Mound Fort- Running with the Pack
INTRODUCTION
The following story is entitled "Mound Fort - Running with the Pack" and it goes back to the aspects of the risings with preparation for the Civil War in areas such as Ogden, Utah we can only recognize the fact that there was an artillery base which was used. It was first built on an Indian Burial Ground at the top of the hill at the corner of 10th Street and Grant Avenue. It was first built in 1848 by some of the first settlers to come to this area. The Fort was known as Mound Fort which was later turned in to the Mound Fort 2nd Ward church which belongs to the Mormon Church. Nevertheless this led to Brigham Young who was the Head of the Mormon Church to build a temple which was constructed in 1953 and dedicated on April 6th, 1893.
Yet when we study history it's hard to recognize the fact that there was also a Civil War Quarters which the author was first told was built in 1860 where an Admiral of an unknown identity built a station to manage the northern territory of Utah. The author has also found internet evidence of Mound Fort as being an Artillery Base for the Civil War Quarters which is located down the hill from there; although he is sure that on the other hand it is the other way around. The Civil War Quarters was built for whoever was in charge of the Artillery Base and it is located within the Terrace Subdivision of Ogden City which is part of Weber County.
However public internet real estate records show the house being built in 1892 which the author feels is incorrect because that date is long after the civil war had ended. Another fact is that the house next door on the west side was built on the same lot before there were any zoning codes which the author remembers being about 30 years later. In fact, the Civil War Quarters had to be restored to its “original” in order to qualify for an historical plate such as the one located on the 2nd Ward Mormon church on top of the hill. The Civil War Quarters couldn’t be torn down because a new building permit couldn’t be applied to a lot with an existing house next door there. If that were the case then the Major would have only built the house to live there for nine years before he died in 1901. There is also the chance that the paperwork was lost due to Indian threats during the early 1900s. Another fact could be that the Civil War Quarters was built on Mound Fort grounds and there was never any paperwork to begin with. And according to a relative who visited the people who live in the house, the fort commander still haunts the house till this very day. Another fact is that the author's mother is still owed money due to a child support lien on the house.
It's obvious that supplies were shorthanded considering the Civil War Quarters were built after the beginning of the Salt Lake Temple. The Civil War Quarters were also built on the wrong side of the territory closer to a reachable post such as Mound Fort which would aid in being able to store their artillery and supplies from the army. Many of the better findings are found through the search bases relating to Treasure Hunting within the libraries.
Whether the Civil War Quarters was completed by the time Major General James Henry Carleton and his Northern California Advance had reached General Henry Hopkins Sibley and his men in September during the year of 1862 is very unclear and hard to research. Nonetheless the opportunity for the South to take an advance north on this side of the country was stopped by the battle of Picacho Peak on April 15th of 1862 which was about five months sooner in time. If the south would have been more organized and made advances as far north as Ogden, Utah the civil war quarters would have been insignificant as protection for the area of the Salt Lake Temple. Thanks to men like Lieutenant James Barrett of the 1st California Calvary this never became a reality!
This lack of protection led the way for many fur traders, trappers and cattle men to make a name in history. There are a few fur trappers and mountain men who had made their way to the Salt Lake Valley after turning down opportunities in areas like Fort Bridger in Wyoming which was first run by a man named Jack Sumner. Sumner lost most of his interest when many legends like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson turned down the expedition of the Colorado which was later known as a Grand Canyon Epic so to speak.
PROLOGUE
There are many stories of mountain men making their way out here west in search of a living through the many fur trades to be made throughout the proffering mountain valleys. Most of these expeditions had led to fortunes for some and just the remnants of a tale or legend for others. Some of these men to mention have turned down other opportunities which are legendary in order to find the excitement and adventure through fur trading. The variety of demandable furs can be many varying from beaver skins, deer skins, elk, bear, and much other game.
Many times there was a desperation which led to the trading of wolf furs, hyena, and dingo furs as well. One of these wild game animals mentioned which is the grey wolf was pretty prevalent within the Wasatch Mountain areas of Northern Utah. The hunting of them has been pretty popular for fun and sport all through the last hundred years or so. There are also places where they have been raised found in areas such as a canyon hiking trail east of Ogden, Utah which all had started with the Ute's. They are a Utah Indian Tribe such as the Shoshones that was very fond of fur trading as well as making dealings with many of the fur traders who had successful offerings for them.
Many of these fur traders were men like Jim Bridger and Miles Goodyear who have most likely trekked their way over here in search of fortunes. These dealings may have made their way to the Civil War Quarters which the author feels was built in 1860 in North Ogden, Utah and overrun by an Admiral or Captain that may have done Indian trades as well. The history studied within these walls is the evidence of many haunting Indian attacks which tell a red eyed black wolf story which will remain renowned to this day.
A NOTE TO THE READER
The author of the book moved in to the house slowly from Phoenix, Arizona during the summer of 1994 with family members. Some more history on the house can be added on the first night the author had heard sounds coming from both the crawl space and attic. A vision of a woman appeared in the attic which disappeared towards the back end of the attic jumping out a venting hole in the backyard. When the author made an inspection, the grass moved like someone was walking through it even though nothing was visible.
There were sounds in the crawl space that sounding like a dog walking upside down on the bottom of the floor boards. Other visions appeared of civil war soldiers staring from the entrances to other rooms of the house. One such vision was of an older man wearing a civil war hat with crossed sabers, crossed guns, or maybe an insignia of artillery cross cannons. The author believes the vision was of the Admiral who ran the fort that he had seen. His appearance even seemed like that of David Moore who was the leader of the fort, although his rank was that of a Major rather than an admiral.
Also there was another vision in the front room the author witnessed that was of another civil war soldier that had a beard. He sort of resembled the mountain man Jim Bridger with an old civil war like coat that had ranking stripes along the left sleeve. There was a name tag patch on that had some letters which were hard to make out except for the first one that looked like it could have been a capital letter “B.” However, according to the picture the author has seen, Major David Moore has a beard as well, although they both appeared to be different individuals. Still the author remembers the fort commander's ghost with more of a clean shaved face, but it's hard to tell when the apparition only lasts for seconds if that even. A few other apparitions of civil war soldiers appeared at different times which only lasted for seconds or for a flash of a second.
Yet the most paranormal activity in the house was that of a demon which appeared over the authors bed which was darker than dark. In fact it looked like a dark wolf flying around in circles with red glowing eyes. The author jumped up to turn the light on and was struck from behind like something was trying to bite him in the neck. There was a similar paranormal apparition in the backyard of the wolf which flashed through the trees and disappeared in the alley way. The author believes that whatever was seen in the house must be related to something stalking the house from another spiritual realm.
Occasionally the sounds of arrows hitting the back of the house from the backyard could also be heard when the house was left quiet. It sounded like Indian ghosts were attacking the fort from the spirit world as if it had never been shut down from all of the constant Indian attacks. Most of the visions and apparitions appeared only once to show themselves even though only their presence could be felt later on in upcoming years.
CHAPTER ONE
The setting of the story begins with the truth of Brigham Young and how he began the building realities of the Salt Lake Temple. Most of the settlers arrived here after leaving the state of Wyoming. Among those settlers were many husbands and wives who had to wheel cart their families because the land was too tough for to travel through by means of the wagon train. One thing Brigham Young and his settlers will face for the ghosts of their past is fear. This fear will come upon them long before they reach the canyons of the Wasatch Mountain Ranges after passing the tips mountain ranges such as the Uinta’s. Long before leaving the state of Wyoming, the settlers and Brigham Young who is accompanied by his wife Clarissa will hear of the Promised Land.
The purpose and main influence to leave the land of old was to fulfill their inner drive which was the Mormon’s need to find a place to settle and of course worship. And that place is a place of God. When Brigham Young and his settlers make their way past the Wasatch Mountain Ranges past the canyon, many of his settlers are following. He will come to a certain spot with the view of many of the Salt Lake marshes off ahead in the distance. He looks back at his people who are completely tired. Some of the men among the settling groups are tired and very exhausted from wheel carting their children in front of them. Most of them trailed behind Brigham Young and his wife Clarissa Decker without having the chance to rest and relieve themselves of the journey from time to time. Nevertheless Brigham Young will stop and point to the ground with the many manuscripts made from the templates of Moroni’s discovery and declare, “We settle here.”
After settling this Promised Land Brigham Young will derive with the desire to build the Salt Lake Temple which is a land mark today and he will decide to build the Union Pacific Railroad. By the time the Salt Lake temple will be finished Brigham Young won’t only have his wife Clarissa, nonetheless he will escort forty six others. Many of the wives are widowed and left alone with their kids due to the tiresome job of their husband’s wheel carting them to this Promised Land.
Getting currencies to trade and monies to support themselves will be hard and that will turn many of his people in to hunting and trading furs with the oppositions of the Shoshone Indians. Later Brigham Young will develop the plan of building crops to grow food in order to feed his people. In turn this will better his relationship with the local Shoshone Indian tribes along with the fur trading of furs such as beaver skins.
His next desire is to find a way to fund his plan to build the Union Pacific Railroad. Of course the Union Pacific Railroad will celebrate their westward movement at the railways of Promontory, Utah.
Eventually Brigham Young will teach his people how to grow food and how to skin animals to make leather hides for trades. Some of the settlers will wonder off in search of other monetary gain after much of the hunting has become scarce to find around the area. And this is when one of the fur traders will return with some great news of something to trade other than animal furs and hides. His survey for new game will bring him passed the Wasatch Mountain Ranges in to areas between Rock Creek, Lake Fork Creek, and other areas such as the southern slopes of the Uinta Mountain Ranges.
The fur trader will come in contact with Brigham Young to bring the great news of his discovery. This is where he will teach Brigham Young how to trade gold rather than animal hides and furs. Trying to get the attention of Brigham Young and his stressed fears about his new findings the fur trader says while standing outside the home within his Salt Lake Temple which is being built, “Look what I have to trade!”
Brigham Young looks at a large gold nugget that the fur trader pulls out of his satchel asking, “Where did you find that?”
The fur trader doesn’t want to tell too much to Brigham Young because he wants to keep his place a secret unto himself replying, “Somewhere far on the other side of those Mountain Ranges passed the canyons.”
Brigham young becomes very excited hoping that he has more than that with him asking, “Is there more?”
The fur trader delays answering Brigham Young for a moment before telling him, “Yes, I have lots more than just this.”
Brigham Young gets so excited to fund his Union Pacific Railroad that he questions, “Then where is it?”
The fur trader informs him, “Close by, not too far from here!”
