The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-12
(By James w. Foley, Sr.)

(By James w. EOlGy, ST.
Medora. N. D., Dec. 12.-The veal
1879 brought great changes to Oh
Lincoln and the country around thu
| railroad had at last crossed the Mis-.
souri, and the building of the line ives
was commenced. Mandan had for the
| first time a place on the map. Some
few settlers came to the west side, but
they we're few, as the Indians had not
all been returned to their reservation
Sitting Bull and his band were yet on
the warpath, SO far as h states were
concerned; though he and his band
were supposed to be in Canada. Some
of the civilians who had been around
Lincoln moved to Mandan, and some
to Fort Meade, or Sturges City, near
by. The building Of the railroad re-
uuired that troops be sent to the field
to guard the construction crews, and
Capt. s.. Baker with his company 3
Sixth United States infantry, were the
first to take the field for this purpose.
This company never returned to Lin
coin for duty. .,.
This year Lincoln lost it's glory as a
cavalry post. General Sturges with
the regimental headquarters, band
and four troops of the Seventh cav
airy changed station to Fort Meade,
which was the headquarters of the
regiment for years afterwards.
The departure Of General Sturges
brought Lieut.. Col. Elmer Otis to Lin
coin as post commander. Otis was a,
very large man and had a very gruff
way Of speaking to others, but he was,
at heart, a very kindly man. Soldiers
had q habit Of giving quaint names to
officers who had any popularity of
habit. They had given the name Bull
Dozer' to Otis, and by that name he
was known and spoken Of when not
in hearing. Colonel Otis was a class
mate of Phil. Sheridan: both were
first lieutenants when the civil war
Sheridan came out Of the
war in a. blaze of glory and with the
rank of major general in the regular
army. Otis came out with the rank
of major.
Fortune in men has some small diff
ference made.
"One .f1aunts in rags, n flutters in
brocade."
Otis had great opportunity at the
breaking out Of the war. He became
captain in the Fourth cavalry in May,
1851, and for a time commanded the
regiment which was one of the best;
regiment that turned out such off,
GERS as J. e. b. Stewart, Geo. B. Nc
and Eli Long. He became a
was by him recommended for the rank
brigadier general. He did not re-
ceive the appointment, but instead.
as mastering officer of the
state of Illinois, far from the bullets
Otis was very fond OF raw
bacon. and hard bread, and frequently
would come to the commissarv and
call for these eatables, and would COZ,
several pounds at one sitting.
The departure of the headquarters
took along Li~eutenants Darlington,
the regimental adjutant and Varnum.
the regimentai Quartermaster.
There was, in these days, a corps in
army known as the quartermaster's
department which was separate from
the line and NO officer in the corps be-
law the rank of captain. Such officers
were, as a. rule, assigned to duty on
the staff of some general officer, or in
city as depot and purchasing
.uartermaster. IL there were who did
not have the political pull, or social
graces, would be assigned to some
frontier post as post quarter
IL they CHANGED to be placed
a post which was a regimentall
their lot would not al
be a bed OF roses. The regi-l
commander when commanding
post would always want his regi-l
quartermaster for his post
.uartermaster. In such cases of e.
captain was assignee Tor duty Things
would often be made so unpleasant
Tor him that he would oon want al
change. Captain G.. OF the quarter
masters department vas one OF these
1nTortunates. Perhaps he did not have
he social graces to grace society in a
and I don't think ne did, but he
vas q jolly good fellow.
I had served with this officer, some
years before. at Fort Concho, Texas,
where his lot was not q pleasant one.
When the news was received at Lin
,oln that he was coming there. T was
ssked the kind OF NJ he was. and III