- Fort Vancouver had been founded as a Hudson’s Bay Company post as early as 1825 and was still partually occupied by them. The U.S. Army post originally occupied space which was leased from the Company. It was first called Columbia Barracks and on July 13, 1853 it became known as Fort Vancouver. The name of the post was changed to Vancouver Barracks on April 5, 1879. (Frazer, p. 176-177.).
- The months of April and May, 1853, passed rapidly, and are full of pleasant memories of hunting, riding, fishing, and making friends. I was able to save a little money out of my pay, as eatables were more abundant and cheaper than in Vancouver8, where the mess bill consumed nearly my entire pay. There was a fine post garden, from which we had a large supply of rejected potatoes that we fell heir to, from the artillery. They were too small for our use, but the Indians were fond of them, and brought us all the clams, fish and game we wanted in exchange for the little tubers.
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Mark 1:4 KJV