The New York herald., 1877-12-19
SOLDIER CIVILIZATION.
Facts Concerning Army Life
in the West.
OPENING UP THE PRAIRIE.
Road Making, Bridge Building and
Rspelling Indians.
HARD WORK-POOR PAY.
OPENING UP THE PRAIRIE
HARD WORK-POOR PAY
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD


FoRr ELLIS, N. T., Dec. ., 1871.
eome OF our members OF Congress seem 10 think
We have no need OF army in this country and a
great many OF lhcm, If thor published speeches are
70 DO relied on, really uninformcd TO what tho
army does and the important part II plays In cIviz-
ing and developing the West VIII you permit
whose life IS that OF soldier 10 tell public
plain. simple way, through the columns of the
HERALD, where our army is and oow II Is occuped2
lloSEER OF CIVILIZATION IN rHE WEST.
As soon as The traveller crosses tho Missouri and
enters the Territories no begins to fad tho buo
jackets, and the further West he goes tho moro nu-
merous they become. II is only just to the army to
say II has ever been the pioneer OF civilization In
America. Ever since Washington crossed tho Allie.
ghanies and, with his brave virginians, pushed to
the Ohio, the work has been steadily gong on from
Pitsburg, far down the OHIO 10 tho Mississippi, aud
thence along tho Father of Waters to New Orleans;
next west to The Miami and far up the lakes then to
tho Missouri ana so on for thousands OF miles until
the other ocean was reached through Oregon and
California limo OF forts aro pushed out into
the new aud unnhabted country, and presently
people como in and settle the posts few years
eapse aud there are hundreds Of citizens In all
tons. Then the forts sold or pulled down and the
troops march further west TO found posts. Tho
knapsacks arc packed, the cavalry mounted and
OF column west; forward, march," and away we GO
What an outltl The long line Of cavalry wind over
tho hills and then follows tho compact column OF in
iantry. Ihcn como few pieces Of artillery and the
train. What sight! Hundreds OF wagons, alied
with every conceivable article OF food and implement
of labor steam engines sawmilis, picks shovols,
hoes masses OF iron, piles OF lumber, tons OF pork,
hard Bread Hour, rico, sugar, coffee. tea and potatoes
all drawn in huge wagons. Six mules or ten oxen
tugging the monster wheeled machines along.
Tho train is generally preceded by score two OF
carriages ambulanccs and light wagons containing tho
families OF officers, women, children and aundresses
In OF tho tram driven the herds Of cattle md
sheep, and last Of all comes company OF infantry
and perhaps one Of cavalry.
COUNTRY OPENED up.
Day after day tho living moving tolls on 70.
ward the setting sun. Bridges arc bct, gucs
filled, histdes dug down and roads cut along preci-
pices. Wcwonder how the pioneer corps keep out
OF our way; but each day we go steadily forward
ing only their work. never ovcrtaking them. A ride
to tho front will show how this Is DONE 1t Il mid
DAY, and company Is going to relieve tho pionecrs
Tho knapsacks lightenNd, and Off VIC 60 at quick
pace. AT sundown We come upon the pioneers and
find some building bridge while others dowa Tho
hill so the wagons can pass We relieve them OF their
shoves picks and axes and one-haf Of the company
midnight aroused by the beating Of the
drum, aud half OF .be company that Is in camp
goes out TO relieve the working party. At
daylight relieved in turn the work goes on
day and night and that is the way tho pioneers keep
saead Of The tssss. Iet us return 70 tho column 1t
is sunset, tho bugc sounds the halt and COL
umns file into camp The cavalry horses are sent
TO grazc tho tents put up areB lighted and the Cup
per put on to cook. Tho white canvas CLEANS the
setting sun and the camp rcsounds with mirth aud
,tstnr Waas k~.,,,
and towels are IN great demand 10 remove the duet
and stuips Of travel Folding chairs, tables, beds
mattresses are opened out and carpets spread upon
grouud The bu che rs have slaughtered an OK or
two anu the fresh meat Is brought IN ior tstrbution
Tho commissary wagons arc opened anu sugar coffee,
rice hominy and canned fruits dealt out. In hour
we SIT down to u smoking hot dinner and supper com
blned of roast beet hot coffee, fried pcasocs, fresh
biscuit and canned peaches. II tho air Is
cool tho little peaked Siblcy stoves are put
up. ard tho evening spont In telling stories. play
ing at CARDS ana singing songs Hero is heard the
woman; there are u lot Of officers playing eucnre,
and yonder group Of soldiers gathered nbou, their
camp hre telling tales OF how they campug gned IN
Oregon or fought the Comanches and Apaches In
Texas ana Now Mexico twenty years ago.