Brigham Young wants the fur trader to confide in his trust considering that he is among one of the first settlers to help colonize this Promised Land of opportunity asking again, “Come on, you can tell me!”
The fur trader thinks about some things he needs for himself as well and that he can’t give him everything and leave empty handed telling him, “I have things I need to buy for myself like supplies, food, and water!”
Right away Brigham Young assures him that he will be supplied with whatever he needs to help by making the donation to his charitable causes by exclaiming, “You will be supplied with everything you need to live, trust me!”
The fur trader starts to trust him a little by looking at the dirty clothes he is wearing. He even pulls his hat off displaying his dirty hair that hasn’t been cleaned for many weeks. However he had heard some rumors of settlers who have died and passed out from drinking some water in canteens that was given to them from him. And that rumor started long after his first wife Lucy Ann Decker, Clarissa's sister died and then settlers later perished and to him it sounds like cyanide poisoning and possibly chlorinated potassium, otherwise known as potassium chlorinate. However he heard rumors of Harriet Wheeler Decker, their mother, also and he is sure there is some confusion with who is who and what happened to whom in this story. And to the fur trader, who ever died from a hard day’s work anyways without some additional help, may feel that this concoction is deadly.
Brigham Young looks and realizes he needs somewhere to freshen up and cleanse himself if he is going to persuade him in to anything promising the fur trader, “Trust me, you can stay here and freshen up while I supply you with whatever you need to make yourself comfortable.”
The fur trader looks to his mule which is tied to the outside gate just ways from where Brigham Young’s statue is standing pointing to the Promise Land saying, “The rest is packed in bags on my mule over there tied to the gate.”
Brigham Young becomes so happy that he has coerced the truth from the fur trader prompting, “Show me what you have brought!”
The fur trader starts to walk from the front of the Salt Lake Palace over to the north gate where many other settlers are carrying on with some of the occurring constructions. They make their way to the gate where the mule is tied and patiently awaiting his master’s return. The fur trader opens up a satchel which is entirely filled with gold. Then he closes it and opens another satchel while Brigham Young becomes so excited with his findings and discovery. Immediately Brigham Young chooses to bring the rewards inside where they will be safe especially considering that there is so much. Choosing to do so Brigham Young says, “Let’s bring all of that gold ore inside where it will be safe!”
The fur trader unties his mule and Brigham Young leads the way to the front of his home where he and his wife Clarissa are staying in one of the living areas. There are other rooms nearby which are accompanied by his other wives he has taken in. They both walk around to the rear and Brigham Young tells him to tie his mule to a carriage that is sitting outside, “Tie your mule up here and let’s bring that all inside before someone sees it!”
The fur trader ties up his mule to the carriage and starts to untie his satchels full of the gold ore he has found through his far away unknown discovery. He unties the first double bagged satchel and hands it to Brigham Young to carry inside. It’s pretty heavy as Brigham Young’s hands flow downward before getting a grasp of it. Then the fur trader unfastens a bag for himself to carry and they both head inside from the rear of the building.
As soon as they enter Clarissa is making some accommodations with some of the other widowed wives that have been staying with them both. Brigham Young turns to the fur trader and asks, “Have you met my wife Clarissa?”
The fur trader thinks for a moment while glancing at her, “Not directly, but I’ve been around when we crossed the terrain to come here! How do you do?”
Clarissa looks at him while folding some towels with a few other maiden women replying, “I’m fine, I’ve never felt better. And how are you?”
The fur trader gleams around the place a bit while exclaiming, “I am doing good, thanks madam.”
Brigham Young lays the gold ore filled satchel on the table and opens it. He takes a hand full of gold ore and shows it to his wife shrilling, “Look what this fur trader brought!”
Clarissa looks with a sense of great awe, “My, where did you find all of that at?”
Brigham Young thinks about the other satchels that are waiting outside saying, “He has plenty more!”
One of the other maiden women looks with wide open eyes asking, “That’s a lot of gold. How did you become so lucky?”
The fur trader answers, “Exploring I guess.”
The fur trader and Brigham Young go back outside to get the other satchels to bring inside, “Let’s go back outside and bring in the rest!”
After another minute or so they both enter back inside with more satchels to place on the table. Brigham Young thinks about getting him freshened up so he can join them at the dinner table. He prompts to Clarissa, “I would like to freshen him and give him some more clothes to wear.”
Clarissa thinks about all of the spare rooms and bathrooms they have telling the fur trader, “Would you like a bath? We a tub already filled. All I have to do is heat up a couple of water pots to warm it up!”
The fur trader thinks about that for a second, “That would be nice.”
Clarissa commands one of the maiden women to show him to the room where he can freshen up, “Show him the spare room and heat a pot or two for him.”
Brigham Young makes a comment before he heads away, “I will find some feed for your mule while you’re away.”
Before Brigham Young heads outside to feed and water his mule Clarissa asks, “Where did he find all of that?”
Brigham Young answers, “I don’t know, I haven’t had a chance to ask him!”
Clarissa thinks about when to ask him where he found his treasure, “Maybe you should ask him at the dinner table!”
Brigham Young agrees that that would be the appropriate time to ask the fur trader about his secret place, “I agree, he will be more pleasant around the dinner table.”
Brigham Young heads outside to take care of his mule looking like it also needs a grooming and some shoe work as well. He takes a few shovels of feed and places it by the water trough next to his carriage.
Later on at the dinner table the fur trader is better groomed and ready to eat to fulfill his many days of hunger and starvation. While sitting at the dinner table Brigham Young asks, “So where did you find all of that gold you came to me with?”
The fur trader takes a bowl of food to place on his plate before him before explaining, “I discovered the gold very far from here. The place is within the southern tip of the Uinta Mountains I believe. I was exploring looking for new game all alone when suddenly I came across a ledge in the high cliffs which was narrow. I tied my mule up and went for a peek around and then suddenly I came across large nuggets of gold for the picking. I took all that my mule could handle to make my way back here without tiring or wearing him down too much.”
Clarissa hopes there is more to his secret hideaway asking, “Is there more gold waiting?”
The fur trader answers, “There is lots more. There are gold veins exposed from the rocks.”
Brigham Young wonders if there is anyone else who knows about this place jabbering, “Does anyone else know about this place?”
The fur trader thinks about that for a second saying, “No, nobody. I did see some Indians along the way there but they were just looking for some game I believe.”
Brigham Young decides to tell him his plans for the future of Salt Lake City explaining. Brigham Young becomes so obsessed by this way to earn and mine money that he will see it as a way to support his own rail line that will connect to the Union Pacific Railroad, “It would be of a great help to use the gold to help build my own rail line further north than the Civil War Quarters that is being built to manage the Mound Fort which will be a supply house for the military.”
Clarissa soothes the fur trader nerves by proclaiming, “Never mind him, he’s just going after the rails of his crazy train.”
Brigham Young becomes very defensive in his desires admitting, “The idea to build the railways isn’t crazy, this city needs a cheap way to bring supplies back and forth from nearing towns north of here. I would like to use the gold to buy more rail cars and supplies to finish the Civil War Fort.”
The fur trader ponders why his own rail line is as important to him and as well the Civil War Fort responding, “What is so important about the Civil War Fort?”
Brigham Young begins to speak to the future saying, “The North and South are both opposites. The North is run by liberated businesses while the south is run by plantations that are worked by slaves. It’s a matter of time before the country has a revolt which will split the country into two causing a war between the two sides. The Civil War Fort is built in the north because most of the settlers are settling there. If the country does have a Civil War it shouldn’t affect us this far west.”
The fur trader thinks about that for a moment approving, “Sure I would like to help.”
Brigham Young gets anxious to send the fur trader out for more gold, “Excellent, then you’ll be ready to leave again tomorrow to return to the ledge and return with more offerings.”
The fur trader responds by telling him, “Okay, but I will need some supplies like food, water, ammunitions for my six-shooter and shotgun. And of course lots of dried jerky along with some first aid supplies.”
Clarissa thinks about that for a moment adding, “Now, you’re thinking like a frontiersman.”
Brigham Young informs him of his plans, “I would like to send some other men along with you.”
The fur trader has to disagree with that request considering the Indians have only seen him in those parts of the woods so to speak, “I have to disagree there. I don’t want to stir the Indians up at all. If anyone else comes along they will take that as an insult and think we are trespassing on their Sacred Lands.”
Brigham Young agrees with him as well, “Very well then. I will supply you with what you need after dinner and you will leave in the morning and return with more gold.”
The fur trader makes the agreement saying, “Agreed.”
Then Brigham Young talks about his plans tomorrow, “After I see you off I will send more supplies to the north by rail car to supply the admiral with what he needs to finish the Civil War Quarters.”
Quickly one of the other maidens’ mentions, “Don’t you think you’re being a little pushy?”
Brigham Young explains to her, “If we are going to get anything accomplished around here we need to do it in ways other than relying on fur trading.”
After a while they finish up eating dinner, Brigham Young invites him to sleep in one of the rooms that are a spare for visitors, “You are welcome to stay and make yourself comfortable in one of the spare rooms for the night.”
The fur trader appreciates his accommodations by his gratitude, “Thanks, that would be nice!”
Then Clarissa finishes up the pardoning from the dinner table by saying, “If everyone is finished eating they are pardoned from the dinner table.”
Everyone leaves the dinner table and heads to their rooms. The fur trader is shown to the spare room where he will stay for the night. Before Brigham Young retires with Clarissa for the night he finds a few trackers to follow after the fur trader. In secrecy he tells them the details of what to do by commanding, “I want you to follow the fur trader and find the location of the ledge. Bring someone along with you and don’t mess this opportunity up.”
The tracker is standing out front when Brigham Young tells him the plans retorting, “I better give him a head start so that he doesn’t suspect anything.”
Brigham Young encourages the tracker to stay a way back by saying, “Don’t get too close, and stay back a far distance and stay out of sight.”
The next day the fur trader has all of the supplies he needs to leave. Then Brigham Young sees him off with a good luck goodbye, “Return as soon as you can and don’t talk to anyone. When you do return don’t make any unnecessary stops. Come directly here!”
The fur trader leaves with his packed mule of supplies and Brigham Young takes some of the gold to cash in in order to load the rail car with supplies for the northern Civil War Quarters. Once the railcar is supplied Brigham Young says, “All aboard!”
The rail car leaves to head to what is now Ogden city. There are many workers to bring the supplies to the Civil War Fort. At the Civil War Quarters the Admiral finishes up the necessary construction to make the finishing touches. Once the Civil War Quarters is finished there are a few other soldiers who are stationed there to stay as guardsmen. Most of the artillery for the commanding quarters is supplied up on the hill within the Mound Fort.
