The sun., 1896-10-08
Fort RINaATE.
Its Old Array Arnocintioua-ShAu Battles
for R.Emlnrn A tinrEentea LAW.

WAsHIN6ToN, Oct. THE con tract for the
walls Of the now double barracks at Fort Win.
cato calls for their completion by Oct. 10, and
work has gone on so vigorously that before
winter acts in the troops may be able to occupy
the buildings.
When the destructive fire occurred at that
post, eeveral months ago, there was come
talk OF abandoning IL, or at least of not at
tempting to mako up for tho Losses suffered.
But Fort Wingate occupies a very improtant
site, being near tho southern boundary Of tho
Navajo reservation in Now Mexico. Gen.
McCook, who commanded the Department of
the Colorado three years ago, noted then that
its Importance increased each year, and urged
that II be enlarged TO q regimental post. The
ground, he said, was favorable for the en-
largement, and tho water supply of good
quality and abundant. Tho burned barracks
were built In 1870, and a record, which had
been deposited at the time shows that Major
w. r. Price then commanded the post, with
portions of the Eighth Cavalry and the Fif
teenth Infantry as the garrison, Gen. Getty
commanding the district OF New Mexico.
But while the ravaPes of time are shown by
the list of officers then at the post, of whom
only third are now in service, q still more
interes ling historic reference was made by
Gen. Carr in his report of seven years ago.
district OF New Mexico, with headquarters at
Fort Wingate. "In looking over the rec
ords in Headquarters Office" says this cff-
Ger, II am struck with the names Of men
prominent before and since the war. as well as
of those not so celebrated, but whose memo
ries are dear to many of us who are still on
praying ground.
| On the register. which commences with 90.
tnber. 1854. l find Andrew jackson. lodging
with Major Brooks;S. d. Sturgis, lodging with
| Gen. Garland; j. L. McFarran, A. Med. Nc
| Cook Il escorted Gen. Garland in 1883 from
Fort Leavenworth as far as Council Grove.
| where the command was waiting under Elec-
| tus Backus. and remember McCook singing
songs with lot of jolly fellows in tent that
evening": B. L. Ewell, Charles Sutherland.
Cory H. Fry, George Sykes, John d. wilkins.
| Henry b. (Jolerl Davidson. r. w. tBobl
| Johnson, II. L. Kendrck, whose "reminiscences
| Of Fort Defiance are SO vivid, and who no
donbr recalls the oio del Oso, which fixes the
| locRtion.of this post: W. r. Shoemaker, George
| Gibson. Robert Williams. ID. II. Rucker j. B.
Clintz. b. ]. D. Irwin, w. y. Grier tbueno
commandantel, J. H. Carleton. John Adams.
| c. II. Ogle, Jonas p. Holiday tbueno tenientel. +.
Enoch Steen and A. e. Steen. Elmer Otis.
w. d. Pender. d. Mem. Gregg, w. w. Lor-
| ing, Julian Nav. Roger Jones. j, II. Edison, j.
| K. Smead. W. P. Lane, Lewellyn Jones, A.
j.. Linsey. &. 3. ,Crittenden, W. l.. Elliott,
at Valverde, aud had said the evening previous
! that he had nothing to live for, his family
the h% john Of nj
| ris, Andrew Porter. James Lonxstreet. John
G. Walker. my old Captain. a perfect soldier
the regiment Of mounted rifemen in 1855.
before /: came to this Territory. where 1t gained
Ghapman. sns Jonafhan hetsermSn. William f b.
Whipple. Fred Myers. John Pope. J. q. Lee.
sod s crGs6 IN ns
when an Indian arrow struck It: Johnny Du-
Is9q a. &C. p.rheE Eea ap
John d: Niarmaduke.- Basil Norris, John Pc.
Myer. \. l. Anderson. r. Fl. Hall, our present
INSPECTOR: L: l.. Rich. and many others. the
| register continuing through different changes
OF the command up to the present time
Fort WinEate; indeed; H. is "a, associated WIN ,tn
the and It ehs nne sa
be Abandoned SO long At at 'he wat osf OF
that about score of Navajo and lnni lndi-
walls of the old barracks. and that material
there obtained. was used in the new walls.
msmorlor mem with later. as in Gen. Carrs
report.
good effect was produced BY having the
troops on one side wear the usual blue, and
| the other the fatigue brown uniforms. Each
| side had four companies Of Infantry. two
| troops OF cavalry. and wagon train, Lieut.
Col. Wheaton Twentieth Infantry, command
| Cavalry the: Blues. The dispos.tio, To exer-
| else officers and men in such simulated cam.
/ paisns seems TO increase with the diminu-
! ion OF real hostile field services against In.
! dians.
In the programme of held instruction for the
! First Infantry. at Santa Cruz. Cal. provision
| was made for patrols and reconnOissances,
| duties as advance guard of an advancing force
/ and rear guard of a retreatinR force, and the
| escort of q .raiu OF nine wagons by one bat
| TALON. which TO he attacked by another
| upon The merits of the attack and the defence.
| Still another exercise was the establishment
| OF Il system of outposts as protection FOR the
| camp against hostile forces supposed to be ad-
| yancinE along specified roads,
| 1t is suggested that if the bill to give com
| pany officers who ser-ed during the civil war
the Opti Jn of retiring with one grade of increase
in rank should be passed at the coming session
! there would be hardly 100 entitled 10 take ad
vantage OF It, aud perh aps rot over twO.thirds
would do So Thus the expense would not be
| Reorganization OF the line. with many promo
| tions. might stand in the way of such meas
| nre Just now.
| Secretary Lamont's recent decision. allowing
| tho transportation of the personal property OF
! a deceased soldier to his former home is clearly
| equitable. and will also dispose of certain tech
| nical objections to such transportation at pub
| lie expense, hitherto raised. The maximum
| fixed was $50 pounds, which Is the amount
| carried free by transportation companies
| when soldier travels.