Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-04-16

On reaching Fort Lincoln on our
return from the Yellowstone, We
found it to be a six company post, the
barracks for the troopers being on
the side of the parade ground nearest
the river, the houses of the officers
and their families facing the river
and to the left of tie parade ground
was tle long, low granary and guard
house; opposite and completing the
square" were the adjutant's office
quarters for the quartermaster and
commissary. The stables for the 6UU
ir more horses were outside the gar
rson proper, near the river and be-
yond these was 'suds row. or laun'
dress quarters. Some distance away
were the shacks for the Indian scouts
and runners. while on the same side
was the parade and drill grounds. and
to the left of the post was the suffers
store, where the men were wont to
pay triple price for anything they
deigned to purchase. and right here
wish to say that bigger band OF H.
censed robbers never met than those
in charge of the suttler store not only
dC lluCOll, UuI al OIhOA Po9'o ~ ">~
my fortune to be located.
On the summit of the butte about a
mile to the left was the infantry quar-
tiers. which were not as modern as our
own, having been established some
time, and here, if remember rightly,
was established the Eighth infantry,
Colonel Smith commanding. Colonel
Smith. like General Custer, was be-
loved not only by his own men but
by all who had the good fortune or
! his acquaintance and oft have l heard
him giving commands in that clear
voice of his while crossing the parade
ground at Lincoln.
While stationed at Lincoln there
was no fear of one dying from ennul'
and something was doing all the time.
When opportunity would permit
patches of the troopers would visit
cur "dough-boy' friends and on sucn
occasions never forgot to jolly them
regarding their shabby two by four
quarters. At tas late day doubt If
Dago would reside in the quarters
then furnished the defenders of the
frontier. The post had been estab-
lished before the coming Of the rail-
road, and, as consequence. were
built, thrown together, would be more
appropriate, with as little material and
as cheaply as possible. No plastering
was used in their construction and
course brown paper, nailed to the joist
was all that kept out the bitter cold of
winter, and it was no wonder that
many of the officers wives and SOL
diers, as WELL sighed, at times, for
home and MOTHER
These visits were side issues, and
the making of friends that lasted years
AFTER True. our own quarters were
plastered; the lumber used in their
construction was so green and unsea-
soaed that the broiling sun of summer
warped them until, at times, they re-
semb)ed an open umbrella and as fast
as you drove nail in at the top the
bottom would spring out. So you see'
living in permanent quarters was not
all sugar and cream.
The general gave the troopers per-
mission to erect building In which
to give entertainments and done all
in his power to make the same sue
cess. The lumber for the building was
prepared at the saw mill belonging to
the post, and l will wager ten spot
that the old timers of your city who
had the fortune to visit us in those
days, will smile when they recall It's
architecture. The unseasoned cotton
wood warped while the structure was
in process of erection and was patched
in many places by condemned tents
and other available material.
The drops and wings were made Oh
discarded canvas painted as no artist
could have done, and We're lifted on
and off as occasion demanded. The
footlights; oh, yes, we had them; were
tal!ow dips stuck in tomato or other
cans, and it was oft said that it took
at least one troop to keep the "gas"
from going out while the others en-
tertained. The orchestra chairs and
seats in general were of rough plank
ing without backs. but this was no
hardship to the troopers, who needed
no "stays" to brace them. The off,
GERS and families always entered the
hall first. followed by the enlisted
men, and i never knew the general to
miss one of these functions, and he
always seemed TO enjoy the fun, and
here may add that the military post
was the first. in my opinion, to intro
duce what has since become perma-
nent fixture in the modern playhouse.
vaudeville between the acts; and as
many of the men in the command were
natural born entertainers, "stars"
were not hard to obtain, and I have,
many times since. paid dollars to see
so-called actors who were not one,
two, three alongside those who made
up the amusement aggregation Of the
old Seventh.
The annual winter ball. given by
each troop in turn, in our barracks,
was an event always looked forward
to with delight as each troop endeav.
ored to Guido the other in the line OF
decorations and entertaining Bunks
were removed, arms stacked and guild
ons arranged in groups; the colors
were tastefully arranged and the
troopers We'd with each other in cut
ting colored paper in artistic shapes