. ; M:. 
 
 
 NERAL'S OFFICE, 
 
 DECEMBER 5, 1870. 
 
 LAR NO. 4. 
 
 OSPITALS. 
 
r. 
 
 la -. 
 
 UJ 
 
 
 jf Shelf / 
 Liber No. 
 
 ALBERT L NORRIS, M. D, 
 
 If thou art borrowed by a friend, 
 Right welcome shall he be, 
 
 To read, to study, not to lend, 
 But to return to me. 
 
 Not that imparted knowledge doth 
 Diminish learning's store, 
 
 Rut books, I find, if often lent, 
 Return to me no more. 
 
 Read slowly, pause frequently, think seriously, keep cleanly, return duly, 
 with the corners of the leaves not turned down. 
 
& 
 
 University of California Berkeley 
 
 THE PETER AND ROSELL HARVEY 
 
 MEMORIAL FUND 
 
CIRCULAR No. 4. 
 
 WA.R 
 STJKGEON GENEKAL'S OFFICE, 
 
 WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 5, 1870. 
 
 A REPORT 
 
 ON 
 
 BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS, 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 WASHINGTON. 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
 1870. 
 
CIRCULAR No. 4. 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT, 
 
 SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, 
 
 Washington, December 5, 1870. 
 
 The following report on the Barracks and Hospitals of the United States Army, 
 with descriptions of the principal military posts, is published for the information of 
 Officers of the Army. 
 
 JOSEPH K. BARNES, 
 Surgeon General United States Army. 
 
REPORT 
 
 ON THE 
 
 BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS 
 
 THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 BY JOHN S. BILLINGS, 
 
 ASSISTANT SURGEON UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., 
 
 December 1, 1870. 
 
 GENERAL: In accordance with your directions, I have the honor to submit here- 
 with a report on the Barracks and Hospitals of the United States Army, with descrip- 
 tions of the principal military posts in the United States; the latter compiled from 
 special reports made by medical officers of the Army. 
 
 These special reports were furnished under the following circumstances: During 
 the spring of 1868, a large blank book, entitled "Record of the Medical History of the 
 Post," was furnished to each permanent post, with the following instructions from this 
 office: 
 
 It is desired that this book shall, so far as possible, show all the conditions and causes which 
 affect the health of the troops at the post ; and, also, that it shall serve as a record of the sanitary 
 recommendations of the medical officer, and of the action taken thereon. The record for each month, 
 and the entries on the first eighty pages* of the book, are to be signed by the medical officer who 
 makes them; and each medical officer should continue, and endeavor to make more complete, the 
 observations of his predecessors in relation to the natural history of the vicinity of the post. When 
 a medical officer is relieved from duty, he will note in this book the exact sanitary condition of the 
 post, the troops, and the hospital. His successor will enter his remarks upou the same. When 
 the medical director, or au inspector authorized by him, shall visit the post, he will note in this 
 book the results of his inspection. 
 
 Soon after these books had been sent out, the following order was issued : 
 
 [Circular Orders No. 4.] 
 WAR DEPARTMENT, SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, 
 
 Washington, D. C., August 25, 1868. 
 
 On and after the 31st of December, 1868, a sanitary report will be prepared by the senior 
 medical officer ou duty at a post, on the 31st of December and the 30th of June of each year. * * 
 With the first report, medical officers will forward a special report, describing, in detail, the post 
 buildings, water supply, drainage, &c. This report should contain the information and data 
 which have been obtained for and entered in the " Eecord of the Medical History of the Post." * * 
 
 * The first eighty pages are devoted to a description of the post and vicinity, including botany, geology, &c. 
 
VI REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 Upon examining the special reports forwarded in accordance with the above order, 
 it was found that they contained much information which would probably be of interest 
 and value to many officers and other persons who could not have access to the files of 
 this office. In editing them for publication I have endeavored to keep the following 
 objects in view, viz : 1st. The preservation of interesting historical memoranda. 2d. 
 The presentation of all facts bearing upon the hygiene of the post and the sanitary 
 condition of the troops. 3d. The furnishing such information as would be of interest 
 to officers ordered to a post new to them. In addition, I have tried to give an idea of 
 the general character of the barrack and hospital accommodation of the Army. 
 
 As the reports were furnished nearly two years ago, many of them did not fairly 
 represent the present state of affairs. By combining reports, and by writing for missing 
 data, I have endeavored to make the necessary corrections, but it is improbable that all 
 errors have been avoided ; nor are some of the descriptions as complete as would be 
 desirable. It has been much more difficult to obtain facts than opinions, even when 
 the former have been specially requested. For the sake of brevity I have omitted many 
 passages of minor importance in the reports; and in those headed "information furnished 
 by," &c., I have prepared the description from such data as I could collect. The plates 
 and wood-cuts have, in all cases, been made from recent drawings. 
 
 For information furnished I am much indebted to the offices of the Adjutant Gen- 
 eral, Quartermaster General, and Chief of Engineers; to the Chief of the Bureau of 
 Medicine and Surgery, United States Navy; to General F. A. Walker, Superintendent 
 of the Census; to the Supervising Architect of the Treasury, Mr. A. B. Mullett, and to 
 Assistant Surgeons J. J. Woodward and G. A. Otis, United States Army, of this office. 
 
 Although the following descriptions contain, for the most part, their own com- 
 mentary, it may perhaps be not out of place or useless to preface them with a few 
 remarks on the general principles which should be kept in view in judging the merits 
 of the plan or construction of a post, and to refer to the most prevalent errors, the evils 
 to which they give rise, and to the best and most practical means of correcting them. 
 
 The most important structures at a post, in a hygienic point of view, are the bar- 
 racks proper, or soldiers' quarters, the guard-house, including the prison-rooms or cells, 
 and the hospital; and the object to be kept in view in their construction is to furnish 
 shelter without diminishing that supply of pure air and light which is necessary to 
 health. The merits of locality, exposure, plan, construction, and mode of heating and 
 ventilation are to be estimated mainly with reference to the manner in which they secure 
 the above object. In every room occupied by men, a supply of fresh air, such that no 
 occupant shall be compelled to breathe air which has recently passed from the lungs, or 
 which is vitiated by the products of combustion, is, if not absolutely essential, so very 
 dcsirable that a strong effort should be made to secure it. Air just breathed is unfitted 
 for respiration, in part because it contains less oxygen and more carbonic acid than is 
 desirable and in part because it is loaded with moisture, and contaminated with organic 
 matter which has a strong tendency to putrescence, and has been well described as a 
 sort of "aerial filth;" or, as Becquerel expresses it, "a physiological miasm," which is 
 directly and positively hurtful when introduced into the system. Taking into considera- 
 tion the well-known dangers attending the aggregation of large numbers of men, and the 
 fact that a man can preserve life and comparative health for a time, with an allowance of 
 
EEPOET ON BAEEACKS AND HOSPITALS. VII 
 
 air which would be utterly insufficient if furnished to each of a hundred men placed 
 together, it would almost seem as if the organic malter above referred to were les> 
 harmful to the one who has produced it than to others, or, in other words, that this 
 excretion of a man is more or less of a specific poison to other men. That this is the 
 case with a person affected with small-pox or whooping cough will be readily admitted; 
 nor is it hard to understand that the organic emanations from a case of pneumonia, or 
 typhoid fever, in which rapid retrograde metamorphosis is going on, will be much more 
 damaging to a neighboring ease of rheumatism, or wound, or to a man in ordinary health, 
 than to the pneumonic or fever patient himself. If a man is eliminating an undue quan- 
 tity of carbonic oxide, sulphuretted hydrogen, or some of the compound ammonias, his 
 system being already permeated by the gas or vapor, will not readily reabsorb. that 
 which has been thrown off, nor will its presence in the surrounding atmosphere be so 
 offensively perceptible to him as to others. Whatever be the explanation, the fact 
 remains that the more men are placed together the greater should be the amount of air 
 supply per head. 
 
 The minimum amount of air with which life can be supported is not precisely 
 known. Dr. Read states that he was able to remain between one and two hours "in 
 an air-tight, oblong, metallic box, not larger than was necessary to contain me in the 
 horizontal position, and the door being carefully cemented and soldered, so that no air 
 could either enter or escape." * This experiment, somewhat modified, has been many 
 times repeated, although for a very different purpose, in the so-called " sweat-boxes" of 
 the Navy. These are wooden closets, just large enough to contain a man standing 
 upright. A few inch auger-holes are usually bored through the door and sides. Two 
 hours' confinement in one of these boxes usually exhausts a man greatly, and several 
 instances have been related to me in which men were taken out insensible. The symp- 
 toms presented are said to be much like those observed in men overcome by heat in 
 furnace rooms. This form of punishment, although not uncommon at one time, is now 
 considered discreditable and illegitimate. 
 
 The evil results of insufficient air supply are, however, rarely so marked as to be 
 perceived at once, or if noticed they are attributed to some other cause, such as a cold, 
 or indigestion, and a cough mixture, or a pill, is no doubt often taken when the true 
 remedy would be a supply of fresh air to the sleeping-room. It is only of late years 
 that the insidious effects of foul air in sapping vitality, and producing or aggravating 
 destructive forms of fever or lung disease, have been fairly appreciated, and a corre- 
 sponding change has taken place in the estimate of necessary allowance of air supply. 
 This estimate has been made in various ways. The calculations of Peclet, as followed 
 out by Mr. Thomas Box, are as follows: 
 
 An ordinary man makes twenty respirations a minute; therefore, admitting that air should 
 not be respired a second time, we have 20 ^^ 60 = 28 cubic feet of air thus vitiated per hour. 
 Putting the amount of air vitiated by vapor at 187 cubic feet per hour, he proceeds: We have a 
 total of 28+187=215 cubic feet per hour. This is the minimum quantity necessary for cleanly 
 and healthy persons. For prisons, work-houses, &c., it should not be less than 350 
 feet per head.t 
 
 * Illustrations of Ventilation. London, 1844 ; page 179. 
 t Practical Treatise on Heat. London, 1868; page 178. 
 
VIII REPORT OX BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 I have given the above statement in full, as being a recent one in a scientific manual, 
 and as giving a view of the subject which is not uncommon, although rarely formulated 
 so clearly. The fallacy in it lies, of course, in the assumption that the air expired does 
 not mix with the surrounding air. If a man inspired fresh air from one reservoir, and 
 expired into another entirely separate, the above calculation would have some value. 
 The true mode of calculation, however, is that of Dr. De Chaumont.* Assuming that 
 air begins to seem impure to the senses when the amount of carbonic acid reaches 0.6 
 per 1,000 volumes, and that this should be the maximum impurity permissible, also 
 that a man expires 0.6 of a cubic foot of carbonic acid per hour, it can be readily calcu- 
 lated that 3,000 cubic feet of air per hour are necessary to properly dilute the air 
 expired by an adult in good health; and this is the standard accepted by Dr. Parkes. 
 
 The amount of carbonic acid given above, as expired by a man per hour, viz., 0.6 
 per 1,000, is too large for a man sleeping, the amount being about 0.4 per 1,000 under 
 such circumstances, as shown by Dr. Edward Smith ;f and this is the amount upon which 
 the calculations of I )r. Craig are based in his very valuable and interesting report, which 
 will be found in the appendix. But as in cold and stormy weather the men occupy 
 their barracks during the day, and as the amount from cutaneous transpiration must be 
 taken into account, the figures of Drs. De Chaumont and Parkes may be accepted as 
 more nearly correct for our purpose than the lower number. 
 
 Dr. Foster states that "air which by respiration has acquired more than .08 per cent, 
 of carbonic acid should be considered as unfit for further respiration.f It is a little 
 doubtful, from the context, whether Dr. Foster really means that the .08 per cent, is to 
 be derived solely from respiration ; if so, as remarked by Dr. Parkes, the air would be 
 very offensive, as this would make the total percentage, 0.12. General Morin fixes the 
 proper allowance for men in barracks at 1,053 cubic feet of fresh air by day, and from 
 1,404 to 1,755 cubic feet at night. || It appears to me that 2,000 cubic feet per hour 
 per man may be accepted as a proper allowance for soldiers in barracks. 
 
 But it is important to remember that it is not the carbonic acid that is specially 
 hurtful. This gas, in the proportion in which it would be found present in the worst 
 ventilated of our barracks, is probably not specially deleterious, as has been shown by 
 Bernard, Pettenkoffer, and others. But its quantity is usually in proportion to that of 
 the organic matter carbonic oxide, &c. which are the true poisons, and in this con- 
 sists its real importance. The air of a tent, especially of a wet tent, may be very dele- 
 terious with a low proportion of carbonic acid, as the gas would pass through the canvas, 
 while the organic matter, being molecular, would remain. 
 
 The removal of the vitiated air rapidly, regularly, and in such a manner that dis- 
 agreeable drafts or currents of air are not produced, is what is to be effected by ventilation. 
 This subject of ventilation is one that has been darkened by a multitude of counsel, 
 and the popular idea of it is that it is to be effected by the use of certain mysterious 
 appliances called ventilators. Those who have made themselves most prominent in con- 
 nection with this subject are in many cases persons who desire to make money by some 
 
 * Edinburgh Medical Journal, May, 1867 ; page 1024. 
 t Phil. Trans., 1859. 
 
 t Watt's Dictionary of CheiniHtry. Article, "JRegpirutwn" 
 
 $ The experiments of Dr. Craig are believed to be the only ones of the kind in which a discrimination has been 
 made between the carbonic acid derived from respiration and that previously existing in the air. 
 I! Manuel Pratique du Chanffage et de la Ventilation. Paris, 1868 ; page 38. 
 
EEPOKT ON BAKHACKS AND HOSPITALS. IX 
 
 patent which is to be a universal panacea, or men zealous, but without corresponding 
 knowledge, who exaggerate the evils of mismanagement as the best means of drawing 
 attention to the subject and to themselves. For such carbonic acid is the great bug- 
 bear, and the Black Hole of Calcutta the favorite illustration, although an unfortunate 
 one, as the deaths in that case were probably not due to carbonic acid. 
 
 To have good ventilation without discomfort a certain amount of cubic space per 
 man is necessary, and in fixing this amount the main consideration is the possibility of 
 furnishing the requisite air supply without causing unpleasant currents. A man requires 
 the same amount of fresh air per hour whether the space allotted to him be great or 
 small; and if the ventilation be insufficient the large room will in time become as foul 
 as the small one. When rooms are empty a large part of the day, cubic space becomes 
 important in itself as affording a stock of fresh air to commence with; but in places con- 
 stantly occupied, its value, though great, is secondary. This point must be insisted on, 
 for it will be found in examining the following reports that the subject of air supply has 
 been very rarely considered at all, even where cubic space seems to have been specially 
 attended to. When cubic space alone is to be considered, the allowance fixed by the 
 Metropolitan Board of Health of New York seems a fair one, and is as follows: 
 
 SEC. 133. That no owner, lessee, or keeper of any tenement-house, lodging-house, boarding- 
 house, or manufactory sball cause or allow the same to be overcrowded, or cause or allow so great 
 a number of persons to dwell, be, or sleep in any such house, or any portion thereof, as thereby to 
 cause any danger or detriment to life or health ; nor shall more persons than one for 1,000 feet of 
 cubic contents be allowed to sleep in any apartment of any such boarding-house, tenement-house, 
 or lodging-house; nor shall more than one person for every 1,000 cubic feet of contents be allowed 
 to dwell in any such last-mentioned houses. And for the purpose of computing such, space, no 
 cellar, nor any closet, hall, cupboard, nor any room not properly lighted and ventilated, nor any 
 room or space not used as a part of the dwelling apartments of the family or other occupant, shall 
 be computed or taken into account. * 
 
 The cubic space allowance in soldiers' barracks has varied much in different coun- 
 tries and at different times, but the constant tendency has been to increase it. M. 
 Boudin states (Annales de Hygiene, 1853) that the allowance was, in French infantry 
 barracks, 421 cubic feet; in French cavalry barracks, 491 cubic feet; in Prussian bar- 
 racks, 631 cubic feet. 
 
 The subject was carefully investigated in behalf of the English government by a 
 royal commission, which reported that "the air in barrack rooms can be kept suffi- 
 ciently pure with about 600 cubic feet ('air space') per man, provided the local posi- 
 tion of the barracks be open and airy, the structure of the buildings simple and 
 admitting of free external and internal movement of the atmosphere, and provided the 
 barrack rooms, as well as all internal parts of the buildings, are duly ventilated."f 
 
 The allowance of 600 cubic feet per man in barracks had been fixed by a previous 
 commission, and made a part of the regulations of the English army, which provide 
 
 that 
 
 The Medical Director General is to be consulted on the plans and site of any new barracks. The 
 Inspector or Deputy Inspector General (a medical officer) is ordered to see that all regulations for 
 protecting health in barracks are carried out. He makes a monthly inspection, examining into 
 ventilation, warming, lighting, latrines, closets, and all other points. The regimental medical officer 
 
 * Code of Health Ordinances and Rules and Sanitary Regulations adopted by the Metropolitan Board of Health at 
 a meeting held April 20, 1866. 
 
 t Report on Barracks and Hospitals. London, 1861 ; page 35. 
 II 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 performs the same duties. He is also especially ordered to see that every soldier has a separate 
 bed; that the beds are not placed at a less distance than six inches from the wall; that the beds 
 are aired every morning for at least an hour; that the windows are opened in the morning as soon 
 as possible, and kept open as far as weather and season will permit. The walls and ceilings are 
 ordered to be limewashed twice a year. Each man is allowed GOO cubic feet of space, and the num- 
 ber of men located in each barrack room is to be painted on the door. This is a most important 
 rule, which should be strictly enforced ; if it is not so, it is to be stated in the annual report.* 
 
 With regard to the French service the accounts are somewhat contradictory. Ros- 
 signol states that from 12 to 16 cubic metres (421.2 to 561.6 cubic feet) per head are 
 allowed in barracks.f 
 
 The regulations of the Prussian army fix the surface area per man in barracks 
 at from 42 to 45 square feet.} Kirchner states that the allowance in barracks is from 
 420 to 495 cubic feet, and in hospitals 1,200 cubic feet per man. In the Russian 
 army Kirchner states that the allowance is 491.4 cubic feet per man. 
 
 In the Austrian service the condition of things is shown by the following extract 
 from a very interesting letter of Surgeon J Neudorfer, of the Austrian army, formerly 
 
 medical director with Maximilian in Mexico : 
 
 VIENNA, September 24, 1870. 
 
 *#******##** 
 
 Order No. 581 from the War Department, dated July 25, 1850, directs that in hospitals each 
 patient shall have 202.13 square feet of surface area without regard to the height of the room. In 
 solitary and dark confinement 477.4 cubic feet per man is prescribed for each prisoner, bytOrder 
 No. 52, dated Headquarters of the Army, May 9, 1857. In barracks from 537 to 59G cubic feet of 
 air space have been prescribed by Order No. 6505, dated November 30, 1861. 
 
 Before giving the following data relating to the barracks in and around Vienna, I may remark 
 that the dormitories, mess-rooms, and day-rooms are not yet separated, one barrack room being 
 
 designed for all these purposes. 
 
 ************* 
 
 In the beautiful Rudolfs barrack one room for infantry, 125.75 feet long, 11.944 feet wide, and 
 12.4 feet high, contains 16 men, allowing 1,164 cubic feet air space per man ; the room for cavalry 
 allows 1,167 cubic feet of air space per man. 
 
 
 BARRACK ROOMS. 
 
 1'ltISON ROOMS. 
 
 CELLS. 
 
 Number of room. 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 l! 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 Numbcrof men for 
 which intended. 
 
 Cubic feet of air 
 space per man. 
 
 Xumber of room. 
 
 
 'a 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 <s a 
 
 X 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 Xumber of men for 
 which intended. 
 
 Cubic feet of air 
 space per man. 
 
 Number of room. 
 
 % 
 
 w 
 
 o 
 
 "e 1 
 <2 | 
 
 B 
 
 3 
 I 
 o 
 
 Number of men for 
 which intended. 
 
 
 138 
 142 
 143 
 154 
 
 10, 210. 8 
 10, 454. 4 
 10, 454. 4 
 10,792 
 9, 266. 4 
 9, 741. 6 
 9, 979. 2 
 11,187. 2 
 7,128 
 14, 102. 65 
 12, 654. 78 
 17, 339. 93 
 19, 963. 80 
 10, 387. 21 
 11, 118. 22 
 
 20 
 21 
 20 
 20 
 17 
 18 
 19 
 21 
 13 
 20 
 18 
 32 
 36 
 19 
 20 
 
 510.8 
 497.8 
 522.7 
 539.6 
 545. 08 
 541.2 
 525.2 
 531.7 
 548.3 
 705. 13 
 703. 04 
 541.87 
 554.55 
 54C. 69 
 555. 91 
 
 112 
 75 
 
 4,752 
 10, 454. 4 
 
 9 
 24 
 
 528 
 435.6 
 
 18 
 
 243. 29 
 
 1 
 
 Frani Joseph's barracks || . . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 544. 43 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Each room. 
 Each room. 
 
 Each room. 
 Each room. 
 
 13, 058. 97 
 7, 528. 96 
 
 19 
 9 
 
 687. 05 
 836. 55 
 
 Each room. 
 Each room. 
 
 650.23 
 370. 26 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Art'ybar'cks AmRennweg. 
 Josefstadtor cav'y barracks. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Parkes's Hygiene, third edition. London, 1869 ; page 305. 
 
 t Rossignol. Trait<$ d'Hygihie Militaire. Paris, 1857 ; page 238. 
 
 t Heerwesen und Infanteriedienst der Kcin. Preuss. Armee, Berlin, 1869. 
 
 $ Militar-Hygiene. Erlangen, 1869. 
 
 || All rooms. 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. XI 
 
 A hospital for from 20 to 25 patients Ave do not possess, but use thus far common barrack 
 rooms for from 20 to 25 sick in quarters. (Leichtkranke.) 
 
 The United States Army regulations for 1863 provide for every six soldiers 225 
 superficial feet, north of 38 north, and 25G square feet south of that, which, with 10 feet 
 as the average height of rooms, would give 375 and 425 feet respectively. Even this 
 allowance is, however, practically denied by the following clause: "But the amount of 
 quarters shall be reduced pro rata by the commanding officer when the number of 
 officei's and men renders it necessary." Practically there is no regulation on the subject. 
 
 With reference to barracks we may assume that, in temperate climates, each soldier 
 should have at least 600 cubic feet air space, of which between 50 and 60 feet should 
 be surface area in his dormitory, and that these figures should be increased to 800 cubic 
 feet and 70 feet area at posts below latitude 36 north. But this allowance is not to be 
 considered as doing away with the need for ventilation, cubic space allowance being 
 merely the A B C of the main problem. The point is clearly stated by M. Desjobert: 
 
 The mere allowance of cubic space to men is insufficient; no good can be effected except by 
 a ventilation regular, constant, independent of the care of superintendents, or of the will of the 
 soldier, and combined with heating for the seasons that demand it.* 
 
 Plow, then, is this ventilation to be effected? An excellent lesume of the various 
 plans is given by Dr. Parkes in his "Military Hygiene," a book which has been placed 
 in the hands of every medical officer of our Army, and which renders it unnecessary to 
 go into details. One elementary proposition or axiom is so generally unknown or for- 
 gotten, that I will state it. Air will not pass out of a room unless other air can pass in 
 to replace it, and vice versa; hence ventilation of a room is not to be effected by simply 
 inserting a single tube or shaft, 
 
 In a properly constructed dormitory, which should be 24 feet wide, 12 feet high 
 at least, and, for thirty men, 67 feet long, we have to introduce, distribute, and remove 
 60,000 cubic feet of air per hour. During warm weather the easiest mode of doing this 
 is by the windows, which, for this purpose, should be on opposite sides, one to every 
 two beds, and should have both sashes made to slide. To the top of the upper sash 
 should be fixed a light louvre board, sloping toward the ceiling. If the top sash be 
 swung on pivots in the center of its sides, the effect will be equally good. During cold 
 weather the motive power for ventilation must be derived from winds or heat. The 
 former often oppose rather than assist, and to make use of their aspiratory powers cowls 
 should be applied to all shafts of exit. What is known as the Emerson ejector is prob- 
 ably as good a form as any. The modification of it, used by the Architect of the 
 Treasury, is shown in Figure 5 of the plate opposite page XIII. An ingenious and 
 easily made form of cowl is figured and described by Wyman,f and referred to approv- 
 ingly by Peclet. It is a cone balanced on a point in such a manner that it may be tilted 
 in any direction. The wind blowing upon it depresses the side upon which it strikes, 
 and at the same time elevates the opposite side. 
 
 During cold weather, however, heat must be the main agent of ventilation for Army 
 buildings, and although it is better to separate the heating from the ventilating appara- 
 tus, as thereby each process can be better regulated, practically it is usually necessary 
 
 * Report on the means of improving the sanitary state of the Army. Annales d'Hygieue. 1848. 
 t Treatise on Ventilation. Boston, 1846 ; page 3d. 
 
XII liEPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 to obtain the power of expelling foul air from the same apparatus which warms the room. 
 Hence the form and arrangement of this apparatus becomes an important matter for 
 consideration. A ton of coal or a cord of wood, when burned, will produce only a 
 certain quantity of heat, and no form of stove, grate, or boiler can increase this quantity 
 in the least. All that can be done is to increase the thorough oxidation or combustion 
 of the fuel and to prevent the heat passing up the chimney. But it requires a certain 
 amount of heat to remove the products of respiration and combustion, and this heat can- 
 not, at the same time, be used to warm the room. The heat which passes up the 
 chimney is ordinarily spoken of as wasted, and many have been the plans to retain and 
 utilize it. It seems to be often forgotten that it is doing work, and good and necessary 
 work. This was clearly stated by Wyman: "The whole system is a waste of fuel. 
 The question is, how much air is to be allowed to each individual in the twenty-four 
 hours? The less he is allowed, the greater will be the saving."* 
 
 In all northern latitudes stoves are the usual means of heating barracks. If this 
 could be supplemented by a system of hot-water pipes, sufficient to warm and distribute 
 about one-half of the fresh air introduced, it would be desirable, as doing away with 
 complaints about currents of cold air; for soldiers care very little for the, to them, 
 unknown evils of vitiated air, in comparison with the palpable and present discomfort 
 of cold, and they will render useless the best system of fresh air inlet if it produces a 
 draught of cold air upon them. 
 
 In a hygienic point of view it is well known that radiant heat is much the best. 
 This does not raise the temperature of the air directly, but warms the walls of the room 
 and the bodies of the inmates much better than any system of warm air supply can do. 
 
 Why radiant heat is preferable to conducted heat is not precisely known ; but it 
 certainly adds to a man's comfort and health that the heating of the air inspired beyond 
 a temperature of about 45 F. should be accomplished in the lungs, rather than previ- 
 ously by artificial means. It is possible that this depends upon the increased transpira- 
 tion when cool air is breathed, and that this favors the removal of effete organic matter 
 or of volatile organic bases. 
 
 When air is heated its capacity for taking up moisture rapidly increases. Air 
 inhaled at 45 F., and expired at 95 F., will take up 50 per cent, more vapor than air 
 inhaled at 65 F., supposing the previous relative saturation to have been the same. 
 
 When the transpired vapor is condensed into a liquid the organic matters fall with 
 it, as shown by the fetidity of the fluid. As the most dangerous impurity is thus 
 removed, it is evident that when the difference between the external and internal tem- 
 perature is so great that the vapor arising from the breath is condensed on the windows 
 or the walls, that this exercises a temporary purifying effect on the air. 
 
 Coal stoves are, moreover, objectionable by reason of their contaminating the air 
 with carbonic oxide gas a direct poison, even in small quantities and the evil effects 
 of which are strongly insisted on by Dr. Derby .f 
 
 With stoves alone it is difficult to distribute the fresh air in a satisfactory manner. 
 Tubes and openings intended for inlets will sometimes perversely act as outlets, and 
 
 * Wyman on Ventilation. Boston, 1846; page 175. 
 
 t Anthracite and Health, by Dr. Geo. Derby. Boston ; 1868. 
 
EEPOET ON BAKEACKS AND HOSPITALS. XIII 
 
 vice versa; men will complain of draughts, whether the cold air lit: introduced at the 
 ceiling or the floor, and will close the apertures if possible. 
 
 To secure the greatest effect from heat as a ventilating power, the fresh, cool air 
 should enter at the bottom of the room and the warm, ibid air pass out above. This 
 will not, however, secure the satisfactory distribution of the air which is essential, for it is 
 possible to pass a superfluity of air into and out of a room without properly ventilating 
 it. The openings for fresh, cool air should, therefore, be near the ceiling in cold 
 weather; but, when fires are not used, a mechanical advantage is gained by having 
 them near the floor, and both sets of openings should be inserted with tightly-fitting 
 doors, so that either can be used as required. The exit shaft should be at the highest 
 part of the room. When a room is heated by hot-air supply there is a theoretical 
 advantage in having the exit shaft open near the bottom of the room, i. e., that it 
 secures better distribution, and, as General Morin deems specially desirable, that it 
 removes the effete products as soon as they are formed. Another argument is some- 
 times advanced, which is thus stated by Dr. Douglass: "The carbonic acid must 
 inevitably fall to the floor, in consequence of its superior specific gravity, (1.52,) and 
 there remain to bide its time of diffusion. * * * It is claimed that its superior 
 temperature will cause the carbonic acid to rise. To this we answer that, according to 
 the well-known rate of expansion of gases by heat, the carbonic acid would require to 
 be heated to 250, or 150 above the temperature of the animal body, before it will have 
 attained the same specific gravity of (sic) the air."* If the expired carbonic acid were 
 pure, this would be good reasoning; but, as the carbonic acid forms but a small part of 
 the expired air, the fact is that it does rise, and that the difference in its percentage 
 at the ceiling or the floor is too small to be of any practical importance whatever. 
 
 The plan of ventilation proposed and carried out by the barrack commissioners 
 consists in the introduction of fresh air around the stoves and at the eaves, the openings 
 at the latter points being provided with valves or louvres, to throw the current toward 
 the ceiling, and the removal of foul air by a shaft or shafts, the opening into which is at 
 the highest point in the room.f This is said to afford good and satisfactory results. 
 
 I would recommend the following plan of heating and ventilating a barrack-room : 
 The heating is to be effected by one or two ventilating, double fireplaces. Each of 
 these consists of two open fireplaces, placed back to back and inclosing an air chamber 
 between. This air chamber communicates below with an air box, 18 inches square, 
 which passes from one side of the building to the other, beneath the floor. Above, the 
 air chamber communicates with the room by two openings, which may be closed witli 
 dampers. The construction of this fireplace is shown in the plate opposite, Figure 1 
 being a front view; Figure 2 a longitudinal section ; Figure 3 a perpendicular transverse 
 section; A, the central air chamber; B, the opening by which it communicates with the 
 air box beneath the floor ; C, the pipes for escape of hot air into the room. Figures 4 and 
 5 show the arrangements for ventilation, when one of these fireplaces is used. Figure 4 
 is an isometrical drawing of a room, 45 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 15 feet high, being 
 a hospital ward for twelve beds. A A are two boxes, carried from the ceiling to above 
 the roof, and capped by ridge ventilators. Each of these boxes is 10 feet long by 2 
 
 * On Ventilation ; Mich. Univ. Med. Journal, Juno, 1870. 
 t Report of tlie Barrack Commission. London, 1861. 
 
XIV REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 feet wide; they are placed 10 feet apart, in the central line of the ceiling, the joists 
 being carried directly across them, and are intended for summer ventilation. They can 
 be closed in winter by trap doors just above the joist, B B are air boxes, each 18 
 inches square, communicating with the room by openings through the ceiling at the 
 ends, and thence passing above the ceiling and by the side of the summer ventilating 
 boxes to an air chamber, C, just over the center of the ceiling. From this air chamber 
 an exit shaft, D, 24 inches in diameter, passes up through the roof. The pipe from the 
 fireplace, 10 inches in diameter, passes through a close-fitting jacket or collar of earthen 
 ware in the ceiling, and then traverses the air chamber C and the exit shaft D, piercing 
 the sheet-iron cowl or cap, E, of the latter, and being itself surmounted by a similar 
 cap. This plan would appear to combine the advantages of radiant heat from open fires, 
 pure, warm air supply, and thorough distribution of the fresh air. 
 
 The fireplace would be most cheaply constructed of cast-iron, with a false fire- 
 back, to be replaced as required ; but, on many accounts, it is desirable that the surface 
 exposed to the flame should be of boiler-iron. A vessel for holding water should be 
 arranged in the air chamber, which could be easily done. I desire here, however, to 
 indicate merely the principle of construction, without going into detail. The above 
 plan has been approved for hospital use by the honorable Secretary of War, and I shall 
 again have occasion to refer to it in connection with the subject of hospitals. 
 
 The effect of a large window space in cooling a room is great, and must be taken 
 into account in providing means of heating. 
 
 The formula given by Hood* is that, in a still atmosphere, one square foot of glass 
 will cool 1.279 cubic feet of air, as many degrees per minute as the internal temperature 
 of the room exceeds that of the external air. At northern posts double windows will 
 be found economical and desirable for this reason. 
 
 One objection has been made to good ventilation which it is as well to mention, 
 as one of the strongest arguments in its favor. Men will eat more when they have 
 plenty of fresh air than without. Dr. Reid mentions that men, in large manufacturing 
 establishments, have struck for higher wages where a good system of ventilation had 
 been introduced, as their former wages were insufficient to procure the increased amount 
 of food demanded by their improved appetites. There is little doubt that, if some of 
 our barracks were what they should be, in point of air supply, the post fund would 
 diminish somewhat. 
 
 Although it is desirable that, for scientific purposes, the condition of the atmos- 
 phere in barrack-rooms should, from time to time, be tested in the manner employed 
 by Dr. Craig, the simple, practical test is to go into the room about 3 a. m., after fifteen 
 minutes' walk in the fresh air. If no musty, unpleasant odor is perceived under such 
 circumstances, the ventilation is probably satisfactory. 
 
 In regard to fresh-air supply, it appears, from the following reports, that our bar- 
 racks are in a bad condition, many of them being overcrowded, and arrangements for 
 ventilation being either totally wanting or insufficient and unsatisfactory. Of the 151 
 posts described, the amount of overcrowding is shown by the following statement: 
 
 Number of posts having less than 251 cubic feet of air space per man in barracks 17 
 
 Number of posts having over 250 and less than 301 cubic feet of air space per man in barracks. C 
 
 * Hood on Warming, &c., fourth edition. London, 18C9. 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. XV 
 
 Number of posts having over 300 and less than 401 cubic feet of air space per man in barracks. 20 
 
 Number of posts having over 400 and less than 501 cubic feet of air space per man in barracks. 32 
 
 Number of posts having over 500 and less than C01 cubic feet of air space per man in barracks. 27 
 
 Number of posts having over COO cubic feet of air space per man in barracks 39 
 
 Number of posts not reported 10 
 
 Number of posts with ridge ventilation in barracks 19 
 
 Number of posts with shaft ventilation in barracks 4 
 
 Number of posts with no ventilation in barracks 72 
 
 Number of posts not reported 55 
 
 At forty-six posts, therefore, the allowance of air space is decidedly insufficient; at 
 sixty -one it is insufficient, and at only thirty-nine can it be called satisfactory; while, 
 even in these last, the ventilation can only be called satisfactory in about half the 
 instances. 
 
 Our military posts are of four classes. The first are permanent fortifications for 
 seaboard and harbor defense. These are the oldest posts; in many of them casemates 
 are used as quarters, and in such the problem of reform is difficult; but, being at present 
 remote from the scene of actual military operations, they are usually garrisoned by such 
 force only as is necessary to keep them in repair, and hence the evil results of their defects 
 have not been marked. If the time ever comes when the number of men, considered 
 the full garrison for these forts, should be crowded into them, the result will be disas- 
 trous in the extreme. The report of Dr. Craig may be consulted with especial advan- 
 tage with regard to this class of posts. 
 
 Casemates, if constructed with a view to their greatest efficiency as casemates, 
 are unfit for quarters, by reason of dampness, darkness, and insufficient ventilation if 
 kept properly warm; and it would, no doubt, be good economy to discontinue their use 
 as quarters and lodge the men in proper barracks, even if these had to be destroyed, in 
 case of actual hostilities, every ten or fifteen years to meet the exigencies of the service. 
 
 Posts of the second class are the depots for recruits and moving troops, and in them 
 the danger of the occurrence of overcrowding is greatest. The remedy here is obvious ; 
 either more barrack room should be provided, or the movements of troops and recruits 
 should be so directed that, under no circumstances, shall the garrison of the post exceed 
 a certain fixed number. 
 
 Posts of the third class are frontier posts, intended or supposed to be permanent. 
 Although called " forts," they are really only barracks or cantonments, intended to 
 accommodate from two to six companies. At these posts the evils of insufficient and 
 improper barrack construction are the most frequent, but, at the same time, the easiest 
 remedied. 
 
 The last class are the temporary posts or camps established in the immediate 
 vicinity of Indian hostilities; usually constructed of logs or adobe by the labor of the 
 soldiers, and, as a rule, about one-half the size which they should be, if intended as 
 permanent quarters. The difficulties in the way of remedying the evils referred to in 
 this class of posts are great ; but, fortunately, the pure air and active exercise obtained 
 by their occupants go far to render them healthy, although uncomfortable. A very little 
 extra labor, however, in the construction of ventilating openings, and the use of open 
 fireplaces as means of heating, would vastly improve these barracks. 
 
 A not uncommon error in the construction of barracks, otherwise very satisfactory, 
 is making them too wide, as at Ringgold Barracks, Texas; Forts Leavenworth, Riley, 
 
XVI EEPOET ON BAEKACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 and Larned, Kansas ; and Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming Territory. At Fort Larned the 
 dormitories are 40 feet square and 10 feet high ; it is almost impossible to ventilate 
 them properly. A dormitory should never be more than 24 feet wide. The barracks 
 at Fort Sully, Dakota Territory, are disproportionately narrow, and those at Fort Wads- 
 worth, Dakota Territory, Figure 48, are especially faulty in plan, as one side of the room 
 is a dead wall, which is only excusable in barrack construction on account of military 
 necessity. The engineer barrack at West Point, Figure 8, is a sample of a badly arranged 
 barrack on the corridor plan. Examples of barracks, satisfactory in plan, are afforded 
 by the new barracks at Willett's Point and those at Plattsburg Barracks and Madison 
 Barracks. At Fort Griffin, Texas, the barracks are small huts a satisfactory mode of 
 construction in a sanitary point of view; in this case, however, they are greatly over- 
 crowded. Other essential points to be borne in mind in barrack construction, which 
 have not been above referred to, are as follows : The floors should be raised from the 
 ground, with arrangements for ventilation underneath. In the South, and in malarious 
 regions, the height above the ground should be at least 2 feet, and in the latter, the 
 dormitories should always be in the second story. There should be a wash-room in 
 immediate connection with each dormitory. 
 
 There are one or two other points, in connection with barracks, to which attention 
 should be drawn. Prominent among these, as being a point in which our service is 
 behind the age, and an evil which should be put an end to with the least possible delay, 
 is the use of the double bunk, usually aggravated by placing it in two tiers, and even, 
 as at Fort Buford, in three. These bunks are used in ninety-three, or over one-half, 
 of our posts. It is certainly time that the use of such bunks should be absolutely and 
 imperatively forbidden, and so long as they are allowed to exist in dormitories, so long 
 it is useless to hope that those rooms can be made what they should be. No one-acquainted 
 with the first principles of sanitary science will approve of their use. They have long 
 been discontinued in the service of European armies, and the following sentence from 
 Parkes shows that they would now be looked on as curiosities: "Formerly two, and 
 even three, men slept together. I have been told that, as late as 1842, one of the old 
 beds with two tiers was to be seen at the Guards' barracks, in Portman street, London, 
 though it had, of course, been long disused."* And Dr. Gordon remarks that these 
 bedsteads have, for many years, ceased to be used in English barracks, and that " it is 
 consolatory to think that, however tardy may have been the progress of sanitation with 
 us, there do exist armies in which it has been still more so."f 
 
 The only possible argument in favor of their retention is that they enable more 
 men to be packed in a given space, and that they cost a little less than single bedsteads ; 
 neither being worthy of consideration, in view of the evils to which these relics of bar- 
 barism give rise, and for which the supposed necessity for their use is now considered as 
 a sufficient apology. 
 
 A great deficiency, at the majority of our posts, is the absence of proper bathing 
 facilities. Like fresh air supply, while the necessity of personal cleanliness to health 
 and personal comfort is universally acknowledged, the means for its attainment are 
 rarely furnished. For cleanliness does not mean the washing of face and hands alone; 
 
 * Parkes's Hygiene, third edition, page 305, (foot note.) 
 t Gordon's Army Hygiene. 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. XVII 
 
 At least once a week every man should thoroughly cleanse his entire person; and it is 
 economy and good policy to make the facilities for this purpose such that the men 
 shall consider their bath a pleasure and a necessity. 
 
 The remarks of the Barrack Commissioners are worthy of repetition here : 
 
 Where barracks are within an easy distance of the sea the men have certainly a great 
 advantage as regards bathing in one of its aspects, but not in others. Sea bathing can only be 
 resorted to in certain seasons, and the sea water does not cleanse the skin like fresh water. Sea 
 bathing is more a tonic than a means of cleanliness, and cannot be considered as a substitute for 
 fresh-water bathing. Where men sleep in one common room, and where the difficulties in the way 
 of personal cleanliness are so considerable, as they are xinder such arrangements, it is essentially 
 necessary to provide, in some suitable locality, for the observance of those habits of personal clean- 
 liness which cannot be attended to in the barrack-room. 
 
 Bath rooms need not be placed so close to barrack-rooms as ablution-rooms should be; 
 neither do they require a covered communication with the barrack. Men go to the bath room at any 
 time of the day most convenient to them, with their clothes on, and return dressed, and they are 
 hence not exposed to the same risks as men who go partly dressed to an ablution-room, situated 
 at a distance.* 
 
 Bathing facilities of some kind should exist at every post. Where the supply of water 
 is plentiful, the good example set at the Marine Barracks, in this city, by the construc- 
 tion of a swimming bath, should be followed. The bath referred to is a tank, 20 by 20 
 feet, ami 5 feet in depth, with large inlet and outlet pipes, and constant, abundant, pure 
 water supply. Where the supply is scanty, less water must be made to answer the pur- 
 pose, and this can probably be best and easiest done by a combination of the steam and 
 douche bath, which, by the exercise of a little ingenuity, could be furnished at any post. 
 
 While it may be perfectly true that at almost every post the bath-tub should be 
 considered as important an article of equipment as the cooking-stove, it is still no good 
 excuse for lack of bathing facilities that regular bath-tubs and circulating boilers have 
 not been furnished. 
 
 As, at the majority of our posts, water-closets cannot be furnished, it seems desir- 
 able that the attention of officers should be drawn to the desirability of the systematic 
 application of the dry-earth system, as the evidence in regard to its value is now une- 
 quivocal. Portable commodes, or night-chairs, on this plan, have been furnished to the 
 principal hospitals, and have been found to fulfill their purpose. At two or three posts 
 the system has been applied for the use of enlisted men, as at Forts Adams and Hamil- 
 ton ; and its failure at Fort Wadsworth, New York, is clearly due to the faulty method 
 of application. 
 
 A very full report on the subject, by Dr. Buchanan, is contained in the twelfth 
 report of the medical officer of the privy council, (London, 1869,) in which he refers to 
 the use of this process at Wimbledin camp. At this place eight blocks of latrines are 
 used, containing 114 closets and 46 urinals. It is estimated the closets are used each 
 day by about 3,000 persons. About l pounds of earth are used to each discharge, and 
 about 180 pounds of earth per day to each urinal. The results were entirely satisfac- 
 tory. It is especially desirable that this system should be employed in the prison-rooms 
 and cells of all post guard-houses, and that the tubs and buckets now used in such places 
 be done away with at once and forever. 
 
 * Sanitary Report on Barracks and Hospitals, page 47. London, 1861. 
 
XVIII 
 
 REPORT OX BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 G U A R D - H U S E S AND PRISONS. 
 
 The importance of proper heating and ventilation and of cleanliness is even greater 
 with respect to these buildings than to barracks. The guard are liable to be wet and 
 chilled and to saturate the air of the guard-room with moisture, which should be promptly 
 removed; and the prisoners cannot seek fresh air, no matter how foul and oppressive 
 their place of confinement may become. 
 
 The necessity of providing fresh air for prisoners, if they are to be kept in moder- 
 ately good health, has long been felt, and the first legislation with regard to air space 
 was for their benefit. In 1779 the following became a law : 
 
 And be it further enacted, That such offenders as shall be sent to either of such penitentiary- 
 houses shall, during their hours of rest, be kept entirely separate and apart from each other, and 
 be lodged in separate rooms or cells, not exceeding 12 feet in length, 8 feet in breadth, and 11 feet 
 in height, nor less than 10 feet in length, 7 feet in breadth, and 9 feet in height, and without any 
 window within 6 feet of the respective floors ; which rooms or cells shall be dried or moderately 
 warmed in damp or cold weather.* 
 
 This gives a minimum of G30 cubic feet per man. 
 
 Major Jebb, of the Royal .Engineers, fixes the size of the cell at a minimum of 9 
 by 7 by 9 feet high, which is somewhat less than the above. f 
 
 In those prisons which are taken as models, such as the Prison Mazas, Pentonville, 
 and the Philadelphia Prison, the allowance is about 1,000 cubic feet per man. Cer- 
 tainly, in our guard-houses, the allowance should not be less than in barracks, i. e., 600 
 cubic feet, and the air supply should be the same, if not more. 
 
 It will be found, by the following reports, that the guard-houses, and, especially, 
 the prison-rooms and cells of our posts, are, in many cases, unfit for their purpose, and 
 form one of the most frequent subjects of remonstrance on the part of medical officers. 
 Finding the complaint with respect to them so general, I thought it might be of interest 
 to compare them with the lock-ups and prisons of civil life. Letters of inquiry were 
 accordingly addressed to personal friends in some of the principal cities, with the result 
 of some very interesting data, which will, perhaps, be given in full elsewhere. From 
 these I have selected the figures given in the following table : 
 
 Table showing cubic space allowance to prisoners in the cells of the station-lwuses of some large cities. 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 '8 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 U 
 
 
 'S 
 
 g "a 
 
 3 M 
 
 Location. 
 
 b 
 
 Length, breadth, and height. 
 
 *> 8 
 
 I 
 
 a ft 
 d s 
 
 a s 
 
 g o 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^- 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 First precinct station 
 
 3 
 
 5 feet by 4 fuet by 8 feet 
 
 160 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 
 1 
 
 5i feet by 5 feet by 8 feet 
 
 220 
 
 
 
 Fifth precinct station 
 
 4 
 
 13 feet by 13 feet bv 10 feet 
 
 1 560 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 8 
 
 7 feet by 5 feet by 10 feet 
 
 350 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 6 
 
 16 feet by 13 feet by 10 feet 
 
 2,080 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 19th of Geo. Ill, chap. 74, sec. 33. 
 
 t Construction and Ventilation of Prisons, page 11. London, 1844. 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 Table showing cubic space allowance, &c. Continued. 
 
 XIX 
 
 Location. 
 
 Number of cells. 
 
 Length, breadth, and height. 
 
 b 
 
 '3 
 
 Si 
 
 s 1 
 
 _ 
 U 
 
 Intended number 
 of occupants. 
 
 Maximum num- 
 ber of occupants. 
 
 WASHINGTON, 1>. C. 
 
 Fifth precinct station . 
 
 1 
 
 7 feet by 7 feet by 10 feet 
 
 490 
 
 
 1 
 
 Seventh precinct station 
 
 4 
 
 5 feet by 2| feet by 8 feet 
 
 100 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 feet by 41 feet by 8 feet 
 
 170 
 
 
 
 BALTIMOHK, Ml>. 
 
 Middle police station 
 
 14 
 
 7 feet by 4- feet by 9 feet 
 
 283.5 
 
 t 
 
 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 Police station No. 8 
 
 12 
 
 8 feet by 6 feet by 7 feet 9 inches 
 
 372 
 
 
 
 Middle police, station 
 
 14 
 
 7 feet by 44 feet by 9 feet 
 
 283.5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 BUFFALO, N. Y. 
 
 Station No. 1 
 
 1C 
 
 8 feet L>\" <>^ feet by 9 feet 5 inches 
 
 483 
 
 3 
 
 
 Stat ion No. 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 357 
 
 
 
 CINCINNATI, OHIO. 
 
 Olive street station-house* 
 
 13 
 
 6 feet 4 inches by 5 feet by 7 feet 6 iuche.i . . . 
 
 237.5 
 
 
 
 Third street station-lionnet 
 
 14 
 
 7 feet 6 inches by 5 feet by 7 feet 
 
 262.5 
 
 
 
 I.OUISVII.I.K, KV. 
 
 Station-house 
 
 2 
 
 12 feet by t> feet by 11 feet 
 
 792 
 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 (i feet by (i feet by 11 feet 
 
 396 
 
 
 
 SAVANNAH, HA. 
 
 C'liatliam County jail 
 
 
 
 375 
 
 2 
 
 
 NEW OKI.KANS, I.A. 
 
 First district station-house 
 
 13 
 
 14 feet by 12 i'eet by 11 feet 
 
 1,848 
 
 g 
 
 20 
 
 SAN FHANCISCO, CAL. 
 
 City Hall prison 
 
 
 9 feet by t> feet by 7 feet 
 
 378 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The cells of no guard-house in the Army have been more overcrowded than those 
 of the Seventh precinct police station in the city of Washington, described by Assistant 
 Surgeon Charles Smart, United States Army, as follows : 
 
 The prison is a small, brick house, floored with wood, and with cells constructed of stout 
 plank. The only openings in the brick shell are a door in the front and a grated wiudow, 2 feet 
 by 2 feet, in the rear. Along one side are four cells, each 5 feet by 2J feet by 8 feet, and furnished 
 with a water-closet seat. A fifth cell, for women, 5 feet by ty feet by 8 feet, is partitioned off in an 
 opposite corner. The remaining portion, or hall of the brick shell, is used as a lodgers' room. The 
 only apertures in these cells are holes, one 6 inches by 8 inches, in the upper part of the door, and 
 another, 1 foot square, in the wall over the door. Four and five men are said to have been packed 
 into each of these box-cells, with a few others in the lodgers' room. 
 
 * These cells are of open, iron lattice-work; ten are contained in a room, 47 feet C inches by 25 feet by 14 feot 6 
 inches=l,72l cubic feet to each. 
 
 t These are iron cells, with open bar tops and fronts, in a room 42 feet by 25 feet by 13 feet=13,650 cubic feet. 
 
XX 
 
 REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 The majority of the following reports are not sufficiently definite with regard to 
 the guard-houses to be of much value in a statistical point of view. The following 
 table shows the condition of those in which the figures are given : 
 
 Number of cubic feet of air space. 
 
 
 Under 
 150. 
 
 150 to 
 200. 
 
 200 to 
 250. 
 
 250 to 
 300. 
 
 300 to 
 400. 
 
 400 to 
 
 500. 
 
 500 to 
 600. 
 
 6CO and 
 over. 
 
 Number of cells ..... -. -. 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 
 5 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The underground cells at Fort Craig are probably the most discreditable example 
 of prison construction to be found in the Army. Other examples of faulty construction 
 are presented at San Antonio, and Forts Richardson and Brown, Texas; at Forts 
 Leaven worth and Riley, Kansas; at Fort Rice, Dakota Territory; and Fort Stevens, 
 Oregon. Examples of overcrowding are given in the reports on Carlisle Barracks, 
 Jackson Barracks, San Antonio, Fort Richardson, Fort Fetterman, &c. ; in fact this 
 condition is the rule and not the exception. 
 
 The best planned guard-houses appear to be those at Willet's Point, Figure 5, and 
 the one proposed for Fort Totten. 
 
 The remarks relative to construction, heating, and ventilation of barracks apply 
 equally to guard-houses ; and I have only to state in addition that when practicable it is 
 desirable, for many reasons, that the prison-room and cells should be in the second 
 story, in which case the hot-air supply may be furnished to the prison-room by connect- 
 ing an ordinary stove-pipe with one of the tubes of the ventilating fireplace. Each 
 cell should have a divided tube ventilator upon the plan of Muir or McKinnel, for 
 description of which see Parkes's Hygiene. The ordinary urine tubs should not be 
 allowed in the prison-room, the dry-earth system of dealing with the excreta replacing 
 them in all cases. 
 
 HOSPITALS. 
 
 As the evils of improper plan and construction are more directly manifest in hos- 
 pitals than in any other class of buildings, with the exception, perhaps, of prisons, the 
 attention of physicians, engineers, and architects has long been turned to their improve- 
 ment. The true principle of hospital construction, as at present understood, was at 
 first declared by a committee of the French Academy of Sciences, which, in 1788, made 
 a final report as to the conditions which a model hospital should fulfill, specifying that 
 the wards should be in isolated pavilions ; that each ward should be 24 feet wide, from 
 14 to 15 feet high, and 115 feet long, and should contain from thirty -four to thirty-six 
 beds; and that the windows should extend to the ceiling. This is known as the pavilion 
 plan, as distinguished from the dwelling-house, block, or corridor plans, and is now 
 recognized as the one best suited to its purpose, the experience gained during the late 
 war having contributed greatly to the recognition of its value in this country. Its 
 essential features, as stated by Miss Nightingale, the Barrack Commissioners, and other 
 writers of authority on this subject, may be stated briefly as follows : 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. XXI 
 
 The important part of a hospital is the ward, which should be so arranged as to 
 obtain as much sunlight and fresh air as possible. It should be about 24 feet wide, 
 and 15 feet high, and have windows on opposite sides, one to every two beds, reaching 
 nearly to the ceiling. The length of the ward should be sufficient to allow at least 1,200 
 cubic feet of air space to each bed. The floor and walls should be non-absorbent, and 
 without cracks or crevices. Each ward should have its own bath-room and water- 
 closet. The ventilation should furnish at least 3,000 cubic feet of fresh air per man, 
 per hour. The kitchen, laundry, and dead-house should be at a distance from the 
 ward never beneath it or communicating directly with it. 
 
 Our post hospitals are all small, ranging in capacity, in most cases, from five to 
 thirty beds, and there should therefore be little difficulty in their proper arrangement. 
 
 Previous to the year 1867 examples of a properly constructed hospital at a military 
 post were very rare, those at Key West, Jackson Barracks, and Fort Vancouver being 
 the best. 
 
 Circular No. 4, dated Surgeon General's Office, April 22, 1867, and issued by 
 authority of the Secretary of War, embodied the true principle of hospital construction, 
 and was a great step in advance. For plan of the hospital prescribed by this circular 
 see description of that at Fort Delaware, Figure 11 ; also of those at Forts Independence, 
 Brown, and Harker. It was found by experience that there were a few defects in this 
 plan, but more especially in the system under which the construction of hospitals was 
 to be obtained. These are pointed out, to some extent, in the reports relating to Forts 
 Adams, Wayne, Macon, and Concho; and especially in the special report of Surgeon 
 J. B. Brown, medical director of the Department of the Platte. 
 
 Even after the construction of a hospital was ordered by the War Department, it 
 was very possible that it would not be built, as at Carlisle Barracks, Fort Wayne, and 
 Fort Davis. The case of Fort Larned is a good instance of how easily any one of the 
 officers, through whose hands the request for hospital construction or repairs must pass, 
 could hinder or put an entire stop to the work, no matter how great the necessity. 
 When hospitals were built it was usually by contract without intelligent supervision, 
 no medical man being consulted either as to the specifications, or during the construc- 
 tion, the sole object being cheapness, and the results appear in the erection of such hos- 
 pitals as those at Fort Adams, Taylor Barracks, and Omaha Barracks. 
 
 As no separate appropriation was made for the erection and repair of hospitals, it 
 is impossible to say what proportion of the annual appropriation for "barracks, hospitals, 
 and stables" was applied to hospital benefit. The cost of some of the principal hospitals 
 of the plan of Circular No. 4, as obtained from the office of the Quartermaster General, 
 was as follows: 
 
 Fort Adams $11, 731 00 
 
 Fort Delaware 21, 019 37 
 
 Fort Ontario 4,500 00 
 
 Fort Concho 56, 000 00 
 
 Fort Brown $20, 000 00 
 
 Fort Harker, (estimated); *11,635 00 
 
 Omaha 8, 127 00 
 
 Angel Island, (coin) 7, 775 00 
 
 When repairs or alterations were required at a hospital at least two applications 
 had to be made. At one post, after two applications had been made by the post sur- 
 geon for some very necessary repairs to the hospital, the attention of the department 
 
 * The cost of such a bnildiug at the present time is estimated at $25,000. 
 
XXII EEPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 commander, who happened to be at the post, was called to the matter, and the post 
 quartermaster was directed to make out estimates. As his stock of lumber, &c., was 
 small, and as his requests for workmen and materials to repair the other buildings at 
 the post had not been granted, he made his estimate a liberal one. It was approved, 
 however, and workmen and materials were furnished. Some of the workmen and 
 part of the materials were at once employed in repairing the commanding officer's 
 quarters, and in fitting up the store-houses, guard-house, &c. The work on the hos- 
 pital was necessai'ily delayed, and finally the surgeon was informed that the amount 
 authorized was nearly expended, and that it would be necessary to wait another year. 
 Since the commencement of this report, Circular No. 4, above referred to, has been 
 revised, and an order has been issued by the honorable Secretary of War which puts 
 the whole subject of hospital construction upon a very satisfactory basis. This order is 
 contained in Circular No. 3, dated Surgeon General's Office, November 23, 1870, which 
 also gives the plans and specifications for the various classes of Army hospitals. The 
 system of heating and ventilation authorized for hospitals is shown in the plate opposite 
 Page XIII of this report, 
 
 The majority of the cuts of plans of hospitals given in the following reports are simply 
 inserted as samples of ingenious modes of "how not to do it." Special comment upon 
 them is probably unnecessary. The common dwelling-house plan is illustrated by the 
 hospitals at Forts Wood, McHenry, Monroe, Madison Barracks, and Fort Leavenworth. 
 The hospital at Santa Fe", Figure 30, is the only one with a completely inclosed court, 
 That at Fort Warren, Figure 1, shows what can be done in arranging casemates for hos- 
 pital purposes. The plan of the hospital at Fort Schuyler is in most respects very 
 satisfactory. 
 
 Setting aside hospitals of what is known as the pattern of Circular No. 4, the best 
 post hospital that I know of is that at Willet's Point, Figure 6, designed and built by 
 General Abbott, of the engineers. In location, solidity, and thoroughness of construc- 
 tion, convenience of administration, and in the amount of ventilation of the wards, it is 
 not surpassed by any Army hospital. The prison-room is a peculiar feature of this hos- 
 pital, and a very good one. The marked defect in the plan is the bringing up the 
 staircase and the dumb-waiter shaft from the kitchen, in the center of the main ward, 
 whereby they become, practically, ventilating shafts. Had the staircase been brought 
 up in a hall at one end, the water-closets been separated from the ward by a ventilated 
 passage, and separate ventilation provided for the kitchen and mess-room, it would have 
 been a great improvement. It is manifestly impracticable to plan a hospital which 
 shall be equally suited to the burning mesas of Arizona and to the bleak North Atlantic 
 coast. Nor can it be expected that the hospitals of a temporary post, often little more 
 than a camp, shall be equal in structure and comfort to that of a permanent post. But, 
 even a log or mud hut need not be built in absolute and direct defiance of all sanitary 
 laws. And especially to be deprecated is the turning over of old barracks or officers' 
 quarters to hospital vise. 
 
 Our hospitals approach more nearly in size and character the so-called cottage hos- 
 pitals of England than any others. They are satisfactory in one respect that they are 
 almost all temporary hospitals. This I consider a decided advantage, as I believe that 
 no hospital should be constructed with a view to its being used as such for more than 
 fifteen years. If the money required to put up such structures as the New York civil 
 
REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. XXIII 
 
 hospitals, the Rhode Island hospital, or the Cincinnati hospital, were divided into two 
 equal parts, one-half being used to erect frame hospitals of the same capacity as the 
 stone and brick hospitals actually built, and the other half being put out at interest at 
 6 per cent., a complete new hospital could be furnished every twelve years for an 
 indefinite period to come. It is therefore good economy to build hospitals in this man- 
 ner, and there can be little doubt that, as stated by Sir George Ballingall, "such a 
 measure would be favorable to the interests of the sick." 
 
 With regard to Army hospitals it is necessary to consider more than present neces- 
 sities. The whole system of military organization is an education and a preparation for 
 emergencies and circumstances which may never occur. And as troops are drilled in 
 the use of arms, though no enemy be present, so should they be familiar with the system 
 which is necessary on the part of the medical department in time of war or epidemics. 
 And to refuse to furnish the necessary accommodations and facilities to medical officers is 
 very much like refusing to allow soldiers to use muskets, cannon, or horses in time of peace. 
 
 Our military system is, or should be, organized on the theory that it is to act as a 
 nucleus and organizing power for the force to be called into existence in time of war 
 When a war breaks out we must have large hospitals; if these are to be efficient they 
 must be thoroughly organized. The knowledge of this organization is best obtained by 
 practicing it previously on a small scale. 
 
 Again I quote from the report of the Barrack Commission : 
 
 The contracted space and want of ventilation in our military hospitals do not give to the 
 patients the same chance of recovery as is afforded by the better accommodation of the naval and 
 civil hospitals of this country. Nor is their stinted and meager appearance without its effect on the 
 medical officers themselves. The young man who, on joining the army, arrives fresh from the 
 establishments of London, Edinburgh, or Dublin, where he has seen the civilian patient tended 
 with every appliance which can alleviate his suffering and hasten his cure, can scarcely fail to form 
 a low estimate of the value attached by the Government to the health and comfort of the soldier; 
 nor can those who are in charge of our army hospitals feel that pride in their condition which is so 
 strong an incentive in similar establishments elsewhere to their maintenance in the highest state 
 of efficiency, while they keenly feel that by the public they are considered responsible for a state of 
 things which they know to be far from creditable, but which they have neither power nor authority 
 to remedy. 
 
 We have already shown that the director general had not concealed from the secretary of 
 state the opinion he had formed of the state of the hospitals, and of the necessity of creating a new 
 general hospital worthy of the objects to which it is to be directed, and of the nation by which it is 
 to be provided. It is but just to the medical officers to state that the evils complained of in the 
 particular hospitals we have described have been the subject of constant though fruitless repre- 
 sentation on their part; but dependent as they are on other departments which have duties to per- 
 form to which the efficiency of the hospitals is necessarily secondary, it is not a matter of surprise 
 that their remonstrances should frequently have been unsuccessful. (Report of the Commissioners 
 for the Organization of Military Hospitals, page 37. London, 1858.) 
 
 The statistics of the post hospitals of the Army, in time of peace, are interesting as 
 bearing on the question recently discussed as to the relative efficiency of small and large 
 hospitals. When the late Sir James Simpson denounced all large hospitals as producing 
 what he termed hospitalism, and as being almost necessarily injurious, he relied mainly 
 on the statistics of amputations to prove his theory. 
 
 The following table, embodying his figures and those adduced by his opponents, 
 together with those furnished by the records of our post hospitals for the past two 
 years, may be of interest : 
 
XXIV 
 
 EEPOET ON BAEEACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 Table sJioicing mortality rates after amputation. 
 
 Authorities and periods. 
 
 Amputations. 
 
 | 
 
 * d 
 
 f'l 
 ft 
 
 H 
 
 h 
 ft o 
 bC - 
 3 ~ 
 
 h 
 
 v 
 p, o 
 
 G C^ 
 E r-T 
 
 ^ 
 
 Fore-arm 
 per 1,000. 
 
 1i 
 
 1 *~ 
 Q ft 
 
 
 Primary 
 
 375 
 
 214.2 
 
 214 2 
 
 125 
 
 200 
 
 
 Secondary . 
 
 333.3 
 
 166.6 
 
 333.3 
 
 
 172 4 
 
 
 Intermediate . . 
 
 
 500 
 
 
 
 250 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 333.3 
 
 205.2 
 
 222.2 
 
 103.1 
 
 193.5 
 
 
 
 258 
 
 135 
 
 40 
 
 6 
 
 109 9 
 
 
 Secondary 
 
 120 
 
 123 
 
 56 
 
 
 103 3 
 
 
 Intermediate .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 185 
 
 131 
 
 43 
 
 5 
 
 108 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 644 
 
 548 
 
 401 
 
 147 
 
 479 4 
 
 
 
 378 
 
 314 
 
 282 
 
 200 
 
 342 
 
 
 Intermediate . . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 465 2 
 
 440 4 
 
 370 3 
 
 163 9 
 
 409 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Saint Bartholomew's Hospital; compai'ison of death-rates 
 by G. VV. Cullender ; Saint Bartholomew's Hospital 
 
 Primary 
 
 Secondary 
 
 304.3 
 347 6 
 
 434.7 
 278.9 
 
 60.6 
 177 7 
 
 51.2 
 40 
 
 219.8 
 
 288 
 
 report, 1889, page 243. 
 
 Intermediate .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 343 3 
 
 316 
 
 128 2 
 
 46.8 
 
 271 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Country hospitals in Great Britain ; comparison of death- 
 
 
 491 
 
 280 4 
 
 156 4 
 
 79 8 
 
 252 
 
 rates by G. W. Callender ; Saint Bartholomew's Hospi- 
 
 Secondary 
 
 204 
 
 158.7 
 
 228 
 
 94.8 
 
 173 
 
 tal report, 1869, page 243. 
 
 Intermediate .. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 276 7 
 
 210 
 
 178 1 
 
 85.3 
 
 211.2 
 
 -From January 1, 1850, to January 1, 1860. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 At Pennsylvania Hospital ; statistics, by George W. Nor- 
 
 Primary 
 
 333.3 
 
 348.8 
 
 35.7 
 
 95.2 
 
 192 
 
 ris ; Pennsylvania Hospital reports, 1868, page 149. 
 
 Secondary 
 
 419.3 
 
 370.3 
 
 300 
 
 200 
 
 358.9 
 
 
 Intermediate 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 395. 3 
 
 357.1 
 
 105. 2 
 
 115.3 
 
 256.1 
 
 From January 1, 1860, to January 1, 1870. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 At Pennsylvania Hospital ; statistics by T. G. Morton, 
 
 Primary 
 
 444.4 
 
 371.4 
 
 317 
 
 100 
 
 301.7 
 
 American Journal of Medical Sciences, October, 1870, 
 page 313. 
 
 Secondary 
 
 363.6 
 
 187.5 
 
 444.4 
 
 125 
 
 250 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Total 
 
 413.7 
 
 313.7 
 
 340 
 
 104.1 
 
 288.2 
 
 From January, 1822, to January I, 1850. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Massachusetts General Hospital; surgical reports and 
 miscellaneous papers on medical subjects, by George 
 
 > Total 
 
 275.3 
 
 200 
 
 90.9 
 
 181.8 
 
 226.9 
 
 Hayward, Boston, 1855, page 142. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IlEPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 X X V 
 
 The usual plan of our posts is the distribution of the buildings around and fronting 
 on a rectangular plot of ground, vised as a parade. For the majority of posts, which are 
 intended for from one to four companies, this arrangement is satisfactory. For 1 In- 
 larger posts a very good plan is that of Fort D. A. Kusscll, (Plate No 8.) 
 
 We are fortunate in having very lew specimens of the closed court, or Vauban 
 system of barracks, of which Charleston citadel is a good example. 
 
 A peculiar plan was proposed for Foil Wingate, (Figure 28,) in which the buildings 
 radiate from a common center, like the spokes of a wheel. This was disapproved, on 
 the ground of economy, and the post is being constructed on the usual plan. 
 
 As there is no law or regulation with regard to the arrangement of a post, or in 
 what manner the buildings, the hospital excepted, shall be constructed, and as the cadet 
 receives no special instruction on these points, an officer charged with the establishment 
 of a new post usually copies the arrangement of one of the older posts with which he is 
 most familiar. 
 
 It appears to me that the time has come to regulate this matter by an order from 
 the War Department an order which shall establish the general principles of construc- 
 tion, leaving details to be arranged according to circumstances. This was attempted, 
 in 1858, by Don Carlos Buell, Assistant Adjutant General, then on duty at the Wai- 
 Department, under whose supervision plans and directions for the construction of quar- 
 ters, hospital, guard-house, and for the arrangement of a camp were drawn up, and, 
 .with minute tables of estimates, specifications, &c., were printed, in 1860, at the Gov- 
 ernment Printing Office, forming a thick quarto volume, which was declared to be the 
 authorized regulations for the construction of barracks and quarters, by John B. Floyd, 
 Secretary of War. This book was, however, never issued, and its existence even is 
 known to but few officers. The plans for officers' quarters are good; for the men's bar- 
 racks, tolerable; for the hospital, bad. 
 
 The annexed figure shows the 
 proposed ground plan for a hospital, in 
 which the small wards, shut off from 
 the open air on one side by a hall, the 
 deficient air space, and the presence of 
 the water-closet in one corner of the 
 ward, so to speak, are all in opposition 
 to the first principles of correct hospital 
 construction.* 
 
 A, wards, 21 feet by 25 feet ; B, 
 bath and wash-rooms; D, dispensary ; K, 
 steward's room ; F, mess-room ; II, hall; 
 K, kitchen; P, verandas; IS, store- 
 rooms; V, ventilator in roof ; W, water- 
 closets. 
 
 * This plan seems to be based upou the one proposed by Dr. Mann. ( Firfc Medical Sketches of the Campaigns of 
 1813- J 13-'14, Dedham, 1816, page 238. 
 
 IV 
 
 J I 
 
 ix I 
 L 
 
XX VJ 
 
 REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 I 
 
 
 a rp rr> r 
 
 t 
 
 2_ _I 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 I 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 
 S 
 
 y 
 
 D 
 
 3 2 
 
 a 
 
 M 
 
 D 
 
 LH 
 
 The annexed figure shows the plan, proposed by General D. C. Buell, for arrange- 
 ment of a garrison for four companies, in 
 which the cardinal principles of. light and 
 air supply to each building are maintained. 
 A, company quarters; B, laundresses; 
 C, commissary store-house; K, sinks; F, 
 flagstaff; (J, bakery; II, hospital; J, chapel; 
 K L, suttler's store and quarters; M, 
 magazine; N, offices; 0, officers' quarters: 
 C ( ), commanding officer's quarters; P, 
 work-shops ; Q, quartermaster store-house : 
 S, company stables ; B S, band stable ; 
 T, guard -house; 1, men's sinks; 2, cow- 
 house; 3, dead-house. 
 
