Across America; Or, The Great West and the Pacific CoastRusling, James Fowler
History
Across America; Or, The Great West and the Pacific Coast
Rusling, James Fowler
Overland journeys to the Pacific; Pacific States -- Description and travel; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
Returning we drove by the ruins of the old city-wall, erected by
the Mormons soon after they settled here, of concrete and adobe,
as a defence against the Indians. The growth of the town and the
disappearance of the Indians, rendered it useless years ago, and it
was now fast falling to pieces, though no doubt of service in its
day. It was one of Mr. Buchanan's Salt Lake scarecrows in 1857, but
would not have stood a half-dozen shots from an ordinary field-piece,
or even mountain-howitzer. The labor of erecting it, however, must
have been prodigious, as it enclosed originally several square miles,
and its remains even now speak well for the industry and enterprise
of the saints in those early times.
Thursday, Nov. 1st, was a great gala-day at Salt Lake, and we were
fortunate to be there still. It was the chief day of their annual
militia muster, and the whole country-side apparently turned out.
The place selected was a plateau west of the Jordan, some three
miles from Salt Lake city. Proceeding thither, we found a rather
heterogenous encampment, with not much of the military about it,
except in name. The officers were mainly in uniform, but the men
generally in civilian dress, and many without either arms or
accoutrements. As we passed through the encampment, they were all out
at company drill. Of course, there were many awkward squads, but the
so-called officers were the awkwardest of all. In many instances,
they were unable to drill their men in the simplest evolutions;
but stood stupidly by, in brand-new coats, resplendent with
brass-buttons, while some corporal or private, in civilian dress,
"put the company through!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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