Three Score Years and Ten | Page 5

months the roof of our cabin blew off, and
the walls seemed about to fall in. My father, sending my mother and
brother to a place of safety, held up the chimney to prevent a total
downfall; while the baby, who had been pushed under the bed in her
cradle, lay there, as "Sairey Gamp" would express it, "smiling
unbeknowns," until the wind subsided, when, upon being drawn out
from her hiding-place, she evinced great pleasure at the commotion,
and seemed to take it all as something designed especially for her
amusement.
By the prompt aid of a large number of soldiers the necessary repairs
were rapidly made, and soon all was comfortable as before. But late in
the winter, owing to the lack of proper food, scurvy broke out among
the soldiers, and forty of them died of this dreadful disease. Many more
were affected with it, and far removed as we were from all relief in the
way of change of diet or suitable remedies, it was a matter of great
uneasiness and alarm, as in the absence of necessary preventives or
restoratives medical skill availed nothing.
However, as soon as the frost was sufficiently out of the ground to
enable them to dig it, the Indians brought in quantities of the spignot

root, assuring the surgeon that would cure the sick. This proved entirely
efficacious. The scourge was removed, and after that trial passed away
the command was peculiarly exempt from sickness of any kind.
As soon as possible gardens were made. Everything grew rapidly, and a
sufficient supply of vegetables was secured to prevent any recurrence
of the evil.
More permanent and comfortable quarters were built during the spring
at the beautiful spring on the fort side of the river, and named by the
officers "Camp Coldwater;" but before moving into the new camp
Colonel Leavenworth was relieved from the command by Colonel
Josiah Snelling, who, with his well-known energy and promptitude,
immediately began preparations for building the fort, the site of which
had been selected by Colonel Leavenworth. The saw-mill at "St.
Anthony's Falls," so long known and remembered as the "Old
Government Mill," was started as soon as practicable. Quarries were
opened, and everything was done to facilitate the work, Colonel
Snelling proving himself well fitted for the duty assigned him, and the
spring of 1820 was a very busy one for the old Fifth Regiment.
MRS. SNELLING'S LIFE.
Mrs. Abigal Hunt Snelling was born at Watertown, Mass., January 23d,
1797. Her father's name was Thomas Hunt, Colonel of the First
Regiment of Infantry, U. S. A., stationed then at Fort Wayne, Indiana,
to which place his little daughter was taken when only six weeks old.
The journey was performed on horseback, and the little baby was
carried on a pillow, a long, rough trip for so young a traveler, and
clearly indicative of her subsequent experience. She tells in her old age
of a coincidence in her life which impressed her forcibly. Her father
died and was buried at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and some years afterward
Colonel Snelling was at this place with his family waiting orders, when
their youngest child, an infant, named Thomas Hunt, sickened and died,
and was buried by the side of his grandfather. An incident in her
eventful life well worthy of mention in a record of the early days of our
State is that she gave birth to the first white child born in Minnesota
sixty-six years ago, and at the advanced age of ninety years she is alive

to tell of it. Her ninetieth birthday was celebrated a few months ago in
Newport, Kentucky, where, with the husband and children of a beloved
daughter, who died some years ago, she is "only waiting till the
shadows are a little longer grown."
She has been blind for many years, but otherwise her faculties are
unimpaired and her health is excellent. I should like to have seen my
old friend on that occasion, but could only send a congratulatory letter,
recalling the memories of old Fort Snelling, with which she and I am so
thoroughly identified. I am told she looked very lovely, and was much
gratified at the pleasant surprise her friends had prepared for her, but
was somewhat excited, and was carefully watched by her
granddaughter, Miss Abby Hazard, who takes the most tender care of
her precious grandmother.
It is somewhat remarkable that just about that time I learned through
Hon. Fletcher Williams, who has a special gift for finding antiquities,
that an old lady who had been a member of Mrs. Snelling's family at
the fort was visiting her grandchildren at West St. Paul. I lost no time in
calling on her, and found that she was one of the Swiss refugees who
came to Fort Snelling