The Long Hunter's Journal

The newsletter of the Utah ALRA

October, 2005

Lieutenants Message

It was good to see so many of you at Bridger. I think our demonstrations were well received on Saturday. I would like feed back as to whether you would like to continue doing the demos or not.

I hope that many of you got out in the woods with the recent hunts. Capt. Matt and I braved the woods and put forth a valiant effort in trying to feed our families. Alas it turned into an armed hiking expedition. We saw deer almost every time out, but they either didn't have horns or were skillfully hiding their craniums. Capt. Matt did have a close encounter with a young bull moose, which got his attention for sure.

We are nearing the close of yet another year. I am happy with what we have done this year for the most part and I hope you are to. We had the most new patriots of any state this year. We also had some good times together and both learned and taught some skills. As always I welcome ideas to help the Utah ALRA become better. I would like to see us do more skills sharing this next year. I know a lot of you out there have great knowledge. I challenge each one of you to take a look at your persona, determine what the core skills would be, then strive to learn or share those skills this next year. Personally I claim to be a farmer/frontiersman, but I know little of 18th century farming. This is one area I hope to learn and improve on in the next year.

Fort Bridger Report

Another year of the Fort Bridger Rendezvous has come and gone. I believe an enjoyable time was had both those who attended. The ALRA provided historical demonstrations on Saturday with the capstone being Dr. Mark Rutledge's medical demonstration. We had a good flow of people the whole time we were setup and several comments were heard about how we made the trip to the rendezvous worthwhile. Gregg Hansen set up on traders row to direct traffic to the demos and talk to interested individuals about 18th century currency and coinage. Dave Morby and his daughter showed 18th century games. Lynn Kalan and James Chandler manned a blanket full of guns and accoutrements answering questions from eager onlookers. Terry Pendley explained the finer points of 18th century shirt design and construction. Kirk Davis, John McCann, Trent Isaacson, and others showed how to cast lead round balls using various bag molds. Grant Davis demonstrated 18th century leatherwork. Kent Klein displayed the goods and wares of an 18th century traveling peddler complete with cart. Lady Cynthia Rutledge demonstrated needlepoint. Carl Miller and Cal Forman displayed 18th century Indian trade goods. Doc Mark drew quite a crowd with his medical demonstration, but amazingly didn't have any volunteers for bloodletting, scarification, or trepanation.

Saturday night we had our annual potluck dinner. The food was fabulous as always and the potluck well attended. The club provided a turkey breast and a ham and they were well supplemented by a variety of other delectable dishes. After the feast, Rex Ward accompanied us with his guitar in singing 18th century folk songs for which he provided the words and music.

On Sunday, Tim Tanner, Terry Pendley, Tracy McCarthy, Rex Ward, Grant Davis, and Kimberly Davis assisted in judging the annual costume contest. Two of Tracy's girls placed in the Colonial Girls competition. Emeline Mendenhall took first place in the Colonial Women's competition. Cynthia Rutledge and Cathy Miller followed in second and third place respectively. Carl Miller took first place in the Colonial Men's competition with Kent Klein and his son following in second and third.

In attendance for the weekend were (I apologize if I miss anyone) Gregg & Paula Hansen with children and grandchildren, Rex & Marsha Ward, John & Kimmie McCann, Dave & Valerie Morby and family, G.L. & Annette Jones, Cody & Kari Wright and family, Lynn & Stacey Kalan, Trent & Lindy Isaacson and family, Kevin & Tracy McCarthy and Family, Mike & Emeline Mendenhall and family, Kirk Davis and Anni Davis, Kent Klein and family, Grant & Kim Davis and family, Mark & Cynthia Rutledge (California), Carl & Cathy Miller (Nevada), Cal Foreman (California), Randy Pewtress (Nevada), Chester the Night Soilman (London), Terry Pendley, Tim Tanner (Idaho), James Chandler, and Pat Lakin. Also making appearances were Jerry Bell, Brock Cheney, Neill Fields, Ole Jensen, James & Sue Stone, and Kevin Molett.

November Meeting/Fort Buenaventura Service Project

As I have mentioned in the past, we now have to officially trade our use of Fort Buenaventura for man-hours logged in service at the Fort. This is necessary to keep the Lawyers and County Commissioners happy with our use arrangement. We have already logged 82 man-hours this year! The county has asked that we do an organized service project to help them with ongoing labor needs at the Fort. This service project will be held on November 5, 2005. Plan on being there by 9a.m. I will post an official start time as soon as I have verified it with the County. We will be working with the Free Mountain Trappers and possibly the AMM on this project. The primary thing we will be doing is assembling picnic tables, but we may have other projects based on how much manpower we assemble. The fort grounds will be available for us to spend the night and the Lieutenant is planning on being there. The range will be available to us on Saturday if we want to do some shooting after the project. Many have asked about dress for Saturday. You may wear modern work clothes for the Saturday service project if you would like. I need to know as soon as possible if you will be able to attend so that I can get a count to the County. Please let me know by e-mail me at Davis918@xmission.com or calling me at (801)718-9982.

Letter from the Western Partisan

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am writing to let you know what a wonderful time our group had when we joined the Utah ALRA Bunch for the recent Fort Bridger event! Though the drive up that way is long, and with recent gas prices, more than a little expensive, sharing the event with you all made it more than worth the effort!!

Carl and Cathy Miller, Randy Pewtress, Cal Foreman, and Cynthia and I, very much enjoyed seeing you all at Fort Bridger, and we're already looking forward to our next trip! We are very proud of the Utah ALRA and, as I mentioned during my remarks prior to our potluck, we consider you to be one of the very best ÅLRA State groups in the Nation! We were also very happy to see all the family participation at Fort Bridger. I had asked Grant Davis how much authenticity he was going to enforce at the event, and he told me that having families present was very important, and that leeway would be made for their participation. This is an outstanding way to go about things at such an event, and Grant is to be applauded for his efforts to bring the families into importance in the Utah ALRA!

