The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-01
o.c.o.c.c.c.c.c.o.c o.c.o.o.o.o.o.o.e.o.
Jefferson Barracks
BY ETHEL ARMIES.

Jefferson Barracks is more picturesque than any army post in the country, and is as full-freighted with history and TO- nance as the great river-the Mississippi over which it still mounts guard. Nearly a century old, scared like veteran who has spent his life in field service. 1t stands now at parade rest. eyes to the front, high on that commanding site on the Mississippi bluffs twenty miles be- low St. Louis.
 Guard mounting under the hot Missouri sun on the old campus, which sweats like a Texas mesa, knocks the go out of a man worse than Philippine cam paign.
 The ordnance department is still main- talned here with however but a minor de- tail under command of that veteran and distinguished officer of the ordnance corps, Colonel John A. Cress.
 The old barracks are about to be torn down and modern brick quarters erected. By the end of August the last taps will sound over the picturesque fragments of 75 years. ago; the historic and tavern like old quarters, the tangled and funeral vines which now lend so quaint a charm and interest to the visitor. but which are dations for the men,
 There Is scarcely an officer in the regu- lar army who has not at some time or other been stationed at Jefferson bar racks and does not know the old ram schackles from their top-heavy, drowsy chimneys clear to their foundation stones; who has not felt the were in Missouri atmosphere, which Is parallel to down in Virginy," only more so. But gar rison duty anywhere Is a down in Vir- glny" pace, and If Jefferson barracks maintains a parade rest, and seems elect for the retired list, to which in fact it's buildings are now consigned, 1t is in harmony with its age,
 It has been something of a soldier of fortune itself this old army post, doing fickle allegiance to various sovereigns from Indian chieftains and French and Spanish kings to the presidents. It has passed through many stages, and now Is ready to be retired with honors," to make its bow and step down into the dust that the new Jefferson barracks may ascend
 When De Sota, his priests and cavaliers and hot-blooded soldiers tramped along the Mississippi banks when Sieur de La Salle descended the waters; when Father Marquette planted his cross on the wood ed shores, the site of Jefferson barracks stood forth barrleade of bluffs with only regiments of thick oaks in garrison. When the thirteen colonies pressed the Indians westward, the eastern tribes trod in the footsteps of their western brothers, and the site of Jefferson barracks grew criss- cross with wigwam poles With the Span ish dota of "I take possesslon,' it, too, passed under the crown of Castle with all the other new discovered land. Then becoming Louisiana, a little mite of the New France, 1t bent the knee tn Louis Quatorze. and from the Bourbons turned to Bonaparte, and being sold of Bona parte took on it's name of Jefferson in honor of it's new lege and first presi- dent
 Thus the fate line of it's hand runs in chains crossed by many broken stars oi destiny.
 When St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Ca rondelet. were founded, Jefferson barracks was part of Carondeet, ''the commons.