Throughout the next several years the whereabouts of the ledge remains a mystery. The trackers that Brigham Young sent lost the fur trader somewhere along the trails of the way. The fur trader never returned with anymore gold to supply the building of his own railroad station. Eventually Brigham Young finishes building his rail line by finding other funds like the Union Pacific Railroad deal of 1862 which brings him $2,000,000. Eventually the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad will join lines at Promontory Point, Utah. Also many other problems arise such as the locusts eating nearly all of the crops. As far as being the Place of God within a Promised Land the crops are saved by Seagulls that fly in to the Salt Lake area and consume the locusts.
Back at the north side of the Wasatch Mountain Range many soldiers will come and go from the Civil War Quarters. However there are many who will be stationed there with the Admiral who has resorted back to the occupations of fur trading.
Many others will come and visit this area over the years which have a lot to offer for hunter trading means as a way of life. And one of these fur traders of the Salt Lake Valley who will receive an invitation and turn down the travels of one well-known expedition leaving Fort Bridger, Wyoming in 1869 is another legendary fur trader. The expedition he turns down is run by a man named Jack Sumner who is seeing off the renowned expedition known as the “Great Unknown” which is the journey along the long stretch of dangerous ravines and cliffs forming the Colorado River.
This man is not only legendary to himself, but he is also legendary with his former ranching partner named Miles Goodyear. The name of this individual is otherwise known as the famous Jim Bridger who has traveled many areas in search of the fur trading hunting way of life for such game as beaver skins, deer skins, elk skins, bear skins, skins of the black and grey wolf, and of course the fur trading life of much more.
CHAPTER TWO
Now there is a need for an Artillery Base to be built on the hill due to all of these settlers pouring in to the Mound Fort area. The time is 1948 and a construction on the Mound Fort Artillery Base which is to be built on an Indian Burial Mound on top of the hill has begun. Of course, only a few of the settlers have chosen to build this Artillery Base on top of a Sacred Indian Burial Ground. Nevertheless it will be built with ten feet high walls with a three foot lookout. There is no doubt that this consecration of the Utes and their sacred ground will cause disputes.
Then on the other hand this Artillery Base has been built for the Civil War Quarters that has been built twelve years later down the hill in the year of 1860. It is a fairly small brick house consisting of a wood paneled floor with a crawl space just below the floor. This is how the house is heated during the winter months. A fire is placed in a pit just below the floor out back. The heat from the flames flows under the floor to a central vent that rises to each room in the house. The house has a front living room followed by center room which is the sleeping quarters and a back room which is another sleeping quarters. There is also an attic just above with lots of extra room to store supplies if they need to. The Civil War Quarters also has six windows throughout.
There is even a small stream close by where many mountain men like Jim Bridger sometimes stops for a drink or two or maybe even a filling of the old canteen up. Then the other way round so does the Admiral of the Civil War Quarters. In fact it’s time for him to fill the trough on the side of the house which is used for storing water for bathing and other needs. Approaching the flowing stream the Admiral encounters Jim Bridger who has strayed his way away from the Fort Buenaventura that became the Mormon Settlement of Ogden after Miles Goodyear had sold it. Realizing he may be trespassing on the newly built lands of the Civil War Quarters Jim Bridger looks up from the stream and asks, “Mind if I fill my canteen here?”
The Admiral fills his larger bucket of water to take back to the trough of the Civil War Quarters. Pausing for a breath he replies as Jim Bridger follows with his horse, “Well, Mr. Bridger considering you has the courtesy to ask maybe you could serve these Quarters by providing some skins!”
Jim Bridger shakes his head up and down for a second and says, “Sure, I have no place else to go!”
The Admiral takes the bucket and starts walking back to the Civil War Quarters. Then he has a question for Jim Bridger asking, “So where have you been trapping?”
Jim Bridger answers back with a broad spectrum saying, “Everywhere. I was just near Salt Lake showing some settlers a map I drew in the salty sand. Then I decided to make my way up here to the canyons to try for some beaver skins maybe.”
The Admiral thinks for a second before stating, “You know I don’t understand why they don’t just shave the beaver instead of kill it. Well, there’s nothing but wolves roaming their way around in these there hills of the Wasatch Range. In fact there’s a small settlement up the canyon where they keep some wolves caged.”
Jim Bridger answers back telling the Admiral, “That’s alright, I like to collect my own!”
The Admiral asks him where he was before asking, “And where were you before Salt Lake City?”
Jim Bridger answer the Admiral back immediately informing him, “I lead a survey party from Denver through the mountains to Salt Lake City!”
The Admiral figures he’s a wise man by the assumption declaring, “What a scouting! Later I’ll introduce you to Nicolas and Peter who are at the Artillery Base just up the hill.”
Jim Bridger thinks about the delivery he actually has in mind shrilling, “Good, then I can delivery this overland mail I have been ordered to guard!”
Jim Bridger approaches the Civil War Quarters from behind the Admiral as they enter a patch of trees with a weird configuration. Nonetheless he doesn’t realize the significance of the letter that they spell, although he does notice another smaller building right next to it just behind. Curious Jim Bridger asks, “What is that, a salt cellar?”
The Admiral makes his way to the water trough and pours the bucket of water in making hardly a dent in his trips back and forth. The he comments on the salt cellar while setting the bucket down, “Come take a look!”
The Admiral walks over to the salt cellar while Jim Bridger follows. Once the Admiral reaches the opposite side of the salt cellar as Jim Bridger follows he opens the door and walks in talking a step or two down the short stair case that drops a few feet. There are all kinds of jars lying around inside with food and who knows what else what stored inside. Some jars look like they may have a moldy potato growing inside while some look like they could be animal feces or who knows what. Anything is possible when it comes to mountain men alone like this on a Civil War Fort planted in the middle of Indian skirmishes on a regular basis.
Anyhow Jim Bridger takes a peek by walking behind the Admiral and letting one foot in the salt cellar. Then all of a sudden of whiff of bad air catches Jim Bridger off guard. Forthright he says, “Some of that should be thrown out. There’s a rotten smell coming from in here. Things shouldn’t be stored that long. When was this Civil War Quarters built?”
The Admiral answers back swiftly, “This place was built a just over a year and a half ago in 1860, twelve years after the Artillery Base was established in 1848!”
Jim Bridger backs off a little from the salt cellar while informing the Admiral, “It seems like everything is building up around here. The Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad are both in a race to make their way here! Maybe the Union Pacific Railroad will discover my pass south through Wyoming this way!”
The Admiral makes his stay by prompting, “Well, clean up around here and you’ll make a stay!”
Jim Bridger takes the acceptance while turning away from the salt cellar, “Fair enough for now, but I’m going to be guiding several more army units sent west with their overland mail.”
The Admiral realizes he’s a drifter type of role model saying, “Just as well, where are you headed?”
Jim Bridger burns one right past his witted brain impressing him, “Let us just say I’ll be blazing a trail back to Wyoming in a way!”
The Admiral turns towards the Artillery Base wondering if he would like to put his horse up for the night saying, “Let’s head up the hill and I’ll show you where we keep our horses at night from the cold.”
Jim Bridger thinks about the Artillery Base responding, “How many horses do you have?”
The Admiral answers back to Jim Bridger saying, “Just four right now!”
Then Jim Bridger thinks about how many men he has asking, “And how many men are stationed here at the fort?”
The Admiral lifts his head up looking to the top of the hill as they muster themselves forward as Admiral says, “Just two for now, although it will be three if you stay long enough!”
Taking the initiative Jim Bridger states, “Sure, I’ll stay long enough, but I’m going to be in and out trying to make some trappings.”
The Admiral sort of chuckles answering, “There isn’t much to trap around here except for beaver and wolves. Most of the time it seems they are tracking you. It’s like trying to hunt a mountain lion. The best way is to back track every so many miles because most of the time they are tracking you.”
Jim Bridger has lots of experience in this field realizing that he has only seen some bobcats in this area, “I haven’t seen any mountain lions in this area, but I did see a few bobcats.”
Soon they reach the Artillery Base as the Admiral says, “Here’s the Artillery Base. Never mind the workers. They are building some mud walls to make the fort stronger. There’s even a lookout for the night guardsman.”
Jim Bridger wonders what they could be so worried about saying, “What’s there to worry about way up here, we’re far away from the south. I doubt there’ll be any Civil War skirmishes out this way.”
The Admiral chuckles once again telling him, “We’re not worried about the south, we are worried about the constant Indian raids every night.”
Reaching the inside of the forted mud walls Jim Bridger asks, “How long have they been raiding?”
The Admiral instructs his newest partner to the team, “Ever since we started building the Artillery Base. Sometimes they raid twice a day, then sometimes just at night. They even raid the Civil War Quarters down below. We have no idea what to do with them. You can’t talk to them.”
Jim Bridger thinks up a solution to the problem, “Tell you what, once I get settled in I’ll will make some trappings and try and trade with them. Then I will make a peace treaty with them, how’s that sound.”
The Admiral approaches the inside of the Artillery Base answering back, “You can try. We keep the horses in the main court inside so they don’t get hit by any arrows.”
The both make their way towards the main court as Jim Bridger pulls his horse from behind saying, “Well, make it five horses!”
Once they both make their way inside the main court of the Artillery Base of Mound Fort another soldier of the fort stops the brushing of his horse and approaches them introducing himself saying, “I’m Nicolas, and you are?”
Jim Bridger looks him straight in the eye while giving him a hard hand shake, “I’m Jim Bridger!”
Nicolas has heard a lot about him throughout the years considering that he is notorious with herding and cattle ranching. Nicolas decides to ask him querying, “So you’re that famous fur trapper and cattle rancher who worked with Miles Goodyear. I heard he sold you out?”
Then all of a sudden another soldier approaches the scene named Peter enters the scene babbling, “I heard he sold it all and didn’t keep even a little for himself?”
Jim Bridger answers back to Peter telling him, “Something like that maybe?”
Nicolas thinks about them Indian raids at night saying, “Too many Indian raids I bet?”
Jim Bridger thinks back to a few times when some Indian bands had come their way causing quite a ruckus telling them, “We’ve had our share you could say?”
Peter brings the daily routinely matters to Jim Bridger’s mind saying, “Here Indian Raids are almost a daily routine around here!”
Nicolas feels very secure in the fort or the Civil War Quarters below gibbering, “Think of this place as a kind of safe house so to speak!”
Jim Bridger takes a bag from his horse thinking this is the perfect cue to make the delivery of the overland mail saying, “And think of this as a safe house for your overland mail delivery!”