 The sutler's establishment is badly 
 
 placed, and the position of the laundresses' quarters would probably be found not 
 satisfactory. 
 
 With reference to the brief summary statement of prevalence of certain classes of 
 diseases subjoined to the description of each post, it may be remarked that they are 
 made up from the monthly reports of sick and wounded, and that they do not include 
 accidents and injuries, or Ihe mortality therefrom. They do not, in some cases, give a 
 fair idea of the relative healthfulness of the posts, for, on account of movement of troops, 
 a large amount of some particular disease may be reported which has been contracted 
 elsewhere. 
 
 In the necessarily brief and hasty examination made of these reports, I have been 
 impressed with the value of what may be termed the "personal equation" of a medical 
 officer, in attempting to draw conclusions from his reports. 
 
 When, at the same post and with the same troops, the accession of a new medical 
 officer is followed by a marked increase or diminution of the number taken on sick 
 report, or by a marked change in the nomenclature of diseases reported, while the gen- 
 eral condition of, and the relative mortality at, the post remains Ihe same, it seems fail- 
 to presume that the change is due more to the doctor than to any other cause. 
 
 When a new physician arrives at a post the number "taken sick" usually increases 
 at first, as those disposed to shirk duty, and the minor chronic cases, will usually wish 
 to try the new surgeon; but, after this temporary increase passes off, it is found that 
 the ratio of sickness may vary as much as 4<t per cent, depending on the physician. 
 As this same cause of error must exist, more or less, in all medical statistics, but is 
 seldom thought of, and, indeed, can only be determined under such circumstances as 
 exist in the Army, I have thought it worth mentioning. 
 
 The following table shows the ratio per 1,000 of mean strength, of sickness, and 
 
UK PORT OX BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 XXVII 
 
 mortality, (accidents and injuries excluded,) by departments, for the calendar yrar> 
 1868 and 1869: 
 
 
 
 Ratio per 1,000 of mean strength. 
 
 2 
 
 Me;m 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 p 
 
 a 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 Departments. 
 ^ strength. 
 
 "Z !i 
 
 <a 
 
 ?. >. 
 
 h 
 
 - '- 
 
 d 
 
 "/. 
 
 
 a: 
 ^ 
 
 "3 ? 
 
 
 
 = = 
 
 3 
 
 ~ 
 .3 i. 
 
 ^ I 
 
 2 
 
 f. 
 
 "r. 
 
 1 .1 
 
 X 
 
 
 " 2 
 
 fa 
 "- 
 
 ! 
 
 z ~ 
 
 = ' 
 -, 
 
 Z 
 
 Ja 
 
 'I 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 p 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 > 
 
 en 
 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 a 
 
 Department of the Kast 
 
 1868 
 
 5648.09 
 
 2119.29 
 
 293. 37 
 
 377. 11 
 
 165. 54 
 
 107.82 
 
 5.66 
 
 299.56 
 
 4.42 
 
 
 1869 
 
 4575. 20 
 
 2105. 91 
 
 315. 83 
 
 353. 86 
 
 158. 68 
 
 100. 32 
 
 4.76 
 
 306.87 
 
 3.93 
 
 Department of the Lakes 
 
 1868 
 
 1082. 38 
 
 2605. 3-.' 
 
 465. 63 
 
 384. 33 
 
 153.27 
 
 241. H2 
 
 6.46 
 
 367. 70 
 
 7.34 
 
 
 1869 
 
 986. 55 
 
 2053. 51 
 
 518.95 
 
 237. 17 
 
 164. 20 
 
 211.83 
 
 9.12 
 
 249.34 
 
 7.09 
 
 Department of the South 
 
 1868 
 
 2241.48. 
 
 2410. 20 
 
 776. 33 
 
 396. 19 
 
 218. 17 
 
 117.34 
 
 10.70 
 
 177. 5H 
 
 13. 34 
 
 
 1869 
 
 1894. 12 
 
 1854.17 
 
 381.71 
 
 365.87 
 
 205. 37 
 
 101. 89 
 
 6.33 
 
 212. 76 
 
 17. 42 
 
 Department of Texas 
 
 1868 
 
 4974.71 
 
 2394. 31 
 
 969. 30 
 
 417.71 
 
 121. 61 
 
 9.'.. 4H 
 
 8.64 
 
 130.25 
 
 13.06 
 
 
 1869 
 
 5173. 67 
 
 1868. 10 
 
 648.27 
 
 3:r7. OH 
 
 134. 13 
 
 95. i~ 
 
 7.53 
 
 125. 82 
 
 8.89 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Depai Intent of .Missouri 1868 
 
 567i-.ii:. 
 
 1 135. 81 
 
 300. 75 
 
 322. 41 
 
 128. 36 
 
 Tt- 1 |>- ( 
 
 5.83 
 
 173. 79 
 
 8.27 
 
 1869 
 
 5065. 20 
 
 1234. 50 
 
 449. 53 
 
 271.26 
 
 97.33 
 
 83.38 
 
 
 143.92 
 
 8.09 
 
 Department of the 1'iatte 1868 
 
 3355. 19 
 
 1491.11 
 
 181.21 
 
 304. 89 
 
 20. 59 
 
 108. 49 
 
 4. 17 
 
 270. 62 
 
 8.64 
 
 1869 
 
 2883. 63 
 
 1442.29 
 
 236.50 
 
 197.32 
 
 4H. 20 
 
 108. 89 
 
 3.81 
 
 284.36 
 
 5.89 
 
 Department of Dakota. 1868 
 
 2622. 13 
 
 1596. 13 
 
 64. 07 
 
 275. 73 
 
 91. 14 
 
 107. 16 
 
 4. 19 
 
 247. 05 
 
 4. 19 
 
 1869 
 
 1791.03 
 
 1556. 1 1 
 
 99.94 
 
 252. 92 
 
 122. 27 
 
 88.77 
 
 2.79 
 
 352.87 
 
 3. 35 
 
 Department ot' ('olnmhia 1868 
 
 1 175. 16 
 
 1699. 3d 
 
 122. 53 
 
 283. 35 
 
 78. 28 
 
 97.00 
 
 1.70 
 
 273 99 
 
 1869 
 
 970. 17 
 
 170*. 92 
 
 91. 72 
 
 284. 47 
 
 97. 91 
 
 1 17. :ut 
 
 2.06 
 
 270.04 2.06 
 
 Department of California ls(is 
 
 1672. 79 
 
 170S. 51 
 
 194.28 
 
 257. 05 
 
 181.72 
 
 161.99 
 
 8.96 
 
 242.70 7.17 
 
 1869 
 
 1645. 38 
 
 1578. :::'. 
 
 218. 79 
 
 210. 28 
 
 238.84 
 
 153.76 
 
 10. 33 
 
 221. sii 4.86 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Department of Ari/,on;i . 
 
 l,~i;s 
 
 1327. 36 
 
 3550. 54 
 
 2090.55 
 
 482. 89 
 
 132. 59 
 
 119. 78 
 
 , 10.54 
 
 168. 75 15. 06 
 
 
 1869 
 
 1538.24 
 
 2353. 40 
 
 1172.79 
 
 349. 75 
 
 100. 76 
 
 97.51 
 
 3.90 
 
 137. 82 5. 85 
 
 To furnish means of comparing the present ratio of mortality in the United Slates 
 Army with that of form or years and of other services, the following tables have been 
 
 prepared: 
 
 TABLE A, 
 
 Showing ratio per 1,000 of mortality in the United States Army ax compared with the United & 
 Y<"7/ mill tin 1 military service of other countries, and with riril life. 
 
 Scr\ ic-e or locality. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Deaths from 
 diseases. 
 
 I 1 Is 
 
 = - .'- 
 
 1 1 J = 
 
 If! =- 
 
 0; r~< ^. 
 
 =, - 1 
 
 Total. Remarks. 
 
 
 1840 to 18J5 1 
 
 22. 42 
 
 1.38 i.o:: 
 
 24.84 
 
 
 1850 to 1H55 1 
 
 lit 05 
 
 H. 32 2. 46 
 
 29. 86 
 
 
 1855 to 1860- 
 
 13 2H 
 
 4.14 1.99 
 
 19.43 
 
 
 
 Year ending .Inly 1, 1S67 ; '. . 
 
 .. 19.56 
 
 17.5S 3.77 
 
 40.92 White troops. 
 
 1 Medical Statistics Uuitcil States Army, by K. II. Cooliil^c. Assistant Surgeon Uuitcd States Aruiy, I85S, page 48.-. 
 1 Medical Statistics Unitt-il Stutra Army, by 14. H. Ciiolidg,-, A^sistivnt Surgeon Uuite.l Stuti-s Ar.u.v, IsO'i. \m-i- :,'. 
 3 Surgeon (iciicral's Report for the year 1867. 
 
XXVIII 11EPOET ON BAKRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 Table A, showing ratio per 1,000 of mortality of the United States Army, &c. Continued. 
 
 Service or locality. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Deaths from 
 diseases. 
 
 Deaths from 
 epidemics. 
 
 Deaths from 
 injuries. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 United States Army continued. . 
 United States Navy 
 
 Year ending July 1, 1867 1 
 
 38.32 
 13.45 
 26.81 
 9.83 
 12.66 
 7.95 
 14.96 
 
 81.68 
 12.50 
 23.87 
 .05 
 
 
 120.00 
 29.89 
 56.13 
 12.84 
 17. 59 
 12.88 
 19.37 
 11.53 
 23.58 
 23.53 
 31.93 
 11.92 
 22.65 
 10.28 
 11.50 
 8.98 
 15.75 
 17.2 
 12.9 
 60.9* 
 60.8 
 32.2 
 9.30 
 9.37 
 9.19 
 32. 38 
 14.15 
 26.77 
 10.15 
 10.10 
 8.06 
 25.28 
 24.76 
 23. 65 
 19.4 
 46.7 
 9.11 
 17.06 
 
 Colored troops. 
 White troops. 
 Colored troops. 
 White troops. 
 Colored troops. 
 White troops. 
 Colored troops. 
 
 United Kingdom. 
 Canada. 
 Gibraltar. 
 Bombay. 
 Jamaica, white. 
 Jamaica, black. 
 United Kingdom. 
 Canada. 
 Gibraltar. 
 East Indies. 
 Jamaica, white. 
 Jamaica, black. 
 United Kingdom. 
 Canada. 
 Gibraltar. 
 East Indies. 
 West Indies, white. 
 West Indies, black. 
 Home service. 
 In Algeria. 
 Home service. 
 In Algeria. 
 
 Year ending July 1, 186S : 
 
 3.93 
 5. 44 
 2.96 
 4.92 
 4.30 
 4.40 
 
 Year ending July 1, 1868*. 
 
 Year ending July 1, 1869-. 
 
 Year ending July 1, 1869- 
 Year ending July 1, 1870- 
 Year ending July 1, 1870 2 
 1856 and 1857''. . 
 
 .62 
 
 English navy 
 
 Fiscal year 1866 4 
 
 18.76 
 14.92 
 10.86 
 9.23 
 
 1.58 
 6.00 
 16.20 
 .92 
 
 3.26 
 2.61 
 
 4.86 
 1.76 
 
 Fiscal year 1867 4 . . 
 
 Fiscal year 1868 4 . 
 
 Fiscal year 1869 J . 
 
 1856 and I860". 
 
 English army 
 
 1866 6 . 
 
 7.05 
 10.11 
 6.30 
 
 .88 
 .11 
 .23 
 
 2.34 
 1.28 
 2.44 
 
 1867 7 
 
 1868 8 
 
 1837 to 1846" . 
 
 
 1837 to 1856" 
 
 
 
 
 1837 to 1856" 
 
 
 
 
 1838 to 1856 9 
 
 
 
 
 1837 to 1855 9 
 
 
 
 
 1837 to 1855" 
 
 
 
 
 1860, 1861, and 1862"' 
 1860, 1861, and 1862'" 
 186*0, 1861, and 1862'" 
 
 8.43 
 6.83 
 
 8.16 
 
 
 
 .87 
 2.54 
 1.03 
 1.21 
 1.08 
 2.80 
 1.15 
 2.11 
 1.09 
 3.03 
 .94 
 2.91 
 
 1860, 1861, and 1862'. . . 
 
 20.03 
 13.07 
 23 97 
 
 11.14 
 
 1860, 1861, and 1862' 
 1860, 1861, and 1862 1 ' 1 . . 
 
 1867 and 1868" 
 
 9.00 
 
 
 1867 and 1868" 
 
 7 99 
 
 
 1867 and 1868" 
 
 6.97 
 
 
 1867 and 1868". 
 
 19.62 
 11.77 
 20.74 
 
 2.63 
 12.051 
 
 1867 and 1868" 
 
 1867 and 1868" 
 IKIti and 1848'- 
 
 
 is 1C ;M id 1848 1J 
 
 
 
 
 1863 and 1864 1:i 
 
 8 17 
 
 
 .95 
 1.19 
 
 1863 and 1864 1:l 
 
 15. 86 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Surgeon freueral's Report for tho year 1867. 
 
 2 Surgeon Ueutral's Reports for tlio years 1H W".). and 1*1". 
 
 3 1856: Ex. Doc., 1st session. ll."itli Congress, volume -J. part :i. page IW'.i; IrCjT: Kx. Doc. :M session. :Gt1i Congress, volume 2, part I. page 673. 
 
 4 Data furnished by Surgeon William M. Wood. Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, rniteil States Navy. 
 
 5 British and Foreign Medical Chirurgical Review, volume :i:i, Mil. page 'Kill. 
 
 ' Statistical Report 
 7 Statistical Report i 
 "Statistical Report i 
 9 English Army Stati 
 
 10 English Army Mod 
 
 11 English Army Med 
 
 12 Boudin. Traite de 
 
 Enplisl 
 Knglisl 
 Knglisl 
 
 tical. Si 
 
 al I)ep: 
 il Depi 
 
 ;(.ograpl 
 
 Xavv, l^iW. page Wlj. 
 Navy, IMIT. page :ir<4. 
 
 Navy, 18<K page 370. 
 
 litary, and - 
 
 p.mo 37 
 edical 
 
 Report for tfilo. l,<in.lon, lr<(a. Page i:i:i. 
 
 " 
 
 tment Report for 1CO, page 142 ; 1861, page 137; 18C2, pag(^ ir>.">. 
 tinent Rejiort for 1867. page 450 ; 1868, page 386. 
 ii' i-t ile statistii|tie Mcdicale. Paris, 18571 Volume 2, page 151. 
 ^0 pendant 1'Annee, 1803, page 278 ; 1864, page 272. 
 
 13 Statistique Mcdicalc de 1'Ari 
 * Exclusive of those killed in 1 
 
 t The only epidemic noted among British troops in the West Indies during 1867-'63 occurred in Jamaica during 1867, giving a mortality of 
 48.23 per 1,000. 
 
KEPORT OX BABRACKS AXD HOSPITALS. XXIX 
 
 Table A, showing ratio per 1,000 of mortality in the United States Army, &c. Coutiuued. 
 
 Sri-vice or locality. 
 
 Years. 
 
 ~ ~r 
 
 Deaths from 
 epidemics. 
 
 J J 
 
 ? '=' 
 
 Total. Remarks. 
 
 
 186(5' . 9 24 
 
 
 1 04 
 
 10 28 Home service 
 
 
 1866' 10.46 
 
 
 1.49 
 
 11.95 In Algeria. 
 
 Prussian annv 
 
 1857 and 1859 s 
 
 
 
 8.28 
 
 
 1*60 and 18C2 2 ' 
 
 
 
 6.03 
 
 
 1850 and 1800" 
 
 
 
 17 5 
 
 
 1862 and 1863 4 . . 
 
 
 
 14 -I 
 
 
 1867 s 7 25 
 
 1 14 
 
 44 
 
 8.84 
 
 
 1868 s 7. 76 
 
 .004 
 
 .38 
 
 8.15 
 
 
 1869 s . . 7.02 
 
 
 .40 
 
 7.42 
 
 Portland, Maine, ami vicinity, in- 
 cluding Falmonth. Pownal, and 
 
 Yearendiu (r May 31, 1870^ 7 15 
 
 52 
 
 1.04 
 
 8 72 1 
 
 Kichniond, Virginia 
 
 .do do do 14. 54 
 
 
 2.71 
 
 17.26 
 
 Key West and Dry Tortugas, 
 
 do do do 15 08 
 
 26 39 
 
 2.26 
 
 43 74 
 
 Springfield City and township, 
 Illinois ... 
 
 .do do do 3. 07 
 
 
 .71 
 
 3.78 
 
 Leavenworth City and Fort, Kan- 
 sas 
 
 Buffalo New York ... 
 
 do do do 8.35 
 do do do . 8. 10 
 
 .05 
 
 1.29 
 
 .78 
 
 Males at soldiers 
 9 65 
 
 8.94 
 
 
 do do do 6.60 
 
 
 3.67 
 
 10.27 
 
 
 do do do 21 86 
 
 
 1.74 
 
 23. 61 
 
 .Sacramento City and County, 
 
 . . . do do do 7. 64 
 
 
 1.32 
 
 8.97 ! 
 
 Portland and vicinity, Oregon 
 
 .do . do do ' 6.43 
 
 
 2.23 
 
 8.67 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 1 
 
 1 Statistiime Miklicalo cle I'Ariuro peudaut 1'annC-e. Inlii. p;ii:i- -234. 
 
 2 Kirchncr. Militiir-IIyxii-iio. Erlnngen, 1869, page I'M. 
 
 "Oesterlen. Hmdbnoti der Uedicduiaoben Statlgtlk. Tiiliiii!;i'ii. ifi;:>. piinoi!39. 
 
 J Kirchner. Op. cit., page 443. 
 
 Stut iHtioa Medicadcir Esercito Trli-iinii), Ii7-n. Filrnze, 1870. Mean stn-ngth, 1867, 206,452; 1868, 216,501; 1869, 187,149. 
 
 " Until fumislii'd by Ccni-ral F. A. Walker, Siipi j riiili>iuK>nt XiuMi Census. 
 
XXX 
 
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KKI'ORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
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 Of persons in civil life, at soldiers' ages: 
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 Riclimond, Virginia 
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 <,,,;,.,. II, .1,1 f'it^niul T/vtt-iisViii. Tlliiin 
 
 Leavenwortll City and Fort, Kansas 
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 Galveston, Texas 
 Sacramento City and County, Calil'orn 
 Portland, Oregon, and vicinity 
 
 NOTE. The data for Table li relative to t 
 remaining tigurcs are from tho several sources in( 
 the heading " alcoholimn " arc included delirium t 
 
XXXII REPORT ON BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS. 
 
 It will be seen from these tables that, while the mortality rate of our Army for 
 the past two years has been low, as compared with that of former periods, or of other 
 services, it still remains higher than that of men of the same ages in civil life. The 
 reverse of this should be the case were the sanitary condition of the soldier as good as 
 that of the civilian; for it must be remembered Unit the former is selected for health 
 and strength, and that the mortality of the Army is diminished by the discharge of men 
 affected with consumption, &c., while the relative mortality in civil life is correspond- 
 ingly increased. 
 
 The mortality from disease (excluding epidemics) in the United States Army, for 
 the last three years, is probably 50 per cent greater than it should be ; in other words, 
 it has been increased to that extent by causes which might have been obviated. 
 
 The bad sanitary condition of barracks is one of the more important of these causes, 
 awd gives rise more especially to continued fevers, diseases of the respiratory organs, 
 and tuberculous affections. Within the last year the result of the .reduction of the 
 Army, and the consequent diminution of overcrowding, has been to markedly decrease 
 the mortality from these diseases among white troops. 
 
 It has been said that we have the best-fed and the worst-housed Army in the 
 world, and the statement seems more nearly correct than such generalizations usually 
 are. The ultimate cause of the defect is, of course, ignorance, the immediate cause 
 being a desire for economy, praiseworthy in itself, but producing results which are the 
 reverse of its object ; for a saving in boards and bricks, at the expense of the health and 
 life of the soldier, cannot be considered a commendable thrift. When a man enlists as 
 a soldier it is with the understanding, expressed or implied, that, as his food, clothing, 
 and dwelling place arc to be regulated by others, they shall be selected, so far as possi- 
 ble, with reference to his health and comfort. It. is clearly both the duty and the 
 interest of the Government to reduce, as much as possible, the annual loss to the Army 
 from sickness, invaliding, desertion, and death ; and this can only be effected by a 
 judicious application of the laws of sanitary science. 
 
 Many of the evils in the plan and construction of our Army buildings have long 
 since been pointed out by medical officers, and continue to exist in spite of their remon- 
 strances ; 4 but, as the subject of hygiene is not officially and necessarily a subject of daily 
 consideration, as it should be, the surgeon does not have the motive to bestow that 
 amount of study and labor upon it which must be given if good results are to be attained. 
 The point is clearly stated by the Barrack Commission : 
 
 There being no regulation on these subjects, it naturally follows that the degree of respect 
 shown medical opinions on matters affecting the health of the troops, whether concerning personal 
 hygiene, such as food and clothing, or the larger and more difficult subjects of barracks, hospitals, 
 or camps, depends solely on the good sense and capacity of the officer in command, and on the tact 
 and ability of the medical adviser. If the commanding officer be inexperienced and not sufficiently 
 well informed to be conscious of his ignorance in such matters, he does not ask for the opinion of 
 the medical officer, and considers it intrusive if offered. On the other hand, the best and most 
 experienced officers in the service, knowing the value of such advice and assistance, never failed 
 to seek it and to be guided by it, unless, indeed, the estimate which they nifty have formed of the 
 knowledge and good seuse of the medical officer be such as not to inspire confidence in his opinion. 
 
 But if, in such a case as that supposed, it is for the interest of the service that an opinion should be 
 tendered, it must not be allowed to depend on the character and disposition either of the command" 
 
EEPOET ON BAREACKS AND HOSPITALS. XXXIII 
 
 ing officer or the 'medical officer, whether the opinion on which the lives of men may depend should 
 be asked or offered. The duty and the responsibility of both should be defined by regulation. The 
 medical officer should be made to feel that, charged as he is with the care of the troops in health, 
 as well as with their treatment in sickness, he is responsible for any act or any omission which his 
 advice or warning would have prevented ; and the commanding officer should be made to feel that 
 he is responsible for disregarding that warning or overruling that advice, and should have sound 
 reasons to show for the course taken. (Eeport of the Commissioners for the Organization of Mili- 
 tary Hospitals, page 19. London, 1858.) 
 
 The defects in the plan of a barrack are often so far compensated by faulty con- 
 struction that evil results are not apparent ; and the very cracks and crevices in roofs, 
 walls, or floors, which are so often complained of, may explain why destructive lung 
 affections or fevers have not attended overcrowding to a greater degree than they have 
 done. 
 
 Hesitation in making or forwarding requests for new buildings, or for repairs involv- 
 ing much expense, is perfectly natural ; and it is not to be wondered at that, sometimes, 
 by reason of successive reductions in the estimates and amount recommended to be 
 authorized for expenditure, a proposed reform is practically denied, although such may not 
 have been the wish or intention of any one of the several officers through whose hands 
 the request has passed. 
 
 In consideration of the great importance of proper post and barrack construction, 
 and in order to consult the different interests involved, it would probably be expedient 
 that this subject should be referred to a competent board of Army officers of the Engi- 
 neer's, Quartermaster's and Medical Departments and of the Line, for the preparation of 
 plans and regulations for the approval of the Honorable Secretary of War. 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN S. BILLINGS, 
 Assistant Surgeon United States Army. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Fort Sullivan, Eastport, Maine. 
 
 Fort Preble, Portland, Maine. 
 
 Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. 
 
 Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. 
 
 Fort Adams, Newport, Rhode Island. 
 
 Fort Trumbull, New London, Connecticut. 
 
 Fort Columbus, Governor's Island,' New York Harbor. 
 
 Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York. 
 
 Fort Hamilton, Long Island, New York. 
 
 Fort Wood, Bedloe's Island, New York Harbor. 
 
 Fort Schuyler, Throgg's Point, New York Harbor. 
 
 Willet's Point, Long Island, New York. 
 
 West Point, United States Military Academy, New York. 
 
 Plattsburg Barracks, Plattsbnrg, New York. 
 
 Fort Delaware, Delaware. 
 
 Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 
 
 Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland. 
 
 Fort Whipple, Virginia. 
 
 Fort Foote, Maryland. 
 
 Fort Washington, Maryland. 
 
 Fortress Monroe, Virginia. 
 
 Fort Johnston, Smithville, North Carolina. 
 
 Raleigh, North Carolina. 
 
 FORT SULLIVAN, EASTPORT, MAINE. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. C. FESSENDEN, UNITED STATES ARMY, 
 AND ASSISTANT SURGEON J. W. WILLIAMS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Sullivan, the most eastern post in the United States, and the most northern on the 
 Atlantic coast, is located on Moose Island, Passamaquoddy Bay, in the town of Eastport, Maine, 
 latitude 44 54' north, longitude 60 56' west from Greenwich. 
 
 The island is about four miles long by two wide; the surface is rocky and sterile. 
 
 The fort is on a rocky eminence on the southeastern side of the island, about 150 feet above 
 tide-water, and overlooks the village, the harbor, the adjacent islands of the province of New 
 Brunswick, and the mouth of the Saint Croix Eiver. The amount of reservation is about nine 
 acres. 
 
 Troops were first stationed here iu the spring of 1808, and the fort was built during the same 
 year, probably as a precautionary measure in view of the dispute then existing concerning the 
 eastern boundary of the United States. In July, 1814, a fleet of ten armed vessels belonging to 
 the British navy entered the harbor. The fort was surrendered, and, with the town, remained in 
 British possession until formally surrendered to the United States,- on the 30th of June, 1818. 
 
 The rock of the vicinity is a porphyritic metalliferous trap. OH the mainland south and west, 
 in the towns of Trescott and Lubec, are mines of iron and lead, and on the neighboring islands cop- 
 per mining has been carried on. The lead ore is argentiferous, containing from $10 to $50 worth 
 of silver to the ton. 
 
 The climate is damp, and fogs are frequent in the earlier summer months. The winters are 
 cold, and the variations in temperature are often sudden. Average temperature, about 43 F. ; 
 extremes, 94 and 19. 
 
 The buildings are on three sides of the parade, which slopes from west to east, and although 
 for the most part old, are in good repair. 
 
 The barrack is a frame building of one story and an attic, 94 by 21 feet, and divided into three 
 rooms : No. 1, 28 by 20, by 10 feet high, occupied by twelve men, giving 467 feet air space per 
 man; No. 2, of the same dimensions, containing twenty men, giving 280 feet per man, and No. 3, 
 35 by 20 by 10 feet, occupied by twenty men. 
 
4 . DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Each of these rooms has two or three windows in front, and an aperture 2 by 3 feet in the 
 ceiling communicating with a similar opening in the roof. The bunks are of wood, and double. 
 
 The mess-hall communicates with room No. 3, and a bath-room containing six tubs is at the 
 corner of the building. 
 
 The laundresses and married soldiers occupy as quarters two one-story frame buildings, which 
 are divided into four tenements each. 
 
 Two buildings are occupied as quarters for officers one, an independent building, is the 
 residence of the post commandant; the other is occupied by the, remaining officers. Both are 
 wooden framed structures, of a plain, cheap character. The commandant's residence is one story ; 
 the other building is of two stories, and is divided into four tenements. These quarters are 
 supplied with water from a well located between the two buildings, and from a reservoir. There 
 are no water-closets or bath-rooms. 
 
 The guard-house is southeast of the hospital, 30 by 25 by 10 feet, divided into one room for 
 the guard and four cells. The guard-room is 29 by 16 by 10 feet; cubic capacity, 4,640 feet; has 
 two windows, 5 by 3 feet each, one in front and one in southeast face ; one door in front, 6 by 3 
 feet, and two communicating with cells. The large cell is 18 by 9 by 10 feet ; cubic capacity, 
 1,620 feet; ventilated by a grated window, 2 by 2 feet, in southeast face. The small cells, three in 
 number, are 3 by 7 by 10 feet each ; cubic capacity, 210 feet ; ventilated by a small grating, one 
 foot square, in the door. 
 
 The guard-room communicates with these cells through a passage-way 10 by 2 feet; average- 
 occupancy, twenty-five for the six months commencing January 1, 1870. Not more than one man 
 has been put into a small cell at a time, and then but for a few hours. 
 
 The hospital, erected in 1808, located at the northeast corner of the parade ground, fronting 
 the south, is a -wooden framed building, 55 feet in length by 20 feet in breadth, and two stories 
 high. A hall 7 feet wide runs through the center. The basement is low and damp, and contains 
 the dispensary, office, kitchen, mess-room, and two small bedrooms. 
 
 The second story contains two large rooms, the one on the eastern side occupied by the steward, 
 and that on the western side as a ward-room. The hospital is warmed by stoves, and ventilated 
 imperfectly through the roof. 
 
 The ward-room has a capacity of six beds, giving 624 feet air space per man. No bath-room, 
 water-closet, or dead-house is connected with the hospital, and, owing to the very limited number 
 of patients, no special provision is made for the storage of baggage. 
 
 The post bakery and school-house have been erected within two years, and are in good repair. 
 The stables, located east of the parade-ground, are also recently constructed buildings, and well 
 adapted to their purpose. 
 
 The library is kept in a well-lighted room over the officers' office, a wooden framed building 
 of two stories, on the north side of the parade-ground. The library contains about 120 volumes of 
 science, history, and fiction. The post is supplied with water from a well about 40 feet in depth, 
 sunk in the ledge near the commandant's quarters, and from a reservoir on the northern side of the 
 parade-ground. The well affords an abundant supply of very fine water, and never fails. The 
 reservoir does not fail except in a continued summer drought, which very rarely happens. Means 
 of extinguishing fire at the post consist of a fire-engine and buckets. 
 
 The drainage is all that could be desired. There are no stagnant waters and no cess-pools 
 to infect the air at any season. 
 
 There are no gardens at the post. Spare land is devoted to the cultivation of turnips and 
 potatoes by the soldiers. Rations are of good quality and ample quantity; the vicinity affords as 
 great a variety of food as can be procured anywhere in the United States. 
 
 During the winter weekly communication is had by steamboat with Portland, Maine, and 
 Boston, Massachusetts; during the summer there is tri- weekly communication with the same cities 
 by boat. The nearest railroad station is Calais on the River Saint Croix, 30 miles north of Fort 
 Sullivan. Steamboats communicate between the post and Calais during the summer months and 
 until the Saint Croix is closed by ice. after which time daily stages take the place of boats. There 
 is a daily mail by land transportation and one by every steamboat; ordinarily they go and come 
 with great regularity, though occasionally in the winter time blocking snow-storms have delayed 
 mails for several days. It usually requires from three to four days to transport a letter from this 
 place to New York City and Washington. 
 
FORT FEEBLE, PORTLAND HARBOR, MAINE. 
 
 5 
 
 The prevailing diseases have been bronchial and rheumatic affections, owing to the general cold- 
 ness and humidity of the atmosphere. Pulmonary and bowel diseases are more rare than in most 
 parts of New England; but rheumatism, particularly of a chronic character, prevails extensively. 
 
 The population in the vicinity numbers from 3,000 to 3,500. Number of guard posts, 1. 
 Amusements of soldiers are cards, checkers, billiards, ball playing, and velocipede riding. 
 
 Statement shoving mean xtrenytlt, number of sick, and principal diseases, at Fort Sulliran, Maine, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 - ^ 
 
 50 
 B 
 
 s , 
 
 * E? 
 
 c; 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 1. 
 
 X 
 
 +3 
 
 
 
 
 
 a i 
 
 tt 
 
 V 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 a a 
 
 "3 
 
 "= 
 
 9 
 
 C OB 
 
 a 
 
 X 
 
 ~ = 
 
 -r 
 
 Remarks, 
 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 S 
 
 II 
 
 a 
 
 
 4 
 
 fl 
 V 
 
 B 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 * 
 
 ^ 
 
 Q 
 
 Q 
 
 > 
 
 | 
 
 S 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 79 66 
 
 60 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 ll 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1869 
 
 37.91 
 
 29 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT PREBLE, PORTLAND HARBOR, MAINE. 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEON E. COWLES, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACTING ASSISTANT 
 
 SURGEON SIMON FITCH, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Preble is situated on a small peninsula called Spring Point, on the south side of the 
 harbor of Portland, Maine, and distant about one mile from that city. Latitude 45 38' 55"; lon- 
 gitude 70 13' 18". The fort was first established in 1808, and then consisted of a small barbette 
 battery, with brick scarp wall, with wooden buildings for quarters. The reservation contains 
 about 5 acres. The rock upon which the fort is placed is a talcose schist slate, the highest point 
 being about 38 feet above the sea. The natural drainage is perfect, and the supply of water, from 
 a spring and two wells, is abundant and of good quality. Average temperature, 40 08' F. ; nraxi- 
 mum, 80 F.; minimum, 2 F. 
 
 The barracks for troops are four two-story wooden buildings, with cellar or basement, each 
 being 52 by 37 feet. The basements are used for post bakery, furnace-rooms, coal-rooms, &c. 
 On the first floor are four rooms mess-room, 33 by 17 feet; dormitory, 34 by 17 feet, and two 
 office rooms. On the second floor are three dormitories, two measuring 33 by 17 feet, and the 
 third 34 by 17 feet. The height of rooms on the first floor is 10 feet 10 inches; on the second floor, 
 9 feet 8 inches. Each dormitory is lighted by three windows, and is intended to contain twelve 
 beds, which would give an average of 475 cubic feet air space per man. But one barrack is now 
 occupied for dormitories. 
 
 The barracks are Avarmed by furnaces. In each of the upper dormitories an opening 8 by 12 
 inches and 7 feet from the floor, communicating with an air shaft in the chimney, furnishes the 
 only special means of ventilation. The beds are low single bunks formed of boards on movable 
 iron supports. A small room in an unoccupied barrack is used as a bath-room, having two bath- 
 tubs and a large caldron for heating water. 
 
 The sinks for the men are built over tide-water, and are arranged in stalls, each for one man, 
 and instead of having a seat, or bar, an opening is cut in the floor 20 inches long, 5 inches wide 
 behind and 2 inches wide in front. This form of water-closet has proved very satisfactory. The 
 quarters for married soldiers are two frame houses in good condition. 
 
 The guard-house is a one-story wooden building, 43 by 31 feet, and contains the guard-room, 
 17 by 15 feet; two prison-rooms, 14 feet 10 inches by 15 feet, and 18 feet 4 inches by 7 feet 4 inches; 
 and five cells, each 7 feet 10 inches by 3 feet 10 inches. The height of all these rooms is 12 feet 3 
 inches. There are two windows, 4 feet 4 inches by 2 feet 6 inches, in each of the prison rooms 
 
6 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and in the guard-room; none in the cells, and no special means of ventilation. Cubic air space 
 per cell is about 370 feet. 
 
 The officers' quarters are four frame cottages of one story, with cellars and attics, and with 
 verandas in front. They are heated by stoves, lighted by lamps or candles, and have no bath- 
 rooms. Each building contains four rooms, with two small rooms for kitchens, &c. 
 
 The hospital is a two-story frame building, G2 by 40 feet, with basement and attic. The 
 kitchen and laundry are in the basement. On the first floor are two wards, each 25J by 19 feet, 
 and 11 feet high. The second floor contains four wards, 25i by 19 and 7f feet. There is one 
 small ventilator in each upper ward only, opening in the outer wall; it is 10 inches in diameter, 
 and communicates by a tin flue with the outer air. The capacity of the wards is reckoned at eight 
 beds each, giving 70CJ cubic feet per man. Only one ward is usually used, containing four beds. 
 There are wash and bath-rooms and water-closets for both first and second floors. 
 
 The post library contains about 350 volumes, and receives the principal periodicals. 
 
 The natural drainage is good, all surface water passing rapidly into the sea. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is good, and the general police is excellent. 
 
 There are no prevailing diseases. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases, at Fort Preble, Maine, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 ac 
 f- 
 
 >ej 
 
 rt 
 
 f 
 
 
 o 
 
 CM 
 
 o 
 
 
 &o 
 
 a 
 
 ^i 
 a -t, 
 
 > 
 
 * {? 
 
 
 >9 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 * 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 & 
 
 X 
 
 
 1 
 
 Whole nu 
 taken s 
 
 Malarial f 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 tlysente 
 
 Epidemic 
 tarrh 
 
 Venereal 
 eases. 
 
 Elleumati 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 Number 
 death 
 
 1868 
 
 76.91 
 
 181 
 
 7 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 24 
 
 20 
 
 38 
 
 
 1869... . 
 
 35.41 
 
 80 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 9 
 
 G 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneuinouia. and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WARREN, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. H. KINSMAN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Port Warren is situated at the mouth of Boston harbor, Massachusetts, in latitude 42 19' 30"; 
 longitude 70 57' 6," on George's Island, seven and one-quarter miles east-southeast of Boston; 
 five miles east-southeast of Fort Independence and Fort Winthrop. The height of the parade 
 above the sea is 38 feet. 
 
 The first attempt at fortifying the island was made in the autumn of 1778, by throwing up an 
 earthwork on its eastern extremity for the protection of vessels entering the harbor against English 
 cruisers hovering in the neighborhood. The present fort was commenced in 1837, and was first 
 occupied by troops in November, 1SG1. During the Avar of the rebellion, besides being garrisoned 
 as a fort, it was used as a prison for confederates. 
 
 The island is an irregular oval, the longest axis being 1,800 feet, the shortest 1,200 feet, and 
 contains about 28 acres. It originally consisted of two hills, which were leveled for the building of 
 the fort, and the only land at present not thus occupied is a few acres on the northwest and south- 
 Avest points of the island. This space is used as a post garden, and for the accommodation of the 
 engineer building, laundresses' quarters, and stables. 
 
 The geological formation of the island is diluvium; of the surrounding country, argillaceous 
 slate, conglomerate, and diluvium. The soil is moderately fertile. 
 
FORT \VAKi;i<;X, BOSTON IIARBOK, MASSACHUSETTS. 7 
 
 The mean monthly temperature for 1809 was 47 F. The hottest clay, July 4th, the thermometer 
 indicated 77, and the coldest day was January 22, 9. The amount of rain-fall during the year 
 was 34.07 inches. The amount of snow is not taken, it being drifted so much by the wind that in 
 a circle of 100 feet the depth sometimes varies from nothing to 10 or 12 feet. The average monthlv 
 dew-point for 1869 was 44. The northwest winds prevail. These, with the west winds during the 
 winter, are the cold, dry winds; and during the summer they are the warm, dry winds. The south- 
 west, south, and southeast winds, during both winter and summer, are the warm, damp winds, 
 bringing rain. The east and northeast winds bring with them violent storms of snow in winter, 
 and rain in summer, which have a general duration of two or three days. A true north wind is 
 comparatively rare. 
 
 The winter season is generally long and rigorous, lasting from the 1st of November till the 
 middle of April. Spring commences and autumn ends abruptly. Summer is short, its extreme heat 
 rarely comprising more than twelve or fifteen days in all, occurring in groups of two or three. In 
 comparison with the temperature of the city of Boston, the teat is about 10 or 12 less in summer, 
 and the cold the same amount less in winter. 
 
 Although the prevailing winds of summer are westerly, the heat is much mitigated by the 
 frequent occurrence of winds from the east, which often spring up early in the afternoon, and last, 
 unaccompanied by rain, for five or six hours. These winds are piercing and chilly, so that a linen 
 coat at 10 o'clock may be comfortably replaced by a thin overcoat at 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 
 
 The fort is built of granite, and contains about 18 acres. The casemates are used as quarters, 
 averaging in dimension 30 by 18 by 15 feet, with hard-finished walls and floors of concrete, covered 
 with hard pine, accommodating nine men to each. The casemates are warmed by stoves, and 
 lighted and ventilated by three embrasures looking outward and two windows looking upon the 
 parade. 
 
 The beds are single iron bunks, with the usual bedding. A water-closet for winter use is 
 within the fort the excreta passing into the main sewer running under the ditch. It requires to 
 be flushed with water every day, and is inadequate to the wants of the command, the arrange- 
 ment being very imperfect, and it is only used when the weather is too inclement to make use of 
 the summer water-closet, which is a wooden building outside the fort upon the sea-wall, overhang- 
 ing the water. 
 
 Three of the casemates are used as kitchens and mess-rooms combined ; they are well furnished 
 and adapted for the purpose. 
 
 The quarters for laundresses and married soldiers consist of three wooden buildings outside 
 the fort. They are one story high, 175 feet long, 25 feet broad, and divided into 5 sets of quarters, 
 each containing about four rooms. They are mere shells of the most ordinary description. 
 
 The officers' quarters are the casemates forming the northwest side of the fort. They are 
 hard-finished, with plain white walls, and comprise twelve sets of one story, with basements below 
 the level of the parade, and two sets of one story without basements. The number of rooms to a 
 set is either four or six. The average size of the rooms is 16 by 18 feet. The two sets without 
 basements are single sets, and contain each four rooms. Two of the sets contain six rooms, 
 including basements. All the quarters with basements, except one set, are double sets, having a 
 common entrance, but separated by a wall running from front to back. They are heated by grates, 
 and lighted by embrasures on one side and by windows looking upon the parade on the other, 
 which also afford ventilation. Water is supplied from a pump in the kitchen, leading to a cistern 
 below each set of quarters. A water-closet and bath-room is in common for each double set of 
 quarters, and is situated at the end of the hall which separates the quarters. The two single 
 quarters have water-closets, but no bath-rooms. 
 
 The offices and storehouses are in casemates, principally in the north bastion of the fort. 
 
 The guard-house is of stone, at the entrance of the road leading to the sally-port, between the 
 cover-face and the wall of the fort. It is one story high, 40 by 18 feet, and contains two rooms 
 and a hall. The building is warmed by stoves, and ventilated principally by windows. It is not 
 any too large for the exclusive use of the guard, and it ought not to contain prisoners. 
 
 The hospital is situated in casemates on the western side of the fort, and is contained in a 
 space of 202 by 39 feet. The walls are hard-finished, and the floor is of hard pine. The rooms are 
 
8 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 wanned by grates ;uul stoves, ami ventilated by windows and embrasures and by tubes passing 
 up from the ceilings. The arrangement and division of the space are shown in Fig. 1. The 
 
 massive lines represent stone ; the fine lines, wood 
 en partitions. A, wards, 39 by 25 feet; B, bath 
 and wash-room; D, dispensary ; E, steward's room ; 
 F, clothing room ; K, kitchen; L, cook's room; M, 
 surgeon's quarters ; N, commanding officer's quar- 
 ters ; O , well ; S, store-rooms ; W, water-closet. 
 
 The ward is intended to contain thirty beds, 
 giving to each a cubic air apace of 1,226 feet. 
 The bath-room contains a large sink with pump, 
 and three bath-tubs. Hot water is furnished by 
 a small perpendicular boiler in the coal-room. 
 The ceiling of the hospital is arched, the height 
 from the floor to the center being 16 feet 4 inches. 
 The post bakery is a casemate containing two ovens, -situated in 
 the north bastion. It is commodious, and well adapted for that 
 purpose. 
 
 On the eastern side of the fort is a casemate used as a chapel 
 and furnished with plain wooden benches. Adjoining the chapel 
 is the school-room also a casemate and furnished with benches 
 and blackboards. 
 
 The library is contained in a casemate on the east side of the 
 fort, near the chapel. It comprises about 1,000 volumes of all 
 branches of literature. 
 
 The fort is abundantly supplied with water from wells and cis- 
 terns, located at convenient points in and around the fortifica- 
 tions, whose water is supplied by the rain which percolates through 
 the earth which covers the parapet. Beneath the parade are four 
 Fig. i. wells and two large cisterns ; beneath each set of quarters is also 
 
 a large cistern; a Avell and two cisterns are situated near the middle of the parade; and in each 
 of three of the bastions is a well and pump. There are^also several wells located outside of 
 the fort. Although the water contains a considerable amount of lime and soda salts, the quality- 
 is good. In case of fire at the post, the only available means of water supply would be the pumps. 
 The drainage of the fort, which is entirely artificial, is effected by drains and sew T ers con- 
 structed of masonry, which run in all necessary directions beneath the parade, and, ex tending under 
 the ditch, discharge into the sea. 
 
 lu summer the men bathe in the sea, but there are no special arrangements providing bathing 
 accommodations for them within the fort. 
 
 The post garden contains about one and a half acres of ground, which is cultivated by a detail 
 from the command. The following articles and quantities were produced in 1869: 80 bushels pota- 
 toes, 71 bushels beets, 75 bushels tomatoes, 14 bushels green peas, 16 bushels green beans, 146 
 bushels turnips, 650 heads cabbage, 4 barrels squash, 20 bushels green corn; parsley, radishes, 
 and lettuce enough to supply the command. 
 
 The means of communication with Boston is the steam-tug General Humphreys, belonging to 
 the engineer department, but under orders to call at the fort three times a week. It is regular in 
 summer, but liable to occasional interruptions in winter from ice and violent storms. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past year have been rheumatism, pneumonia, and general 
 affections of the air passages, due, probably, to the peculiarly sudden changes of temperature. 
 There are no endemic malarial diseases at the post or in the vicinity. 
 
FORT INDEPENDENCE, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 9 
 
 Statement xhuirhui iiicaii xln-iit/tlt, number of sick, and principal dineases at Fort Warren, Button, Mas- 
 
 or the years 1808 and 1809. 
 
 Years. 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 Whole munber 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrlltt'il and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 ewee. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 I'atarrhalatliv- 
 tions.* 
 
 Deatli.-. 
 
 1868 
 
 192. :i:s 
 
 54 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 C 
 
 
 1 S(i<) 
 
 140. 33 
 
 101 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 5 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, l.rr.nchitis. pnenmonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT INDEPENDENCE, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 HISTORY BY SURGEON J. P. WRIGHT, i:\ITED STATES ARMY. ACCOUNT OF THE POST BY SURGEON 
 WRIGHT AND ASSISTANT SURGEON \V. H. GARDNER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 LOCALITY AND HISTORY OF THE POST. 
 
 Fort Independence is situated on Castle Island, in Boston Harbor, and from India Wharf, in a 
 southeast direction, is distant two miles and three furlongs ; from City Point (Rochester Point) it 
 is distant about 900 yards; and from Governor's Island, (Fort Winthrop,) from which it is separated 
 by the main channel, 1,100 yards. The surface will measure perhaps twelve acres at high water 
 but the dimensions of the island on the north, east, and west are known to have decreased prior 
 to the erection of the sea walls. The southern extremity of the, island, a level plain but a few feet 
 above water-mark, embraces less than one-fourth of the island, and is doubtless a gift from the sea. 
 
 Fort Independence is the oldest fortified place in the United States. In the spring of 1634, 
 and but four years subsequent to the incorporation of the town of Boston, Governor Winthrop, with 
 the council ministry, visited the island, where they were detained by the ice, without shelter, a day 
 and a night. So much pleased were these gentlemen with the commanding site of the place, that 
 they each subscribed 5 towards the erection of two platforms and a fort, and in July following 
 made a report to the legislature which induced that body to consent to the fortifying of the place. 
 This first fort has been described as a " castle with mud walls ;" the masonry was of lime made 
 from oyster shells. 
 
 In 1044 the arrival of a French man-of-war in the harbor so alarmed the citizens of the province 
 of Massachusetts, that the fort, which had gone to decay, was rebuilt at the expense of six neigh- 
 boring towns. The fort was now constructed of piue trees, stone, and earth ; it was 50 feet square 
 inside, with walls 10 feet thick. 
 
 In 1005 the fort was repaired and enlarged, and furnished with a small castle with brick walls 
 three stories high. There was a dwelling-room on the first floor; a lodging-room above; a gun- 
 room over the latter, furnished with "six very good saker guns;" upon the roof were mounted 
 three lesser guns. On the loth of July, 1005, Captain Richard Davenport, the commanding officer, 
 was killed by lightning in an apartment separate from the magazine only by a wooden partition ; 
 the powder was not exploded. 
 
 March 21, 1073, the fort was burned by accident ; and in the year following a new fort of stone was 
 erected with four bastions, and armed with thirty-eight guns and sixteen cnlverins; there was also 
 a small water battery of six guns. This fort was built by an able, engineer and was considered a 
 strong work. 
 
 In the year 1089 the people of Boston, favoring the revolution in England, confined Sir Ed- 
 mond Andross, the governor sent by King James, and took possession of the castle. Mr. John 
 Fairweather was appointed commander, and succeeded Captain John Pipon, who delivered up the 
 stores on the 19th of April. 
 
10 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The fort was probably first known under the appellation of " the Castle." During the admin- 
 istration of Sir William Phipps, who was appointed by King William in lf>92, it was first called 
 " Castle William." The Crown contributed about this time toward the erection of a citadel, and 
 the furnishing of it with ordnance ; the new bastions were long known by the names of the " Crown," 
 the "Rose," the "Royal," aud the "Elizabeth" bastions; the ordnance were, twenty-four 0-ponnd- 
 ers, twelve 24- pounders, eighteen 32 -pounders and 48-poundcrs. This augmentation of strength 
 was the more necessary, as a French invasion of the New England colonies was apprehended in 
 1697. 
 
 On the 10th of October, 171(5, Lieutenant Governor William Duinmer assumed command of 
 Castle William, agreeably to orders from the Crown ; it is thus evident that the King asserted his 
 prerogative in the appointment of the commandant, and the general court, it is stated, felt much 
 injured at the assumption. 
 
 A few years afterwards a complaint was made by the governor that the pay of the soldiers 
 here stationed was less than that of the troops at the other provincial posts. It is true that the 
 latter were exposed in the Indian wars to more hardships, but Castle William was then considered 
 the first fort in British America, and the garrison was commanded by the second official in the gov 
 eminent, who officially held the rank of a field officer. A storm in 17-','? did great damage to the 
 castle, the town, and also the light-house. 
 
 Boston light-house was first illuminated September 1-1, 171G. It was burnt and rebuilt in 1720 ; 
 dismantled to distress the enemy during the revolutionary war, 1775 ; destroyed by the enemy in 
 1770 ; and was finally established in 1783. It is noteworthy that, though three times struck by 
 lightning during the first forty years of its erection, it has enjoyed immunity since the introduction 
 of electrical conductors. 
 
 On the llth of September John Larrabee succeeded John Gray as lieutenant of Castle William. 
 The lieutenant was the senior resident and had the immediate command of the fortress. After this 
 date he was styled " captain lieutenant." 
 
 A committee of the, general court visited Castle Island February 1, 1734, and on their report 
 funds were supplied, and Lieutenant Governor Phipps, John Qnincy, and Benjamin Bird were ap- 
 pointed to superintend the necessary repairs. Ten thousand pounds, (old tenor,) or $4,444, were ap- 
 propriated toward fortifying the town. William Barnsdell, who had for thirty years been governor 
 of the Castle, died February 0, 1734. 
 
 During the year 1740, Castle William was again repaired in anticipation of a French war ; a 
 bastion, named in honor of the governor " Shirley Bastion," was constructed, and twenty 42-pounders 
 mounted there. 
 
 The ordnance, presented by the King, arrived^in 1744. A second maga/.inc or arsenal was 
 built in 1747, and a third added during the latter part of Shirley's administration. On the 18th of 
 November, 1747, a riot occurred in Boston, on account of the impressment of some of the inhabit- 
 ants, and the governor retired to the castle ; but upon the assurance of the legislature and the citi- 
 zens that his authority would be sustained, the governor returned on the 20th of November. 
 In 1740 there were at Castle William, according to Douglass, 104 cannon, besides mortars. 
 A commodious barrack, 3CO feet in length, was erected in 1753, for the accommodation of the 
 regular and provincial troops. In 1758 it was occupied by a detachment of "loyal Americans," 
 not being used by the permanent garrison, which, seldom exceeding fifty in ^number, was lodged 
 in the citadel. 
 
 Ou the 15th of August, 1757, Governor Pownal arrived to assume the government of the 
 Province. The conqueror of Lewisburg, Sir William Pepperell, who was also the senior counsel- 
 lor, held command of Castle William. At that time the military commissions were vacated on 
 a change of the chief magistrate. Sir William Pepperell, on presenting to the governor the key of 
 the fortress, observed that " the Castle was the key of the Province." Former services werere called, 
 and his excellency replied: " Sir, the interests of the Province are in your heart. I shall, therefore, 
 always be glad to see the keys of it in your hands." Sir William Pepperell died in July, 1759. 
 Captain Lieutenant John Larrabee died on the 15th of February, in the seventy-sixth year of his 
 age. He had resided for fifty years on the island, and had risen from the ranks. On his death, 
 Governor Bernard fulfilled a promise before made to Governor Pownal, and appointed to the 
 
FORT INDEPENDENCE, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. H 
 
 vacancy the chaplain, Mr. John Philips. Governor Bernard made Castle William his summer resi- 
 dence, and one of his daughters was buried here. 
 
 In the early part of 1704 the barracks were occupied for the purpose of inoculation for small 
 pox, which disease at this time prevailed to a great extent in Boston, carrying with it all the hor- 
 rors of the plague. 
 
 The stamps, by which a revenue was intended to be raised from the British colonies, arrived * 
 iii the harbor of Boston in September, 17G5, and were lodged for security at the castle. The vigor- 
 ous opposition in America to this act having prevented its enforcement in any instance, it was 
 soon repealed, and in the course of the following summer all the stamps were returned to England. 
 In the contest between Britain and America, Boston was the center of attack, and Castle William 
 a key to be grasped by the strongest hand. 
 
 During the year 1708, while the public was agitated by a misunderstanding between the gov- 
 ernor of the province and the legislature, a vessel belonging to Mr. John Hancock was seized by 
 custom-house officers, and placed under guard. The commissioners of the revenue, whose charge 
 was very offensive to the people, with their subordinates, took shelter at the castle. They assem- 
 bled all the King's vessels around the island, and caused them to be moored in situations to resist a 
 regular attack. These officials did not return to the town until they had obtained protection from 
 the military arm. Before the expiration of the year several men-of-war arrived from Halifax, and 
 four or five regiments of regular troops took post in Boston. Of these, the Sixty-fifth was quar- 
 tered at Castle Island. These warlike movements greatly augmented the discontent of the prov- 
 inces, and the assumption by the Crown of the full control of the castle was no less offensive to the 
 province of Massachusetts; it was often stated as a grievance, but found no immediate remedy. 
 On the lOtli of September Lieutenant Governor Hntchiuson, in obedience to instructions, formally 
 withdrew the company of the provincial establishment and delivered up the command to Colonel 
 Dalrymple, to be garrisoned by regular troops. There had been an annual perquisite of 120 ster- 
 ling to the lieutenant governor, as commandant of the fortress. Captain Lieutenant Philips was, in 
 1772, appointed to the sinecure office of fort major, with an income of 200; he soon afterward lost 
 his office from his attachment to the American cause. Captain Sir Thomas Adams, of the Boston 
 frigate, who died on board the Romney man-of-war, was buried on Castle Island on the 8th of 
 October, 1772. His obsequies, as well as those of Governor Bernard's daughter, were conducted 
 with great pomp; but there the distinction ceased. In removing the earth to Fort Independence, 
 thirty years later, their corpses, inclosed in double coffins, highly ornamented, but upon which the 
 inscriptions were illegible, were dug out of the arches which inclosed them, and it not being dis- 
 covered at the time to whom they had belonged, the coffins were committed to the common bury- 
 ing place at the south point of the island, where their graves were soon not to be distinguished 
 from those of the private soldiers which surrounded them. With these, other bodies were neces- 
 sarily removed, and one was favored with a memento which displayed either British sarcasm or 
 
 Yankee simplicity. The stone was inscribed: "Here lies the body of John , aged fifty years, 
 
 a faithful soldier, and a desperate flood Gardner!" 
 
 The Fourteenth regiment remained at Castle William during the year 1771. The repeal, in 
 1770, of the larger part of the act authorizing a revenue from the colonies, lulled, during this and 
 the following year, the animosity of political parties; but the duty on tea, not indeed levied but 
 held in terrorem, and other causes of irritation still remained, one of which was the standing army 
 in Massachusetts, comprised in the regiment at the island. 
 
 On the 22d of July, 1772, Lieutenant Colonel Dalrymple was relieved by the Sixty-fourth regi- 
 ment and a detachment of artillery. The commanding officer at this time is unknown. 
 
 It does not appear that the force quartered on the island was engaged in the first two battles 
 of the Revolution. The commandant of the castle had been sent in February, 1770, to seize pow- 
 der and other military stores at Salem ; but he was delayed at the ferry by the militia until the 
 objects of depredation were removed beyond his reach, and he returned peaceably to the island. 
 The same officer was ordered from Castle William at this time with five hundred men to draw, by 
 a false attack, the Americans from their posts at Roxbury. The attack did not succeed, and the 
 burning of five or six houses in Dorchester was the only result. In the meantime a formidable 
 force of Americans was concentrated in the vicinity of Boston under Washington, and General 
 Howe, the successor of General Gage, evacuated the town March 17, and the British fieet with 
 
12 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 them dropped below the castle. The embarkation had been a scene of confusion and distress, and 
 it was the 27th of March before the transports were able to put to sea. At their departure the 
 British troops threw into the water the iron balls and shot, broke off the trunnions of the ordnance 
 given to Castle William in 17-10, destroyed all the military stores and battery apparatus which they 
 could not take with them, and finally blew up the citadel and the two magazines, and left the 
 island a mass of ruins. Part of the British fleet lay in the lower harbor until June, when they 
 were annoyed by the American troops under General Lincoln, and raised the blockade of Boston 
 after the exact duration of two years. With the British troops the seat of war was removed from 
 Massachusetts, and Castle Island was thenceforth unmolested during the American contest. 
 
 Colonel John Turubull was the officer sent by General Washington to take possession of the 
 island after the evacuation. During the larger part of the interregnum of government in Massa- 
 chusetts, this place was garrisoned by detachments from Colonel Marshall's, Colonel Whitney's, 
 and other regiments of militia, but more particularly from Colonel Craft's artillery. The duty of 
 garrisoning the island was, in 1777, performed by roster, and a regular succession of commanding 
 officers cannot be traced. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Revere was stationed on the island from 1777 
 until 1779. 
 
 The Americans soon began to move the rubbish into a defensible state. Epanleinents were 
 thrown up on the remains of Shirley bastion ; the mutilated 42-pounders were repaired by affixing 
 to them new trunnions, clasped by strong iron hoops; and by the shipwreck of the man-of-war 
 Somerset, at Cape Cod, in 1778, twenty-one handsome cannon of 32-pound calibre were added. A 
 resolution was passed by the provincial assembly of Massachusets on the 6th of October, 1779, to 
 raise a company of artillery, whose services should not extend beyond the Castle ; it consisted of a 
 captain, captain-lieutenant, one first lieutenant, one gunner, one gunner's mate, six quarter-gun- 
 ners, three sergeants, three corporals, and eighty-eight men. General John Hancock was ap- 
 pointed captain. The same resolution directed that one company of militia from Charlestown, two 
 from Dorchester, and one from Weymouth should be liable to do. duty six days in the year, at the 
 fort on the island. In 1780, upon the election of the lieutenant governor, lie received a commis- 
 sion as captain of the company at the Castle. During the year considerable labor was bestowed 
 upon the works, and it was accomplished by a day's fatigue from each male inhabitant of Boston. 
 
 On the 4th of November, 1785, it was enacted by the legislature of Massachusetts that all 
 criminals of the State, under sentence of confinement, should be removed to Castle Island. 
 Lieutenant Colonel Burbeck, for a long period " captain-lieutenant" and in immediate command of 
 the Castle, died in 1783, and was succeeded by Major William Perkins. 
 
 Soon after the appointment of Major Perkins, the convicts, pursuant to the 1 -\v above men- 
 tioned, arrived at the island ; although tlieirjuunbcr never exceeded ninety, their audacity exercised 
 the vigilance of the garrison; they made several bold, but fruitless atttempts to rise and effect 
 their escape, and in their mutinies some were wounded, others killed, and others met their death 
 while endeavoring to form subterraneous passages. Stephen Burroughs, of famous memory, whose 
 extensive forgeries gave him a great notoriety, here learned the art of a nailer, and in liis published 
 memoirs has publicly boasted of his Castle Island exploits. 
 
 Lieutenant Governor dishing, captain of the fortress, died during the year 178S, and General 
 Benjamin Lincoln was chosen as lieutenant governor. Governor Hancock did not, as had been 
 the custom, bestow upon the lieutenant governor the emolument of captain of the Castle. In 
 " Fleet's Massachusetts Register" the governor is placed at the head of the officers of the Castle 
 from 1788. The appendage of this post added somewhat to the dignity of the chair, and henceforth, 
 until conceded to the general government, the office of captain of the fortress was exercised by the 
 governor. 
 
 During the year 1789, a detachment of invalids, under Lieutenant Bartlett Hinds, did duty 
 here. Governor John Hancock was commander of the fortress from this time continuously until 
 his death, October 12, 1793. He was succeeded by Governor Samuel Adams. 
 
 It was with great reluctance that the legislature of Massachusetts could bring themselves to 
 the cession of the Castle to the United States government, as it had from the first been an insignia 
 of sovereignty ; but the State was nevertheless willing to sacrifice partial advantage to the general 
 welfare, and October, 1798, passed the following act : 
 
FORT INDEPENDENCE, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. 13 
 
 AN ACT providing fur the cession of Castle Island, in the Harbor of Boston, to the Uuited States, &c. 
 
 SKCTIO.N 1. lie il <-n<i"ll by the senate and hounc of representatives in general mart awtembled, and by the authority of the 
 same, That an island in the harbor of Boston, culled Castle Island, be, and hereby is, granted and ceded to the United 
 States, for the purpose of erecting forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other useful buildings thereon for the- 
 defense of the United States; reserving the ordnance and all the warlike stores now on said island, which arc the prop- 
 erty of this Commonwealth. Provided aliray, (and the cession and consent aforesaid 
 were granted upon the express condition.) That this Commonwealth shall retain a concurrent jurisdiction with the 
 United .States iii and over the island. So far as that all civil and criminal processes that 
 may issue under the authority of this Commonwealth against any person or persons charged with crimes within the 
 said island maybe executed therein, in the same way and manner as though this cession had not been made and 
 granted: Provided aim. That the officers and soldiers stationed on Castle Island shall remain there for the purpose of 
 guarding the convicts, and for the defense of this Commonwealth, under command of the governor thereof, until 
 the United States shall accept the cession herein made and shall take possession thereof for the purposes expressed in 
 this act. (Laws of Massachusetts, page 823, printed in 1801.) 
 
 Pursuant to this act tbe troops of the Commonwealth were discharged, and the convicts dis- 
 persed to the strongholds of the several counties. 
 
 Oil the 2d of October the arrangements for the transfer of the island were completed, and the 
 following receipt was given : 
 
 CAMTLK ISLAND, October 2, 1798. 
 
 Received of the Commonwealth of .Massachusetts, by Amasa Davis, esquire, Quartermaster General, Castle 
 Island, with the fortress thereon, agreeable to an act of the general court, passed at their last session ; and the articles 
 of ordnance, military stores, boats and other appendages now on said island as particularly stated in the following 
 schedule. 
 
 Signed for and in behalf of the United States. 
 
 DANIEL JACKSON, Major. 
 
 The public buildings given with the fort were twenty in number. The military apparatus and 
 appendages, which were charged to the account of the United States, were valued by General 
 Davis and Major Perkins at $35,995. But a new appraisal was taken on the 3d of September, 1803, 
 which, by leaving out the mutilated ordnance, reduced the sum received by the Commonwealth to 
 $21,330. The guns saved from the man-of-war Somerset were retained. Major Jackson and the 
 officers on duty at Castle Island, previous to April, 1802, were attached to the second regiment of 
 artillerists and engineers. Major Jackson commanded the district, and had his headquarters at 
 Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Lemuel Gates was in immediate command. 
 
 Dr. Thomas Welsh, of Boston, was employed as acting surgeon of the garrison. A hospital 
 for disabled seamen of the Uuited States Navy was established on the island, under Doctor 
 Welsh's charge, in the spring of 1799, and remained until removed to Charlestowu in 1803. The 
 island was also made the residence of French prisoners from July, 1799, until March, 1801, when 
 they were released. The greater number of the latter were captured with the prize brig Berceau, 
 and embraced two hundred and forty-eight persons. 
 
 In August, 1799, the President of the United States, John Adams, visited the island and was 
 received with due honors. The general government had at this time in contemplation the erection 
 of a new fortress ; and it was on the occasion of this visit of the President that the name of the 
 fort was changed to Fort Independence. A large part of the necessary materials were collected 
 during this and the following year, under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Louis Tousard, 
 second regiment artillerists and engineers, who had the position of inspector, general of all the 
 posts of the Eastern States. With regard to the name of Fort Independence, bestowed as above, 
 Captain Nehemiah Freeman remarks, " as Boston was the cradle of the American Revolution this 
 baptism was not indecorous, and the godfather is certainly unexceptionable ; but Fort Independ- 
 ence must count some years before he can entirely divest his elder brother of his birthright ; and 
 though the pottage might have been sold in 1776, yet the title of ' the Castle' is rather endearing 
 to the inhabitants of Massachusets, and is still bestowed by the greater part as the only proper 
 appellation.' 1 
 
 A general order, dated November 12, 1800, assigned Major Jackson the special command of the 
 harbor, and Colonel John Toncin was appointed engineer to construct the work. 
 
 The first stone was laid May 7, 1801, at the foundation of the salient angle on the north, and 
 the whole superstructure was raised from an original design, without any advantage being derived 
 from the remains of former skill. 
 
 On the 23d of June, 1802, the national colors were first displayed at Fort Independence. The 
 
14 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 workmen wore dismissed in Jauuary, 1803, though tit this time the work had not quite been 
 completed. The work was a barbette fortification, and its dimensions were not materially different 
 .from those of the present one. The barracks for officers and men were inside the work. 
 
 On the 5th of February, 1805, the five bastions of the new work were named as follows: 
 First, " Wintbrop," after Governor Winthrop, under whose auspices the first fort wtis built; 
 second, "Shirley," after Governor Shirley, who repaired Castle William, erected other works, and 
 made it the strongest fort in British America ; third, " Hancock," after the first governor of the 
 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under whose administration new works were thrown up; fourth, 
 "Adams," after John Adams, who bestowed its present name upon the fort, and collected materials 
 for its construction; fifth, "Dearborn," after General Dearborn, Secretary of War, under whose 
 auspices Fort Independence was actually rebuilt. 
 
 In April, 1800, Dr. .Fames II. Sargent, garrison surgeon's mate, reported for duty at Fort 
 Independence, and was probably the first commissioned medical officer of the United States Army 
 on duty at the post. 
 
 After the year 1833, the garrison at Fort Independence was withdrawn, and the [tost given 
 up to the Engineer Department for the construction of the present work. During the succeeding 
 eighteen years the erection of the present fortification was prosecuted at intervals, and the aspect 
 of the northern part of the island was greatly changed. 
 
 The earliest record of the post being regarrisoned is .January 4, 1851, on which date Brevet 
 Major George 11. Thomas, captain Third Artillery, assumed command of Fort Independence, and 
 Second Lieutenant Chauncey McKeever was appointed post adjutant. 
 
 GEOLOGY OF BOSTON HAKBOR AND VICINITY. 
 
 The many islands scattered over the face of Boston Harbor are doubtless the remains of one 
 continuous diluvial formation, and the rock and minerals of these islands, where such exist, are 
 identical in character with those of the mainland. It has been surmised that the entire harbor, 
 and even Massachusetts Bay, were formed by the attrition of the ocean through countless ages; 
 the diluvial and soft conglomerate rocks of this locality giving way before the breakers, while 
 Cape Ann and the shores of Cohasset and Scituate maintain their position. The formation of 
 Castle Island is diluvial drift; that is, a deposit of gravel, boulders, sand, and loam mingled 
 confusedly together by powerful currents of water; it differs from tertiary in not having the 
 arrangement of horizontal strata superimposed. Many other islands, viz, Thompson's, Spectacle, 
 Long Island, Gallop's, George's, Lovell's, Deer Island, Apple Island, and Great Brewster, are 
 likewise diluvial. Moore Island is of conglomerate; Hangman's Island, syenite; liainsford Island, 
 Boston Light, Egg Hock, Green Island, and Governor's Island are of argillaceous slate. The pre- 
 dominant formation throughout the eastern portion of the State is the graywacke. It occupies 
 generally extensive plains and undulating ground, and is abundantly covered with drift or dilu- 
 vium. The peninsula of Boston has a foundation of argillaceous slate, which rock is observed both 
 at the north and south of the city. This rock is intimately connected with the graywacke forma- 
 tion, and is either a variety of the latter or belongs to the inferior stratified or non-fossiliferous 
 rocks. As we pass beyond the graywacke and argillaceous slate which encircles Boston, green- 
 stone is the predominant rock, and this passes into syenite. Large masses of porphyry, which, 
 from its resemblance to that used by the ancients, has been called "antique porphyry," exist in 
 this vicinity. Two ranges of porphyry have been discovered, one north and the other south 
 of Boston. The "Blue Hills," the most elevated land in this vicinity, rising seven hundred feet 
 above the ocean, consist largely of porphyry and syenite. 
 
 Rochs nnd Minerals found in the vicinity of the Post. Nbvacaulite, a variety of argillaceous 
 slate known in the arts as "hone or whetstone," is found in Charlestown, as is also argillaceous 
 slate variegated. Argillaceous slate, curved lamina', and rhomboidal, is found on Kainsford Island 
 and in South Boston. Common greenstone in argillaceous slate, and slate traversed by veins of 
 crystallized quartz and calcareous spar and greenstone, are found in Charlestown; greenstone 
 passing into syenite at Blue Hills; compact feldspar, somewhat brecciated, at Dorchester and 
 Blue Hills; compact feldspar passing into porphyry, and porphyry (dark gray) polished, at IJliiv 
 Hills; porphyry, reddish brown crystals of feldspar, and quartz, polished, at Blue Hills; porphyry, 
 
FORT INDEPENDENCE, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. 15 
 
 variegated feldspar, aud quart/- crystals, at Blue Hills; syenite, (feldspar and hornblende,) on 
 Hangman's Island. The syenite existing in the vicinity is a granite-form mixture of feldspar, 
 hornblende, and quart/, and is intimately associated with greenstone. Specimens of argillaceous 
 slate have been found at Rainsford Island and South Boston which contain a double set of seams 
 oblique to the strata seams; and thus the rock is divided with great regularity into tables with 
 rhombic; faces. On Rainsford Island the slate, though unusually fissile, is bent so as to form a 
 semicircle within the radius of a few inches. A coarse conglomerate, or plum-pudding stone 
 formation, exists at Roxbury and Dorchester. It consists of rounded nodules, from the si/e of 
 u pea to two feet in diameter, consisting of granite, syenite, compact feldspar, porphyry, quartz, 
 argillaceous slate, and flinty slate. The cement seems to be the same materials in a comminuted 
 state; it is semi-crystalline and adheres firmly to the nodules. The term " gray wacke," in the 
 above, is meant in a general sense to apply to every conglomerate, sandstone, and fragmentary 
 or arenaceous rock of transition formation anterior to red sandstone and coal formation. It varies 
 in texture from the finest argillaceous slate to the coarsest conglomerate. 
 
