The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-11-28
FORT
A Visit to one of Uncle Sans Largest Mil
itary Posts by u Tribune Report
er-The Interesting Sights.
Officers and Pa
i'iities,
Special Correspondence of the TRIpuSE.l

most handsomely equipped frontier fort
in the United States. 1t is situated on
Milk river near the Pacific extension of
the Great Northern railroand % miles
from the Canadian line and 10 miles
from Great Falls.
This fort is IA very important one tothc
government, being situated near the
large Indian reservations and also near
the international boundary. 1t is well
that such is the case as the location of
such "A large body of troops in close
proximity to the hostile regions will of
ten over-awc or deter prcmeditated out
breaks: or if hostilities and the scalping
business should NJ it can be
carried on only to a limited extent. as
the railroad passes through the rcserva-
tons and troops can be landed in any
part OF them in a few hours. Also those
Indian deprcdations SO common formerly
on the border, and at present giving oc-
c~asional trouble along the southwestern
boundary, can be more easily watched
and overcome by well equipped cavalry
close at hand that can Immediately take
to the field and nip the work in the bud.
Fort Assinnaboine was built in 1879
by Gen. Kruger who is at present lieu
tenant-general and commanding the de
partment of the Pacific with headquar-
tiers at San Francisco. The buildings
are all built of brick with the exception
of the stables which are of stone. There
are quarters for ten companies of troops.
eight of infantry and two of cavalry,
with comfortable and beautiful build
ings for the officers and their families.
The buildings together form an oblong
about threc-Uuarters of Il mile in length
and half a mile in breadth and inclosc a
large level plain used as a parade ground
a half mile long by nearly II quarter in
width. On the north side Of this open
space are the quarters for the soldiers.
both cavalry and infantry. There are
ten buildings, one for each company.
These buildings are very long and are
two stories high with large p%or,icos and
balconies also running the entire length
of building and facing the parade ground.
Each Of these buildings. as well as each
company, is Independent of the others.
Each building consists of a large kitchen
and dining room ON the first tiOor and
the quarters or sleeping apartments for
the company on the second floor. These
buildings in line. with some short dis
tancc between, form one side Of the
square above mentioned. Directly
in front Of these and on the opposite
side Of the parade ground live the
the officers of the respective regiments.
The residence buildings for the officers
are handsome and large and are built
with taste and convenience. Each build.
ing is two stories high. quito long, and
forming ii house of double apartments.
a large veranda facing the square is in
front of each and a beautiful lawn and
fence surround each building. The east
end of the oblong space is inclosed by an
amusement hall for the soldiers, a large
well equipped hospital, a beautiful
chapel, a church and a school building.
On the opposite end of the square is a
large library building and reading room
containing more than three thousand
volumes, besides a score of daily papers
and all the best magazines. A large
post trading store and the soldiers "can-
teen" (saloon). with the amusement hall
for the officers, complete the end of the
tract inclosed. Back of the soldiers
quarters are the immense bakery and
elegantly fitted bath house for the com-
panies. In line with these, but
back of the quarters. are the
exceedingly large commissary, the
shoe shop, tin shop, carpenter and black
smith shop and at some distance from
these the cavalry stables for the hund.
reds of horses. In the rear of the Off
GERS quarters, bordering the bank Of the
river. are the saw mill, ice houses and
laundry. Crossing the river. in the
beautiful valley, is a graden that would
delight the heart Of ary housewife. But
the most delightful Of all is the eXquis-
itc park in its natural beauty with
rounding paths and rustic seats and
flowers, the particular pride of the post
in unmcr \ short distance from the
post is the powder house and several
carnons stand by with their mouths
open as If in wondcrmcnt.
At present there are nine companies
here. seven infantry and two cavalry.
The companies of infantry are \, b. ID,
Il. T.. & and II with their respective
captains, Reynolds, McEaskcy, Rogers.
Hammer, Hanback,, Redmond and Coc,
The cavalry troups are {. Lieutenant
Brown and +. Lieutenant Anderson.
The life of a soldier in barracks is very
precise. but not severely cXacting. But
the parade duty in fine, well fitting uni
forms. together with the exciting mill
tary tactics by command of buglc, partly
take the sting out of a soldiers life,
There are three paradcs IL day at .
o'clock. / o'clock and > o'clock the in
fantry in the parade ground and the
cavalry on any portions Of the p%rairics
or hills surrounding the post. Tho cay
airy make much the more interesting
parade. The soldiers are more equal in
statue and wear a more SNOWY uniform
with high plumcd hats, like knights Of
old, and sword, that sets off the typical
soldier. L~icutenuuts Brown and .Andcr-
son of the cavalry are graduates of West
Point and the cavalry shows Il degree Of
drill highly crcditablc. The infantry
drill and manoeuvrc are also very inter
Csting on account of the large number
engaged and being more plainly observ-
able from the balconies. There are some
old war veterans in command of some Of
these companies, McCasdey. liarbach,
COe and Hammer having gone through
the civil war. Redmond, REYNOLDS and