Tag Archives: Fort Umcompahgre

The Guide

Posted on by

Back around Fort Uncompahgre in the early days if you were new to the area and you wanted to go out to make your fortune, you would best be advised to acquire a suitable guide. One that not only knew the area but knew the tribes and how they were particularly feeling at the moment. Did they feel peckish about folks wandering around in their hunting grounds, or were they amenable to visitors if they behaved themselves. That knowledge could be invaluable if you were to unexpectedly meet some of the locals.

This was knowledge that was normally gained the hard way on your own with little chance of a do over if you screwed it up. A good guide could mean the difference between success, which was measured not only materially, but in whether you stayed alive or not, always a desired outcome.

A good guide was measured by many things. Did he appear to be a sober, substantial individual with a good grasp of the country and current conditions. Did he have all of his natural hair. Spots on his head minus hair were acceptable if they occurred naturally but were to be avoided at all cost if they appeared to be gone due to native surgery. Always ask the prospective guide to remove his hat before entering into serious negotiating.

The fellow above is one of the good guides, one of the best actually. Honest, intelligent, a man of few vices, smoking was not considered a vice, nor was spitting unless you were down wind of him. Drunken brawling in your Union suit was considered very bad form, but he was never seen engaging in that behavior so he had an excellent reputation and was sought after if he was in residence at the fort. Dependable, that’s what he was known for. And he didn’t beat his mules.

A good guide meant the difference between a successful trip where you’d finish above the grass or an unsuccessful one, where you’d get to meet some of the Utes who were mostly friendly, and maybe the Shoshone who were not so much, who could give you a more scary outcome. So be advised, if you’re headed out Ft Uncompahgre way and want to make sure you have a good trip check out the guide situation and if you’re lucky hire this guy.

Standing Watch

Posted on by

At Fort Umcompahgre things were usually pretty quiet as far as attacks by hostiles of any type. Yet every once in awhile somebody would get a bee up their butt and decide to steal a horse or maybe catch one of the young women working in the gardens or going down to the river for water, hoping for a new wife. And every once in awhile things got a little serious and everybody had to pay attention.

War parties passing through usually didn’t bother attacking the fort what with all the sharpshooters keeping a squinty eye and taut trigger finger on those long reaching Sharps rifles. However those inside felt that a close watch was good insurance in keeping their hair so they set watches and kept an eagle eye on the surroundings.

Keeping vigilant on a long watch was difficult. Boredom and the heat was an easy way to suddenly find yourself with your chin on your chest, eyes tight shut. So no whiskey, no resting for even a moment, just keep your eyes open and moving, watch every shadow and flicker of movement in the brush. Keeping a bowl full of your best tobacca going helped keep you from nodding off until your relief came and spelled you.

Life went on at Fort Uncompahgre under the close attention of the watch keepers and things were kept on an open keel. Standing watch was just part of the usual activities of fort life.