 The climate is cool and moist, and the temperature is as variable as the tide, though not nearly 
 as certain in its changes. The light westerly or southwesterly wind which frequently prevails in 
 the morning during the summer, commonly gives place in the evening to a cold wind from the north- 
 west, or a cold moist wind from the northeast. Easterly winds prevail exclusively at some seasons 
 of the year, particularly in the spring and fall, and come up from the sea loaded with moisture, 
 and often a dense fog that renders objects invisible across the parade ground. 
 
 The mean annual temperature is about 48 F. ; mean summer temperature, 09; mean winter 
 temperature, 27. The greatest rain-fall is during the summer and autumn the average fall each 
 year being about 44 inches. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OP FORT INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 The fort is a pentagonal, flve-bastioned fortification, occupying the northern portion of the 
 island. The casemates contain the squad-rooms and dormitories, the dining-room and kitchen of 
 the men, the married soldiers' quarters, laundresses' quarters, storehouses, bakery. &c. These 
 casemate rooms are all about the same size, averaging 21 feet long, 17 feet broad, and 11 feet high; 
 they are finished oft' inside floored with jointed pine flooring, and the walls and ceilings 
 plastered; each room looks out internally on the parade ground, and externally is separated 
 by a wooden partition of folding doors from the general gun gallery and outer wall. Six of 
 these casemate rooms are assigned as squad-rooms and dormitories of the men ; they are each 
 the size above given, and contain from ten to thirteen men each. Dividing the cubic contents of 
 each room, 3,927 cubic feet, by the lowest number of men intended to sleep in each ten we will 
 have 392.7 cubic air space per man hardly one-third enough if there were any proper ventilation; 
 but in these casemate rooms no ventilation is provided for save by a movable transom over the 
 door, w'hich, opening over the beds of those furthest from the stove, is diligently kept closed 
 by them. 
 
 Each room has been heated during the winter by one cast-iron coal stove, placed in the corner 
 furthest from the door, and during the winter was alternately heated to redness by those who slept 
 furthest from it, or allowed to go out entirely by those whose beds were nearest to it ; the air in 
 these rooms is always foul and offensive, and is rendered still more hurtful by dampness and 
 moisture, the walls and ceiling being constantly wet, sometimes dripping, from the water that soaks 
 through from the terreplein above. 
 
 The married soldiers and laundresses, of which there are four, have each one of these case- 
 mates similar to the squad-rooms, and to them the same remarks will apply, save that they are 
 not so overcrowded. 
 
 All of these casemate rooms are damp, illy ventilated, badly lighted, and worse heated; they 
 are a constant and prolific source of catarrh, bronchitis, rheumatism, and neuralgia, and I am 
 under the impression that they increase the sick report constantly from ten to fifteen per cent. 
 A proper regard for the health of the men, as well as economy in the service, if the number of days 
 each soldier loses by sickness is computed in dollars and cents, would seem to demand that some 
 
16 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 radical change be made in these casemate quarters, regarding- especially their crowding, ventilation, 
 lighting, and heating; as they were designed, however, for purposes entirely different from dwell- 
 ing rooms or dormitories, it would probably be more expensive and difficult to make them com- 
 fortable and healthy quarters than it would to erect suitable now barracks. The furniture of 
 these squad-rooms is little beside the stove, bunks, and bedding, the clothing, arms, and accoutre- 
 ments of the men. The bunks are each composed of two iron trcssels, connected by slats; each 
 bunk is intended for one man, and is furnished with a bedsack filled with hay or straw, and two or 
 three blankets. 
 
 The kitchen department is admirably conducted, the food is good, plentiful, and well prepared, 
 the company fund affording ample means of gratifying more epicurean palates than soldiers usually 
 possess. 
 
 The officers' quarters are situated without the walls, on the south of the fortification, and con- 
 sist of three almost similar double houses, and one isolated set of quarters immediately west of the 
 southwest bastion ; the isolated set of quarters is but one story high ; it has seven rooms on 
 the lower floor, and a basement; and is occupied by the commanding officer. The other sets of 
 quarters are each one story and a half high; they have each three rooms on the lower floor, and 
 two low attic rooms on the upper. All the officers' quarters are finished off nicely, and are each 
 provided with a range in the kitchen, and grates for coal in the other lower rooms; they are all 
 supplied with water from a tank filled by a forcing pump from the general cistern. The only draw- 
 back to these quarters is the size of the rooms, they being but fifteen feet square. 
 
 One of the casemates is used for a guard-house, which is quite damp when no fires are kept up. 
 Ventilation is procured by two shafts; air and daylight are admitted through the embrasures; stoves 
 are used for warming; the average occupancy of the guard-house, for two years, is three per day. 
 
 On the extreme southern point of the island is the post hospital ; this is a commodious brick 
 building, fronting the north, and consisting of a central administration building, and two wards 
 arranged as wings, in conformity with Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office, series of 1SG7. The 
 work was commenced July 1C, 1867; the building was finished in October, and was first occupied 
 on the 28th of that month. The expense of its construction, outside of extensive arrangements 
 for the water supply, the portico, fence, stable, and woodshed, was $11,400. The total expendi- 
 ture on the building, with improvements, was $13,530 82. 
 
 The central or main building is two stories high and 30 feet square ; the wings or wards 
 are each one story high, and 45 feet long by 25 feet broad. All the roofs are of slate, and all 
 the walls are of brick, those of the main building and wings being double, with air-chambers be- 
 tween the inner and outer courses ; but from some cause, either from having no substance inlaid 
 near the ground course to prevent the dampness from rising, or from the improper manner in which 
 the inner and outer walls are bound together, the inner walls are continually wet, and the white- 
 wash constantly discolored. The flooring is of good, well-matched, yellow pine, but the baseboards 
 have so shrunken away from the floor that a current of air enters so forcibly in many places as to 
 extinguish a candle. Ridge ventilation is provided for in the wards, and in all the other rooms 
 there are ventilators connecting with the air-chamber between the walls. Ventilation proper has 
 been unnecessary during the past winter; even the adventitious entrance of pure air has been in 
 such great quantities as to keep the rooms uncomfortably cold. Theoretically, no building is a 
 proper habitation for human beings, sick or well, unless a practically unlimited supply of pure air 
 is provided for by ventilation. Actually, enlisted men prefer the unknown (to them) evils of im- 
 pure warm air to the known evils of cold pure air; and so, where they are concerned, no ventilation 
 will be of benefit unless the air admitted be warmed, for when unobserved, they will close every 
 ventilator they have access to, more especially when, as a general thing, bad carpentry or bad ma- 
 terial used in the construction of these hospitals frequently renders ventilation, as such, superflu- 
 ous. Each ward proper is 33 by 24 feet, and 14 feet high, to the eaves ; they are each calculated 
 for twelve patients, which, if full, would allow 924 cubic feet of air space per man. The average 
 occupancy, however, will not reach so high a proportion as even six patients in hospital at one time. 
 
 The wards and dining-room are heated by large sheet-iron coal stoves, with furnaces of fire- 
 brick ; the other rooms by cast-iron coal stoves. Each ward contains eight large windows, and is 
 lighted at night by candles. 
 
FORT INDEPENDENCE, BOSTON HARBOR, MASSACHUSETTS. 17 
 
 The bath-rooms and latrines are supplied with water from the common tank ; the waste water 
 and sewerage being carried off' by a drain emptying in the bay. No room is especially used as a 
 dead room. 
 
 In the rear of the hospital, and surrounded by a fence, is a small lot of about half an acre, 
 containing a shed, stable, and an attempt at a hospital garden. 
 
 There is at the post hospital a library consisting of 130 well selected volumes, for the use of 
 patients. 
 
 WATER SUPPLY. 
 
 There are six wells and an equal number of cisterns on the island. Four of the cisterns are 
 connected with the officers' quarters in the casemates; one cistern connected with the commanding 
 officer's quarters, and one with the hospital. Water for culinary purposes is obtained from two 
 wells. The water from the well but a few yards from the sea-wall contains a larger quantity of 
 saline impurities than the other wells, the principal salts being chloride of sodium, chloride and 
 bromide of magnesium, with traces of chloride of potassium and sulphate of lime. This well is 
 doubtless subject to tidal impregnations. It has, until recently, furnished the water required for 
 culinary purposes by the company its proximity to the kitchen being the recommendation. The 
 water of the well near the soldiers' barracks, is not so strongly impregnated with earthy and 
 alkaline salts as the formed. Two quarts of water from this well gave, on evaporation, five grains 
 of solid residue, one and a half grains of which was combustible organic matter, and the remain 
 der earthy and alkaline salts, principally chloride of sodium and carbonate of lime. Water from 
 the other wells does not differ materially from the latter, the prevailing impurity being in each in- 
 stance chloride of sodium. In but a single instance is the water of any of the wells brackish to 
 the taste. I am not aware of any instance in which the impurities above indicated have exercised 
 a prejudicial influence upon the health of the command. 1 would rather be disposed to attribute 
 a salutary influence to the water of the island. During the extreme heat of summer, the wells have 
 become quite low, necessitating economy in the use of water, but at the other seasons the supply 
 is more than sufficient for all ordinary purposes. The expediency and practicability of obtaining 
 the water supply of the post from the city water- works, by laying pipes from South Boston to the 
 island, has been discussed. The pipes would necessarily be exposed every twelve hours, and thus 
 be subject to injury from the frost. 
 
 Cisterns. The four cisterns connected with the casemate quarters are not now in use. The 
 cistern connected with the quarters of the commanding officer supplies water for baths, laundry, 
 &c. ; that attached to the hospital, of capacity of seven thousand gallons, supplies all the water used 
 therein. It is believed that the water of this cistern was somewhat contaminated by the collection 
 (in the gutters and spouts of the building) of innumerable gnats. During the prevalence, in hot 
 weather, of land breezes or high winds from the westward, vast numbers of these gnats were pre- 
 cipitated, in an apparently disabled condition, against the building, and some of them were doubt- 
 less carried into the cistern. 
 
 The insular position of the fort makes drainage simple and easily effected. The sink or latrine 
 of the enlisted men is a deep pit or vault under the northeast bastion ; it is connected by a covered 
 way or large drain with the bay. This pit is now filled with excrement and is closed; either the 
 drain is stopped up, or some other such accident prevents its proper use. In addition to this 
 latrine, the Engineer Department last summer erected four large earth closets near the same locality. 
 In these the earth was thrown from a hopper upon each dejection, by the weight of the body upon 
 the seat ; but as a sentinel was not stationed there constantly to see that the apparatus was not 
 abused, the men made water-closets of the earth closets, the urine overflowing the receptacles, 
 thus making them perfectly useless. Within the past few days a privy has been built, projecting 
 over the eastern sea-wall, and this is probably the only correct method of abating the nuisance. 
 
 The prevailing diseases are those incident to the insular situation of the post, and the damp 
 and unhealthy quarters; such as catarrh, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pleuritis, pneumonia, rheumatism, 
 and neuralgia, and probably also phthisis pnlmonalis. To these may be added gonorrhoea, chan- 
 croid, and syphilis, always prevalent among soldiers stationed near large cities. 
 
 Fort Independence is doubtless as free from such conditions and influences as are prejudicial 
 to health as any spot in the United States. The surface in the vicinity of the post is flooded at 
 3 
 
13 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 stated intervals by the tide, and sewerage is thus thoroughly removed. The only source of atmo- 
 spheric contamination is from an establishment on an island three miles to eastward, a receptacle 
 for dead animals. Occasionally in summer the east wind bears from thence a very offensive odor, 
 but not sufficiently concentrated or continued to be prejudicial to health. 
 
 Statement shoti-iny mean xtrength, number of sicl; and principal diseases, at Fort Jntlciicndencc, Bott- 
 
 ton harbor, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 a S 
 
 i 
 
 - a 
 
 
 
 -5 
 
 S 
 
 9 
 
 
 ==,. 
 
 o . 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 11? 
 
 a 
 
 ~. i. 
 
 z - 
 
 *2 
 c s 
 
 "= f 
 t I 
 
 IS 
 
 s 
 
 X 
 
 "7 
 
 K S 
 ?.S 
 
 51 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 
 
 
 a i- 
 
 58jH- 
 
 0) 
 
 
 
 S u 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 " 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 > 
 
 
 S 
 
 8* 
 
 o 
 
 to 
 
 
 1868 
 
 71 
 
 120 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 2 
 
 36 
 
 
 One death from 
 
 1869 
 
 70.45 
 
 187 
 
 18 
 
 26 
 
 32 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 52 
 
 i 
 
 phthisis. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Inrluilc laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumouia, ami pleurisy. 
 
 FORT ADAMS, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON J. F. HEAD, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Adams is situated iii latitude north 41 28', longitude west 71 22', about three miles from 
 the mouth of Narraganset Bay, upon Brenton's Point, the southern boundary of the entrance to 
 the harbor of Newport, Rhode Island. It is distant west from that city one mile across the harbor, 
 and about three miles by land. 
 
 Goat Island,* upon which is Fort Wolcott, (now unoccupied,) lies half a mile north of the 
 point; and Conanicut Island, between which and the fort runs the channel leading to Providence, 
 is distant about a mile to the westward. 
 
 On the east of the point is Brenton's Cove, a narrow indentation of the south shore of the 
 harbor near its mouth. An easy drainage is thus afforded on one side into the cove, and on the 
 other into the outer bay, the greatest distance between the two being about half a mile. 
 
 The geological formation of the site is thus described by Professor 0. T. Jackson, in his report 
 to the legislature of Rhode Island, in 1839 : 
 
 At Fort Adams, iu Newport Harbor, we again see the outcroppings of tin- altered slate rocks, and imbedded in 
 their strata occur several important beds of limestone. The slate within the fortress and beneath the parade-ground is 
 distinctly stratified, and dips to the eastward 15. Near the fort, on the shore, are the limestone beds, which are found 
 to run N. 50 E., and S. 50 W., and dip to the S. E. 40 or 50. One of these beds is 45 feet wide, the other is 15 feet ; 
 the easternmost bed contains the lime rocks. This limestone is of the most compact kind, and is variegated in its color, 
 being tinged red, green, brown, or buff, hy the presence of variable proportions of foreign matters, principally oxides of 
 manganese and iron. There are evident appearances of mechanical and chemical disturbance in this rock ; for the lime- 
 stone is broken up and again united into a breccia, and frequently iutiudes fragments of the slate strata. Numerous 
 veins of quartz traverse the limestone and slate, checking it up in a curious manner, and presenting the quartz in relief 
 where the softer rocks have bse:i worn away by the action of the water. 
 
 Brenton's Point is believed to have been occupied by defensive works during the revolutionary 
 war. A fort, completed in 1799, Avas first garrisoned and named " Fort Adams," with much cere 
 inony, on July 4th, of that year. The present work was first garrisoned on August 9, 1841. 
 
 The area of the reserve is 138J acres, of which the fort proper covers 21. The parade-wall 
 incloses a space of about 6^ acres, most of which is turfed. The parade is about 30 feet above low- 
 water mark. 
 
 The quarters for both officers and enlisted men are in casemates, arched with brick covered 
 with sheet-lead ; the valleys between the arches being tilled with earth, surmounted by a thin layer 
 of concrete, and a brick pavement over all. This arrangement has been found defective, allowing 
 
 * Now (July, 1870) occupied by the Navy Torpedo Corps. 
 
FORT ADAMS, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 19 
 
 leakage into the quarters. Some experiments have been tried with asphalt covering, which prom- 
 ise better protection. But quarters built in this way, practically cellars, are, of course, except in 
 winter, excess! \ ely damp ; more than ordinarily so in this climate, which, as will be seen below, is 
 a peculiarly humid one. Fires are necessary during a part of almost every day, even in midsum- 
 mer, to make the quarters at all habitable. Arms and instruments rust, and clothing and equip- 
 ments decay rapidly. It is needless to say that such dwelling-places are unhealthy. Bad as they 
 are in a sanitary point of view, the men's quarters are made worse by overcrowding. The dormi- 
 tories for enlisted men measure 54 by 18 or 19 feet, with an average height of 11 feet. 
 
 The number of occupants of such a room varies from 12 to 38 at this time, giving in the last 
 case 280 cubic feet per man. Were the estimated full garrison for this fort ever packed into it, the 
 result would most certainly be a pestilence. 
 
 Three circular apertures, each 20 inches in diameter, in the roof of each dormitory, open Jnto a 
 space between the arched roof and the flat ceiling, from the outer end of which space is a communi- 
 cation with the external air by the smoke-hole, 5 by H feet, the shaft opening on the parapet 12 
 feet above the ceiling. 
 
 Beside the quarters within the fort, three frame buildings, one story high, erected on the glacis 
 a year or two since by the Quartermaster's Department, afford temporary quarters for a portion of 
 the officers. These are less damp than the casemates, and will probably be more or less habitable 
 for several years. Tuey are singularly inconvenient, and, perhaps, their best feature is their tem- 
 porary character. 
 
 The cells for prisoners are four in number; average dimensions 7 byC feet, and 9 feet 5 inches 
 high; ventilation by two. loop-holes, 3 by 20 inches. 
 
 In these cells, and a hall in front, giving a total cubic space of less than 5,000 cubic feet, thirty 
 prisoners have been confined at one time, giving each man about 170 cubic feet. 
 
 On the 27th of August, 18G9, the casemate which, notwithstanding the oft-repeated protests of 
 the medical officers, had for twenty-eight years been the only hospital at Fort Adams, was aban- 
 doned to other uses, and the patients transferred to a new temporary hospital outside the work, 
 which, though far from being perfectly adapted to its purpose, is a great improvement on the old 
 dungeon. 
 
 The new building stands on the crest of land between Brenton's Cove and Narraganset Bay, 
 au airy site, with dry soil. The space was selected at some distance from the main work, both for 
 free circulation of air, and in view of the contingency, deemed not impossible, of an enlightened 
 policy rescuing, not only the sick, but the well from imprisonment in the damp casemates. When 
 the men are quartered outside the work, as they should be, it will be more conveniently accessible. 
 
 The building itself, erected by the Quartermaster's Department, is upon the plan given in Cir- 
 cular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office, April 27, 1807, for a hospital of twenty-four beds, with the 
 addition of a porch at each end. The structure originally contracted for would have been unin- 
 habitable, but the timely interposition of the Surgeon General prevailed so far as to have a coat of 
 "back plastering" put upon the inside of the mere shell of weather-boards provided for the outer 
 walls. 
 
 The finish of the whole is of an inferior character ; the wall plaster soft ; the floors of soft pine, 
 ill joined, and so roughly planed that cleaning is difficult, and a bare foot would be pierced by 
 splinters; the outer doors admitting beneath them strong draughts into the wards; in short, one 
 sees almost at a glance that the hospital M'as built by contract, and infers that the work was not 
 superintended by a competent architect. 
 
 The ward's allow ample space for twelve beds in each, with superficial area of 94j* square feet, 
 and air space, of 1,421^ cubic feet per bed. Each ward is warmed by a large base-burner stove. 
 The light is sufficient, and the ventilation ample and satisfactory. The water-closets, one to each 
 ward, measuring 11 by 9 feet, contain but one seat each, (the contract not specifying any number,) 
 and one urinal. There is no stench-trap, and no separate ventilating-shaft for the closets. Each 
 bath-room has a good planished. copper fixed tub and two basins, supplied with hot and cold water. 
 
 Both water-closets and bath-rooms are at the outer ends of the wards those furthest from 
 the boiler and supply tank. There being no passage with cross ventilation between them and the 
 ward, nothing is gained by this position ; by placing them at the inner end there would be a sav- 
 ing of many feet of lead pipe and packing, beside lessening the risk of freezing an accident 
 
20 DESCRIPTION OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 which, in spite of special precautions, has occurred twice during this unusually mild winter. There 
 are no "circulating pipes" for the hot water. 
 
 The bath-tubs, sinks, fixed basins, water-closets, &c., are led by a tank in the attic, with capacity 
 of 580 gallons, filled by a force-pump in the kitchen. The flow from the tank can be cut off, and all 
 the pipes emptied ; but there are no means of cutting off the supply from either wing iudepend- 
 ently, consequently, in winter, both wards must be kept well warmed, night and day, though but 
 one has as yet been occupied ; this is not economical. 
 
 The water is taken from a well ; it is potable, though too hard for washing or bathing. The 
 want of soft water was foreseen, and a suggestion made by the surgeon that a cistern for rain from 
 the roof should be included in the contract for brick work. He was informed that " suitable water 
 supply would be provided," but there is yet no cistern, while more than 35,000 gallons of rain- 
 water have run to waste from the hospital roof. 
 
 The kitchen is hardly large enough, and there is no laundry. The only access to the second 
 story is by one staircase, only two feet and three inches in clear width. It seems superfluous to 
 say that this is too narrow. Ladders have recently been fixed to the front and rear as fire-escapes, 
 and twenty-four buckets stand always filled with water in the hallways. 
 
 The chief defects of this hospital (except those attributable to the looseness of the speci- 
 fications) seem to be due to the regarding of Circular No. 4, above mentioned, as a rigid, unvary- 
 ing rule for all cases. It cannot be doubted that in this instance, had certain modifications, which 
 would.have suggested themselves to any medical officer on the spot, been submitted to the Surgeon- 
 General, he would have recommended their adoption. As it stands, the hospital is a product of 
 the contract system, 'applied without consulting any officer of the department most directly 
 interested and best instructed in the means of adapting the building to its purpose. 
 
 That the intelligent officers of the Quartermaster's Department have failed to attain the most 
 desirable results, can no more be considered evidence of incapacity than would be the inability of 
 a medical officer to plan and superintend the building of an arsenal or a fortification. 
 
 The natural supply of water is sufficient, and the well water of reasonably good quality, 
 though rather hard. There are in use one well within the main work, and seven outside. The 
 best water is that of a spring near Brenton's Cove. It is soft, and is used by the laundresses. 
 No analysis of the water has been made. In addition to the wells several large cisterns afford a 
 supply of rain-water, to which may be added the mine-galleries, which in a moderately wet season 
 are nearly filled. 
 
 With so abundant a supply of water, there is not a bath-room at the post for officer or soldier, 
 except in the new hospital. The men have no lavatories. A shed in the ditch, with a simple 
 pump and basins, would greatly add to their comfort. For sea-bathing during the warm months, 
 the facilities are very good. 
 
 Ever since the first occupation of this fort the proper provision of sinks appears to have been 
 a problem, to solve which many efforts have been made and great expense incurred without any- 
 thing like commensurate results. The cost of ineffectual appliances during this period is estimated 
 at not less than $15,000. 
 
 The water-closets, occasionally without water supply, were frequently out of order those used 
 by the enlisted men were often maliciously or wantonly injured and at best, the resulting filth 
 was only stored in holes in the ground, its removal from which was a periodic nuisance. The state 
 of things in regard to privies, both for officers and their families and for the men, is stated in my 
 special sanitary report of December 31, 1808. 
 
 After an entirely satisfactory preliminary trial of the portable earth-closet, in some of the 
 officers' quarters, it was determined to provide for the enlisted men a system of permanent closets 
 on this plan. Early in August last these were completed, and have since been in constant daily use. 
 
 The closets, with a furnace for drying the earth, are in one of the casemates. The material 
 now used in them is a sifted mixture of dry earth and ashes. The requisite earth is obtained from 
 the immediate neighborhood of the fort ; and the trifling labor of, procuring, drying, and sifting 
 it is more than repaid by the value of the product as a fertilizer. 
 
 The result is a complete success. In the closed casemate there has never (with a temporary 
 exception) been any perceptible odor from' the closets, and the removal of their contents is no 
 
FORT ADAMS, NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 21 
 
 more offensive than the cartage ol' ordinary earth or ashes. The exception above indicated was a 
 period of some days during which owing to an obstruction of the neighboring urinal the 
 closets were used in its place, as well as for their legitimate purpose. Of course dried clay will 
 not act as a filter for urine, though the small quantities voided with thefseces are readily absorbed 
 and deodorized. A suitable urinal should always be provided in connection with the earth-closets. 
 The trial at this post has demonstrated the superiority of the earth-closet over any form of water- 
 closet. 
 
 The reports of sick give cheering evidence of the extent to which picked men in the prime of 
 life and in favorable conditions of climate can withstand the deleterious influences of their 
 artificial surroundings. The record fully justifies the observation of the late Assistant Surgeon 
 R. F. Simpson, United States Army, in his report of December, 1858, that " if the quarters for 
 officers and men w r cre any other than miserably damp casemates, Fort Adams would be more salu- 
 brious than any other permanent post in the United States." 
 
 I can find no record of any epidemic at the fort. In the city of Newport, at long intervals, 
 dysentery and diarrhoea have prevailed in the summer and autumn, and influenza in the colder 
 months. It is stated on the verbal authority of M. de Montesquieu, aide-de-camp to General 
 Chastellux, of the French auxiliary force stationed at Newport in the year 1780-'81, that during 
 the eleven months of their stay, (including a memorably mild winter,) out of the five thousand 
 troops only about eighty were sent to hospital, most of whom were returned to duty. 
 
 The climate of the southern part of this island is in some respects an exception to that of the 
 region in which it is classed. Its peculiarities, which, with the facilities for seabathing, have 
 made Newport a favorite summer resort, are due to its insular position, its general slope toward 
 the south, and doubtless to the nearness of the western edge of the Gulf Stream. The winter 
 temperature is much milder than that of Providence, and the summers are remarkably cool and 
 equable. The same cause, however, -which produces these results, occasions in spring and early 
 sumrner the heavy fogs for which this vicinity is famous. The influence of the dampness upon the 
 health of the inhabitants is less unfavorable than might reasonably be expected. 
 
 The mean annual temperature of Fort Adams, deduced from observations for ten years, as 
 given in the Army Medical Statistics of I860, is 49.96; of spring, 45.55; summer, 69.40; autumn, 
 53.48; winter, 31.34. February is usually the coldest month. The average fall of rain and snow 
 by the above-named statistics was 52.46 inches per annum. 
 
 For the year 1868 the mean temperature has been 48.46. The maximum on July 5, at 12 in., 
 was registered* as 102; the minimum at 9 p. in. on March 3 was 2; average difference of ther- 
 mometer and hygrometer, 1.06 ; quantity of rain and snow, 40.72 inches. 
 
 By the kindness of Mr. R. J. Taylor, of Newport, who has placed at my disposal an abstract 
 of observations by himself and his father, the late Mr. James Taylor, for forty years, from 1817 to 
 1856, and by personal examination and comparison of the reports as originally published in the 
 Newport Mercury, I am enabled to give the following results. The original reports contain many 
 notes and comparisons with former observations, which are of great interest, but cannot In- 
 embodied here. The mean annual temperature by these tables is 49.32. 
 
 The mean of monthly temperatures is as follows : 
 
 Degrees. 
 
 July . .-. ' 70. 14 
 
 August 69. 77 
 
 September 63. 44 
 
 October , 53. 48 
 
 November 43. 17 
 
 December . . . 33. 46 
 
 January 
 
 February 29. 84 
 
 March 36. 14 
 
 April 44. 51 
 
 May 53. 88 
 
 June . . 64. 11 
 
 The coldest month recorded is February, 1817, the mean temperature of which was 22.95. 
 At sunrise on the 15th of the same month the mercury stood at 13, the lowest ever recorded. 
 
 "In Newport on the above day the temperature did not rise above 96, which is the highest known ever to have 
 been observed in the town. I suspect that the high temperature noted at the fort was partly due to radiation from 
 the heated mass of masonry. 
 
22 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 During this mouth every harbor from Boston to the Chesapeake, except Newport, was dossed by ice. 
 The wannest month in this record was July, 1825, with a mean of 75.83. 
 
 The maximum attained during the forty years observed by the Messrs. Taylor was 04, and in 
 only seven of these years does it appear to have reached 90. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sic/;, and principal diseases at Fort Adams, Rhode Inland, 
 
 for the years 18G8 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 '3 
 g< 
 K 
 
 Malarial fever. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsilitis. 
 
 Epidemic catarrh. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 . 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 j 
 
 c 
 
 1868 . . 
 
 252. 91 
 
 219 
 
 
 3 
 
 51 
 
 4 
 
 fi 
 
 8 
 
 14 
 
 
 29 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 197 75 
 
 195 
 
 3 
 
 33 
 
 21 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 29 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, lirnnrliitis. pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT TRUMBULL, NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 RKPORT OF SURGEON JOHN CAMPBELL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The sources of information as to the earlier history of Fort Trnmbull are but few and scanty. 
 Before the revolutionary war a small battery seems to have been erected within the limits of the 
 city of New London ; but none on the site of the present fort. Early in the year 1775 a small 
 redoubt was commenced by order of the governor and council of Connecticut, to which the name 
 of Fort Trumbull was given, which was not, it would seem, completed or armed until the latter 
 part of 1777. It appears to have been a very primitive work of earth and stone, facing to the 
 north, east, and south, and open to the westward, and to have proved of little service. 
 
 When New London was attacked by Arnold in 1781, Fort Trumbull was occupied by only 
 twenty-three men, who, in obedience to orders, retired across the river to the stronger work, 
 Fort Griswold, when the enemy approached to attack the fort in the rear. After the revolutionary 
 war this work fell into decay. 
 
 In the year. 1812 the old redoubt was entirely demolished, and a more powerful one erected on 
 its site. I can find no description of this second fort. Whatever was its character, it seems to 
 have been sufficient, with its fellow, Fort Griswold, to prevent the entrance of the British fleet 
 into the harbor, although that fleet lay off the mouth of the river during nearly the whole continu- 
 ance of the war. 
 
 This second fort remained in existence until the year 1839, when its demolition took place, in 
 order to make way for a fortress which, though not a large work, was to possess all the latest im- 
 provements in the science of defense and gunnery. The natural ground, which had been left 
 almost undisturbed by its two predecessors, was a rugged, irregular ledge of granite, some 25. feet 
 above the surface of the harbor. This was carefully graded for the walls, glacis, and outworks. 
 
 To the north of the fort, however, remains a portion of the original ledge, to show the native 
 roughness of the surface. Incorporated in one of the outworks is a block-house of stone, which is 
 said to have formed part of the original defenses erected in 1775. 
 
 Fort Trumbull, as it now stands, is a beautiful structure. Its walls, inside and out, are of cut 
 granite, quarried a few miles distant. Its arches are of brick. It was completed in 1849, the entire 
 cost being $250,000. 
 
 Fort Trumbull lies in latitude 41 20' 33", longitude 72 0' 8" west from Greenwich. It occu 
 pies the extreme southeast point of a peninsula or neck, formerly called "Mamacock,'' now Fort 
 
FOKT TRUMBULL, NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT. 
 
 23 
 
 Neck, which projects into the harbor of New London. It is half a mile below the city, and a mile 
 and a half above the mouth of the river Thames. The government grounds are of a very 
 limited extent, embracing but a small portion of the "Neck.'' The consequence is that the quar- 
 ters and other buildings are crowded into very uncomfortable proximity to each other. 
 
 A few of the officers occupy very comfortable casemates in the fort. The remainder of the 
 garrison occupy quarters outside the fort. 
 
 In parallel lines at a short distance from the sally-port, and running west therefrom, lie the 
 officers' quarters, the men's barracks, and the hospital, a space of not more than ."SO feet separating 
 the buildings. The officers' quarters consist of a block of four two-story buildings of granite, com- 
 fortable, and in good repair. The soldiers' quarters consist of one building of granite, one story, 
 with kitchen and offices underneath, and one frame building, continuous with the other, which has 
 just been been converted from a quartermaster's storehouse to its present purpose. One company 
 occupies each of the buildings. To the rear of these lies the hospital. Its main building, erected 
 many years before the present fort, is a one-story granite building, with a central hall, on one side 
 of which is the surgery, on the other a ward; beneath are a kitchen and mess room, the fall of the 
 ground making two clear stories in the rear. Toward the end of the war two frame wings were 
 affixed to the hospital, the eastern one-of which is now used as a ward, while the western one has 
 been lately converted into a quartermaster's and commissary storehouse. 
 
 The garrison is supplied with water from four wells sunk into the granite which underlies the 
 whole tract. The water is pure, pleasant, and wholesome. It is carried by hand, by the police party, 
 to the quarters, hospital, &c. The river Thames runs directly southward past the fort and opens 
 upon Long Island Sound. The harbor is one of the finest on the coast, by reason of its depth of 
 water, its easiness of access, its freedom from obstructions of all sorts, and its good anchorage. 
 In threatening weather many vessels take refuge in it. At the lowest tides its channel carries 25 
 feet of water. It is very seldom closed by ice, and never troubled by floating ice. The climate is 
 salubrious to a wonderful degree not very cold in winter, though subject to severe storms from 
 the eastward, and generally free from extreme heat in summer. The garrison has always enjoyed 
 extraordinary exemption from severe disease and epidemics. A large population of the inhabi- 
 tants of the neighboring country reach a great age, and the climate seems remarkably favorable 
 to the rearing of children. It was remarked by Humboldt, that the region from the Connec- 
 ticut to Narraganset Bay was remarkably free from malaria and the extremes of heat and cold, 
 wet and drought, which has since been confirmed by meteorological observations. Wounded 
 patients sent here during the war recovered with great rapidity. 
 
 This whole region, in its geological formation, is purely primitive, presenting no other rock 
 than amorphous granite, composed of quarts!, feldspar, and mica, generally in equal proportions, 
 and sometimes in distinct strata, with small crystals of short and minute cubes of bright magnetic 
 iron. The soil, composed principally of disintegrated granite, is strong, and adapted to the raising 
 of maize, potatoes, and vegetables of all kinds. The native trees are different varieties of oak and 
 maple, hickory, fir, cedar, &c. 
 
 Fish of every variety and excellent quality are found in the river and in the sound shad, cod, 
 buss, blue-fish, mackerel, eels, flat-fish, black-fish, tautog, with oysters, clams, muscles, crabs, &c. 
 In fact, this is reputed one of the finest fish markets and harbors in the country, and is the head- 
 quarters for the sporting yachts in the blue-fish and mackerel season. 
 
 Statement slwirhif/ mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Truinbitll, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 ,q 
 
 u 
 
 L 
 
 ./ 
 
 - 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ,0 ^ 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 ~ 'x 
 
 a fl 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 B S 
 || 
 
 1 
 
 1 ; 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 1 3 
 
 1 
 
 Kt'iiiark.s. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S -S 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 OD 
 
 
 
 ~, : 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 .= Z 
 
 >. 
 
 
 
 2 "** 
 
 S 
 
 r '- 
 
 8 
 
 -e a 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 a 
 
 
 fc5 
 
 
 1868 
 
 119 58 
 
 385 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 31 
 
 27 
 
 13 
 
 17 
 
 144 
 
 
 
 
 76.66 
 
 246 
 
 
 30 
 
 26 
 
 24 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 57 
 
 2 
 
 company just from Kort Brown, Texas. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
24 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT COLUMBUS, GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR, NEW 
 
 YORK. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON CHARLES PAGE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Governor's Islaud, situated in New York Harbor, at the junction of the North and East Rivers, 
 in latitude 40 42' north, and longitude 74 09' west, lies 1,000 yards southeast from the city of 
 New York. It is separated from the city of Brooklyn, which encircles it almost one-half, lying in 
 an easterly, southeasterly, and southerly direction, by the Buttermilk Channel, an arm of the bay, 
 formerly narrow and very shallow, now of sufficient depth for the largest ships, and measuring 
 about one-half of a mile in width. 
 
 The island lies in a northeasterly direction about six miles from the Narrows, the entrance to 
 the bay. It is about 22 feet above low-water mark, and contains 02J acres. Pagganck, the Indian 
 name of Governor's Islaud, is all that survives which could call to our minds the fact that not 
 many centuries ago the Indians here held undisputed sway. 
 
 The first place ever occupied in New York by the Dutch was Governor's Island. ( Vide Journal 
 of a Voyage to the American Colonies in 1679-'80, by Jasper Daukers and Shiyter, of Wiiward, in 
 Frusland, page 374.) It is thus described : 
 
 In its mouth, (East Kiver,) before the city, between tbe city ami Red llook, on Long Islaud, lies Noteu Island, 
 (Governors Island,) opposite the fort, the first place tbe Hollanders ever occupied in the bay. It is now only a farm, 
 with a bouse and a place upon it where the governor keeps a parcel of sheep. 
 
 In 1037, Wouter Van Twiller, a former clerk in the company's warehouse at Amsterdam, who 
 had been appointed director of New Netherlands in 1633, secured for his own private use the island 
 of Pagganck, which had now become popularly known, from the abundance of excellent nuts that 
 grew there, as Nooten or Nutten Island. Dining the English colonial period, Nutten Island 
 became by common consent a perquisite attached to the office of governor, becoming, in conse- 
 quence, familiarly known as Governor's Island, a name it has borne ever since. From a dreary 
 and neglected plantation, it now became a smiling garden. At a council hcUl at Fort William 
 Henry, on the 2Gth of September, 1091, it was decreed that Nutten Island, as it continued to be 
 officially termed, and three so-called Oyster Islands i. <>., Bedloe's Island, Ellis Island, the third 
 a smaller island, now submerged be added to the county of New York. (Journal of the Legis- 
 lative Council of the Colony of New York, 1091-1743.) 
 
 The first immigrants were assigned, by the council of New York, on the 13th of June, 1710, to 
 Nutten Island, where due provision was made for them, because just fears were entertained that 
 contagious diseases existed among them. These immigrants were Palatines, homeless and desti- 
 tute, who had been driven from their country in the war between Louis XIV, on the one hand, and 
 Austria and Holland, and subsequently Spain, Denmark, and Savoy, on the other. 
 
 In 1708, about fifty Palatines passed over to Kngland, where they were temporarily main- 
 tained, at the instance of Queen Anne, at public expense, being allowed one shilling a day until 
 they were transported to New York, whither, soon, ten thousand of the unfortunate exiles followed 
 them. Thus it was that Governor's Island became the first place of quarantine for New York. 
 (New York Documents, vol. iii, p. 550, et passim.) The Palatines were detained on Governor's 
 Island until September of the same year, when, no further apprehension of contagion being enter- 
 tained, they were transferred to Columbia and Greene counties. 
 
 From the revolution in 1688 to the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, during which period of time 
 the great warfare concerning the succession of a grandson of Louis XIV to the crown of Spain 
 was carried on, the British colonies in North America were in constant apprehension lest a French 
 navy should assail them. Under these impressions, the successive governors of the province 
 (Slaughter, Fletcher, and Cornbury) urged upon the people, again and again, the defense of 
 New York, by the erection of batteries at the Narrows, at Red Hook, and at Governor's 
 
FORT COLUMBUS, GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. 25 
 
 Island. Notwithstanding the apprehended danger and the oft-repeated importunities of the gov- 
 ernors, no measures of defense were taken, other than the appropriation of 15,000, during the 
 governorship of Cornbury, for fortifying the. "Narrows." How much of sincerity there was in the 
 patriotic appeals of Governor Cornbnry may he estimated by the fact that the 15,000 so appro 
 priated were applied by him to building a pleasure-house on Governor's Island for himself and 
 succeeding governors, to which to retire when inclined to free himself from business. "There has 
 been a mighty clamor at all times, made in general terms, of the misapplication of public money 
 by governors ; but when they were called upon to give particular instances, I never heard of any, 
 except of 15,000," &c. (The Golden Letters, 1759.) Though the fortifying of Governor's Island 
 was looked upon as a most important means of defense for the city of New York, it still continued, 
 for a long time, to be the garden of the sovereigns of the province. Governor Clark, perhaps 
 not altogether unmindful of the fact that Governor's Island afforded him a place of quiet retire- 
 ment from business, in a special message, in the year 1738, writes as follows: "There is a great 
 cause to apprehend a speedy rupture with France. Your situation ought, therefore, to awaken 
 you to a timely provision against that event, in fortifying this town in a better manner than it 
 is at present, by erecting batteries at proper places, upon the wharves facing the harbor, upon 
 the side of the Hudson River adjoining the town, and at Red Hook, upon Long Island, to 
 prevent the enemy landing upon Nutten Island." Governor Clinton, in his speech of the 17th 
 of April, 1744, uses language of a similar import in reference to the proper measures to be 
 taken. From the year 1750, when the arrival of Lord Londown with a large fleet allayed 
 all fears of foreign invasion, until the extinction of the royal authority, by the meeting of the 
 Continental Congress 071 the 15th of September, 1774, nothing of greater importance concerning 
 Governor's Island can be recorded than that it was, successively, the perquisite of Governors 
 Hardy, Delancy, Colden, Moore, Dinsmore, and Tryon made profitable by some of them by 
 leasing it. 
 
 Though the probable expense of erecting fortifications had been estimated, it was not until 
 Congress had decreed, on the fith of October, 1775, that the provincial convention be directed 
 immediately to render New York defensible, that works of fortification were thrown up on the 
 island. (English MSS., ut supra, p. 45.) But of very little avail did these works prove ; for, on 
 the 25th of Juno, General Howe arrived at Sandy Hook from Halifax, and landed on the 12th of 
 July at Staten Island, having been joined by his brother, Admiral Lord Howe, from England, 
 making, with the forces of Clinton from the South, in all a force of twenty-four thousand of the 
 best disciplined troops in England, besides the large re-enforcements that flocked to his standard and 
 rendered him invaluable aid by their knowledge of their country. To oppose this formidable array 
 Washington had gathered together a force of twenty thousand raw militia. To protect New York he 
 was compelled to hold Kingsbridge, Governor's Island, Paulus Hook, and the heights of Brooklyn. 
 Two regiments, one of which was Prescott's, were all that could be spared to garrison Governor's 
 Island. (Bancroft, vol. ix, p. 82.) But, on the morning of the 22d of August, 1776, the English, 
 protected by men-of-war, landed at Gravesend, Long Island. This movement of the English was 
 so contrary to expectation, that it was first supposed that the enemy was making a feint upon 
 Long Island, the real design being to fall directly upon New York. But soon the main body of the 
 British army spread itself out upon the plain which stretches from Gravesend Bay toward the 
 east. On the 27th of August, 1776, the battle of Long Island was fought, " a day that, though so 
 full of sorrow for tin? Americans, shed little glory on British arms." The retreat from Long 
 Island, thus necessitated, was safely effected on the 30th. On the same day Admiral Howe sailed 
 .iip the bay and anchored near Governor's Island. On the approach of the fleet the little garrison 
 on the island, in command of Colonel Prescott, withdrew to New York, with the loss of one man 
 wounded, who lost an arm by a ball from a British ship just as he was embarking. From this 
 time, in consequence of the necessary abandoning of New York by the American forces, Gov- 
 ernor's Island remained in possession of the British, who fortified and garrisoned it, until the 
 restoration of peace in 1783 and the retreat of the enemy. 
 
 The fortifications on Governor's Island were now neglected and undervalued, and continued 
 to be so until the breaking out of the French Revolution ; so much so, that Governor George 
 4 
 
26 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Clinton, in 1784, leased the islaud to a certain Dr. Price, who built on it a hotel and laid out 
 a handsome race-course, on which races were run in 1785 and 1786, and that quarantine was 
 located here from 1794 to 1797. 
 
 It was not until 1797, after Washington had retired from the presidency, that the irritation 
 between the United States and France grew serious. Great apprehension was felt at New York 
 lest it should be attacked by a French squadron. Pressing remonstrances were made to Congress, 
 that the city be protected in its helpless condition. The State having, by the Constitution, ceded 
 the power of providing for the common welfare and the general defense, the people became clam- 
 orous for protection. The general government contended that it had not the power to pass any 
 law impairing the obligations of contracts; that a balance of $2,075,846, due from the State of 
 New York to the United States, by an award of the " Commissioner of Accounts," dated Philadel- 
 phia, December, 1793, must first be paid, that thereby Congress might be enabled to make the 
 necessary appropriations. At length, after much altercation, Congress declared, by a law passed 
 May 3, 1798, "that where any State, which was found indebted to the United States, by the report 
 of the commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and the individual States, 
 should, with the President's approbation, proceed to finish or complete any fortifications heretofore 
 commenced by such State, for the defense of any port or harbor within the same, or shall, under 
 the direction of the President of the United States, make and erect any additional fortifications, 
 pursuant to the act entitled 'An act to provide for the further defense of the ports and harbors of 
 the United States,' providing, that no expenditures exceeding the balance found and reported 
 against the respective States, shall be allowed as aforesaid ; and provided, that the fortifications, 
 for which the whole or any part of the expenditure shall be allowed and credited as aforesaid, with 
 their privileges and appurtenaces, shall be, and shall be declared and established as the property 
 of the United States, while maintained by them." Under the provisions of this act the State was 
 duly credited witli the several amounts of money it had expended, by authority of legislative acts, 
 in the erection of fortifications on Governor's Island. By the authority of an act passed March 
 26, 1794, 30,000 had been so appropriated. This sum had been expended, under the supervision 
 of George Clinton, Matthew Clarkson, James Watson, Richard Varick, Nicholas Fish, Ebenezer 
 Stevens, and Elijah Hammond. A further sum of 20,000 had been granted April 6, 1795, to 
 complete certain works on this island and on Ellis Island. The general government had given but 
 little attention to the fortifying and improvement of the island. In a communication to the House, 
 dated February 28, 1794, the committee directed to report on such of the ports and harbors of the 
 United States as required to be put into a state of defense, with an estimate of the expenses thereof, 
 made the following estimates for the fortifications of Governor's Island. The expenses of con- 
 structing batteries, embrasures, and platforms for twenty-four pieces, $1,727 52; a redoubt with 
 embrasures, $810; magazine, $200; block-house or barracks, $500; contingencies, $500; making a 
 total of $3,727 52. The committee furthermore recommended that the parapets of the batteries 
 and redoubts should be made of earth, and that the island be garrisoned by troops in the pay of 
 the United States. 
 
 The Secretary of War reported, December 19, 1794, that one bastion, commanding two low 
 batteries, had been undertaken and was in considerable forwardness, but observed that the works, 
 being only sodded, would not stand very long. On January 18, 1796, the Secretary reported to the 
 Senate that Governor's Island had been fortified with a fort, made of earth, and two batteries, 
 under its protection, partly lined with brick masonry; that there had been erected two air-furnaces, 
 a large powder-magazine, and a barracks for the garrison ; on February 10, 1797, that no alter- 
 ations had been made since January, 1796, except in the repairs and such additions as could be 
 made by the garrison. During this time there had been expended by the general government 
 on the fortifications of the island as follows: in.1794, $1,327; in 1795, $6,866 54; in 1796, $1,124. 
 But now the apprehension of a French invasion caused such clamor for protection among the 
 people that immediate attention by the general government was bestowed upon properly fortifying 
 Governor's Island. Thirty thousand one hundred and seventeen dollars were at once appropriated 
 to be expended on the fort, which now became known as Fort Jay. Such was the fervor of the day 
 that the professors and students of Columbia College went in a body to Governor's Island and 
 worked on the fortifications with shovels and wheelbarrows ! 
 
FORT COLUMBUS, GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. 27 
 
 Liberal appropriations were made by Congress iu the three succeeding years for completing 
 and improving the fort. In 1799 Congress appropriated $30,110 18; in 1800,820,124; in 1801, 
 $10,338 05. No further improvements were made until T800, when Fort Jay, with the whole of its 
 buildings, was demolished, except the walled counterscarp, the gate, the sally-port, the magazine, 
 and two barracks; all the rest was removed as rubbish, to give place for a work composed of 
 durable materials. On the site of the old fort a new one, Fort Columbus, was erected, an inclosed 
 pentagonal work with four bastions of masonry, calculated for one hundred gnus, being of the same 
 shape on three of its sides as Fort Jay, with the addition of 14 feet on each side, and on the north 
 side of a ravelin, with two retired casemated Hanks. Such was Fort Columbus when it was com- 
 pleted in 1809. (Report of the Secretary of War, laid before Congress by President Jell'erson on 
 the Gth of January, 1809.) Castle William, (named after General William, of the New York 
 militia,) situated on the extreme westerly point of the island, on a, bed of rocks, which previously 
 had much endangered navigation, as this point was totally submerged except at a very low water, 
 was begun iu 1807 and completed in 1811. No additions were made to the foregoing works, and 
 few repairs undertaken, until 1832, when thorough repairs were instituted and prosecuted iu the 
 most efficient way, and continued without interruption until the month of August, when the work 
 was abandoned, iu consequence of the alarm created by the cholera, which was at that time raging 
 with considerable violence among the workmen. The necessary measures having been taken to 
 insure the health of the laborers, the interruption was of short duration, and on the 4th of Septem- 
 ber the work was progressing with the usual vigor. 
 
 The post was again evacuated, the troops in garrison being ordered to Florida, in the year 
 1830. From the time of its reoccupation in the following year until November 1.3, 1852, when by 
 General Order No. 38 Fort Columbus became a recruiting depot, it was an artillery post, though, 
 from time to time, detachments of recruits were sent, for want of accommodation, from Fort Wood, 
 the principal recruiting depot, to be here temporarily quartered ; indeed, it was by reason of the 
 frequent conflicts of disputed authority between the commandants of Fort Columbus and the super- 
 intendents of the recruiting service, resulting from the assignment for quarters of such recruits, 
 that Fort Columbus was exclusively appropriated as a recruiting depot. It was at once made the 
 principal depot of the general recruiting service, in place of Fort Wood on Bedloe's Island, and it 
 has continued to be such until the present time. 
 
 The post of Fort Columbus comprises all of Governor's Island, except about six acres to the 
 north, which is reserved for the New York arsenal. 
 
 The island is irregular in form, but approaches nearly the segment of au oblate spheroid, its 
 longest diameter being from north to south and about 800 yards in length. The transverse 
 diameter is about 500 yards. It has an elevation above high-water mark of 20 feet. Its face is 
 smooth and green, with a rich carpet of grass. 
 
 The basis rock of Governor's Island is gneiss, composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, arranged 
 in lamime, the rock being stratified and hypozoic. It is covered everywhere with alluvial and drift 
 deposits. The general direction of the strata is from north to south, and the dip, generally to 
 the west, averages within 10 of vertical. That the strata are almost vertical or dip at a high 
 angle is worthy of consideration in relation to the practicability of successfully boring artesian 
 wells. The water now iu use, derived from shallow wells, is hard from calcareous and magne- 
 siau salts, and contains a great quantity of organic matter. The desirability of artesian wells is 
 therefore apparent, but, as these are most likely to be successful where the strata are slightly 
 inclined and gradually dip toward the place of boring from higher ground, in at least one direc- 
 tion, whereas the strata here dip a't a high angle, and deep channels surround the island, no water, 
 therefore, could be expected, except that flowing through the gravel beds in the depressions along 
 the edges of the stratum, parallel to the line of bearing. (See Geological Survey of New York 
 State, passim.) The alluvial deposits, consisting of loam, clay, sand, and gravel, with the drift 
 deposit a mixture of abraded materials (boulders, gravel, and sand) blended confusedly together, 
 cover everywhere the underlying primitive rock. These alluvial and diluvial deposits must be, 
 iu the northern and southern parts of the island, more than 100 feet in depth, growing thinner and 
 thinner toward the center. 
 
 Fortifications are located on the northwest and southeast ends of the island, and one near the 
 
28 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 northern boundary. The officers' quarters, hospital, storehouses, and other buildings are located 
 on the east side of the island ; connecting these, brick walks are, laid, and on each side of the 
 walks are trees, planted at regular intervals. In some portions of the island handsome groves 
 of large trees are growing, where the shade is very dense in Hummer, and fungi grow in great 
 profusion, encouraged by excess of moisture. 
 
 The main work, now called Fort Columbus, is situated on the highest point of the island, near 
 the northern portion, and is an old-fashioned, four bastioned fort, with deep ditch. Within the 
 fort are situated four buildings, extending coequal with the curtains of the fort, and surrounding 
 the parade. These buildings are built of stone and brick, with two stories and basement, and are 
 roofed with slate. The basements and first stories of these buildings are bisected by sally-ports. 
 Corridors extend the whole length of these buildings on the face looking to the parade; on all 
 the buildings, to either side of the sally-ports, a piazza is built the width of the corridors, and 
 on three of the buildings a piazza extends the whole front of the upper story, but only 
 half the width of the corridor. This piazza is supported by iron rafters, extending from the 
 building to the pillars of the corridor ; a stairway leads from each end of the upper piazza to the 
 lower one. Three of these buildings, viz., those on the north, east, and south sides, are constructed 
 for barracks, and one, that on the west side of the parade, for officers' quarters. The officers' 
 quarters and men's barracks differ in the arrangement of rooms, officers' quarters being con- 
 structed with halls, and stairways in the halls; in the men's quarters are no halls, all stairways 
 being built out of doors. Adjoining each end of these buildings, next to the ramp, are located 
 s mall, triangular buildings, with one story over a basement resting on the level of the parade. 
 The basements of these buildings are used, some for store-rooms and company kitchens, others for 
 privies, and the upper stories are devoted to various uses tailor shops, &c. One of these build- 
 ings is transformed into a bakery. Over the main sally-port is a small building divided into two 
 rooms. 
 
 The basements of each of the men's barracks are divided into two sets of kitchens and mess 
 halls, arranged for two companies; each set has one large room 36 by 19 feet, with one door and 
 two windows opening on the area, and two doors opening, one at either end, to two smaller rooms, 
 measuring 12 by 19 feet. One of the smaller rooms has a window, and is used for a kitchen ; the 
 other is the bread room of the company mess. Each of these has a door opening on the area. 
 The pitch of the basement is 7 feet 6 inches; the doors measure 7 by 3 feet 4 inches ; the windows 
 4 feet 2 inches by 3 feet 4 inches. The first story of the barracks is divided into two large and 
 four smaller rooms, and is used for dormitories. The dimensions of the larger rooms are 38 by 19 
 feet, and of the smaller rooms 13 feet 9 inches by 19 feet. The height of this story is 9 feet 4 
 inches. The large rooms have one door opening on the piazza, and five windows, three looking to 
 the ramparts and two to the parade; the smaller rooms have one door opening on the piazza, and one 
 window opposite, looking to the ramparts. The measurement of the windows and doors of this 
 story is as follows: Doors to the large rooms, 6 feet 8 inches by 3 feet 4 inches, with transom 
 lights; doors to small rooms, 8 feet by 3 feet 4 inches; front windows, feet by 3 feet 4 inches; 
 back windows, 4 feet 2 inches by 3 feet 4 inches. Tiiis story is partially covered by the terre-pleiu 
 of the fort. The second story is divided into three large rooms and two smaller ones at the ends 
 of the building. The rooms have each one door, opening on the piazza. The large rooms have 
 five windows, three opening to the ramparts and two to the parade; the small rooms have one 
 window, opening to the ramparts. The doors in this story measure 8 feet by 3 feet 4 inches, and 
 the windows feet by 3 feet four inches. The large and small rooms are of corresponding dimen- 
 sions with those in the first story. The arrangement of the fireplaces and chimneys is the same in 
 all the buildings. At each end of the large rooms is a fireplace and chimney, and the small rooms 
 have a fireplace and chimney in the partitions separating them from the large rooms. 
 
 The officers' quarters are divided, on either wide of the sally-port, into symmetrical halves by 
 a hall, on each side of which are two rooms, communicating with each other, but only one opening 
 on the hall. In the upper story, over the sally-port, are two half rooms opening into the inner 
 rooms. On the first and second stories the rooms next the hall measure 15 feet 2 inches by 19 feet 
 6 inches; the inner rooms measure 14 feet 2 inches by 19 feet inches. The half rooms measure 
 
FORT COLUMBUS, GOVERNOR'S- ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 29 
 
 10 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 5 inches. The height of these rooms is 9 feet 4 inches. In the basement 
 the rooms measure 15 feet 2 inches by 19 feet inches, by 7 feet 5 inches high. In each of the 
 rooms in the upper stories are two windows, one looking to the ramparts, and one opposite open- 
 ing toward the parade; the doors and windows in these stories are of corresponding measurement 
 with those in the barracks. Each basement room has one door and one window opening on the 
 area, of like corresponding dimensions with those in the barracks. Doors open to the hall from the 
 area and from the piazza. The halls are 8 feet wide, and extend the depth of the building, from 
 basement to rafters ; in this hall are built stairways and landings. The fireplaces and chimneys 
 are in the partitions separating the rooms. The building contains 10 rooms and 8 kitchens, and is 
 reckoned for eight sets of quarters. 
 
 The next work of importance in point of extent is Castle William, a circular stone castle with 
 three tiers of casemates and a barbette battery. The circle is incomplete o.n the face covered by 
 Fort Columbus. It is situated on the northwest corner of the island, and distant from Fort 
 Columbus 200 yards. The upper tier of casemates is used for quarters for recruits and tran- 
 sient troops, and for confinement of prisoners. The summit of the castle, and upper tiers of 
 casemates, are reached by two winding stairways built of stone and inclosed in circular brick 
 towers. Piazzas extend around the inner face of the castle, at the two upper tiers of casemates, 
 and are supported by iron braces jutting out from the wall. In the upper tier the piazza furnishes 
 the only means of communication between the casemates. In the lower tiers archways are built, 
 counectiug the casemates all around the castle. Within the circle i.s constructed a long wooden 
 building, to be used as a mess hall and kitchen for recruits. 
 
 The wooden building within the area of the castle measures ,"i!) feet 10 inches by -'50 feet by 
 8 feet 9 inches to rafters, with a pitch to the roof of 8 feet. Three small rooms are cut off in this 
 building for store-rooms ; they measure 10 feet -i inches by 9 feet 8 inches. There are one door 
 and two windows at each end of this building, and four windows on one side and two on the other. 
 On one side is a large range for cooking. 
 
 On the southeast side of the island, about 00 yards from the south battery, is located the hos- 
 pital. It is composed of two buildings ; one of brick, built in 1840, and the other a frame structure 
 erected in 1802, during the late civil war, for a general hospital. Both buildings are now used as 
 a post hospital, and the spare wards devoted to various purposes. One of the wards is used for a 
 Catholic chapel, and two of the wards of the brick building are used for "courts-martial, for exam- 
 ination of recruits, lectures, and balls. 
 The brick building contains two 
 stories and a basement, and has a flat 
 tin roof. The plan of the building is 
 shown in Fig. 2, 1 being the ground 
 plan of the basement; 2, of the first 
 floor; and 3, of the second floor; A 
 A, wards; B, bath-room and water- 
 closet; D, dispensary; E, steward's 
 
 rooms ; K, kitchen ; O, office ; S, store- i. 2. 3. 
 
 rooms. The height of the basement is Fi s- '<' 
 
 8 feet 4 inches; of the first story, 12 feet 9 inches; and of the second story, 11 feet 10 inches. 
 The main wards on the first floor, measure 48 by 20J feet. Two large arched doorways open 
 near each end of these rooms. The light and ventilation are deficient, and although the rooms 
 are spacious they are not adapted to hospital purposes. About 30 feet to the rear of the hospital 
 is a loug brick building, one story, 8 feet high, divided into four rooms; two used for quarters 
 for matrons, one as store-room, and one for a dead-house. 
 
 The frame building forming a part of the hospital is 12 feet west of the brick building above 
 referred to. The outline and plau of this building are shown in Fig. 3, the upper cut, marked 1, 
 representing the basement, and the lower, marked 2, the main floor; 1234, wards; 5, hall: 6 
 verandah; 7, operating-room ; 8, brick walk; 9, grass; 10, wash-room ; 11, dining-room; 12, lauii 
 dry; 13, store-room; 14, root cellar. The roof of this building is shingled, and has a pitch of 
 4 feet. Wards 1 and 2 measure 57 by 24 feet; wards 3 and 4, 78J by 24 feet. In the ceiling 
 
 E 
 E 
 
 A 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 A 
 
 a 
 
 1 A , 
 
 S 
 
 J A 
 
 
 m 
 
 
30 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF 'MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of each ward are cut two openings, each 2 by 4 feet, intended for purposes of ventilation. The 
 height of all the rooms is 12 feet, that of the basement is 7 feet inches. The laundry contains 
 a range with water back for furnishing hot water to the bath-room. 
 
 n 
 
 
 14 
 
 11 
 
 13 
 
 Ifl 
 
 .12 | 
 
 -PT-1 
 
 EB 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 Fig. 3. 
 
 East of Fort Columbus, about 40 yards, extending east 
 and west, is a long one-story brick building, 100 feet by 23 
 feet, with shingle roof. It is divided into three compart- 
 ments ; one is used for a billiard-room, one for ordnance 
 store-room, and the other for a library. 
 
 At the northeast corner of the island is located the adju- 
 tant's office or u headquarters," a two-story brick building 
 with basement and attic, and shingled roof. It has a front 
 and rear piazza. This building contains commanding offi- 
 cer's and adjutant's offices, and in the basement the guard- 
 house for the main guard. No prisoners are, however, con- 
 fined here. South of the adjutant's office 30 feet is the 
 commissary and quartermaster's store-house, a brick build- 
 ing one and a half stories high, with basement; it is 50 feet 
 by 40 feet, and divided internally by temporary partitions. 
 
 OFFICERS' QUARTERS. 
 
 On the same line, distant from the commissary building 
 50 feet, is the commanding officer's quarters, a large double 
 house, two stories, basement and attic, built of brick, and 
 roof shingled. Broad piazzas cover the front and rear of 
 this building. In the basement are three rooms, on the first 
 floor are four rooms, on the second floor five rooms, and 
 there arc two attic rooms. 
 
 South of the commanding officers quarters and on a line with it are two buildings, distant 
 from each other 50 feet, in which are contained four sets of officers' quarters. The buildings are 
 frame, of two stories, with basement and attic, and shingled roof. Each building contains eight 
 rooms on the first and second stories ; four rooms in basement and four attic rooms. 
 
 To the rear of these buildings and also that of the commanding officer's quarters are gardens, 
 60 feet deep, planted with fruit-trees, shrubs, &c. A portion of the garden can be devoted to 
 vegetables. 
 
 To the east of the brick hospital about 30 feet is a quadrangular frame building, of one story 
 and basement, cut up into six rooms on the main floor and six rooms on the basement, used for 
 quarters for married men and laundresses. To the west of the south battery is a long one-story 
 frame structure, divided into twenty rooms, furnishing quarters for ten married men. The sutler's 
 store, a small frame building of one story, is a few yards west of this. To the north of the sutler's 
 store is the carpenter and paiut shop. 
 
 North of the south battery and distant about 25 yards is the chapel, a tasteful gotbic frame 
 building, with belfry. It has four wings, and is capable of seating one hundred persons. 
 
 Cemetery. At the southwest of the island, about half an acre is appropriated for a graveyard. 
 The graves are regularly arranged in lines, and the whole surrounded by a neat iron fence. 
 
 Bath-room. At the northeast end of the island is built a wharf, extending GO feet to deep 
 water. On the wharf is a storehouse, and adjoining it, built on piles, is a boat-house. Between 
 the boat-house and store-room the space is utilized as a bath-room. 
 
 WATER SUPPLY, ETC. 
 
 In close proximity to two large cities where an abundance of good water is supplied, Governor's 
 Ishtnd, an important military post, depends for its supply of water on wells and cisterns. It is 
 perfectly feasible to connect Governor's Island by submarine pipes with the mains of the water 
 supply of Brooklyn or New York City ; preferably the former, as it is conceded the water thereof is 
 
FOltT WADSWORTH, STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 31 
 
 purer, and quite as abundant. Blackwell's Island is connected with the Crotoii water-pip<-s. ami 
 the current between the shores so connected is twice as swift as the stream that flows between 
 Governor's Island and Brooklyn, and the channel also is deeper. The wells on Governor's Island 
 are four in number, one at Castle William, furnishing a small supply of tolerably good water ; it 
 is pumped dry in ten minutes' pumping, and requires some time to refill. Another well is in 
 Fort Columbus, furnishing a liberal supply of water, but of so impure a character as to be unfit 
 for drinking purposes. Another well, .near the hospital, yields tolerably good water in abundance 
 and is more used than any other suppl5' on the island ; all the animals arc watered at this well. In 
 the south battery is a well of the purest water that has been reached by digging, and it is never 
 exhausted. All these wells are furnished with pumps. The waters of the wells in Fort Columbus, 
 in the south battery, and the one near the hospital have been tested for organic matter by Acting 
 Assistant Surgeon B. F. Craig, United States Army, and the result of the analysis published in 
 Circular No. 5, Surgeon General's Office, of 1807. In addition to this miserable supply of water 
 from wells, the rain is collected from the roofs of nearly all the buildings, in cisterns, but the 
 cisterns are faulty in construction, being simple reservoirs for the reception of the washings of the 
 roofs, and from them is drawn off the water unftltered and saturated often with decomposing vege- 
 etable matter. A simple partition constructed in the cistern, with a filter near the bottom, on one 
 side of which the water should be received and on the other side drawn off, would have given 
 always wholesome drinking-water; as it is, cleaning these cisterns twice a year fails to keep them 
 sweet and clean. 
 
 The privies are most of them constructed over tide-water, so that the excrementitious matter 
 is thoroughly disposed of and so diluted by sea water as to be rendered perfectly inoffensive. The 
 officers' quarters are furnished with wells for privies, and sinks are dug in Fort Columbus; these, 
 no doubt, tend to vitiate the well-water. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Columbus, Few York 
 
 Harbor, for the years 1808 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 |H 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 d . 
 
 ;J 
 
 a 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 fears. 
 
 S 
 
 g 
 
 S 
 9 
 
 a 
 
 Whole nun 
 taken sic 
 
 Typhoiil fe 
 
 Malarial fei 
 
 Diarrhu'a 
 dysi-uter 
 
 Venereal 
 eases. 
 
 Rhoumatis 
 
 rhthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 
 fections. 
 
 Number 
 
 deaths. 
 
 1868 .- -- 
 
 581.41 
 
 1,428 
 
 1 
 
 44 
 
 369 
 
 143 
 
 65 
 
 4 
 
 171 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 513 75 
 
 66G 
 
 
 52 
 
 113 
 
 86 
 
 34 
 
 1 
 
 85 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, anil pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WADSWORTH, STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON J. C. McKEE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The fortifications and government reserve on Staten Island west of the Narrows, commanding 
 the entrance on that side of New York Harbor, are known by the name of Fort Wadsworth. They 
 are in latitude 40 30' north, longitude 74 03' west; distant from Coney Island east 6.45 miles; 
 from Sandy Hook 8.08 miles; from. Fort Hamilton one mile; and are named in honor of Genera' 
 Wadsworth, a distinguished soldier who fell in the late civil war. It was formerly known by the name 
 of Fort Richmond, being placed in the county of that name, State of New York. The fortification on 
 the top of the hill, the commanding point on the reserve, is known by the name of Fort Tompkins, 
 and commands the work of Fort Wadsworth, a triple casemate of granite, as well as Battery Hudson 
 and the othe.r continuous water batteries which defend the passage. It lies 140 feet above the 
 level of the sea. 
 
 The reserve contains about 100 acres; surface very broken and rugged; its slopes and declivi- 
 
32 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 ties are steep aiid rapid. This reserve, originally belonging to the State of New York, Avas, by an 
 act of her legislature, February 10, 1818, sold to the United States, and was transferred to its 
 jurisdiction during the administration of John Quiucy Adams in 1827. The following description 
 is taken from report of Dr. Pulling, late acting assistant surgeon United States Army: 
 
 The hills are formed of the drift deposit, composed of siliceous earth with numerous boulders of trap, serpentine 
 arid granite scattered through it. These rocks are exposed in places a few miles to the northward, occasionally though 
 rarely. A stratum of fine clay is found at a short distance below the surface, alumina as a constituent of the soil 
 being generally deficient. These hills have a geological connection with the range of eminences on Long Island 
 which extends from Astoria to Fort Hamilton ; and are separated from this chain of heights by the narrows or channel 
 about a mile wide, forming the entrance to New York Harbor. The widening of this channel has been going on until 
 recently. The shore upon which the batteries are placed continued to be slowly encroached upon by tidal and fluvial 
 action until that point was protected by artificial means. The greater part of the material thns removed has probably 
 been deposited along the southeastern shore of Staten Island, and has contributed to .the production of the salt mead- 
 ows, which border much of that coast, their origin being quite recent and their formation still in progress. 
 
 The hills on the island embosom many deep hollows or basins, some of which are in the limits of the reservation, 
 exercising an important influence on its hygiene. The soil is very spongy and porous, and absorbs a largo quantity of 
 water. During the warm weather great atmospheric humidity is maintained from the rapid evaporation arising from 
 the surface of the earth, which is said to be hardly ever dry, and when exposed or denuded of vegetation is never free 
 from fungi. Having no outlets and receiving the drainage from the surrounding surface, these valleys, already 
 mentioned and described, usually contain ponds or form into swamps, thus making large evaporating basins, which, 
 during the summer and autumn, emit great quantities of vapor, in connection with the diffusible products of organic 
 decomposition. I have determined by careful experiment that the humus of some swampy areas, in the immediate 
 vicinity of Fort Wadsworth is capable of evolving moisture by evaporation more rapidly than an equally extensive 
 surface of water under the same temperature. 
 
 The men occupy for dormitories four casemates in Fort Tompkins, averaging ten men and 
 beds in each. The casemates are comfortably warmed by a large anthracite coal stove in each, 
 lighted by candles at night, ventilated and lighted by two windows in the rear 5 feet high and 8 
 inches wide, two in front G feet G inches high and 3 feet wide, and a transom over the door 3 feet by 
 2; air space ample; each occupant has between six and seven hundred cubic feet. Bedsteads are 
 of iron, single, made with a hinge in the middle so as to fold up in day-time; bedsacks are filled 
 with straw, and changed as often as required to insure cleanliness and health. 
 
 There is one large brick water-closet or sink on the slope facing the sea. Earth-closets were 
 constructed by the engineers, but owing to their defective and faulty construction they did not 
 fulfill the purpose required of them, and they had to be abandoned. One casemate is used for 
 bathing and washing; basins are supplied, water is. furnished in a sufficient quantity from a large 
 hogshead on a platform. In winter, bathing once a week is required, iu tubs in a compartment 
 fitted up in casemate; in summer men bathe iu the ocean. The dining-room and kitchen are ad- 
 joining casemates, and are well furnished and iu good condition. 
 