The Admiral decides to tell Jim Bridger to let his horse roam and feed on the hay pied up in the corner of the inside of the main room of the Artillery Base saying, “Make yourself at home and let your horse graze a little. Everything is kept inside so we keep our animals and gear out from harm’s way. Come and I’ll show you around the Artillery rooms where we keep all of our ammunitions and cannonball casings.”
Jim Bridger takes the saddle of his horse and lets him roam free around the court to graze in the hay lying in the corner and then turns to follow the Admiral for a grand tour of the Artillery Base. Jim Bridger goes to set the saddle down while Nicolas takes it from him responding, “I’ll take care of that for you.”
Peter gives him the courtesy of a greeting by taking the overland mail bag from Jim Bridger insisting, “I’ll take care of the mail for you!”
Nicolas greets him further scrambling, “See you down at the Civil War Quarters.”
Peter takes the mail bag and starts to sift through it to divide it up proclaiming, “It was nice meeting you!”
Jim Bridger answers back with a respectful voice replying, “Thanks!”
Then Peter assures Jim Bridger before they walk away, “Don’t worry I’ll make sure everyone gets their mail.”
The Admiral is eager to show Jim Bridger around the Artillery Base pronouncing, “Don’t forget to bring my mail back down with yours later.”
Peter replies in an army cliché, “Ai, ai!”
Then the Admiral leads him out of the main hall and up the stairs to the main hallway and then the Admiral turns right and back down another set of stairs as Jim Bridger follows. Once down the stairs there are rooms lined up down a short hall that are filled with Ammunitions for their weapons. The Admiral stops at the first room and opens the door. There are artillery cases of shells and batteries lined up against the walls of the room. The Admiral steps aside a bit so that he can get a view. Although there isn’t much light coming in from outside considering there aren’t any lanterns like they have in the main hall where the men are grooming their horses. However there’s enough for Jim Bridger who has an eye for the dark considering he traps at odd hours anyhow. Catching an eye on the picture of things Jim Bridger says, “It looks like you’re all stocked up pretty heavy.”
The Admiral thinks that’s the least, he feels they are going through most of their ammunitions fairly quickly. Instead of this being a Civil War Fort it seems like it is mainly an Indian Raid Fort. Going further in the conversation the Admiral replies, “We are heavily stocked, although because of the daily Indian Raids I will have to send the men tomorrow for another trip to Salt Lake City to pick up more supplies. I usually send them once every week to keep up our supply of things around here”
The Admiral heads over to another room down a little further saying, “And here’s our cannonball room for an 18-pounder we have outside.”
Jim Bridger thinks that sounds exciting adding, “Sounds like your prepared for a large invasion.”
The Admiral thinks about a larger cannon tallying, “I would like to get a Revolutionary War 42-pounder, wouldn’t that be great?”
Jim Bridger has a picture in his mind of them shooting a large 18-pounder at the Indian while they are on the raid saying, “Do you shoot the Indians with the cannon?”
The Admiral laughs a bit while picking up one of the cannon balls in a pile in the room by the door right next to him instructing his new partner, “We can’t use them on the Indians. There meant for the soldiers of the South if they ever make their way this far north. But I here General James Henry Carleton is largely building his California Advance and is planning to march towards Tucson sometime soon. So I doubt that the South will stand a chance at making their way even as far as Phoenix once that happens. And the South is run under General Henry Hopkins Sibley who is trying to push his way north of Tucson.”
Jim Bridger disregards any intentions from the armies of the South totaling, “I guess just focus on the Indian Raids and trying to make a peaceful treaty through trading with them.”
The Admiral thinks about taking him back to the Civil War Quarters to show him around the house a bit telling Jim Bridger, “Well, let’s head back to the Civil War Quarters and I’ll show you around some more.”
The Admiral leads the way back up the small stairs case while Jim Bridger follows him. They both walk back outside while the sounds of workers are heard once again with the building of many cabins and the high mud wall that has been under construction for some time. They start to walk around from the front of the building to the back side of the building. Jim Bridger notices some cabins lined around with people sitting around and others working. He mentions this to the Admiral asking, “What are those, the cabins you were talking about?”
The Admiral answers him back saying, “Yes, those are the cabins. We don’t have enough for everybody because there are still too many settlers moving in to the area.”
Around the cabins are families working and children playing. A little girl whispers to another little boy just before approaching the Admiral and Jim Bridger. Quickly she questions the notorious mountain man, “Are you the mountain man Jim Bridger?”
Jim Bridger looks and gives her a respectful answer replying, “Yes, I am!”
The little girl turns around and runs back to the other children telling them that he is that notorious mountain man Jim Bridger. Jim Bridger watches as he and the Admiral continue walking away leaving the Artillery Base.
Jim Bridger looks around to all of the cabins saying, “There are a lot of them.”
The Admiral answers back replying, “Yes, there are a lot of settlers, and those cabins aren’t enough. This place is building up too fast. Too many Mormons are continuing to move here from areas like Wyoming that it’s hard to keep up with them all!”
Jim Bridger brings a sense of ease to the Admiral’s mind as the exit the walls of the Artillery Base, “It’ll be alright, at least there are enough recruits to withstand the Indian Raids.”
The admiral continues walking ahead of him on down the hill towards the Civil War Fort telling him, “The more soldiers the better you think, huh. Most of these settlers pouring in aren’t worth a peep shot at a bottle let alone taking a shot at an Indian on an Indian Raid!”
Jim Bridger seems to think that they’ll get their experience somehow or another adding, “Well, they’re getting their training here and there when the Indians Raid, right?”
The Admiral agrees with him saying, “I suppose so!”
Then Jim Bridger brings a noticeable fact to his mind about Indians instructing the Admiral, “Over the years of cattle herding and ranching I have discovered that most Indians are good at throwing knives and shooting arrows, yet they are terrible at shooting and aiming. Some of them are good, but most of them just aim their rifle in the direction they are shooting without a straight line of sight.”
The Admiral thinks about his words for a moment before saying, “I think it’s because they can’t ride a horse that well.”
Jim Bridger looks up to the side of the salt cellar and the Civil War Fort once again elusively declaring, “So this is the Civil War Fort, huh?”
The Admiral continues walking ahead to the back of the house over to a pile of wood. He picks up a few wood logs for a fire pit that is at the rear of the house. While throwing the wood logs in to the fire pit just below the floor board the Admiral says, “This is how the place is heated. The heat flows under the floor in to a central vent inside the house flowing into all four rooms. All the rooms except the back room are heated.”
Jim Bridger becomes anxious to see the inside asking, “Well, how about seeing the inside of the place. I’ve always wanted to see the inside of a Civil War Fort besides Fort Bridger.”
The Admiral wonders what happened to his famous Fort Bridger asking, “What ever happened to that place?”
Jim Bridger tells him a short story about it for a moment informing the Admiral, “Well, Brigham Young bought Fort Bridger for $8,000 dollars with half down and half to be paid later. Then after making the final payment to pay it off, the government took away both of our claims to Fort Bridger after the “Utah War.”
The Admiral thinks about the Indian Raids adding, “I’d hate to let the Indians make any claim to this Civil War Fort.”
Jim Bridger makes a joking comment to the Admiral saying, “As long as we don’t start another “Utah War” and focus on the Indian Raids we should be okay!”
The Admiral turns to the side and starts to walk around the corner uttering, “Well, let’s go inside, we’ll go through the back door.”
Jim Bridger wonders how many doors there are asking, “How many doors are there to this place.”
The Admiral walks up a short stair well leading to the back door which is about three feet up from the ground warning him, “Watch your step! There’s a front door and a back door.”
The Admiral unlocks the back door with a skeleton key and opens the door. He walks in as Jim Bridger follows. Once at the top of the stairs an arrow hits the side of the back door jamb nearing hitting Jim Bridger in the head. A loud thus is heard as the admiral pulls him inside yelling, “Watch out! There are some stragglers hiding out!”
Jim Bridger steps aside behind the doorway and then turns to look out. The Admiral reaches for his pistol from his holster. He takes his pistol and starts to aim out the back door of the Civil War Fort. Jim Bridger stops him by putting his hand over his hand while he aims the pistol out in to the trees just past the trees in the back yard of the Civil War Fort. Then Jim Bridger pushes the Admiral’s hand down commanding, “Don’t, it will just make them more hostile tomorrow.”
The Admiral decides that they have to do something answering back, “We have to do something. I can’t just let them shoot arrows at the house like that!”
Jim Bridger explains to him his idea saying, “We have to try and communicate with them somehow. Find a white rag or cloth and wave it for peace. Too many Indian Raids have been threating our overland mail which has now been being guarded by army units.”
The Admiral turns around in the back room and grabs a white undershirt that is lying on a chair just a few feet away from the door. The Admiral hands it to Jim Bridger who takes it and sticks it outside holding his hand and arm out. Holding his arm steady to try and establish a basis for his peace relations he wishes to accomplish, Jim Bridger remains still standing aside the doorway.
Then all of a sudden the sounds of Indians chanting aloud are heard as a couple of Ute Indians run off further away in to the distance. The Admiral looks out as a group of four Ute Indians runs off father and father saying, “It’s either a few stragglers or an Indian Raid with Indians circling the Civil War Fort on horse shooting arrows at the place.”
The Admiral pulls the arrow out and then closes the back door. Then he throws the arrow into a wood box where he has been saving all of the arrows pulled out from the outside walls of the Civil War Fort. After he throws the arrow into the wooden box, the Admiral says, “If you don’t establish peace with the Indians, we’ll shoot these arrows back at them. If you do we’ll give them back to them.”
Jim Bridger carries on the subject by describing the Indians a bit telling the Admiral, “Those Indians look like Utes who are a little on the hostile side. It will be a little tough, if they were Shoshones they would be a little more peaceful to try and speak to.”
The Admiral decides to wait until the next day to make a decision answering, “We’ll wait until tomorrow. Let me show you around the place a little first. This is the back room where we keep our food supplies. And this is the main living area where I sleep. The room through this door is where we keep the bath tub which rests on pegs and sits in the middle of the floor. The front room through this door is where Peter and Nicolas sleep guarding the front door to the Civil War Fort. There’s plenty of room and an extra cot to sleep in the front room with the others if you’d like.”
Jim Bridger answers by saying, “Sounds cozy.”
The Admiral offers him a chance to freshen up if he would like articulating, “There’s a bath tub in there if you would like to freshen up. I can heat up a couple of pots of water from the trough outside to make it warm.”
