The New York herald., 1871-01-14
THE RoNTIER.
Garrison Life at Fort
Fetterman.
Frontier Life at Military Post-Amusements-
Suffers and Post Traders How Soldiers are
Robbed Probability Of an Indian War.

FoRT FETTERMAS, W. T., Jan. !. 1871.
Winter life al frontier military post rather lacks
She variety, style and polish OF metropolitan society
the season. such as New York INDUCES In, at least,
tm Lent puts a semicolon 10 the gayety of fashion.
We are isolated OF the foot OF the Black Hilis the
miniature Rocky Mountains, with the vast Plains,
now snowcovered and bleak beyond description,
between us and the outposts Of civihzailon-ovcr
two thousand miles from the throDged ana brilliant
streets OF the metropolis But once a week do We
hear from the outside world, when the maiicaylier
comes tumbling hall frozen, into camp from Lara
nie the post between this and Cheyenne. Then
there Is rush for news Officers soldiers and the
few civilians are equally eager for letters
and papers, and the WEEKLY HERALD Is the most
desired For days after the mali arrival the Post
Library i thronged and the barracks are turned
forums for the debate OF public questions and par
ucularly Of those involved in the European war; The
Irish 10 man are ardent partlsans or the French,
but that nat,oDay-,he lrlsn--ls In a decided minor
iN, though they make the biggest noise The mail
earned hence 10 Fort LARAMIE by military
tractor; thence there is a regular post route to
Cheyenne.
The winter has been on the whole mild, but fort
nights cold term, with the mercury often at from
Ten TO twenty degrees beoN ZerS, put foot or more
oil solid, crystal ice upon the rap.dhowing Platte,
which We have ganered in,o Two large ice houses for
our own or some Diners use next summer. II Is
h0t the degree Of cold here which makes Il so Sc
we're. 1t Is It's peculiar row quality, Yol
IN New York have equally cold weather, but yen do
not have the KEEN searching, biting blasts, Chilled
and crys.allized by the snow OF mountains ana
plains, AM ariEsd by 500 feet elevation above
tDe sea. In extreme cold weather no amount OF
Clothing suinces 10 potec; fiom the sea- ching cold,
and men wrapped in wooleDs ana lurs cannot bear
exposure Tor leuril OF time. The N
duty are then changed every hour or half hour aud
many have their extremities frozen. How the noble
red devils stand 1t surpasses belief. They wear
nothing bur buckskin brooches iwitheut seatsl elk
or buffalo skin moccaslns, q shirt or soldiers dis
cardcd blouse, and q blanket buffalo robe Loosely
wrapped about them This applies to the Sioux.
The Cheyenues and Arapahoes made some pretence
70 trying to keep warm in better devised
clothing, but they are wretchedy Clad
the shoddy me government persists In uni! orp
Ing them In. stWe wonder ii q. s. Ulysses or Uncle
EaDllntelds to forever clotile his defenders i'll the
surplus shoiay OF 1.-The late unnleasantnessy Uys.
ees must as military mao, understand the worth
and that The army must necessarily look like lot
Of armed panpegs until the present stock on hand
~ condenl.d sold or burlei. Ihe reduction CT tne
quantity allowed each solder must oe one Of the
reduced expenses OF the army which figures In re
annual report Of the War Depa,tm,enpth,e p"' /" IS
pd Enie IL ne TiyE to that item permit me
lrsyahry 10 battea upon the servants the peo:
pie II viii be remembered that Congress proposed
to abolish the snuer system. II did away with
suffers bur retained the system IN all It's worst fea
lures. The sutler IL now called the post trader. He
rces the soldiers precisely the deiunct srler did
before him. The troops IN Isolated places nae this,
anu :or thai inater where are compete TO pay
exoroltat rates ior everything not furnished By The
government. aud for many arcies that ought 10 be
furnished gratis 10 soldiers, sucn as backing,
ssGspes ronshng Is, stus Sc. Taese the commlssary
purchased IN quantities Fer instance the solder
most have hts aceouIrenlents ex1uislteiy clean aad
bright. For TN; purpose he must have rotten
stone, tripo!i heel bali, brushes, &C. These he Is
forced 10 by o. the lost trader at three four prices.
paper OF iriPoI ~ the states costs at retail Ten
CcDfs; here he Bays thirty cena. shoe brush
worth twenty five cents, costs scyeaty-lve cents or
dollar. 4 ten cent DoX o blaching is thirty cents,
u i've ceat bottle OF INK Is thiri,-hve cents and
40 on. All these, say. should be provided % inc
shey Should e furnished a. reasonable rate. TINS
was provd q or ~ the act OF Congress designed TO
remedy Tie abuse, but the suffers lobby beat Tie
Intention o the bill. The c9imigeai1at also Is s1p-
poaed 10 supply troops with suldry extras, which
,hey have 10 pay cash for before receiving such
candles, butter, pickles, sauces canned stufs, &c.
But they get lew accommodations that way. the
caprice Of commanding officers often 1eieats this, as
modies. he viii frequently withhold the issue of
ike,e extras III large quantities are haii spolie,
when tley VIII te iTcoy so!a To the troops at iall
prices, WITH tie most Accommodating ease Dy Crder
OF the cGllma1iauL- As Congress is IN session.
ier's, Sumncss :,.t Cher ,nterneaine ne repaocan
gudfrcls 70 look into rs little miIicf and reform
great abuse. p.ttn III 1SUl9,tu rUStS tIe tfdGcf
AMI the officer ale 'icdGoots fsClliSr language
fo- parttcrsnip-lnu al events toe o.neerS larc
g reduced SciedNe OF ptlCss iCr the arlcles they
want compared with Tic soldiers list OF prices
The winter heic has DceA udeyeAu. Inc lu-
dams, save Nnon th,y were pit threatening over
the taking oi BouS tae murderer o. gAae, nave
been cnct ana show II eIGsclves here only IN small
parties, coming and gong al thc.r oSD duty viii.
There are always soric abou, Particularly al meal
tins, hegE lig of Il aIls WIN elaai altCI1ty an
d.gniy. OCCASIONALLY hog IS Killed, wnen there Is
aIwass duai oil bfohHt no2s Oh hand TO quarrel
over aCd cary OIL III thelr arlis The warm, pun ~,
swelling entfails Ter q icast. And many soldier,
BsTeayeI OF MS pet pup, tins ministers 10
q dog least la some nuple red mans tepe.
Christmas and NcN ic.r's were duly celebrated
by all nlnas 10y feast,lg. ] he troops fe.tsed re-
gaiiy-.or uoops, and il N.n DC decided coming
down 10 relish government Suaicht '-as ordinary
rations calied--aiier tie festivities have d.
Eested. As t. the iadi1Gs, ticre are iwo opinions.
do not believe az! tue coiUsH ne ioSe o! the annual
report o. the illdaa EGresu 10 Congress TIC re L
skins are tircd ul inacitun and long for the war
pain. Rcd Cloud Is prscicGby depU~ea-he Was
heyer more fnan d th!tl rate chief ald younger
end more aarlike coiulsels govern. Red Cloud re-
poses amply PROVIDED for BY government, in his
bareD near Laramie: ami the other cnieiS, younger
plen, envy his lot ana hope, alter sialllar DC0dc
career 10 ms, TO hang up gOloIsy and la2ily as
bin. Thcrc other and real reasons for fearing
tbat the next sGrlnc. on The Piails vi. be r2pctl
ton Of the ia4ssderes o. 1863, lscG anu 1857.