 Quarters for laundresses are one-story wooden buildings, south of Fort Tompkins; are ample 
 and well ventilated ; water for washing supplied by a convenient pump. 
 
 The officers' quarters are situated at the northern end of the reservation, and are as follows : 
 Commanding officer's quarters, one-story frame building, containing seven rooms; an adjoining 
 building, also one-story frame, containing eleven rooms, and a one-story and attic frame building 
 containing fourteen rooms; the latter was built in the months of October and November, 1869, 
 and is in good condition ; the former were built in 18G2, were hastily constructed of poor material, 
 and are at present much worn, (are to be torn down this summer;) they are all well lighted and 
 ventilated. 
 
 The adjutant's office, quartermaster's and commissary's office, and the store-houses are in three 
 casemates in the. north wing of the fort. Company office in casemate in opposite wing adjoining 
 the men's quarters. 
 
 The guard-house is placed in two casemates in the western wing; one is occupied by the guard 
 and the other by the prisoners. The guard-house for the prisoners is divided' into six cells, each 
 7 feet long, 4 feet broad, and 6 feet 10 inches in height. The top is secured and guarded by 
 heavy plank lattice, so as to secure the equable ventilation of each' cell with the air in the case- 
 mate. Prisoners are locked in cells at bed-time; are furnished with bedsacks and straw; have 
 
FOJiT HAMILTON, MOW YOKK IlAKKOli. 
 
 33 
 
 the same diet as the company; and arc supplied IVom company kitchen. They use Hie company 
 sink, and are required to but he. once a week. 
 
 The post hospital is a frame building', constructed in September and October, ISO!), in accord- 
 ance with plan of "Circular No. 4, Surgeon (Icneral's Office, Washington, April 27, 1807," and 
 consists of an administration building two stories high, back building (kitchen) one. story high, 
 and one wing (ward) one story high, and has a capacity of twelve beds; it is well built, and prop- 
 erly and neatly furnished. 
 
 There is no post bakery. The Hour is exchanged with a village baker for bread, which is of 
 good quality. There, are four laundresses in the company; no general laundry; no chapel, and no 
 school-house. 
 
 The library is in a casemate in the south wing adjoining the men's barracks; and has an average 
 number of 250 bound volumes, composed of historical works and standard novels, belonging to the 
 company. The men are allowed to keep the books for a certain number of days; and are held re- 
 sponsible for loss or damage. The, books are always carefully handled and promptly returned. 
 
 The water supply is by means of a large cistern of about 2,000 gallons capacity, and is of good 
 quality. Water is hauled to the officers' quarters, hospital, &c., from a well near the light- 
 house, in a water-wagon, the quantity daily being about 200 gallons; about 40 gallons of this 
 go to the hospital. On adding permanganate of potash, a small amount of organic matter is 
 observed. 
 
 Dr. Pulling examined many wells in the vicinity, and remarks that most of them are mere 
 receptacles of surface water, which, percolating through a malarious soil, carries with it, in sum- 
 mer, highly noxious material, constituting a serious source of disease. 
 
 There is no effective fire, apparatus at the fort. Drainage is natural and artificial, and is effi- 
 cient; an outlet is made from each end of a dry ditch of Fort* Tompkins, terminating in the sea. 
 The slops are carted every morning and thrown into the sea. 
 
 For the first time at this fort, under (Jencral J. M. P>rannan, First Artillery Tinted States 
 Army, commanding, a post garden of one and one quarter acres of ground is inclosed and culti- 
 vated. All the ordinary garden vegetables are cultivated. A potato lot of one and one half acres 
 has also been planted, and promises an excellent yield. 
 
 Statement sJioiciny menu .itrenf/tli, number of nick, nml principal diseases at Fort Wflxtn>rth, Xeir York 
 
 Harbor, for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 -: 
 
 X 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 rj 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^8 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 5 /i 
 
 /; 
 
 " 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 - 
 
 
 tc 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 ao 
 
 d 
 dH 
 
 ^ '^ 
 d 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 jj 
 
 - s 
 
 ^ - 
 g 
 
 "S 
 
 ? 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 g| 
 
 is 
 
 5 
 "n .= 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 * 
 
 i 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 fi 
 
 5 
 
 
 1868 
 
 7841 
 
 115 
 
 56 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 16 
 
 
 1869 
 
 TZ :t: 
 
 16:5 
 
 66 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " Iiidude la 
 
 K, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 REPORTS OF SURGEONS II. R. WIRTZ AND R. H. ALEXANDER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Hamilton is situated on the southwest shore of Long Island, on the Narrows. Latitude 
 40 43' north, longitude 74 1', west ; distant about six miles from Xew York City. 
 
 The western shore of Long Island extends in a sort of curve from opposite the southern 
 extremity of the city of New York, with the convexity to the west, and Fort Hamilton, would form 
 one extremity of a chord running very nearly north and south, of which New York City would form 
 
34 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the other extremity. A .similar convexity of the northeastern part of Statan Island forms \vitli 
 Long Island a strait, called the " Narrows," by which tlie inner bay of New York communicates 
 with the outer, or maritime bay. Fort Hamilton, in conjunction with Fort Wadsworth, on Staten 
 Island, commands the Narrows, and Fort Lafayette, erected on an artificial island, lies off Fort 
 Hamilton to the east of the main ship-channel. 
 
 From Fort Hamilton is presented a line view, not only of the Narrows, but a portion of the 
 inner bay, and in a southerly direction, across the outer bay, the Highlands of Jersey arc visible 
 by day and the light-houses at Sandy Hook by night. Looking to the west, the hills of Staten Island 
 bound the horizon, covered with stately residences and patches of the primeval forest. Nothing- 
 separates Fort Hamilton on the southeast from the Atlantic but a narrow strip of sand called 
 "Coney Island." 
 
 The name. Fort Hamilton is applied not only to the military work, but also to the village that 
 has sprung np in its neighborhood. The fort is really situated in the town of New Utrecht, 
 Kings County, New York. The town of New Utrecht was settled during the Dutch rule, in 1054, 
 by about twenty families from Holland, and Kings County was organized by the English in 1083. 
 The English retained the sovereignty after this until the American Revolution, and the neighbor- 
 hood of Fort Hamilton became memorable during that period as being the place where the English 
 troops under Lord Howe landed, previous to the battle of Long Island. Such an important point 
 as the "Narrows" could not long escape the attention of the government, and on the 25th of 
 August, 1824, Lieutenant Talcott, of the Corps of Engineers, was ordered to the proposed site of 
 Fort Hamilton, and had the survey made and prepared the wharves, &c., for the reception of ma. 
 tcrial and the commencement of work. Ground was broken on the 20th of April, 1825, Captain 
 George Blaney, Corps of Engineers, being superintending engineer, and Lieutenant Mansfield, 
 Corps of Engineers, his assistant, being in immediate charge. The corner-stone was laid on the 
 llth of June, 1825 ; the fort completed, reported ready for occupation, and turned over for that 
 purpose on the 10th of July, 1831, by Major De Rnssy, who was then in charge of the work. 
 
 The features of the country to the north and east of the fort are peculiar. Along the shore 
 the banks are precipitous, and the fort itself stands on an elevation of about 47 feet above low- 
 water. IJack from the shore the land becomes rolling, and exhibits a series of elevations and 
 depressions till we arrive at Flatlauds and Flatbush, names which sufficiently express the character 
 of the surface. 
 
 This peculiar feature is the most important element, next to its insular position, in the topog- 
 raphy of the post, the soil being alluvial, consisting for the most part of clay on top, then sand, 
 pebbles, &c., and frequently a second stratum of clay, and the rolling character of the surface, pro- 
 ducing numerous depressions, some round, some oblong, varying in size from 30 feet in diameter to 
 as many yards. The result is that the whole country is dotted over with ponds from the surface 
 drainage. Some of these ponds are clear, with a gravelly or clayey bottom and grassy borders ; 
 others -are surrounded with trees, and iilled np with bushes and rank grasses, and covered in sum- 
 mer with a green slime. It has been calculated that within a radius of a mile about Fort Hamilton 
 there arc at least sixty of these ponds. East of the fort, near the new battery, is a marsh of con- 
 siderable extent, formed by the drainage of the higher laud, and imperfectly separated by a bank of 
 sand from tide-water. 
 
 The reservation contains about 90 acres, and exhibits all the peculiar features of the surround 
 ing country. There is scarcely a level spot on it ; it is a series of ridges and round elevations 
 with depressions of every conceivable shape between them. Its general direction is northeast and 
 southwest. The highest part is the northeast corner, which is 00 feet above sea level. The hospital 
 is built on an elevation of 42 feet ; back of it the land rises to 53 feet. An extensive marsh or 
 pond occupies the ground between the hospital and other public buildings. 
 
 The parade ground of the fort is 45 or 50 feet above low water. There are six small ponds or 
 " wet spots" on the reserve, and one large marsh or bog. There are three small ponds east and 
 northeast of the hospital, two or three still smaller back of it, and one of considerable size back 
 of the redoubt. The great marsh is about 200 feet in its long diameter, with a growth of long 
 grass and stunted bushes, and having a deposit of peat on one border. It is now drained, and a 
 
FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK HARBOR. 35 
 
 viist surface formerly under water is now exposed to the influence of the sun, and intermittent 
 lexer is as prevalent now, if not more so, as before this drainage was effected. 
 
 The soil where it is not stony consists of a clayey loam with rich muck and peat beds in places, 
 and a substratum of sand. Boulders of all sixes are scattered over the surface, and patches of 
 pebbles and gravel crop out here and there, on the sides of declivities. The boulders and blocks 
 are principally of granite, red sandstone, greenstone, &c. Trees of various kinds are sparsely 
 scattered over the reserve, the principal collection being a grove of oak, poplar, maple, dogwood, 
 &c., near the northeast extremity. There is no running water, and there are no springs. The 
 climate at Fort Hamilton is variable, the monthly mean of temperature for 18CS being as follows : 
 January, 25; June, 62; December, 3G. The prevailing winds are southwest in summer, and 
 southeast in winter. 
 
 The quarters for the men are stone casemates, each 44 by 14 by 12 feet, badly ventilated, damp 
 and leaky, and totally unfit for quarters. The air space per man is about 17.3 cubic feet. The 
 majority of the enlisted men sleep upon bedsteads composed of board slats, an inch thick, sup- 
 ported by iron trestles, and better adapted for the purpose than anything in use. Bedding of suf- 
 ficient quantity, but blankets of inferior quality. There are 110 bath-rooms or lavatories, the men 
 performing their ordinary ablutions at the wells and cisterns near their quarters ; during the summer 
 months they bathe frequently in the bay near the, fort. The water-closet is built upon the fort 
 dock, over the water, and the excreta removed by the tide. It being the only water-closet to 
 which the men have access, it is inconvenient for uight purposes on account of its distance (about 
 250 yards) from the quarters. The introduction of the earth-closet in one. of the unoccupied case- 
 mates on a level with the ditch was contemplated, but as yet no action has been taken in the 
 matter. The kitchens are in casemates adjoining the quarters; they are in good condition and of 
 sufficient capacity. 
 
 The quarters of the laundresses and married soldiers are two sets of weather-boarded frame 
 buildings built on the northeastern portion of the reserve, near the hospital, on a slight elevation ; 
 one set, occupied by the non-commissioned staff, 75 by 2C feet, containing four rooms 12 by 18 feet, 
 two on the ground floor and two in the attic, with doors intervening and piazzas in front and rear 
 ventilation excellent. The other set, occupied by laundresses, is 11CJ by 43 feet, constructed sim- 
 ilar to that occupied by the non commissioned staff, with the exception that there .are no doors 
 communicating between the front and rear rooms, thereby preventing the proper amount of ven- 
 tilation, and making the quarters so excessively warm during the summer season as to be almost 
 insupportable. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of thirteen casemates, occupied by nine officers and their families, 
 and three sets of one-story frame buildings filled in with brick, and with Mansard roofs, the latter 
 consisting of one set of colonel's quarters, occupied by the commanding officer, one double set cap- 
 tain's, and one set major's, occupied by the surgeon; they are heated by coal in grates .and stoves 
 during the winter months, and supplied with water from wells and cisterns. The casemates are 
 dark and damp. The frame buildings were put up in the cheapest manner, without closets or 
 other conveniences, and one of them is on the edge of a peat bog, which must always render it 
 an unhealthy residence. It was built there in opposition to the advice of the surgeon of the post. 
 The water-closets for the frame buildings consist of the ordinary privy vaults. Those formerly in 
 use for officers' quarters in casemates have been abandoned and closed, and the commode or earth- 
 closet recently introduced. The earth-closet does not appear to give general satisfaction, the objec- 
 tion made to it being want of capacity, non-deodorizing quality of the earth supplied, and the diffi- 
 culty in having the contents of*- the vessels removed objections, however, that could be overcome 
 with proper care and attention. The principal difficulty appears to be in having the vessels emptied. 
 It was made the duty of the prisoners confined at the post, but the majority of them positively 
 refused to do it. They would scatter the contents over the closets. Within a few days past an 
 extra quantity of earth and barrels have been placed in the apartments containing the closets, with 
 a view to the better working of them. From personal observation, I believe the system to be good, 
 and preferable to the vaults, provided all due care be taken in selecting the earth, keeping the 
 apartments in good working order, and careful removal of the vessels containing the excreta. The 
 old hospital building might have been erected with any conceivable object except that of a hospital. 
 
36 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 It has not the first element of such a structure, being situated on the borders of a marsh and cut 
 up into four little rooms on the lower Jloor, and into two wards on the upper, of which it is suffi- 
 cient to say that the ceilings are about 7 feet from the floor, and the windows about 2i feet square, 
 and nearer the floor than the ceilings. 
 
 The main building is 32 by 40 feet, with a hall 7 feet wide running through, and to this has 
 been added a wing 25 by 30 feet. The house has lately been .subdivided by board partitions into 
 still smaller rooms, and is occupied by eight soldiers' families sixteen adults and fourteen 
 children. 
 
 The quartermaster's storehouse is a two-story frame building. The lower story has two rooms 
 for offices in front, and a room back, 40 by 20 feet, for stores. The upper story, for camp and 
 garrison equipage, is one large room, 65 by 20 feet. The commissary storehouse is a one-story 
 shanty, 30 by 24 feet. Beside these there is a blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, and a fine large 
 new stable, capable of containing fourteen horses, with carriage-room and granary. 
 
 The post hospital is what is called a " temporary hospital," built of frame, and partly lathed 
 and plastered inside and weather-boarded outside, with ridge ventilation in the wards. It is situ- 
 ated near the upper northeast end of the reserve, on a moderate eminence about 130 yards back 
 from the State road, fronting to the northwest, its greater length being northeast and southwest. 
 It consists of four separate structures, the administration building, two wards, and a kitchen. 
 
 The administration building is a frame house, two stories high, shingle roof, weather-boarded 
 outside and lathed and plastered inside. Its front length is 30 i'eet by 25 deep. A passage-way 
 runs through from front to rear, and a flight of steps leads thence to the second story. There are 
 four rooms on each floor, two on each side the entry-way, about 10 by 12 feet, each lighted by four 
 windows. The ground floor rooms on the left of the entrance are used as surgeon's office and dis- 
 pensary; these communicate, and the dispensary has a sliding window opening into the entry for 
 the delivery of prescriptions. The two rooms on the right of the entrance are used as store-rooms, 
 one for medical supplies and the other for bedding, furniture, &c. Three of the upper rooms are 
 occupied by the hospital steward and his family, and the remaining room is applied to the purposes 
 of direction and chemical and microscopical investigation. The two wards, one on each side of the 
 administrative building, are on a line with its rear, and are 88 feet long by 25 feet wide; height of 
 wall to the eaves. 12 feet; to the peak of roof, 18 feet. The walls are plastered inside, but not ceiled 
 above, being open to the roof, where a ridge ventilator, with shutters, extends thb whole length. 
 The northeast ward forms one large, beautiful room, with two small apartments boarded off' at the 
 far end, one for nurses, the other for wash and bath-room. 
 
 The southwest ward is divided into two rooms by a passage-way through the building from front 
 to rear. The farther room is used as a ward, and has two small apartments boarded off, as in the 
 large ward ; the other room has never been occupied by sick, but conlcl be applied to that purpose 
 if needed. It has, however, served for examining recruits, as a sort of sitting-room tor con- 
 valescents, &c. The wards are well lighted by windows on all sides two at each end, and seven 
 front and seven rear with space between each window for two beds. A porch 6 feet wide runs 
 the whole length of each ward on the side facing the northwest. The superficial area of tlie large 
 ward is 2,200 square feet; of the small one, 1,075 square feet; total, 3,275 square feet now applied 
 to hospital purposes, and furnishing in cubic space 47,487 cubic feet, or about 1,180 cubic feet of 
 air space per bed. At the end of each ward is a door opening upon a platform, leading to a small 
 water-closet, from which a urinal and drain convey the water to a cesspool, and in which provision 
 is made for the reception of the discharges of patients who are too sick to resort to the privy. 
 Each little house, about the size of a sentry's box, is separated from the ward, so that a current of 
 air passes between them. 
 
 The kitchen is a one-story structure, 40 feet to the rear of the administrative building; the 
 walls are plastered, but the ceiling is open to the roof. It is divided into two rooms. The kitchen 
 proper is 14 by 24 feet, and the mess-room 10 by 24 feet. A small apartment for a pantry is 
 boarded oft* from one end of the kitchen, and a snug little cellar, bricked all around, with entrance 
 from the outside, is built under it. 
 
 The above-described buildings are all connected by means of a covered corridor. 40 by 50 feet 
 
FORT HAMILTON, NEW YORK HARBOR. 37 
 
 <nul 4 feet wide, in the shape of a cross, which makes a convenient passage-way between the 
 administrative building, the wards, and the kitchen. 
 
 The houses arc painted outside a yellowish brown color, with red window sashes and green 
 blinds; the doors are walnut color. The store-rooms arc shelved on all sides. The large ward 
 contains thirty iron bedsteads, with chairs and bedside tables; the small ward contains twelve iron 
 bedsteads. The hospital is warmed by stoves, two in the large ward and one in the small one, and 
 one in each of the other rooms when required. The water is furnished by two large excellent 
 cisterns, 14 feet deep by 12 diameter, bricked and cemented, and arched above. One cistern sup- 
 plies water to the kitchen ; the other is fitted with a pump in the open air. The large and clean 
 surface of the shingle roofs affords an unfailing supply of good water. Two cess-pools, with drains 
 of vitrified pipe, are connected, one with the wash-room and water-closet of the northeast ward, 
 the other with the southwest ward and kitchen ; they are 8 feet deep by 7 feet in diameter, of open 
 brick-work. 
 
 The hospital grounds embrace nbont two acres, and are surrounded with a good picket fence. 
 The larger portion lies in front of the hospital, between it and the State road, and has been culti- 
 vated as a garden. The grounds in the rear of the buildings are still in grass. The privy is situ- 
 ated here, about 50 yards back of the kitchen; it contains eight seats, separated from each other 
 by partitions, shoulder-high. A good root-house has been built; it is 20 feet square and C feet 
 dee]), covered with earth and sod, and father protected from the rains by a shingle roof; it is 
 boarded inside, is perfectly dry, and maintains a temperature never below 40 P., even in the coldest 
 part of winter. 
 
 It appears there never has been until lately a building suitable for a hospital ; and it is some- 
 what strange that at a permanent post like Fort Hamilton such a state of things should have 
 existed for over thirty-five years. In 1852, Assistant Surgeon Eaton says : "There is no hospital 
 building at this post, and since I have been stationed here great suffering and many deaths of sol- 
 diers have taken place for want of hospital accommodations.' 1 "For want of hospital and other 
 room, many of the sick" on one occasion " were exposed in the large horse stable, without fire, in 
 the month of November ;" and he reports that " twenty or thirty died." How such a state of things 
 could exist it- is hard to explain. A building was finally erected to serve as a hospital. (See 
 old hospital description of buildings.) It was built without any regard for the purpose in- 
 tended, and was so uncomfortable that it was finally abandoned. In the spring of 18(57 the sick 
 occupied the upper story of an old barrack, into which the wind blew by a thousand holes and 
 the rain dripped by a thousand leaks. A report of the condition of things was made through the 
 commanding officer, and plans for a hospital submitted. A year passed by and no not ice was taken 
 of the matter. A report was then made direct to the Surgeon General. This met with a response. 
 and a temporary hospital was ordered to be erected. It was the winter season, and great difficul- 
 ties had to be contended with ; the plans also, made by the Quartermaster's Department were open 
 to criticism. However, after a lapse of thirty-five years, a hospital was finally built, and was 
 occupied in the summer of 18G9. 
 
 Water is supplied from wells and cisterns; it is abundant and of good quality, except that 
 supplied from cisterns, which occasionally becomes foul from earthy deposits. 
 
 The natural drainage is bad; the ground being hilly, the water collects in the hollows, forming 
 ponds, that have become filled with rank vegetation, the, depth of water continually varying, being 
 filled during the winter and spring by rain 'and snow, and in the summer and autumn becoming so 
 nearly dry as to expose almost the entire beds to the direct solar rays. There are numerous ponds 
 and marshes in the immediate vicinity of the reserve, for the drainage of which an appropriation 
 was made by the civil authorities last fall; but no attempt was made to carry it into effect until 
 last spring, when six or seven ponds and marshes lying south of and within a short distance of the 
 reserve were effectually drained. It is the intention of the civil authorities to renew the drainage 
 the latter part of next fall, and the three ponds remaining on the reserve could be effectually 
 drained at the same time with little labor and but little expense to the government. The artificial 
 drainage consists of a large sewer, built in connection with the ditch in the permanent fortification, 
 and into which the superficial drains and water-pipes lead, discharging into the bay. Slops, offal, 
 and excreta are thrown into the bay and removed by the tide. 
 
38 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 About eight acres of land have been heretofore cultivated as gardens by the companies. The 
 hospital garden embraces nearly two acres. The ordinary crops potatoes, turnips, cabbage, &c. 
 flourish well ; and the command is abundantly supplied with fresh vegetables. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past winter were catarrh, bronchitis, pneumonia, scarletina, 
 intermittent fever, syphilis, and gonorrhoea. During the summer months intermittent fever, 
 diarrhea, and dysentery. Owing to the numerous ponds and marshes in the district, malarial 
 diseases are quite prevalent. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Hamilton, New York 
 
 Harbor, for the years 1SG8 and 1809. 
 
 Years. 
 
 j 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 c 
 
 1 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhea and 
 clysentary. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 C'atarrhal af- 
 fections.* 
 
 X 
 
 >2 
 
 i 
 q 
 
 <3 
 
 "8 
 1 
 
 1868 . 
 
 235. 58 
 
 570 
 
 295 
 
 54 
 
 25 
 
 42 
 
 :!') 
 
 1 
 
 l r > 
 
 
 1869 
 
 221.08 
 
 r>42 
 
 :ui 
 
 :!9 
 
 14 
 
 36 
 
 18 
 
 
 88 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Incltiilr Inryiiiiitis, lirmu'liitU. piiriiiiic>iii:i. and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WOOD, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. C. YARROW, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Bedloe's Island, upon which is situated For! Wood, is a small island of about twelve acres in 
 extent, situated in Upper. New York Bay, about twenty statute miles (according lo tue Coast Sur- 
 vey chart) from Sandy Hook, one and a half miles from Jersey City, and 2,950 yards from the Bat 
 tery, New York City. 
 
 The first owner of this island of whom we have .any record was Isaac IJedloe, a native of New 
 Amsterdam, by whose name it is st'ill known. Mr. Bedlocdied in the year 1<>72. His representa- 
 tives some years subsequently sold the island, and it afterward came into the possession of Captain 
 Archibald Kennedy, (afterward Earl of Cassilis,) who at that time commanded the naval station, 
 under the British government, in this harbor. Captain Kennedy occupied the island as a summer 
 residence, and for a number of years it was distinguished as Kennedy's Island. It subsequently 
 became the property of the State, and by act of the legislature in 1800, it was ceded to the United 
 States government, by whom it is now occupied as a military station. Fortifications of a formida- 
 ble character have been, from time to time, erected on the side facing the channel of the harbor. 
 The authority to serve process on this island, from courts of New York, was reserved in the act of 
 cession to the general government. 
 
 In the Gazetteer of the State of New York, by Smith, the island is mentioned as having been 
 granted to Bedloe by Governor Nicoll ; also its possession by Kennedy, and its subsequent use by 
 the State as a quarantine station until it was ceded to the government in 1800. After giving the 
 above facts he states: "This island is now occupied by Fort Wood, erected in 1841, at a cost of 
 $213,000, upon the site of a fort built about the beginning of the century." (It may be proper to 
 mention here that the new fort spoken of by Smith is simply a continuation of the original work. 
 as a stone tablet in the wall of one of the buildings gives the date of its commencement as 1S14.) 
 The same author further states that it is intended to mount seventy-seven guns, and have a garri- 
 son of three hundred and fifty men, and that in the year 1849 it was used as a hospital by the com 
 missioners of emigration. In regard to one of the uses to which this island was put, probably the 
 same mentioned by Valentine, I find, in the "History of the City of New York," by Mary L. Booth, 
 the following : 
 
 In 1738 a sort of quarantine was established at Beilloe's Island. The small-]>ox was raging in South Carolina as it 
 had raged in New York seven or eight yeai-s before, and the citizens, alarmed at the danger, entreated that all suspected 
 
I'OUT WOOD, NKW V01JK IIAUHOK. 39 
 
 vc:.-.cls .should anchor at llcdloe's Islmiil, nor be. suffered to discharge their cargoes until they hail tir.st been \ i.-iled ami 
 examined by physicians appointed for (lie, purpose. This was accordingly done, and the ]>anic; soon ceased. 
 
 Under the heading of "Quarantine" of the State of New York, in Apple-ton's American Cy- 
 clopedia v for ISC.'!, I lind UK- following in regard to this island : 
 
 The earliest special act In prevent (he spread of infectious diseases was passed about one 1 dred years :ij>o, and 
 
 iu 17U4 a regular i|iiarantine was estnblished on (lovernor's Island. A <iuaranliue was begun on Jiedloe's Island in 1797, 
 but tile severity of the yellow lexer the next year induced the State to authorize the purchase of thirty acres in the 
 town of Castlclon, Stateu Island, to which tin 1 P.edloe's Island building was removed. 
 
 The present hospital was commenced in the year 1851, and two years' time was required to fin- 
 ish it. 
 
 At the commencement of the late war Fort Wood was not garrisoned, but was left in charge 
 of an ordnance sergeant. 
 
 DESCRIPTION Ol'' THE 1'OST. 
 
 Fort Wood, which is situated upon Uedloe's Island, is a star-shaped fort, built of (Jniney gran- 
 ite. According to a stone which is inserted in one of the garrison buildings, the date of its com- 
 mencement was the year 1S14. The men's barracks within the quadrangle of the fort arc suffi 
 ciently capacious to hold about I wo hundred men, allowing an air space of about (SOU cubic feet to 
 each ; and there are also comfortable accommodations for eight or ten ollicers. The barracks are 
 two stories, built of brick, and their dimensions are as follows: Upper room, ";' feet long by L'U feet 
 wide; lower room, ."it! feet long by I'M feet wide. In addition to the men's quarters in the brick 
 buildings spoken of above, there are the following rooms: Men's kitchen, 54 feet long by 18 feet 
 wide; wash-room, 1!) feet long by 18 feet wide; bake-house, 19 feet longby 15 feet wide; six rooms 
 for officers' mess-house and quarters of ordnance sergeant, besides officers' quarters, guard-house, 
 office, &c., making in all forty-four rooms. 
 
 The garrison is supplied with water by four large cisterns, holding in all about 400,000 gallons. 
 These cisterns are filled with Croton water, brought over in the tanks of the quartermaster's steamers, 
 Outside the garrison there are seven small cisterns, holding about 15,707 gallons, which are sup- 
 plied in 'the same way as those within the garrison. 
 
 During the, late war of the rebellion Uedloe's Island was chosen as a general hospital, and a 
 number of temporary barracks of wood were erected. At present there are nine of these barracks 
 or wards occupied as men's quarters, beside others used as store-houses, offices, ordnance store- 
 rooms, laundress's quarters, <S;c. These buildings were constructed substantially of boards, and 
 careful attention was given to ventilation. The principal objection to them appears to be that the 
 floors are almost level with the earth beneath. The average size of these buildings may be stated 
 as 00 feet long by L'O feet wide. 
 
 DESCRIPTION Ol'' THE POST HOSPITAL. 
 
 The post hospital at Fort Wood consists of a three-story brick building, situated at the north- 
 west extremity of Ucdloe's Island. Its dimensions are as follows: 50 feet long by 42 feet wide, 
 and CO feet high. Its front or principal entrance faces to the southeast. The building is 
 placed directly upon the ground, and has no basement or cellar beneath it, which I consider unfor- 
 tunate, as the ground floor has been found by experience to be very damp. The ground floor is 
 divided into the following rooms : To the right of the passage a small room 19 feet long by 8 feet 
 wide, used as an office ; next, a small room 18 feet long by 8 feet wide, used as a furnace, lamp, and 
 porter's room ; next, a small room 7 feet long by G feet wide, in which the cook sleeps ; and finally, 
 the dining-room, 18 feet long by 18 feet wide, communicating by a small passage with the kitchen, 
 which is 17 feet long by 8 feet wide. It will be plainly seen that space has not been economized 
 in the arrangements of the first story, and it is a matter of regret that no better place exists for the 
 keeping of the hospital food. The ceilings on the first floor are 8 feet high. On the second floor 
 there are four wards, two on each side of the passage, and a bath-room and water-closet. The 
 wards are 18 feet long by 18 feet wide, and are separated from each other by small doors. The 
 arrangements of the third floor arc even worse than that of the ground floor, as it is divided into 
 no less than nine rooms, occupied as steward's room, bath-room, and water-closet ; tank-room, knap- 
 sack-room, linen-room, store-room, &e. 
 
40 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The .supply of water for the hospital is arranged as follows: In the yard is a cistern contain- 
 ing, when filled, about 10,000 gallons of water. The water, whieli is from the Croton aqueduct, is 
 brought to the island by means of water-boats, and from them distributed to the cisterns supply- 
 ing the garrison. With the hospital cistern there is connected by a lead pipe a powerful force- 
 pump, worked by hand, and placed in the kitchen. This pump throws the water into a tank 
 placed in the third story of the/building. Constant care is taken to keep the cistern and tank clean 
 and sweet, and where it is suspected that organic; matter is present, permanganate of potassa is 
 added sufficient to render innocuous any deleterious substances. 
 
 Of the water-closets in the building (two in number) too much cannot be said of their evil 
 arrangements. They are connected, by means of pipes, with a cistern in the yard, which, it should 
 be stated is not more than or 3 feet from the drinking-water cistern. The drain from 
 the privy passes under the sea-wall upon the beach. The objection to this system of drain 
 age is as follows: In case the drain between the foul-water cistern and the privy becomes choked 
 up, it becomes necessary to remove the stone slabs which cover it and remove the cause of stop- 
 page. If care be not taken to dig out the drain from the privy to the beach every da\, the con- 
 stant action of the tide fills up the passage-way. Last, though not least, the close proximity of 
 the drinking-water cistern to the foul-water cistern must certainly be considered as dangerous to 
 the well-being of the patients who use the water. Large quantities of various and approved dis- 
 infectants have been used to sweeten the foul-water cistern, but without effect, and the stench 
 arising therefrom at times is intolerable. The only means by which it can be kept in any way ap- 
 proaching to cleanliness has been to force water from the bay into it, by means of a tire-engine, 
 and allow it to rush through the drain, thus carrying off the accumulated tilth. This plan was 
 recommended to the commanding ollicer, and has been faithfully (tarried out under the direction of 
 the provost sergeant. 
 
 The heating of the hospital building is accomplished by means of a large furnace and numer- 
 ous grates, and the consumption of coal in winter averages 10,000 pounds monthly. 
 
 In the yard attached to the hospital are several frame sheds, used as store-houses for con- 
 demned property, and the privy already spoken of. 
 
 The ventilation of the hospital is by no means perfect, owing in part to the numerous parti- 
 tions which at present exist. 
 
 The necessity of frequent bathing for the enlisted men at this post as a sanitary agent in pro- 
 moting their health has been fully recognized, although no facilities other than the beach affords 
 are at present offered for frequent baths. It was clearly proved during the cholera season of last 
 year that those men who bathed frequently, enjoyed a perfect immunity from the cholera and dis- 
 eases analogous in character. 
 
 Burials. In the event of the death of an enlisted man at this post, the government under- 
 taker is notified, and the body sent to New York City in charge of a guard of honor; thence it is 
 removed to the Cypress Hill Cemetery. 
 
 Amusements and Recreations of the Men. No billiard-room, gymnasium, or library is at present 
 connected with the post. 
 
 Bunks. The bunks used by enlisted men of this command are of three different varieties, viz., 
 the ordinary well-known iron army bunk or bedstead, the wooden two storied bunk designed for 
 four men, and the new bunk invented by General Wallcn and bearing his name. Of the three, the 
 old-fashioned folding bunk is preferable, as taking up less room, being comfortable to the occupant, 
 and not being liable to vermin. The Wallen bunk is composed of two iron pieces, head and foot- 
 board, with a wooden frame, having underneath a sliding-box for containing the cleaning utensils, 
 &c., of the soldier. This is an admirable bunk for permanent posts, but is open to the objection 
 that it takes up considerable room, is costly, and contains numerous crevices where vermin can 
 harbor. The most objectionable bunk is the two-story wooden one, which is opposed to all sanitary 
 and (in the question of soldiers) all moral laws. They become infested with vermin, and cannot be, 
 cleaned without taking apart, which process involves great trouble and liability to breakage. 
 
FORT SCHUYLEE, NEW YORK HARBOE. 
 
 41 
 
 Disinfection. The importance of this very essential sanitary measure has always been fully 
 recognized at this post. All the receptacles of foul water, slops, &c., water-closets, privies, and 
 drains, are thoroughly and carefully disinfected daily. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Wood, Neic York 
 
 Harbor, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Moan strength. 
 
 Whole nnmber 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 >> 
 
 > 
 L 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 212 25 
 
 647 
 
 18 
 
 173 
 
 9 
 
 61 
 
 1 
 
 58 
 
 
 114 
 
 1 
 
 1869 ... 
 
 34. 
 
 81 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT SCHUYLER, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON C. B. WHITE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Schuyler is situated upon Throgg's Point, a narrow projection of Westchester County, 
 New York, at the junction of the East Eiver with Long Island Sound latitude 40 48' 45" north, 
 longitude 73 42' 48" west from Greenwich. It is distant from the City Hall, New York City, seven- 
 teen miles; from Long Island shore about one mile; from Westchester, the post office of the fort, 
 three miles ; and from Williams' Bridge, Fordham, and Fremont, (stations OH the New York and 
 Harlem and New York and New Haven railroads,) about six miles. There is daily communication 
 with New York City by steamer ; and by rail the city can be reached at any time in about two 
 hours. 
 
 The reservation was purchased in 1826, work was begun on the fort in 1833, and it was con- 
 sidered ready for armament in 1856. The neck of the peninsula was the site of the McDougall 
 general hospital during the late war. The peninsula is a narrow strip of ground nearly half a mile 
 in length, with an average elevation above the water of 25 feet, and including an area of fifty-two 
 acres. The soil is sandy, with patches of yellow clay, and is only productive on the addition of 
 fertilizers. 
 
 The climate is milder than that of the adjacent country, the average temperature for 1869 being 
 53, with extremes of 94 F. and 15 F., and amount of rain-fall 43.38 inches. 
 
 The fort is on the outer end of the peninsula, and is a regular casemated structure of gneiss. 
 
 The quarters for the troops are the finished and closed casemates upon the land side of the 
 fort. These rooms are eight in number, and in two tiers. The lower rooms measure 47 feet 6 
 inches by 18 feet, and the upper ones 48 feet by 18 feet 6 inches, the height of each averaging about 
 13 feet. Each room has two large fireplaces, but to warm them properly in severe winter weather 
 it has been found necessary to resort to stoves. Each room has three windows in the rear, two 
 windows and a door in front, and at the end of the room, over the windows and doors, an opening 
 for ventilation 2 by 1 feet, closing with a shutter. The average air space per man is about 507 
 cubic feet. They are fitted up with single bunks, consisting of iron head and foot supports, with a 
 wooden bottom. 
 
 Within 30 feet of the quarters is a shed over a well and pump, fitted up as a wash-room for the 
 iise of enlisted men. There is no bath-room connected with the quarters ; in summer the men 
 bathe in the sea. The privies for the men's use are in a flagged yard inclosed from the parade, in 
 front of and about 35 feet from the quarters. The kitchens and mess-rooms are wooden buildings, 
 outside the fort. 
 
 Quarters for laundresses and married soldiers are in a one-story frame building near the main- 
 land, 150 feet long and divided into twenty-four rooms, intended for 12 sets of quarters. The 
 6 
 
42 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 larger portion of the rooms available at tbis post for officers' quarters are in the laud side line of case 
 mates south of the main entrance. These casemates, similar in size to those occupied by the men, 
 have been plastered, and divided by halls and partitions into rooms averaging 16 by 18J feet. A 
 wide veranda, communicating with the lower floor by iron stairways, runs along the front of the 
 second story. The lower floors are damp in summer. In front the courtyard is laid out in garden 
 plots, with greensward and some trees. The sinks are in the front yard, like those of the enlisted 
 men. There are also four plastered rooms available for officers' use in a one-story brick, tin-roofed 
 building near the government wharf. 
 
 The quarters of the post surgeon are three small rooms and a kitchen, in a temporary wooden 
 building near the hospital. There are no bath-rooms connected with the officers' quarters, and 
 their water supply is by water-cart and barrels. 
 
 The quartermaster's and commissary storehouse is a two-story frame building, well suited to 
 its purpose. 
 
 The guard-house is in a casemate by the sally-port. The guard-room measures 8 by 3G feet ; 
 the prison room 28 by 24J feet; the height of each being 12 feet. Each room has a ventilating 
 tube passing through the masonry of the ceiling, and they are sufficiently lighted and dry. 
 
 The hospital is a frame building 
 171 feet in length, 22 feet wide in the 
 wings, and 32 feet wide in the center 
 buildings. It was originally a part 
 of the general hospital above referred 
 to, and is situated at the foot of the 
 glacis. 
 
 The plan of the building is given 
 
 | P r i I -, in Fig. 4 : 1 designating the base- 
 
 | I I _ij I ^ j L | | i Intent, 2 the first floor, and 3 the 
 
 second floor of the central part of 
 the building; A A, store-rooms ; B, 
 laundry; C, linen-room; D, pump- 
 room ; E, kitchen ; F, mess-room ; 
 HH, wards; I, dispensary; K, office; 
 L, bath-room ; M, water-closets ; 
 
 - , ftfE- 
 
 E 
 
 F 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 2 
 
 Figure 4. 
 
 matron's room ; O, steward's quar 
 ters; P, veranda. 
 
 Each ward is 63 by 21 feet and 15 feet in height, and has ridge ventilation. But one ward is used 
 as such, and it contains but ten beds, although intended for fifteen. It is warmed by two stoves 
 
 The laundry is fitted up with stationary tubs, with hot and cold water pipes. The kitchen 
 contains a range with water-back, and a copper boiler of 300 gallons capacity. 
 
 A rain-water tank, 9 feet 1 inch by 2 feet 7 inches by 5 feet, intended to contain 1,000 gallons, 
 was put up in 1809 in the rear extension of the main building, over the uater-closets. It receives 
 the drainage from the adjacent roofs. There is no dead-house. 
 
 Earth closets or commodes have been recently introduced in the hospital, and the results are 
 very satisfactory. 
 
 The post library contains about 800 volumes, many of which are of value and interest. It is 
 open to the soldiers at all times, and, being well warmed and lighted, is a favorite place of resort 
 in winter evenings. 
 
 The water supply of the post is from wells; the quantity is ample, and the quality usually 
 good. The natural drainage is excellent. A sewer underlies the fort, connected with a large res- 
 ervoir, which is filled at high tide, from which the water can be let ofi' as required to flush the 
 sinks, &c. 
 
 Company, officers', and hospital gardens are cultivated, and produce a large quantity of vege- 
 tables. 
 
 During the warm months the men are encouraged to bathe frequently in the salt water, and a 
 
WILLET'S POINT, NEW YORK HARBOR. 
 
 43 
 
 convenient space is set apart for their use. There is uo provision for their bathing in winter, except 
 when admitted to hospital. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is good, and uo disease can be said to prevail. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Schuyler, Neic York 
 
 Harbor, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 -= 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 TS 
 
 
 ,i 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 . 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 ' > 
 
 So -J-: 
 
 5 I "3 
 
 3 &' 
 
 2 S 
 
 i 
 
 |S 
 
 3 
 
 OD 
 
 s 7 
 
 i - 
 
 5 
 'S 
 
 i 
 
 " a: 
 
 "^ .S 
 
 'S 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 .* 
 
 " ? 
 
 "S 
 
 t ; - 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 'S 
 
 
 g . 
 
 r 5 ~S 
 
 s rs 
 
 
 g 
 
 J9 
 
 S 
 
 o v 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 
 > 
 
 M 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 136 66 
 
 3^9 18 
 
 98 
 
 25 
 
 26 
 
 IS 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 
 1869 
 
 119 58 
 
 456 36 
 
 13S 
 
 28 
 
 19 
 
 48 
 
 1 
 
 83 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryugitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, aii*l pleurisy. 
 
 WILLET'S POINT, NEW YORK HARBOR, 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEONS C. DKWITT AND J. H. JANEWAY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Willet's Point, a part of Long Island, is situated on the south bank of the East River, fifteen 
 miles from New York City, opposite Fort Schuyler; latitude north 40 47' 25," longitude west 73 
 40' 15 ;" east from Washington 3 16' 33." 
 
 Having been selected as a site for fortifications for the defense of New York City, a portion, 
 consisting of 110 acres, was purchased by the government July 9, 1857, from George Irving. In 
 September, 1862, the construction of the post commenced and has been in progress up to the 
 present, (June, 1870.) May 11, 1863, the remainder of the Point (26.35 acres) was purchased by 
 the government. 
 
 During the first years of the rebellion a part of the ground was occupied as a depot for recruits 
 and as a camping ground for volunteer troops. In 1804 the Grant General Hospital was estab- 
 lished on the Point, consisting of thirty-seven wards, with a capacity of 1,410 beds. This hospital 
 was in existence for one year. After the close of the Avar the post was made a depot for engineer 
 stores and material, headquarters of battalion of engineers, and has since that time been garrisoned 
 by three companies of the engineer battalion. 
 
 Willet's Point is an irregular, oval, undulating tract of land, the long axis running from the 
 northwest to southeast, the highest point being the extreme northwest portion, which is 80 feet 
 above low water. Communication with the mainland is made by a narrow strip of laud on the 
 southwest. On the north, northeast, and southeast it is bounded by Great and Little Bays ; on the 
 northwest by the East River and Little Bay, and on the south and southwest by a salt marsh and 
 the narrow strip of land above referred to. The shores are washed by tide water, the average rise 
 of which is 8 feet; the spring tides overflow the salt marsh. 
 
 The quarters for enlisted men consist of part of the wards of the old general hospital, four 
 being assigned to each company. They are wooden buildings, the walls only being plastered, 
 length 106 feet, breadth 20 feet, height 10J feet, provided with both ridge and eave ventilation, and 
 have thirty-one windows and two doors each. In summer twenty-seven, and in winter forty-five, 
 soldiers are usually quartered in each. 
 
 These barracks were intended for temporary structures only, and although still habitable in 
 summer, are unfit for quarters during the cold season, the walls being thin and the floors warped. 
 They are heated by stoves, but during the cold northeast storms which prevail during the winter 
 it is almost impossible to keep them warm. They contain no lavatories or bath-rooms. 
 
 Three new barracks are now being erected, and it is expected that they will be so far com- 
 pleted by cold weather that they can be occupied. They are to be one story high, 180 feet long by 
 24 feet wide, with a rear projection 90 by 24 feet. The main floor to be divided into three rooms, 
 
44 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 each 90 by 24 feet. The basement uuder the projection, to be 90 by 21 feet and 9 feet high, will 
 contain the carpenter, tailor, and shoemaker shops, lavatories, and bath-rooms, vegetable, coal, 
 and wood cellars. One ward is used as a hall for dramatic representations, and entertainments are 
 given by the enlisted men semi-monthly. Another has been divided to contain barber shop, con - 
 pany shoe and tailor shops, and a billiard-room for the soldiers. 
 
 The wards used as laundress's quarters are in the rear of those occupied by the enlisted men, 
 are cruciform, each being divided into four sets of quarters of three or four rooms each ; are well 
 lighted and ventilated, but have the same fault as those used for the men. 
 
 The officers' quarters are two wooden buildings lined with brick, of two stories, with base- 
 ment and finished attic, containing two sets of quarters each. The basement contains kitchen and 
 cellars, the first floor two and the second floor three rooms. 
 
 A wide covered porch surrounds each building on three sides. Each room is heated separately, 
 all are well lighted and ventilated ; but some of the modern and desirable improvements could not 
 be introduced owing to the lack of funds. They contain no bath-rooms, nor other water conve- 
 niences. The unmarried officers occupy one-story wooden cottages, originally quarters for the assist- 
 ant surgeons of the general hospital. 
 
 The quarters of the commanding officer is a two-story double house with finished attic and 
 basement, the first floor containing four, and the second six rooms. Convenient outbuildings are 
 attached, and in the rear there is a large garden ; it is well finished and arranged, having all the 
 modern improvements ; is heated by a furnace and supplied with water. 
 
 The guard-house was erected in 18C7. The basement is of granite, with thick concrete floor, 
 divided into one large cell 30 feet by 18 feet, and 10 feet high, one light cell 8 by 9 feet, and one 
 dark cell 5 by 9 feet, each of the latter being 10 feet high. The large cell is lighted by three long 
 narrow iron-barred windows, and ventilated by these and two air shafts. Each of the other cells 
 has a similar ventilating shaft. The average number of persons confined for the year past is nine ; 
 not more than one prisoner is confined in either the light or the dark cell at the same time ; very 
 little sickness has occurred among the prisoners in the guard-house, and it seems admirably adapted 
 for the proper control of prisoners. The arrangement of the building is shown in Fig. 5. 
 
 A, basement; 1, general prison; 2, dark cell; 3, 
 light cell; 4, ventilating box. 
 
 B, first floor; 1, uon-couimissioued officers' room; 
 2, guard-room; 3, trap to dungeons; 4, stove; 5, 
 lights to dungeon. 
 
 The erection of a hospital was commenced in 18G7, 
 and in April, 1869, although not completed, the sick 
 were moved into it. Situated on the northeast of the 
 point, it commands a beautiful view of Long Island 
 Sound, the East River, and Great Neck Bay, and pro- 
 tected by the heights of the extreme end of the point 
 from the strong north winds which prevail at the post. 
 The building is 75 feet 6 inches long by 31 feet 
 6 inches wide, and 50 feet high, surmounted by an 
 oblong cupola, (arranged to increase the ventilation,) 
 26 feet long, 7 inches wide, and 5 feet 6 inches high 
 from the top of the ridge. The basement has walls 
 Fig. 5. of concrete 2 feet 3 inches thick and 8 feet 6 inches 
 
 high, and is divided into six rooms. The kitchen is 25 feet long. 13 feet 5 inches wide, 
 and 8 feet 6 inches high, furnished with a large range capable of cooking full and special diet 
 for at least one hundred men, with a good though narrow closet, a sink for washing dishes, 
 &c., and a dumb-waiter leading to the first and second floors. The mess hall is 28 feet 10 inches 
 long by 13 feet 5 inches wide, well lighted by three large windows, and having a pantry, 13 feet 
 5 inches long by 2 feet 9 inches wide, attached. Two rooms are used as store-rooms, one is 
 occupied by the cook and his assistant as a sleeping apartment, and another is to be fitted up as a 
 library, museum, and reading-room for the convalescents and attendants of the hospital. 
 
 B 
 
WILLET'S POINT, NEW YOHK IIARBOE. 
 
 45 
 
 Outside the basement walls is an area 8 feet wide laid in concrete 6 inches thick, with a gutter 
 of the same material, from which on two sides and a part of the third of the building the ground 
 slopes up at an angle of forty-five degrees to the level of the garden, and is well sodded. The 
 gutter leads to an open drain on the southeast of tin; building, carrying off all the water that falls. 
 The walls of the rest of the building are of brick cased on the outside with boards; on the inside 
 they are lathed, plastered, and hard-finished. The first floor is approached by two sets of steps 
 one at the main entrance, and one at the office. 
 
 The plan of the upper floors of this hospital is shown in Fig. 0. 
 
 1. First Floor. A, ward for isolation of conta- 
 gious diseases, 74 by 30 feet ; B, keeper's room, 17 
 feet 8 inches by 12 feet 8 inches ; C, prison-room, 
 15 feet by 12 feet 8 inches ; D, bath-room ; E, hall ; 
 F, inspection-room, 14 feet 1 inch by 14 feet 2 in- 
 ches; H, dispensary, IS feet 6 inches by 14 feet 2 
 inches; I, steward's room, 18 feet 3 inches by 14 
 feet 2 inches ; K, office, 14 feet 2 inches by 14 feet 
 3 inches ; P, veranda. 
 
 2. Second Floor. A, main ward, 74 feet by 30 
 feet; L, wardrobe; M, chimneys. 
 
 The height of the rooms on the first floor is 9 
 feet 8 inches ; of the main ward on the second floor, 
 12 feet C inches. The ward A, on the first floor, has 
 floor and eave ventilation. 
 
 The windows and door of the prison-room are 
 heavily ironed. This room is used for sick pris- 
 oners undergoing sentence of court-martial, or for 
 cases of delirium tremens. It has a water closet 
 Fig. 6. attached. 
 
 The ventilation of the main ward on the second floor is excellent. There are eight openings 
 at the floor, and the same number at the top of the walls, each being 3 feet 6 inches long by 6 inches 
 high, and fitted with doors. In addition to this there is the ridge ventilation in connection with 
 the cupola. 
 
 In a projection at the north end of the building is a tank holding sufficient water to supply 
 the bath-rooms and water-closets. 
 
 In the center of the ward the stairway leading from the first floor is cased, and includes three 
 small closets ; one for the clothing of the patients entering the hospital, one for dressings, and one 
 used as a dressing-room ; and also the dumb-waiter for the kitchen. 
 
 At presjent only sixteen beds are furnished in this ward, giving 1,734 cubic feet of air to 
 each bed. Thirty beds could be occupied in this ward with safety. On the two floors a piazza, 
 8 feet wide, extends around the three sides of the building and a part of the fourth. 
 
 The ground allotted to the hospital contains a little more than two and a half acres, of which 
 about half an acre is inclosed by a picket-fence. 
 
 The ground in front and on the south side of the hospital is neatly laid out and cultivated as 
 a vegetable and flower garden. In the rear of the hospital the ground is not cultivated. Close 
 to the rear fence, and 61 feet from the hospital, are placed the chicken-house, wood, coal, and cow- 
 house, each 12 feet long by 8 feet wide, and also a sink, used by the convalescents and attendants, 
 13 feet 6 inches long, and divided into two apartments. 
 
 A post bakery was erected during the summer of 1867. The ovens are new and ample, and 
 have a capacity of six hundred rations. 
 
 The building known as the old hospital is being altered; when finished it will contain the 
 chapel, library, post school, bindery, and printing office. At present two rooms of the old mess- 
 
 
 
 
 
 C ' B. E F, I 
 
 
 L_ 
 
 i ^_ -__ L 
 
 
 D 
 
 A H. K 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 1 1 i 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 
 
 __ 
 
 A 
 i i 1- P] i i i 
 
 
 - 
 
 i L M L ! 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 
46 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 hall are used for these purposes. The post school averages an attendance of eighteen children 
 of enlisted men. The teacher is an enlisted man, acting also as librarian. All books and necessary 
 materials for the school are purchased from the post fund. 
 
 The post library is large and miscellaneous in its character and well selected. It contains 
 2,350 volumes and a number of periodicals and newspapers, bound and unbound. 
 
 The water supply for the post is derived from sixteen wells, and -a large cistern (oval, 50 feet 
 by 30 feet broad and 7 feet deep) receiving its supply of rain-water from the adjacent buildings. 
 The water used for cooking and drinking is obtained from those wells which experience has indi- 
 cated as the best ; all used for washing, from the other wells, and preferably from the cistern. 
 Thus far the supply has proved to be ample, and, with but one exception, has been found to be 
 good. 
 
 The buildings of the post, being constructed of wood, are constantly liable to catch fire, especi- 
 ally in winter, when, to keep the majority of them warm, it is necessary to maintain large fires in 
 the stoves. To provide against the same there is an organized fire company, under the command 
 of a sergeant, and provided with a large hand fire-engine. The men are well drilled in the use of 
 it ; the engine is in repair and ready for use. In addition to the engine, six force-pumps of great 
 power have been placed at different parts of the post. They communicate with wells, and will be 
 very valuable in case of need. With these means and the large supply of fire-buckets in the quar- 
 termaster's depot, it will be easy to subdue any fire discovered in good time. 
 
 The natural drainage of the post is very fine, as the land slopes in all directions toward the 
 water. There is but little artificial drainage, the greater portion being superficial, and used to 
 carry off water from the laundress quarters and barracks. One large sewer extends from the 
 kitchen to tide-water ; another from the married officers' quarters and mess-hall to the swamp on 
 the southeast part of the post has recently been built, and is well adapted for the purpose. 
 r- Owing to the absence of baths, the men are not as clean as they should be, especially in winter, 
 when a bath can be given to them but once in two weeks. In summer, when the water is fit for 
 bathing, they are compelled to bathe at least twice a week. 
 
 The burial place for the soldiers is situated near the salt-marsh, southwest of the post, on 
 ground slightly elevated, at a good distance from any building; is 180 by 100 feet, and is inclosed 
 by a neat fence. 
 
 There are two gardens at the post, the post and hospital. The post garden is located on the 
 northwest half of the point, contains nine acres, and is under charge of a sergeant. It is culti- 
 vated by experienced detailed men, and yields largely. The garden attached to the hospital con- 
 tains about two and a half acres, and is under charge of the hospital steward. It is cultivated by 
 the hospital attendants and convalescents. Its yield is very large, supplying an abundance of 
 vegetables for summer and fall use. 
 
 The post stable is located on the southeastern shore, at some distance from the occupied bar- 
 racks, and is entirely new ; it is large, and contains at the date of this report thirty horses ; is well 
 built and ventilated, and excellently arranged for the health and comfort of its inmates ; it is pro- 
 vided with rooms for storing harness and food ; all the water that drains from or around it is led by 
 superficial drains into the tide. In connection with the stable, but separated from it, is a carringe- 
 shed and room for the stable orderlies. 
 
 A number of chickens and one cow are kept for the use of the post hospital, which more than 
 repay all outlay. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at the post are intermittent fever and other malarial diseases of mild 
 type; some diarrhu'al diseases in summer, pulmonary diseases in winter; no typhus or typhoid 
 lexer. It is regarded as a healthy post. But four deaths have occurred on the post since April, 
 1809 all children under one year of age, no soldier having died since July 10, 1808. 
 
 The recreations and amusements of the garrison are abundant. The post library is large and 
 well selected. Each company receives newspapers. The men have a literary and dramatic club, 
 a billiard-room containing two tables, a bowling alley, and are allowed to use a part of the old mess- 
 hall for dancing purposes, having a weekly hop. 
 
U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT, NEW YORK. 
 
 47 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Willetf* Point, New York 
 
 Harbor, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 4 
 
 b 
 
 | 
 
 ,-j 
 
 
 ; 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^ ,: 
 
 
 ^ - 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 ^C 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 ~ - 
 
 5 
 
 ;_ 
 
 . 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 a a 
 
 
 ? -5 
 
 -^ 
 
 - '-. 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 " i. 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 II 
 
 I 
 
 _^ ^ 
 
 'S 
 a 
 
 V 
 
 = 
 
 2 
 
 " 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 J 
 
 
 a 
 
 - 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 g 
 
 
 K 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 Q 
 
 1868 
 
 398. 08 
 
 302 
 
 31 
 
 51 
 
 9 
 
 36 
 
 26 
 
 
 on 
 
 
 1869 
 
 339. 36 
 
 830 
 
 127 
 
 212 
 
 8 
 
 35 
 
 44 
 
 
 108 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT, NEW YORK. 
 
 REPORTS OF SURGEON T. A. McPARLIN AND ASSISTANT SURGEON A. W. WIGGIN, UNITED STATES 
 
 ARMY. 
 
 West Point is situated on tlie right bank of the Hudson River, fifty-one miles above New York 
 City, in the midst of a range of the Alleghany Mountains known as the Highlands. Its latitude 
 is 41 23' north; longitude 74 west; mean annual temperature for forty years, 50.73; extreme 
 range, 116; greatest heat in summer, 100; greatest cold in winter, 16; average rain-fall for forty 
 \fiirs, 46.53 inches per annum. The prevailing winds are northwest and south. 
 
 The river at this point takes two abrupt bends, and on the peninsula thus formed, containing 
 about 100 acres, is located the National Military Academy, with its appurtenances. This is the 
 only portion of the public lands (2,105 acres) now used for military purposes. The remainder 
 consists of rugged cliffs and_hills, rising precipitously to the west, which were occupied during the 
 war of the Revolution by forts and redoubts. At the foot of these hills and 157 feet above the river 
 is a level plateau, a large part of which serves as a parade ground and plain for military evolutions, 
 and on which are situated the cadets' barrack, mess-hall and hospital, the academic buildings, 
 administration offices, hotel, and residences of professors and officers. 
 
 The north side of the plateau, sloping quite steeply towards the river and irregularly terraced, 
 is occupied by soldiers' barracks and hospital, cottages of married soldiers, residences of employes, 
 ordnance laboratory, gas-works, equipment sheds and store-houses, sutler's store, schoolhouse, and 
 workshops. The riding hall and stable are on the south side of the plain. 
 
 The geological formation is primary stratified rock gneiss covered with deposits of drift. 
 The soil is gravelly, and, except on the plain, of little depth. An inexhaustible supply of excellent 
 water can be obtained from mountain springs and brooks, as well as from numerous natural springs 
 on the post. The slope is sufficient to allow of easy and complete drainage to the river. Access 
 of air is unobstructed. Indeed, no unavoidable morbific agent is known to exist, unless found iu 
 stagnant marshes on the opposite side of the river ; doubtless a source of malarious diseases there, 
 but it maybe considered an open question whether the health of this post is materially affected by 
 the emanations therefrom. 
 
 A tabular statement is subjoined showing the prevalence of fevers and other miasmatic dis- 
 eases during the past thirty years, as bearing on this point : 
 
 
 
 IH 
 
 H 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 | 
 
 - ,: 
 
 ; - 
 
 11 
 
 ~~* Tt 
 
 Yearly mean strength thirty years, 5GO. 
 
 "i * 
 
 - - 
 
 ~ _- 
 
 - :? 
 
 _- 
 
 1 
 
 ! t' 
 
 
 ^ >. 
 
 tf ^. 
 
 
 tt _ 
 
 t_ _ 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 ~ = 
 
 
 x 
 
 ^. 
 
 T -w 
 
 ; ^ 
 
 o Ir 
 
 
 s 
 
 *^ 
 
 H 
 
 " 
 
 z " 
 
 Malarious fevers. . - 
 
 1,034 
 
 3H 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 62 
 
 ( Ither fevers 
 
 468 
 
 ISA 
 
 6 
 
 i 
 
 28 
 
 Other miasmatic diseases - ... - -- 
 
 4,824 
 
 1604 
 
 13 
 
 IS 
 
 287 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 210A 
 
 21 
 
 H 
 
 377 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 This, of course, represents the whole number taken on sick report, and" necessarily includes 
 many relapses and cases reported more than once. The experience of Brevet Major E. J. Marsh, 
 Assistant Surgeon United States Army, during quite an extended term of service at this post, 
 leads him to believe that the greater number of cases of malarious diseases occurring here are 
 contracted elsewhere. Cholera prevailed sporadically in 1849 the nearest approach to an epidemic 
 that the records show the post to have ever suffered from. 
 
 A census of the post has never been taken ; the present population is estimated at 1,100. 
 
 WATER SUPPLY. 
 
 Besides numerous unfailing springs and wells scattered about the post, water is supplied by 
 three reservoirs, each having an independent source. Two of them are fed by mountain brooks, 
 the other by springs at the bottom and by rills from the mountain side. Pipes from these three 
 reservoirs convey the water to a common tank or water-house, whence it is distributed by a main 
 seven inches in diameter at its exit, to nearly all parts of the post. This tank is 15 feet deep, and 
 its bottom 62 feet above the level of the plain. The supply from this source is estimated at 00,000 
 gallons per diem. With a larger main or additional ones, tiie supply could be indefinitely increased, 
 as only a small portion of the total yield of the reservoirs is required to keep the distributing tank 
 constantly full. Numerous hydrants are placed at convenient distances about the post for use in 
 case of fire. 
 
 An imperfect qualitative analysis of the water from the reservoir reveals but a small proportion 
 of impurities, either organic or inorganic. No deposit forms after being boiled down to one-fourth 
 its original quantity. Sulphates, chlorides, and carbonates exist to a trifling extent in combination 
 with lime and (probably) soda. Two drops of a saturated solution of permanganate of potash give 
 to a pint of the water a pink tinge, permanent for three hours, of as deep a hue as. one drop with an 
 equal quantity of distilled water. As much cannot be said of the purity of the spring supplying 
 the soldiers' families in Camptown. Six drops of a saturated solution of permanganate of potash 
 are required to give the same pink tinge that one drop will give to an equal quantity of distilled 
 water. It also contains a larger proportion of inorganic matter. Its organic impurities are doubtless 
 derived from the privy of the band barracks which overhang it, and from superficial drains in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 SEWERAGE. 
 
 The cadets' barrack, mess-hall, and academic buildings are drained by a sewer of large size and 
 sufficient fall, discharging into the river. Its dimensions are as follows : height 3 feet, width 2 feet, 
 fall 1 foot in 40 for the first 150 feet, after which it is much greater. This sewer opens on the bank 
 of the river nearly a hundred yards from the water's edge, and close by the carriage road leading 
 to the ferry. The noxious gases from it are carried up the bank under certain conditions of the 
 atmosphere, much to the disgust of the inhabitants on the crest of the hill. 
 
 There is another sewer discharging into the river at the soldiers' hospital. Except during the 
 winter months this is constantly supplied with wa-ter from the overflow of a spring in front of the 
 hospital. This also has the defect of opening on the river bank, and of being unprovided with traps. 
 With the exception of these two sewers, the means of getting rid of excrementitious and refuse 
 matter are as follows : 
 
 1. Close cesspits, at some distance from the houses, into which excreta are conveyed through a 
 pipe by water from the water-closets, and whence the soluble portions sink into the soil, while the 
 gaseous either find their way back into the houses, or are disseminated into the atmosphere. The 
 sides and top of these cesspits are of masonry, the top being about three feet from the surface Of 
 the ground ; the bottom of the chamber is simply the loose, gravelly soil. The pipe, in its passage 
 is bent so as to contain water, forming a valve to prevent the reflux of gases. But one of these 
 cesspits has been opened for years; its condition is said to have been by no means offensive, only 
 a few inches deep of soil remaining in the bottom of the vault. This arrangement prevails at the 
 cadets' hospital and at the residences of some of the professors and officers. 
 
 2. Open cesspits or vaults. The hotel, baud barracks, most of the quarters of officers and profes- 
 sors, and all the cottages of soldiers, are provided with these. There is one also at the encamp- 
 
IT. S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POINT, NEW YORK. 49 
 
 inent ground of cadets. The pits arc of varying size, ami, when of sufficient depth and frequented 
 by but few persons, seem not to be offensive. Excepting the ones at the hotel and camp-grounds, 
 they are seldom or never cleaned. In some cases old ones have been filled up and new ones con- 
 structed. As the area over which they are scattered is very large, they are far from being the 
 nuisance that they would be in a densely-populated village. At the same time, it must be remem- 
 bered that the soil is thin and underlaid by ledges, which serve to a great extent either as an im- 
 pervious receptacle for this filth, or as :i shed to convey it to the surface at a lower level. It is 
 proper to add, that whatever improvements are necessary in the drainage and sewerage of the 
 post will be dependent upon appropriations to be made for such purposes. 
 
 ACADEMIC! WILDINGS. 
 
 The observatory and library on the southeast corner of the plain was erected in 1841. It is a 
 stone structure ICO feet front and 78 feet in depth, castellated and corniced with red sandstone in 
 the Elizabethan style. The east wing contains the library, 40 feet square and 31 feet high ; it con- 
 tains 25,000 volumes. The offices of the superintendent, adjutant, quartermaster, and treasurer of 
 the, academy temporarily occupy the first floor of the west wing, while above them are the lecture 
 hall and apparatus of the philosophical department. 
 
 A new building is now in process of erection for the administrative offices. It will be fire- 
 proof, with rooms for records, archives, and for offices of the superintendent, adjutant, quartermas- 
 ter, and the treasurer of the Academy. When completed, these officers will vacate rooms which 
 are used by them now in the philosophical department, and which are needed by that department 
 of instruction. The structure is being built of hewn gneiss rock (obtained in the vicinity) trimmed 
 with Kingston blue-stone, having arched floors and iron beams, with the (interior) party walls of 
 brick. The windows of the first floor (above the basement) are of the pointed Gothic style, and 
 appear in pairs; on the second floor the windows are squared. The roof is in the French style. 
 The situation selected is on the south side of the chapel and eastward of the academic building, 
 upon ground that has been raised and leveled during the time of the Academy, and near where it 
 is said a graveyard existed for the garrison during the revolutionary war. 
 
 The chapel, a stone structure west of the library, 83 by 54 feet, was built in 1836. 
 
 The academy fronting east and situated directly west of the chapel was erected in 1838. It is 
 a stone edifice, with red sandstone pilasters, 275 by 75 feet, and three stories high. This building 
 is occupied by laboratories, lecture and recitation rooms, model rooms, and cabinets. 
 
 The ordnance and artillery laboratory, on the north side of the plain, was erected in 1840, and 
 consists of three two-story stone buildings used for fabrication of ammunition, repairing, &c., all 
 within a stone-inclosed yard, containing, besides, shelter for field batteries. Near the cavalry 
 stables, on the east slope of the plain, stands the riding hall, 218 by 78 feet, built of stone in 1855. 
 
 RESIDENCES OF PROFESSORS AND OFFICERS. 
 
 These are substantial and commodious structures, built, with few exceptions, of stone or brick, 
 and provided, for the most part, with bathing-rooms and water-closets. Some of the officers occupy 
 quarters in the west angle of the cadet barrack. 
 
 The hotel, built in 1829, is a stone building, stuccoed, 50 by GO feet, and contains sixty-four 
 rooms. A wing three stories, 62 by 20 feet, of brick, has since been added. 
 
 CADETS' BARRACK. 
 
 The cadets' barrack, on the south side of the plain, fronting north, was built in 1851. It is of 
 stone, four stories high, with fire-proof rooms, castellated and corniced in the Elizabethan style of 
 architecture. It is 360 by 60 feet, with a wing extending in rear of the west tower, 100 by 60 feet. 
 It contains one hundred and seventy six rooms, of which one hundred and thirty-six are cadets' 
 quarters, arranged in eight divisions without interior communications. The basement contains 
 bathing-rooms and quarters of employe's. 
 
 The arrangement of the rooms is shown in Fig. 7: K, cadets' rooms; O, officers' rooms; A, 
 partition between beds. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 iiii 
 
 Each room is occupied by two cadets is 22 by 14 by 9 feet. It has a window 6 by 3 feet ; 
 :; door 7J by ;i foot, a glazed transom over the door; a transom 12 by 18 inches, provided with 
 
 lattice and shutter, opening into the hall near 
 the inner end of the room; a fire-place flue 9 
 by 30 inches, and a ventilating flue near the 
 ceiling, with a circular aperture 7 inches in 
 diameter. Two alcoves are formed by a wall 
 projecting from the center of the rear end of 
 (he room. 
 
 The dimensions of the room, 22 by 14 by 94, 
 give 2,92G cubic feet. Deduct chimney, furni- 
 ture, occupants, &c., 186 cubic feet, and there 
 remain 2,740 cubic feet, or 1,370 cubic feet of 
 air to each occupant an ample supply, pro 
 vided its renewal is suffiiently accomplished. 
 The means of ventilation mentioned above are 
 seen to be adequate to effect this result. 
 
 With a view to ascertain approximately the 
 sufficiency of the renovation of air in these 
 rooms, and to infer to what extent any of the 
 Fig- ".Scale, CO feet to the inch. ventilators can be safely closed,' though by no 
 
 means presuming to solve definitely the difficult and uncertain problem of ventilation, some deduc- 
 tions have been drawn from acknowledged facts which, so far as they go, may be considered 
 reliable. 
 
 The i-ooins being heated by steam, ventilation must depend almost entirely on the difference 
 between the external and internal temperatures. With transoms and chimney-flues open, it is ob- 
 vious that ventilation is sufficient. But in winter time only the chimney flues are kept open, and 
 in the coldest weather, as has been stated above, even these are closed. Let us consider the con- 
 dition of oiie of these rooms with both chimney-flues open, other apertures being closed. This 
 gives 9 by 30=270 square inches, and by 7x7x. 7854 =38.5 square inches a total of 308.5 square 
 inches of opening to the external air, or 154.25 square inches for each occupant. I have ascertained 
 that the flue near the ceiling is an outlet, and the fire-place flue mainly, but not entirely, an inlet. 
 To determine the amount of discharge by the former on the several floors and on various assump- 
 tions of temperature, I have made use of the table on page 135, Parke's Hygiene, with the follow- 
 ing results: 
 
 Jl Jl 
 
 U lL 
 
 y IP 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 L 
 
 C 
 
 j 
 
 V 
 
 J 
 
 L 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 j 
 
 ^. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 I" 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 I 
 
 " 
 
 K 
 
 K. 
 
 
 K 
 
 K 
 
 J 
 
 [__ .._ 
 
 WI 
 
 
 = 
 
 
 = ' N 
 
 a 
 
 
 38 5 
 
 38 5 
 
 38 5 
 
 'J8 5 
 
 W ^ 
 
 Number of lloor 
 
 First. 
 