Jim Bridger takes the Admiral up on his offer considering he has been out on the field for quite some time now without a real break at hand. Taking the home welcoming offer Jim Bridger says, “Sure, I’ll take one and wash up and then tomorrow when your men head for Salt Lake City I’ll take a hunting trip to scout out the area north of here and then I’ll swing up the Ogden canyon along the Ogden River to see what Indian settlements I can find.”
The Admiral grabs a metal bucket and says, “I hear there are a few up that way. I’ll heat some water to make the water warm for you. The boys we’ll be back later with some supper from the Artillery Base. There are cooks who prepare meals for the whole entire settlement.”
CHAPTER THREE
Late that night everyone is asleep after Nicolas and Peter have returned from staying their first watch at the Mound Fort Artillery Base. In fact, Jim Bridger’s Overland Mail Army unit has found their way to the Fort Mound Artillery Base as well. Nevertheless all is quiet around the Fort Mound Artillery Base as well as the Fort Mound Civil War Quarters.
But then there are a few footsteps creeping up from the nearby trees which surround the nearby area of the house. It happens to be two Indian females who make their way as close as they can to take a few shots with their bow and arrows. Shoshone Indian female and Ute Indian female aim their bows and arrows taking aim at the Civil War Quarters.
Then quickly without taking any more time waiting, The Ute Indian female leans her weight against one of the trees of the inner circle before pulling back on her bow. Instantaneously she lets loose of her arrow at the same time the Shoshone Indian female releases hers. Nearly as fast as a bullet the two arrows pierce the back door of the back porch making a thumping sound that ripples around the inside of the entire Civil War Quarters.
Moments later the Admiral leaps towards the rear back porch door of the Civil War Quarters. At first he just stands there for a second before cracking the back porch door a few inches making a screeching sound from unlocking the door. Then without any warning more arrow rip all along the birch wooded door trimming all of the way around.
Next the Admiral closes the door as everyone else in the Civil War Quarters had been aroused. Quickly they all approach with their uniforms on like they were expecting it to happen of course. Nevertheless Jim Bridger has his pistol ready as if he were sleeping with it just in case something like this was to happen. It’s almost as though he felt that the Indians all have knowledge of his protecting the Civil War Quarters and the delivery of its overland mail.
Finally, the sounds of the Indians retreating are heard as there are sounds of their horses riding away. Still the Admiral holds the door shut while everyone gathers against the walls trying to stand cover. As the Admiral leans away from the door behind the brick wall of the back room, he deliberates, “Sounds like only an Indian skirmish!”
The sounds become fainter as Nicolas flounders, “Sounds like they are leaving!”
Right away, the men all come out of their taking cover positions and stand closer towards the middle of the room realizing that it’s just another quick skirmish that has ended. It even sounds like they have retreated without taking any measures against the Mound Fort Civil War Quarters. Now that he can also hear the sounds of some horses in the background becoming quieter and quieter, Jim Bridger asks, “How do you know that was just a skirmish and they’re never returning soon?”
The Admiral opens the door slowly saying, “They always do this; they always pose these little scuffles!”
Jim Bridger looks out towards the trees as nothing comes to view except for what appears to be little black specks off in the distance becoming darker and getting farther away. Quickly Jim Bridger wonders how often this happens asking, “And how often do they fracas and disturb this house?”
Without any further hesitation, Peter butts in to the conversation adding, “They always do!”
Then Jim Bridger comes again quarrying, “So how often?”
The Admiral comes back with the only real and true answer commenting, “They usually do this every night around midnight!”
At that moment the Admiral walks outside down the back door steps leading to the back porch. He turns and sees a good number of arrows sticking in the birch wood door trim above the door as well as along the sides of the door. Luckily this time they didn’t make their way around to the front of the Civil War Fort, although many times they have taken that approach.
Once the Admiral makes his way outside, he turns to the arrows he had seen the second he had opened the back door. There are a few which are down low along the birch wood trim that he pulls out with a slight hard pull with much resistance to it. After he pulls one out the Admiral discloses, “See; and I always have to pull these arrows out every night or sometimes we just wait until the wee hours of the morning!”
By now Jim Bridger has another question rising, “Haven’t you tried doing anything about this issue?”
The Admiral pulls out a few more arrows from the birch wood door trim and then he starts to walk back inside up to the door frame and stops. He reaches for the other two arrows that the Indians have rippled in to making their dent in cultural history. That moment he pulls the first one out and then he reaches for the second and after another harder pull. Thereafter he stands on his tippy toes while wearing his socks trying to take out the second arrow while trying to keep his balance. Then the Admiral heads back inside with the tokens of their affections.
The Admiral closes the door hearing some Indian quails which sound afar off in the far distance. The Admiral makes a comment about that saying, “Then they make weird sounds all night like animals or something! But no; we haven’t really done anything about this issue of the Indians attacking this Civil War Fort at hand!”
At that time Nicolas and Peter sit down in the living room of the house where there is a couch that is curved with wooden styles of trim along the arms and the back of it. The Admiral enters while Jim Bridger follows wondering, “Well, what can you tell me about them?”
The Admiral thinks about that fact for a moment deliberating, “I know they live up the canyon and they have villages along the Ogden River along with hot spring pools that they have built. They spend most of their time there up the canyon hunting whatever they can for food and furs. I heard they like to trade furs except for the fact that they are hostile and hard to deal with!”
Then moments later, Jim Bridger looks to the others asking, “Have any of you tried to make any trades with them trying to soothe matters a little?”
Nicolas looks at Peter and turns back to him as the Admiral turns up the lamp oil light reconsidering, “No, I have thought about it though. But most of our stuff they don’t seem to want I don’t think. But I still go hunting here and there when I can though I have never tried to approach them by any means!”
Then Jim Bridger looks to Peter asking, “And you?”
Right off the mark Peter turns to Jim Bridger with the lamp light gleaming more and more off of their faces schilling, “No, I never have! Yet I did hear some rumors that they had an old man named Eagle Feather who likes to trade animal furs with certain strangers!”
Jim Bridger goes back thinking to the point, “And where did you get this information?”
Peter looks straight in to his eyes telling the truth saying, “From soldiers and some nearby mountain men who have come in to contact with them while hunting for animal furs!”
Next Jim Bridger wonders how true are his clues frustrating, “So you really don’t know for sure then, huh?”
Peter turns to Nicolas and then the Admiral saying, “No, I don’t know for sure!”
Jim Bridger looks to the Admiral and says, “Sounds like we are going to have to find some way to deal with these Indians through means of trade in order to gain their trust!”
Immediately the Admiral makes a comeback which is a strong gesture telling Jim Bridger, “That’s what I want you to do?”
Jim Bridger keeps his eyes in the scheme of things remarking, “And what’s that?”
The Admiral mentions his plans by equivocating, “Act like a mountain man and get out there and hunt like one. Then we’ll find a way to make a trade with those Indians!”
Jim Bridger has another idea now that he realizes what they are up against while boasting, “And may I suggest that I should have my men stationed down here the tomorrow night instead of having them stand watch at the Mound Fort Artillery Base. This way when they return there will be a surprise for them. If I would have known there would have been a skirmish I would have had the Sergeant, Lieutenant, and his men stay down here waiting for them to approach. But all is well and we can continue in the morning with the new game plan!”
The Admiral figures that they should leave at sunrise and get started with their new plan. He deliberates on this idea telling them all, “Let’s start at sunrise! I’ll head up to the Artillery Base and I’ll bring down your horse and your men. Then you can leave and Nicolas and Peter will head back up there and take care of their daily routines and chores!”
Jim Bridger feels that he should ask one more question implying, “And where’s the best place to find any game around this area?”
The Admiral thinks about this right away describing the land, “The best places are within the Wasatch Mountain Ranges. However we should avoid those areas until we have something to offer and with the Salt Cellar out back we can clean up anything and make it look tradable enough!”
Jim Bridger thinks to himself for a brief moment before canting, “Then maybe I should head just north east of here and see what game is out there!”
The Admiral persuades Jim Bridger to give a chance at some shut eye gasping, “Well, sleep on it!”
Jim Bridger heads back to where his sleeping bag which is accompanied by a blanket replying, “After that ruckus it’s too late to ask for a night cap!”
Just then Nicolas and Peter cut in to the conversation by blurting, “There’s nothing for a night cap right now until we make our way down to Salt Lake City for some supplies tomorrow!”
The Admiral ends the nightly talks by commanding, “Let’s call it a night!”
Finally the following morning comes at sunrise as the Admiral is already making his way back from the Fort Mound Artillery Base with Jim Bridger’s horse. The Overland Mail Sergeant and Lieutenant are both accompanying the Admiral as well. They all make their way down the hill towards the Mound Fort Civil War Quarters riding their horses when the Sergeant asks the Admiral, “So what’s this about sending him off for some hunt to catch furs and make a trade with the Ute Indian Tribe?”
Then the Lieutenant is a little confused about the routine at hand asking, “Yes, what makes you think that that’s going to work?”
The Admiral comments about the issue softly trying to wait until they get to the Fort Mound Civil War Quarters as they approach closer. With a soft tone of his voice trying to win over their acceptance, the Admiral says, “Well, something is going to have to work, isn’t it?”
Moments later all three of them; the Admiral, Sergeant, and the Lieutenant reach their way to the Fort Mound Civil War Quarters as Jim Bridger awaits with his bags all packed and outside. Of course, Jim Bridger is anxious to get on the move saying, “A least I can get a move on right after the sunrise sets in!”
The Admiral pulls his horse alongside with his point out, “Here’s your horse! He’s all saddled and packed and ready to head off!”
Jim Bridger accepts the nice gesture countering, “Thanks; that’s great!”
Without waiting much longer, the Sergeant asks a last questing, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Jim Bridger takes his horse by his bridle and steers him over his way. Then fast like he fastens his back pack onto his horse. Next he checks his rifles which are both ready and packed from when his horse was prepared earlier. Finally, as Jim Bridger hops up onto his horse, he reckons, “Yes, I’m going on a little lonely hunt except for the fact that I’m heading north away from the Ogden Canyon!”
The Lieutenant brings up a question about his trip asking, “So how long will you be gone for?”
Jim Bridger doesn’t hesitate too long on that one blatting, “As long as it takes to catch and hunt down a few trappings!”
Afterwards Jim Bridger signals his horse to take off from the back east side of the Civil War Quarters leaving towards the North. It isn’t long before he makes his way in to a patch of trees just hundreds of feet north of its location.
The Sergeant wonders about his trip as he disappears in to the brush remarking, “I hope he isn’t bluffing by turning around and heading straight for those Ute Indians up the canyon there’s a little ways!”
