Arizona republican., 1898-03-29
UNCLE sAM's DEFENDERS
A Day in Fort Grant, Graham County
 Near Wilcox

-Col. H. c. Hooker placed Bright Eyes" and ''Nellie,' a spanking pair of blacks, at our disposal and his trainer, Al Stewart, grasped the rib bons. We drove to Col. E. A. Cutters trading post, five miles east ward from Sierra Bonita. MT. Cutter who is vice president of the G. V. C. & N, has been at Bonita for over a dozen years, and is now completing 9 the beef contract with the garrison in which he is interested with Col Hooker. In the afternoon his man drove us to Camp Grant, three miles further east.
 Old Fort Grant was located un to 1873 on the San Pedro river north of Benson, but it was removed to the western base of Mount Graham in the year mentioned. An unhealthy loca- t1on necessitated the change. Who ever made the choice of the present site acted wisely and we'll as the land on which the garrison itself stands gently slopes to the Sulphur valley The reserve comprises sixty-six thon- sand acres or 103 square miles. the eastern line being just over the peak or Graham mountain in the chain of that name
 The water supply is excellent. a res ervoir of 100000 gallons capacity fur n1sh1ng pure mountain water under great pressure. From the pipcs a small reservoir opposite the officers quarters is constantly supplied. The officers find the basin a fair substitute for a dip at Monterey or Rcdondo Beach, while little tots amuse them selves boating on the glass-like sur face.
 All buildings are of one story con- struction, frame. adobe and stone mostly adobe. At present the build ings. in many instances. are being overhauled and receiving attention at the hands of the painter. The lawns are in fine shape and the hundreds of cottonwoods make the plaza exceed ingly attractive.
 There are now 386 men and twenty six fficers atta he'd to the garrison in addition to which are eleven Indian scouts-Mohaves and Apaches. The troops are B, c. E and F. Seventh cav airy (other troops of the command at Forts Huachuca and Apanhe.) Com panies B and F of the Fifteenth in- fantry complete the roster On the first of each month a troop of the Seventh leaves for San Carlos taking a trail of eighty miles and at a cor responding hour and day the troop at San Carlos starts by the same route for Fort Grant. The equipment is loaded in wagons and takes the route via Cedar Springs, Fort Thomas and Geronimo
 Fort Grant is regimental headuuar- ters, Col. Edwin V. Sumner in com mand. The colonel is a son of the late General Edwin " Sumner who served with distinction from 1861 to 1865. The band and non-commis- stoned staff are located here.
 The officers are: Major Hobart 18th infantry; Major Gardner. medical departments; Captain McGunnegle, 18th infantry; Sickel on leave of ab- sence: Mitchell, B. 18th infantry; Nicholson, 7th cavalry; First Lieu tenant Butcher, medical department; Holbrook, 7th cavalry, adjutant: TompkiDs, 7th cavalry: Lloyd, ord nance officer, 18th infantry: Hart, quartermaster, 7th cavalry: Kemp. 7th cavalry. Second Lieutenant: Elem ing, commissary, 7th cavalry; F. Tompkins. 7th cavalry: Lewell, troop P. 7th cavalry; Averill. same troop; King. 7th cavalry; Roche. 18th infan- try; Harper 7th cavalry; Savage, 18th infantry. Captain Charles Varnum, trop B, 7th cavalry, is on detached duty at Fort Laramie.
 Special features of routine duty are the morning drills of cavalry by troops in the riding school and on Saturday general drill of cavalry on the parade ground. The infantry companies drill mornings. The cavalry drills are especially interesting which includes leaping hurdles and ditches, striking imaginary prostrate infantry, catch ing the ring, dropping the horse and firing while the animals are down. h. spections monthly.
 Each company and troop ma 'ntains library, and there is a post library and officers club besides a lyceum, where young officers lecture and pre- pare maps.
 There is an ice plant of about two tons capacity daily. Fuel is cut by steam saw. The band plays at guard mount at 10 a. m. and from to p. m. At headquarters it is given out that Fort Bayou, Grant county, N NJ, is to be abandoned and that a post of twelve companies and troops (possibly of 18th infantry and of the cavalry arm) is to be established on the mesa east of Albuquerque, N. M. These as- surances come through Col. Lawton, inspector, who was here recently from Los Angeles. The prospect is greeted here with favor, as is the army bill providing for more regiments, which means promotion.
 Col. Sumner wanted to know if Phoenix proposed giving fiesta as he greatly desired going there with part of his command, since Tucson failed to carry out a pet project which was born there in January and "died a-bornin'''
 Officers and men find large and small game and plenty of wild beasts in their outings. A trapper sold a skin. SUD- posed to be that of a South American Jaguar, to a soldier for S3O and is nr><Nr. 1-~J T