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Show Ft. Duchesne featured at Uintah Historical meeting Mr. George Stewart of Roosevelt was one of the speakers at the Uintah Historical Meeting on Saturday at the Golden Age Center. He spoke on Fort Duchesne and told of the beginnings of the Fort when the 21st infantry under General Crook was sent to the Basin. They came by way of Fort Bridger in 1886 over the old Thornburg Road, camped at Fort Thornburg and then went on to the Uintah River and were confronted with 700 Ute and Ouray Indians in full war dress and paint, and hostile. General Crook arrived in an army ambulance. Thinking he had reached the Duchesne River, he raised the U.S. flag and said "This is the future Fort. Duchesne." They were joined by two companies of colored cavalry B and E, 9th U.S. Cavalry under command of Lieutenant Colonel Benteen. This company -were Hometimcs called the "Buffalo Soldiers," the name may have been given bfcau.se of the Buffalo on their emblem. They also wore black, and had black trappings. They got along well with the white troops, and together Niild old Fort Duchesne. Stewart bemoaned the fact that the original fort had been torn down and destroyed, rather than preserving it as an historical site, as other forts such as Fort Bridger have been designated and preserved. After a question and answer period, Wm.B.Wallis was asked to speak of his experiences in the early days of the Fort. Mr. Wallis told about coming from Burley, Idaho in June 1917 and stopping at Fort Duchesne for food and rest before coming on to Vernal. He was later employed at Fort Duchesne, working as bookkeeper and financial clerk for Albert Neal, Supt. of Indian affairs. He told of experiences he had at the Fort and of some storekeepers and settlers he has known who lived In the area. In a future meeting he promises he will tell more of his experiences white working at Fort Duchesne. |