The Admiral wonders what would give them that idea cuing, “What makes you want to say that?”
The Sergeant feels that maybe sometimes he may want to do things his way insinuating, “It just that sometimes he feels that he should be a hero and try to do things his way!”
Just then the Admiral gets off of his horse and invites them all in. Just then Nicolas and Peter exit the Civil War Quarters as the Admiral and the overland scouts follow. The Admiral says out loud, “Let me introduce you all!”
Nicolas butts in to the conversation considering they all had met before they returned last night and forgot to mention it adding, “Don’t worry; we’ve all met already!”
The Admiral changes the subject back over saying, “Well, anyhow; let me show you all around after we tie all of our horses around this post!”
The Sergeant stands there for a moment looking about. At first he sees the brick laden house noticing some bricks that are half broken about here and there. Then the Lieutenant catches his eye to some of the arrow holes blotted within the birch wood door frame on the outside. They both look at each other for a brief moment. Then they both follow the Admiral inside by walking up the back stairway in to the back porch door.
The Sergeant enters first asking, “I see the house has taken many pop shots from them Indians!”
The Sergeant enters inside as the Lieutenant follows trying to stick his finger in to one of the arrow holes about the birch wood door frame. Next the Lieutenant stops blabbing, “And it’s taken a few arrow shots too, huh?”
The Admiral blasts the next line as sort of an agreeable comeback sheltering, “Yes, it’s no wonder she’s still standing sometimes!”
The Sergeant goes on further by discussing the safety of the Civil War Quarters by exemplifying, “I see that there is a fire pit outback with a wooden door shut. Is that how you heat the house inside?”
The Admiral carries on some more by answering back, “Yes, that’s a fire pit back there; we put wood in there and burn it letting the heat flow under the floor boards.”
Then the Admiral points to the vents which are open without the caps covering. Now he explains to them both as they stand there in the middle room of the house gibbering, “Then the hot air flows through to these vents which are located towards every room connected to this here wall! That’s what I call ingenuity!”
The Sergeant can’t agree no less averring, “Yes, speaking of ingenuity; don’t you worry about Indians sneaking in one night. You have a crawl space don’t you?”
The Admiral admits that’s there’s a way down in to the crawl space through an access panel telling them both, “Well yes; there’s a crawl space access panel right through this door in to the front rooms. It’s just off to the left through the birch wooded hallway.”
The Lieutenant brings up a notion about that accumulating, “Can you secure it?”
The Admiral has some doubts as to whether any Indians would be that desperate replying, “We have lots of stuff and belongings down there. I doubt those Indians would ever come that close to try and sneak in from back there!”
The scene fades out and back to a long shot of Jim Bridger as he makes his way to the nearest mountain foot hills just north of the Civil War Quarters. So far he hasn’t seen anything worth a catch or snipe with his old .22 caliber long rifle. Nevertheless he must even have some more armory than that considering that somewhere he must even have some buck shots. Still he persists his way north riding as cautiously as he can without stirring away any potential prey at sight.
As he rides he hears some howling off in the distance. The sun is starting to make its way above the Wasatch Mountain Range as more sunlight pours in to the landscape. The howls he hears are pretty common to him who sounds like a coyote or maybe a dingo. Still he’s not so sure either considering the howls sound like they are closer to the foothills a mile away. Yet he continues getting closer and closer to some hunch he has on his mind.
And regardless of what he hears he keeps on trucking ahead towards the source of those sounds like he was expecting to come in to contact with something eventually. No matter how scarce everything seems to look at the moment, he feels that sooner or later some type of game will show force that he can take a try at.
Still he persists his way through the many washes that separate him from the Civil War Quarters and the mountain just north of there. The new day has spawned the sightings of life as the sounds of birds and other game come forth here and there as he looks and wanders through the area. There are many trees in the area that make it seem like a blanketed small forest in a way. From many views he can see the middle of the mountains of the Wasatch Mountain Range as many pine trees form a line separating the seasons of the last stretch of desert shrubs in to a forest.
In fact, one doesn’t have to travel that far up the trails to make their way in to such terrain as separated by the four seasons. And this place is an area known for its turning of the seasons as the leaves turn from spring to summer colors and then from summer to autumn colors. Still he hears the sounds of animals making their calls to land around him.
And no matter what, he tries to distinguish these sounds as they come to his ears from the remote distance. Some of them even sound closer than others do. To him there’s a live world out there just living and surviving off of the land around him. And he feels that it is time to tap in to it and take the reaping of what he deserves to get from it all.
Now he comes in to the foothills of the Ben Lomond Peak just west of Chilly Peak. Of course, he’s not in the threshold of the mountain ranges as of yet, and that’s a place that he was thinking of avoiding. Moreover the terrain starts to upgrade as he looks towards the north. He has just passed north of the town of Ogden completely and he has entered in to the foothills of an area that looks sort of like a bowl with a curve to it. The mountain seems to have steepness to it as it forms a nice lower valley just ahead of him.
Furthermore, Jim Bridger keeps his direction heading north as he enters an area with some mounds and trees ahead with little gaps in between. He continues on as some mounds that look like rocks covered in leaves appear he and there. He looks down for a moment at his horse that tends to make a bit of a sigh at the time causing him to look around. He notices that his horse is looking at a certain spot through the trees.
Quickly he turns and looks noticing some object off in the distance. It is black in color and it appears to be some sort of animal as he approaches closer and closer to it. After a few more yards the black object comes plainer in to view as he can start to make out its presence. Suddenly Jim Bridger pulls on his horse’s bridle signaling a complete stop. A second later and he begins to get off of his horse without stirring up any reactions from the creature. Then he changes his mind about getting off of his horse and stays on by readjusting himself. Then he takes his rifle out from the rifle case that he has it in. Of course, he had left it untied so that he could get his rifle out much quicker when the appropriate time had come to him.
Moments later, he takes aim with his rifle as he cools his horse down to a stillness making no sounds. He holds his aim for a few seconds and then he pulls the trigger making a loud firing of a bang. The bullet flows forth hitting the target with not even a second to spare for a reaction. The object falls with the appearance of a black streak striking away from some heavy devastating blow.
Quickly Jim Bridger notices that his target has been hit and that it is down for the count. And now he must recoil by riding over there with his horse as fast as possible before it musters a chance for escape. Without any hesitation he pushes his horse’s bridle making a fast run over to the dark object that he has hit. But then before he reaches within two yards of the object he hears quite a howl coming from nearby.
Nevertheless he recognizes the howl of that of a wolf of some kind meaning that it could be a grey wolf or something else of that nature. Still he pays close attention to his targeted mark which happens to be that of a dark wolf with little streaks of grey under its neck. Next he gets off of his horse approaching the dark wolf comprehending the fact that it appears to be a female. And he continues to look her over as though he wasn’t expecting to make the day away with only a dark wolf fur to return with back to the Civil War Quarters.
While looking her over and deciding what to do, He hears another howl come from nearby. Then another comes within a few moments afterwards following with successions of repeated responses. Now he feels that he should take the rewards and run before other wolves come in a vengeful manner for revenge.
There’s a chill that comes over him as he feels that there may be a wolf pack lurking nearby which could be in huge numbers. And now isn’t the time to sit and wait in order to find out. In reaction to his feelings, Jim Bridger goes back to his horse getting a blanket. Then he picks the wolf up and quickly lays a blanket underneath her covering her only slightly. Then he carries her over on to his horse and straps her to the back end of his saddle.
Seconds later, after making sure his cargo is securing, he steps in to his horse’s stirrups and climbs back aboard his horse. He turns and looks about the area before turning his head again to leave. As he turns to leave the place he hears another wolfing howl come from the nearby distance which sounds maybe even closer than the previous ones. Regardless of what he hears, Jim Bridger decides to leave the area heading back south towards the Mound Fort Civil War Quarters.
He feels that he can renew his advances at a later time returning back to the hunt. As he leaves he feels chills again as he looks back to the scene that is hundreds of feet behind him already. And no matter what he turns his head and eyes back to the south to make an early return back before even noon time sets in.
But before he can ever get out of sight, there is another smaller dark wolf on the scene. Hurriedly the smaller image catches a glimpse of the horrid scene which results in only blood and a scent of his forgotten dark wolf mother. The scent is strong as the small baby wolf makes another screeching howl looking off in the direction of Jim Bridger and his horse’s scented trailing.
The howl is heard by Jim Bridger he looks back again thinking that there may be something trailing and following behind but he’s not so sure. Then he feels that maybe it is the wolf’s mate that may have been closer than expected and maybe he should just make his way back to the Mound Fort Civil War Quarters before too much time passes.
A half minute later and the small baby wolf is already picking up the trail of its mother. The small wolf sees some blood lying on the grassy ground which seems quite fresh with a familiar scent. There is also another scent that has been picked up by the baby wolf who makes another screaming howl that can be hears from miles around. Despite any further hesitation after realizing that his mother has been injured and taken.
Immediately the wolf cub sniffs around picking up a trail from the scent. Regardless of his other parent the male wolf, the wolf cub starts to follow along sniffing the scent of his mother along the way. His father is hardly ever around and that’s enough motivation to look after her the best that he can even when she wanders away from the wolf den.
The scent is strong and his curiosity is overwhelming enough to head off without wondering if his mother is alright. In the wolf cub’s little mind something is wrong and it understands that it is more or less on its own to find out what has happened to that inner instinct. And now the wolf cubing wants to venture in to the unknown in search of her whereabouts.
CHAPTER FOUR
Unexpectedly, Jim Bridger returns momentarily to the Mound Fort Civil War Quarters. Yet he continues to look back here and there like there was some sense of something keeping up from behind. Once he rides up he stops right in front of the closest tree to the back porch and looks for moment. Then he swerves over to the back side of the closest tree of the fort and starts to get off of his horse.
The back door latch opens with a loud thump and the door knob twists and the door opens. Straightway the Admiral steps out towards the stairs realizing that he has returned fairly quickly like asking, “That was a fast trip?”
Then the Admiral walks down the back stairwell leading out in to the back court yard of the fort adding, “Did we catch something so fast?”
Jim Bridger stands there by his horse tying the bridle around the tree. Then he starts to pull the blanketed wrapped carcass from the back of his saddle where he has it strapped on. He notices that there is some blood on his horse dripping from the blood soaked blanket.
He lies it down on the ground at the front side of the closest tree in the back yard to the fort. Some blood runs and streams down in to the ground a little. A moment later he answers back as he sets the carcass down, “Yes, I caught a female black wolf is what happened?”
