The work was commenced the first week in January, and was prosecuted with the utmost energy, as their lives, apparently, depended on its completion.

The doors and window shutters were made of thick oak planks, or puncheons, and secured with stout bars of wood on the inside.

The larger timbers were hauled with ox-teams, of which they had several yokes, while the lighter for the roofs, gates, &c, were dragged along on hand sleds, with ropes, by the men.

The smooth side was set outward, and the palisades strengthened and kept in their places by stout ribbons, or wall pieces, pinned to them with inch treenails on the inside.

The palisades on the river side filled the whole space, and projected over the edge of the bank, leaning on rails and posts set to support them.