The New York herald., 1876-03-07
Where Evans, Marsh, Belknap &
Go. "Made Money"
TAXING THE SOLDIERS.
twenty Thousand Dollars q Year EXturted
by Excessive Charges.
Statements by the President and Generals
Sherman and McCOok.

Like the overturned lamp that originated the terrible
eonnagration at Chicago converting the greater por-
lion OF populous city waste, Fort Sill
Gin be hereafter remembered the starting point OF
disaster compared with which the burning OF a thou
sand buildings is mere trilc No supposes but
that the revelations of the last few days the mere
beginning of the end that the fearful conagraton
OF character which has been begun will continue until
II reaches places that have heretofore been
regarded as unassailable In this connection and
matter Of considerable public interest at the present
time, we'll Tor future reference, propose give
detailed description OF Fort S and its surroundings
promising that this fort fair example of the frontier
stations OF the army that when the further rcvela
lions that shall specify The various locai
lies that have been made the OF fraud
corruption. this description will cxemply the
stances in each and every
On the reorsanI OF tho United States Army at
tine close OF the CIVIL general distribution OF the
troops determined upon in accordance with plan
that should accomplish Il threefold purpose First
70 keep open the lines throughout the
Western Territories Second-fo afford protection to
settlers and thus encourage and foster emigration.
rhird-To overawe ana subdue the rowing tribes of
Indians and 10 nstil among them habits of cviliza-
lion. To this end series military posts
labished at suitable localities the West 100 TO
200 miles apart At these posts stationed the
sometimes portions oi several regiments mixed COM
mand of infantry and cavalry under the supervision
OF the senior officer in rank present the troops
The post known Fort Sill was ono of the sta
lions SO selected 1t was located by General Grerson
IN June, lsdS, under the name of Camp Wichita "
The name changed Fort sill July 2 1869 1t IS
situated on the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache reserva
lion, Indian Territory, in latitude "a deg. 40 min
longitude n deg. - The u!eva
hon above the is 100 feet IL is
Ito miles south OF Fort Richardson, $50 miles south
west OF Fort Griffin and 100 miles northwest OF Camp
Supply. Major General sheridan selected Fort Sill as
base Of operations against the Cheyennes Kiowas
in his winter campaign OF lS6S-69 from that date
has been the military centre OF the reservation OF
The Comanches, kowas and the affiliated bands OF the
wichitas keechies Wacoes and CAddoes. The reser
vat'on is in the form OF quadrangle, miles in
length by four miles wide, containing thirty six square
miles or % 900 acres Within iis boundaries are in
cluded the confluence of the Cache and Medicine Bluff
creeks with tile rich timber aud bottom lands skirt
ing those streams, the hills called Medicine Bluns
The Indian commissary buildings, lime kilns, grana
resL &c
TiIr PORT IrsELr
rs situated at the Junction of the two creeks named
which unite TO form branch OF the Red Riv e and In
the centre OF the post reservation Although this and
most of the Other Western posts are called forts they
they fortified in any manner with the exception Of
perhaps, small redoubt or sometimes
block house n stockado erected against
possible incurson of the Indians They arc simply
collection OF sometimes merely temporary
lures at other times permanent in their charac
Ter where substantial building materials may be cheapy
obtained This last the with Fort sill where
The proximity of excellent quality of limestone
easily quarred has resulted in the this material
Tor the quarters the troops All the buildings OF the
post constructed OF gray limestone and furnish ac
rommodation for 600 men and officers,
BUILDINGS
rs shown by the diagram, arranged with view to
military convenience and discipline. The barracks for
the soldiers are each double buildings, ono story in
height The dimensions 200 by - ieet with height
OF IL feet 10 tho Each division IS intended Tor
company, and is divided into barrack room
81 feet in length, and orderly room % feet
by II feet The barracks have covered porchcs
In front, and extensions in rear ior mess rooms
and kitchens, and in tho yard in rear Of each
barrack is small building for laundress' quarters
and wash rooms In the dormitories the men sleep on
single hunks. The buildings for officers quarters
are twelve in number OF which nine contain two sets
Of quarters entirely separated each other making
In all twenty one sets OF quarters Besides these are
the guardhouse hospital library Qrartermaster's
and commissary's store houses cavalry stables &c
The ground occupied by the buildings is plateau OF
irregular outline. slopng in all directions and about
one-fourth Of mile square in extent Its elevation
above the water OF the adjacent stream is about ay
ieet
The garrison OF Fort sill for several years past has
been mostly composed of the Tenth United States cav
airy lcoorcdL together with several companies OF in
iantry (whtel The duties of the troops consist OF
scouting the adjoining territory predatory bands OF
Indians their pursuit into their permanent lodges
when deprcdatlons have been committed; also in es-
sortng trains of supplies from post 10 another
AZ certain times aud duties are extremely
uduous, and often attended with great privation and
suffering, horses and falling by the roadside Va
utter exhaustion during long pursuit OF the Indians
The personal wants Of the soldiers-thoir food and
elo'hing-are of course amply supplied by tho gov
srnmcnt and in addition, the soldiers receive si3a
month In money While the ration OF food that Is
issued TO the soldier Is generally wholesome
OF good quality and insufficient in quantity
u Is OF Necessity very simple form OF diet and some
whai monoionous in character and while the provision
made Tor tho soldier every way ample for his CON-
FORT whether sick or well there Is very natural de-
sire his part for greater variety in diet and FOR
many Injuries that are not provided
BY the government and obtain these he willing TO
devote tue SIS month which he receives In cash from
tho government To this human weakness or inclna
lion the part Of the soldier Is due the origin and
existence Of the individual known as
'srHK sUrIER."
Ho Is generally shrcwd, en,crprisng money making
sort Of a character, who forms during war one
OF the army OF camp followers and during peace per
trader IN the minor necessities and convent
OF life Under tho old army regulations each
military post authorized 10 have ''sutIer who
received his appointment from the ofncer command
on the recommendation Of a Board consisting Of the
threa highest IN tho rank ncxt below tho
ohecr. This Board was called the Council OF Admins
tration, and IL their duty examine verified In
voice oil the goods offered for SALE and tarlI Of
prices at which they sold 10 the soldiers OF
seourse allowance always made for the cost OF
transportation. During the war nearly every regiment