Next the Sergeant and the Lieutenant exit out from the back of the Civil War Quarters. The Sergeant shills out a line balking, “You weren’t even gone a few hours and you already tagged something!”
The Admiral comes back as Jim Bridger opens the blanket while it lies on the ground mentioning, “Yes, he caught something alright, a black wolf!”
The Lieutenant makes a remark implying, “That’s it? No deer, no elk, no beaver, no mountain lions?”
The Sergeant makes a rebuff to the point saying, “We saw more than that when we scouted around before heading up there to the Artillery Base later that evening, huh?”
The Admiral forgets about the wolf for a moment probing, “And where did you all go scouting around at?”
The Sergeant answers back, “Just up to the canyon right before the water fall! We turned around after we saw those naked Indian women swimming down from there!”
Right away, the Admiral wonders if the Indian women saw them grilling them both, “Did they see any of you?”
The Sergeant thinks about it for a brief thought before telling the Admiral, “No, I don’t reckon so!”
The Lieutenant answers back interrupting the Sergeant answering, “No, I doubt it. We stopped once we saw them from a distance! Then we headed back with the Privates up to the Artillery Base. Of course, we scouted out the Ogden River downstream from there a little as well.”
The Admiral starts talking about the Indian Trail up above on the south side above the canyon summarizing, “There’s an Indian Trail just above those hot springs. Maybe one of those Indians was up there and seen you ride back down along the Ogden River and that’s why they had that surprise that night!”
Jim Bridger steps in to stick up for them considering that things don’t always go on as planned conjecturing, “You said they attack this Civil War Quarters almost every night?”
The Admiral carries on further about the topic exclaiming, “Well, just about every night; most of the time, especially during the cold months it’s been on the weekends a lot. Sometimes they would hit during the week but not like on the weekends. They seem to know when to hit us it seems too!”
The Lieutenant cools down the Admiral’s nerves by retorting, “Don’t worry Admiral; it’s not like they seen us looking like we were all some peeping toms or something. We turned around as soon as we seen them, huh?”
The Admiral looks at both the Sergeant and the Lieutenant commanding, “Well, let’s talk about it inside instead of out here just in case any of them Indians are around!”
The Sergeant starts to walk towards the back porch stairs while heading back inside. A moment later he replies, “They aren’t close enough to hear what we’re saying anyways!”
The Sergeant walks inside as the Lieutenant follows. Then the Admiral follows last looking at Jim Bridger imploring, “Maybe you should clean that hunt up by using the salt cellar to do your business at! Everything you need is right down there in the salt cellar right over there.”
Jim Bridger turns towards the salt cellar which is a little white storage room off to the west side of the back yard to the fort. As the Admiral steps inside the Civil War Quarters, Jim Bridger gaffs back, “Much obliged!”
At that moment he realizes that he better make this fur and treat it before too long. But then on the other hand he still has an inkling of a strange feeling over him, although he still feels he has to do what he has to do to make these Indian relations somehow. With this being his prime impulse, Jim Bridger picks up the blanket with the black female wolf and carries it over to the salt cellar.
Then he makes his way to the other side of the salt cellar and sets the blanket on a table just passed the stairs going down inside. Next before he turns around there is a creaking sound which sounds like someone walking a horse maybe. Quickly he turns and steps out from the blocked view of the salt cellar hearing, “Jim Bridger?”
Then another voice breaks out from Jim Bridger himself tattling, “If it isn’t Miles Goodyear?”
Miles Goodyear approaches closer while pulling his horse’s bridle along. Next he makes another comment saying, “I heard you were around!”
Jim Bridger thinks about that for a moment realizing that everyone in the town seems to know everyone’s business a little more than usual blasting, “And where did you hear that you old ghost?”
Miles Goodyear and his horse come nearer and nearer. Finally, Miles Goodyear comes up with a remark speaking out, “I heard a few rumors from some of the local mountain men!”
That sounds kind of funny to Jim Bridger. It seems like there are a lot of mountain men these days. Wondering more about the subject Jim Bridger asks, “And what have you been doing these days hiding out from the Indians fur trading?”
Miles Goodyear sets his hand on some animal furs that he has strapped to his horse’s saddle bags in the back answering, “Oh, just playing like a fur trader and mountain man using different names to get by!”
Jim Bridger steps back away from the salt cellar approaching Miles Goodyear with a hug saying, “Looks like you have yourself some goodies there?”
Right away, Miles Goodyear brings out more of his story telling Jim Bridger, “Yes, I have been traveling around catching what I can while making a few friends here and there anonymously!”
Thereafter Jim Bridger turns away and back to his work rallying, “Well, I have made a trapping myself!”
Miles Goodyear looks at the table with the carcass lying there saying, “So what do we have there?”
Now Jim Bridger feels that he may want to let him in on what’s going on around here especially considering that he is indeed a mountain man nonetheless. At that moment Jim Bridger pulls out a skinning knife from his sheath. As he gets ready to make a cut, Jim Bridger goes on further by admitting, “I went out hunting today to find some tradable furs to take to the Utes up the canyon. So far I could only find this lone black female wolf!”
At this point in time Miles Goodyear feels that he could be of some help around here with the situation. He has talked to a many people around the area and knows a thing or two about those Indians. Immediately he tries to be of some assistance by giving out some details saying, “Well, I have some furs here that you could add to the collection. I have two bags of furs that I have been saving for a special reason. I could always find and catch more too!”
Jim Bridger feels that he should accept the offer answering, “That sounds like a good idea. Anything would help in trying to make peaceful relations with the Indians between them and this here Mound Fort!”
At this point in time Jim Bridger has pulled out the insides of the carcass exposing the fur.
Thereafter Miles Goodyear thinks about the situation at hand mentioning, “Yes, I heard that the Indians have been attacking this fort trying to shut it down and break it up so I went into hiding with a different name after selling my fort!”
Jim Bridger becomes instantly curious as to where Miles Goodyear is getting his information asking, “And where did you here that the Indians are going to try and tear down this fort?”
Momentarily Jim Bridger locates a container of salt. Quickly he starts to salt the skin in order to dry it up.
Miles Goodyear goes on to explain some of his relations around town divulging, “I heard that from the Ogden Mountain Man. He told me about some trades he had made with the Utes here and there!”
Now that the skin is salted and ready, Jim Bridger takes a hook and heads over to the tree where his horse is tied up at. Then as he walks over to the tree, Jim Bridger asks, “And what did he all tell you?”
While waiting for an answer Jim Bridger hangs the skin from the tree to dry and cure. Moments later while watching Miles Goodyear carries on with some more details about what he has heard telling him, “He said it was hard to make any trades with them. Many of times when he would approach them they would just turn around and leave without communicating. But eventually he made a trade and they were sort of hostile to deal with. It was like they didn’t want us white people around here!”
Right away Jim Bridger turns from the tree telling Miles Goodyear while pointing, “Why don’t you tie your horse up at that tree right there?” Then Jim Bridger walks back to the other side of the salt cellar. Miles Goodyear ties his horse up quickly to the other tree and then follows his way over to the salt cellar. Jim Bridger starts to clean up a little afterwards.
Jim Bridger is curious as to how many trades the Ogden Mountain Man had made with the Utes Indian Tribe up the canyon asking, “How many trades did he make with them?”
By now Miles Goodyear carries on a little bit further by explaining, “He made just a couple with a trader Indian named Eagle Feather he said?”
Of course this doesn’t answer the question of where he met up with them at in order to make the trade either. Jim Bridger asks another question for more information elaborating, “And did he say where he met up with them at?”
It’s no wonder that Jim Bridger poses question after question trying to figure out how to approach the Ute Indians in order to make a trade for peaceful Indian relations. Miles Goodyear describes what the Ogden Mountain Man said more in detail expounding, “He said he met up with them while he was hiking around just above the Ogden River canyon. He was walking over towards an Indian Trail that stretches its way from the front of the canyon all of the way back to the edge of the canyon on the other side!”
At this time Jim Bridger thinks about what the Admiral was saying about the Indian trail up above the canyon collecting, “Huh, the Admiral said a few things about the canyon up there. He said that there was a hot springs where the Indians sit in a bathe and that they have trails all through there!”
Miles Goodyear thinks about the waterfall that’s there as well supporting, “Yes, there’s even a waterfall there that flows down in to the Ogden River there!”
Right off the bat Jim Bridger wonders if the Indians may have followed his men back asking, “There was a little skirmish last night here at the Civil War Quarters. A few Indians shot some arrows while making a ruckus about the place. I came here while my men scouted around the nearby area. They followed along the Ogden River up towards the canyon until they saw the Indian women at the hot springs and turned around. At that point they headed back to the Mound Fort Artillery Base up the hill. The Admiral thinks that an Indian may have spotted my men from the Indian trail above the hot springs before they turned around and stationed themselves at the Artillery Base. What would you make of that?”
It takes a moment for Miles Goodyear to soak the information in before relentlessly saying, “Sounds like those Indians are watching everything maybe!”
Jim Bridger comes back diligently admitting, “Yes, they probably are watching everything in this area. In fact, I feel like we are being watched right now as we speak!”
At this moment in the conversation Miles Goodyear feels like soothing Jim Bridger’s aspirations by expressing to him, “The calm thing to do we be to take these furs and head up to the Indian Trail alone. And once you approach them; play the mountain man along with being an Army figure and make a trade! But don’t mention that I’m still around because I’m the Ogden Mountain Man to them!”
Without ado, Jim Bridger has doubts about half of the realism there. The Army figure thing may be a little too much on the Indians. He doesn’t really think they would make a trade if they knew he was an Army Officer. Anyhow Jim Bridger makes his point by declaring, “It might be better if I leave out the Army figure part of the story!”
All the same, Miles Goodyear, or better known as the Ogden Mountain Man now, feels that he should be honest otherwise more hostilities will turn from submissive to on the surface. Anyways the Ogden Mountain Man makes his point by gawking, “I wouldn’t lie because they may already have seen you arrive and know you are with the Army anyhow. And if you lie they may take you hostage or something. The only way to make a peaceful relation is to tell the truth and talk to them.”
Now Jim Bridger feels that he is right, although he will have to act fast. He brings this point to mind by gibbering, “Maybe you’re right; but I’ll have to act fast before this fort takes another attack!”
The scene turns and cuts to the wolf cubing who has finally made his way to the Mound Fort Civil War Quarters. Still he isn’t all of the way there yet. However he is only about a hundred yards away through a thicket of trees. And his senses are growing like never before. The closer he gets to the end of the trail the more he begins to have doubts.
