1849 view of Ft. Bridger, Stansbury Expedition Capt. (Brevet Lt. Col.) Howard Stansbury in his report (Lippencott, Grambo & Co., Philadelphia, 1855) of his exploratory expedition to Salt Lake, described the location and appearance of Fort Bridger: Saturday, August 11. -- Ther. at 6 o'clock, 40 [degrees]. A drive of thirty-two miles, during which we crossed Ham's Fork and Black's Fork three times, brough us to Fort Bridger -- an Indian trading-post, situated on the latter stream, which here branches into three principal channels, forming several extensive islands, upon one of which the fort is placed. It is built in the usual form of pickets, with the lodging apartments and offices opening into a hollow square, protected from attack from without by a strong gate of timber. On the north, and continous with the walls, is a strong high picket-fence, enclosing a large yard, into which the animals belonging to the establishment are driven for protection from both wild beasts and Indians. We were received with great kindness and lavish hospitality by the propriator, Major James Bridger, one of the oldest mountain-men in this entire region, who has been engaged in the Indian trade, here, and upon the heads of the Missouri and Columbia, for the last thirty years. Several of my wagons needed repair, the train was detained five days, for the prupose, Major Bridger courteously placing his blacksmith-shop at my service. Fort Bridger, 1873, woodcut, N.Y. Daily Graphic, June 16, 1873 Fort Bridger, as the case of Fort Laramie and as indicated by the photos on this and the next pages, had three distinct periods, (a.) a privately owned and operated facility, established in 1843 by Jim Bridger and Louis Vasquez; (b.) a military post; and (c.) a partially restored museum. The original "fort" was described by an early traveller: This fort is owned by Bridger and Basquez. [sic] It is built of poles and dogwood Mud. It is a shabby concern. There are about twenty five lodges of Indians or rather white trapper lodges occupied by their Indian wives. They have a good supply of robes, dressed deer, elk, and antelope skins, coats, pants, moccasins, other Indian fixins which they trade low for flour, pork, powder, lead, blankets, butcher knives, spirits, hats, ready made clothes, coffee, sugar, etc. They have a herd of cattle, twenty or thirty goats, and some sheep. Ft. Bridger, 1889 One emigrant, Edwin Bryant, described it during its early years: "The buildings are two or three miserable log cabins, rudely constructed and bearing but a faint resemblance to habitable houses." Ft. Bridger, Wyo., 1873. The post trader, William A. Carter, in civiliam hat and beard, is seated at right side of photo. Fort Bridger, 1888 The original fort was burned down during the Mormon War in 1857, along with Ft. Supply 12 miles to the Southwest, by the L.D.S. The Mormons claimed, over Bridger's denials, they had purchased the fort from Vasquez. The Fort was assumed by the military under Albert Sidney Johnston in 1858, photo lower left. There was a deed dated August 3, 1855, recorded October 21, 1858, in Salt Lake City in Records Book B. p. 128 that ostensibly sold Fort Bridger to the Mormon Church. Bridger and Vasquez's name was signed by H. F. Morrell in the presence of Alinerin Grow and William A. Hickman, purportedly pursuant to a power of attorney. Hickman, if his later autobiography is to be believed, could best be charitably described as Brigham Young's "hitman." Hickman, a personal assistant to President Young, allegedly killed 54 men on the direct orders of Young. After his excommunication from the Church in 1868, Hickman's testimony resulted in the indictment of Young as an accessory to the murder of Richard Yates. Young never stood trial in that in another case, Clinton v. Englebrecht, 80 U.S. 434 (1871), the United States Supreme Court determined that jurors had been improperly summoned. Thus, the indictment was a nullity. Over 100 pending criminal cases, including the cases against Hickman and Young were dismissed. Hickman after writing his 1872 autobiography, Brigham's Destroying Angel, was ostracized by Mormon and Gentile alike, and died, abandoned by all but his first wife and a few of his 35 children, in a sod dugout near Lander on August 21, 1883. William A. Hickman In order for a power of attorney authorizing the sale of land to be valid, it is necessary that it be executed with the same formalities as a deed, a doctrine in law known as the "equal dignities rule." Since the time of Henry VIII deeds have been required to be in writing and signed by the maker. Thus, the purported power of attorney would have been required to be in writing and signed by Vasquez and Bridger. It has been observed that Bridger was absent from the area in 1855. He was acting as guide for Sir St. George Gore. Accordingly, absent a signed power of attorney from Bridger, it is extremely doubtful that the purported deed, if challenged, was worth the paper it was written upon. Next page: Fort Bridger continued, The Mormon War.