The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-01
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The Picturesque { Old Army Post {


 an Indian massacre occurring on these commons "a noted landmark of the Mis- slppi" In Adams administration soon after the Erie canal was opened, and In the year the first railroad in the United States was completed, 1szo the first new school of instruction for the training of soldiers" was established. This was Jeff ferson barracks. The old village of Ca- rondelet leased it's commons to the gov ernment the site having been selected by Colonel Jacob Brown, who called 1t the country. Gray limestone barracks for most eligible contonment in the whole tventy-two companies were built up un- der the direction of General Atkinson, in- closing three sides of the parade ground, leaving the front open to the river. Four blocks of officers quarters dropping with double porches, sloping roofs and big stumps of chimneys were completed, and the Sixth infantry took up its quarters.
 On the Sth of January, 1927, the first regiment ball was given. This was as great an event in the early social annals of St. Louis as the famous Adams ball of Washington, and the story of that night, when candles placed in bayonets, ranged in company front on all sides of the ball room, when the old French fiddlers came from St. Louis, and all the pretty girls from Louisville and St. Louis courteseyed their first greeting to the new post, that was night that never was forgotten by Jefferson bar racks. Yes, the soldier of fortune was always a gallant beau. But waltz melo- dies and beautiful women did not intoxi- cate the young post long. The Sacs and Foxes were on the warpath. In 1881 General E. P. Gaines, with six companies , of infantry, started in hot pursuit of Black Hawk and the following year the admirable old chief was brought back a prisoner to the very spot which once had been one of his hunting grounds
 In 1883 the first regiment of dragoons was organized here under Colonel Henry Dodge with Jefferson Davis, Stephen Kearney, Sumner and Boone as subordi- nate officers. In 1886 Colonel D. E, Twiggs organized the second dragoons' famous In the Florida wars, and six years later the Seventh infantry pitched their camp here after war with the Semi holes. It became the Sixth military de- partment of the west. The troops for the Mexican war were recruited and fitted out here. Colonel Bragg here organized the Flying artillery. Furthermore that la nous old regiment, the Second cavalry now the Fsifth--known as Jefferson DAVIS pet regiment" was organized here and equipped for it's Texan campaigns that regiment which holds on It's muster roll the names of Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee, George H. Thomas, Will liam H. Emory, Wesley Merritt, Eugene A. Carr, George A. Gordon, Edwin V. Sumner, Charles King and William F. Cody, scout.
 Captain G. F. Price, in Across the Country With the Fifth Cavalry" has described the move from the barracks over the Ozark mountains down across country to Texas, 750 men, 800 horses to a life of Indian warfare and excitement not eoualed by another regiment in United States history.
 Other celebrated regiments have been stationed at the barracks, in fact every regiment in the regular army prior to the civil war was in garrison here. Daniel Webster visited the post on hunting expedition. Grant, Hancock, Fitzhugh Lee Kearney, Hardee, were few of the famous men in command. During the civil war the post was used as hospital. and afterward as cavalry depot for the west and general commis- sary and supply station for all the from | tier garrisons. But" remarked one of the old officers, these barracks shipped more typhoid germs and bed bugs out west than they ever did anything else" So its record as a supply station Is ques- tionable.
 Affairs here until comparatively few years ago were In shocking condition,,' said Colonel Cress at my last visit to the post, "the post drank the water from the Mississippi and drew 1t from the very part Into which the drainage channel from the hospital opened" Small wonder cholera and typhoid visited the place so often.
 From cavalry depot 1t was transferred to the engineer corps, and in 1867 ground was set apart for the ordnance corps. These grounds are now kept in such per- feet condition that they are like gov ernment park. They are enclosed by fence several miles long made of bayo- nets used in the civil war. The gateway leading to Colonel Cres residence is fash toned out of two cannon reared upright and topped by cannon balls. The posts new quarters are the extremely new red brick variety in the rear of the old DOT ton, like those at McPherson. Ga, tree less hot and inartistic. The new parade is slopins and uneven and blisteringly hard on recruits The old guard house still remains and a portion of the old chapel
 That, however, is the post canteen nowadays" remarked Major Cooper, "and the attendance; well, Captain McComb. what would you say? Is 1t less or more?" But the captain only grinned.
 It was not until six years ago that the post was raised to the dignity of a brig adler generals command, and improve ments have been pushed rapidly for the last three years. The enlisted mans view was aptly presented.
 This Jefferson barracks here has some advantages. and then again 1t aint got none!'
 To see Jefferson barracks in the early morning before the mists have been fired out of the trees and off the surface of the great river that is to remember it with the glow of romance over 1t, to feel the story of 1t all; its atmosphere and curi- ous and human personality.
 A powder magazine grimly and solidly built the few cottages of the ordnance "non-coms" on the edge of the holes where the ammunition Is stored, those are the first glimpses on the train from St. Louis: then the tall stretch of a white flag staff planted on the frontal bone of bluff above the river, the live quiver of the flag high over the tops of the trees and the call: All out for Jefferson barracks"
 The station Is rickety shed, propped up in the center with Sibley stove. A rusty old cannon. captured from the Oaiendo lies with amputated parts aboard a broken truck cast off from the main track on the right hand of the