A few more yards and the wolf cubing can see the Civil War Quarters staring back through the trees surrounding the yard all around. But he never stops until he can see a clear image of the forted house without mustering too much further. Now it seems that his senses have served him well and that he can tell something isn’t right up ahead.
Moreover he pushes a little further down past another strip of trees. Soon he can see two figures standing in the backyard talking to one another. Their voices are faint and the words are nothing more than just a bunch of mumbling. The wolf cubing persists even closer to the south side of the house by maneuvering through some grass weeds that separate each tree. Then he squats and kneels down behind a grass patch in front of a close by tree.
The wolf cubing looks through the grass watching the Ogden Mountain Man and Jim Bridger as they both fade back behind the salt cellar. Jim Bridges uses this time to clean up his workings a bit. It takes him a few minutes to do so nevertheless. During this time the Ogden Mountain Man looks in to the salt cellar wondering what’s all down there asking, “What’s all this; the store house to the fort?”
Jim Bridger answers back quickly, “Yes, it’s a salt cellar!”
The wolf cubing can only stare at the fur of his mother hanging there like it were some throw away rug or something. Nevertheless his senses are keen and they tell him that his mother is no longer around. And from the blood stains of a bloody trailing he realizes it’s time to get a closer inspection. But nonetheless he must wait out some time until he can go unnoticed by anyone.
As the black wolf cubing watches he looks at the horses as they sit there so calm wondering if he should wait until dark to scope in closer. Anyhow no matter what is heard he stays there as invisible and undetected as possible. Then all of a sudden a sound is heard as the back door swings open again.
The black wolf cubing listens as he hears a voice, “What’s taking so long? Are you talking to yourself?”
Jim Bridger finishes cleaning up a little even though he hasn’t added anything to the salt cellar storage from this hunt. Next he steps out and walks over in to view as the Admiral steps around the corner saying, “I heard you talking to someone!”
Then the Ogden Mountain Man steps out from the other side coming in to the Admiral’s view as Jim Bridger answers, “Yes, an old friend stopped by. Meet the Ogden Mountain Man!”
The Admiral looks the legendary man up and down jargoning, “I’ve heard a lot about you. In fact I have heard of you both. We have Jim Bridger and his Fort Bridger along with Miles Goodyear and his Fort Buenaventura here in Ogden! Or should I say, “That it’s Captain James S. Brown’s Fort now and he’s still posing as Mr. Ogden Mountain Man? Living around those mean Indians is a rough life isn’t it?”
Immediately Jim Bridger debunks his fort status implying, “Well, I probably wouldn’t be here at this Civil War Fort if Brigham Young didn’t seize my Fort Bridger! Sounds like you all have a sort of name game worked up!”
The Admiral starts to turn back to the fort house authoritatively saying, “Let’s all go inside and have a talk of strategy for a change so we can save this Civil War Quarters and Artillery Base before we all become Mountain men!”
Jim Bridger and the Ogden Mountain Man start to follow the Admiral inside the house when the Ogden Mountain Man quotes, “Sounds more like an Indian War Quarters than a Civil War Quarters!”
As the Admiral walks up the back porch steps in to the back room, he answers back diligently, “We still are ordered to send recruits back east to report to duty!”
The Admiral walks inside and turns north in to the next room while Jim Bridger follows looking straight ahead. The Ogden Mountain Man enters though he looks back over his shoulder into the trees off in the distance. For a few seconds he drifts off and out in to the trees with a sense of something. Then he turns heading in and shutting the back door behind him.
The scene fades back to the little black wolf cubing who is sitting so patiently with tears forming in his eyes. Once the coast seems clear he readies and walks out with a faster pace than before. He continues making his way within the patches of grass surrounding the nearby trees. Next he continues passed in to the near clearing closer by the house only twenty five feet away from the tree.
Jim Bridger’s horse looks noticing the wolf cubing approaching but there is no reaction except for a scooting of his hooves. Now that the wolf cubing has reached the tree the scent of his mother becomes stronger and the instinctive emotions begin to flow in to a sad rage. Moments later the wolf cubing tries to reach the fur of his mother but fails falling against the tree trunk. Suddenly he tries again and again with no luck. Finally, after another try Jim Bridger’s horse makes a grunting noise as the wolf cubing darts away in to the grass leading to the next tree patch away.
Once the dark wolf cubing makes his way towards the far away tree, Jim Bridger opens the back door looking at why his horse is making some noises. As he looks the Admiral’s voice comes from behind asking, “What’s wrong?”
Jim Bridger comes back with a serious remark saying, “Just making sure there are no arrows in our horses, that’s all!”
Jim Bridger looks again out in to the yard at his horse making sure the coast is clear out there. Then he turns again and says, “Maybe we should take the horses back up to the Mound Fort Artillery Base before late afternoon sets in!”
The Admiral answers back as his voice carries out past the door saying, “Yes, we ought to before long. What do you say to one of you going along with him back up there to the Artillery Base?
Meanwhile the Lieutenant decides to be the one to go collecting, “I’ll go along!”
Then the Ogden Mountain Man butts in saying, “No, I’ll go. I’ll take my horse back up there and stay the duration.”
The Admiral thinks that’s okay admitting, “That’s okay! They’d be better off out of harm’s way anyhow!”
Thereafter, the Ogden Mountain Man and Jim Bridger exit out the back door in to the backyard approaching both of their horses. Jim Bridger approaches his horse untying his horse’s bridle and then the Ogden Mountain Man approaches his horse and unties his horse’s bridle. Quickly they hop on their horses and head west to the top of the hill up to the Mound Fort Artillery Base.
For the time being the wolf cubing has been watching. As they leave he understands the fact that others are around and that it’s too late to save his mother. Thoughts of returning to his den cavern up north has come over him as he thinks about waiting for his father to return which he does occasionally here and there.
Still most of the wolf cubing’s wolf father is out on the prowl hunting. He is always out hunting to bring home food for the family. And getting food has been much scarcer lately. That’s because there are lots of Indian and other mountain men out on the range these days. Furthermore, the wolf cubing looks again towards the back of the house watching them both fade out of the scene. Next the wolf cubing turns away. Then he starts to head away trying to avoid any more close confrontations which could threaten his existence.
Once he makes a little distance away from the house, the black wolf cubing turns and growls with wanting revenge. It’s his silent desire line to his inner voice saying, “I must revenge my mother’s death!”
As he continues over in the direction of another patch of trees clustered to the northeast he sees another cluster patch going southeast. He continues in to the nearest group of trees while entering in to some tall grass. As he enters closer and closer he thinks he hears something moving around in the trees. Though it was so faint that he is unsure what he saw. Still he persists as two hands reach out and squat down to him.
It’s young Two Feathers Ute Indian as she reaches out to him with such first warming affection that he just freezes and stares at her. Then she says to him, “What are you doing watching that house? We’re watching that house too!”
Quickly she picks him up as he feels and senses the warmth of a female similar to his mother’s in a different sense of wonder. Luckily he doesn’t fight as she looks back at the house holding him saying, “Forget that house! Let’s go!”
Then Two Feathers Ute Indian looks at Single Feather Ute Indian telling her as she comes closer and closer as Two Feather Ute Indian says, “It’s a baby wolf!”
Single Feather Ute Indian makes a comment saying, “Let’s show him to the others. He’s a male right?”
Next Two Feathers Ute Indian looks at her and says, “I guess. He looks like a he!”
Immediately Two Feathers Ute Indian and Single Feather Ute Indian continue walking in a direction going away from the Civil War Fort. They continue to the next tree where there are some other Indians waiting and watching the place as well. As they both enter beneath the tree branches in to a like forted secret hideout, Grey Wolf Ute Indian and Black Wolf Ute Indian come approaching.
The wolf cubing starts to become nervous as they both come closer to the others. Right away, Grey Wolf Ute Indian walks over to Two Feathers Ute Indian saying, “A baby wolf!”
Then Black Wolf Ute Indian tries to pet him on the side of the head commenting, “Where did he come from?”
Two Feathers Ute Indian hands the baby wolf cubing over to Black Wolf Ute Indian and turns telling them both, “We found him over there watching the house. He went up there to that tree and tried at that fur hanging there!”
After thinking about it for a few seconds or so, Grey Wolf Ute Indian mentions her point deliberating, “I bet you that’s the baby wolf’s mother!”
Almost instantly Black Wolf Ute Indian shrieks out blurting, “Uh, his mamma he shot!”
Now they all start to sigh in grief feeling sorry for the little wolf like his family has been butchered. They all start to pet and cuddle him making him feel at home. Another couple of Indians approach from a nearby tree sneaking in really low in a squatting run. Slowly they all four enter beneath the tree branches to the underside of the tree wondering what’s going on.
Lone Wolf Ute Indian male gets right up as close as he possibly can while looking at their new friend. Without any hesitation he starts to pet the little cub while his friend Sharp Arrow Ute Indian male looks from behind him over his shoulder. Of course, there are two other Indian females White Wolf Ute Indian and Den Wolf Mother Ute Indian female who can’t believe their eyes.
It seems they all thought they had seen something following Jim Bridger when they watched him return from his hunt, although they mustn’t have noticed as much as they thought they had. Then White Wolf Ute Indian moves in closer for a pet or two. Then she decides to convince everyone to take him in and take him home with them all suggesting, “I think we should all take him home. We should keep him as a pet and keep him out of the wolf cages up the canyon!”
A moment later Den Wolf Mother Ute Indian tries to take a turn at petting the wolf cubing. Next she asks them all, “What happened to him?”
Two Feathers Ute Indian answers back telling her, “It looks like they hunted his mother for that skin hanging from the tree over there in the back yard!”
By this time Lone Wolf Ute Indian has taken a new eye to the Civil War Fort saying, “Those hoodlums! I bet you they will try and make some clothes out of it or something! Too bad we didn’t get to her first before him!”
Sharp Arrow Ute Indian closes the scene by wanting to leave the area expressing, “We should take him and go; we can come back at a later time!”
Then momentarily they all start to leave carrying their new friend along. So far the wolf cubing doesn’t have the slightest as to what is going on, though it’s a change of heart from the previous notions. Yet none of what he has lost will ever be replaced when it comes to his kin. And he will never forget that house and the fatal incident that took his mother away from him for the rest of his journeys.
Below is a link to "Mound Fort- Running with the Pack" subpage 2.
Running with the Pack by Rodney Soroka is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at https://sites.google.com/site/rodneysorokasbookshelf/c.
Copyright Registration Number- TXu 2-001-195 Effective Date of Registration: November 5, 2015