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Show Life among the Mormons. CHAPTER I. FROM FORT LEAVENWORTH TO FORT KEARNEY. FORT Leavenworth was, in April last, the grand rendez vous of troops of the regular army, who, as in former times, were to garrison posts on the frontier, whence they had been withdrawn in ' 6 1 to aid in suppressing the late great rebellion. From that point they were to proceed to the various forts North of the Arkansas, and as far West as Salt Lake City. Outfits for several commands, as large as the one I ac companied, were furnished at Leavenworth ; but so com plete were the arrangements for meeting the demand, and so prompt the action in the different departments, that but little delay occurred, and, after camping only a few days in the vicinity, we struck tents and commenced our long Westward march. The location of Fort Leavenworth is doubtless familiar to the reader. It is in Kansas, on the south bank of the Missouri, about 500 miles above its mouth, and overlooks the thriving city of the same name. It is one of the oldest military stations of the West, and has for many years been the depot from which supplies have been furnished the various posts on the plains. It was my good fortune to accompany a detachment of the 1 8th U. S. Infantry, consisting of one battalion of eight companies, and recruits for two other battalions, numbering in all about 1300 men. |