 First. 
 
 
 Third 
 
 Fourth 
 
 
 40 
 
 40 
 
 30 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 Supposed difl'erenee between external and internal temperatures.. 
 Amount of discharge per hour in enbic feet . ..... 
 
 10 
 "> 11(1 
 
 30 
 
 8 928 
 
 1 CO 
 
 5 456 
 
 20 
 
 r> no 
 
 10 J 
 
 2 584 
 
 
 2 . r >r>r> 
 
 4 464 
 
 2 728 
 
 2 555 
 
 1 O 92 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I think we may safely assume, moreover, that an equal amount of vitiated air finds an egress 
 by cracks about the doors and windows, as well as by the wide fire-place flue, and that fresh air is 
 admitted by the same apertures. This assumption doubles the above results, and leaves no ques- 
 tion of a due replenishment during the day-time in any of the rooms. At night 3,000 cubic feet 
 (Parke, page 78) per hour will be required for the single gas-burner \\ ilh which the room is lighted, 
 leaving an insufficient supply for the occupants on the upper stories when the difference is slight 
 between the external and internal temperatures. If the rooms were properly heated, however, this 
 very condition of temperature would, of itself, induce the inmates to open a door, window, or 
 transom. 
 
U. S. MILITARY ACADEMY, WEST POIXT, NEW YORK. 
 
 51 
 
 The above facts lead to the conclusion that abundant, though not the best, means of ventila- 
 tion have been provided for the cadets' barrack ; that t he chimney lines alone are generally suffi- 
 cient of themselves to renovate the air; but that it would he unsafe to dose them even partially, 
 unless at the same time means are provided for the escape of products of combustion independ- 
 ently of the general ventilation of the room. 
 
 Bathing facilities are extensive. The privies and urinals, though at present slightly out <>l 
 repair, are commodious and well arranged; they discharge by a sewer into the river. 
 
 The engineer barrack, built in 1858, is a brick building of two stories and a basement, 103 by 
 43 feet. It fronts north, having an eligible site, with free access of air, on an open terrace about 
 300 yards from the river. The basement contains the kitchen, dining-room, and store-rooms. The 
 first floor has two sergeants' rooms, each 14 by 14 feet, and three s<|iiad-rooms, ejich 30 by 18 feet, 
 and 12 feet high. Each squad-room is fitted up with double bunks in two tiers for twelve men, 
 giving 530 cubic feet air space to each. The ventilation is by doors and windows. For the general 
 arrangement of the engineer barrack see Fig. 8. 
 
 1. Basement B, bath-room ; H, hall ; K, kitchen ; M, dining-room ; S, store-rooms. 
 
 2. First floor. A, squad-rooms; C, sergeants' room ; S, storeroom; H, hall ; O, officers' quar- 
 ters. 
 
 The cavalry barrack, 57 by 41 feet, two stories high, of 
 brick, with a stone basement, was erected in 1857. The artil 
 lery barrack, 40 by 30 feet, was built soon after, on a similar 
 plan. The kitchens, mess-rooms, and store-rooms of both bar- 
 racks are large and convenient. 
 
 The squad-rooms of the cavalry barrack have single bunks 
 for 84 men, giving to each 371 cubic feet and 35 superficial 
 feet of space. 
 
 The artillery barrack has single bunks for 58 men, giving 
 to each 434 cubic feet and 39 superficial feet. The means of 
 ventilation in both are doors and windows. 
 
 
 1 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 \- 
 
 ft 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 
 \_ 
 
 
 
 
 
 I s 
 
 CADETS' HOSPITAL. 
 
 Fig. 8. Scale, "ill i'eet to 1 inch. 
 
 rH~- 
 
 The hospital for cadets, built in 1830, 131 by 10 feet, is 
 a stone building, fronting east and overlooking the river, of two stories and a basement. The 
 two wings are used as quarters of medical officers. The central portion contains twelve rooms, two 
 being used as quarters for the steward, two for dispensary, one as an office, and the remaining 
 seven as wards for the sick. Two of the latter are 32 by 144 by 10 feet, one 284 by 14J by 10 feet, 
 and the other five 16 by 14 by 10 feet. The two largest wards are partially divided by partition 
 walls. For general arrangement of the hospital see Fig. 9. 
 
 1 represents the first floor, 2 the second floor of the 
 building ; A, wards ; B, bath-rooms ; D, dispensary ; E, 
 steward's quarters; P, veranda; O, medical officers' quar- 
 ters ; M, dining-room. 
 
 Allowance is made for 20 patients about <S per cent, of 
 the corps thus giving to each 1,100 cubic feet, and 116 
 superficial feet of space. The means of ventilation are doors, 
 windows, transoms, and chimney-flues; of heating, open 
 grates. The bathing-rooms are supplied with hot and cold 
 water, and there are three water closets, the latter discharg- 
 ing into covered cesspits in the rear; two privies in the yard 
 likewise discharge into cesspits. The basement of the build- 
 ing contains store-rooms, quarters 'of attendants, and two 
 kitchens, each of the latter being furnished with a cooking 
 range. Food is conveyed from the kitchens to the dining- Fig. 9. Scsl^M feet to 1 indi. 
 
 room by means of a dumb-waiter. While this is far from being a model hospital, either in internal 
 arrangement, access of air and sunshine, ventilation, or drainage, the records do not show that 
 any exceptions have ever been made to its sanitary condition due, no doubt, to the fact that 
 the number of sick in hospital is usually small and the ailments slight. 
 
 i = 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 R 
 
 
 
 
 
 T 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 Zj 
 
 -7 
 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 1 
 
 A 
 
 /i 
 
 
 - , 
 
 _ 
 
 A 
 
 
 
52 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 GUARD-HOUSE. 
 
 This is a one-story brick building with stone basement. It has a guard-room and six cells for 
 prisoners. Four of the six cells are in the basement, and have no facilities for heating, two of them 
 being dark and badly ventilated. One end of the building is occupied by soldiers' families. There 
 is another guard-house on the east side of the post, but it is not now in use. 
 
 STABLES. 
 
 A new building has been erected as quartermaster's stables on a commanding bluff looking 
 north from the cavalry and artillery barracks, and fronting them, on the Hudson River, opposite 
 Constitution Island. Its dimensions are 146.J by 39 feet, and three stories high. The basement is 
 of stone, containing stalls for 50 animals. The second floor is of frame, for storage of wagons, &c., 
 having, also, a grain bin capable of holding 7,000 bushels of oats. On the third floor there is stor- 
 age room for 250 tons of hay. 
 
 SOLDIERS' HOSPITAL. 
 
 This hospital, built in 1851, is of brick, 50 by 28 feet, having two stories and a basement. The 
 height of the first story is 12 feet ; of the second, 10 J feet ; and of the basement, 9 feet. The latter 
 is entirely beneath the level of the surface in front, the ground sloping so as to expose it behind. 
 It is situated near the foot of a wooded hill, with a steep northern slope, the ground being as high 
 as the eaves of the hospital at a distance of 100 feet, horizontally, in front. Air and sunshine have, 
 consequently, an imperfect access to the southern or front windows, and the only other windows 
 opening into the wards are on the north. These defects give it the twofold disadvantage of being- 
 very hot in summer and very cold in winter. There are accommodations for twelve patients a 
 trifle over 4 per cent, of the average strength of enlisted men during the past three years. This 
 allowance, with two additional beds in the wards for attendants, gives to each bed 982 cubic feet 
 and 94 superficial feet of space. The steward's quarters are in an adjacent building. Doors, win- 
 dows, and transoms (one over each door) furnish the only means of ventilation. Only one ward 
 has a privy attached. The bathing-room is inconvenient, opening, as it does, from the dispensary. 
 
 The mode of heating is by coal stoves. An abundance of water is supplied from the reservoir, 
 except during the coldest weather, when, owing to freezing of the pipes, it has to be obtained from 
 a spring in front of the hospital. 
 
 Statement nh-oiriny mean strength, number of sick, and principal dixcnxcs at West Point, New York, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 f 
 g 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 = 2 
 
 o 
 "o o 
 
 3 
 
 1868 582.58 
 
 1869 . . . 595. 08 
 
 1,574 
 1,679 
 
 
 
 "3 . 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <& 
 
 
 
 s >. 
 
 a * 
 
 o 
 
 .2 
 
 = 
 
 
 "S 
 
 8 
 
 Typhoid 
 ver. 
 
 Malarial 
 vers. 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 
 dysente 
 
 Epidemic 
 tarrh. 
 
 Venereal < 
 eases. 
 
 Kheuniati 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 fections 
 
 Number 
 deaths. 
 
 3 
 
 42 
 
 214 
 
 
 18 
 
 48 
 
 4 
 
 279 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 53 
 
 250 
 
 75 
 
 16 
 
 51 
 
 6 
 
 311 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement xhoiring the mean strength, number of sick, and jtrincipal diseases of Cadets at U. S. Acad- 
 emy, West Point, yew York. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 . 
 
 5" 
 
 
 | 
 
 g! 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 <S 
 
 C8 
 r 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 J5 
 
 15 
 
 
 ' - 
 
 s= 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 be 
 
 1 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 a 1 
 
 X 
 
 e 
 
 Is 
 
 Typhoid fev 
 
 Malarial fev 
 
 Diarrhd'a au 
 entery. 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 Epidemic ca 
 
 V^enereal dis 
 
 Rheumatism 
 
 Headache. 
 
 ( 'atarrhal aft'e 
 
 Excoriations 
 
 &c. 
 
 Number of tl 
 
 1868 
 
 260 
 
 1,470 
 
 j 
 
 22 
 
 124 
 
 64 
 
 75 
 
 8 
 
 29 
 
 481 
 
 213 
 
 159 
 
 
 1869 
 
 260 
 
 1,251 
 
 O 
 
 29 
 
 155 
 
 79 
 
 
 3 
 
 24 
 
 408 
 
 229 
 
 88 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 luclude laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, aurt pleurisy. 
 
PLATTSBURG BARRACKS, NEW YORK. 53 
 
 PLATTSBURG BARRACKS, NEW YORK. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON S. M. HORTON, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACTING 
 ASSISTANT SURGEON J. P. FOOTE, UNITED STATES AK.MV. 
 
 This post is situated on the west side of Lake Chain plain, about oue mile from the village of 
 Plattsburg, New York, latitude 44 41' north, longitude 73 25' west, and 186 feet above the sea. 
 The Saranac, a small river rising in a range of lakes forty miles southwest, enters the lake at this 
 point. This vicinity was first occupied by United States troops iu 1812. In July, 1813, a descent 
 was made upon this point by a British force from Canada, and the block-house, arsenal, and armoiy 
 were destroyed. Ou the llth of September, 1814, the battle of Plattsburg and the naval engage- 
 ment on Lake Champlain were fought. Troops were stationed here from 1814 to 1825, from 1840 to 
 184G, from 1848 to 1852, from 1859 to 1861, and from 1865 to the present. The post was established 
 in June, 1838. 
 
 The geology of the vicinity may be briefly presented as follows, the strata being given from 
 above downwards: 
 
 1. Drift of sand and gravel, depth 25 to 30 feet. 
 
 2. Trenton limestone, 400 feet. This is the surface rock of Plattsburg and Lumberland Head, 
 and includes two varieties one, black and close-grained, taking a fine polish ; the other, gray and 
 crystalline. 
 
 3. Birdseye limestone, 50 feet. 
 
 4. Chazy limestone, 130 feet. 
 
 5. Calciferous sandstone, from 250 to 300 feet. 
 
 The soil of the vicinity is sandy, and not productive unless fertilizers are used extensively. 
 
 The winters are often severe, but agreeable ; the heat of summer is modified by cool and ex- 
 hilarating breezes from the lake and the Green and Adirondack Mountains. Grazing can usually 
 be relied on by the 20th of April. Mean temperature for 1869, 43.04 F. ; extremes, 87 F. and 
 18 F. Average monthly rain-fall, 1.98 inch. The prevailing winds of spring and summer are 
 from the south ; of the autumn and winter, from the northwest. The winters are long, snow fall- 
 ing iu 1869 ou the 2d of May and 29th of October. 
 
 The post is situated on a sandy plain 25 rods from the lake and 90 feet above its level, the 
 buildings being arranged around a square parade of 200 feet each side. The principal buildings 
 are substantially constructed of uncut liuestoue. 
 
 The barracks for the enlisted men were erected in 1838-'40, and consist of a building two and a 
 half stories high, 200 feet long by 26 feet wide, containing 18 rooms. On the second floor are three 
 large and commodious sleeping-rooms for each company. They are warmed by stoves, well lighted 
 and ventilated by windows, and contain 420 cubic feet of air space per man. Each bunk is ar. 
 ranged for two occupants. A camp privy for each company, and one for the hospital, are located 
 100 feet distant from the barracks. A capacious company kitchen adjoins each mess-room and 
 occupies a portion of the first floor of the building. In the eastern end of this building, four rooms 
 on the lower floor are set apart for the use of the hospital department, and are occupied as office, 
 dispensary, ward-room, and kitchen. The arrangement of the barracks and hospital is shown iu 
 Fig. 10. 
 
 The quarters of the non-commissioned staff and also the quarters of the company laundresses, 
 located outside of the inclosure of the post, are three old wooden buildings, each one and a half 
 stories high. The first of these buildings is divided into three rooms, one 20 by 12 feet and two 
 12 by 12 feet, and occupied by the non-commissioned staff, hospital steward, and matron. The 
 other buildings toward the north, containing two rooms and two attics each, are occupied by 
 laundresses. A new wooden building, 80 by 28 feet, has been erected ou the south side of the 
 barracks, and 20 feet distant from the iuclosure. This is occupied by four families, affording to 
 each two rooms 16 by 14 feet, with air space of 1,568 cubic feet. 
 
54 
 
 DESCBIPTION OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 1, first story; 2, second story ; A, hospital kitchen; B, ward; C, office; D, dispensary ; E, 
 company kitchen ; F, mess-room ; II, sergeants' rooms ; I, company office ; M, hospital bath-room ; 
 
 /v 
 
 K, storm shed ; P, piazza ; L L, dormitories. 
 
 Height of rooms on first floor, 10 feet ; on second 
 floor, 10 feet 6 inches. 
 
 The building assigned to the use of commis- 
 sioned officers is composed of the same material as 
 the main building, and is 70 feet long, 25 feet wide, 
 two and a half stories high, and contains 16 rooms. 
 The building is erected at right angles with the 
 main building, and 20 feet distant, and commands 
 a fine view of the post. In its rear an open veran- 
 da is in course of erection, which will materially 
 add to the appearance of the building, and render 
 it more convenient for the occupants. It is in- 
 tended for eight sets of quarters. 
 
 The headquarters of the post is situated at the 
 northwestern part of the iuclosure, in a small one- 
 story building 24 by 18 feet, a portion of which 
 is set apart for the purpose of a library and read- 
 ing-room for the use of the command. 
 
 In the northwest corner of the post is located 
 the commissary storehouse, a two-and-a-half story 
 wooden building, 40 feet long and 18 feet wide ; 
 it is divided into two store-rooms and an office. 
 
 On the east side is a one-story building, 60 by 
 16 feet, used for a carpenter's shop, with the ex- 
 ception of a small portion on the western end, 
 which is set apart for a sutler's store. 
 
 The guard-house is a wooden building situated 
 Fig. 10. Scale, 3y feet to l inch. O n the western side of the inclosure and north 
 
 of the principal entrance to the post; it is 50 feet long by 15 feet wide, and divided into three 
 rooms and two cells. The front room, 13 by 19 feet, is used as a guard-room; adjoining are the 
 cells designated for prisoners sentenced to solitary confinement. The cells are 4^ feet wide and 10 
 feet long, with a grated window 1 foot square near the top of the wall, and a similar grating in 
 the door for ventilation; a small opening from the top of the cell serves to allow a part of the foul 
 air to escape. These cells are found to be unsuitable for the purpose by reason of defective ven- 
 tilation and bad arrangement for warming the rooms in cold weather. Adjoining the guard-room 
 is a room 27 by 14 feet, used as a "lock-up'' for prisoners. This apartment could be improved by 
 more ample ventilation. 
 
 The hospital, as before mentioned, is located in a portion of the building occupied as soldiers' 
 barracks, the men's quarters being immediately over the sick- ward, as shown in Figure 10. Though 
 rather inconvenient, this arrangement will answer the purpose for a command of two companies. 
 The hospital is warmed by coal stoves and well ventilated. Two rooms, each 10 by 10 feet, are 
 used for office and dispensary. 
 
 The ward contains eight beds ; superficial area, 792 feet; airspace per bed, 990 cubic feet. A 
 room for bathing and lavatory purposes has been erected in rear of the building and adjoining the 
 ward. The hospital sink is 100 feet distant, and kept in good condition; this privy is constructed 
 on the system of earth-closets, the result proving quite satisfactory. The substance used as an 
 absorbent is dry coal ashes, (sifted,) which is regularly applied to each deposit in a sufficient 
 quantity, and is found to be a good deodorizer. 
 
 The school-house is an old one-story building situated at the northeast corner of the post; it 
 is well provided with books, and has a competent person selected from the command as an 
 instructor. 
 
FORT ^DELAWARE, DELAWRE. 
 
 55 
 
 The ice-house is located near the banks of the lake, and consists of a wooden building 10 by 
 12 feet, with a stone wall 10 feet deep below ground, and frame building 8 feet high above the 
 surface. An ample supply of ice is obtained from Lake Champlain during the months of January 
 and February, and is found to be of an excellent quality. 
 
 The library contains a good supply of the most desirable of the daily and weekly journals; 
 stationery and materials for writing are supplied gratis to members of the command. 
 
 The supply of water is obtained from two deep wells in close vicinity to the buildings; the 
 quality of this water is excellent for drinking and cooking, and it is perfectly free from impurities. 
 Rain-water is chiefly used for cleansing clothes and habitations. 
 
 The post is well drained by reason of being located on elevated ground and the alluvial nature 
 of the soil. 
 
 The close proximity of Lake Ghamplain affords good facilities for bathing purposes. 
 
 Fronting the western entrance to the post is a square plot of ground inclosed with fence, con- 
 taining about two acres; this ground is supposed to have been originally designed for a park or 
 parade-ground, but has recently been converted into a vegetable garden, and cultivated for the 
 benefit of the officers of the post. 
 
 The company gardens are located about half a mile northwest from the barracks, and consist 
 of about five acres of fertile soil, under a good state of cultivation. The hospital garden is located 
 about the same distance east of the post and near the bank of the river. It is about a half an 
 acre in extent, and is cultivated by the hospital attendants. 
 
 Acute diarrhoea and dysentery prevail in the summer season; catarrh and bronchial affections 
 in the winter. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases, at Plattsburg barracks, New 
 
 York, for the years 18G8 and 18C9. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 7 ; 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 .s 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 3 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 X 
 
 
 tc 
 
 s " 
 
 > 
 
 j^ 
 
 Z 
 
 S 
 
 * 
 
 H 
 
 Years. 
 
 | 
 
 c 'S 
 a 
 
 -S 
 
 *3 
 
 * -i 
 
 80 
 3 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 3 | 
 
 ^5 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 rt 
 6 
 
 O ^j 
 
 1 - 
 
 B 
 a 
 
 "3 
 
 S 5L 
 
 13 -* 
 
 S 
 
 v 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Q 
 
 S '- 
 
 -2 
 
 o 
 
 
 a 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 K 
 
 o 
 
 
 1868 
 
 119 
 
 212 
 
 3 
 
 40 
 
 3 
 
 14 
 
 20 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 91.33 
 
 119 
 
 16 
 
 16 
 
 
 11 
 
 26 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Inrhulc laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT DELAWARE, DELAWARE. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON W. C. SPENCER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Delaware is situated on Pea-Patch Island, in the Delaware River, one and one-eighth 
 miles distant from the Delaware shore ; one mile from the Xew Jersey shore ; and forty-two miles 
 below the city of Philadelphia, Latitude 30 3,7 18" north ; longitude 75 34' 31" west from 
 Greenwich. 
 
 The island is a flat mud bank, irregularly oval in form, and has an area of eighty acres ; its 
 average level is 3 feet 4 inches, and its highest point 9 feet 8 inches above mean low water. It is 
 surrounded by an embankment faced with broken stone, 10 feet 10 inches above mean low water, 
 and is drained by means of a network of ditches through which the tide, which has an average of 
 6 feet, is permitted to flood and ebb under the control of two sluice-gates. These ditches vary in 
 width from three to thirty feet, and in depth from 8 inches below to 1 foot above mean low water. 
 
 The following history is condensed from a general record book, dated April 1, 1851, belonging 
 to the engineer office at Fort Delaware, Delaware : 
 
56 DESCRIPTION OF MIITARY POSTS. 
 
 The inland now known us the Pea-Patch first began to attract attention about the year 1770. From 1770 to 1813 
 but little notice was taken of it, as'it was seldom visited except by fishermen and persons wishing to destroy crows, of 
 which there then were great numbers roosting every night. 
 
 In 1813 the State of Delaware, thinking the Pea-Patch a good site for fortifications, and that the Delaware River 
 and adjacent country required certain defensive works, ceded the island to the United States on condition that fortifi- 
 cations should be erected and maintained thereon at the expense of the general government. Accordingly, in 1814, 
 Captain Chirk, with one hundred soldiers and thirty laborers, took possession on the part of the United States, and at 
 once began building dykes, wharves, and fortifications, which were carried on until 1H23 and lf'24, when the fort was 
 nearly completed under Major liabcock. 
 
 In February, 1831, the roof and other wood-work were burned. In 1833 many repairs were made, and in June 
 the demolition of the old fort was commenced. In 1834 the principal work accomplished was the removing the rubbish 
 of the old fort. In this year there was an attempt made to find water by boring, the particulars of which are as 
 follows : 
 
 The boring was commenced with 6 or 7 inch pipes and carried to the depth of 46 feet through mud to sand, then 
 continued 20 feet through sand (in all 66 feet) to a very coarse sand and shells, through the coarse sand to the depth of 96 
 feet, when a large boulder was struck, the working through which consumed two weeks. After the boulder, dark clay 
 was found ; after the clay, a very fine white sand at the depth of 143 feet. At this point water was found, but of siu-li a 
 sweetish taste that it was entirely unfit for use.* 
 
 In December of the last-named year, borings were also made in the corners of the old star fort, for the purpose of 
 ascertaining the nature of the soil. These borings were continued to the average depth of 47 feet, at which point sand 
 was found. 
 
 [n the year 1834, materials began to be received for the new work, and in 1836 the driving of piles for the new founda- 
 tion was commenced, which work was completed in 1838. The number of piles driven was between ten and eleven thou- 
 sand. In this year Captain Dclafield left the island for West Point, and was succeeded by Colonel De Russey, under whom 
 a portion of the grillage was laid, but in December, before the foundations were entirely completed, possession was taken 
 of the island by one Hudson, under a t itle purporting to be given by the State of New Jersey to Gale, who it appears had 
 some time occupied the island for fishing purposes. On this account the works were suspended until the question as to 
 whom the island belonged should be settled. 
 
 In 1839, there was an uncommonly high tide which overflowed the .island. There was also another in October, 1846, 
 which also overflowed the island, carrying the timber about it, and some away. This last is said to have been the highest 
 tide in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. The wind at the time was strong from the southeast, which was probably 
 the cause of the remarkably high water. 
 
 In 1848, by the decision of the Hon. John Sergeant, (to whom was referred the question as to the title of the island,) 
 the United States again came in possession and once more the works were resumed under Brevet Major John Sanders. 
 
 The works which had been commenced under Captain Delafield were abandoned, and a new plan for the fort substi- 
 tuted. The principal work done in this year (1848) was the repairing of quarters, general policing the island, and exca- 
 vating the foundations for the new fort. 
 
 In May, 1849, the driving of the piling for the new foundation was commenced. The whole piling of the foundation, 
 (amounting in number to between six and seven thousand piles,) was then subjected to a certain test by means of the 
 ringing pile-engine. This work was commenced on the llth of April, and finished on the 17th of June following. Those 
 piles not standing the required test, amounting in all to about 1,700, were again spliced and redriven, so that now there 
 can be no doubt that the foundation of the fort about to be built, is as near perfection as it can be brought. 
 
 Fort Delaware is placed midway between the center and the southern extremity of the island - 
 and is a bastioned work of granite, lined with concrete brick. Within the fortification are three 
 brick buildings, each placed against a separate curtain, which are three stories in height, and pro- 
 vided with painted iron roofs. Their third floors are nearly on a level with the terre-plein, and com- 
 municate directly with it. 
 
 The largest of these buildings, which constitutes the barracks proper, is 279 feet long, 66 feet 
 6 inches wide, and 51 feet 6 inches high, from the parade to the crest of the roof. The sally-port is 
 in the center of this building. The ground floor is divided into fifteen rooms, which are severally 
 occupied as subsistence store-rooms, mess-rooms, prison-rooms, kitchen and laundresses' quarters. 
 The third floor has sixteen rooms, used as quartermaster store-rooms, company offices, and laun- 
 dresses' quarters. Several rooms on this floor are unoccupied. The height of the first floor in the 
 clear is 12 feet 6 inches; of the second, 12 feet 9 inches, and of the third, 13 feet 9 inches. The 
 kitchens, two in number, measure, respectively, 20 feet 6 inches, by 19 feet 6 inches. Each kitchen 
 is provided with a large range, and with suitable wash-sinks, pumps, pantries, &c. The mess-room's 
 are also two in number. They are 39 feet long, by 30 feet broad, and are immediately adjacent to 
 the kitchens. The floors of all the rooms on the first story are flagged. There are four squad, 
 
 * I have been told recently by Mr. Timothy Collins, who was employed in boring this well, that the water obtained had no "sweetish" or 
 brackish taste, and was excellent in every respect. It was used by the residents of the island for nearly two years, when, through neglect, .th 
 
 well became filled up. 
 
 VV . C. S. 
 
FOBT DEL A WAKE, DELAWARE. 57 
 
 rooms or dormitories, each 57 feet 6 inches long, and 30 feet broad. They are all furnished with 
 ventilators, wash-sinks, pumps, !tc. 
 
 One guard-room and three prison-rooms are situated in the second story of the barracks, above 
 the sally-port. The former measures 19 feet 9 inches by 13 feet ; the, latter, respectively, 13 feet by 
 8 feet C inches, 19 feet 9 inches by 10 feet, and 29 feet by 17 feet 9 inches. In addition to thex . 
 there are two cells on the ground floor, one on each side of the main gate, each (i feet <i inches long, 
 5 feet 1 1 inches broad, and 10 feet high, and a prison room 24 feet G inches by 14 feet 9 inches. A 
 bastion-room on the lower tier is set apart for the post bakery. 
 
 The two remaining buildings are used for officers' quarters and for offices. The\ arc each 95 
 feet in length, 70 feet in depth, and 53 feet G inches in height, from the parade to the crest of the 
 roof. The height of the first floors in the clear is l.'I feet; of the second, 13 feet; and of the third, 
 14 feet. The ground floor of each building is divided into eight rooms, which are occupied as 
 ollices and as kitchens. The latter are furnished with ranges, ovens, wash-sinks, pumps, pantries, 
 &c. The second floor contains nine rooms, and the third eight, all set apart for officers and their 
 families, except one room in the second story, which contains the post library. These quarters are 
 excellent in every essential particular. They are well lighted, well ventilated, and provided with 
 handsome mantel-pieces and grates. The. post library contains 1,400 volumes of scientific, histor- 
 ical, and miscellaneous works. 
 
 The water supply of the fort is principally derived from the fall of rain on the terre-plein. The 
 water from this source passes successively through six inches of sand, two feet of earth, nine inches 
 of gravel, and several layers of brick, the vertical joints of which are open to an arched brick 
 gutter, whose bottom is covered with asphaltum. From this gutter it runs through conduits made 
 in part of iron, and in part of earthenware crocks, to filters placed with the cistern to which each is 
 attached, under the floor of the first tier of casemates. Every filter contains a layer of broken 
 brick, 1 foot 3 inches thick; one of gravel, 2 feet thick; one of coarsely pulverized charcoal, 9 
 inches thick ; and one of sand, 2 feet thick. Below these are several layers of brick, uncemented, 
 but closely laid, through which the water passes directly to the adjacent cistern. Each cistern has 
 a trap in the floor above, and each filter is provided with a door. 
 
 The cisterns, twenty- two in number, are of various sizes. Their aggregate capacity is 543,71 
 gallons; and it has been estimated that the water-shed is sufficient to fill them three times annually. 
 They are built wholly of brick, lined throughout with hydraulic cement. Every cistern has a self- 
 acting waste-pipe fixed at the height of 7 feet 7 inches above mean low water. 
 
 During the war, when many thousand prisoners were confined on the island, water was brought 
 from Brandy wine Creek, Delaware, and emptied into the cisterns, without having previously passed 
 through the filters. A sandy sediment several inches in thickness, which has not yet been re- 
 moved, was the result of this procedure/ 
 
 The rain that falls on the buildings inside the fort is conveyed to iron tanks placed a short dis- 
 tance under every roof. The dimensions of these tanks are 12 feet by 8 feet by 4 feet. There are 
 six in the barracks, and three in each of the other buildings. The water derived from those in the 
 officers' quarters is used in the privies. The water from those in the barracks is conveyed to wash 
 sinks situated in the second and in the third stories, and is chiefly used by the laundresses. The 
 number of privies in the barracks is sixteen, equally divided between the first and the second floors. 
 They communicate with the moat by means of a perpendicular well 4 feet by 3 feet in size, which 
 extends from the second story to the grillage of the foundation. In each of the other buildings 
 there are three privies on the first and three on the second story, constructed on the same plan, but 
 in addition having a supply of water from the tanks. The excrement from these privies passes into 
 the moat through sixteen openings, each 4 feet long, and 3 feet 8 inches high, and placed 2 feet 
 above the bottom of the well. The drainage of the interior of the fort is secured by a larger brick 
 culvert, which discharges into the moat, and by tributary side-drains. They are all provided with 
 traps, 
 
 There are five neat frame cottages with gardens, outside the work, four of which belong to the 
 
 engineer, and one to the quartermaster's department. Three of these are occupied by officers and 
 
 their families, and by two engineer employes. There are also three wooden houses, not in good re. 
 
 pair, in which married soldiers and their families reside, besides nine cottages and shanties tenanted 
 
 8 
 
58 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 by laborers hired by the engineer in charge. All these houses are furnished with covered cisterns, 
 built entirely above the surface of the ground. Their privies haA'e been erected upon the outer 
 face of the adjacent embankment. They are cleansed by the tide. In addition to the edifices 
 already mentioned, the island contains carpenters', shoemakers', and blacksmiths' shops, a school- 
 house, post trader's store, a stable, and two ice-houses. It has also a dock and three wharves. 
 Near the fort stands a very neat frame chapel, built during the war from the prison fund. 
 
 The hospital is situated 350 yards from the sally-port. It was begun on the 12th of August, 
 1868, and first occupied on the 26th of the ensuing November. It is a wooden structure, placed 
 upon brick piers 3 feet 4 inches high. The ground underneath the building has been coA T ered with a 
 layer of sand one foot in thickness, and the spaces between the piers latticed. The. hospital consists 
 of a central building, having a front of 33 feet, and two wings, each 72 feet long, and containing 
 eighteen beds. A veranda, one story high and 12 feet broad, extends around the Avhole building, 
 with the exception of the kitchen. The plan promulgated in Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's 
 Office, 1867, has been strictly followed in its erection, excepting that the central building has a hip 
 roof; that the wards are ceiled in hard finish ; that a door with a dead-light has been placed between 
 the administration building and the right ward, and that a door has been inserted between each 
 
 __ ward and the passage leading to the bath-room and water-closet. The 
 
 water-closets have been supplied with close-stools, and an excellent 
 privy has been built on the outer face of the embankment, 78 yards 
 distant from each Avard. Rain water is conveyed directly to covered 
 wooden tanks, two in number, situated respectively in the rear of the 
 kitchen and of the right ward. The hospital grounds have a front of 263 
 feet and a depth of 310 feet, extending to the embankment in the rear, 
 exclusive of the adjacent hospital garden, which is 231 feet long and 141 
 feet deep. They will be inclosed with a neat fence in the spring, and 
 properly laid out. 
 
 For the general arrangement of the hospital, see Figure 11. 
 
 1. Main floor. A, ward, 60 by 24 feet; B, bath-room, 11 by 9 feet; 
 D, dispensary, 14 by 14 feet; K, kitchen, 14 by 12 feet; M, dining-room, 
 19 by 14 feet; O, office, 14 by 14 feet; P, A r eranda; S, store-room, 14 by 
 14 feet; W, water-closet, 11 by 9 feet. 
 
 2. Second floor. A, B, C, E, F, G, store-rooms, attendants' quar- 
 ters, and dead-room; D, hall. 
 
 The building recently in use for hospital purposes was a remnant of 
 the prison hospital. It has lately beeii demolished. During the last 
 three years of the rebellion the island was converted into a depot for 
 prisoners of Avar, Avho Avere confined in wooden barracks erected outside 
 the fort. I am informed that the greatest number imprisoned here at 
 one time was about 12,000. All records of value relative to them were 
 sent to the commissary general of prisoners in August, 1865. 
 
 There are two burial lots on the island, at its northern extremity, 
 and one on a farm of about 80 acres, owned by the United States, sit- 
 uated directly opposite on the New Jersey shore. The latter has an 
 area of about 9,000 square yards, and contains 10 graves of United 
 States soldiers and 1,434 of confederates. It is protected by a wooden 
 picket-fence, and provided Avith headboards. 
 
 One of the cemeteries on the island contains the remains of pris- 
 oners of war exclusively. Interments were permitted here in the winter 
 only when access to the principal cemetery was rendered impracticable 
 by floating ice. The remaining burial lot Avhich was laid out at the 
 establishment of the post is appropriated to the use of the garrison. They each ha\-e an area of 
 930 square yards, and together contain 142 graves. Both cemeteries are provided with head- 
 boards and good fences. 
 
 The graves, which were originally very shallow, have been covered with a layer of quicklime 
 and of earth four feet in thickness. 
 
 I 
 
 D 
 
 T 
 
 I 
 
 11. 
 
CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 59 
 
 Statement allowing mean strength, number of nick, and i>rh-i)>l ilixcunt'K of tronjm at Fort Delaware, 
 
 Delaware, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 4 
 
 Sb 
 
 \A 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 E 
 ? 
 
 
 
 ; 
 2 
 
 = 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 = .-, 
 
 
 .^ 
 
 
 
 
 T. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 s 
 
 - = 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 +3 
 
 ~ ^ 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^= '- 
 
 & 5 
 
 8 
 
 r I 
 
 = 
 
 11 
 
 | 
 
 
 | 
 
 *" 
 
 H 
 
 S 
 
 -r 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 = 
 8 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 154. 41 
 
 208 
 
 
 19 
 
 39 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 27 
 
 
 1869 
 
 113. 
 
 211 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 40 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement sho/riiiy mean strength, number of nick, and principal d Metises of white prisoners at Fort 
 
 Delaware, Di'latcair, for the year 1869 
 
 
 j 
 
 b 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 i S 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 I 
 
 I! 
 
 ( 
 
 " ?' 
 
 i- 
 
 * / 
 
 .t: n 7 
 
 7 = * 
 
 "== 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ J 
 
 S .- " 
 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 'o ^ 
 
 cs 
 
 
 *K ^ * 
 
 *-*^ 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 ~ 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 O ;- 
 
 5 C 
 
 V 
 
 1869 
 
 19,68 
 
 120 
 
 14 
 
 :$:! 
 
 1 U 
 
 5 ' 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 'Include laryngitis, liroiu-liitis, iiiirunumia, uud iilr 
 
 CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON J. J. 13. WRIGHT, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Carlisle Barracks is situated near the center of the beautiful Cumberland Valley, about mid- 
 way between the north and south mountain spurs of the Alleghany range, which are at this 
 point ten miles apart. Latitude, 40 1'2' north; longitude, 77 10' west from Greenwich; height 
 above the sea, 500 feet. The post is exposed to the northwest wind, coming from the mountains 
 about five miles distant; but, its other aspects are in some degree protected by woods, and by the 
 town of Carlisle, situated on a slight eminence half a mile off. Le Tort's Creek, averaging ten feet 
 in width, and having its origin in a spring two and a half miles south of the town, flows past the 
 garrison on the northwest distant about 200 yards. A large marshy tract of land, the only one 
 in the vicinity, lies north and northwest of the barracks, in the immediate vicinity of the present 
 hospital. The creek is not confined by well-defined banks, but at intervals spreads over consider- 
 able tracts of land. 
 
 The underlying rock of the vicinity is carboniferous limestone, which crops out at short and 
 irregular intervals all over the eastern portion of the valley. All the cellars of the garrison are 
 dug out of this solid rock. 
 
 The soil is argillaceous, with rich alluvium superimposed. Cumberland County is regarded as 
 one of the richest agricultural districts in the State. Indications of coal are present at several 
 points on the northwest of the valley, but no mines are worked. Iron ore is found, and supplies 
 several furnaces in the vicinity. The mean temperature is 51.09 P.; extremes, 105 F. and 10 F. 
 Total rain and snow fall for 18(!l, 49.-'9 inches. No special effect on the health of the troops has 
 been noticed from prevailing winds or other climatic influences. 
 
 The town of Carlisle was laid out in 1750. It had previously been the site of an old fort or 
 stockade, faint traces of which are still apparent. The first weekly mail from Philadelphia was 
 established in 1757. 
 
 During the revolutionary war Carlisle, owing to its distance from the scene of hostilities, 
 
60 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 was frequently selected for the confinement of British prisoners, lu 1704 General Washington had 
 his headquarters at this point while organizing the forces sent out to crush the whisky insurrection. 
 
 The barracks were built in 1777, chiefly by Hessian prisoners captured at Trenton. They 
 were occupied by troops during the Revolution and in the war of 1812. The post was a recruiting 
 depot, several regiments being here organized, among others the Twenty-second Infantry, com- 
 manded by General Brady. It is now occupied as a cavalry school of practice and as a depot for 
 cavalry recruits. Carlisle is on the Cumberland Valley railroad leading from Harrisburg to 1 lagers 
 town, IS miles west of Harrisbnrg. The barracks having been burned by the rebels in July, 1803, 
 were substantially rebuilt, and are now in very good condition. 
 
 The general arrangement of the post is shown in Plate 1. Over the parade and around the 
 garrison are distributed a large number of beautiful shade trees of different species. 
 
 The quarters for enlisted men consist of three brick buildings. Two of these are, respectively, 
 271 by 24 feet, and 251 by 24 feet, and two stories high, and principally occupied by the permanent 
 troops; the third is a three-story building, including the basement; its first and second floors 
 occupied by married soldiers with their families; the remaining portion of the building serves for 
 an armory, with shops, &c. The rooms occupied as dormitories are 25 by 40 by 10 feet each, 
 accommodating forty men. At times, when the garrison is crowded, the air space per man is only 
 250 cubic feet. Five windows in each room admit plenty of light. Coal-oil is used at night. The 
 dormitories are wanned by stoves. The squad-rooms are provided with etiicient ridge ventilators 
 of elegant pattern. 
 
 Double wooden bunks, two stories high, accommodating two men each, are furnished with the 
 usual bedsaek and blankets. At each end of these quarters is a wash-house, containing .six iron 
 wash-bowls and a hydrant to each. There are no bathing arrangements in connection with the 
 post, the men performing their ablutions in a small creek running by the post. The sinks are all 
 well located and kept in good condition. "Commodes" (earth-closets) are in use at this post, and 
 upon thorough trial are found to be worthy of great praise. 
 
 Each troop has its own kitchen, .about 10 by 25 feet, which is supplied with a large- cooking 
 stove and plenty of cooking utensils. The mess-rooms are separated from the kitchens by a par- 
 tition, and are about 25 by 30 feet. 
 
 The married soldiers' quarters very comfortably accommodate from twelve to sixteen families, 
 giving each from two to six rooms, with a commodious yard. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of two-story brick buildings, in good condition, with kitchens and 
 quarters for servants; also convenient yards in the rear. A commodious veranda for both stories 
 extends along the whole front of the buildings. Ten sets of quarters consist each of parlor, din- 
 ing room, two bed-rooms, kitchen, servants' room, and a bath-room. These quarters are liberally 
 supplied with hydrants. 
 
 The commandant's residence, a two-story brick building with wings attached, is appropriately 
 located, and, with the exception of gas, contains all modern improvements and appurtenances. 
 
 The commissary store-room, 25 by 55 feet, occupies the basement of the recruit quarters, while, 
 the quartermaster's department uses for storage purposes a frame building 25 by 05 feet, and one 
 story high, and the large cellar beneath the quarters of the permanent troops. 
 
 The ice-house, of about 120 tons capacity, is 20 feet square and built of brick. Ice is furnished 
 the post by contract in the winter. 
 
 The guard-house, about 70 by 30 feet, was originally built for a powder magazine ; it is a brick 
 vault, feet thick ; the summit of the arch is about 20 feet high in the clear. The guard-house is di- 
 vided into four apartments; two of which are used for prison-rooms, one as a guard-room, and the 
 remaining one as a magazine for powder and ammunition ; the latter is separated from the other 
 rooms by a very substantial brick wall from the apex to the base of the vault. This structure is 
 considered bomb and fire-proof. The rebels, in 1863 did not succeed in injuring the vault by fire, 
 although the roof which covered it was totally consumed, as well as the wood-work entering into 
 the construction of the building. 
 
 The guard-house is principally defective in point of capacity. At the last muster for payment- 
 I counted 40 prisoners paraded in front of the guard-house. Taking the dimensions of the prison, 
 rooms into account, it will be perceived that on that day only 165 cubic feet were allowed for each 
 man, while the ventilation of the light prison is furnished by one grated window 2 by 5 feet, and 
 
PLATE, 
 
CAHL1SLU IJA11KACKS, I'KN NSY I,V A M A. 61 
 
 that of the cell by an aperture at the apex of the arch and a narrow slit in the side walls 2 by \ 
 feet. The small cell in the powder maga/ine room, (> feet square, which is used only for the con- 
 finement of refractory prisoners, has no means of ventilation or admission of light. A coal-stove 
 warms the guard-house in winter. 
 
 It is doubtful whether the guard-house or the hospital at Carlisle barracks can best claim Hit- 
 bad eminence of being a public nuisance; the latter more particularly, perhaps, on account of its 
 location than of its construction, though it is not built after any approved model. It is placed 
 near the western limit of the slope of the military tract of ground, which extends in the direction 
 of the low marshy bottom of a basin, through which runs a deep creek which overflows its banks 
 several times a year, leaving the surface of the ground, comprising many acres, submerged for 
 weeks. The sewer which drains the southern portion of the garrison empties itself immediately 
 below, and in fearful proximity to, the hospital; all that it bears of slops and dirt from the company 
 kitchens and washhouses, remaining exposed to the sun during the whole summer. 
 
 The building consists of two frame pavilions, and a miserable 
 shell fora kitchen, for the general arrangement of which see Fig- 
 ure 12. A, ward, 77 by 25 feet; B, chapel, 42 by 25 feet; (', 
 theater, 01 by 25 feet; 1), dispensary, 20 by 14.C feet; E, store- 
 room, 20 by 10.G feet; F, F, F, F, bath rooms, 9 by 10 feet; II, 
 steward's quarters; I, cook's room, 10 by 25 feet; K, kitchen, 
 22 by 25 feet; L, mess-room, 38 by 25 feet; M, rooms not in 
 use ; N, veranda. 
 
 The two \vardfc contain 50 beds, allowing to each about 800 
 cubic feet of air, and about 90 square feet of surface area. 
 Usually only one ward is occupied, although as many as 75 
 patients have been crowded into the hospital. Two cast-iron 
 bath-tubs and two wash-bowls, connected by one-inch pipes with 
 the hydrant, are located in the small rooms on the further end 
 of the ward. There are no water-closets connected with the hos- 
 pital. 
 
 The following extracts from letters of Surgeon J. J. B. 
 Wright, United States Army, will give an idea of the history 
 and condition of the hospital : 
 
 l-:.i-tr<tftfrom teller ilute.il Siplfmtxr tf2, 1664. 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 i 1 
 
 H 1 H 
 
 
 
 
 H I H 
 
 
 B 
 D 
 
 
 
 'id! 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 C 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 p rjr 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 n 
 
 Figure ]>. Scale iy.( I'eet to 1 inch. 
 
 Carlisle barracks dates its origin to a period anterior to the, American Revolution, and has been occupied, with the 
 exception of short intervals, ever since. Yet there has never been a separate, hospital for the post until last winter, 
 
 when, the barracks having been destroyed by the rebels, a temporary building, consisting of a men- shell, \vasi stnn-ted 
 
 for the emergency. 
 
 The barracks having been rebuilt in a most substantial way. it seems proper that a hospital corresponding in ap- 
 pearance and durability should render the post complete. I have the honor, very respectfully, to submit for the considera- 
 tion of the proper authority the accompanying plan, specification, and estimates. 
 
 Ejrlr.ielfrom letter dulal March 4, 1866. 
 
 GENERAL: I have the honor again to invite your attention to the subject of the post hospital at these barracks. 
 By refereuce to the report of Acting Inspector General Colonel George D. Rnggles, dated about September 20, 1864, (a 
 copy of the part of which, relating to the medical department of the post, is, I presume, on tile in your office,) you 
 will see that in the estimation of that officer urgent necessity existed for better accommodations for the sick at the post. 
 I beg leave also to refer you to my communication of the 22d of September, 1864, on the same subject, and to one of subse- 
 quent date, about September, 1805, of which I failed to keep a copy. 
 
 The objections of the Inspector General, as well as myself, to the hospital then and now in use at the post, related 
 more perhaps to the position or location than to the construction of the building. It is built near the western limit of 
 {he slope of the military tract of ground, which extends in the direction of the low marshy bottom of a basin, through 
 which runs a deep creek which overflows its banks several times a year, leaving the surface of the ground, comprising 
 many acres, submerged for weeks ; even now it is a miniature sea, with its islands of swamp grass dotting its surface, 
 almost in the immediate vicinity of the hospital. Besides, the sewer, which drains the southern portion of the garrison, 
 empties itself immediately below and in fearful proximity to the hospital, all that it bears of slops and dirt from the 
 
62 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 company kitchens and washhouses remaining exposed to the suu during the whole summer. The termination of this 
 drain being the lowest ground in the vicinity, its contents, of course, cannot be carried oft'. But you will very naturally 
 inquire why was the hospital erected upon this very objectionable site, and I will explain. When the barracks were 
 burned by the rebels, it was deemed (very reasonably, I think) that a permanent hospital would be erected corre- 
 sponding in durability and convenience with the rest of the garrison ; and nature seemed to point out a particular spot 
 for its erection ; but when the War Department ordered that a temporary hospital should be built, it was concluded not 
 to erect it on this eligible site, for the reason that it would interfere with the construction of the new hospital. In justice 
 to myself, however, I have to disclaim any agency in the location of the present miserable hospital. I had advised, 
 when it was proposed to erect a temporary hospital, that it should occupy a position on high ground on the east side 
 of the barracks, remote from the swampy tract alluded to, and not in the way of the new hospital. I left the post just 
 at that time, under an order detailing me on a medical board in New York, with the impression that the site recom- 
 mended would be occupied. On my return from New York I found that the commanding officer (Major Hastings) had 
 ordered it to be erected where it now stands. 
 
 When the work on the new hospital was abandoned at an advanced stage of its completion, by direction of the 
 Quartermaster General, it was ordered that the temporary building should bo repaired and converted into a comfort- 
 able hospital, which, of course, involved an utter impossibility. Much expanse was incurred on the frail structure, it is 
 true, (enough, I should think, to have finished the new hospital ;) but however much it was improved it was far from 
 being a good and comfortable and healthy place for the sick. The objections to its surroundings remained ; besides, an 
 i niportant part of the hospital, the kitchen, has never undergone any repair or improvement. It is almost in a state of 
 dilapidation, a mere shell, scarcely inhabitable in winter. 
 
 From the foregoing statement it will be perceived that it is utterly impossible to police in a proper way the envi- 
 rons of the present hospital. 
 
 The several grave cases of fever which have recently occurred at the post have all, without exception, orginated in 
 the hospital; at least all its victims have lived and slept in the rooms and wardsof the hospital. The late Assistant Sur- 
 geon Petherbridge occupied quarters in the hospital, aud died in (lie belief that t lie cause of his disease originated in the 
 faulty surroundings and construction of the hospital. The rooms he occupied are but very slightly elevated, (in fact 
 almost rest upon the ground.) I can readily conceive that some telluric emanations assuming miasmatic- form and char- 
 acter were operative in the production of the fever of which he died. 
 
 *#*r* *!**#**#* 
 
 The post bakery is a brick building one and a half stories high, containing two rooms with 
 brick lloors ; in the larger of which is an oven of capacity for 1'40 loaves. 
 
 The stable, a substantial brick structure, consists of a centre building 150 by 35 feet, contain- 
 ing a farrier's room, saddle-room, granary, two boilers for heating water, &c., and two wings joined 
 at right angles ; each divided into fifty commodious stalls for horses. The stables are well venti- 
 lated by ridge ventilators, and by numerous windows and air-holes, besides being provided with six 
 large double doors, facilitating greatly the removal of horses in case of fire. Between the wings 
 are stretched two picket lines, allowing ample space for over one hundred horses. Close to the 
 stables are a water plug and hydrant supplying the watering troughs. If a brick or some other 
 substantial floor was substituted for the present miserable clay floor, these stables would be perfect 
 in every respect. There are generally between eighty and ninety horses in these stables for the 
 instruction of cavalry recruits, and a few horses for teams, &<_. 
 
 A post library, consisting of 87(5 volumes of miscellaneous books, for the benefit of officers and 
 men, was begun in 18(5. The men of the permanent troop have a reading-room, which is also occu- 
 pied for several hours a day for a school-room. The school is supported by the post fund, from 
 which are supplied books and other necessaries. A literary society has been organized by the 
 men, and most of the more important daily and weekly papers, pictorials, and periodicals, are 
 taken. 
 
 The post is supplied with water from hydrants, to which it is conveyed in pipes from the Can- 
 adeguinete Creek. The water is of good quality; it is slightly impregnated with lime, but not to 
 an exceptionable extent. 
 
 Between the officers' and permanent troop quarters is the lire-engine house. The engine is 
 supplied by the hydrants and two large cisterns, one between the rows of officers' quarters, the 
 other near the permanent troop quarters, and has sufficient hose for throwing water over the whole 
 garrison, excepting the hospital building. 
 
 The drainage of the garrison is generally good, being carried off by Le Tort's Creek. The 
 sewer, before referred to, emptying near the hospital, its termination the lowest ground in the 
 vicinity, drains the southern portion of the post. All offal, &c., is buried in the swamps situated 
 north from the garrison. 
 
 The post garden consists of about two acres, partially supplying the men's mess with vege- 
 
FORT McIIENRY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. 63 
 
 tables in their season. Most of tlie potatoes used are purchased by the commissary department. 
 The hospital garden is very small, occupying the space between the wings of the hospital, and is 
 more ornamental than useful. 
 
 Xo local causes of disease exist in or about the post, unless such as are possibly found in connec- 
 tion with a tract of low ground, sometimes partially submerged, extending along the whole length of 
 the government line of fence on the southwest. Some cases of cholera occurred at the post in 
 1SIU and 18GG, but the disease did not assume epidemic proportions. Jn the latter year, the cases 
 were limited to recruits lately arrived at the post. The majority of cases of intermittent fever oc- 
 curring during the year may be traced to foreign origin. The prevailing diseases are pneumonia, 
 rheumatism, diarrhu'a, intermittent fever, &c. 
 
 Kxeept as relates to the permanent party of the post, the men are constantly changed from 
 time to time, those partially instructed being sent in detachments to the several cavalry regiments, 
 and their places supplied by new recruits. 
 
 xlinirinij wean xtmtyth, number of *iVfr, and prliid/tal diseases at Carlisle Jiar racks, Penn- 
 xyli-ania, for the years 1808 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 E 
 
 -a 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 ., 
 
 
 
 
 * ,: 
 
 
 s . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 <D 
 
 
 
 
 
 " > 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 P 
 
 B 
 
 fl 
 
 .2 
 73 
 
 L 
 
 i H 
 
 j 
 
 - 
 
 | 
 
 ~; \ 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 V f 
 
 B 
 
 * 1 
 
 ^- 
 
 i S 
 
 S 
 
 C - 
 
 ^4 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^2 
 
 a 
 
 ^ r=' 
 
 o 
 
 s f- 
 
 z 
 
 a 
 
 II 
 
 C 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 ^ 
 
 1868 
 
 335. 1C 
 
 1286 
 
 135 
 
 258 
 
 TO 
 
 140 
 
 31 
 
 240 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 335. 25 
 
 1,021 
 
 98 
 
 201 
 
 55 
 
 100 
 
 20 
 
 191 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 'Include liirvngitis. lirnnrhitis. pneumonia, and plcnrisj-. 
 
 FORT McHENRY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. 
 
 REPORTS OF SURGEON JOSIAH SIMPSON, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON 
 
 H. C. YARROW, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort McHenry is situated on Whetstone Point, a peninsula formed by the junction of the 
 northwest branch of the Patapsco with the main river, latitude 39 15' 44" north, longitude 76 
 34' 28" west. It is about three miles southeast from the center of the city of Baltimore. 
 
 This site was first occupied for military purposes in 1775, at which time a water battery was 
 constructed here in connection with obstructions in the river, consisting of three massive wrought- 
 iron chains and some sunken vessels. In 1794 the fort was repaired, the star fort of brick-work 
 added, and the whole was ceded to the United States and received its present name. It was named 
 after James McHenry, a secretary to General Washington during the revolutionary war, and 
 Secretary of War in 1798. 
 
 Fort McHenry was bombarded on the 12th of September, 1814, by a British squadron under 
 the command of Admiral Cockbnrn,but was not materially injured, and the enemy was successfully 
 repulsed. 
 
 During the late war the fort was used as a rendezvous and as a military prison. 
 
 The military reservation covers an area of about 49i acres, of which about 4yL is occupied by 
 the fort and water battery. The surrounding country is comparatively low and level, and sub- 
 ject to occasional inundations. 
 
 The geological formation of the laud upon which the fort is located, as shown by the borings 
 of the artesian well at the post, consists of yellow sand, clay, with boulders, iron ore, &c., in layers 
 varying from one to thirty-three feet in thickness, until, at a depth of 140 feet, water of an excel- 
 lent quality is found in abundance. 
 
 The mean temperature of the post during the year was 56.18 F. The greatest heat was July 
 
64 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 15, 1809, 95 in the shade; the extreme of cold was ou February 21, 1870, 12 F. The amount oi' 
 annual rain-fall was 29.11 inches. During- the summer the prevailing winds vary from south to 
 east ; those of winter are mostly northwest. In summer the winds pass over the low lands on the 
 opposite side of the Patapsco, over one mile distant from the fort. The fort occupies the whole of 
 the extremity of the peninsula; the parade ground is ,'U feet above low-water mark. 
 
 The men's barracks inside the fort, as originally built and intended to accommodate two com- 
 panies, are two substantial brick buildings occupying two adjacent sides of a pentagon. They are 
 each 97fvr feet by 2r r ; feet, and two stories high, with a covered porch 10 feet wide to each floor, 
 extending the entire length of the west or front side. These barracks are insufficient to accommo- 
 date properly the number of men occupying them. Each story contains three rooms of equal si/.e; 
 in the lower are the kitchen, mess-room, orderly and store rooms; in the upper are three squad-rooms 
 as quarters, each 30.J by L!l~ by 10 feet, plastered and ceiled, giving to each man about 330 cubic 
 feet of air space. In these rooms the men live almost entirely, there being no separate provision 
 for lounging, smoking, reading, &c. At present wooden, two-storied bunks are furnished these 
 quarters, and are alike detrimental to morality, cleanliness, and comfort; four men sleep in each of 
 these bunks, the number of soldiers in each dormitory is seldom less than 20, and the ventila- 
 tion is very insufficient, especially in winter. 
 
 The barracks situated outside of the fort are ou the northeastern part of the sea-wall, built of 
 brick, and, unlike those described above, are large and commodious. They consist of two stories, 
 the lower used for mess hall, office, kitchen, &c. ; the upper as dormitories. In these rooms iron 
 bedsteads are used, which contribute greatly to the comfort of the men and neatness of the bar- 
 racks. Upon the roofs of these buildings arc placed two large ventilators, and there being a suffi- 
 cient number of windows, the air is kept tolerably sweet and pure. The principal objection to 
 these rooms is the lowuess of ceiling, the air space for each man being 520 cubic feet; at night the 
 air in all the sleeping rooms is very impure. Another objection to the sea-wall barracks is the 
 location near the water. It has been found by observation that in the spring, summer, and fall, 
 the sick list of the companies occupying these quarters is twice as large as that of the companies 
 garrisoned within the fort. All the barrack buildings are heated by stoves, and the windows are 
 ranged on opposite sides. 
 
 The men's sinks, two in number, are decidedly objectionable. One is situated in the moat facing 
 the sally-port; the other, distant some 400 yards from the fort, is located on the sea-wall. It has 
 been found impossible to keep the former sweet, and in warm weather it is extremely offensive. 
 The contents of this sink have to be removed from time to time, which of itself is a great nuisance. 
 The other sink is objectionable on account of its distance from the fort. A kitchen and mess-room 
 are attached to each company quarters. The laundresses' quarters, situated on the northeast side 
 of the main entrance to the fort, are three one story frame battened buildings, originally put up 
 for confederate prisoners, but used for quarters by troops, and subsequently divided into rooms 
 and occupied by laundresses. In these buildings too many persons are crowded, being occupied by 
 families with a total proportion of 87 souls. 
 
 The quarters for officers are necessarily much scattered and not uniform. Some of the build- 
 ings are good, others decidedly objectionable, being very damp, swarming with vermin, and 
 exposed to miasmatic exhalations from a swampy piece of ground, which is frequently covered by 
 water after high tide. 
 
 That occupied by the commanding officer is situated near the chapel between the two roads lead 
 . ing to the wharf. It is an old brick building, two and one-half stories high, formerly used as a 
 hospital. Opposite to this building are two frame houses used as officers' quarters ; the one nearest 
 the fort is one and one-naif stories high; the other, consisting of two separate buildings joined at 
 right angles, is partly one and partly two stories high. In addition to these quarters, one single, 
 and two double cottages are built facing the road leading to the fort. The double cottages contain 
 fovrr rooms, two kitchens, and four attic rooms each; the single one, three rooms, one kitchen, and 
 four attic rooms. These buildings are convenient and comfortable, with the exception of being 
 damp; but having been constructed of green timber the joints of the doors and windows have 
 opened. 
 
 The ordnance, quartermaster, and commissary storehouses, are in three large frame buildings 
 without the fort. 
 
FORT McHENRY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. 
 
 The guard-house is situated at the entrance of the fort, and occupies the fifth side of a penta- 
 gon. It is a substantial brick building, the arch-way or sally-port passing through it, on one side 
 of which are two rooms, one 21 feet 5 inches by 14 feet 2 inches; the other 12 feet 10 inches by 12 
 feet 2 inches, used for the confinement of prisoners. These rooms are deemed too small for the 
 st rength of the garrison. The guard-room, 21 feet 5 inches by 14 feet 2 inches, is on the other side 
 of the arch-way, and communicates by means of a door of iron bars, with three cells, each about 
 10 by 4 feet, intended for solitary confinement. The guard-house is warmed by stoves, ventilation 
 is rather imperfect, and the building is believed to be decidedly unhealthy. Its average occupancy 
 is about 18 prisoners, giving to each about 238 cubic feet of air space. 
 
 The hospital building proper is a substantial brick structure located within the fort limits, upon 
 elevated ground, and fronts to the southeast. It was erected about thirty-five years ago. Its 
 dimensions are 53 by 27 feet, and two stories high. Covered porches, 10 feet wide, extend around 
 the building on its lower and upper floor. The first floor being raised from the ground about four 
 feet, is reached by stairs at the front and rear porch. The building is warmed by means of stoves ; 
 kerosene oil is used for artificial illumination at night; large windows secure natural lighting and 
 ventilation. 
 
 The plan of this building is shown in 
 Figure 13. 1, lower floor; 2, upper floor; 
 A, A, wards; B, bath and wash-room; 
 D, dispensary; H, H, halls; O, office; W, 
 water-closets. 
 
 The wards on the upper floor measure 
 23 feet 10 inches by lit feet 4 inches, and 
 are 12 feet 10 inches high. These wards 
 contain six beds, giving to each i>79 cubic 
 feet of air space. Each room has a water- 
 closet attached, which, on account of their 
 improper construction, rendering disinfec- 
 tion imperfect, are no longer used. (The 
 earth-closet has been sent to this hospi- 
 tal.) The bath room is on the first floor, 
 adjoining the office. The basement story 
 extends only under one-half of the build- 
 ing, and contains the kitchen, which is 
 low and dark, and at present not in use. 
 Water is supplied from the main tank in- 
 side the fort, and conveyed in pipes to the 
 first floor of the hospital. A fine spring is 
 located near the building, but cannot be Fi S- 13--Scale 16 feet to l inch. 
 
 used on account of the proximity of the hospital privy. 
 
 During the recent war it became necessary to provide additional hospital accommodations, and a 
 frame building 150 feet by 30^ feet was erected, adjoining the hospital on the southwest side, by an 
 addition 60i by 2o feet, extending from the center of each ; the connecting building contains the 
 mess-room, store-room, and linen room. The frame building was originally one large ward, but 
 latterly a portion of it has been partitioned off, sufficient to contain twenty beds, with an air space 
 of 1,200 cubic feet to each. The principal objection to this ward is its defective ventilation ; the win- 
 dows are sufficient in number, but too high from the floor. The upper part of the ward is thoroughly 
 purified by the windows and ridge vents, while on the floor and five feet above, the air is never fresh. 
 
 The post bakery, located near the wharf, is a very old frame building one story high, and con- 
 tains two large ovens with a respective capacity for 200 and 300 loaves per day. 
 
 The chapel, situated west of the commanding officer's residence, is a two-storied building, the 
 first floor being used as a library and school-room. On the second floor is the auditory, which will 
 comfortably seat 200 persons. This building was erected some twenty years ago by the Methodists 
 of Baltimore. 
 9. 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The stable is a two-story brick building, 121 by 22.J feet, with gable roof. The lower story 
 contains stalls for public animals, while the forage, &c., is stored in the story above. The build- 
 ing accommodates 35 animals ; is well lighted and ventilated by windows and loop-holes in the 
 sides and sky-lights in the roof. The stalls are large and comfortable, and, in case of fire, the 
 animals can be easily liberated. A small stable, built of brick, is located near the commanding 
 officer's quarters, for his horses. 
 
 The post and regimental libraries contain over 1,000 volumes of standard literature, and are 
 being constantly increased. 
 
 The principal supply of water is furnished by an artesian well sunk in the center of the parade 
 ground. The well is 142 feet in depth ; 12 inches in diameter 92 feet down ; 88 feet of 8-inch pipe 
 extending to 138 feet ; double pipe 46 feet. The water is forced by means of a force-pump from a 
 depth of 30 feet into an iron tank of a capacity of 3,322 gallons, and from thence distributed 
 through iron pipes to the following hydrants, viz : one in the center of the fort ; one in the center 
 of the road leading from the sally-port to the wharf, located between the commanding officer's and 
 officers' quarters ; one to each cook-house of the barracks ; one near the southwest corner of the 
 laundresses' quarters; one in the hospital yard; one in the dispensary; one in the hospital kitchen; 
 one in the second story of the brick hospital, and one in every kitchen of the officers' quarters. 
 
 The post is also supplied by means of pumps from wells located as follows, viz : one in the 
 southeast corner of the fort; one in the south west corner of the yard, in rear of the commanding officers' 
 quarters; one between the stable and bakery, and one in the hospital grounds. Means of subduing 
 fire are water-buckets, a force-pump, and ladders ; in addition to which there should be a steam 
 fire-engine. 
 
 The drainage is naturally good, the whole of the reservation having a gradual slope to the 
 water. The ground outside of the fort is drained by stone and brick gutters, following the natural 
 slope and emptying into the river. The fort is drained by a sewer extending from the southeast 
 side. The marshy piece of ground, spokeu of in reference to a portion of the officers' quarters, and 
 which fronts northeast on the Patapsco, should be filled in, or some means devised to prevent the 
 overflow it is subject to, as it is a fruitful source of disease. 
 
 The hospital garden consists of three patches of ground within the hospital reservation proper, 
 and is cultivated by convalescents; it is not only ornamental but useful, a sufficiency of vegetables 
 having been raised to supply all the wants of the hospital. 
 
 It can hardly be stated that any disease is particularly prevalent at this post, as may be ex- 
 pected from the position of the fort reservation, surrounded as it is on all sides by mud flats. The 
 miasmatic fevers prevail to a certain extent, not so much so, however, as at posts similarly situated. 
 A number of cases of neuralgia and rheumatism have occurred this spring, principally in officers' 
 families, owing to the continued bad weather and the dampness of the quarters. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and princ'qHil diwascs at Fort Mc-Henry, Maryland, 
 
 for tie years 1808 and 18C9. 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 "3 
 
 5 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 s^ 
 
 
 ^> 
 
 
 | 
 
 3 
 
 
 a 
 
 A 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 3 -ffl 
 
 a 
 
 
 || 
 
 K 
 
 i 
 
 CD 
 
 8 
 
 j. 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 8 
 
 
 X 
 
 i 
 
 9 
 
 _ ^! 
 J " 
 
 1 
 
 1 ^ 
 5 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 SJ 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 'dt 
 'S 
 
 e 
 
 u 
 
 t) 
 
 "8 
 
 1868 
 
 n:t2 ifi 
 
 742 
 
 216 
 
 152 
 
 17 
 
 48 
 
 28 
 
 6 
 
 79 
 
 
 1869 
 
 29H 00 
 
 588 
 
 116 
 
 121 
 
 35 
 
 30 
 
 36 
 
 1 
 
 56 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, put'iiiiumiit, and pleurisy. 
 
FOET WHIFFLE, VIRGINIA. 67 
 
 FORT WHIFFLE, VIRGINIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED HY ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND 
 ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON L. W. RITCHIE, UNITED STATES AKMY. 
 
 Fort Whipple, Virginia, is situated on the south bank of the I'otomac, about half a mile from 
 the Aqueduct bridge, which crosses the river at Georgetown, District of Columbia. From the 
 river the ground rises rapidly until it attains a height of 200 feet at the point where the post is 
 built. It is wooded in part and cut into ravines by numerous small water-courses tending toward 
 the river. Beyond the post the country is undulating and grassy. The fort commands this rolling 
 ground, and, iu the opposite direction, overlooks the basin of the Potomac, the cities of Washington 
 and Georgetown, and the lands beyond them on the east. Its position is so elevated that it has 
 been considered free from malaria, but during the past summer and autumn intermittents have 
 prevailed. 
 
 The water supply is from a spring which furnishes pure, cool water. The natural drainage is 
 excellent. Fort Wliipple is one of the chain of earth- works erected for the defense of Washington 
 during the late war. For the past year a small detachment of the signal corps has been stationed 
 here, but during the summer and fall the number was greatly increased, and a new barrack has 
 been constructed. This is composed of a two-story central building, 29 feet 2 inches by 23 feet 6 
 inches, and two wings, each 38 feet by 23 feet 2 inches. It is built of wood, and raised 18 inches 
 from the ground on brick piers. The height of all the rooms is 9 feet 8 inches. 
 
 The building is heated by four stoves, one iu each dormitory ; the only means of ventilation 
 are the doors and windows. The central room on the ground Hoor has two windows and a door in 
 front; the same in the back, and a door iu each side wall, opening into the wing rooms. It is 
 occupied by 14 men, each man having 427 cubic feet of air space. The wings have each four 
 windows and a door in front; the same on the rear wall, one in the free ends, and opposite them 
 doors communicating with the center room ; but from the free end of the right wing ten feet has 
 been partitioned off as quartern) aster's ollice, thus depriving the soldiers' quarters of one of the end 
 windows. The wing rooms are occupied respectively by 16 and 21 men, giving an air space of 370 
 and 405 cubic feet. The second-story room corresponds to the central barrack room, and is occu- 
 pied by 1C men, giving to each 374 cubic feet airspace. 
 
 The officers' quarters are two one-story frame buildings, old and unlit for their purpose. They 
 are at present occupied for the most part as offices and store-rooms, and as quarters for the sergeants 
 receiving instructions with regard to meteorological observations. 
 
 The guard-house is a frame building within the fort, divided into a guard-room, 13 by 14 feet, 
 and a prison-room, 14 by 18 feet. The average number of occupants of each room is three. 
 
 The hospital is a frame building erected during the summer of 1870. It contains two rooms 
 a ward 15 feet by 15 feet 6 inches, by 9 feet high, containing six beds, giving 351 cubic feet air 
 space to each, and an office and dispensary, 15 feet by 11 feet 6 inches. There are no arrangements 
 for ventilation. The kitchen is a frame building, 15 by 12 feet, placed 24 feet in rear of the hospital. 
 There is no store-room, mess-room, bath-room, or privy connected with thehospital. The two attend- 
 ants sleep in the wards. 
 
 There are no facilities for bathing, and no sinks or privies at the post, and the sanitary condition 
 is decidedly bad. There have been two cases of typhoid fever during the past summer, one of which 
 proved fatal. Malarial fevers have also prevailed. 
 
68 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT FOOTE, MARYLAND. 
 
 KEPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON, JOHN. H. BAYNE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Foote is situated immediately upon the Potomac Hivrr, on the Maryland side, about eight 
 miles below Washington City, on an elevation of land known us llozer's Bluff, at an altitude of 
 about 100 feet above tide-water. In the rear of the fort is an extensive gorge, varying in depth 
 from 10 to 100 feet, running the full extent of the reservation, and continuing thence to the Potomac 
 River. A marsh about 400 yards wide, and covered with a thick growth of coarse grass and small 
 trees, extends along the margin of the Potomac, in a northerly direction, to the distance of a mile. 
 About a mile and a quarter below the post, in a southeasterly direction, is located a marshy tract of 
 land of at least 200 acres, called "Broad Creek;" one-half of its area is clothed with a luxuriant 
 growth of tall coarse grasses, interspersed with scrubby trees and bushes; the other half is com- 
 posed of mud banks, the accumulation of years, brought down by floods from the hills and valleys 
 above. 
 
 This post was established in 1862, as an adjunct to Fort Washington, four miles distant, and 
 was first occupied by the Ninth New York volunteers, under command of Colonel Stewart. 
 
