The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-01-12
FoRr NIoBRARA, NEB.
Dec. 29tb, 1896.
ED. CAIHoUS CmoNICI
Grautsrille, w. Va.


Grautsrille, w. Va.
DEAR SIR: Being an admirer of
y"nr li'tle paper, which | often Dor
row from one of Gran,sville's former
residents, who is at present IA member
of CD. c.. 18th U. 5 Infantry, sta
tened at this Fort, | thought n short
history OF soldiers life in western
firnniier post would he interesting to
lhe many friends of the former resi-.
dent of GrantsvilIe, Mr.. Jesse Thorn
as.
LIFE IN A WESTERN FORT.
A soldiers life IN Il western fort is
not so easy ard indolent these days
as many eastern people imagine. 1t
is pleasant and somewhat exciting
experience, and for some il IL u very
happy life. For the last thirty years
a military fort in the west in the full
est sense Of The word is really no fort
at all 1t is merely collection Of
low, -trong. built and homely build
iDgs, houses arranged in any form
most pleasing la the commanding of
Ulcers Some of the structures at the
lprt look rs though they had been
dropped down upon the prairie hap
hazard, the purpose being tn have
one military station located so far
from another that mutual communi.
cation can be had ~ few days ride
with horse. There is not the least
semblance OF forlificatiuns about the
frontier forts-no parapets, buttresses,
basupns or cannOns projecting through
embrasures so common in military
poems and stories. In summer it il
pretty plain sailing, although at some
of the forts distributed along the
Missouri river it is not cafe for the
soldier nr officer either to attempt
to do guard duty or other work at the
heighth of the warm season unless
well protected by head nets and cast
iron gloves on account Of the ways oi
the mosquitoes. These insects are
prepared for business i'll this latitude.
They come in swarms and are SO nu.
merous and so persistent that it il not
exagerati0n to say that life il positive
ly u burden for few weeks of each
year. Mules, pouies, horses aud cat
tie all suffer terribly from these pests
In summer the inmates of the forts
have had the temperature as high AT
40 degrees in the shade. In Janua
~ and February the mercury at this
point has sometimes sank To the aw.
tui temperature of 30 degrees below
zero-pntting TIE two together we
get range nf l55 degrees as the diff:
ference between the extremes, which
- hard for any other spot on the known
globe to equal. In winter the snow
may reach ON level in the northwest
anywhere from six inches to four OF
hve feet; the average, however, il
not more than fourteen inches all
around, but even this depth, on lev.
ell, unbroken prairie, makes campaign.
ing OH foot not the most pleasant oc
cuPation one could find. Even the
Indians, under such elm nc condi
tions, stick close to their uncOmforta.
BILE teepes and lodges, preferring to be
at peace with all the world than t.
enjoy unlimited freedom IN the open
air under the doubtful protection of a
breech-clout and we'll ventilated
blanket.
A visitor at the frontier forts is
made much of. He or she is dined
feted and danced. In summer the
guest is driven or ridden across the
country to the Indian camp, over the
Bluffs, or along the river bank, back
and fourth, here and there, and ev-
erwhero to his or her hearts content.
In winter on hobs aud behind a merry
set OF iingling sleigh bells, away he
goes spinning over the prairie, in and
out among the sage brush getting as
much enjoyment out of the square
inch ms the air, country and surround
ings are capable Of Offering. This is
pleasant picture to contemplate.
bur these little diversions are dearly
bought by isolation in this wild, part.
ly settled country, without theaters.
operas, shopping, or any Of the ordin.
airy enjoyments that people consider
part and parcel of their existence.
MUSICIAN albert A. LYNN.
Co. G., 18th Infantry.
Persons who are troubled with i'm.
digestion will be Interested in the ex
peFience Of VIM. RI. Peen. chief clerk
Do the rails uv mail eor,.ic, en-, n