AT REST IN CAMP.
Tho bugles SOUND tattoo, the rolls arc called taps
blow, the lights put out and the busy camp sinks
burning where tho qaartcrmaster, in his tent, IS
busy over his papers. the adjusan making tho ordcrs
tor tho morrow's march or NOISY trio OF officers
tnung TO an unreasonable hour their jcsts and
No soldier Is allowed 10 havo his light burning after
taps, but tho oihcers can do as they plcnse Every
sleeps soundiy, Tor each knows no is guarded
II Is near midnight, and II you ike we viii walk
about the camp little. Here Is the
officer OF tho day, and we will accompany
largo group OF mon arc gathered about blazing fro.
VINO comes tncrcY' rings out upon the stnl nignt
air. "Fricnd," IL answered back. "Advance one and
DO recognized" fh,s IS DONE and then comes tho
cry of, ''0niccr OF the day, turn out the guard"
There Is rafting Of muskcts and burrying and bus
ting to ind ro and the guard falls into limo
spcccd SO lar as TO ascertain that all are present and
cveryi thing right Frequently officer but generally
a sergeant oi experience command the guard, aod
all the scntincs posted according TO tho rcctons
OF the officer OF tho day. wno receives mis- INSTRUCTIONS
IRON the commanding officer OF tho camp Tho Wagons
drawn up IN long lines or scmicirccs, with the
tongues inward, 10 which are tied the mules and
oxen. Sentlnels pace up and down TINT AL goes
right aud the icanslcrs TO tic up tho mules
that are constantly getting loose. Tho cry Of
.I,oose muiesn will bring a dozen tennsters
out OF their wagons, and at least a hundred
oahs viii DO uttered beioro tho animals are caught and
secured The cavalry wagons arc placed twenty or
hind wheels TO which picketcd tho horsos. Guards
are everywhere and the scntincis arc kccniy the
alert Each hilltop has It's silent watcher The nerds
are kept where there rs as much grass as possible and
mounted hcrdcrs constantly watch thcm, ready Tor
Indian alarm or stampcdc. cry OF .lndiansl In
diansi" produces great ilc ana commolion among tho
hcrders guards and sentincs, but the Dody of the
camp does dcign 10 move unless the iirng very
heavy and the order gwen 10 Turn OUT" Tnls Is the
regular army on the march,
ADVANCING Iyro TIE INDIAN COUNTRY.
When the troops cntcr the Indian country, and the
compacy the herds and wagons aro kept vol up;
women and children put among the Infantry 1ankers
thrown out and nowzor sent to the front to throw
shells ana rightcn of the savagcs. The boom OF a
10 be the voice OF advancing civilization
and greatly tcrri1cs tho Indians.
BUILDING FORTS AND TAKING PossEssToN.
Al last tho line oil country that 10 be has
been reached ana lost is built. This consists OF
sockadc, log houses and shelters for the stores Then
the troops uro DIVIDED and another tort built ntty or
a hundred miles from the lirst, and uniii the
wnoe limo Is 'occupied" II there is danger earth.
works are thrown up and ono pieces mounted
Now begins The work IN earncst-kecpins open tho
communication between the forts, getting up suppiics
from the rear and securing the way for INN grafton
The country Is mapped, the land surveyed tho
looked up and named and sawmilis built settlers
and open farms the forts, and they
sweep up aud down the valleys and ovcr the nils
until they stretch away Tor hundreds OF miles Mean.
while there arc Indian battles, surprises ma
by the Hundreds lose tncir lives but the
settlements go on. There sa little grocery, a rum
shop town, and by and By CITY. Every spring, as
as the grass grows, the cavalry takos tho ned
and scours over tho country for hundreds Of
milcs. The infantry remains In the posts or
guards trans TO and fro From April until December
the cavalry urc the 20 constantly and the officers
ln tllAA tAl