 The fortification is constructed of earth and green timber. The quarters of the garrison, the 
 hospital, and other buildings in process of erection, are eligibly located upon the height back of 
 the fort. 
 
 The barrack is a new two-story wooden building, 160 feet in length, affording a sufficient capacity 
 for two companies. The walls of the building are lined with brick, and a veranda extends its 
 whole length in front, with a roof formed by a continuation of the roof of the building. The barrack 
 is warmed by stoves, artificially lighted by candles, and ventilated through the roof. The dormi- 
 tories, 78 by 23 feet, and 9 feet high to the caves, would each accommodate 33 men were each man 
 allowed an air space of 600 cubic feet, but double that number have been placed in them. They are 
 two in number, and occupy the second floor of the building. Iron bedsteads, similar to those used 
 in the hospital department, are furnished, and over each is a shelf for the knapsack of the soldier. 
 The lower floor of the building contains a wash-room, mess room, kitehen, library, office, &c. 
 
 The kitchen is large, and has two store-rooms adjoining. The mess-room occupies about one- 
 third of the area of the first floor, and contains two rows of tables. 
 
 Married soldiers' quarters are five new rooms, 16 by 12 feet, one room to each family, with a 
 porch in front, and kitchen attached to the rear of the building. 
 
 Officers' quarters are two frame houses, lined with brick ; each house is a double set of quarters, 
 each set containing four rooms. 
 
 A bomb-proof within the fort is occupied as a guard-house and prison-room ; being an earth- 
 work, and the timbers somewhat decayed, it is illy adapted for the purposes for Avhich it is used. 
 It is sufficiently heated by a wood-stove, but the ceilings, which are of decayed logs, admit water 
 in rainy weather. The floor is damp, making it very uncomfortable for the occupants. The guard, 
 house and prison-room are doubtless causes of much sickness at this post, as nearly every private 
 soldier in the garrison has to occupy one of these rooms underground every alternate night on 
 guard duty. 
 
 The post bake-house is a commodious wooden building, with brick oven attached sufficiently 
 large to turn out 350 rations of bread in a batch. 
 
 The water supply is obtained from a well, a spring, and several small cisterns. There are no 
 uuderdrains or sewers at the post. A system of leveling, grading, paving, and draining has been 
 so thoroughly and unremittingly pursued that the grounds have been rendered comparatively firm 
 and dry. 
 
 Endemic dysentery and diarrhosa have prevailed at Fort Foote with great severity during the 
 last six months, (ending December 31, 1869,) which, superadded to the autumnal disease incident 
 to this locality, rendered the percentage of sick very large in proportion to the command, and 
 
FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND. 
 
 69 
 
 as tlie first two named diseases have been exclusively continue! to its limits, it is difficult to account 
 for their origin and prolongation. 
 
 Situated in a malarial district, iuterinittents, remittents, malarial dysentery and diai-rlm-a 
 prevail at this post during the autumnal months ; but for tlio period above mentioned the propor- 
 tion of sickness has been far greater than that of previous seasons, while Fort Washington, 
 a few miles below, on the Potomac River, with malarial surroundings very similar, has enjoyed the 
 most perfect immunity from disease. The morbific, agent would thus appear to have a local origin, 
 even within the limits of the post; but after the most careful investigation it is impossible to ar- 
 rive at any satisfactory solution of the, difficulty. The cases have nearly all been very protracted, 
 varying in duration from one to four months, and presenting nearly the same series of morbid 
 phenomena. 
 
 The post and hospital gardens contain about three acres. Potatoes, onions, and cabbages are 
 raised in abundance for the supply of the small company at present forming the garrison. 
 
 Statement sJioiciny mean strength, number of nick, <ind principal dixeaxea at Fort Foote, Maryland, for 
 
 tlie years 18C8 and 18C9. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 gi 
 
 
 
 
 
 _: 
 
 h 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 1 "g 
 
 CJ 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 5 ^, 
 
 
 n 
 
 X 
 
 a 
 
 B *. 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 5 33 
 
 3 3 
 
 5 
 
 ' ~ 
 
 If 
 
 =. 
 
 1 
 
 'i 
 
 I 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 "3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 z 
 
 ~ 
 
 ~ 
 
 9 
 
 B 
 
 B 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 ^3 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 J 
 
 '& 
 
 
 P 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 115. 58 
 
 574 
 
 1 
 
 135 
 
 100 
 
 7 
 
 23 
 
 71 
 
 47 
 
 
 1869 . 
 
 78.16 
 
 364 
 
 
 99 
 
 u 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 24 
 
 32 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, ami pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. C. G. HA1TERSETT, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Washington, in latitude 38 41' north, longitude 76 58' west, stands on a high ridge, at 
 the confluence of the Piscataway Creek with the Potomac River, 14 miles below Washington City. 
 This ridge extends from Swan Creek, (a short, wide arm of the river, half a mile north of the post,) 
 nearly parallel with the river, and terminates in a narrow promontory below the fort. Behind is a 
 deep ravine, 300 feet wide at the top, with sides sloping precipitously about 80 feet, terminating in 
 a narrow plain about 100 feet wide ; this ravine opens on Piscataway Creek, a small portion of 
 which, near the creek, is marshy and covered with swamp willow. The ridge is composed of layers 
 of clay, sand, and marl, and many fossils are found in the vicinity of the marl beds which open on 
 the river bank. The sides of the ravine were formerly heavily timbered, but this was cut away 
 during the late war, and they are now covered by a thick undergrowth, principally chestnut and 
 locust. The river at this point is about 1,300 yards wide ; the channel, however, is not more than 
 500, and entirely on the fort or Maryland side of the river. The shore is gradually sloping, sandy, 
 and hard ; the Virginia side being flat and muddy, both sides covered in summer by the ordinary 
 river grass, which is exposed at low tide, the rise and fall of which is between live and six feet. 
 The shores of the creeks are muddy. 
 
 This site was early occupied as a military post, and the small work which formerly stood here, 
 near where the water battery now is,) known as Fort Warburton, was blown up in 1814, by 
 order of the officer in command, to prevent its probable capture by the English fleet. The present 
 structure, laid out in 1815, is an irregular bastioned fortification of stone and brick. The parade 
 of the main work is 115 feet above high-water mark. The entire government reservation contains 
 between 40 and 50 acres. 
 
70 UKSiUmTlOHS OF MILITAltY POSTS. 
 
 The buildings originally constructed an* one brick building designed as quarters for four 
 ollicers; ouo brick building tor barracks for one company, (both inside the fort,) and one brick 
 building outside the tori, intended as <|iiarters tor the commanding ollicer. All these arc* covered 
 with slalc, and though deficient in most of (he conveniences and appliances of modern architecture, 
 are substantial buildings. In the winter of ISII7- '(is, three small double collates, intended as oflicers' 
 quarters, and one large building tor barracks, all frame buildings, were, erected outside the fort, and 
 in the winter of lSti.S-'(!!l, one long frame building for laundresses, and a small house for the hos- 
 pital steward. The old, or brick barracks is in I ended to accommodate I id men. It has been recent I v 
 repaired, but is without means for proper ventilation, is two stories high, with pia/./.a facing the 
 nest. The upper stor.v is divided into two rooms for dormitories, the lower story has three rooms, 
 kitchen, mess room, and one sleeping room. The sleeping rooms a re titled with iron bedsteads, double 
 lockers, and gun racks. This building stands close to the eastern parapet, and the lower stor.v is 
 badly ventilated and always damp; the air space per man is .'!(>(! cubic feet. 
 
 The new or frame barracks is a two-story building, standing near the edge of I he ravine on the 
 eastern side of the reservation. The upper story, originally a single room, is now divided l>\ a tern 
 porary partition, near the middle, which, though deemed necessary in cold weather, materially 
 interferes with its free ventilation. A wide stairway, entering near tho middle from the outside, 
 and a ridge ventilator surmounting the building, render this the best ventilated room in the gar- 
 rison. It is intended to accommodate 100 men \\ ilh an allowance of KiO cubic feet of air per man. 
 The lower story is divided into kitchen, mess room, wash room, store room, and company ollices, all 
 badly ventilated. The walls and ceilings of this story are all plastered; of the upper story, only the 
 sides. From its position this building has every facility for thorough drainage. Two wide pia/./.as 
 extend the entire length of the building, front and rear, and being raised from the ground on brick 
 piers it could be easily made a model in point of drainage and ventilation, but it is badly constructed, 
 the southern! being propped up to keep it from falling in. It isalso titled with iron bedsteads, lock 
 ers. and gun -racks. The kitchens in both barracks are well furnished, have large and very tine 
 cooking stoves, and well selected mess furniture; they arc now artificially lighted by candles, and 
 heated by coal stoves, burning anthracite coal ; there is no provision for bath-room or reading room 
 in either. 
 
 The ollicers' quarters consist of one brick building inside the fort, intended for four ollicers, the 
 set at each end of the building consisting of two rooms and a basement kitchen; the others of sim- 
 ilar rooms, but without the kitchen. One brick building outside the fort, for the commanding ollicer, 
 has four rooms with a basement and attic. These buildings, as before stated, were constructed at 
 the same time a.s the main work. To accommodate the necessary ollicers, three small frame cottages, 
 each for two sets of ipiarters, have been erected. Two of these cottages (four sets of quarters) ha\e 
 two rooms and a small kitchen on the ground lloor, with low attic above : the oilier cot tage is smaller 
 and without the kitchen, (though rude basement kitchens have since been added by the ollicers.) 
 
 The divisiou to each cottage is a thin, plastered partition on the ground lloor, and an open frame 
 one Oil the attic lloor, that on the ground lloor having a door leading from one set of quarters to 
 the other. They are all badly constructed, of but partially seasoned lumber, and all leak. The 
 pri\.\ to the brick quarters is a vault, that to the frame or new quarters, a shallow pit. These are 
 a constant source of annoyance. With unsurpassed natural facilities for thorough drainage, but a 
 very moderate outlay would he required to lit bath rooms and water-closets to all the buildings* 
 and add greatly to the health of the post. No attention whatever has been paid to this matter. 
 although drain tile of good quality has been at the post for nearly a year. 
 
 Theonh arrangement fora guard house wasal the main sall.\ port, where there was one room, 
 with two cells attached, but this had to lie abandoned on account of its want of \entilation. A 
 casemate is now used for this purpose, but it is poorly ventilated and very damp: the old building 
 on the wharf, which was for a time used for this purpose, was abandoned. A guard-house is much 
 needed. 
 
 The present hospital building, erected in 1S<>;;, and intended for temporary use. isa frame build- 
 ing lirj b\ L'l feet, and l(i feet high, with a small kitchen connected with the main building by a 
 covered porch. It has two wards, separated by sliding doors, intended for eighteen beds, and 
 allow ing an air space of 950 cubic feet per man. This building is badly arranged, and has never 
 
FORT WASHINGTON, MAKYLAXI). 71 
 
 been entirely finished ; (lie rooms intended for a dispensary ;IIH| ollicc ;irc entirely too sinall, iind 
 I here is no phicc suitable lor a. store-room. There is a good cistern, with ;i fora 1 , pump in the 
 kitchen. The bath room has never been completed. The whole building being lined with hoards, 
 tongticd and grooved, it is found impossible to keep it free IVom the annoyance of bed-bugs. An 
 ellort, was made to h:i\ e it plastered, but this was unsuccessful. From its exposed position and 
 pool' construe! ion, it is impossible to keep it comfortably warm in cold \vcat her. It is 1 IN feet above 
 high water, ami the highest point on the reservation. The privy is some distance IVom the hos- 
 pital, and similar to those previously described. The hospital is well supplied with furniture and 
 appliances, obtained IVom the purveying depot in New York. Another site for the hospital must 
 soon be, selected, as the bank on which it: now stands is rapidly crumbling awav. 
 
 The. post bakery is in good order; it has a well constructed oven of the best pressed fire brick. 
 The water used is hauled IVom the river. 
 
 There is a small chapel on (lie east side of the reservation, intended also as a school-room, but 
 it is not used now, there being neither chaplain or teacher. 
 
 The stables are all in the waler battery, and are well constructed of brick. The otl'al, as well 
 as the slops IVom the entile post, arc daily removed by carts, and deposited on the bank of the 
 river, IVom whence they are removed by boals across the river. I'lach company has a small library, 
 and there is also a. post, librarv accessible at all times, but no furnished reading-room, the post 
 library being in tin' adjutant's ollice, ami that of each company in its respective compan.v ollice. 
 
 The water supply is entirely IVom cisterns, and, when these fail from dry weather, by hauling 
 IVom the river. The old cisterns (t hose inside I he fort and at the com ma ml ing ollicer's quarters) are 
 large, and have filters, while those attached to the new buildings are poor and have no filter. The 
 buildings occupied by the hospital steward and laundresses have no cistern. 
 
 In case of lire the limited supply of water in dry weather would result in much loss of property, 
 there being no means at the post to extinguish fire, except the small leather buckets issued lor that 
 
 purpose. 
 
 The drainage inside the fort is by large brick sewers, one from each building, running towards 
 the river, and opening near it ; but outside the fort the drainage is entirely superficial. 
 
 The ground formerly occupied as a burying ground is near the river, at the foot, of the hill; is 
 low and wet, and utterly unlit for the purpose, and steps should be taken with the least practicable 
 delay to secure some propel- place to be used for this purpose. A small piece of ground near the 
 chapel was intended to be so used, but this is separated only by a narrow road IVom the otlicers 
 ipiai'ters, the barracks at one side and the laundresses' quarters on the other. There is no suitable 
 place within the reservation. 
 
 The National Cemetery at Alexandria, Virginia, is accessible by boat twice, a dav, and it is be- 
 lieved would be better II any place ncarthe fort which could be purchased for the purpose. Two 
 
 burials have occurred here in two years, both in the old ground, and both graves, though not over 
 three feet deep, contained at least, half a. foot, of water. 
 
 There is no ground suitable tor a post garden; a small piece attached to eacli set of officers 
 i|iiarlers outside the fort is used as a garden by officers. 
 
 J hiring the summer the men are required to bathe in the river three! times a week, under the 
 Supervision of the olh'ccr of the das, but. no arrangement exists for this purpose during the winter. 
 
 .Milk, butter, eggs, poultry, and vegetables are procurable from the surrounding country. 
 
 Fort Washington has generally been considered an unhealthy post, owing to the prevalence 
 of malarial lexers, and several limes the garrison has been removed to some point on the opposite 
 side of the river during the sickly season, but for several years preceding the present, comparatively 
 few cases occurred here. During the present month, however, (August, 1S70,) nearly every man, 
 woman, and child remaining here has been attacked with either intermittent or remittent fever. 
 
 Fort Washington is easy of access, by both water and land, but the beauty as well as health of 
 the place has been sadly marred by the destruction of the shade trees. The entire place needs 
 thorough police and attention given to the proper venl ilaf ion of all the buildings. Where the 
 natural facilities for thorough police and drainage are, unsurpassed, both from position and the na- 
 ture of the soil, it is but poor economy to construct buildings or to keep men in conditions by which 
 all hygienic laws are set at defiance. 
 
72 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases at Fort Washington, Maryland, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 j 
 
 B 
 
 ft ^ 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $ 
 
 
 H 
 
 2 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 $ 53 
 
 .2 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 "-*-* 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 fi 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 -2 i 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 s -| 
 
 T3 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 g 
 
 
 cc 
 
 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 * 
 
 
 5 " 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 JH 
 
 5) 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 158 91 
 
 242 
 
 49 
 
 32 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 22 
 
 27 
 
 
 1869 
 
 122.33 
 
 324 
 
 52 
 
 44 
 
 
 31 
 
 19 
 
 56 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA. 
 
 REPORT OP SURGEON GEORGE E. COOPER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The military post of Fort Monroe, Virginia, is situated at the extremity of a level, sandy beach 
 which forms the southern end of tlie western shore of Chesapeake Bay, and is known to geographers 
 as Old Point Comfort. The geographical position of Old Point Comfort is 37 2" north, and 76 
 12' west of the meridian of Greenwich. The peninsula, on the extremity of which the fort is 
 erected, is surrounded almost entirely by water. The exception to this is a strip of beach some 400 
 yards wide, which runs to the north and looks eastward. Over this strip of beach, during heavy 
 easterly storms, with a full spring tide, the sea washes, rendering, at such times, the peninsula an 
 island. On the east, northeast, and southeast, are the waters of the Chesapeake Bay; on the south 
 and southwest are those of Hampton Roads, and on the north and northwest are those of Mill 
 Creek, which empties itself into and is fed from Hampton Roads. The connections with the main- 
 land are by the narrow strip of beach above referred to, and by a bridge over Mill Creek, approached 
 by an artificial causeway some half mile in length. The fort is built at the extremity of the penin- 
 sula, and commands the entrance to Hampton Roads, into which empty the waters of the James, 
 Elizabeth, and Nansemond Rivers. The waters on all sides of the fort are salt, augmented or di- 
 minished in intensity by the fresh water floods coming down the James River; though, at all times 
 and in all tides, they are highly saline. The country between the point of the peninsula and York 
 River, distant some twenty miles north, and thence across to the James, is cut up by numerous small 
 streams, which are more or less brackish, as the rains are profuse or scanty. These small streams 
 all communicate with the Chesapeake, Hampton Roads, or the James. The land upon which the 
 fort is built is some four feet above mean high-water mark. Salt marshes are on the north and north- 
 west of the fort, but these seem to have but little if any effect upon its sanitary condition. 
 
 The geological formation of the peninsula upon which the fort is built is ocean sand resting 
 upon marl-impregnated clay. Boring to the depth of 8.50 feet, within the inclosureof the fort, has 
 shown nothing but sand, lying upon marl-impregnated clay, with here and there small veins of 
 sharp bluish sand of fine grain, admirably adapted for polishing and grinding metals. The 
 country on the mainland is flat, and there are no hills within a radius of eight or ten miles. The 
 soil to the north of Mill Creek, which bounds the reservation in that direction, is aluminous and 
 quite productive, giving, under favorable circumstances, abundant yields of wheat, corn, oats, and 
 potatoes, as well as of all the market vegetables. There are few portions of the country more suit- 
 able than the vicinity of Fort Monroe for trucking farms. There are no rocks of any description 
 in the neighborhood. 
 
 The whole country to the north and northwest of the fort is underlaid by extensive beds of 
 marl, at depths varying from 20 to 50 feet. The water procurable on the mainland, from wells, is, 
 in consequence, quite unpalatable, and, to many persons, acts as a strong cathartic, while to others 
 it has the effect of causing discharges of bloody urine. All, previous to the war of secession, who 
 had the means, erected cisterns to collect the rain water for drinking purposes. 
 
FORT MONROE, VIRGIOTA. 73 
 
 The soil inside the fort, which incloses over 80 acres, is artificial, and lias been brought from 
 the mainland. By careful cultivation and an artificial supply of water during the dry seasons, 
 vegetables for kitchen use and flowers for ornament can be raised. But few natural products can 
 be seen. The dandelion, wo.rin seed, and wild garlic are met with on the slopes and ramparts, on 
 which all the soil is artificial. The live oak is found within the inclosure of the work, having been 
 undisturbed when the clearing was made to build the fort. 
 
 On the Chesapeake Bay bench, distant some 2,000 yard's to the north, are heavy sand hills, and 
 on and around these are found numerous live oaks, as well .as the southern pine. This is said to 
 be the most northern position in the United States at which the live oak is to be met with. 
 
 In the gardens of the fort are to be found numerous fig trees, which flourish exceedingly well, 
 though the fruit crop of them cannot be relied upon, as the late frosts of spring oftentimes destroy 
 them. The forests and woodlands in the neighborhood, on the mainland, furnish the varieties of 
 forest trees, bushes, and shrubs usually met with in the middle region of the United States, viz, 
 the several varieties of pine, white oak, red oak, black oak, Spanish oak, white and red hickory, 
 white and black gum, white and red ash, wild cherry, white maple, hackberry, red cedar, red and 
 black haw, white and black walnut, holly, chincapin, white and yellow poplar, beech, chestnut, 
 chestnut oak, locust, dogwood, white and red elm, tulip, poplar, papaw, red and paper mulberry, 
 slippery elm, sugar nut, sassafras, sycamore, persimmon, Lombardy poplar, bayberry, common 
 willow, butternut, crab apple, wild plum, linden, and birch. Among the shrubs may be noted the 
 following: Laurel, pokeberry, stramonium, alder, sarsaparilla, serpentaria, black snake root, plant- 
 ain, sheep mint, horse and garden mint, peppermint, Indian turnip, dog fennel, peppergrass, May 
 apple, partridge berry, liverwort, wild spice, nettle, dewberry, blackberry, 'gooseberry, hoarhouud, 
 life-everlasting, pennyroyal, horseradish, garlick, calamus, wormwood, boneset, wild cress, blood- 
 root, swamp lily, prickly' ash, ivy, boxwood, mullen, burdock, belladonna, yarrow, sage, balm, sumac. 
 Wild flowers of all kinds fill the woods; the most prevalent are the wild rose, yellow jasmine, and 
 honeysuckle. 
 
 The waters surrounding the fort are well stocked with fish, principally rock, sheephead, bay 
 mackerel, trout, white perch, sun, spot, hog, chub, green, flounders, moss-bunkers, and toad. 
 Porpoises are quite numerous, and white shark not scarce. Crabs, both hard and soft, are in 
 great quantities. Oysters cover the banks where the tide runs not too fast and the bottom is not 
 sand; they are the quality highest prized in all the markets. Those growing in Lynnhaven Bay 
 are by many considered to be the most delicious procurable in any part of the country. The 
 birds are those common to the water as well as to the land ; but with neither these nor 
 the animals am I sufficiently well acquainted to attempt the enumeration. In the immediate 
 vicinity of the fort only the tame kinds are to be met with. Gulls, apparently of many varieties, 
 are constantly flying over the water, but it is not in my power to distinguish, ornithologically, one 
 from the other. 
 
 The climate of Old Point Comfort is comparatively mild. The winters are open, and the ther- 
 mometer, except in extremely rare instances, does not fall below 12 F. The duration of the cold 
 periods seldom passes seventy-two hours, when the cold snaps give way and the mercury indicates 
 an increase of temperature. The cold is, however, felt more perceptibly- than in those regions 
 where it is continuous, and the system is far more susceptible to the influence of a decrease of 
 temperature than it is in the more northern latitudes. There is but little snow here, and that 
 which falls remains upon the ground but a few hours. 
 
 The summers are long and hot. The summer heat commences in the early part of May, and 
 continues until the latter part of September. During the months of June, July, and August the 
 heat is oppressive, and, were it not for the sea breeze, which commences to blow about 9 o'clock 
 in the morning, would be almost imendurable. Within the walls of the fort the heat is much 
 more oppressive than without them, as they serve to obstruct, in a great measure, the free range of 
 the breeze which may be blowing. When on the beach or anywhere outside the temperature inay 
 be quite pleasant, within the inclosnre the temperature will be most oppressive. At night, how- 
 ever, the reverse holds, as a damp, murky atmosphere arises from the ground, imparting a chilly 
 sensation, with a feeling of moisture, There is, at night, a difference of two or three degrees in 
 the temperature inside and outside the fort. 
 10 
 
74 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 During- the winter season, too, the temperature is lower within the walls, and the ground is 
 much damper than when it is exposed to the unrestrained influence of the winds and sun. The 
 mean annual temperature of 1867 was 58.19 F. The warmest day of the year was July 6, when the 
 mercury indicated 90 F. The coldest day was January 19, when the mercury, at 7 o'clock, a. in., 
 indicated 14 F. The mean annual temperature of 1868 was 58.30 F. The warmest day was 
 July 15, when the mercury indicated 92 F. The coldest day was December 25, when the mercury, 
 at 7 o'clock, a. m., indicated 19 F. The amount of rain which fell in 1867 was 64.26 inches. The 
 greatest monthly amount of rain during the year was in August, when 11.40 inches fell. The 
 amount of rain which fell in 1868 was 44.41 inches. The greatest monthly amount of rain in 1868 
 was in July, when G.94 inches fell. The barometer ranges from 29.25 inches to 30.60 inches, which 
 are the extremes reached here, as indicated by the record of four years. 
 
 For the last three years the opening of spring has been much later than it was wont to be in 
 previous years, and vegetation has not fairly commenced till late in April, though prior to April 
 there were warm periods sufficiently long to cause a budding and incipient blossoming of the fruit 
 trees, which were subsequently blighted by severe frosts. 
 
 The prevailing winds of spring and summer are southeast and southwest; those of fall and 
 winter, east, northeast, and northwest. The easterly winds are the most severe in February and 
 March, and with them come diseases of the throat and lungs to both adults and infants. With 
 the latter croup is most common in February and early March, when the winds, chilled by the 
 icebergs on the banks, continue blowing from the northeast for several successive days. 
 
 The fort is a massive work built of granite, surrounded by a moat filled with water, which is 
 fed by a tide-gate opening into Mill Creek. The depth of water in the moat is 8 feet. Bridges, 
 five in number, crossing the moat, furnish the means of entrance into the fort. The officers and 
 men composing the garrison are quartered within the walls of the work. 
 
 The quarters for officers are, respectively, brick buildings, frame buildings, and casemates. The 
 brick buildings are large, roomy, and well ventilated, though badly arranged for household con- 
 veniences. They all have basement stories, which are really iiutenable, in consequence of their 
 excessive humidity, caused, principally, by large fresh-water cisterns being built in contact with 
 one of the walls, one side of which they form. In the winter time this excessive dampness is over- 
 come by the large fires kept in the basements. During the summer time all articles kept in the 
 basement stories are soon covered with a greenish white mold. The same objection, as far as 
 humidity is concerned, is applicable to the casemates. They are very damp and poorly ventilated. 
 Even in the warmest days of summer it is necessary to have large fires in them to overcome the 
 humidity and render them tenable. The use of them as dwellings is very conducive to rheumatic 
 affections, as well as to diseases of the pulmonary organs. Persons suffering from intermittent 
 fevers find that it is almost impossible to have them broke7i up as long as they reside in the case- 
 mates, without having them dried by constant fires. 
 
 The quarters for the enlisted men are temporary frame structures erected on the northern side 
 of the parade ground. The buildings are seven in number, each 120 feet long by 25 feet wide. 
 The houses are built some 40 feet distant from each other. Fifteen feet of the length of the build- 
 ings is made use of for the rooms of the first sergeants, and of that in which the company records 
 are kept. These buildings are not as well adapted for the purpose they are intended as they might 
 be; they are not sufficiently roomy, nor are they built of the proper material, being made of green, 
 unseasoned lumber. Kitchens of the same materials are built to the rear of each set of company 
 quarters, and are separated from them by a street some 25 feet in width. 
 
 The company quarters are one-story structures, raised from the ground 5 feet, and rest on 
 piles. The ventilation is by means of windows and doors, as well as by ventilating orifices in the 
 ceiling, which can be opened or closed as are shutters. These orifices connect with roof ventilators. 
 The air space for each man is 251 cubic feet. In consequence of the shrinking of the green lumber 
 and the opening of the joints, there is more than a sufficiency of fresh air admitted. 
 
 In the winter time there is great difficulty experienced in keeping the quarters sufficiently 
 warm, notwithstanding that two large 18-inch cylinder stoves are kept burning, night and day, to 
 their utmost capacity, being attended, as they are, by the room orderlies. There is no equability 
 of temperature in the different parts of the room. Near to the stoves the heat is too oppressive, 
 and distant from them the cold is much too perceptible. There is all the light that could be 
 
FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA. 75 
 
 required. It is admitted through the glass windows, of which there are even more than are neces 
 sary for that purpose. The men sleep iu the main room of the company quarters, the same which 
 is occupied by them during the day, and in which, too, are kept their boxes, extra clothing, appa- 
 ratus for cleaning arms, accoutrements, &c. The bunks used in the company quarters are similar 
 to those which were made for the hospital department during the war, being iron frames with 
 wooden slats. The bunks are furnished two to three men, and are covered with bed-sacks tilled 
 with straw, which is replaced by fresh at least once in each month, or oftener, if required. The 
 troops have a sufficiency of blankets and covering. The accommodations furnished the soldiery to 
 assist them in the way of personal cleanliness are very scarce and of the most limited character. 
 The company wash-rooms are, by far, too contracted, being but 12 by 5 feet in dimensions, and are 
 built to the outside of the company kitchens. 
 
 Tilt-re is not a sufficiency of fresh water for general use, and there are no means of washing the 
 whole person afforded the men, save during the summer time, when salt-water bathing can be 
 indulged in. The greater part of the command do not wash their whole persons from November 
 till June. During the cold weather the troops have no means of cleansing their persons except by 
 small wash-basins. A bath-house attached to each company quarters, with the means of heating 
 water during the winter, would be a great desideratum in a sanitary point of view. With the 
 exception of small shelves at the head of the bunks, a few benches, and two or three large tables, 
 there is no furniture in the company quarters. The company kitchens are rather contracted iu 
 size, but answer the purpose quite well. The cooking apparatus is all that could be desired. To 
 each company kitchen a large-sized range has been furnished, and by means of it cooking of the 
 finest kiud can be done for even a greater number of men than a full company. The police of the 
 company quarters is very good, as, too, is that of the kitchens and all the buildings attached. The 
 company mess-rooms, which are 24 by 24 feet, are all too contracted for the accommodation of a 
 full company. 
 
 The quarters of the married soldiery and laundresses are badly built and worse arranged. 
 They are two-story buildings of battened frame, with porches on the south sides, by means of 
 which porches access to the second story is gained by stairs running from the lower to the upper 
 porch, and by no other way. Each family has a set of two rooms, one opening on to the porch, 
 and connecting by a door with each other. They are miserably ventilated; indeed, no provision 
 for this seems to have been made or considered in the construction. 
 
 The buildings for married soldiery and laundresses are two in number, and in each of these 
 are fourteen sets of quarters, seven on the lower and seven on the upper floor. The quarters on 
 the upper floor are, in the summer time, rendered almost uninhabitable, in consequence of the 
 pipes from the cooking stoves on the lower floor coming up through the ceiling and floor of the 
 second stories. There are fourteen stoves, doing the cooking of the same number of families, in a 
 frame building 87 feet long by 30 feet deep. These quarters were constructed partly of green 
 lumber and partly of old lumber taken from the laundresses' quarters, which were torn down in 
 18G7. The green, yellow-pine, lumber, in drying and shrinking, has, to all intents, opened the rooms 
 adjoining to each other; for the joints of the ceilings and partition walls have so much opened 
 as to allow what occurs iu one room to be seen in the next set of quarters. The quarters arc 
 built most disadvantageously in case of fire; for, should it occur in the lower story, there would 
 be but little chance of escape for those occupying the upper one, the only stairs being those 
 joining the porches, and there is no fire-escape. The use of the lumber taken from the buildings 
 torn down in the erection of the new ones has served to fill them with vermin. Roaches, chinches, 
 and bugs are endless and most annoying. 
 
 To partially isolate a case of contagious disease, or an infectious one, in these quarters, is a 
 matter of impossibility, and to have even a moderate share of quiet is impracticable. Should 
 any disease, contagious or infectious iu its nature, make its appearance in these buildings, it 
 will go through the whole of them as if it were a single room. 
 
 There are no regular storehouses iu the fort. Unoccupied casemates are made use of to store 
 supplies, as they are to store the immense supply of powder and fixed ammunition collected here 
 at the close of the war, and which the regularly built magazines will not accommodate. 
 
 The stables for public horses are some quarter of a mile distant from the fort, on the road 
 
76 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 leading to the Mill Creek bridge. They are kept in excellent order, and are as cleanly as care and 
 labor can make them. Near to the stables are the storehouses of the quartermaster's depot, 
 large frame buildings, containing supplies collected at the closing of the war. 
 
 Inside of the fort there are no sinks, in the general acceptation of the term. Officers residing 
 in the casemates make use of the officers' commode in the flagstaff bastion, which is now a series 
 of six earth-closets, which are admirably adapted for the purpose, and fulfill every indication 
 required of them. They are a great improvement on the copper tank on wheels. The families in 
 the casemates who have not furnished themselves with earth commodes are necessitated to make 
 use of chamber utensils, and to throw their contents into the waters of the moat. The water- 
 closets of officers not residing in casemates are furnished with small boxes, which are removed at 
 different periods, longer or shorter, according to the heat of the weather, and are sprinkled with 
 crude lime, or its chloride, at the option of the men who have charge of them. The same arrange- 
 ment exists in the hospital yard, with the exception of the use of the disinfectant, which is regu- 
 lated by order of the surgeon on duty. 
 
 The sinks for the men are large copper tanks, mounted on wheels, which are run under the 
 closets, and changed every twenty-four hours, summer and winter. They are used only during the 
 night by the men, whose main sink is at the north side of the fort, outside of the work, and covers 
 a portion of Mill Creek below low-water mark. The night-soil tanks are drawn out of the fort 
 and emptied into the Roads to the northwest of the work, and the filth is carried off by the tide, 
 sooner or later. At times, during midsummer, the excrement is not carried off sufficiently promptly 
 to prevent it from giving off unpleasant smells, perceptible to persons passing in the vicinity; but 
 I know of no injurious effect having been produced by it. 
 
 There is no drainage or sewerage. The rains, when heavy, collect on the parade ground, and 
 there remain till soaked up by the soil or evaporated by the sun. 
 
 The fuel furnished for use is coal and wood anthracite, oak and pine. The component parts of 
 the ration furnished the troops are, with the exception of the fresh beef, excellent. The beef is not of 
 good quality, but seems to be that of the poorer class of cattle. I cannot see why all the rations of the 
 soldier except the beef should be of the best quality in the market, and it not. It is of as great import- 
 ance as any other component part, and oftentimes the most important. The contracts, as a general 
 thing, do not call for a first-class article, or, if they do, it is taken at so low a rate as to be patent 
 to every one that it cannot be filled without considerable loss to the furnishers. The truth is, that 
 the best quality of beef is not issued to the troops, and no complaint is made, because all feel 
 confident that as good an article is being furnished as the price paid by the terms of the contract 
 will justify. When circumstances are such as to prevent the furnishing of a first-class article of 
 beef it can be endured in silence, but at Fort Monroe there is really no difficulty. A living price 
 will procure as good an article here as it will in any part of the country. 
 
 The markets of Baltimore are but twelve hours' distant, with daily water communication, and 
 from them all the vessels of war in the Roads are supplied, as are the marines in the Norfolk 
 navy yard. 
 
 The troops are supplied with vegetables and other articles needed by means of their company 
 fund. As a general thing, the troops are well fed, and with, too, a sufficient variety of food to 
 keep them healthy and in good condition. 
 
 There are neither company nor post gardens belonging to the fort, consequently everything not 
 issued by the subsistence department must be procured by purchase. Fish and oysters are 
 abundant in season, and are to be purchased at reasonable rates. Did the companies own seines, the 
 men could cateh more fish than they could possibly make use of; as it is, they, by means of hooks 
 and lines, procure quite a number, and thus are enabled to change their diet at will. 
 
 The general police of the garrison is excellent, and is all that could be wished for. Each morning 
 the police party is sent in every part of the fort to clean iij>all that may be found out of order 
 and admirably well they do it. The only exception to this tine condition of police is met within 
 that part of the garrison known as Carroll Hall, a large building in which are the quarters of 
 many of the younger officers, as well as the library and museum of the artillery school. This 
 building, interiorly, is not kept in as cleanly a condition as it should be. It being the business of 
 each and every person therein quartered to see the place kept in good police, it becomes, in conse- 
 
FOKT MONKOE, VIRGINIA. 77 
 
 queace, the business of no one in particular. The result is that nothing in the way of keeping it 
 clean is done, and the staircases and halls grow day by day more dirty, till the general police party 
 are compelled to clean up that which should be done by the officers' servants. Were it not for the 
 general police party going now and then to Carroll Hall, it would, by its accumulated dirt in the 
 halls and on the staircases, become a disgrace to the garrison. 
 
 The guard-houses of the fort are situated to the right and left of the main entrance, and are rase 
 mates appropriated for that purpose. The prison -rooms are badly ventilated, if the name of ven- 
 tilation can be applied to air entering and scarcely issuing from an apartment. The prison-rooms 
 are two, and to one of these is attached a cell-room for solitary confinement. The main prison- 
 room includes both the casemated room and the gun-room, is 44 feet long, and 17 feet wide ; has a 
 large door and two large windows in front, and an embrasure in the rear. Both the windows and 
 the embrasure are shielded by immovable blinds, which prevent the ingress of sunlight and inter- 
 fere greatly with the wind, which otherwise would more freely enter the prison-room. The only 
 ventilation to this room, which oftentimes has from twenty to forty men confined in it, is furnished 
 through the small embrasure, not more than 3 by 4 feet wide, and which, too, is greatly interfered 
 with by the crossed bars built into it, and by the screen outside. Into this prison-room sunlight 
 scarcely ever enters, and never warms. During the Avinter the room is heated by stoves, which 
 keep it comparatively dry and comfortably warm. In the summer time, however, it is always damp, 
 and the water condenses in large drops on the walls and trickles thence to the floor. The prison- 
 rooms are well floored, and they are made as tenable as circumstances will permit of, but at night, 
 when the doors are closed, it is unendurable in consequence of the very imperfect ventilation. The 
 smaller of the prison-rooms is worse, in point of ventilation, than the larger, as it has not even the 
 embrasure to allow a current of air to pass through. The cells are much worse, in a sanitary point 
 of view, than either of the prison-rooms. They are contracted, ill ventilated, never warmed, and 
 the light of the sun never enters them. They are always cold, damp, most disagreeable, and really 
 unfit to confine men in. 
 
 The hospital building is near to the main entrance of the fort and faces the parade ground. It 
 is a structure of three stories with garrets, which are used as store-rooms for bedding, and as a small 
 ward for isolating contagious diseases. On the front of the building, on the first and second stories, 
 there is a large porch much used by the convalescents. There seems to have been no particular re- 
 gard paid in its construction to either ventilation or convenience. The wards, four in number, are 
 large airy rooms in the second and third stories of the building, measuring 23 T 7 5 feet by 24 r 9 7 feet, 
 and accommodating in each ten beds. The ventilation of the wards is afforded by a door opening 
 into a spacious hall and by four windows, the sash of which raise and lower from above and below, 
 The wards are heated by stoves burning anthracite coal, and are kept most comfortably warm by 
 them during the coldest days of winter. The first floor of the building is occupied as a dispensary, 
 steward's room, and two small store-rooms, which are much too contracted to accommodate the sup- 
 plies requiring storage. 
 
 The hospital kitchen and mess-room are in a small brick building in the hospital yard, immedi- 
 ately to the west of the main building. This is sufficiently large, and is well adapted to the pur- 
 pose. It has a second story which is used as a dormitory for the cook, and as a store-room for 
 kitchen utensils. Attached to the hospital, in the yard, is a frame building, which was erected 
 during the war of secession, and is now used as quarters for the hospital matron. 
 
 The hospital building answers its purpose quite well, and is objectionable most on account of 
 the difficulty experienced in carrying severely injured persons to the wards, which are in the upper 
 stories, and approachable only by means of the staircase, which has a middle landing, interfering much 
 with their being carried from the ground-floor up. 
 
 There are no grounds proper belonging to the hospital; but being built as it is, facing the 
 parade, there would really be no benefit to be derived from having it other than it is in this respect. 
 The hospital is deficient in most of the modern conveniences. There is no operating room, no post- 
 mortem room, no wash-room, no bath-room. There is, it is true, a tub in an old frame building in 
 the yard, but it is but a makeshift for want of a more suitable and convenient arrangement. The 
 water-closets attached to the hospital are in the yard. They are open boxes, which are removed 
 every day or every second day, according to the heated condition of the atmosphere. They answer 
 
78 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the purpose as well as anything, save earth-closets, could. By the free use of commercial carbolic 
 acid as a disinfectant they are kept entirely free from all disagreeable smell, and a person can stand 
 within a yard's distance from the boxes, and were it not for the smell of carbolic acid, be unconscious 
 of it, nor would he be aware of his proximity to the water-closets were the fact not pointed out to 
 him. The close stools used in the wards are earth commodes, and they are infinitely superior to 
 anything of the kind ever before furnished for the purpose. It is impossible to discover the slight 
 est disagreeable smell arising from them, no matter how freely they may be used. 
 
 The water used for drinking purposes, as well as tor cooking in the hospital, is procured from 
 the large cistern attached to it. The rooting of the building being of slate furnishes perfectly pure 
 water, and it isa.s good as can l>e procured anywhere. The taste is unexceptionable, but it does not 
 quench thirst as does good spring water running through sandstone rocks. In the warmer season 
 of the year, more of the rain-water is required for drinking purposes thau would be, were it slightly 
 impregnated with some of the earthy salts. It is generally believed by persons residing in this 
 country that those who use rain-water for drinking are not as subject to malarial fevers as are those 
 who are in the habit of having the water they drink furnished by wells or springs. How much of 
 truth there maybe in this 1 cannot tell, but as it is the general accepted credence, there must be 
 some foundation for it. The water used in the garrison is either rain water or that produced by 
 condensation from sea-water. There is in the fort a large condensing apparatus, and much of the 
 water used by the troops for drinking and culinary purposes is thus procured. Water, too, is col- 
 lected from the roofs of the barracks and carried to cisterns, which is used for drinking. This is 
 somewhat unpalatable in consequence of having run over the shingles, and when warm it is some- 
 what nauseating. The condensed water is very disagreeable to most palates, and produces, when 
 first used, considerable irritation of the intestinal canal, which, however, passes away in the course 
 of a few days. There is an attempt being made to procure suitable water for supplying the fort by 
 boring. So far this has not been successful. 
 
 Unfortunately, there is no garden attached to the hospital, and all vegetables which could with 
 a garden be cultivated free of expense must now be purchased by the hospital fund, which 
 depending as it does on the severe cases under treatment in hospital, is here seldom more than is, 
 absolutely needed for necessaries, leaving but little margin for the purchase of luxuries. 
 
 The disease of the post is fever, generally of a malarial type, though typhoid, and even pure 
 typhus, present themselves for treatment. Eruptive fevers are by no means common, and rarely, 
 when brought here, do they show a tendency to spread or become epidemic. Twice in four years 
 has scarlatina been brought into the garrison, but at neither time did it extend beyond the house 
 in which the patients were being treated. The only exception to this being the daughter of the 
 physician in attendance, who was attacked by a sharp fever, followed by a rash similar in all respects 
 to that of scarlatina, but of so mild a type as to cause considerable doubts as to the certainty of 
 the diagnosis. Measles of a malignant type, brought from Norfolk, and destroying the life of the 
 person introducing it, changed to an apparently modified disease, which, in some cases, did not 
 infect an unprotected child sleeping in the same bed. So mild is the disease here that, in many 
 cases, the surgeon is not informed of, or called upon to treat, it. This shows that the parents have 
 but little fear of it, or look upon it as of little consequence. Erysipelas has shown itself several 
 times since 1865, at one time of a very severe type, and most contagious, but always yielding more 
 or less readily to treatment; but in each and every ease requiring the administration of the salts 
 of quinine ere any effect could be made upon the disease by the adjuvant remedies, which are 
 regarded by practitioners as appropriate to the treatment of it. There was an evident tendency to 
 periodicity in the fever attending all the eases of erysipelas. At certain similar times in the twenty-four 
 hours the pulse indicated an increased number of beats, the color of the eruption 1 lecame more intense, 
 and there was a well-marked increase in the temperature of the body. This same condition of things 
 had by the writer been observed in the sporadic erysipelas occurring in the southern part of the Ter- 
 ritory of New Mexico, which, if not met by prompt medication, was quite fatal, and there, too, it 
 was found that quinine was the remedy most to be relied upon and absolutely necessary to eradi- 
 cate the disease. 
 
 Prior to the war of secession there was but little if any malarial disease, originating at Old Point 
 Comfort proper, met w ith, and Fort Monroe was regarded as one of the few places in the tide-water 
 region of Virginia exempt from its influence. So highly was its sanitary condition regarded that 
 
FORT MOKROE, VIRGINIA. 79 
 
 it became emphatically the great watering place of the Southern States. Pleasure seekers, iu 
 great numbers, congregated here during the summer months to enjoy the salt-water bathing, and 
 many invalids who had been suffering from the effects of malarial cachexia, came to Old Point 
 Comfort to recuperate their health by the tonic sea breezes, and, at the same time, remove them- 
 selves from the depressing influences of the fever poison to which, at their homes, they had been 
 subjected. Now, however, the sanitary status has changed, and malarial disease is quite common 
 here. There is no doubt whatever of its being contracted not only on the Point, but within 
 the wall s of the fort. Formerly the few cases of malarial fever reported occurred in men who had 
 been on picket guard at Mill Creek bridge, or in those who, going on leave, would get drunk and, 
 sleeping out during the night, expose themselves to the malarial exhalations on the mainland. 
 To what this great change may be attributable is not certain. Two hypotheses are, with claims of 
 reason, advanced. Before the war occurred, the lands under cultivation were well drained and 
 well cared for. They had been worked for a long time, and could not be regarded as fresh soil, 
 the upturning of which is always productive of malarial disease in the Southern States; much of 
 the country, too, was covered with virgin forests of pine, oak, and hickory, extending from a short 
 distance north and west of Mill Creek, to Back River, thus intercepting, to a great extent, the 
 winds impregnated with malarial exhalations which came from over the swamp lands in its vicin- 
 ity. This Back River is the receptacle of the waters of the many small streams and creeks which 
 head in the swamp lands, and find their way through it into Chesapeake Bay at a distance of 
 about a league to the north of the fort. The lands proximate to these creeks are swampy for the 
 greater part; the waters upon them being only brackish. These swamps, when the tides are low 
 and the rains heavy, as is often the case in late summer and early autumn, become stagnant fresh- 
 water marshes, and furnish all the material necessary for the production of southern autumnal 
 fevers. On the banks of, and in all the country near to Hack River, malarial fevers have full sway 
 during the greater portion of the year, and in the autumn, when not promptly and skillfully treated, 
 are very destructive to life, as in many cases they assume the malignant type here called conges- 
 tive-remittent, corresponding to the disease so admirably described by Professor George B. Wood, 
 in his work on the Practice of Medicine, under the name of pernicious fever. There has been no 
 case of this type of disease at Fort Monroe in 18CG-'G7-'6S, or '69, though several have occurred 
 immediately over Mill Creek, a distance of no more than a mile from the fort. 
 
 During the war the greater part of the forests to the northwest of the fort was cut down, thus 
 giving free scope to the winds blowing over the marshes of Back River. Much, too, of the virgin 
 land formerly covered by forest has been turned up for cultivation. The cultivated land, too, which 
 was lying fallow during the five years of the war, is once more being worked, poorly it is true, for 
 the drains are all tilled np or choked, and the owners, wanting as they are in labor or the means 
 of procuring it, cannot put them in proper order. The result of this want of proper drainage is 
 that the rains collect upon the low lands, to be removed only by solar evaporation. 
 
 Immediately to the north of Mill Creek many large excavations have been made for the pur- 
 pose of procuring soil with which to erect military works and repair defective ones. These large 
 holes, never yet filled up, collect the rain water in considerable quantities, and form ponds, which, 
 exposed to the hot sun of summer, furnish fruitful sources of malarial poison. 
 
 The, other hypothesis and I regard it as the correct one as far as the production of malarial 
 disease inside the fort is concerned is " that large quantities of clay and soil have been brought into 
 and around the fort for the purpose of repairing and filling up the roads inside and outside of the 
 same, as well as for repairing portions of the work." This clay and soil were procured at and brought 
 from the western side of Mill Creek, in the locality where malarial fevers are most common. Prior 
 to the spreading of this clay upon the roads there were few if any fevers of a malarial type origin- 
 ating in the fort, but in a very short time afterward they presented themselves for medical 
 treatment. Previous to this the young children who went not outside of the walls in the nigh t 
 or in the early morning, did not suffer from malarial disease, but since then children who seldom 
 go outside the fort, and never off the Point, are attacked with both remittent and intermittent 
 fever. In addition to fevers of a malarial origin, diarrhu'as and dysenteries are frequently met 
 with, caused either by irritating ingesta or showing symptoms and complications of malarial disease; 
 indeed, there is scarcely any disease of importance presented for treatment which does not in its course 
 give indications of malarial complications, and which, too, does not require for its treatment anti- 
 
80 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 periodics of some kind or other. In early summer, which is generally hot and humid, there is much 
 derangement of the hepatic secretions, at times excessive, producing severe diarrhoeas ; at others 
 diminished, running oftentimes into jaundice. These conditions, if not promptly relieved, seem to 
 be but the precursors of remittent fever, more or less severe, which is often warded off, in cases of 
 torpidity, by a moderate dose of a mercurial combined with podophyllin and a cathartic, and in 
 cases of excessive secretions by a large dose of calomel combined with an opiate. But neither of 
 these articles, as a general rule, has any permanent effect unless followed by Peruvian bark, or 
 some of its preparations, till cinchonism is produced. In cases of continued torpidity of the liver, 
 no combination has been found more efficacious at this post than a combination of quinine, extract 
 of taraxacum, podophyllin and leptandrin. In the course of four years, there has been but one case 
 of acute hepatitis. This occured in an attache of the army, who was a good liver and a very free 
 drinker. Enlargement of the spleen is but seldom met with among the troops, and when met with 
 could always be traced to intermittent fever, from which the patient had suffered at some other 
 place. It yields very easily to a combination of quinine and iodide of iron, aided oftentimes by 
 muriate of ammonia. The diarrhoeas met with, when not complicated with malarial disease, yield 
 readily to astringents following a mild cathartic. Seldom or never do they, when contracted here, 
 degenerate into a chronic condition. The only cases of that disease which have required treatment 
 were the results of typho-malarial fever; fortunately but little of that type of disease has come 
 under observation here. I do not remember a case of severe dysentery not caused by irritating 
 ingesta, treated here during the four last years, which was not malarious in its origin, and which 
 did not require the salts of quinine or some preparation of cinchona to be administered ere other 
 remedies had any perceptible effect. Scarcely, indeed, was any other remedy required. 
 
 Of epidemic cholera there has been but one case since 1865. This case was fatal. Cholera 
 infantum is common, and is often of a severe type. The second summer of a child's life is here 
 looked upon by mothers with much anxious fear, and with great reason, too, for with it comes sick- 
 ness to the children and consequent care and trouble to themselves. Until the summer of 1869, 
 there was no disease which gave the medical officers on duty here more trouble and anxiety, or 
 was treated with less satisfactory results. There was no disease in which the mortality was 
 greater, or if the little sufferers did not die, they remained puny or debilitated until the deciduous 
 teeth were through, or cold weather came to their aid. At that time there appeared in the New 
 York Medical Record a paper on the treatment of cholera iufantum by bromide of potassium. 
 The treatment proposed and recommended by Dr. Salvatore Caro, of New York, the author of the 
 monogram, was carefully carried out with the greatest success. I know not how it has acted in 
 other portions of-the country, but at Fort Monroe it has done all claimed for it by Dr. Caro in 
 the treatment of cholera iufantum ; and, as far as the experience of two summers goes, both in the 
 practice of the medical officers here and in that of Dr. Townsend, of Norfolk, Virginia, the bromide 
 of potassium is looked upon as certain in its effects as is quinine in malarial disease, and as equally 
 prompt in its action. Since the remedy has been used for cholera infantum, there has been no 
 trouble of any account experienced, and then only in consequence of the ignorance and stupidity 
 of the parents, who could not be prevailed upon to follow the directions given them. 
 
 During the latter part of the autumn and in the winter pulmonary diseases are very common- 
 catarrh, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleuropneumonia. Pleuritis has not been met with save 
 in connection with pneumonia. The cases of pneumonia were all of the asthenic type, and would 
 bear but little depletion. With one or two exceptions they have been complicated with malarial 
 diseases, presenting all the characteristics of the disease so common in the Southwest, and there 
 known as winter fever. Here, as there, the only remedy which can be relied upon for its treat- 
 ment is quinine in large doses. Nothing else has any effect upon it nor has it, if not given 
 promptly and to the fullest extent of the sedative influence of the drug. There is much leucorrhoea 
 among the females in the garrison, and it is of a very intractable kind, too. Remedies serve only 
 to check it or diminish the discharge, which generally returns on their discontinuance. This 
 peculiarity is caused, I believe, by the relaxing tendency of the humid atmosphere upon the mucous 
 membranes. The amount, too, of the menstrual discharge is, I learn from some of the females, 
 much greater than they are subject to at other and less humid places at a distance from the sea. 
 There is a general belief here, true or false as it may be, that conception occurs more promptly than 
 
FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA. gl 
 
 at most other places. I know not if there be any real foundation for such a credence, but many 
 cases are cited of women who were regarded as barren conceiving shortly after their coming to 
 Fort Monroe or Hampton, which is some two miles distant. Be this as it may, the number of 
 small children met with, in and round the fort, would cause one to believe that no obstacle to 
 conception was often met with. 
 
 Rheumatic affections are often met with, though they are not so numerous as might be antici- 
 pated from the locality of the fort and the habits of the soldiery. When, however, they do show 
 themselves, and are not dependent upon syphilitic or malaiial diseases for their origin, they are 
 intractable, and the treatment is both tedious and unsatisfactory. 
 
 Venereal disease is very common at the post, and the type varies from the mildest to the 
 most malignant. The prostitutes in the neighborhood of the fort, who are negresses of the most 
 debased and filthy kind, and white women even worse than they, are rotten to the core. The 
 venereal disease contracted from them is almost as virulent as snake poison, and, in the end, is little 
 if any less destructive, of human life. In many of the cases of true chancre presented, an endeavor 
 to treat them without using any mercurial preparation has been made. In not one case, however, 
 of unmistakably true indurated chancre, has satisfactory success followed the non-mercurial mode 
 of medication, and it was found absolutely necessary to have recourse to mercury before the disease 
 could be conquered. There is one class of chancre met with here, fortunately but seldom, which 
 is, without exception, the most difficult to treat of all presented. For want of a more expressive 
 name it has been designated the "glazed chancre." This name has been given to it from the 
 peculiar appearance it presents, which is that of skin denuded of the cuticle by vesication, which 
 is then exposed to the action of the atmosphere for two or three hours, and then covered with the 
 finest varnish. It has, too, much the look of the outer edge of a malignant pustule when the 
 detached skjn can be raised up and the glazed fiery surface beneath exposed. This chancre is not 
 dugout; its edges are regular; there is little inflammation of the surrounding tissues, and not- 
 near as much induration as is met with in an Hunterian chancre. It is rather indolent and spreads 
 but slowly, even when not counteracted by medical treatment. The prominently distinctive mark 
 of this chancre is the smooth and glazed surface it presents, the enlargement of the inguinal 
 glands almost synchronously with the development of the chancrous sore, and the appearance of 
 syphilitic rupia in about three weeks time subsequent to it. liupia, and no other syphilitic erup- 
 tion, has shown itself as a consecutive symptom in each and every case treated, which was con- 
 quered only after a long and most careful medication. This peculiar form of chancre was never 
 met with by the writer except in New Mexico, until it showed itself here, which occurred shortly 
 after the arrival of a company of the Third Artillery, which had been stationed in that Territory, 
 and which, in all probability, brought the disease which I have endeavored to descril>e with it. 
 
 Gonorrhoaas are numerous, and quite difficult to treat. Under the most careful medicatioli 
 the results, both as regards the length of time required and the permanency of the cure, are un- 
 satisfactory. Whether this be owing to special malignancy in the disease here, to a peculiarity 
 of the climate causing similar results to those met with in leucorrhcea, or to the unsettled life of 
 the soldiery, it is impossible, with -any degree of certainty, to determine. The frequency of mas- 
 turbation among the troops interferes, in a great measure, with the medical treatment, as many 
 cases apparently cured have broken out anew from the local irritation consequent upon this cause. 
 Experiments have been faithfully and most carefully made to test the relative merits of nitrate of 
 silver, sulphate of copper, sulphate of zinc, chloride of zinc, subnitrate of bismuth, permanganate 
 of potash, carbolic acid, corrosive sublimate, and a number of other remedies recommended by 
 different writers on the subject, as injections in the treatment of gonorrhea, without being able 
 to fix upon any one as .being pre-eminently the most efficacious. The decision arrived at is that 
 alternations between sulphate, of zinc, permanganate of potash, and carbolic acid -give perhaps 
 better results, in most cases, than any other method of treatment. Almost if not as good results 
 have resulted from frequent injections of cold water once in every half hour as from the most com- 
 plicated medication. Internal remedies, used more from the force of habit than from the expecta 
 tiou of decided results, have given but little satisfaction. Of all these prescribed none seemed to 
 have as much effect as a combination of balsam copaiba and the etherial oil of cubebs. From what 
 I have seen at tins-post I would be inclined to think that there is less tendency to the formation 
 11 
 
82 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of uretlir.il stricture by the use of permanganate of potash than by any of the irritating injections 
 employed for the cure of gonorrhoea. 
 
 Child-bearing at Old Point Comfort seems to be a more easily performed female function than 
 it is in many other places. During the past four years, out of nearly one hundred and fifty children 
 born, there have been but two cases of death consequent upon their delivery, and in not one case 
 did the mothers die. Two of the infants were still-born, in consequence of long-continued pressure on 
 the cord in breech presentation. There has been but one case of puerperal convulsions; no dan- 
 gerously severe floodings; no puerperal peritonitis; aud not a case even of mammary abscess. One 
 peculiarity attending the lying-in condition here is the almost universal appearance, about the seventh 
 day after delivery, of a severe chill, which is the first symptom of a remittent fever which then develops 
 itself. With this fever comes considerable tenderness of the abdomen, severe pain in the uterus, 
 with somewhat t>f assimilation to child-bed fever; but both pain, tenderness, and febrile excitement 
 yield promptly to free doses of quinine. I have observed no tendency to flooding, but a more than 
 usual inclination to quick and permanent contraction of the uterus immediately after delivery of 
 the placenta. Were it not that the irritation set up by child-bearing develops the malarial poison, 
 the attending physician, in a case of labor, would have little to do except to ligate the cord and 
 see to the proper delivery of the secundines. The physicians practicing in the adjacent counties 
 inform me that easy and uncomplicated labor is the characteristic of this whole region of country. 
 The employment of an educated physician as accoucher is the exception, and illiterate negresses 
 perform that duty as they did before the war. I can learn of but two cases of instrumental labor 
 occurring in this neighborhood since 18C5. 
 
 Fortunately, but few serious injuries requiring surgical treatment have occurred at the post 
 since the close of the war, though for the greater part of the time the command has numbered 
 near 500 men, exclusive of the employes. In all the uncomplicated flesh wounds the healing pro- 
 cess has gone on rapidly, and with as much regularity as in the most healthy stations of the 
 country. 
 
 I cannot close the medical portion of this report without referring to the. beneficial effect of 
 serpentaria as a remedy in the convalescence of malarial fevers and in malarial cachexia, when 
 combined with some one of the preparations of iron. In all cases of convalescence from remittent 
 fevers it has been my custom to administer serpentaria, in some form or other, with much benefit to 
 the patient. The relapses so common in the disease, when exposed to the morbific influences after 
 convalescence, appear to be warded off, and the pale and clay-like face soon changes to the ruddy 
 complexion of health. In the case of one of the government pilots, now residing in as sickly a 
 district as can be found in Nansemond County, where quinine, too, is wont to be taken as part of 
 the morning meal, who had suffered greatly from malarial fevers and whose health was absolutely 
 broken down, the exhibition of the infusion of serpentaria in full doses, morning and night, has 
 changed his whole appearance. From being a pale and cachectic-looking man, he is now one of the 
 most robust and healthy-looking who come upon the Point. The same, too, is, he states, the con- 
 dition of his whole family, to whom he gives serpeutaria, sick or well; while his neighbors, who do 
 not use the remedy as a prophylactic, are constantly suffering from malarial fevers, and are, in 
 consequence, almost incapacitated from performing the duties incident to their stations. 
 
 The cemetery of the post is situated to the west of the ridge of sand-hills to the north of the 
 Point. It has been used for many years as the garrison cemetery, and in the early part of the war 
 was used to inter such as died at the Hygeia hospital. The capacity of the cemetery, if all used, 
 would be at least for ten or fifteen thousand graves. Many of the bodies there interred have, 
 since the war, been removed to Hampton National Cemetery, which is about two miles from Fort 
 Monroe. 
 
FOHT MACON, NOKTH CAROLINA ! 
 
 83 
 
 Statement slowing the mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Monroe, Virginia, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 18C9. 
 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 1 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 fl 
 
 Q 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 t 
 
 ? 
 
 '. 
 
 ;T 
 
 . 
 
 i 
 
 X 
 
 Years. 
 
 = 
 1 
 
 f 
 
 5 * 
 
 1 
 
 ff 
 
 i 
 
 'S 
 
 7. 
 
 ^ * 
 "^ * 
 
 1 
 
 
 % 
 
 
 X 
 
 i = 
 
 "^ 
 
 i 
 
 
 .i c 
 
 ** 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 o ^ 
 
 ~ 
 
 M 
 E 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 Q 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 9 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 t c 
 
 1868 
 
 480 33 
 
 1,445 
 
 211 
 
 262 
 
 39 
 
 135 
 
 49 
 
 4 278 
 
 4 
 
 1869 . 
 
 477. 
 
 976 
 
 152 
 
 140 
 
 28 
 
 103 
 
 
 4 1 15 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT MACON, NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON ELLIOTT COUES, UNITED STATES ARMY, DATED JUNE 30, 1870. 
 
 Fort Macon is situated iu latitude 34 4' north, longitude 76 40' west from Greenwich. It 
 occupies the eastern extremity of Borden or Bogue Island, commanding Beaufort Harbor, one of 
 the southern outlets of Pamlico Sound. The town of Beaufort lies about two miles ofi', a little east 
 of north, across the harbor. Morehead City, at the same distance wostwardh , is the terminus of 
 the Atlantic and North Carolina railroad. Fort Johnston, some 80 miles distant, is the nearest 
 military post. 
 
 The island is a mere sand bar, lying nearly due east and west, separated from the mainland 
 by a narrow, shallow sound, (Bogue Sound.) It is 26 miles long, with an average width of less 
 than a mile. The sea front is a gently undulating beach, Hanked by extensive sand-hills, which 
 slope gradually to a low, flat marsh on the sound side, a narrow strip of comparatively fertile soil 
 intervening. The sand-hills are constantly shifting, and the marsh is mostly overflowed at high 
 tide. Part of the island is wooded, but the eastern extremity is treeless for several miles. The 
 neighboring island of Shackleford has the same general character; the adjoining mainland is low, 
 and consists chiefly of sandy tracts, pine barrens, and swamps. Beaufort Harbor is shallow, 
 and obstructed by numerous extensive shoals; the channel, navigable for vessels of ordinary ton- 
 nage, is narrow and tortuous; it sweeps around the point of the island close to the fort. The 
 deepest soundings, for some miles, do not exceed eight fathoms; the average in the main channel 
 is only about half as much ; the bottom is mostly sandy, often shelly, occasionally clayey and 
 muddy in the shallowest places. Vessels reach the wharf at the railroad terminus, but only those 
 of lightest draught go to Beaufort. The bottom, as well as the coast line, is subject to constant 
 change, and hydrographic surveys can be relied upon, in detail, for only comparatively short 
 periods. 
 
 This locality is in the midst of the auriferous region which extends from Long Island to North 
 Florida. There are no rocks whatever in the vicinity, except those that have been brought hither. 
 The beach consists of pure sand mixed with shelly detritus. 
 
 It is evident, from the foregoing considerations, that the foundations of the fort are to be 
 looked upon with some suspicion, and that in engineering operations the unstable nature of the 
 ground should be held in view. A useful lesson may be learned from the fact that the site of Fort 
 Hamilton is now indicated by a line of breakers, nearly a mile oft'. The present fort has been in 
 imminent danger from the encroachment of the sea, the water having reached to the base of the 
 glacis. It was preserved by a system of stone jetties, by means of which the beach was carried 
 some 200 yards or more away from the fort. Although they have thus far answered their design, 
 the fort must still be regarded as in an exposed and precarious condition. The channel, as already 
 stated, sweeps rapidly close in shore around the point of the island, with constant erosive action. 
 The trend of the laud lays it open to the prevailing and the most violent winds. The open sea 
 beats directly upon the beach, and the sand-hills are always shifting. As long as the fort is not 
 
84 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 defended by extensive and permanent masonry, care should be taken to disturb the surface as little 
 as possible, since every formed or forming sand-hill is something of a natural protection. The more 
 grass and weeds are allowed to grow about the fort the better, as they help to bind down the sand. 
 Any gully that might be formed by the rain, or other cause, in the glacis, would enlarge indefi- 
 nitely, and be difficult to remedy. 
 
 Since 1830 the fort has been only garrisoned at intervals. It was abandoned in 1849, and at 
 the beginning of the late war was in charge of an ordnance sergeant. It was taken possession of 
 by the "confederates" April 12, 18G1, and held by them until its recapture April 25,1862. The 
 rebel officer in command having refused to capitulate, the fort was bombarded by batteries located 
 900 yards down the island among the sand-hills, and surrendered after an engagement of five hours' 
 duration. The loss of life was trifling, but the fort was much damaged by shells. The more neces- 
 sary repairs have been made since its recapture. The fort has been continuously garrisoned of 
 late y< ars. 
 
 The reservation comprises about a mile of the end of the island; the limits are at present indi- 
 cated by a few stakes standing here and there in the mnd of the marsh, of which the whole con- 
 sists, with the exception of the sandy sea-front above mentioned. 
 
 Of the geological formation and mineral products of the vicinity I have no information of 
 consequence to otter. As may be judged from what has been said, the soil is generally poor. Most 
 of the land is unreclaimed, and probably is unreclaimable, without more trouble and expense than 
 such crops as could be raised would repay. The products of the pine are perhaps of more import- 
 ance, in an economic point of view, than those of agriculture proper. Among the latter may be 
 mentioned cotton, which is cultivated to some extent, with an annual export from Beaufort and 
 Morehead of perhaps !,()!)() bales. Sweet potatoes, peanuts, various kitchen vegetables, &c., are 
 raised, but the vicinity of Fort Macou will never be noted as an agricultural region. 
 
 The latest authority (Rev. M. A. Curtis) on the flora of the State enumerates 1,873 phrenoga- 
 mous plants, exclusive of cultivated species, of which 147 are naturalized, the rest indigenous, 
 and 2,444 cryptogamia, of which over 100 are edible fungi. The State is divided, by the same 
 author, into three botanical districts the upper, middle, and lower. Fort Macon is situated in 
 the last of these. Wanting space for a general list of the plants found here, I append a few notes 
 upon some of the species that are interesting or important, chiefly in an economic or medical 
 point of view. 
 
 A common species of crowfoot (Ranunculus sceleratm) is so acrid as to be vesicant. The may- 
 apple, whence the well-known podophyllin is extracted, occurs. Two species of pitcher plant 
 (Sarracenia purpurea and S.JJava) are common in theswamps; the first-named is noted in connection 
 with variola, but its remedial efficacy probably remains questionable. Two species of Papaver are 
 cultivated, but rather for ornament than use; both are escaping and becoming naturalized. 
 Among the ('rucifera are several important agricultural products, e. g. three species of Bmssica, 
 (kale, turnips, and cabbage,) radishes, (Raphanus taticHx,) two varieties, and mustard, (Sinapis 
 nir/ra,) the latter frequently escaping into neighboring waste places, while the same order furnishes 
 some of the most characteristic weeds upon the fort. The Violacecc are reputed emeto-cathartic; 
 one species ( V. cucullata) is extremely abundant. The troublesome weed (Hypericum perfoUtttwn) 
 is making its appearance in cultivated fields. Curtis gives it from the middle district only. A 
 larger number (about twelve species) of Caryopln/llacecc arc among the most abundant weeds of 
 the sandy soil. Kosteletxl-ya Virginica is the characteristic indigenous mallow of the salt marsh. 
 Several other species are highly ornamental in cultivation, and one, cotton, is a staple product. 
 The beautiful Chiua tree (Melia azedaracli) is established, and a fine shade. There is but one 
 species of Oxalis, (0. stricta ;) it is agreeably acid to the taste, but if taken freely produces 
 unpleasant sensations in the fauces and stomach. The cultivated rue (Ruta graveolens) is a reputed 
 remedy for fits, of but highly doubtful efficacy. Another plant of the same order, the prickly 
 ash, (Xantho.ryUtm CnroUiiianiun,) is an abundant and characteristic indigenous shrub, or small 
 tree; the leaves are full of a highly aero-aromatic oil, and are used as a cataplasm in neuralgia 
 a7id toothache. Its close-set habit, prickly branches, and easy growth adapt it for hedges. The 
 Vitaceas furnish three important indigenous species the summer, fox, and muscadine grape, of 
 which the two last are cultivated. Experiments now making in wine producing from the scupper- 
 
FOKT MACON,. NORTH CAROLINA. 85 
 
 nung, a variety of V. milpina, seem to promise good results. Anacardiacece are chiefly represented 
 by several poisonous species of Elms. The only representative of the Sapindacece is the JiSculus 
 pavia; au almost universal superstition accredits the, fruit with remedial agency in hemorrhoids. 
 The Leguminoscc afford numerous and highly important products; besides the common peas and 
 beans which are much grown, the peanut (Arachis liypogace) is a common and favorite esculent 
 Several kinds of clover afford pasturage; of the last named, one, Tnfolium procumbent, is an 
 important turf in holding together the loose soil of the glacis. Besides its ornamental members, 
 the order Rosacece gives us, among indigenous species, at least two species of blackberry, (Rulus 
 villosus and E. trimalis.) In the gardens, strawberries are abundant and finely flavored, though 
 never large, and in the orchards, apples, pears, peaches, and plums. Little attention, however, 
 is paid to those fruits, and I have seen none but the most ordinary qualities. The prickly pear 
 (Opuntia vulgarin) is an abundant and indigenous species; its fruit may be held edible, but it is 
 small, and not to be compared to the rich, juicy timas of our Southwestern Territories. The 
 Cucurbitacece flourish vigorously in the sandy soil; watermelons, cucumbers^ canteloupes, and 
 summer squashes are all abundant, and of excellent quality. The gourd, (Lagenaria vulgaris,) 
 useful for domestic utensils, has become naturalized. Umbellifercc furnish the well-known and 
 violently poisonous Cicuta maculitta, which is abundant in low moist ground, and in the gardens, 
 carrots, parsnips, celery, and parsley, none of which, however, are much cultivated. There are 
 few indigenous Caprifoliacece, of which the alder and Shawnee haw ( Viburnum nudum) are the 
 characteristic representatives, but several others are highly ornamental in cultivation. Of the 
 madder family, Galiiim trifidum, here an abundant species, is said to yield red dye. The Spigelia 
 Marilandica, a well-known anthelmintic, is rare. Of the great number of Composite?, compara- 
 tively few are of consequence; among them may be mentioned boneset, to which the very 
 abundant MiJcania scandens is probably allied in properties as well as botanical characters. Tansy 
 (Tanacetum vulgare) is a common emmenagogue in domestic practice species of Artemisia, 
 Anthemis, and Matricaria parthenium are used as a tea. Mayweed is much too common about 
 waste places, as may be said of the cocklebttrs. The yarrow, white weed, two everlastings, "sow 
 thistle, an aster, (near A. miser?) thistle, golden rod, the sea oxeye and groundsel are all common 
 and characteristic species; the last, an introduced species, is extremely abundant about the fort. 
 
