New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
A TOUR OF THE ARMY POSTS
Continued from First Page.

y.
camp and the parking of trains for defence
against attack.
The parking Of trains? Well. that is very
interesting form Of battle tactics. There Is a
good deal Of fighting on the plains, and when
train of wagons is stretched out several miles II
offers a peculiarly inviting chance for an attack
and stampede from the Indians In parking the
trains the wagons placed in circle on the
outside with the mules inside. while the troops
conceal themselves in and around the wagons or
behind them and the mules.
THE inspection next includes the visiting OF the
quarters OF the men. the barracks, storenouses'
etc, which is done either by the inspector or
staff officer. whom he may send when ne Wishes
TO economic time
"At Fort San, Houston found the post IN
fine condition, and the inspection was hish'y
satisfactory. From San Antonio I went to Ell
Paso. where is the post. Fort Bliss. Ihis
was only recently completed. yet some OF the
buildings had been seriously damaged by storms'
and they were being repaired while was there'
Four companies Of infantry are regularly sta-
toned there but because Of the injury 10 the
buildings some of the troops were elsewhere
during nv visit. The main thing to be remarked
about Fort Bliss is that the severity OF the
storms in that part Of the country makes IL eX-
tremely difficult to construct posts which VIII
not be damaged, and so make living there un-
comfortable at times.
Let me say that before reaching Fort Bliss
passed within some nine miles of Fort Clark
which lies off the Southern Pacific Railroad that
distance i did not visit the post as was there
only few years ago, but the officers of the post
came out to the junction to meet me-
AT FORT BAYARD.
From Fort Bliss went on to Fort Bayard
named after General Bayard. brave ofncer OF
the Civil War This post is in the southern part
Of New-Mexico. among the foothills OF the noun
tains. 1t is very pretty post The garrison
consists OF one battalion OF infantry and TWO
troops Of cavalry. 1t seemed to be in exceheht
condition. The troops are OF the 24th ln1ah'ry
and the 1st Cavalry. 1t was at Fort Bayard
that we encountered a sandstorm which was so
fierce that we could not see the troops across
the parade grounds So the review and the in
epection were omitted This post was built to
assist in the control Of the Apache Indians. 1t
lies near one of the old trails Of that tribe, eX-
tending between the Apache grounds and Ola
Mexico through which they used to make their
ESCAPE into Mexico after their depredations in
New-Mexco and Arizona. There have been
none Of these depredations recently; in fact
they have nearly ceased. But the post Is still
valuable in the enforcement Of the neutrality
laws as to Mexico"
General Schofield spoke Of the fondness OF Mex
ican revolut.onists for organizing just over the
border in New-Mexico. and then making raids
into their own country. For this reason these
posts near the border have to be maintained
Last year." ne continued. there was little
something of the kind going on. Frequently the
NH oh MAJ
something substantial behind them. but the pres
ence of the troops generally suffices to prevent
any infraction Of the neutrality laws 1t acts as
q deterrent force.
Next I proceeded by way of Albuquerque to
Fort Wingate. in the northern part OF New
Mexico. We reached there in the latter part OF
NAV. While you in the East were suffering from
the heat Of those days We had experience with
snowstorm at Fort Wingate There was fall OF
several inches. This is now a small post, the
garrison consisting of foul troops OF cavalry It's
purpose is to control the numerous Indians in the
northeast Of Arizona and the northwest OF New
Mexico. This refers especially to the Navahoes.
who create good deal Of trouble In the struggle
for water between the white settlers and them
selves. Water Is very scarce there, and ire
uuently the wells and pits in the Navahoe Reser-
walton give out, and then the Indians leave the
reservation in pursuit Of water.
INDIANS AND THE WHITES.
"Of course. they come into contact with the
whites and then comes clash. Furthermore.
Indians and whites steal each others sheep and
cattle There are some five thousand Navahoes
They are strong and healthy, unlike the Ban
nocks and Shoshones. They are pastoral peo-
pie and very peaceful. They raise large Hooks or
sheep and great herds of cattle. But they are
much like the white man in keeping a sharp eye
out for their own"
Denver the headquarters Of the Department of
the Colorado General Wheaton in command, was
the next stopping place General ScnoheId look
occasion 70 explain that 1.-The Colorado referred
not TO the State, but to the river, custom es-
tablished during the late war as in the case OF
the Department Of the Potomac the Tennessee
the Mississippi, etc. Fort Logan is the post at
this place II hes near Denver and southwest OF
# some ten or twelve miles. AS to the designa-
ton fort" used at all the posts, this is a mis-
nomsr General Schofeld said, as there was no
fort at all at any of these points only barracks
Still. it had become official designation
Colone, Merriam is in command at Fort Logan,
the garrison consisting of the 7th Infantry. with
a squadron Of cavalry General ochoheio sdio Vi
his experience here:
"rhe troops were reviewed and inspected in full
dress and in campaign dress. The infantry
gave a remarkable exhibition Of facility and
rapidity in making and breaking camp in the
field. In that form of tactics every man carries
q pack-we used to call it a knapsack-and half
a tent on his back The command Is TO sing
or unsling knapsack The men made and
broke camp in wonderfully short time. was
going to say they made camp in seven minutes
and unlnade it in four But won't trust TO
memory. for it may have been in less time.
know it was wonderfully quick work when they
had struck camp and were all ready FOR the
march 1t was fine exhibition.
81 will say in general terms that found the
troops at Fort Logan in a very high state Of
efficiency. Their quarters. everything was In
an excellent condition.
THE most important question this post has to