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Show Old Forts of the Western frontier Released through courtesy of the Utah Historical Landmarks Association, As-sociation, 806 Newhouse Building, Salt Lake City, Utah By Edgar M. Ledyard, President A feeling of insecurity was probably prob-ably the reason Kir construct jib the first fort, which was a primitive affair. Natural features, such as islands, trees, rocks, swamps, or ether places not readily accessible, were usually selected. These early primitive fortifications whether large or small, were effective effec-tive only against bows and arrows, spears and other primitive implements imple-ments of attack. It was necessary later to make provisions to mount cannon and use small arms in defensive work. This led to what might be called standard practice in fort engineering. engineer-ing. In some cases, bastions were built at two diagonal corners and in other cases at all four corners. Forts in the west were built of material most readily obtainabie and which would also offer considerable consid-erable resistance. In timbered country coun-try forts were frequently built ol logs; sod and dirt were used in treeless countries; rocks were considered con-sidered prime material wherever these could be obtained. Many of these structures were mere wans. In some cases block houses were built. At upper rectangular structure struc-ture was "skewed" on a lower rectangular rec-tangular one. Defenders in the upper portion of the block houoe were able to use their weapons downward through the corners of the portion they occupied against invaders below. In addition to these provisions, V-shaped openings in the sides of the early forts or block houses (then arrow openmg on the outer portion and wider one on the inner portion of the wall.1 enabled occupants to swing their guns horizontally and cover oi-.l! ide intruders. In many cases wells were dug inside in-side these enclosures to provide water wa-ter in case of sustained seiges; sometimes subterranean pasats were built to water. Many examples exam-ples of heroism are recorded of those who dared to supply water to u:-tagured garrisons. r rida leads all nations . in the Uuicn in the number of forts which have liten built within her borders. Florida forts, past and present, reach approximately two hundred, about one-twelfth of the twenty-five twenty-five hundred or more in the United Uni-ted Slates. New York comr, next viih about one hundred twenty-five twenty-five and. Texas third with about one l undred. While every state west of the Mississippi river had its share of Indian warfare and tragedy, Minnesota, Min-nesota, the Dakotas, Wyoming and Colorado are outstanding in this respect and. of this group, Wyoming Wyom-ing is preeminent in its number of historical forts and attacks made on them by Indians. The two foits most hated by the Indians in Wyoming Wy-oming and on which, during their existence, more attacks were maje, were Fort Phil Kearney and Fort Reno. No fort was ever built without a trail leading to it and a reasonably reasonab-ly good road map of the early west micnt'be made by drawing lim-s between the points where forts were located. Modern road building ha.: left some of these old forts o:f tl.e principal routes. Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie, Fort Hall and Fort Eoise were on the original road to Oregon. Fort Bridger. also on an old route, is ont he main traveled highway through Wyoming. Like-wi-e. the sites of Fort Saunders and Fort Collins are on a main roar from Laramie to Denver. Fort Mercy at Santa Fe may be reachul on the Santa Fe Trail and the same , is true of some other less famous 'forts along that route. For the most part, however, one who wr-Ud visit the sites of old forts must fcr- take the better highways and follow-little follow-little used roads. Quite frequently the name of the builder of a fort was not perpetuated perpetu-ated through the name given to it. Fort Hall, about twelve miles northwest north-west of Pocatello, one of the mcs: famous early posts of the west, is an example. Fort Hall was built by Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth and named in honor of Robert Hall, the founder of his company. This emergency fort, erected in 1834, was built by Wyeth to store furs which he had presumably sold to Fitzpai-rick, Fitzpai-rick, Bridger and Milton Sublette and which they refused to accept. The Fourth of July that year was celebrated there with the usual speech making, followed by plentiful plenti-ful libations, horse racing and other oth-er Fourth of July sports current at that time. The United States Flag was raised and a protestant sermon serm-on preached first events of their kind in this section. Wyeth found himself unable to cope with the larger fur companies and sold out to the Hudson Bay Company who used this post as a supply base for many years. Later it was used by the United States Government as a military post for troops. Bent's Fort is probably the most famous one in Colorado due to its position, its importance as a trading trad-ing post and the prominence of its founder. Like many other early forts, it occupied different sites. It was finally burned in a spirit of retaliation by its founder. A string of forts across Nevada protected emigration and the United Uni-ted States mail. Fort Churchill is probably the most noted of Nevada's Ne-vada's early posts. Early forts in Idaho owed their existence to the fur industry, mining min-ing and protection for agriculture. These three industries, in the order named, were characteristic of occupation occu-pation in many other states. Most of the forts in Utah were built to protect settlers against Indians. In-dians. Under the Mormon plan of colonisation families went out to isolated but favored places and established es-tablished agricultural communities. Nearly every one of these settlements, settle-ments, including the original one in Salt Lake City, had walled areas or buildings designated as forts, which were at once means of defense de-fense and places for early religious, social and civic activities. Owing to the hostile character ot Indians inhabiting it, proximity to the border and position in the path of western- travel, Arizona had a number of outstanding posts. Fori Apache. Fort Defiance, Fort Mason and Fort Whipple were among the most noted. Early forts are not only indicators of early trails but they presaged the beginnings of cities. With very few exceptions, all the larger cities of the United States had their beginnings around forts. |