 I do not find mentioned by Curtis Lactuca sativa, (lettuce.) It is the chief agricultural product of 
 the order. I should not omit to add that Chaptalia tomentosa, our only representative of the com- 
 posite sub-order Labiataflora', is common here. Of the heaths, the huckleberry, ( Vaccinium corymbo- 
 sum,) and probably another species, is the only plant of economic consequence, though several 
 others are extremely abundant and highly ornamental. All are indigenous. Among the holly worts, 
 the Yaupon, (Ilex cassine,) a plentiful shrub, furnishes a drink often used by the lower classes as a 
 substitute for tea. The persimmon is common; so is the rosemary in the salt marshes; its roots 
 are reputed powerfully astringent. Seroplmlariacece furnish numerous species, none, however, of 
 special consequence, though the leaves of Verbascum thapsus are frequently used as a cataplasm. 
 The Verbcniacew are mainly the ornamental cultivated varieties. The indigenous Labiates are not 
 specially noticeable in this connection, but numerous naturalized or Cultivated species, as of 
 Mcnthce salria, marrubium, ocymmn, lavandula, origanum, nepeta, leonurus, &c., are more or less 
 useful for their well-known aromatic and carminative properties. 
 
 Of Convolvulacea; the sweet potato (Batatus edulis) is one of the most important products. An 
 indigenous jalap (Ipomcea sagittate) is very abundant in the marshes. Nearly all the Solanacece 
 are important, tomatoes and potatoes the most so; of the latter many are rateed, but they 
 do not keep in this climate, and shortly after the season is over nearly all those we use are im- 
 ported. Tobacco is not a staple here. Two species of Solarium are very commofl, 8. Carolinense, an 
 indigenous, troublesome, prickly plant, and 8. nigntm, poisonous. Other familiar representatives are 
 Datura stramonium, NicandrapJiysaloides,an([ Physalis lanceolnta. Capsicum is cultivated. I have 
 seen no belladonna or hyoscyamus. Sabbatia stellar is is the characteristic gentian, (salt marshes.) 
 Asdepias variegata, one of the principal silk weeds. Phytolacca decandra is abundant. Among the 
 Chenopodiacew are numerous highly characteristic species of the sea-shore or salt marshes, such as 
 samphire (Salicornia herbacece) and saltw r ort (Salnola kali) and others. Lambs' quarters, (Chenopo- 
 ditim alburn^) possible to be used as a pot-h.erb ? and C, anthelminticum^ a well known vermifuge, are 
 
86 DESCRIPTIONS OP . MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 common weeds. The beet is much cultivated. Buckwheat is not much cultivated: I find it occa- 
 sionally spontaneous about the^.fort. Several species of Polygon-urn and Rumex crispus and B. 
 ticctosella are abundant. Amori'g the spurgeworts, Croton maritium is the characteristic species of 
 the sand-hills. Eiqriiorbia maculata is very common, as is also Cliidoscolus sthmdosm. I have not 
 noticed the castor-oil plant in cultivation. Cannablnacete are represented by the hop, (Humulus 
 //>/*;) the artocarps chiefly by the Otaheite mulberry, (Broussonetia papyri/era,} a thoroughly 
 naturalized and very valuable shade tree, and the fig, (Ficus carica,) which flourishes vigorously in 
 the open air, and is much cultivated. Important shade trees of the neighboring orders are the 
 sycamore and elm. Walnuts are not common. Among oaksTfRe live (Quercus virens) is the most 
 noticeable'species, though several others occur. It grows here vigorously. Of the Myricacea, the 
 wax myrtle (Myrica eerifera) is very abundant about the marsh". The birches furnish the common 
 alder, ^Alnufs serrulata,) and the willows, 8lijc humili-s, besides the introduced Salix Babylonica, 
 together with'-' its curious curly variety. The products of the pine, tar, turpentine, and resin, are 
 ''among the most iiiportant resources of the State in a commercial point of view. Other Coniferce, 
 / /l /f f \ as the rod cedar, the white, and the cypress, afford valuable woods. 
 
 Among endogens the sea wrack (Zostera marina) grows abundantly in shallow parts of the 
 harbor; Typlia latifolia and Saggitaria in stagnant water. The orchids furnish numerous ornamental 
 species, all indigenous. The Spanish moss (TiUandria usneoides) festoons the trees of the swamps. It 
 is held, with good reason, to be an infallible index of miasmata. The irids are represented by several 
 flags, and the abundant Sisyrinchium Bermudianum. Of several species of Smilax, 8. tamnoides is 
 probably the most common. Besides the numerous Liliacece that are cultivated for ornament, the 
 inrdigenous^TMCca gloriosa is a common and splendid species. The introduced garlic (AHium vineale) 
 i,s abunilant. It imparts a disagreeable flavor to the milk of the cows, which eat it with the grass. 
 The onion is commonly cultivated ; asparagus (A. officinale) less frequently. The marshes give place 
 to several species otjuncus, and the sandy soil about the fort to a pretty commelyna. 
 
 It is impossible, within our limits, to speak duly of the various important cereals that the Glum- 
 lfer\ afford, or to mention even the principal of the numerous species of Cyperacew and Graminea. 
 I will oiily refer to two of the latter. In August and September the sea-side oat ( Uniola paniculata) 
 hides the nakedness of the sand-hills, to which it is confined, with a luxuriant growth, causing 
 them to resemble a field of the cultivated cereal. The saudspur (Cenchrus tribuloides) grows in 
 profusion everywhere about the fort and is our most annoying plant; the bur-like involucres beset 
 with acute spines, which ripen Jate in summer and in early fall, are for a time attached, but subse- 
 quently fall and are scattered over the ground. The burs adhere to whatever touches them, and 
 the minute barbs, which resemble, in their effects at least, the fine bristles of the Opuutiw, inflict 
 a painful woiuid, liable to fester, especially when, as often happens, they are broken off in the skin. 
 
 Fort Macon is a locality of unusual interest to the zoologist, its marine invertebrates, famed in 
 particular, being very rich and varied. Want of space, however, prevents my presenting the copious 
 lists which have been prepared in various departments. In the following paragraphs I mention 
 , only a few species that are of consequence in an economic or sanitary point of view. 
 
 None of our many radiates present anything for consideration in this connection. Among 
 Mollusca several species contribute largely to our support; foremost among them the oyster, 
 which is abundant, cheap, and of excellent quality. It should be added, that those grown in too 
 shallow water exposed to the air at low tides, (Raccoon oysters,) are unfit for food and have even 
 proved at times decidedly injurious. The Quahog clams and one or two other species of the same 
 genus are plefltiful, and afford good food. The scollop is also much used; the muscle is the only- 
 part that is eaten. J}he conchs (Basifcon carica) and two other species are eatable, but are scarcely 
 used except by tip lowest classes. The muscle (Modiola plicatula) would only be used in the 
 absence of anytJMg preferable. These are the only species noticeable in this connection, out of 
 about 125 spijffs of marine shells that I have personally determined. Articulates furnish a few 
 noticeable species. The lobster does not occur so fiir south, but two species of crabs are very 
 abundant and excellent articles of food. Most of the crabs are efficient scavengers; but two 
 species, the sand (Ocypodc arenaria) and fiddlers, (Gelanmus minax and G.pugnax,) deserve special 
 mention in this regard. The former polices the sea beach, and the latter the marsh. Both are 
 extremely numerous. Shrimps of one or two species are found, but they are scarcely eaten. Of 
 the Decapod crwtacecc about 40 species are enumerated by recent authority. 
 
FOET MACON, NOETH CAEOLINA. 87 
 
 The insects of the locality that have any special relations with man are chiefly those affecting 
 him injuriously. Various species of wood-ticks (Ixodes) abound ; while indoors the Cimex lectularius, 
 Pulex irritans, and a species of Blatta, are only too common. Plithirim pubis is the characteristic 
 representative of the parasites. The garrison, probably, is never free from its infestation. The 
 prevalence of southwest winds free us in part from the mosquitoes, but these and a sand midge are 
 often annoying pests in summer. The waters give employment and support to a large part of the 
 population and furnish important additions to the army ration. A dozen or more of small or 
 medium-sized fish may always be taken at the wharf, and fishing for these is the chief amuse- 
 ment of the troops. Of larger fish the "sheephead," two species of drum, and the sea trout, are 
 abundant in season and easily secured. Blue fish are abundant late in summer, and trolling 
 for them furnishes the most agreeable and healthful exercise that is had here. The most im- 
 portant fishing, however, in a commercial point of view, is undoubtedly that of the mullet, (Muyil,) 
 vast shoals of which make their appearance late in the fall. They are only taken in the seine. 
 Of useless or hurtful fish may be mentioned the various species of rays, or stingers, as they are 
 called. The wound from the spine of the tail is tedious, painful, and even dangerous. Sharks of 
 different species, including the hammerhead, (Zyganea malleus,) are sufficiently large and nu. 
 merous to require the exercise of some caution in bathing. Like the rest of the Carolina coasts 
 this locality is noted as a habitat of the somewhat celebrated devil fish, (Ceratoptera vampyrus,) 
 which must not, however, be confounded with any of the smaller species of Raiidce that commonly 
 receive the same name. Eeptiles furnish only two species of economic consequence. These'arethe 
 loggerhead turtle (Chclonia midas) and the terrapin, (Malacoclemys palustris,) both of which are ex- 
 cellent for the table. Of venomous reptiles 1 have noticed but two the rattlesnake and copper- 
 head; both are common in swampy wooded places. The island itself seems singularly destitute of 
 batrachia, though several occur in the mainland. I have noticed four species of harmless snakes 
 and three of harmless lizards about the fort. One of the latter, the glass snake, is the most 
 abundant and characteristic reptile of the island. The alligator is a frequent inhabitant of the 
 swamps in the vicinity. Out of over 200 species of birds that I record from the locality, several 
 species are of special economic importance. With the exception of the quail, which is abundant 
 on the mainland, though shunning the barren island, these belong, as was to have been antici- 
 pated, to the waders and swimmers. The first named furnish (chiefly in spring and fall during the 
 migration) curlew, plover, various kinds of snipe, and sand birds and rail. All these are abundant, 
 and may be procured with little trouble. In November, and during the winter, water fowl throng 
 the harbor. They are represented by two or three kinds of geese and a dozen or more of ducks, as 
 mallard, teal, widgeon, red-heads, and raft ducks-, but the most abundant water fowl, the fishing 
 duck, (Merjus serrator,) is hardly eatable. The various pelagic birds that enter the harbor are 
 rather interesting in their scientific aspects than important from our present standpoint. In a 
 sanitary point of view there are three species of decided consequence : the turkey buzzard, fish 
 crow, and herring gull, which effectually remove the garbage that is carried out of the fort. 
 
 The list of indigenous mammals is comparatively small. Deer (Cervus Virginianus) occur in 
 numbers in the vicinity, and venison is sometimes as cheap as beef. They are said to reside on the 
 wooded portion of the island itself as well as on the main land. A hare (Lepus palustrix) is the most 
 abundant and characteristic mammal of the island. The opossum is common. Among fur-bearing 
 animals may be mentioned the gray fox, mink, otter, and raccoon. Our noxious species are 
 confined to the rat and mouse, naturalized species that have permanent foothold about the fort. 
 
 There are no springs upon the island, and the pools, &c., are all more or less subject to the 
 tides ; all the water is brackish and most of it somewhat hard. It may be procured anywhere by 
 siuking a barrel or two. I do not, however, indorse the current opinion that it is sea water filtered 
 through the sand. 
 
 The mean temperature may be estimated at near GO Fahrenheit. The extremes are not great, 
 owing in winter to low latitude, comparatively speaking, and the scarcely appreciable elevation above 
 sea level, and in summer to the almost constant southwest sea breeze. Occasionally a film of 
 ice forms, and there are usually one or two slight snow falls during the winter. We are, how- 
 ever, subject to sudden and decided changes of temperature. The humidity of the atmosphere 
 is usually great, and the dew point correspondingly high. At most seasons articles of dress, 
 books, the solid extracts, &c., rapidly gather mold, and instruments must be constantly cleaned. 
 
88 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The prevailing winds are between south and west ; these usually blow with great violence during 
 most of February, March, and April, and are subject to sudden shiftings. One effect of the shifting 
 to the northward, in summer at least, is the wafting of malaria from the swamps of the mainland, 
 for the salt marsh itself is uot, I am satisfied, appreciably miasmatic. The seasons are of the aver- 
 age length for the latitude; but in January a week or more of almost summer weather is liable to 
 occur to the prejudice of fruit trees by forcing the budding. 
 
 The fort stands on the eastern extremity of the reservation at from 250 to 400 yards from the 
 (present) watermark, but very high tides flood the level shingle nearly to the foot of the glacis. 
 The glacis has a long and gradual slope on the sea front, but is short and abrupt on the sound side. 
 The bottom of the ditch is just about at high-water mark. During unusually high tides it is flooded 
 a foot or more in depth by water that enters from the marsh through a culvert into a drain running 
 under the glacis. The parade wall, of brick, incloses an irregularly pentagonal area of about half 
 an acre. The parade is about 3 feet above the level of the ditch ; its longest diagonal is 183 feet, 
 the shortest 100 feet. 
 
 There are no barracks at the post; with the exception of a few married soldiers the troops are 
 quartered in the casemates, a part of which have been furnished with iron-grated doors and win- 
 dows to further fit them for prison cells, for which they are in other respects well adapted ; all are 
 of solid masonry throughout, plastered and ceiled overhead, and with board flooring laid over the 
 brickwork. They are nearly of the usual tunnel shape, with low perpendicular walls and arched 
 ceilings; they measure 38 by 18 feet in superficial area, by 15 feet to the ridge; they are warmed 
 by au open fire place, lighted in the rear by embrasures and port-holes, and in front by a door and 
 window of ordinary dimensions, opening directly into the parade; ventilation is further provided 
 for by two chimney-like openings in the ridge. There are twenty-four casemates of this descrip- 
 tion, six of which are used as men's quarters, five as officers' quarters, two respectively as prison 
 cells, company mess-rooms, company offices, and store-rooms for quartermaster and commissary 
 property, one respectively as adjutant's office, ordnance store-room, guard-house, bakery, and 
 kitchen. The triangular spaces left between contiguous casemates at three of the five angles of 
 the fort are partly used as magazines and partly as cook-rooms, a brick wall separating them into 
 two compartments. With the usual garrison of two companies the men are overcrowded ; the 
 dimensions of the casemates afford only 10,200 cubic feet, without taking into consideration the 
 arch of the ceiling by which, with the cumbrous wooden bunks, boxes of clothing, &c., the capacity 
 is further diminished materially. With 20 men in each casemate there have never been fewer and 
 sometimes more the airspace per man is only about 500 cubic feet. It may be said that the case- 
 mates will only accommodate 10 or 12 men, with due regard to hygiene, and even when not crowded 
 cannot be considered as eligible quarters. In spite of the several openings above mentioned, the 
 ventilation is defective. When the doors and windows are closed it is insufficient, as is readily per- 
 ceived on entering a casemate at midnight; when open, there is generally a strong draught of air 
 directly through from one end to the other. One of these conditions produces morning languor 
 and depression, the other exposes the men to taking cold, and no gentle, equable renewal of the 
 atmosphere is practicable. Most of the casemates are, moreover, extremely damp ; in one of them, 
 at least, a defect in the conduit leading to a cistern causes constant trickling of water down the 
 walls. Although the sick report does not show the result of these unhealthy conditions in au 
 unusual number of men actually unfit for duty, an injurious effect is perceptible in lowering the 
 general standard of health. 
 
 Suitable barracks remain an especial desideratum, and in case of an epidemic it would proba- 
 bly be necessary to evacuate the fort. 
 
 The men sleep in wooden bunks, each holding four persons. The bedding is sufficient and of 
 good quality. There are no bath or wash-rooms the men wash under a shed in the ditch at the 
 postern gate. The kitchens are cramped in space, but otherwise eligible. The two mess-rooms 
 answer every purpose and are supplied with proper fixtures. There are no water-closets. A large 
 and well-constructed sink is located on the edge of the marsh, within high water-mark, so that the 
 excreta are constantly carried away by the tide. The general prisoners are confined in two case- 
 mates ; their mess and other arrangements are the same as those of the men, except that they have 
 no bunks. 
 
FOHT MACON, NOKTH CAROLINA. 89 
 
 The married soldiers occupy six small wooden buildings scattered irregularly about the fort; 
 these are of the most wretched description ; they were mere sheds to begin with, and are now going 
 to pieces; they all leak, and afford but little protection from the weather, although assiduously 
 patched up with odd bits of boards and pieces of canvas. Nor is there a sufficiency of even such 
 quarters as these ; in some instances different families are crowded together in a manner that 
 almost violates decency. 
 
 Three cottages have recently been erected for officers' quarters, and a fourth is now being built. 
 They are of wood, one story, and finished with more regard to economy than for the comfort of the 
 inmates. Each contains four rooms of inadequate dimensions, two on either side, separated by a 
 central passage, and two small kitchens in the rear. The division into sets of quarters becomes a 
 matter of mutual disaccommodation when more than one family occupies the same house. The 
 rooms are warmed by open fires, and inconveniently ventilated by the cracks in the doors, windows, 
 and floors. The quarters are supplied with water by the prisoners, who bring it from the wells and 
 place it in barrels at the back doors. There are no water-closets or bath rooms. Junior officers 
 occupy casemates within the forts. 
 
 The use of certain casemates as offices and store-rooms has been already mentioned. Besides 
 these, half of a large wooden building, situated where was once a wharf, before this was washed 
 away by the tide through lack of timely repair, is used as a quartermaster's storehouse. A recently 
 constructed railroad connects this building with the fort, and affords ea^y transportation by means 
 of a hand-car. One of the casemates, opening in the covered way leading to the sally-port, is 
 used as a guard-house; of its unfttness for the purpose there is no question. The garrison prisoners 
 are confined within, when not at work, but the guard generally occupies the covered way outside. 
 
 The hospital is a disgrace to the service. A flimsy wooden building was removed in sections 
 from Morehead City some time near the close of the war, and put up here as a hospital. It is radi- 
 cally defective in plan, rudely built, and now so much out of repair that it is liable to be blown 
 down by one of the storms that sometimes prevail here. It is situated about 250 yards southwest 
 from the fort. The building was hastily erected upon a sand-hill, without adequate support; the 
 foundations have given away in all directions, and the building has settled unevenly in the sand ; 
 the flooring presents a rolling surface, gaping here and there, the walls bulge outward and the roof 
 sags inward ; none of the doors or windows can be closed tightly, the former have broken locks 
 and hinges, or none at all; many of the window lights are unglazed, the wind and rain are freely 
 admitted through openings in the roof and walls; the interior woodwork, as that of the partition, 
 &c., is of one thickness of undressed plank, warped and bent ; there is not a straight line about 
 the building. The adaptation of the building for hospital purposes is on a par with its present 
 state of repair. The building is T-shaped; one ward of ample dimensions (54 by 22 by 10 feet) 
 occupies the whole stem. It will accommodate 12 patients, with an airspace of nearly 1,000 cubic 
 feet per man. The cross bar affords four small rooms; an inconveniently narrow passage leads 
 into the ward from the front. On either hand is a small room, 9f by 8J feet in superficial area; one is ' 
 used as surgeons' office the other as dispensary. The larger rooms, (1C.J by 14 feet,) at the extremities 
 of the cross-bar, are used as steward's room and store-room; the former has been rendered inhabit- 
 able by assiduous repair, but the stores in the latter require to be protected from the rain by gutta- 
 percha cloths. The wash-room is merely a corner of the ward partitioned off. The door leading 
 to the porch has been nailed up, as the latter has gone to pieces since the plan was drawn; the 
 veranda in front will snortly follow. The kitchen is a rough shed (12 by 8 feet,) detached in the 
 rear. Until recently the privy was a rough box (5 by 4 by 5 feet,) with no door. There is no mat- 
 ron's or attendant's room, mess-room, bath-room, water-closet, or dead-house. There are no special 
 arrangements for ventilation. The ward is heated by a stove. No possible repairs will fit the build- 
 ing for hospital purposes. The absolute and pressing necessity for a new hospital is obvious. It 
 is a severely Unfavorable reflection that this state of things has endured so long after the more 
 than one inspection by-proper authorities, and repeated communications from different medical offi- 
 cers. * There is no laundry, chapel, or school-house. One of the casemates is used as a post bakery, 
 and may be said to have thus far answered such purpose in an unsatisfactory manner. 
 
 * The erection of a new hospital on the plan given in Circular No. 4, dated Surgeon General's Office, April 27, 1867, 
 has been ordered, and proposals have been invited by the quartermaster's department for its construction. 
 12 
 
90 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The post library consists of about two hundred volumes, representing a few valuable standard 
 works, much light reading, and a number of school-books, (the latter unworn ;) these are piled up 
 in a corner of the hospital steward's room. 
 
 Drinking-water is obtained from two wells, situated at the end of the glacis ; it is daily dis- 
 tributed in barrels by the prisoners. Within the fort are four cisterns that collect the water from 
 the inner parapet. This water is only used for washing. There is no distribution of water from 
 the cisterns. 
 
 Fire-buckets are kept in constant readiness, but there is no other apparatus for extinguishing 
 fires. When the hospital took fire last fall from a defective flue, it was saved, except the roof, by 
 the individual exertions of the men in bringing water in buckets from the neighboring marsh. 
 
 The porosity of the soil and the slope of the glacis render the natural drainage unusually 
 effective. The level parade ground within is drained by a system of five sewers, opening by six 
 culverts, one for each side of the pentagon, and one in the middle. The several drains center here, 
 whence a single sewer conducts under the sally-port to the ditch, and the water flows thence through 
 a tunnel under the outer parapet and glacis into the marsh. The drains are constructed of wood 
 and masonry ; they have scarcely pitch enough inside of the fort, but are otherwise well adapted ; 
 nothing offensive is allowed to be poured into them ; all slops and garbage are twice daily removed 
 by the prisoners, in barrels, and thrown far out upon the beach, where they are partly devoured by 
 birds and crabs, and partly washed away by the tide ; the most wholesome regulations in this 
 regard have always been enforced since I have been at the post. 
 
 The sea affords constant bathing facilities in summer. There is no special provision for bath- 
 ing in winter. 
 
 There are no post, hospital, or officers' gardens. There is daily (except Sunday) communication 
 by rail with large cities north, and a weekly line of steamships from Newberne (28 miles distant) 
 to New York. The daily mail is quite regular. Letters require between two and three days to 
 reach Washington and New York. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity probably represent a fair average of the southern seaboard pop- 
 ulation ; they are mostly native Carolinians, both white and black, the latter representing a con- 
 siderable proportion ; the greater number are fishermen. To their regular employment with the 
 seine they add the capture of an occasional whale in spring, and not un frequently become wreckers 
 for the time; most of them cultivate small patches of ground about their cabins. The next class, 
 representing nearly all the rest of the white population, are the small trades-people and farmers, 
 It is difficult to specify the occupation of the colored element. There are now no aborigines in the 
 vicinity, but tribes formerly living here have left their traces in at least one " Kjoekkenmoedding," 
 (that on Harker's Island,) in which pieces of pottery and various implements may be found. 
 
 In spite of some obvious violations of hygienic principles that have been noted above, the gen- 
 eral sanitary condition of the post is good ; the locality is, perhaps, unusually healthy for one on 
 the southern coast ; the sudden changes of temperature are the chief drawbacks ; these, joined 
 to the humidity of the atmosphere, operate unfavorably in pulmonary complaints. Phthisis makes 
 rapid progress when fairly established, while common colds and coughs are apt to prove tedious 
 and troublesome, even when they do not have more serious terminations. Pneumonia requires 
 close attention. It is difficult to specify any as the prevailing diseases ; there have been no epi- 
 demics for some years at the fort itself; its isolation appears to confer comparative immunity, and 
 would be an efficient furtherance of quarantine and other sanitary measures. An importation of 
 yellow fever from Xewberne to Beaufort a few years since did not spread, and subsided with com- 
 paratively small mortality ; the residents assert that it is not known to have originated there. A 
 moderate amount of malarial fever occurs in summer; it is of a mild form, and the fyps tends 
 toward suppression of the chill, and corresponding lengthening of the febrile state ; it is most pro- 
 bable that what little miasma is experienced is wafted by northerly winds from inland swamps ; 
 the marsh itself appears non-malarious. Nearly all the bow -el diseases, of which there is a moder- 
 ate amount, chiefly occasioned, I think, by sudden changes in the weather, have proven of a tran- 
 sient character, yielding readily ; though occasionally cases of dysentery, dependent upon or associ- 
 ated with malarial conditions, have been found intractable. Considering the atmospheric influences 
 there is a remarkable freedom from rheumatism. Venereal disease is at a minimum. 
 
FORT MACON, NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 91 
 
 Statement allowing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Macon, North Car- 
 olina, white troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
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 43 
 
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 1868, (five mouths) 
 
 62.4 
 
 32 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 1869 
 
 127.83 
 
 171 
 
 48 
 
 55 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Macon, North Caro- 
 lina, white prisoners, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
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 1868, (eleven mouths) 
 
 56.54 
 
 115 
 
 25 
 
 29 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 1869 
 
 31.16 
 
 17 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Macon, North Caro- 
 lina, colored troops, for the year 1868. 
 
 
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 3 
 
 
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 1868 (eii'ht months) 
 
 173 
 
 509 
 
 152 
 
 45 
 
 11 
 
 26 
 
 39 
 
 26 
 
 l 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Macon, North Caro- 
 lina, colored prisoners, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 B 
 
 c 
 
 = . 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 tn 
 
 
 
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 1 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Years. 
 
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 1 
 
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 1868 
 
 24.4 
 
 28 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 1869 
 
 14.5 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pncnmonia, and pleurisy. 
 
92 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT JOHNSTON, NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON S. S. BOYER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Johnston, North Carolina, on the west bank of Cape Fear River, four miles from its mouth, 
 is in latitude 34 N., longitude 78 05' W., at an elevation above the sea of 20 feet. The vil- 
 lage of Smithville surrounds the fort on the north and northeast, and on the west and southwest 
 sides. On the southeast and east sides it is bounded by the river. Wilmington, the nearest 
 city, is 30 miles distant in a northerly direction. This fort receives its name from Gabriel John- 
 ston, who was governor of the province of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752. It was erected by 
 the British soon after France declared war against England, in 1744. Since that period it has been 
 garrisoned at irregular intervals. 
 
 The reservation is of an irregular shape, 337 feet on the northwest side, 591 feet on the west 
 side, 558 feet along the water front, and 548 feet on the northeast side, and is inclosed by a board 
 fence. Two brick walks pass through, one in the center, the other at the east end. A number of 
 shade trees are distributed over the ground. There is a salt marsh on the northeast side and one 
 ou the west of the village, just outside its limits ; beyond these marshes the woods begin and extend 
 into the country. The land is more or less flat, soil marshy, porous, and not very productive. Fish 
 are caught in abundance in the Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean, both being near the fort. 
 There are many wells and a few springs located in different parts of the village around the fort. 
 The wells vary in depth from 15 to 20 feet. 
 
 The climate is warm and more or less equable. Mean annual temperature, 65 7'. Warmest 
 month, July; mean, 81 5'. Coldest month, January; mean, 49. During spring and part of the 
 summer months the prevailing winds are south-southwest, and bring with them the breeze from the 
 ocean. During the remainder of the year the winds are mostly north northeast, and have the effect 
 of increasing the humidity of the atmosphere. Winds coming from the northwest carry the malaria 
 from swamps two or three miles distant. 
 
 There is no fort built upon the reservation. During the late civil war it came into the posses- 
 sion of the rebels, and they constructed some minor works upon it, which have since been removed 
 . by United States troops. 
 
 The barrack is a one-story frame building, 100 by 25 by 14 feet, with an open veranda passing 
 the whole length of the southeast side. There is an open fireplace at each end, and a large stove 
 in the center, and by these the room is kept comfortably warm in cold-weather. On the northeast 
 side of the building are six windows and three doors; on the northwest side eight windows and one 
 door, and on the southwest end two windows, thus affording sufficient light and ventilation. The 
 room has a capacity for CO men, with an air space of 550 cubic feet for each. Double wooden bunks 
 are arranged in rows on each side the room, three feet apart, with a passage way in the center of 
 the room, 8J feet wide. Double and single bedsacks, filled with straw, are used for bedding. No 
 wash or bath-room is connected with the barrack. A latrine is built on the river at low-water mark, 
 the ebbing and flowing of the tide preventing the excreta from accumulating. At high tide the 
 water comes -within two feet of the seats. 
 
 The kitchen and mess-room are in a one story frame building, 40 by 22 feet, the former being a 
 room 21 by 12 feet, the latter taking up the remaining space, 33 by 21 feet. One large cooking- 
 stove is used in the preparation of food. 
 
 The laundresses' quarters is a one-story frame building, with four rooms, each having an air space 
 of 1,890 cubic feet. .There are two windows and doors in each room, and a piazza extends along" 
 the whole southeast side. 
 
 One brick house with a tin roof contains the officers' quarters. The main part of the building 
 is two stories in height ; that on each side, northeast and southwest, is but one story. It has twelve 
 rooms in all. There is a double piazza in front. On the second floor there are three rooms. Of 
 
FORT JOHNSTON, NORTH CAROLINA. 93 
 
 those in front, one is 18 by 15 feet, the other 12 by 13 feet. The rear room is 22 by 15 feet, each of 
 the three being 9 feet high. Beginning at the northeast end of the first story, the room is 19 by 17 
 feet; height, same as those in the upper story. In the rear of this room is one 14 by 9 feet, and 7 
 feet high ; the next is 19 by 15 feet, and 9 feet high. In the rear of this room is one 12 by 9 feet, 
 and 7 feet high. The next is 12 by 10 feet, and in its rear, one 17 by 15 feet. The next room is 
 14 by 15 feet. Next to this room is a hall running through the building from southeast to northwest. 
 It is 5 feet in width, and of the same height as the last room, 9 feet. The first room, southwest of 
 the hall, is 18 by 14 by 9 feet ; the last, 20 by 17 by 9 feet. These quarters are not divided into 
 sets. Each room has an open fireplace for burning wood. Ventilation and light are secured by 
 means of the windows. Water is supplied by hand. There are no bath-rooms in the house. 
 
 The office of the commanding officer is located on the southwest side of the reservation. It is 
 a brick building, 22 by 20 feet, with one room. One of the storehouses is located alongside the gov- 
 ernment wharf; it is 94 by 29 feet, and divided into four rooms, two of which are occupied by the 
 quartermaster and commissary as an office. Of the other two rooms, one is for commissary's, and 
 the other for quartermaster's stores. The second storehouse is situated about the central part of 
 the reservation. It is a brick building, one story high, and is the old "block-house" erected in the 
 earliest history of the post. 
 
 The guard-house is located upon the southeast part of the reservation. It is 22 by 18 by 10 
 feet, with a porch facing the river. The guard-room is 12 by 18 feet, and two rooms open into it; 
 one is the lockup, 12 by 10 feet, the other the cell, 10 by G feet. The rooms are heated by stoves, 
 and ventilated through the windows.' 
 
 The hospital is located on the northeast side of the reservation. It is a frame building 52 by 28 
 by 26 feet. The central part is two stories high, and contains a ward on the upper floor 16 by 26 
 by 9.J feet. On the southwest side are four windows, and on each end, two. In the rear of the 
 ward at the head of the stairs are two rooms, one on each side; the one to the right upon entering 
 the ward is the store-room, 12 by 10 feet, the other is the bath-room, 12 by 6 feet. On the first floor 
 are four rooms and a hall, the latter being 26 by 12 feet, with stairs leading to the second story. 
 To the left of the hall are two rooms. At the northwest end of the hall is a space 6 by 4 feet, 
 inclosed by a counter ; this is the dispensary. Shelves and drawers are constructed along the 
 walls on three sides. Underneath the stairs is a closet. There are two rooms northwest of the 
 hall; the first is the dining-room, 14 by 12 feet, the second the kitchen, 12 by 12 feet. The ward 
 has a capacity of twelve beds ; air space per man, 748 cubic feet. Bathing and washing are done in 
 the bath-room, which is provided with a bath-tub and wash-stand. There are no water-closets in 
 the hospital ; a latrine is situated on the river-bank, 30 yards distant. 
 
 The dead-house is a frame building, 14 by 8 by 9 feet, located on the northwest side of the 
 reservation. 
 
 The post bakery is a frame building, 9 by 8 feet, with an oven 7 by 6 feet, capable of baking 
 140 rations at once. There is no laundry, chapel, or school-house upon the reservation. 
 
 The stable is located at the southeast part of the reservation, upon the bank of the river above 
 high water mark. It is a square building, formerly used for storing provender, and contains one 
 row of stalls. Most of the boards inclosing the south and west sides are separated half an inch, 
 so there is abundance of light and ventilation. 
 
 There is no permanent library belonging to the post. 
 
 The water supply upon the reservation is from two sources, a well and a cistern ; the former is 
 20 feet in depth, and located 15 rods from the barracks ; the latter is located in the rear of the 
 officers' quarters, and has a capacity for 5,000 gallons, although it seldom contains that quantity at 
 one time. In both, the water is raised by a pump and distributed by hand. Should the quantity 
 become insufficient, it could be obtained from wells in the vicinity. Its quality is slightly brackish- 
 From the porosity of the soil, the natural drainage is good. 
 
 A bath-house, 20 by 18 feet, is erected upon the river beach, at low-water mark. The boards 
 on each side are half an inch apart, thus allowing the water to enter. There is a partition running 
 nearly the whole breadth of one side above water, which separates the building into two parts; 
 the first is divided into four small dressing-rooms, the second contains the water. The men bathe 
 daily in summer. 
 
94 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The dead of the command are interred in a cemetery located upon the northern boundary of 
 Smithville, which is the property of the village. The bodies remain here but temporarily, as they 
 are afterwards removed to the government cemetery near Wilmington, 30 miles distant. 
 
 There are no gardens at the post ; but six acres of land, half a mile from the fort, are hired for a 
 post garden and cultivated by men of the company; a variety of vegetables is raised, but the yield 
 is small. 
 
 The means of communication with the nearest large city, Wilmington, North Carolina, is by 
 water ; steam-tugs run to and fro at uncertain times. There is no established line between the two 
 points. We have a regular tri-weekly mail. Letters mailed here for department headquarters or 
 Washington generally reach their destination in three days. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good. Kemitteut and intermittent fevers are the 
 prevailing diseases. Salt marshes upon the northeast and west sides of the village around the fort 
 are an undoubted source of malaria, as those persons living immediately upon their borders suffer 
 most from these fevers. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Johnston, North Caro- 
 
 . Una, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 y 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 Ti "^ 
 
 k 
 
 5 
 
 s >, 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 a a 
 
 2 
 
 =2 
 * 
 
 
 a 1 
 
 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 a % 
 
 3 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 c op 
 
 3 
 
 * 
 
 ^ qj 
 
 *^ 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 s 
 
 "3 -3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 t^ ^ 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 g CP 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 m 
 
 * 
 
 & 
 
 s 
 
 '& 
 
 t>- 
 
 M 
 
 SI 
 
 
 
 
 1868, (seveu months) 
 
 68.14 
 
 106 
 
 j 
 
 45 
 
 24 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 1869 
 
 69.08 
 
 102 
 
 j 
 
 32 
 
 11 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 POST OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON JOHN B. WHITE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is situated just without the limits of Raleigh, between Crabtree and Walnut Creeks, 
 latitude 78 47' 8", longitude 35 47', and has an elevation of 317 feet above the level of the sea. 
 It has been uninterruptedly garrisoned since April 12, 1865, and known as "Camp Russell." Pre- 
 vious to that date most of the buildings within the garrison were occupied by the confederate gov- 
 ernment for hospital purposes, and known as the "Pettigrew hospital." 
 
 The reservation contains about six acres, in the shape of a parallelogram, having a slight inclina- 
 tion toward the south, and situated about one mile due east from the city of Raleigh. The grounds 
 in the vicinity are moderately rolling mostly of granitic- formation representing shades of sandy 
 and red colored earth, eagerly absorbing and retaining water. The land is under partial cultivation, 
 and free from marshes. The mineral productions are of the most varied character. Veins of 
 graphite and marble extend to within a short distance of the post. As a rule, flowers blossom 
 from four to six weeks earlier than in the middle States; some of them open as early as December. 
 
 The German element pervades the city and suburbs; the principal street of Raleigh presents 
 decidedly a Teutonic aspect. 
 
 This post has long been noted for its salubrity and freedom from diseases due to climatic 
 causes. The maximum temperature for the year 1868 was 108 F.; minimum, 12 F. The annual 
 fall of rain was 45 inches; the number of cloudy days, 130; of rainy days, 60; the prevailing winds 
 are southwest and northeast. 
 
 Within the post limits are five barracks, ranged in lines, the axis due east and west, and sep- 
 arated by an interval of 38 feet, sufficient for the sun's rays to fall on each side. These buildings 
 
TOST OP RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. 95 
 
 were erected by the confederate government for hospitals. They are frame buildings, 90 by 26 by 
 15 feet, with shingled roofs; window-son both sides and ends; warmed by stoves and fireplaces. 
 The average occupation of each barrack is 50 soldiers, allowing 465 cubic feet of air space to each 
 lodger. The bunks are double, in two rows, running the entire length of the room. The construc- 
 tion of sixteen opposite windows of good size, and dormer windows in the apex of each roof, with 
 ridge ventilation, allow s \ n-t ical motion of the polluted air from below, and secures the most desir- 
 able amount of ventilation. Besides, the elevation of each building from the ground permits per- 
 fliition of the winds under the same. 
 
 The sinks are distant from the men's quarters and are well arranged, being provided with 
 drawers, which admit of constant correction and the removal of refuse. 
 
 Each barrack is well provided with a kitchen and a mess-room, which are well furnished with 
 modern facilities for cooking, &c. 
 
 Married soldiers have separate quarters, in a long, narrow building, containing accommodations 
 for fourteen families. These quarters are comfortable, convenient, and healthy. 
 
 There are at the present time five buildings in use by the officers, all save one built by the con- 
 federate government on a very cheap scale style antique and when erected never thought of 
 being more than day rooms for the medical officers attending upon the sick. They are built of 
 wood, one story high, shingle roof, built without piazzas, and unplastered. The one built by the 
 United States government, in 1866, is more modern, but faulty in design. The rooms are narrow 
 and contracted, varying in si/.e from a hall bed-room to the proportions of a lecture-room. On this 
 account assignments have with many difficulties been made. 
 
 The guard house, situated on the northwest corner of the garrison, is a new frame building, 
 38 by 13 feet, one story high, with shingled roof; it contains a guard-room and- prison-room of two 
 cells, which are, with the present strength of the command, (100 men,) adequate. The building is 
 warmed by a stove in the guardroom; lighted by two windows ; ventilation is very imperfectly 
 supplied. 
 
 The building set apart for hospital use is located on the southeast corner of the post, and, like 
 those before mentioned, was erected by the confederates, and faulty in construction. It is a frame 
 building one story high, 80 by 21 feet, with shingled roof, containing a ward 48 by 21 feet, and a 
 convenient room for the steward, one for wash-room, one for store-room, and one for storing bag- 
 gage. Natural ventilation is good, viz., by twelve opposite windows and openings in the ridge, 
 permitting a free vertical movement of vitiated air from below. Two large stoves are used for 
 heating the hospital. The ward contains fifteen beds, giving to each an air space of 630 cubic feet. 
 
 There is a post library, consisting of 85 volumes, of bad selection, much worn and very incom- 
 plete, under the direct supervision of the post surgeon. 
 
 The water used by the command is obtained from one well, situated without the camp limits; 
 in quantity and quality it is all that could be desired. Previous to the war the water was chaly- 
 beate; but during the progress of the war the shock of an earthquake, of a moment's duration, had 
 the effect to change the well-water from a chalybeate to that of a limestone character. There are 
 n o cisterns or reservoirs about the camp. Water barrels have been placed near each building for 
 the prompt extinguishment of any fires that may occur. 
 
 Being situated on an inclined plane the drainage of the post is naturally good. A small creek, 
 Some 200 yards distant from the post, affords bathing facilities to the men during the summer 
 months, and is not without its beneficial effects in a hygienic point of view. A special room for 
 ablution purposes is set apart for the command during the winter months. 
 
 The site of the present post is pre-eminently healthy, as is also the vicinity. The climate, in 
 summer and winter, is mild and pleasant, the range of temperature is small, and the place is free 
 from malarial or epidemic diseases, or those traceable to atmospheric or climatic causes. 
 
96 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Raleigh, North Carolina, 
 
 white troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 j3 
 
 o 
 
 h 
 
 X 
 
 C 
 
 d 
 
 
 A 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 ^0 
 
 "a * 
 
 i> 
 
 > 
 
 >, 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 <s 
 
 <2 
 
 C 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 cc 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 = CO 
 
 a 
 
 -a 
 
 i 
 
 I f 
 
 a 
 
 .2 => 
 3 " 
 
 3 | 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 3 g 
 
 ^3 .2 
 
 0} 
 
 -O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " S 
 
 s 
 
 
 rt 
 
 3 
 
 30 
 
 h -S 
 
 ( t 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 A 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 a g 
 
 O 
 
 
 a 
 
 .a .1 
 
 | 
 
 3 
 
 ei ^ 
 
 
 
 St 
 
 9 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 Xj 
 
 4s <2 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 H 
 
 s 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 CM 
 
 
 
 pq 
 
 1868, (eight months) 
 
 292.37 
 
 267 
 
 1 
 
 63 
 
 25 
 
 1 
 
 
 43 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 29 
 
 2 
 
 1869, (eight months) . 
 
 53.33 
 
 84 
 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 6 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Raleigh, North Carolina, 
 
 colored troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 9 
 
 M 
 
 J< 
 
 .E 
 s 
 
 d 
 
 a 
 
 
 s 
 
 GO 
 
 S 
 
 c3 * 
 
 GC 
 
 | 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i_ 
 
 GO 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 M 
 
 C3 ~ 
 
 2 
 
 O J3 
 
 
 
 
 rs a 
 
 2 
 
 Years. 
 
 00 
 
 a 
 a 
 <o 
 
 a 
 5 
 |J 
 
 !8 
 
 1 
 
 2 -o' 
 
 *S 
 
 
 
 a g 
 
 - * 
 
 a 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 II 
 I 1 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 (three months) 
 
 262. 33 
 
 220 
 
 60 
 
 24 
 
 
 15 
 
 67 
 
 s 
 
 14 
 
 
 1S69 (three months) 
 
 291.66 
 
 279 
 
 32 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 32 
 
 97 
 
 35 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE LAKES. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Madison Barracks, Sacki'tt's Harbor, New York. 
 Fort Ontario, Oswego, New York. 
 Fort Niagara, YoiingNtown, Now York. 
 Fort Porter, Buffalo, New York. 
 
 Fort Wayne, Detroit, 
 Fort Gratiot, Port Huron, Michigan. 
 Fort Brady, Sault Stc. Marie, Michigan. 
 Fort Mackinac, Mackinac, Michigan. 
 
 MADISON BARRACKS, SACKETT'S HARBOR, NEW YORK. 
 
 REPOKT OF SURGEON E. P. VOLLUM, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Madison Barracks is situated at Sackett's Harbor, New York, on the soutli shore of Black 
 River Bay, about 10 miles from Lake Ontario, and 320 miles from the Atlantic coast. It is in lati- 
 tude 43 51' north, longitude 76 15' west ; height of the barometer, 2(52 feet above the sea. Black 
 River, a stream of considerable size and importance as an unfailing water-power, falls into the head of 
 Black River Bay, eight miles east of the post, at the town of Dexter, a manufacturing place; and 
 the mouth of Mill Creek bounds the reservation in the same direction. The waters in the bay in 
 the vicinity of the post change color as the winds blow from the northeast or southwest. When 
 they come from the former direction the dark brown water from Black River is forced into Lake 
 Ontario past the shore fronting the post ; coining from the latter direction, the clear lake water takes 
 the place of the river water. The land in the neighborhood is free from marsh, but at the head of 
 Black River Bay there are some marshy places, which, however, do not produce any appreciable 
 bad effects. The surface of the Surrounding country is gently undulating, and the soil, originally 
 rich, is now somewhat worn out by careless cultivation. 'The timber is mostly cleared off, and the 
 country is thickly settled by thrifty farmers who, of late years, have turned their attention to the 
 dairy and stock-raising, while formerly grain was the chief product of the country. 
 
 The site of the post is about 30 feet above the water, and excepting a short space in front of 
 the parade, the land overlooks the water by a perpendicular bluff of limestone. Originally a deep 
 gully, filled with cedars, occupied a portion of the parade. This was filled, the rough place in front 
 sloped off, and the boundary of the parade toward the water was secured by a stone-wall, brought 
 up as high as the plane of the parade, the surface of which was allowed to slope gently from the 
 officers' quarters toward the water. 
 
 The soil of the reservation is chiefly a dark loam, resting on a stratum of fossiliferous lime- 
 stone, which lies from one to four feet below the surface. A large part of the surface, especially 
 the cultivated portion, is flat, and difficult to drain in a thorough manner. The reservation con- 
 tains 39J acres, purchased in parcels at different dates, as required. The whole is inclosed by a 
 substantial cedar stockade. 
 
 The roads about the post arc partly covered with broken stones, with a covering of sifted hard 
 coal ashes about an inch deep, thrown on, wetted, and packed down by a horse-roller. The result 
 has been a smooth and quite durable light carriage road and foot-path, which can be easily and 
 cheaply repaired. As the ashes accumulate, it is designed to finish off the paths in front of the 
 men's quarters in the same manner. 
 
 All of the buildings, except the ordnance sergeant's quarters, stables, ice-house, and engine- 
 house, are constructed of limestone, a material much used in the neighboring country for building 
 purposes. The stone is used in pieces of various sizes and shape, and neatly fitted together, make 
 ing the walls about It) inches thick, and sufficiently durable to stand for centuries to come. 
 
 The roofs of all the buildings are shingled, except the quartermaster and commissary store- 
 13 
 
98 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 bouses and guard-house, which are covered with tin, painted. The parade is a smooth grassy 
 surface, 552 feet by 452 feet in extent, bounded ou three sides by officers' and men's quarters, and 
 open on the water side, allowing a beautiful and extended view of the bay and opposite country. 
 The officers' quarters face the northwest, and consist of two rows of buildings on the same line, 
 raised about two feet above the ground and separated by the sally port, which is 30 feet wide. Each 
 row is 217 feet by 33 feet, and consists of five double sets of quarters, protected in front by .a con- 
 tinuous portico, six feet wide. The first set of quarters on each side of the sally-port is two stories 
 high. In the quarters on the right of the sally-port there are two rooms on each side of the hall on 
 both stories, and a kitchen in a wooden extension in rear. The ceilings on both stories are 10 feet 
 high. The lower rooms on the right, in front, measure 15 feet by 10 feet 7 inches; in rear, 14 feet 
 3 inches by 15 feet G inches; up stairs, same side, jji front, 14 feet 7 inches by 15 feet 6 inches; in 
 rear, 11 feet 8 inches by 15 feet 3 inches; left of hall, lower story, front, 13 feet by 15 feet; rear, 
 12 'feet G inches by 15 feet 1 inch; up stairs, front, 13 feet 2 inches by 14 feet 4 inches; rear, 13 feet 
 3 inches by 14 feet 5 inches; kitchen, 23 feet 8 inches by 11 feet 10 inches, by 10 feet high, with a 
 sky-light. Inclosing the yard, which is 25 feet by 30 feet, are a carriage-house and stable for two 
 horses, water-closets, wood shed, and coal-bin, constructed of wood, and a root-house constructed 
 of stone and covered with earth and sod. The walls of the quarters are hard-finished. In the 
 front of the second-story hall is a bath-roorn, 6 by 16, the water for which is carried up by hand. 
 There are plenty of closets and cupboards. The first set of quarters, on the left of the sally-port, 
 is the same as the above in every particular, excepting the bath-room and out-houses. The 
 kitchen is a wooden extension in rear 11 feet 9 inches by 11 feet 4 inches, by 10 feet high; the 
 water-closet is an ordinary wooden structure in the yard. The remainder of the officers' quarters 
 are all one story and an attic high. Each set consists of a front and rear room ou the first floor, 
 a front and rear attic room, and a kitchen; a hall and stairway are in common for the two sets, a 
 very objectionable arrangement for domestic comfort and privacy. The height of all the ceilings 
 on the first story measures 9 feet 2 inches, and the height of the attics is 8 feet 4 inches in the 
 middle, 5 feet 2 inches at the side, with a slope of 8 feet. The front rooms on the first story are 
 13 feet by 14 feet 6 inches; rear rooms 13 feet by 15 feet. The end set of the right-hand row is 
 divided up on the lower story into three rooms; the front one is 34 feet 6 inches by 15 feet 6 inches 
 with five windows, and is used as a post library, reading-room, and school; the two rear ones are 
 respectively 13 feet 2 inches by 21 feet 6 inches, and 12 feet 4 inches by 13 feet 2 inches, and are 
 used as court-martial rooms. The attic is thrown into one apartment, 34 feet 6 inches by 29 feet 3 
 inches, with four dormer windows ou each side, and is used as a ball-room and chapel. The end 
 set on the left is partitioned off the same as the above, except the attic, which is divitled into four 
 sleeping-rooms, averaging each 12 feet by 12 feet 6 inches. The large room ou the lower story has 
 five, windows, and is used as an officers' mess-room. A board fence, 7 feet high, extends along 
 the rear of each row of quarters, and separates the yards which, excepting the first set described,, 
 are 60 feet by CO feet. A ditch for drainage runs underneath each row along the middle. The 
 heating of the officers' quarters is effected at present partly by coal stoves and partly by grates. 
 Last winter the wood fireplaces heretofore in use were all closed up and coal stoves were intro- 
 duced; but it was found that the rooms were heated to an unhealthy degree by them, and this 
 winter grates are being put in all the rooms as rapidly as possible. The ventilation in the rooms 
 having grates is found to be sufficient. In front of the portico is a grassed terrace, 10 feet wide 
 and the length of each row, with a stone path and steps leading from each front door to the car- 
 riage road. This road describes a circle at each end of the line of quarters and in the middle at 
 the sally-port, and the parade ground and the circles are protected by rows of cedar posts turned 
 in the form of cannon, and connected by chains. The circles are sodded and raised about two feet, 
 and surmounted by brass field-pieces for ornament. 
 
 The men's quarters consist of two buildings, one story and an attic high, constructed of lime- 
 stone, each 452 feet long by 23 feet wide. These buildings face each other from the opposite sides 
 of the parade,. and run perpendicularly to the water front. A portico extends along the front of 
 each. The windows of the western barracks are, as formerly, all in the face looking upon the 
 parade, excepting two in the kitchens, but in the eastern barracks, in addition to these, three windows 
 hare been cut into the blind wall, into each squad-room. Owing to the slope of the ground toward 
 
MADISON BARRACKS, SACKETT'S HARBOR, NEW YORK. 99 
 
 the water, the buildings at that end are considerably higher than at the other, allowing in oue space 
 enough below the squad-rooms for mess and store-rooms in the other for coal-cellars. The ceil- 
 ings of all the rooms on the lower story are 9 feet high. Each building is subdivided into four 
 squad-rooms, G4 feet by 20 feet ; two mess-rooms, 30 feet by 20 feet ; two kitchens, 20 feet by 19 
 feet 9 inches ; two wash-rooms, 20 feet by 7 feet 9 inches; two sergeants' rooms, 20 feet by 10 feet 
 !) inches ; and two store-rooms, 19 feet by 10 feet 9 inches. Omitting the first sergeants, who sleep 
 in their own rooms, and the married men, who sleep in the attics, there are 138 men who sleep in 
 the squad-rooms. The greatest number who occupy one room is 20: this allows each man 49 
 superficial feet of space, and 443 cubic feet of air; the smallest number is 9, which allows each 
 man 142 superficial feet of space, and 1,280 cubic feet of air. The average for each man in all the 
 squad-rooms is 74 superficial feet of space and *,QG7 cubic feet of air. This is ample. Each squad- 
 room is thoroughly fitted up with gun-racks, lockers for the clothing and effects of the men, tables, 
 chairs, shelves, and clothes-hooks. Each man has an iron bedstead, of the hospital pattern, to 
 himself, and his locker and shelf are painted with his name and company number. The ventilation 
 of the squad-rooms is effected by wooden shafts, 16 inches square, reaching from the ceiling at 
 each end of the squad-room to latticed ventilators in the roof. The lower openings of the shafts 
 are covered by ornamental iron registers for controlling the passage of air, and in the attics an 
 aperture is cut into the shaft for the ventilation of those apartments. The movement of the air 
 up and down these shafts, as the temperature favors either end of the room, is found to afford an 
 atmosphere, after the men have been sleeping for several hours, quite free from taint. Formerly 
 the ventilation in the squad-rooms was effected by the draught of the stoves and by letting down 
 the window-sash a little; a very objectionable way, as the men often suffered from the draught of 
 cold air while asleep, if carried out ; and if omitted, as was generally the case, there was scarcely 
 any change of air in the room at all. A double door opens into the middle of each squad-room 
 front and rear. The heating is effected by one coal-stove in each squad-room, which is found to be 
 sufficient for ordinary winter weather. 
 
 In the eastern barracks there are nine windows in the squad-rooms, six in the dining-rooms 
 and three in the kitchens: and in the western barracks, six in the squad-rooms, four in the dining- 
 rooms, and four in the kitchens. These admit sufficient light. Candles are used at night, bnt the 
 illumination is insufficient. The wash-roorns open out of the squad-roorns, and each is provided 
 with a trough on each side, with holes for basins, and a barrel of water with a faucet. Every man 
 has a tin basin, which has its appropriate hook and number. In summer a half hogshead is placed 
 in the room for the use of such men as do not bathe in the bay. 
 
 The kitchens are provided with Jewett & Root's hotel cook-stove, No. 15, for wood, and every 
 necessary utensil for proper cooking. The mess-rooms are well furnished with cupboards, shelves, 
 mess-chests, and table furniture. 
 
 The attics, 90 feet by 20 feet by 8 feet 6 inches high, are plastered, lighted by dormer windows, 
 and each one is partitioned off into several rooms, and till recently they have been used as laun- 
 dresses' quarters, for which purpose they are badly suited. They are reached by a steep stairway 
 from the portico. Two or three families have been crowded into these apartments at a time, and as 
 there was but one common entrance they were compelled to pass through each other's rooms. In 
 winter the laundresses suffered great inconvenience in having to carry their water and wash up and 
 down the stairs, which were often dark and icy. During the winter of 1SC8-'C9, there was one 
 fracture and a number of injuries from falling on them. According to Surgeon H. L. Heiskell, 
 United States Army, these miserable little low-ceiling apartments were used in 1839 as. sleeping - 
 rooms for the men ; and from GO to 90 were crowded into them, allowing only 133J cubic feet of air 
 to eah when there were GO occupants, and one-third less when there were 90. The doctor says : 
 "This would seem to have been designed as an experiment to try how many human beings could 
 be crowded into the smallest possible compass without inducing suffocation." Happily such experi- 
 ments are not now so much in vogue as in former times. 
 
 The men's sinks are wooden structures, set over deep pits, walled up, and situated GO paces to 
 the rear of each barrack building. They are emptied in the winter season, by chopping out the 
 soil in frozen blocks and depositing them on the ice about half a mile out from shore. 
 
 The guard-house, situated near the south gate, on the main road to the sally-port, is a very 
 
100 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 durable, fine looking stone structure, 54 feet by 39 feet, roofed with tin. painted. The portico, sup- 
 ported by five wooden columns, is 39 feet by 10 feet. All the ceilings are 9 feet G inches high. It is 
 partitioned off into a room for the officer of the day, 14 feet 11 inches by 13 feet ; a guard-room, 20 
 feet by 18 feet; a prisoners' room, 30 feet by 20 feet, six cells, each 8 feet 11 inches by 4 feet ; and 
 a passage in front of the cells, 34 feet by 5 feet. The officer of the day's room and guard-room are 
 well lighted, by two windows each. The building is well ventilated, except the prisoners' room, 
 into which pure air can only enter by the windows, which are seldom opened in cold weather, and 
 by a grated opening a foot square in the door leading into the guard-room. The cells have no ven- 
 tilation whatever, and there is no light, except a narrow spot that appears at an aperture near 
 the ceiling, 12 inches by 3 inches in size. They are dark, cold, damp, and gloomy, and in them a 
 prisoner is smothered and punished in a chilly, storfy den, in a style worthy of the dark ages. The 
 exhalations of a man in a single night accumulate in sufficient quantity to nearly extinguish a 
 lighted candle set on the floor. In them a man is not only deprived of his liberty, light, and his 
 life's breath, but his own effluvia turns upon him as a poison. Happily they are seldom occupied. 
 The heating is effected by coal stoves, and is sufficient. The guard-room and prisoners' room are 
 furnished with the customary board platforms used in the army guard-houses to sleep upon. What- 
 ever may be said as to the propriety of the prisoners being compelled, as part of their punishment, 
 to sleep in that uncomfortable way, there is no good reason why the members of the guard should 
 be forced to catch the little sleep and rest allowed them between their hours of guard on hard 
 boards in the same manner. It is a traditional cruelty that has become fastened upon the army, 
 like the leathern stocks, and should be abolished without delay. The members of the guard, the 
 elite for the time, always charged with the most important duties known to army life, should be 
 lodged in time of peace as comfortably as when they are in quarters ; and when off post their 
 inducements for sleep should be as good as may be a straw mattress, at least. The sink is a 
 wooden structure, set over a deep pit, walled up; and is situated 20 feet in rear. It is reached 
 by a covered way, opening into the passage in front of the cells, from which it is separated by two 
 doors. The object of the covered way is to protect the prisoners from the weather and to prevent 
 their escape at night. 
 
 The quartermaster and commissary storehouse is situated near the wharf, midway between 
 the barrack buildings, about 20 feet below the plane of the parade; and is approached from that 
 surface by a broad wooden bridge leading to the hall on the second story. It is a fine substantial 
 stone structure, two stories high, 137 feet by 42 feet, covered with a tin roof, painted, and sur- 
 mounted by a look-out and a weather vane. The building is put together with the best materials, 
 and in the strongest manner. The wharf is a wooden crib, filled with stone, 75 feet long, L shaped, 
 Cl feet front. Upon it are a boat-house and a force-pump housed in. There is a fine ten-oared 
 barge. The bakery, situated at the water's edge near the quartermaster and commissary store- 
 house, is a stone structure, divided into two rooms. The oven, recently rebuilt of brick, is capa- 
 cious enough for a regiment. The furnace, for wood, is at the side of the oven and communicates 
 with it by side apertures, and four flues run over the top of the oven from the back to the chim- 
 ney, situated over the front. It is well supplied with all the necessary fixtures, and the bread is 
 usually good. The ice house is a wooden structure, situated near the water, 32 feet by 16 feet, by 
 10 feet to the eaves. It rests on a stone foundation 2 feet high, on a gentle slope favoring the 
 drainage, which is allowed to sink into the ground. The floor is made of inch boards, not tongued 
 and grooved, and the outer and inner walls, of the same stuff tongued and grooved, are separated 
 5 inches and filled with coarse sawdust. An aperture in each end, 3 inches wide, runs across 
 nearly to the-eaves and communicates with the space above the eaves inside. There is a single door, 
 4 feet square, on the north side, 5 feet above the ground. The roof is shingled, and projects 3 feet 
 over the sides, which are whitewashed. It is calculated for 150 tons. The ice last winter was put 
 up in pieces from 2 to 3 feet square, packed in straw, and it kept well. 
 
 There is a hand-suction fire-engine, a "double decker," with room for thirty men to work at a 
 time; a hose cart and COO feet of rubber hose. Besides these, each barrack building, store-house, 
 the hospital, and the guard-house, are well supplied with ladders, hooks, axes, and fire-buckets, 
 which are always kept filled with water and standing in convenient places. The water supply for 
 this purpose is from the bay and from a well in rear of the eastern barracks, and another in rear of 
 
MADISON BARRACKS, SACKETT'S HARBOR, NEW YORK. 101 
 
 the officers' quarters. In case of fire, tlio buy would be too far off for some of the buildings, and 
 the wells, if used, would soon give out. 
 
 The post library is supplied with 250 well selected volumes, which are much used by the men. 
 The reading-room is furnished with a long table, and benches, ink, pens, &c., and supplied with 
 several newspapers and periodicals. The post school, which is in the same room as the above, is 
 attended by six of the men and six children, on an average. Divine service is occasionally held in 
 the chapel by clergymen from the neighborhood, and sometimes there are lay readings by the offi- 
 cers. The water supply for drinking and cooking, as taken from the bay, is a mixture of the waters 
 of Black River and Lake Ontario. At times it is clear from the lake ; at others, it is the brownish 
 water from the river, according as the winds drive the waters about the bay and mix them together. 
 Formerly the Black River water was regarded as unwholesome, but this has been proved to be a 
 mistake by the experience of Watertown, a place ten miles off, of some twelve thousand inhabit- 
 ants, where for a number of years past this water has been used exclusively, without any bad 
 effects whatever. The water is forced up by a No. 3 Davis & Co. hand-pump, situated on the end of 
 the wharf, where it is taken from a place 12 feet deep, free from much current and the effects of sur- 
 face drainage. From thence it is conveyed by a rubber hose to barrels placed on an army wagon, 
 and thus distributed about the post. This arrangement occupies five men and two horses for most 
 of the day, with a decided damage to the health of the men, especially in winter, and a considerable 
 expenditure for forage and wear and tear of wagon and harness. An estimate of cost shows that 
 this work could be done cheaper by a steam-pump and reservoir, with a great saving to the health 
 of the command. 
 
 The post garden comprises about ten acres within the stockade. It is under the charge of an 
 officer who is responsible for the cultivation and equitable distribution of the product to the com- 
 panies and hospital a plan that gives satisfaction. 
 
 Shade trees have been set out from time to time in various places about the post, but with 
 little success, owing, doubtless, to the shallowness of the soil and the prevalence of strong winds 
 that disturb the tender roots of the young trees. In front of the eastern barracks there is a fine row 
 of sugar maples, and here and there are isolated trees that once formed part of a row of the same 
 kind; there is also a cluster of Lombardy poplars on the bluff near the earthwork called Fort 
 Pike, where they have stood like stately sentinels since the war with Great Britain, visible for 
 many miles around. During the past spring Brevet Lieutenant Colonel R. C. Duryea, First United 
 States Artillery, commanding post, set out about two hundred elms and maples along the roads 
 bounding the outside of the buildings, a row in front of the western barracks, and along each side 
 of the roads leading to the gates. They were selected and set out with great care, and thus far 
 they all promise to live. If they do, they will form a great improvement and an enduring beauty 
 to the place, which is in great need of trees to break the long hard lines of the buildings. 
 
 The drainage is effected by ditches leading to the bay. In a few level spots the ditches have 
 to be cleaned out occasionally. During the past six months a great deal of work has been put on 
 the drainage, and but little more can be done without considerable labor in blasting out the rock 
 from the bottom of the more shallow ditches. The hospital is situated at the eastern limits of the 
 reservation, about 50 feet from the water. The site is sandy, and elevated about 15 feet above the 
 bay, and the grounds, which are well sodded, slope off in every direction from the building, making 
 the drainage excellent. It commands a beautiful and extensive view of the harbor and islands 
 toward the lake; but the situation is exceedingly bleak in winter, from being swept by the powerful 
 and searching winds that come from the frozen bay. The building is square, with wings on either 
 side, and is constructed in the most desirable manner of neatlycut limestone. It js covered by 
 a hipped roof, shingled, and painted olive, and presents a very imposing appearance. The main 
 building has two stories, and measures 56 feet 5 inches by 53 feet 6 inches, by 35 feet high; and 
 the wings have one story, and measure 18 feet 2 inches by 15 feet 3 inches, by 20 feet 5 inches 
 high. The basement is dry, and is lighted by windows above ground. The building is entered by 
 stone steps, 12 feet wide, front and rear, and by basement doors under the steps. The basement 
 is 8 feet 4 inches high. For plan of division of the basement and second floor see Figure 14. 
 
102 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 1. Basement. K, kitchen; M, dining-room; X, pantries; H, hall; S, store-room; T, closet; 
 V, matron's quarters. 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 2. Second floor. A, wards; S, lavatories; T, closet; W, water- 
 closet. 
 
 The kitchen is provided with a boiler and plumbing for send 
 ing hot water to the bath on the first story, and a force-pump for 
 sending water from a rain-water cistern to a tank on the second 
 story. The pantries are well fitted up with shelves and cupboards. 
 There are two wards opening into each side of the halls on 
 both stories, making eight in all, and all of the front and rear 
 wards communicate by passages 8 feet 4 inches by 4 feet G inches; 
 from each side of which open closet rooms, eight in all, appropriated 
 to uses to be mentioned below. The four wards on the first story 
 measure 20 feet by 19 feet 9 inches, by 12 feet 9 inches high each, 
 and those on the second story measure the same, except in the 
 height, which is 3 inches less. Two wards on each story on the 
 south side are generally the only ones in use, and are occupied by 
 from four to six beds each. When there are four patients in a 
 ward, omitting fractions, each has 1,290 cubic feet of air, and 101 
 superficial feet of area ; when there are six, each has 8GO cubic feet 
 of air, and 67 superficial feet of area. On the right of the passage, 
 between the lower wards on the south side, is a bath-room, 7 feet 2 
 inches by 8 feet, by 12 feet 9 inches high, in which is a water- 
 closet ; the bath is furnished with hot and cold water. Opposite 
 the bath-room is a lavatory, 7 feet 3 inches by 8 feet, by 12 feet 
 9 inches high, furnished with ordinary tin basins and towels. 
 Opening from the passage between the wards, on the north side 
 of the same story, are two medical store-rooms, each 7 feet 3 
 
 inches by 8 feet, by 12 feet 9 inches high, furnished with shelves and double-locks. The 
 second story is reached by a stairway, 4 feet 2 inches wide, in the hall leading from the 
 front, the steps of which are only 6 inches high, for ease of ascent for the sick. Opening from 
 the right of the passage between the wards on the south side of this story is a room, 7 feet 7 inches 
 by 7 feet 2 inches, by 12 feet 6 inches high, containing a water-closet and a water-tank for sup- 
 plying the bath and water-closets ; opposite this is a lavatory, 7 feet 7 inches by 7 feet 2 inches, 
 by 12 feet G inches high. Opening from the passage between the wards on the opposite side are a 
 lavatory and closet of the same size. A skylight in the apex of the roof, with a wooden railing 
 about it, admits abundance of light upon the halls and stairway. Iron balconies project from the 
 front and rear windows in the hall of the second story. The uses of all the rooms are indicated by 
 tin signs over the doors ; the wards are lettered. 
 
 The wing rooms on each side open out of the front wards, 16 feet by 11 feet 2 inches, by 12 feet 9 
 inches high, and each has a rear door and stone stairway to the ground. The one on the south side 
 is used as a surgery, the other as a post-mortem room. Both are nicely grained in imitation of oak. 
 Under each of the wings is a stone masonry rain-water cistern, arranged with a filter. The one on 
 the north side is not in use, for want of water-pipes from the roof, which seem never to have been 
 put up ; the other is in good order, and is fed from the roof by copper pipes. Except in winter, when 
 all the water is hauled, this cistern supplies about half the quantity required. The lighting is 
 ample. Each ward, the kitchen, dining-room and matron's room, have two windows each ; the small 
 rooms, except the close rooms off the passages, have one window each. The windows on the first and 
 second stories and wings are furnished with double sash for winter weather. At night kerosene 
 lamps are used. The heating is sufficient, and is effected by base-burner hard coal stoves, except 
 in one ward, where there is a wood fireplace, for the accommodation of a special class of patients.. 
 The ventilation is effected by fireplaces in each room, which are kept partly open, by the draught 
 of the stoves, and by letting down the tops of the window-sash when required. The drainage 
 from the bath, water-closets, and kitchen passes off by a main into the ground under the hospital ; 
 
 V 
 
 H 
 
 K | 
 
 V 
 
 X X 
 
 v |T 
 
 v TS 
 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 Figure 14. 
 
FORT ONTARIO, OSWEGO, NEW YORK. 
 
 103 
 
 but whether it goes to the sink in the yard or to the bay cannot be discovered without takin g up 
 the floors and considerable excavation, which is not warrantable, as the drainage is good. Occa- 
 sionally the water-closets taint the air, as is usual when they are built indoors, but they are only 
 used when the weather is too. severe for the patients to go to the sink in the yard. The sink, situ- 
 ated 50 feet in rear, is built of linn-stow, and measures 10 feet by 20 feet, by 9 feet high, and 
 is divided into three apartments. The pit, the area of the building, is very deep, and walled up 
 with stone, and seems to drain into the ground, as it always keeps the same level. When the 
 writer took charge of the hospital he found the grounds, which comprise about three and a half 
 acres, a surface partly grassy, cut up by wagon-roads and foot-paths. The fences that once inclosed 
 it were gone, and the trees and bushes that once ornamented it all dead, or trampled down and 
 neglected. Now a substantial picket-fence incloses the grounds ; foot-paths describing ornamental 
 figures have been laid out, and hundreds of trees, bushes, shrubs, and plants have been set 
 out ; but, unfortunately, owing to the light, sandy character of the soil, but few of these have sur- 
 vived, except some 430 feet of lilac hedging along the edge of the bluff, a few rose-bushes and 
 Missouri currants, a few Lombardy poplars, set out especially to embellish the effect of the building, 
 and a number of plum trees. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of aid; and principal diseases at Madison Barracks, 
 
 York, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 t 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 
 * i? 
 
