Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08

ri the same time with keeping the Red
Cloud community peaceful That was
ACCOMPLISHED. fortunately. without con-
fict. although one portion OF the ma
rauders did elude the troops. The re-
mainder were encountered by squad
ron of the Sd Cavalry, captured
without fight. and taken to Fort Rob-
inson, Nebr.. where they were confined
as prisoners. They were not. however,
thus easily subdued. for during the en-
suing Winter they made a break for no
erty. Many were killed in the pursuit.
some were captured and still others
escaped to the north.
Thus went the life OF the new from
tier garrison, housed in adobe shacSs.
so that the ssmi-permanent log quarters
previously begun were not finally COM
pletcd until 1882 In that year. how
ever the new post could boast full set
of barracks. officers quarters, non-com-
nlissioned officers quarters and stables
Several of these original buildings are
still standing The oldest is situated
on a small hill near the road leading
from Sturgis. This structure, the COM
manding officers quarters in the hey-
day of its existence. is still in very
good condition. its thick walls little the
worse for its life of more than quarter
Of a century.
New Buildings Completed.
Although the stables of today bear
all the characteristics OF modern con-
struction. veteran visitor to the post
would find himself perfectly at home
among them. as they now stand on the
same ground they occupied in 1882. In
1900 the elaborate building program
was inaugurated by the War Depart
ment. Although the program was
never carried out as originally intended,
Fort Meade found itself as a result
equipped with three sets of white stone
and four sets of red brick barracks.
During the period of its existence.
Fort Meade has been the home, at one
time or another. of practically every
Cavalry regiment In the United States
Army. and during the decade from 1890
to 1900 was one of the largest Cavalry
posts liz the country. Its location on
the frontier, In country yet more or
less Sparsely settled. is responsible, of
course. for the predominance OF Cav
airy troops there. mobility being the
quality most urgently needed. A part
of the 25th Infantry (coloredl, however,
was stationed there for a time in 1885
During the early days OF the World
War, regiment of National Guard En-
gineerS conducted it's training there.
Indians Again Active.
In 1906. when the 9Th Cavalry was
occupying Fort Meade, the post again
became the base of troops operating
against Indians Then it was several
tribes of the Utes who broke from their
reservations in Colorado and started for
Canada. Word of the move was sent TO
Fort Meade and troops were dispatched
post haste TO intercept the hordes NOV
ing north. They were finally checked,
but not until they had reached north
ern wyoming. and sent back to their
reservations in charge of detachment
of Cavalry.
This last was no easy task, according
TO one of the non-commissioned officers
who went with the detachment, as the
migrating tribes started out with I'M
pedimenta equal to that carried by the
lecions of Caesars army, including their
wives. live stock and household equip
ment. It was encI. nbent upon the fleld-
weary troopers to return their charges
to their homes with all their belongings,
with the result that 10 miles per day
Yves considered top-notch marching
time
Life at the post moved along in rou-
tine fashion until 1914, and the station
was classed as one Of the permanent
forts OF the country. In that year how
ever. troops were withdrawn and Fort
Meade was not again occupied until
1917. when the National Guard Engi-
neers went there to train prior to going
overseas. After the departure of that
organization the post was again vacant,
with the exception OF Summer camp oc-.
cupancy by National Guard units. until
the coming OF the 4th Cavalry In 1924.
At that time special appropriation was
made for repairs. SO that al present the
post is In f1rst-class condition and pos