BWC Timeline: Fort Snelling

The Bring Warm Clothes timeline:
FORT SNELLING, established 1819

Built upon a cliff overlooking the mighty Mississippi River, Fort Snelling was for decades quite literally the edge of the frontier. Never the scenes of battles, it acted primarily as a government outpost for regulating trade with the Indians. In fact, the fort was established primarily because the U.S. wanted to prevent the Indians from trading their furs to the British. With about 300 soldiers, officers and dependents, Fort Snelling was the center of white civilization, providing a strategically inviting location for early settlers to experience Minnesota and her charms.
Visit Fort Snelling...

It was often cold and lonely out on the frontier, as the letters of two early inhabitants of Fort Snelling convey.

Nathan Jarvis, was a surgeon at Fort Snelling from 1833-1836. In 1833, he wrote the following letter to his sister:

Dear Mary,
I was much gratified in receiving your letter which by the by is only the second one I have received since my departure from home, a period of nearly 7 months, and as our express starts tomorrow I embrace the opportunity of answering it and the inquiries you make....

As to news, little can occur in this distant region, secluded from the world. We pass our time something in the way of exiles, banished from the pleasures and I am add follies of civilized life. Still there are charms even in savage life and the wilderness.

I have one of the best rooms in the garrison, the hospital range being built of stone. But what is of more importance in this climate and such winters as we have here, is that we received this summer between 30 & 40 large stoves for the use of the garrison. The winter generally sets in the beginning of November, when everything remains in thick ribbed ice until nearly the middle of April. What think you of the thermometer being as low as 30 degrees below zero? Such is the case every winter in this climate. 2000 cords of wood are generally consumed during the winter at the post.

My horse took it into his head to die the other day and there goes $50 out of my pocket and what is worse has left me horseless. I had him drawn under the walls of the Fort for a purpose that you will consider a very ungrateful return for all his services to me--as wolf bait which soon attracted their notices---
"And nightly on my poor chevel
They made a glorious carnival."
We however had some sport in chasing them with dogs....The soldiers amuse themselves by having Balls in the Fort twice a week.

Mary, all I want now is a wife can you pick out one. As for me I never shall have a chance of regular courtship for I have to stay here a long time and must therefore like royal personages court by proxy! Therefore select one for me and describe to me her qualities and accomplishments and etc. The mail is closing and I must therefore close my letter by asking you to give my love to all the family & friends.

Yours affectionately
N.S. Jarvis
Malloch Rare Book Room, the New York Academy of Medicine Library
Gustavus Otto served as an army private at Fort Snelling in1849. As was often the case, the army was a haven for fugitives from the law, and this may have been Gustavus' story. He writes to his wife, requesting she get him released from the service.
Fort Snelling 7th April 1849
Iowa Territory

Dear Louise,
Although I intended several times to write you, circumstances, labors and feelings did not allow me to do this. As I come today from my watch duty, I have time to do this...

The winters are very cold here, particularly this one; we are in thick stone buildings and had, each 2 men 3 woolen blankets and haystacks and yet we had to make a fire in the midst of the night in order not to freeze. I myself had my face and ears frozen but I am cured again. I have not been sick until this winter when I caught a severe cold and had to pass several days at the hospital. I am better of it and would feel entirely well again, but the daily thought, the dreams and restlessness, which I have almost every night, for my poor children...

Since two months, 3 soldiers have already been released by their Sgt., also today one got free again, he is from Baltimore. You could also do it if you wanted to do it. And my request to you is to do it. I will not return to you, if you do not want it, for you live perhaps happier without me, which I wish from all my heart, but I am no drunkard anymore and I have learned to work and if I was free, I could anyhow do some thing for my poor children, and save, in order to enjoy my old age, if I should reach this. But my hands are tied and 5 years of my life are gone, without helping my children at all.

I beg you once more from all my heart do for me what you can, God will reward you. I am still innocent of adultery as I was before, although the temptations for it are strong enough here. Do you not wish to have me free again, write as soon as possible, as I want to go to California then, to establish a new home there--and let me learn to forget my dear poor children. Be sure to have them educated orderly, that they may not become so unhappy as their forsaken, unhappy father. Tell them a heartfelt farewell, greet and kiss them from me. God Grant you altogether health and happiness and well wishes.
from your
lonely Gustavus Otto
Company. E 6th Infantry Regiment

Otto did not stay long in Minnesota. By the next summer he had deserted the army and fled to California.
Minnesota Historical Society, Gustavis Otto paper
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