Learn how to inexpensively setup an ideal workspace, and how to select the few common tools needed for this craft. Also shown is a collection of original antique 18th and 19th century powder horns from the Sibley collection, and several antique powder horns shown for the first time, from the collection of Jim Dresslar, author of The Engraved Powder Horn.
Historical Notes: References to "Woodsmen"
Papers relating to the Defense of the Frontiers, PHIL., 17th July, 1792 Sir: -Upon the Secretary of War's letter, I propose:
The instructions be transmitted to the Lieutenants of the exposed Counties, directing them to keep up the same number of spies, drafted from the militia, that were authorized to be employed before the establishment of the three Companies.
That any surplus in the appropriation of the years 1791 & 1792 be employed to give bounties to the best woodsmen in the above Service.
That the spies shall be engaged to commence their duty on the day that the service of the three companies expires; and that so much of the arms and ammunitions of the Companies as is necessary be supplied to the spies, the rest to be given to the custody of the Lieutenant.
That it be stipulated as the duties of the spies to be in constant motion on the exposed parts of the frontiers, and to keep up constant communication with the Federal camp on the upper part of the Ohio & Fort Franklin, giving them all the information that they can, &c.
The Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Volume IV, Page 733
Letter from Cap. Thomas Robinson to Pres. Porter--
Northunberland, 31 October, 1782 Sir, I embrace this opportunity of informing your Excellency that notwithstanding that the greatest Care is Taken to Discover the approaches of the Indians they are fortunate Enough to Escape, on the 14th, Instant a party Came to the house of John Martin in the settlement of Chilisquake Killed and scalped the Man and his wife, Took prisoners a Girl of 7 years of age and two women, the affair was not Instantly Discovered By which means they had an opportunity of Escaping,--and on the Twenty fourth Inst. Sergeant Edward Lee and Robert Carrethers was sent out from Fort Rice as spies about 2 miles from the fort a party of Indians (susposed 11) had formed an ambuscade, fired on them, Killed & scalped Lee. Carrethers is not found so we Imagine he is Taken, They were excellent woodsmen as well a good Soldiers. The stoping of the Expedition has created great uneaseness among the people here as there are no appearances of Hostilities Ceasing with the Indians.
I am Sir with every sentiment of Esteem, & Respect your Excellencys, most Humble Servant, THOS ROBINSON. Captn. of P. Rangers.
The Pennsylvania Archives, Series 1, Volume IX, Page 659
SECRETARY OF WAR TO THE LIEUTENANTS OF THE COUNTIES OF WESTMORLAND, ALLEGHANY, AND WASHINGTON-29 December, 1791
But, in addition to this arrangement, you as lieutenants of the counties …., will be permitted to call into service such a number of the most expert hunters or woodsmen, to serve as scouts or patrol in order to alarm the inhabitants on the approach of any danger, not exceeding, however, eight in number for the county of ….. It will depend on you to make the proper choice of these scouts, for which you will be both responsible with your character to the people of your county, who may be exposed by an injudicious, and to the United States, who will pay the money. And, as an inducement for suitable characters to perform the service, the United States will pay such scouts the great pay of five-sixths of a dollar per day, in lieu of all charges and expenses whatever. The services of said men must be proved in the manner hereinafter mentioned, to wit: On their entrance into service they must be mustered in your presence by a justice of peace, and sworn to the faithful discharge of their duty. In the muster then taken, the ages, names, and residences of said scout must be taken, and whether married or single. At the expiration of their services they must be again mustered, and sworn that they have faithfully performed services for the number of days mentioned, and in the district specified.
An account is to be made by you of the said service, which account must be supported by you with the muster rolls aforementioned, certified by you, and transmitted by you to this office for examination and payment, accompanied by a power from you to receive the money.
You will please to acknowledge the receipt of this letter and transmit me an account of your proceedings thereon. I have the honor to be, Your &c., H. KNOX, Secretary of War.
The Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Volume IV, Pages 682-683.
Letter from Thomas Smith to Pres. Reed expressing his "anxiety for the Safety of the Frontiers."
I believe, that at this Time no Money will provide a sufficient Number of Men for the Defense of the Frontiers even for a season; pardon me, therefore, if I suggest that if the Legislature was to offer a bounty in land to such as would engage during the war for the defense of the Frontiers against the Indians, & to be employed in that service, & only its Faith pledged that they should not be called away on any pretense whatever, & a certain portion of Cloathing given them. I think something like this would be more effective than any other Plan that occurs to me; for there are many young fellows who are complete woodsmen that are eager to engage the Indians, if they had the security of such a reward at the end of the war; they are perhaps fitter for that service than Veteran troops, capable to take the Indians in their own way; but cannot for a considerable time be brought to like the regular service, nor will they engage without they have the most explicit assurance that they shall be employed only against the Indians.
The Pennsylvania Archives, Series 1, Volume VIII, Page 115