We thought that the Utah ALRA presented an outstanding example to the rest of those attending the Fort Bridger event, and we were very proud of you all. I thought that the participation in our Saturday demonstrations was simply fantastic, and cannot thank you all enough for getting out there and showing those that wandered through our camp, what the ALRA has to offer!! My thoughts along those lines have always been: "Learn from those that can teach us, and teach those that can learn from us". You all did just that at Bridger, and you are to be commended for your stellar efforts. My only regret is in not being able to see each and every demonstration that you presented. Unfortunately, the "Surgery" kept me pretty busy, what with all the bloodletting, etc., that was needed!

Our only other disappointment was that there simply wasn't enough time to visit with each camp, personally. It would be outstanding if that can happen in the future, and we will make every effort to help with that, next time we can share an event with you all. Until that time, please know that you all have our highest regard, and we are very happy to have so many friends from up your way. Huzzah to you all for an outstanding effort at Fort Bridger, and we hope that you all had as much fun as did our group from down this way!! Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish, Doc Mark Rutledge - ALRA #224 Western Partisan

ALRA Christmas Party

Dave and Valerie Morby have graciously offered their home for the ALRA Christmas Party this year. It will be held Saturday, December 10 at the Morby home in Eden, Utah (near Huntsville). Please put it on your calendars!

Research On Line

Books and manuscripts are the main source for researching the subject we all enjoy. Public libraries don't offer many of the references on the ALRA list of suggested sources. It may take a while to build your own library. The Internet offers research online if you can find the right website. It can be time consuming and frustrating. Some, I know, don't have access to computer so receive a hard copy of this newsletter. If so, I encourage you to use your local library to do electronic searches.

Here is a site that has been very helpful to me. iarchives.com. And, it's right out of Lindon, Utah! They transform microfilm and other print content into searchable, digitized, online databases. I use the "Public Access Demonstrations" on their site. This is where I access The Pennsylvania Archives you see frequently quoted in new letters. It's under a section titled "Genealogy Data" found in the "Demos" then "Demos Overview" link.

http://demos.iarchives.com/anc_04/search.jsp

The web site has other great sources as well including BYU and the UofU. Under the UofU can be found Utah Newspapers. There are 21 books under "Demo Overview." So just click on below and enjoy!

http://www.iarchives.com/public.shtml

Follow, are some references to Shelters

"A hunting camp, or what was called a half-faced cabin, was of the following form: the back part of it was something a large log; at the distance of eight or ten feet from this two stakes were set in the ground a few inches apart, and at the distance of eight or ten feet from these two more to receive the ends of the poles for the sides of the camp. The whole slope of the roof was from the front to the back. The covering was made of slabs, skins or blankets, or, if in the spring of the year, the bark of hickory or ash trees. The front was left entirely open. The fire was built directly before this opening. The cracks between the logs were filled with moss. Dry leaves served for a bed. It is thus that a couple of men, in a few hours, will construct for themselves a temporary, but tolerable comfortable, defense from the inclemencies of the weather." Doddridge, 99.

"The pitiful supplies of sundries articles which were received since, were bad of the kind, and at most exorbitant prices. On our arrival at the Isle Aux Neix, after the retreat from Quebec, the regiment mustered upwards of five hundred rank and file fit for duty. By comparing the above return with the then state of the regiment, it would appear that they have suffered from the excessive fatigue they have gone through; the want of proper clothing to cover, and the want of blankets and tents to shelter them from the weather. To this day, we have not tents for two-thirds of the men, and those we have were old when we received them. The Pennsylvania Archives, Series, 2, Volume X, Page 58.

At this village resides a Mr. James Latta, a trader, from whom I purchased bread and sugar, the latter is answer to end of meat, as likewise some spirits, for which I paid his 16s 11d. From this place we had scarcely the trace of a path, and took up our encampment for the night in an old Indian encampment, where the covering of their wigwams served to shelter us from the inclemency of the weather. The Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Volume VI, Page 566.

At 2 p.m., I set out from Reading, escorted by 5 men of the town, on horseback, for Fort at Northkill-at half-past 6 we came to the fort. It is 19 miles from Reading-the road very hilly and thick with woods. The fort is about 9 miles to the Westward of Schuylskill, and it stands in a very thick woods, on a small rising ground, half a mile from the middle of Northkill creek-it is intended for a square about 32 feet each way; at each corner is a half bastion of very little service to flank the curtain; the stoccados are very ill fixed in the ground, and open in many places-within is a very bad log-house for the people; it has no chimney and can afford but little shelter in bad weather. Next plantation-half a mile off-14 men are posted here-all detached from Colonel Morgan's company at Fort Lebabon-5 are absent on leave-only 8 men and a sergeant are on duty-there ought to be a commissioned officer here, as the sergeant does not do his duty, nor are the men under a proper command for want of a more superior officer. The woods are not cleared above 40 yards from the fort. I gave order to cut all down for 200 yards. I inquired why there was so little powder and lead; the sergeant told me he had repeatedly requested more of Captain Morgan, but to no purpose. Provisions here, flour and rum for 4 weeks. Mr. Selly, of Reading, sends the officer money to purchase meal when they want it. Captain Busse, came here from Fort Henry, with 8 men on horse back, expecting to meet Colonel Weiser. Provisional arms here, 8 good muskets, 4 rounds powder and lead per man, 15 blankets, 3 axes. The Pennsylvania Archives, Series 1, Volume XI, Page 425.

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