 9 
 
 i 
 
 
 *. 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 S 
 
 Whole mi 
 taken s 
 
 Mnlarinl f 
 
 Diarrhtea 
 dysente 
 
 Venereal 
 eases 
 
 Rheiiinati 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrliiil 
 tious 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 o 
 
 1866. .. 
 
 259. 75 
 
 1 331 
 
 78 
 
 207 
 
 50 
 
 186 
 
 1 
 
 241 
 
 j 
 
 1869 .... 
 
 94 58 
 
 367 
 
 16 
 
 28 
 
 12 
 
 88 
 
 
 78 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT ONTARIO, OSWEGO, NEW YORK. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON H. E. BROWN, UNITED STATES ARMV. 
 
 Fort Ontario is situated in latitude 43 21' 30" north, longitude 76 32' 30" west, and is 282 
 feet above the level of the ocean, and 49 above the level of Lake Ontario. It is on the right bank 
 of the Oswego River, at its junction with Lake Ontario, and faces the lake. The city of Oswego, a 
 flourishing town of about 26,000 inhabitants, is in the immediate vicinity. 
 
 The military history of Fort Ontario is very interesting. The first mention that I can find of 
 Oswego, in the early history of the colonies, is that in 1687 the Ouondaga Indians presented a 
 petition to the mayor and common council of Albany requesting them to establish a trading post 
 and fort at this point. The request seems to have been disregarded, as no defenses existed here in 
 July, 1696, when Frontenac, the governor of Canada under the French rule, landed with a force at 
 the mouth of the river, built a small stockade, and advanced into the Ouondaga valley to attack 
 the Indians, (Five Nations.) Beyond burning a few villages, the expedition was unattended with 
 results, and he returned to Canada. Lord Bellemont, while governor of New York, saw the im- 
 portance of the location, both for trading purposes and to keep the Indians in subjection, and, con- 
 templating establishing a post at this point, material was ordered from England for the purpose ; 
 but the project was interrupted by his death, and nothing was done until 1725, (some authorities 
 say 1722,) when the English and Dutch, with the consent of the Iroquois, made a settlement here, 
 and opened trade. Governor Burnet, of New York, in May, 1727, calls the attention of the Board 
 of Trade to the importance of the position, and states that l< he has commenced a fort at Oswego in 
 order to trade with the Six Nations^ and with their consent." He further announces that he has 
 
104 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 sent a captain, two lieuteiiauts, and sixty men to protect the workmen, and that he will always 
 keep a garrison of one officer and twenty men there. This coming to the ear of the French gov- 
 ernor of Canada, Beauharnois, he, in a letter, dated July 20, 1727, protests against the erection of the 
 fort as a violation of the treaty of" Ghent, (1713,) by the provisions of which both parties were for- 
 bidden to build any works on neutral or disputed territory. Governor Unmet, in reply, asks 
 why, in violation of that treaty, the French have erected a work at " Oneagorah," (Fort Niagara,) 
 and states that he proposes to go ahead and finish his fort at Oswego, which he did in spite of the 
 opposition of the French, who sent several expeditions of a petty character to worry the traders. 
 
 This fort seems to have been a very simple one, only intended for the protection of the traders. 
 Beauharnois, indeed, complains of it as " a redoubt with galleries, and full of loop-holes, and other 
 works belonging to fortifications;" but the circumstances under which he wrote would induce him 
 to magnify its importance as much as possible. Burnet says the " walls were four feet thick, of 
 large, good stone." In 1741 the general assembly of the colony authorized the expenditure of 600 
 sterling to " erect a sufficient stone wall at a proper distance around the trading house at Oswego, 
 either in a triangular or quadrangular form, as the ground will best admit of, with a bastion or 
 block-house in each corner to flank the curtain." Subsequently complaints were made to the same 
 body that the contractors having charge of the work were building the wall of clay, and not of 
 stone, and were making money out of the job. 
 
 On the breaking out of hostilities between the French and English in 1714, the traders and 
 others at Oswego, fearing a raid from Canada, abandoned the post, and it remained in a defenseless 
 condition until 1755. 
 
 In that year the English authorities agreed upon a plan for the invasion of Canada, one portion 
 of which comprehended an attack on Fort Niagara, with Oswego for a base of supplies. Accord- 
 ingly, Colonel Shirley, with his own and Sir William Pepperell's regiments, was ordered to Oswego, 
 and arrived there about the end of June, 1755, accompanied by some New York and New Jersey 
 militia. They were prevented by bad weather and sickness in the command from completing 
 their original intention, and remained at Oswego during the winter, building an intrenched camp, 
 and fitting out a fleet for operations in the spring. They also commenced a fort on the east side 
 of the river, which they called Fort Ontario. The result of their work is thus given in the Gentle- 
 man's Magazine, 1756 : 
 
 When it was determined that the army at Oswego should go into winter quarters, they began a new fort upon the 
 hill upon the east side of the river, about 470 yards from the old one; it is 800 feet in circumference, and will command 
 the harbor ; it is built of logs, from 20 to 30 inches thick ; the wall is 14 feet high, and is encompassed by a ditch 14 feet 
 broad and 10 deep ; it is to contain barracks for 300 men. On the other side of the river, west from the old fort, another 
 new fort is erecting; this is 170 feet square. A hospital of frame-work, 150 feet by 30, is already built, and may serve 
 as a barrack for 200 men, and another barrack is preparing of 150 feet by 24. (New York Col. Docs.) 
 
 While the English were thus employed the French were not idle. They had long seen the im- 
 portance of weakening the alliance between the English and the Six Nations, and of securing that 
 powerful confederation as an ally of their own. No energetic steps seem to have been taken, 
 however, until the fall of 1755, when the forts occupied by the French were heavily re-enforced. 
 Large garrisons were sent to Fort La Presentation from Ogdensburg, New York, to Fort Fron- 
 tenac from Kingston, Canada, and a regiment to Fort Niagara. To the latter post was also 
 ordered Captain Pouchot, a young French engineer, to repair the work, it being at that time " a 
 mere rotten stockade, garrisoned by but 60 Canadians." In February, 1756, Pouchot addressed a 
 memorial to the French authorities, setting forth the feasibility of the capture of Oswego. 'His 
 plan was well thought of, and the celebrated Montcalm, then at Fort Frontenac, assigned to organ- 
 ize the expedition. Preparatory to doing so, he ordered a body of 700 French and Indians, under 
 command of Do Villiers, to proceed from La Presentation to the head- waters of the Oswego Itiver, 
 and observe the enemy at Oswego. This force advanced rapidly, surprised and took Fort Bull, (or 
 Brueil,) on Wood Creek, near the head of Oneida Lake, and destroyed a large amount of provisions, 
 destined for Oswego. On the 7th of May, 1756, a party of Indians set out from Niagara, made a 
 raid upon the ship-carpenters at work near Oswego, and returned with twelve scalps and three 
 prisoners. These repeated successes, together with the defeat of Braddock at Fort Duquesne, 
 (the artillery captured there had arrived at Niagara,) produced a profound impression on the Six 
 Nations, and induced them to declare in favor of the French. Through the early summer the par- 
 
FORT ONTARIO, OSWEGO, NEW YORK. 105 
 
 tisaus, under tlie command of De Villiers, continued to scout about the upper waters of the Os- 
 wego River, frequently capturing the stores and provisions destined for Fort Ontario, and keeping 
 the garrison in a constant state of alarm. Montcalin huiried his preparations, and on the 4th of 
 August was able to leave Fort Frontenac with a force of about 3,000 men. He landed on the llth 
 at Four-inch Point, east of Oswego. His forces were composed of French troops, Canadians, and 
 Indians. He marched to a swamp a short distance in rear of Fort Ontario, and sent his chief 
 engineer to make a reconnoissance. That officer in returning to the French camp was unfortunately 
 killed by an Indian, who mistook him for an enemy. Montcalin now gave charge of tin; engineer- 
 ing operations to Pouchot, who was the suggester of the siege, and who had rebuilt Fort Niagara. 
 He built a road through the swamp during the night, and opened a battery within (50 paces of Fort 
 Ontario, and continued his work with such effect that the English abandoned the fort, and fled in 
 disorder across the river to Fort Oswego, (or Pepperell.) Montcalm immediately sent a strong force 
 to cross the river above, and cut off all retreat on the west bank, and opened fire the next morning 
 on Fort Oswego with a strong battery posted on the river bank. Colonel Mercer, the English com- 
 mander, was killed by a cannon shot, and the English, finding themselves surrounded, surrendered 
 in the afternoon. Montcalm captured 120 cannon, 9 vessels of war in process of construction, and 
 an immense quantity of munitions of war and of provisions. He took 1,700 prisoners, many of 
 whom were citizens employed to work on the ships. Montcalm pledged his word for the safety of 
 the command, but, notwithstanding, 100 unfortunate prisoners were delivered over to the Indians 
 for torture, to atone for their losses, and a horrible scene of massacre now took place. The sick 
 in hospital were dragged out, scalped, and murdered ; one wounded officer was killed in his tent, 
 and a large number of the garrison put to the torture. The French losses in the siege were 30 
 killed and wounded ; the English over 150, a large number of whom were murdered after they 
 had surrendered. On hearing of the projected attack, the English had ordered re-enforcements 
 .from Scheuectady to Fort Ontario, but receiving information of the surrender, they did not pro- 
 ceed further than Fort Williams, on Wood Creek. Montcalm had the artillery and munitions of 
 war removed to Niagara, and the forts dismantled, and he returned with his army to Canada, 
 where a short time afterwards he fell, bravely fighting on the Plains of Abraham. The forts thus 
 captured are described by a French officer, present at the siege, (probably Montcalm himself,) as 
 follows. (Paris Docs. No. 12, in Documentary Hist, of New York.) 
 
 Fort Ontario is situated on the right bank of the river, in the middle of a very high plateau. It consists of a 
 square of 30 toises (180 feet) a side, the faces of which, broken in the center, are flanked by a redau placed at the point 
 of the break. It is constructed of pickets 18 inches in diameter, smooth on both sides, very well joined the one to the 
 other, and rising 8 or 9 feet from the ground. The ditch that encircles the fort is 18 feet wide by 8 deep. The exca- 
 vated earth had been thrown up en glacis on the counterscarp, with a very steep slope over the berm, (covered way.) 
 Loop-holes and embrasures are formed in the pickets on a level with the earth thrown up on the berm, and a scaffold- 
 ing of carpenters' work extends all around so as to fire from above. It has eight guns, and four mortars with double 
 grenades. The old fort, Chonagueii, (Oswego,) situated on the left or west bank, consists of a house with galleries, 
 with loop-holes on the ground-floor and principal story, the walls of which are 3 feet thick and encompassed, at a 
 distance of 3 toises, (18 feet,) by another wall 4 feet thick and 10 high, loop-holed, and flanked by two large square 
 towers. It has likewise a trench iucircling on the laud side, where the enemy (the English) had placed eighteen pieces 
 of cannon and fifteen mortars and howitzers. Fort George is situated 300 toises beyond that of Chonaguen, on a hill 
 that commanded it. It is of pickets, and badly enough intrenched with earth on two sides. 
 
 The forts thus dismantled remained unoccupied until 1759, when the P'nglish, advancing to the 
 attack of Fort Niagara, left a camp of 500 men here as a corps of observation. The French com- 
 mander at La Presentation, thinking they would have no time to intrench themselves, advanced to 
 attack them, and would have surprised the whole force, had not a priest, who was along, insisted on 
 delaying the attack that he might make a speech to the troops. The English thus discovered the 
 approaching force, sallied out and defeated them. In July, 1760, General Amherst strengthened 
 the forts and collected a large force here, which was subsequently used for the final capture of 
 Canada, After this the English kept a garrison at Forts Ontario and Oswego until the revolutionary 
 war. During a large portion of that contest, on account of its isolated position, it was unmolested 
 and but slightly garrisoned. In 1777 Colonel St. Leger rendezvoused here with 700 men detached 
 from Burgoyne's army, and was joined by Brant with 700 Indians. They marched to besiege Fort 
 Stanwix on the Mohawk, but were defeated and pursued to Fort Ontario, when St. Leger hurriedly 
 embarked for Montreal. In 1783 Washington prepared an expedition, under command of Colonel 
 14 
 
106 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Willett, to capture Fort Ontario. The command assembled at Fort Stauwix, and marched for 
 Oswego, were overtaken by heavy snows, and suffered greatly. When within a few miles of Fort 
 Ontario some wood-cutters observed them aud went to the fort with the news, which Colonel Wil- 
 lett learning, he retreated without attempting the capture. Peace was soou after declared, and no 
 further operations were conducted. In 1796 the post, with all others that had been in possession 
 of Great Britain, was transferred to the United States. From that time until the war of 1812 the 
 fort was suffered to fall into decay, and on the breaking out of hostilities it was but partially 
 armed, and unable to resist an enemy. The English, influenced by the reports of large amounts 
 of stores collected here, sent a fleet with 3,000 men to attack the place, which appeared before the 
 town on the 5th of May, 1814. The Americans prepared a battery on shore, aud in the most gal- 
 lant manner repulsed an attempt to land the troops. On the 6th an engagement took place of 
 several hours' duration between the fleet and our forces, ending in the British effecting a lauding. 
 The Americans, but 300 in number, retreated in good order up the river, burning the bridges in 
 their rear. The British, not succeeding in capturing any prisoners, burned the barracks, spiked 
 the guns, and retired. Our loss was 6 killed, 38 wounded, and 24 missing. The loss of the euemy 
 was 235. From that time to the present Fort Ontario has remained in possession of the United 
 States, with a small garrison, generally of one company. The present garrison is Battery A, First 
 United States Artillery. 
 
 The reservation embraces about 75 acres, extending from the river on the west to Ninth 
 street, in Oswego, on the east, and from the lake on the north to Schuyler street. Of the geology 
 of the vicinity there is not much of interest to be said. The rocks belong to the transition 
 period, between the primary and carboniferous systems, (designated by the State geologist as the 
 " New York system," and which probably correspond to the upper silurian and lower devonian rocks 
 of the English geologists,) and to recent formations, (quarternary rocks.) The transition rocks 
 are divisible into four groups, commencing with the oldest: 1. Pulaski shales, consisting of sand- 
 stone shales, with a large intermixture of carbonate of lime, and containing various fossil shells, 
 but not in great quantity; 2. Gray sandstone; 3. Medina or red sandstone. These two layers are 
 in many places so intimately mingled, the color extending one into the other, that it is difficult to 
 distinguish them. The medina sandstone is colored with oxide of iron; is lighter and less compact 
 than the gray, which is extensively quarried for building purposes. The fossils are very few in 
 number and chiefly fucoids. 4. Clinton group, composed of green, blue, and brown argillaceous 
 shales, alternating with greenish-brown sandstones and with Oneida conglomerate. The quarter- 
 nary rocks consist of clay, sand, loam, boulders, lake marl, calcareous tufa, and, in some portions 
 of the county, bog iron ore. These are all superficial, resting on the bed-rock, and rather caused by 
 the transportation of materials from elsewhere than by the decomposition of rocks in situ. They 
 are deposited as soil in ridges and small hills, completely hiding the bed-rock from view. This 
 soil is fertile and well adapted to the growth of wheat, barley, and other cereals. Apples, pears, 
 cherries, and the various berries are raised in great abundance, as are also the ordinary garden 
 vegetables. 
 
 There are no springs or ponds of water on the reservation. The ground is boggy, and saturated 
 with water in some places, being merely the drainage toward the lake, from the higher ground 
 behind the town. Several wells have been dug in the fort, which obtain their water in this way, at 
 a depth of 25 or 30 feet. One was bored to a depth of 280 feet without striking a spring. 
 
 The average monthly fall of rain for six years was 3.66 inches. The largest fall in any one month 
 was in May, 1864, 6.73 inches ; and the smallest in June, 1864, 0.88 inch. It should be stated that 
 these figures include snow and rain. The yearly mean of temperature since 1864 has been as fol- 
 lows : 1864, 26.46 . 1865, 46.38 ; 1866, 44.88 ; 1867, 45.03 ; 1868, 44.67 ; 1869, 48.65. 
 The extremes of temperature in each year have been as follows : 
 
 Date. Highest observation. Lowest observation. 
 
 1864 July 10, 87 January 2, 6 
 
 1865 August 31, 86 .January 8, 4 
 
 1866 July 15, 88 1 . . .December 21, 8 
 
 1867 June 30, 88 December 9, 5 
 
 1868 July 4, 94 January 10, 5 
 
 1869 August 2, 91. . , ..,..... .March 1, 6 
 
PORT ONTARIO, OSWEGO, NEW YORK. 107 
 
 The average of the barometer during the years named has been 29.58. I can find no observa- 
 tions which can be depended on to ascertain the degree of humidity. There are no prevailing winds 
 peculiar to any period of the year. In winter the winds seem to blow in about equal proportions 
 from the north, south, southeast, and southwest ; in summer from the west and northwest ; and in 
 the fall from the north, northwest, and west. As'regards the length of seasons, the winter may be 
 said to commence with the first fall of snow, about the 1st of November, and lasts until the middle 
 of May. There are seldom more than two months of really warm weather. 
 
 The old fort was rebuilt in 1839, with kyanized wooden revetment and earth parapet, under 
 charge of Lieutenant Daniel Leadbetter, United States Engineers. This is now being replaced by 
 sandstone quarried on the reservation. 
 
 The soldiers' barrack is a two-story building, constructed in 1842, of limestone quarried on the 
 lake shore, about 30 miles from Oswego. The building is 62 feet front by 39 feet deep, and 24 feet 
 from floor to eaves, and contains on the first floor a mess-room and kitchen, 35 by 27 feet 9 inches, 
 and 10 feet 2 inches from floor to ceiling, and a reading-room of the same dimensions. The second 
 story contains two squad-rooms, each 35 by 28 feet, and 12 feet from floor to ceiling; each having 
 a small non commissioned officers' room partitioned off in one corner, giving, with the present com- 
 mand, about 550 cubic feet of air per man. They are warmed in winter by sheet-iron coal stoves, 
 and lighted and ventilated by the ordinary windows and doors. The building has a piazza 10 feet 
 broad in front, and at either end of the piazza, on the ground floor, are a urinal and wash-room, 
 supplied by pipes from the city water-works. The men's sinks are in the ditch of the fort, 
 outside the main work. 
 
 The quarters for married soldiers and laundresses consist of four small wooden buildings, and 
 one of stone, (the latter the old post hospital,) situated on the reservation outside the work. Each 
 wooden cottage contains three rooms, and is well adapted for the purpose. The officers' quarters 
 are two two-story limestone buildings, each intended for two sets of quarters. Each set of quarters 
 contains, on the ground floor, one dining-room, 15 feet 6 inches by 14 feet 10 inches, and a kitchen 
 of nearly the same dimensions, with a closet opening in each room. The second story contains a 
 parlor, 15 feet 10 inches by 14 feet, and a bed-room, 15 feet 6 inches by 14 feet. There is also a 
 small hall bed-room, 7 feet 8 inches by 9 feet 6 inches. 
 
 In the attics are two good rooms, on either side, measuring, one 16 feet by 13 feet, and the 
 other nearly the same. There are large closets in every room. The quarters are comfortable, well 
 built, well lighted and ventilated ; the only objection to them being the common passage-way for 
 two families. There are no arrangements for bathing purposes. The water-closets or sinks are 
 in out-houses, detached from the main building, and are very defective in their arrangement. At 
 one end of each out-house is a cistern, and at the other the sink, only separated by a stone wall, 
 and so constructed that there is always great danger of the contamination of water in the cistern. 
 The water-closets consist merely of a well, communicating with the main drain of the fort by a 
 small drain, which, instead of leading from the bottom of the sink-well, opens some two 
 feet above it, thus causing the drainage to be always incomplete. The sinks can be flushed 
 with water by means of hose attached to the fire-plug on the parade, and this, to some ex- 
 tent, obviates the defective drainage. There is one other two-story building inside the work; 
 the upper story, containing two rooms, used for ordnance and commissary store-rooms, and 
 the lower story being in temporary use for a guard-house. The room for the guard is 16 
 by 13 feet, and 9 feet 10 inches from floor to ceiling. Behind this are two prison-rooms, one 
 12 feet 6 inches by 6 feet, and the other 12 feei 6 inches by 9 feet. Through the center of the 
 building runs a hall, 26 feet by 6 feet, and on the other side of the hall is a tool-room and three cells, 
 each 8 feet long by 3 feet 6 inches broad, and 9 feet 5 inches from floor to ceiling. These cells hold 
 but 264 cubic feet of air, and are utterly without ventilation, except a small grated aperture over the 
 door, six inches square. Fortunately they are but very seldom used. The guard-room is warmed 
 by a coal stove in winter, but the prison -rooms, behind, are never supplied with stoves, and are 
 very imperfectly heated, being entirely dependent on what heat comes from the front room through 
 an open door and a small grated window. Several prisoners have come on the sick report during 
 the past winter suffering from the effects of cold. Thejre are no means of heating the cells at all. 
 The permanent guard-houses are on either side of the sally-port, and are now used for adjutants' 
 office and first sergeants' quarters. 
 
108 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The hospital is situated on the reservation, outside the fort, about 275 yards from the sally- 
 port. It is built oil the plan indicated in Circular Xo. 4, Surgeon General's Office, April 24th, 1867 ; 
 there being a central executive building, two stories high, with two wings, each one story, and ac- 
 commodations for twenty patients. The whole built of wood, lathed and plastered. The wings are 
 each 44 feet long by 24 broad, and are divided into a ward, 33 by 23 feet 6 inches, a water-closet and 
 bath-room, 11 feet by 8 feet 6 inches, and an attendant's room of the same dimensions. Between these 
 small rooms is a passage way, 1 1 by C feet. The hospital is warmed by coal stoves lighted at night 
 by oil lamps and candles, and ventilated by the ridge system. The water-closets and baths 
 are arranged with a pull connecting with the water pipes, so as to keep a constant stream of 
 water flowing in them. There is no dead house ; an unoccupied room in the hospital being so used, 
 when required. The hospital is too far from the garrison, is on the lowest ground of the reserva- 
 tion, and very much exposed to cold winds. The propriety of moving it to a more favorable locality 
 is under consideration. 
 
 While stationed at the South it was often a matter of serious consideration to know how to 
 isolate cases suspected to be epidemic or infectious in their character, the ordinary lathed and 
 plastered wards being entirely unfitted for the purpose on account of their liability to absorb and 
 retain the infection from the sick. I have thought that at all stations, when infectious diseases are 
 apt to prevail, it would be advisable to construct a ward entirely of carbolized wood no other 
 material being permitted to enter into the floors, walls, or ceilings. The process for carbolizing 
 wood, by the aid of superheated steam, is very reasonable in cost, does not interfere with its being 
 worked into any shape desirable, uor with its appearance, and renders it absolutely impervious to 
 absorption of any kind. The only objection to it is the possibly increased inflammability of the ma- 
 terial used. The subject of warming hospitals becomes a matter of great importance in stations so 
 far north as this is. With the mercury at or near zero, the single stove in the center of the ward 
 heats it very imperfectly. The beds nearest to the fire are overheated, and those in the further 
 corners of the ward are uncomfortably cold. I believe it would be a much better plan to heat the 
 wards by means of hot air, or water pipes, with a coil under each bed, which could easily be so 
 arranged as to cut off the heat from any given bed at any time. 
 
 The post bakery has a capacity of 100 loaves per day. 
 
 There is no laundry, chapel, or school-house at the post. A room in the soldiers' barracks is 
 fitted up as a reading-room, where the soldiers receive occasional instruction from the commanding 
 officer. There is no post library. There is a library of 84 volumes belonging to Battery A, First 
 United States Artillery, kept in the first sergeant's quarters. It consists of a few standard works 
 on history and biography, and miscellaneous literature. The officers and soldiers have access to 
 the Gerritt Smith Free Library, and the City School Library of Oswego, two excellent collections, 
 embracing over 10,000 volumes, in every department of literature. The post is supplied with water 
 by the City Water Company, obtaining its water from the Oswego Kiver, about three miles above 
 the city. The supply is unlimited, and of good quality. There are also four wells inside the work, 
 the water of which is more or less impregnated with lime, and of ordinary quality, and a cistern of 
 small dimensions attached to each officer's quarters, the water of which, on account of its conti- 
 guity to the privies, is unfit for general use. The means of extinguishing fire are ample, by hose 
 attached to the, hydrants of the water company. Fire-buckets, constantly filled, are also kept for 
 immediate use in the hospital. The post is drained by means of sewers of masonry work, there 
 being one main sewer encircling the parade, and having subdrains connecting with each building. 
 The main sewer discharges into the lake just below the fort. The system of sewerage is good, but 
 the construction of some of the drains is bad, and some of them are out of repair. The troops 
 have unlimited opportunity for bathing in the lake in the summer season. In winter there are no 
 facilities for the purpose. 
 
 The post garden contains about 2J acres of land, and is cultivated by details from the post. 
 Last summer the vegetables raised were enough fcr a constant supply for the command, and con- 
 sisted of peas, beans, radishes, carrots, potatoes, beets, onions, parsnips, egg-plant, and corn. 
 
 Mails are received and depart morning and evening to all points. It requires twenty-four hours 
 for a letter to go to department headquarters at New York City, and forty-eight to Washington. 
 There are no ambulances at the post. 
 
FOKT NIAGAEA, NEW YORK. 
 
 109 
 
 Acute diarrhoea Las more or less prevailed during the fruit season last summer, and in the au- 
 tumn months intermittents of a tertian type attacked a limited portion, of the command. Since 
 my arrival the troops have suffered from ordinary catarrh to a certain extent, the result of careless 
 exposure to the weather. I have seen but one case of pneumonia, and none of acute rheumatism, 
 originating here. 
 
 I believe the post to be a healthy one, but that the troops need more and better clothing than 
 that now issued during the long and severe weather to which they are exposed to secure them 
 nTom frequent attacks of a catarrbal and pulmonary character. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal dincaxeit at Fort Ontario, New York, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhs! af- 
 fections.* 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 K 
 
 1868 
 
 61 16 
 
 Ill 
 
 
 16 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 
 23 
 
 
 1869 
 
 54.41 
 
 188 
 
 2 
 
 30 
 
 47 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT NIAGARA, NEW YORK. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS C. K. WINNE AND G. P. JAQUETT, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Niagara is situated on a point of laud at the junction of Lake Ontario and the Niagara 
 Eiver, latitude 43 15' north, longitude 2 west from Washington. Elevation above the sea about 271 
 feet. The nearest town and post office is Youngstown, on the bank" of the river, one mile south; it 
 contains about 800 inhabitants. Lewistown, six miles further south, also on the bank of the river, 
 is the terminus of a branch railroad from Suspension Bridge and of a steamboat line from Toronto. 
 The laud near the river is low and sandy, being but a few feet above high-water mark. Immedi- 
 ately east of this the bank rises about 20 feet to a level plateau, on which the fort is built. The 
 underlying rocks are lime and sandstones. The climate is mild. The extremes of heat and cold 
 are seldom experienced, making it one of the most comfortable and salubrious locations in the 
 country. The mean temperature is about 48, the highest 98, and the lowest 7 below zero. The 
 amount of rain for the past year measures 36 inches, with snow included. The prevailing winds 
 are southwest and northeast. The winter is the longest season ; it continues about five months of 
 the year. The other seasons are about equally divided. 
 
 This post, which has been garrisoned by the troops of three different powers, exercised from 
 the time of its erection an immense influence over a vast extent of country ; it served as a center 
 of civilization, from which all the commerce of that time radiated ; prevented or checked encroach- 
 ments of rivals, and served as a depot for preparing expeditious to explore or devastate adjacent 
 territory. 
 
 In 1675 Louis XIV conferred upon Eobert Caralin, Sieur de la Salle, a grant of land at Fort 
 Frontenac, (now Kingston, Canada West.) He extended and increased its fortifications, but, dis- 
 satisfied with his position after the brilliant discoveries of Marquette and Joliet, determined to lead 
 an expedition and connect the territory which he hoped thus to acquire with Montreal by a chain 
 of military posts. Empowered by additional letters patent, he commenced building a vessel called 
 Le Griffon, on the Niagara Eiver above the falls, supplies being conveyed from Fort Frontenac, estab- 
 lished by him iu 1678 or 1679, from thence to present site of Lewiston, and by portage over the "Three 
 Mountains" to mouth of Ca.yu.ga Creek. The post of Niagara thus founded by him was continued, 
 
110 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 ami in 1687 converted into a "fort with four bastions" by the Marquis de Nonville, at that time gov- 
 ernor of New France. De Nonville, returning to Montreal after an unsuccessful campaign against 
 the Indians, left Troyes with 100 men in command of Niagara. The post was soon after closely 
 besieged by the Senecas, and nearly all the garrison perished from disease ; shortly after it was 
 dismantled and deserted. During the succeeding years of French disaster, other posts, including 
 Fort Fronteuac, were abandoned, and so remained until 1725, when Fort Niagara was reoccupied 
 and strengthened. 
 
 "-It had its ravines, its ditches and pickets, its curtains and counterscarps, its covered way, 
 drawbridge, and raking batteries; its stone towers, laboratory, and magazine; its mess-house, bar- 
 racks, and bakery, and blacksmith shop ;" and for worship, a chapel with a large ancient dial over 
 the door to mark the course of the sun. It was, indeed, a little city of itself, and for a long period 
 the greatest place south of Montreal or west of Albany. The fortifications originally covered a 
 space of about 8 acres. At a few rods from the barrier gate is a burying ground ; it was filled 
 witli the memorials of the mutability of human life, and over the portals of the entrance was painted 
 the word " Best." It is supposed by De Yeaux to have been used as a state prison, and probably 
 about this time, "the dungeon of the mess house, called the black -hole, was a strong, dark, and 
 dismal place ; and in one corner of the room was fixed the apparatus for strangling such unhappy 
 wretches as fell under the displeasure of the despotic rulers of those days. The walls of this dun- 
 geon, from top to bottom, had engraved upon them French names and mementos in that language. 
 That the prisoners were no common persons was clear, as the letters and emblems were chiseled 
 out in good style." 
 
 In 1755, during the series of petty conflicts between the French and English in America, before 
 the declaration of war in Europe, an expedition was fitted out against Fort Niagara, by Governor 
 Shirley, of Massachusetts, but after the troops reached Oswego nothing was attempted, owing to 
 sickness, desertion, and unfavorable weather. 
 
 In 1759, General Amherst being commander-in-chief, a force of English colonial troops and 
 Indians was dispatched, under General Pridcaux, against Fort Niagara, then garrisoned by COO 
 French soldiers, commanded by Captain Pouchot, Chevalier de St. Louis. The investment was 
 commenced July 8, and continued after the death of General Prideanx, by Sir William Johnson ; 
 four parallels were opened au.d batteries planted. July 24, re-enforcements marching to relief of 
 garrison were intercepted on the river road near what is now called Bloody Eun, and defeated 
 after severe fighting, the French losing heavily in officers. Further defense on the part of the 
 garrison being useless, they, on being summoned, surrendered. The post was garrisoned by the 
 English, who continued to hold it, though small detachments were frequently attacked by the hos- 
 tile Senecas, particularly in 1763, when, during the Pontiac war, the Indians made an unsuccessful 
 attack upon the fort. Heavily garrisoned by the English during the Revolution, it served as head- 
 quarters for the war parties which devastated a large part of the State of New York, as both the 
 expedition led by Colonel Butler, which culminated in the massacre of Wyoming in 1778, and that 
 which desolated Cherry Valley in the same year, started from Fort Niagara. 
 
 The force led by General Sullivan against the Indians in 1779 was intended, originally, also to 
 operate against Fort Niagara, but the campaign ended with only the destruction of the Indian 
 villages. Peace was declared between England and the United States in 1783, but the English 
 continued to hold Niagara until 1796, when it was garrisoned by United States troops. In 1799 
 another Indian war was anticipated, and the garrison re-enforced. In May, 1801, General W'ilkin- 
 son then being in command of the frontier, and directed to open a military road between the twd 
 lakes, ordered Major Porter, at Fort Niagara, to commence operations, but this road was not com- 
 pleted by the general government, for in 1802 the United States mail was still carried from Utica 
 to the fort, via Buffalo and the Canadian side of the river. A daughter of Dr. W r est, surgeon to the 
 post from 1805 until 1814, thus describes the fort at that time : 
 
 It was then surrounded on three sides with strong pickets of plank, firmly planted in the ground and closely joined 
 together; a heavy gate in front of double plank, closely studded with iron spikes. This was inclosed hy a fence with a 
 large gate just at the hrow of the hill, called the barrier gate. The fourth side was defended with embankments of 
 earth, under which were formerly barracks, affording a safe though somewhat gloomy retreat for the families of sol- 
 diers, but which had been abandoned and the entrance closed long before my remembrance, having been so infested with 
 rattlesnakes that had made their dens within, that it was hardly safe to walk across the parade. 
 
FORT [NIAGARA, NEW YORK. 1 1 1 
 
 June 26, 1812, tbe official declaration of war between Great Britain and the United States 
 reached Fort Niagara, and vigorous preparations were at once made for defense and means taken 
 to strengthen the work. But after a feeble and pusillanimous warfare had been kept up for some 
 time, General McClure wantonly binned the village of Newark, (now Niagara City,) evacuated Fort 
 George, and removed his headquarters to Buffalo. Fort Niagara was then garrisoned by 370 men 
 under command of Captain Leonard, United States Artillery. In the night of December 19, 1813, 
 during the absence of the commanding and several other officers, the English, 300 strong, led by 
 Colonel Murray, crossed the river, captured the sentinels, and took the work by sudden assault or 
 surprise, losing only five men killed and six wounded ; 65 of the American garrison were killed, 
 and nearly all of the remainder taken ; 27 cannon of large caliber, 3,000 stand of small arms, besides 
 a large amount of clothing, garrison equipage, and commissary stores, fell into the hands of the 
 enemy. 
 
 General Cass, who was ordered to the frontier, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of War, 
 thus speaks of the capture of the fort : "The fall of Niagara was owing to the most criminal negli- 
 gence ; the force in it was fully competent for its defense." The English, to retaliate for the out- 
 rage perpetrated by General McClure iu burning Newark, destroyed the villages of Lewiston and 
 Buffalo, besides all the dwellings on the lake as far as Eighteen-mile Creek. 
 
 The English held Niagara until the close of the war, and surrendered it to the United States 
 in March, 1815. This restoration was the last event of public interest that has occurred in the his 
 tory of the work. 
 
 The old barrack is a stone building within the fort, 134 by 24 feet. The walls are but 8 feet 
 high, and as it is situated very near the western wall, the ventilation is very deficient. The bar- 
 rack now occupied is outside the fort, in an open and airy situation, and was erected in 1868-'69. 
 It is a two-story brick building, the lower floor being divided into kitchen, mess-room, and wash- 
 room, the latter supplied with hot and cold water, and furnished with a trough for the reception of 
 basins. The wash-room is also used as a bath-room in winter half-barrels serving for bath-tubs. 
 The second floor contains two dormitories, each 52 by 22 by 10 feet, giving 476 cubic feet air space 
 per man. They are heated by stoves, and lighted and ventilated by sixteen windows each. The 
 bunks are iron bedsteads. New sinks have recently been built near the barrack. The kitchen is 
 well furnished, containing a range and apparatus for hot water; and the mess-room is commodious 
 and well lighted. 
 
 Laundresses' quarters are contained iu a new frame building situated 200 yards south of the 
 fort; they comprise six rooms, and are iu good condition and well ventilated. 
 
 The officers' quarters are in what is called the old castle or mess-house a solid stone building 
 within the fort, 96 by 48 feet, and two stories high. It contains nineteen rooms. 
 
 The guard-house, erected in 1869, is a two-story frame building, 32 by 26 feet. The first floor 
 contains two rooms for the guard and six cells, the latter divided by a hall measuring 13 feet 8 
 inches by 10 feet 5 inches. The cells measure 7 feet by 4 feet 4 inches, and are ventilated by small 
 windows opening exteriorly, and openings over the door into the hall between them. The windows 
 are 2 feet long and 1 foot wide, and the openings 1 feet long and 6 inches wide, with a board slid- 
 ing over it. There is no ridge ventilation, except for the walls and space between the ceiling and 
 roof. This is 2 feet square. The second story is divided into three rooms and a hall, each 10 feet 
 high, and ventilated by windows. These rooms measure respectively 14 by 24 feet, 6 by 10 feet, 
 9 by 24 feet. The room designed as court-martial room is now used as a billiard room for both 
 officers and men. Fresh and foul air are exchanged through the same openings. The whole build- 
 ing is ventilated by windows. 
 
 The hospital, located near the river, about 400 yards south of the fort, is a temporary wooden 
 structure, ill adapted for the purpose. For the general arrangement of the building see Figure 15. 
 
 A, ward, 23 by 40 feet; B, steward's room, 9 by 
 17 feet ; C, surgery, 9 by 17 feet ; D, attendant's 
 room, 10 by 15 feet; E, store-room, 10 by 15 feet; 
 F, wash-room ; H, commissary store-room ; K, kitch- 
 
 A 
 
 en, 24 by 17 feet ; L, coal shed. Figure 15 _ Sl , al6i 37 feet to l inch . 
 
112 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 Its location, on the high bank of the Niagara lliver, insures all the air necessary, and some- 
 times more than is comfortable. The rooms are ventilated by windows opening at the top, aided 
 by small openings near the floor, the latter communicating by flues with the attic above. Stoves are 
 used for heating, and kerosene oil for the artificial illumination of the building. The ward contains 
 nine beds, giving to each 1,431 cubic feet of air space. The water-closets are situated to the right 
 and rear of the hospital. They are two compartments in a small wooden building, and conve- 
 niently arranged. The dead house is a small frame structure, situated 70 yards to the north 
 of the hospital. The water supply for the hospital is from the Niagara River. The water at times 
 is unpleasant, and at all times unsuitable for hospital purposes, owing in part to the great number 
 of dead animals which are thrown into the river and find their way to its mouth, or are stranded 
 along its shores in various stages of decomposition. The most unpleasant water is obtained after 
 a severe storm of rain and wind. Besides the washings from an extended surface, the bottom of 
 the river is made to yield largely of a deposit, which, when diffused, does not add to the pleasant 
 character of the water. There have been, however, no cases of disease traced to its impurities 
 nor any unpleasant effect produced by its use. 
 
 The laundresses are mostly supplied with river water, which is furnished by police parties, in a 
 cart duly constructed for the purpose. Buckets filled with water and hooks and ladders are conve- 
 niently placed in and about the various buildings of the post, to be used in case of fire. 
 
 The country lying back of the fort, though generally level, is sufficiently undulating to afford 
 perfect drainage. The cleared portions of the public lands mostly discharge their waters into the 
 Niagara River by natural surface drainage. The portion still covered by timber has its drainage 
 eastward, and through a small creek enters Lake Ontario. The hospital grounds are especially 
 well provided with natural drainage. Slops and offal from the kitchens are consumed by swine, 
 and the excreta either buried or used as a fertilizer. 
 
 There are about 15 acres under cultivation near the post, known as thecompjiny garden. This 
 amount of land produces sufficient for the use of the entire garrison. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is good. During the past year diarrhoea has been the pre- 
 vailing disease. This disease is probably produced more by indiscretion than by any influence of 
 climate, as it is of a temporary character and readily cured. The sudden changes of temperature, 
 with exposure, are also influential in its production. Malarial diseases do not originate at the post ; 
 they are imported, or are developed in cases which have endured the disease in more southern lati- 
 tudes. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of nick, and principal diseases at Fort Niagara, New York, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 A 
 
 H 
 
 f 
 
 13 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 3 
 
 
 be 
 
 S " 
 
 
 3 > 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 
 * * 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 00 
 
 
 S 
 
 s 'S 
 => a 
 
 <t> 
 
 i 1 
 
 =3 
 
 "3 
 
 1 
 
 Dian-hirn 
 dysente 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions 
 
 o 
 
 ' 1 
 
 fc 
 
 1868 . . 
 
 64.66 
 
 156 
 
 11 
 
 25 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 
 23 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 65.58 
 
 54 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT PORTER, BUFFALO, NEW YORK. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON A. F. MECHEM, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is pleasantly located within the city limits of Buffalo, on the right bank of the 
 Niagara River, about half a mile from where Lake Erie empties into that stream. Latitude 42 
 53' north, longitude 78 58' west; altitude, 660 feet. 
 
 The post grounds at present in use are about 200 yards from the river, and GO feet above its 
 level. A part of the ground was ceded to the United States by the State of New York in 1844, 
 
FORT POETER, BUFFALO, NEW YORK. 
 
 113 
 
 and other lots have since been purchased, making the reservation at present about 20 acres, one 
 half of which is used for the purposes of the post. The average temperature is 46 F.; extreme 
 cold, 9 F. ; extreme heat, 90 F. The prevailing winds are west, northwest, and southwest. 
 
 Fort Porter proper was originally described as barracks and defensive works at Black Rock, 
 New York, consisting of a block house surrounded by a terre-plein and outer battery. The work, 
 as completed, was a sunken redoubt, with a stone keep or citadel, surrounded by a terre-plein. The 
 keep or citadel was burned by bounty -jumpers confined therein in 1863. Barracks for two companies 
 were erected in April, 1867. They consist of two frame buildings, 115 by 25 feet, and two stories 
 high. The dormitories are in the second story, each being 55 by 264 feet, and 8 feet 10 inches high, 
 giving 518 feet air space per man. 
 
 The officers' quarters are one-story frame cottages, without cellars. All the buildings are badly 
 built of unseasoned lumber, and are very uncomfortable in the winter season. 
 
 The hospital is an L-shaped frame building. One wing, 63 feet long by 23 feet wide and one 
 and a half stories high, contains the offices, kitchens, &c. The other wing, 80 feet by 27, and one 
 story high, contains the hospital ward, 41 by 26 feet, and 12 feet high. The ward is warmed by 
 stoves, and ventilated by an air-shaft of ingress one foot square, which conveys the air underneath 
 the ward and opens under one of the stoves, which is partially surrounded by a zinc sheathing. 
 The vitiated and heated air is carried off by a shaft passing with the stove-pipe through the roof. 
 The bath-room, water-closets, attendant's room, and mess-room are also in this wing. 
 
 The quartermaster's and commissary's store-house is a frame building, 56 feet 10 inches long by 
 20 feet wide. It is one story and a half high, and contains an office and two store-rooms on the 
 lower floor. On the upper floor are two rooms, one used as quartermaster's and the other as sub- 
 sistence store-room. A good cellar extends about one-half the length of the building. 
 
 The guard-house is a stone building, one story and a half high, converted from a stable to its 
 present use. On the first floor are the guard-room, 17 by 19 feet, and cell room, 15 by 19 feet, con 
 taiuing eight cells, four on each side of a corridor opening into the guard-room. The prison-room, 
 16 by 17 feet, is on the second floor, and is tolerably well lighted and ventilated. 
 
 The subsoil drainage of the parade and other grounds about the fort is by means of tile drains 
 emptying into the larger earthen pipe drains, which carry off the drainage and sewage from the 
 barracks, and some of the officers' quarters. All the contents of the sewers and drains of this part 
 of the post are discharged into the Erie canal, at least 50 feet below the lowest part of the post 
 grounds now used, and 100 yards from the stable, which is the building nearest the mouth of the 
 sewer. The drainage and sewage from the hospital and the officers' quarters, which are on the. 
 higher ground, are carried off by means of earthen pipe drains connecting with the city sewer. 
 
 The post is supplied with good water by means of iron pipes extending from the Buffalo City 
 reservoir to the fort. The reservoir, two squares distant from the fort, is filled with water pumped 
 from the Niagara River. In winter the supply is insufficient, as it is necessary to allow the water 
 to run from the hydrants in very cold weather to prevent it from freezing in the pipes, the feed- 
 pipe not being large enough. The supply fails in some of the officers' quarters and at the hospital, 
 which is on higher ground, and the last point that the water reaches. Independent of this supply, 
 the officers' quarters have large cisterns, which are filled with rain-water from the roofs of the 
 buildings. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases, at Fort Porter, Buffalo, 
 
 New York, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 cs 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 X 
 
 8 ^ 
 
 = 2 
 a S 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 r 
 
 ll 
 
 JJ J 
 
 5 
 
 = 
 
 T, 
 
 '-C 
 
 4 
 
 r" 
 
 J 
 
 lit 
 
 j= = -o 
 t- ' V. 
 
 
 
 
 
 t- t-> 
 
 
 
 
 i s 
 
 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 S "3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 j 
 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1868. ... .. 
 
 140 83 
 
 114 
 
 i 
 
 20 
 
 36 
 
 
 
 7 1 
 
 1869 
 
 154.5 
 
 193 
 
 16 
 
 25 
 
 34 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 41 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
114 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT WAYNE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON B. J. D. IRWIN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Wayne, Michigan, is situated on the right bank of the Detroit River, about two and half 
 miles from the city of Detroit, Michigan. Latitude 42 23' north; longitude 82 58' west; height 
 above the sea 580 feet. 
 
 Since the first settlement at this point, which took place toward the close of the sixteenth 
 century, it has constituted an important military station, receiving its garrisons from the several 
 nations which have consecutively exercised dominion over the regions of country in its vicinity. 
 The first settlement of Europeans at Detroit consisted of a religious mission under the Jesuits, 
 which was promptly followed by a military trading post, established under an officer then in the 
 service of the French government. After remaining in possession of its Gallic owners some sixty- 
 odd years, it passed from beneath their authority, and became a part of the colonial possessions of 
 Great Britain. In the early part of the present century it again changed owners, and became a 
 part of the vast territorial domain of the United States, embraced within what was at that time 
 known as the Northwest Territory. 
 
 During the occupancy of Detroit by its French and English owners, and subsequent to the change 
 that brought it under the control of its present possessors, the troops stationed for its protection 
 were quartered at points which have long since been absorbed by the growth and expansion of the 
 city. 
 
 The site of Fort Wayne was selected some thirty years ago, shortly after which the Engineer 
 Department of the army commenced the construction of a stockade fort in the northern part of the 
 grounds. 
 
 The military reservation pertaining to the United States at this place consists of an irregularly 
 oblong plat of ground, containing some 63 acres, lying parallel with and fronting the river. The 
 geological features of the reservation present but few peculiarities. The formation consists of drift 
 or subaqueous deposits. A thin superficial stratum of yellow sandy clay rests upon a strata of sand 
 and gravel. Some few points in the vicinity of the river margin present accumulations of dark 
 loam, the result of successive deposits of vegetable de~bris. The watershed of the country back of 
 the military reserve manifests itself by the appearance of several small springs, which discharge 
 their contents along the paludal margin of the river. The country in the vicinity of the fort is almost 
 a plain or dead level, and presents the general physical characteristics of the Michigan peninsula. 
 
 The military reserve and the neighboring country produce an abundant supply of white oak, 
 black oak, walnut, and hickory. 
 
 To the south of the fort the American side of the river is fringed with an extensive border of 
 marshy bottom land, which extends some ten or twelve miles. At a point about a mile south of 
 the fort, the river Rouge enters the Detroit River at almost a right angle. Much of the laud border- 
 ing on the Rouge consists of marsh or swamp, and is intersected in many places by small streams, 
 lagoons, and stagnant quagmires, wherein the aquatic vegetation is of the rankest and most prolific 
 character. 
 
 The average mean temperature at Detroit from 1831 to 1842 was given as 47.21 F. During 
 the last year the mean temperature at this post was 48 F. The lowest range of the thermometer 
 was at 7 a. m., February 28th, when it descended to 3 ; the highest at 2 o'clock p. m., August 20th, 
 when it reached 90 F. March was the coldest, and July the warmest, months in the year. The 
 amount of rain was 44. 53 inches. Extremes in June and February, 9.10 inches during the former, 
 and amount inappreciable during the latter month. Snow, amounting to 9.65 inches of water, fell 
 during the year. The prevailing winds were from the southeast and southwest. Fierce thunder- 
 storms are very frequent during the summer and autumn months. 
 
 The original design of the fort appears to have undergone extensive changes, as the works have 
 received almost a complete remodeling, and now consist of an extensive permanent fortification 
 
FORT WAYNE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 115 
 
 constructed of brick and stone, and the necessary earthen additions. When completed, the works 
 are to be armed with some sixty or seventy guns, many of which will be of the heaviest caliber. 
 
 The interior of the main fort is a perfect square, and affords a parade ground, or place cFarmen, 
 containing 84,759 square yards. 
 
 The quarters for the troops at this station consist of two kinds :" Those constructed of stone 
 situated within the fort, and those built of wood on the outside of the fortifications. The barracks 
 consist of an oblong stone structure, three and a half stories high, facing the north, and built per- 
 pendicular to the eastern and western sides of the square. The exterior is plainly but neatly fin- 
 ished. It is 186 feet long and 36 feet 6 inches wide. The front is devoid of balconies or galleries, 
 but the rear of the building has solidly constructed balconies, ten feet in depth on the second 
 and third stories, extending the whole length of the structure. 
 
 The quarters were evidently designed and finished for the accommodation of a battalion of five 
 small companies of troops. The building is divided into five equal divisions, which are in turn sub- 
 divided into halls, dormitories, dining-rooms, &c. The halls are 33 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 11 
 feet high. 
 
 Cast-iron stairways, of a graceful and substantial kind, lead from the ground floor to the several 
 stories of each set of quarters. 
 
 The facilities for heating the quarters consist of large open fireplaces in the dining-rooms and 
 dormitories. Wood stoves, placed in the center of the sleeping apartments, are used in preference 
 to fireplaces. 
 
 In addition to that afforded by the doors, windows, and chimneys, the walls of the building, on 
 each floor, are perforated with ventilators for furnishing a constant supply of pure air and aiding 
 in removing the impure gases generated by the occupants. 
 
 The amount of cubic space allowed to each occupant of the sleeping apartments is seldom in 
 excess of 300 feet. The quarters occupied by Battery G, Fourth Artillery, are furnished with iron bed- 
 steads. New wooden bunks are used by troops composing two companies of infantry. 
 
 The dormitories connect with ablution-rooms and the balconies previously described. These 
 quarters are unexceptionably good and well adapted for troops serving in this latitude. They are 
 every way superior to the wooden or frame quarters at the post. The sinks are badly arranged 
 and miserably constructed, being nothing more than a temporary shed over an open trench, which 
 latter is shifted as often as it becomes filled to repletion.^ The kitchens, store-rooms, and mess- 
 rooms occupy the first floor of the barracks, which are divided into five equal sections, allowing 
 one to a company. While the dining-rooms are unexceptionable, the facilities heretofore afforded 
 for cooking were inadequate, owing to the stoves and kitchen furniture being frequently out of 
 order, by reason of breakage and wear. 
 
 On the grounds outside, and to the south of the fortifications, a number of wooden buildings 
 have been erected. The officers' quarters, hospital, guard-house, quarters for the post band, non- 
 commissioned officers, married soldiers, and laundresses; the store-houses, bakery, sutler's store, 
 artillery stables, quartermaster's stables, ice-house, work-shop, and corrals are irregularly scattered 
 over the grounds, covering an area of some 300 yards from east to west, and 500 yards from north 
 to south. Excepting the officers' quarters, the buildings are one-story frame structures, of a frail 
 and very imperfect character. The fortifications being in an unfinished state, almost everything 
 else at the station partakesin a great measure of their character. The buildings situated outside of 
 the defensive works appear to have been constructed with a view to meeting the temporary wants 
 of the garrison until such time as casemate quarters and other buildings suitable fora permanent 
 stronghold could be furnished. Owing to these facts, but little has been done where much might 
 have been accomplished in improving the quarters, grounds, drainage, &c. The quarters occupied 
 by laundresses and married soldiers are well-constructed pavilion barracks, divided into twenty- 
 four sets, which are excellent and ample for the wants of the command. 
 
 The officers 1 quarters are two-story frame cottages, built somewhat in the cheap tenement 
 style. The house for the commanding officer is unexceptionable in its most minute details, while 
 the remainder of the officers' quarters are miserably constructed, badly arranged, and unsuitable, 
 owing to a variety of defects. The rooms are all under the regulation size, varying from 10 feet 
 
116 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 square to 14 feet square. The lighting is sufficient. The ventilation, especially in winter, super- 
 abundant. The quarters are built to face the east and the river, to which they are parallel. There 
 are three double buildings, with common entrances to halls which lead to four sets of quarters. 
 Owing to the frail nature of the material used in their construction and to the fact that the buildings 
 are raised about two feet above the ground, they are intensely cold and uncomfortable during the 
 winter season. Their position is a very bad one, and they are necessarily crowded, both as to loca- 
 tion and in their subdivision into so many sets of quarters. The privies are inconveniently situated 
 within a few feet of the dining-room doors. Bath-rooms have been constructed for the quarters 
 on the lower floors, but, owing to the difficulty of obtaining a supply of water, they are seldom 
 used for their legitim ate purpose. 
 
 The artillery stables have been occupied temporarily as commissary and quartermaster's store- 
 rooms since the battery was dismounted. They are properly fitted up for the purpose, and in 
 good condition. 
 
 The guard-house is on the southwest corner of the new parade ground, outside of the fortifica- 
 tions, and is a strongly constructed frame building, 54 feet long by 30 feet. It is divided into the 
 guard-room, 30 feet by 26 feet by 12 feet, two prison -rooms, and seven small cells. The ventilation 
 is by twelve windows and two doors and a chimney. The windows in the cells and prison-rooms 
 are heavily barred with close iron gratings. The heating is afforded by one large No. 10 wood- 
 stove, placed in the center of the guard-room. There are no stoves or fireplaces in the cells or 
 prison-rooms. 
 
 Until recently the hospital consisted of a main or pavilion building of one story, and a 
 detachment of one and a half stories high. The main building is a frame structure, resting 
 on posts three feet above the surrounding level, weather-boarded on the outside, with shingle roof. 
 Its site is a little westward of about the center of the reservation, south of the southwest bastion 
 of the main fortification, forming a large part of the west side of the parade grounds. During 
 the autumn of 18G9 it was moved on rollers to its present position, and early in the present year 
 it was remodeled, repaired, and improved in accordance with plans submitted by the medical officer, 
 which were carried out under his own supervision. An extension, 15 feet to the entrance end of 
 the building, was erected, affording suitable accommodation for an office and dispensary. Four of 
 the small rooms, used as store-rooms, office, dispensary, and steward's quarters, were removed and 
 their space thrown into the ward, thereby enlarging it, and giving 22,666 cubic feet of air space, 
 which is occupied by twenty beds, giving 1,133 cubic feet of space to each occupant of the ward 
 when all the beds are filled. Each bed has an allowance of 83.J feet superficial space for its 
 occupant. The exterior of the building is 120 feet G inches long by 24 feet, surrounded by a porch 
 
 11 feet high by 8 feet wide. The roof of the porch is supported by 
 twenty-eight handsome pillars. The building is lighted and ven- 
 tilated by thirty-three windows, five doors, and partial ridge venti- 
 lation. The plan of the hospital is shown in Figure 16. 
 
 A, ward, 73 by 23 feet; B, bath-room; D, dispensary; E E, 
 steward's quarters ; L, lavatory ; K, kitchen ; M, mess-room ; O, 
 office ; R, reading-room ; S S, store-rooms. Height of ward, 13 feet 
 6 inches. It is heated by the necessary number of wood and coal 
 stoves. On the west side and at right angles to the end of the 
 pavilion are two buildings, each containing one and a half stories, 
 j| constructed over brick cellars, 7 feet deep. They are 12 feet distant 
 from the main structure, allowing the porch to extend, without inter- 
 ruption, around the main building, thereby affording a full and unim- 
 peded circulation of air. The detachment on the north end is 24 feet 
 by 16 feet, and is subdivided above and below into two compart- 
 ments, which are set apart for and used as quarters by the hospital 
 steward on duty at the post. Prior to moving the main building, 
 this was used as the kitchen, dining-room, and attendant's sleeping 
 apartments. Parallel with this, on the corresponding end, a new 
 structure, 36 feet by 18 feet, has been recently erected, the main floor 
 
 E p E 
 
 M 
 
 A 
 
 Figure 16. Scale, 30 feet to 1 inch. 
 
FORT WAYNE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 117 
 
 of which is divided equally into a spacious kitchen and dining-room. The upper or half story is 
 intended for an extra ward, to be used in case of necessity. 
 
 The exterior of the building is painted a light salmon color, relieved by dark bases and mold- 
 ings, and light green blinds and lattice work. The interior wood-work is painted white, and the 
 walls and ceilings hard finished and kalsomiued. The flooring is of pine, except that in the ward, 
 which is of white ash. On the outer or west side, a yard containing 137 feet by 130 feet is inclosed 
 by a substantial board fence. Two-thirds of this is platted and laid out as a flower garden, with 
 graveled walks and sodded borders; the remaining or outer portion contains the dead-house, 
 laundry, wood-house, fowl-house, and privies. There are no water-closets in the hospital buildings, 
 but that in the yard is a well arranged structure, recently erected. The dead-house is a neat frame 
 house, 15 by 15 feet, fitted up with table and other suitable conveniences. The baggage of patients 
 is properly labeled, and kept in one of the store-rooms. From the lower yard a door leads into the 
 hospital garden. Owing to the limited amount allowed for the repairs and alterations of the 
 hospital, the dispensary, bath-room, and office have not been completed. 
 
 Prior to changes recently made, the buildings used for the accommodation of the sick at this 
 post were not only inadequate, but in many particulars were defective and unsuitable for the vise 
 of the invalids. 
 
 The original plan of the building was spoiled by endeavoring to get all the necessary apart- 
 ments and subdivisions of a hospital within one long narrow structure, causing the space to be cut 
 up into rooms but little larger than closets, as the central hall, 5 feet wide, left but 15 feet for 
 lateral subdivisions, which constituted the store-rooms, office, dispensary, steward's quarters, &c. 
 As the ward occupied the center of the pavilion, it escaped in a measure this defect. The strongest 
 objection to the hospital lay in the fact that formerly when a patient entered it he had to remain 
 by his bed until he was pronounced well and returned to duty, as the institution afforded no 
 accommodation for the convalescent. This has been remedied by the erection of the spacious 
 porches heretofore described, where comfortable seats afford him rest and enable him to indulge his 
 choice of sunshine or shade as his inclinations or wants may dictate. Hitherto a sojourn in the 
 hospital was little better than a mild form of imprisonment; but now the inmates who wish to do 
 so can enjoy themselves in many ways without offending or annoying others who may require or 
 desire strict quiet or repose. Everything about the place has a bright, cheerful aspect, causing the 
 sick man who enters to feel that within the institution he shall find comforts and conveniences, as 
 well as medicines, to aid in his restoration to health. With the small amount allowed to remodel 
 the hospital, I have endeavored, as far as practicable, to remedy the defects and errors perpetrated 
 in the original construction of the buildings. 
 
 The post bakery is a suitable frame building, 30 feet by 18, with brick ovens capable of baking 
 for one thousand men. The building is divided into a capacious well-ventilated work-room, store- 
 room, and a sleeping apartment for the baker. 
 
 There is no general laundry at the post, the washing of the command being done by the laun- 
 dresses at their quarters. 
 
 The post chapel consists of a frame structure, 44 feet long by 24 feet wide, by 15 feet high, with 
 a gabled roof, a vestry-room, 10 feet by 10, and a vestibule or entrance, 10 by S feet, which is carried 
 up above the main building, forming a contracted steeple. 
 
 The stables consist of a strongly constructed frame building one and a half stories high, 250 
 feet long by 20 feet wide. One-half thereof is subdivided into quartermasters' and commissary 
 store-rooms, and the remainder into stables for officers' private horses and those pertaining to the 
 transportation of the post. It is built of heavy, rough plank, and is well ventilated. 
 
 The post library is a room 15 feet square, and adjoins and opens into the school-room. There 
 are some 200 volumes of miscellaneous light reading. It is under the charge of the post treasurer, 
 supervised by the post council. 
 
 The supply of water is furnished from the Detroit River ; that for the use of the troops quar- 
 tered within the fort is hauled in barrels from the dock, which extends into the river 75 or 100 yards. 
 The officers and all others domiciled outside of the fortification formerly were supplied by a wind- 
 mill, which worked irregularly and afforded but a meager supply. In the summer or calm seasons 
 
118 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the wind-mill ceased to be reliable, and in winter tlie supply from the river is frequently cut off, 
 owing to the pipes freezing up where they pass over the shallow margin of the river. During the 
 summers of 1868 and 18G9 the water supplied for the use of the garrison was very bad, as it was 
 taken from the stagnant margin of the river where the vegetable growth and accumulated drift and 
 debris discharged from the city are carried down by the current, lodged and .accumulated in im- 
 mense quantities, rendering the water impure and injurious in its effects upon the health of those 
 who were obliged to use it. 
 
 The proximity of the cistern to that part of the interior of the work wherein the privies and 
 cess-pools have been excavated and filled np from time to time during the last ten or more years, 
 renders it most probable that the water is contaminated in percolating through the porous sandy 
 soil impregnated more or less with the drainage from the privies. The cistern should, correctly 
 speaking, be denominated a well, as it is not lined with cement, and has the bottom open to allow 
 water to ooze up through the sand. The internal use of this water is quickly followed by nausea, 
 purging, and diarrluea. Upon examination it is found clear and free from sediment, but possessing 
 a disagreeable saline or brackish taste. 
 
 Upon my recommendation the use of this cistern water has been positively interdicted. A 
 small old-fashioned hand fire-engine was furnished for the use of the post in the early part of last 
 year, and has been in daily use in filling up the water-tank since the wind-mill was destroyed in 
 the autumn. A steam fire-engine has recently been added to the material of the post. 
 
 The level nature of the ground in the vicinity causes the drainage to be defective in an extreme 
 degree. A system of sewerage is connected with the interior of the fort, but it is frequently 
 choked or disarranged. Slops, offal, rubbish, and excreta of the post were deposited in the shallow 
 water on the river bank or margin about 300 yards abore the water-pipe during the year 1868. The 
 point of discharge of the drain or sewer from the fort bears this same relation, while the sewer 
 from the officers' quarters draining the privies empties into the river about 50 feet above the mouth 
 of the pipe which carries water from the river for the use of those quartered outside the main work. 
 
 During the summer and autumn the men of the command are ordered to bathe daily, and are 
 conducted to the river at dusk by the first sergeants of the companies. In winter there are no 
 facilities afforded, nor is there any disposition on the part of the men to indulge in general ablu- 
 tion. 
 
 The cemetery is located near the extreme southwest angle of the reserve, and is surrounded 
 by a neat picket-fence. The area inclosed is 150 by 75 feet. 
 
 Instead of a post garden the troops at this station cultivate company gardens. The amount 
 cultivated consists of a piece of rich, loamy soil, measuring 1,100 by 140 feet. The hospital garden 
 contains 250 feet by 100 feet. That set apart as an officers' garden has an area of 400 feet by 100 
 feet. They are cultivated by details from the command, and yield an abundance of almost all 
 varieties of table vegetables. 
 
 The rations procured through the post commissary have been abundant, and are generally of 
 good quality, with occasional exceptions, owing to meat or flour contractors endeavoring to furnish 
 articles inferior in quality to that called for by their contracts. Eggs, milk, butter, chickens, and 
 all varieties of fruits and vegetables are abundant in the vicinity of the post. 
 
 The clothing issued for the use of the troops, especially that furnished to the infantry, is very 
 inferior in quality when compared with that in use some few years ago. The artillery clothing 
 has been of fair average quality, and much better than that supplied for the foot soldiers. In any 
 of the infantry companies it would be a difficult matter to find the clothes of any two men alike in 
 color, texture, or finish. While the uniform is inferior in quality, it is, to the soldier who is obliged 
 to purchase it nolens volf.nn, quite expensive, costing much more than similar articles sell for when 
 sold by private parties. 
 
 The medical supplies are obtained from the purveying depot in New York City, and are 
 received in good condition. 
 
 From the physical and geological peculiarities of the military reserve and the neighboring coun- 
 try, it will be readily inferred that fever of a malarial type usually constitute a large proportion of 
 the sickness prevalent among the troops at this station. The number of cases of intermittent fever 
 
FOKT WAYNE, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. 119 
 
 during the year 1868 was 228 164 of the quotidian typo, and 64 of the tertian variety. More than 
 three-fourths of the cases took place during the last six mouths of the year. The malady became 
 epidemic toward the latter part of July, and continued to make serious inroads on the strength of 
 the command until the month of November. It attacked all classes, young and old, male and 
 female, and the robust as well as the weak and feeble. In some few cases the fever assumed quite 
 a severe type. Three young children and an adult female had the disease ushered in by violent 
 convulsions. The prevalence of diarrhoea during the summer and autumn months was doubtless 
 owing, in a great degree, to the causes that gave rise to the malarial fevers. Malarial emanations 
 from the contiguous and surrounding paludal and marshy grounds; the deleterious effects produced 
 by the use of impure water, and injurious consequences resulting from the constant upturning of 
 extensive portions of the subsoil of the reservation in grading and finishing the ditches and glacis 
 of the fortifications, were the fruitful sources engendering the element that produced the diseases 
 having their origin in miasmatic poison. In the treatment of the fever it was frequently necessary 
 to administer a mild mercurial, following it with a cathartic, in order that the liver and intestines 
 should throw off their torpor and resume their normal functions. Afterward sulphate of quinine, 
 in ten to twenty-grain doses, was given at bedtime. In many cases the quinine failed to break up 
 the recurrent paroxysms. Relapses were frequent. Suspecting that the quinine, sulphate of qui- 
 nine, and quinedia, was not a pure and reliable article, it was determined to try other remedies. 
 With this view twenty-four cases were treated with chloride of sodium in drachm doses, given 
 every hour during the period of intermission, for four consecutive hours before the expected par- 
 oxysms. The disease yielded readily to this remedy, and but few of the cases required more than 
 one or two days' treatment with this cheap but very reliable anti-periodic. Seven of the cases had 
 septenary relapses. Fourteen cases were treated with "cedron bean," of which live had relapses. 
 
 Some two years ago Lieutenant A. M. llaphall, United States Army, while attached to the 
 United States legation at Bogota, Colombia, received from some of the natives of that country 
 specimens of bean which was reputed by them to be not only a "remedia" for calmtura, i. e., 
 levers of a periodical type, but believed to possess, when carried about the person, preventive or 
 prophylactic powers in warding off attacks of disease of this nature. The beau consisted of a large 
 nut, resembling in size and form a butternut. In its dried state, the only form in which I have 
 seen it, the bean consists of a thick porous epicarp, within which are contained two oblong beans 
 or kernels of a yellowish gray color, and weighing from one to two drachms each. In color and 
 fracture they bear some resemblance to a piece of rhubarb. To the taste it is bitter, but not other- 
 wise disagreeable. When the disease was at its height Lieutenant Raphall informed me of the 
 reputation of this remedy, and kindly placed at my disposal three or four of the beans, the efficacy 
 of which I at once proceeded to test. Learning from him that the inhabitants of Bogota and 
 Panama took, as a dose, a portion " sufficient to cover a five-cent piece," I prescribed the powdered 
 bean in five-grain doses, given morning and evening, and was greatly gratified to find in it another 
 efficacious and reliable remedy in the treatment of intermittent fevers. It requires only from ten 
 to thirty grains to break up an attack. In its action it was entirely free from any of the disagree- 
 able effects of quinine. The relapses were fewer than when the disease was treated with chloride 
 of sodium or sulphate of quinine. The limited quantity in my possession prevented me testing its 
 efficacy any further, or varying its mode of administration. 1 have no hesitancy in pronouncing 
 it a valuable anti-periodic, and doubt not that future experiments will demonstrate the existence 
 of a powerful and valuable vegetable alkaloid which, in all probability, will prove at least equal, 
 if not superior as a remedy, to the preparations obtained from Peruvian bark. I regret my ina- 
 bility to indicate the botanical history or character of the tree or shrub from which the "cedrou 
 bean" is obtained, further than that "it is the drupe and seed of Simaba cedron, a tree botanic-ally 
 allied to the Quassia excelsa and Q. amara. n It is used as an antidote to the poison of venomous 
 reptiles, being given internally and applied to the wound. 
 
120 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of *fcfc, and principal diseases at Fort Wayne, Michigan, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 C 
 
 | 
 
 rg 
 
 i , 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 IL 
 
 * 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 = 
 
 
 ", 
 
 X 
 
 ifl 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 C 
 
 a 
 
 je 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 ll 
 
 O <> 
 
 X 
 
 19 
 
 .2 
 
 
 .; 
 
 
 <3 
 
 >3 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 * 
 
 S 
 
 
 Bf 
 
 'S 
 g 
 
 i 
 
 w 
 
 Q 
 
 a 
 s 
 | 
 
 M 
 
 r 
 
 "S 
 
 
 $ 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 H 
 
 
 M 
 
 (X 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 338. 75 
 
 751 
 
 2 
 
 228 
 
 118 
 
 47 
 
 66 
 
 25 
 
 1 
 
 47 
 
 2 
 
 1869 . . 
 
 330.58 
 
 612 
 
 1 
 
 264 
 
 7C 
 
 25 
 
 75 
 
 29 
 
 2 
 
 36 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 IiK-hult! laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, aiitl pleurisy. 
 
 FORT GRATIOT, PORT HURON, MICHIGAN. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON M. K. TAYLOR, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Gratiot is situated on the west bank of the St. Clair River, about 1,300 feet south of the 
 forty-third parallel, in longitude 82 24' west. The distance from the fort to the light-house, at the 
 foot of Lake Huron, is three-quarters of a mile, and the general direction north-northeast. Ele- 
 vation above the sea 598, and above the lake 20 feet. North of the post, and adjoining the reser- 
 vation, is the little village of Gratiot, containing two or three hundred inhabitants. Port Huron is 
 south of the post, and one mile distant. The Detroit branch of the Grand Trunk railroad passes 
 in the vicinity of the post. 
 
 The early military history of the posts along the northern frontier is inseparably connected 
 with the history of the discovery and early settlement of the same region. As is well known the 
 French were the explorers and subsequent occupants, and they brought with them the habits and 
 national traits peculiar to that people. 
 
 In a military point of view the geographical importance of this post was very early appreciated. 
 The site was first occupied by a fortified trading post, which was. in 1(586, taken possession of by 
 M. Du Shut, then commanding at Mackinac, under instructions from the French governor general, 
 Count Frontenac. The English were making strenuous efforts to connect their interests on Hud- 
 son Bay with those of New York, and thereby hem in the French, looking ultimately to their 
 entire extinguishment along the St. Lawrence. The occupation of this post, therefore, had a double 
 purpose; one to thwart the English schemes, and the other, say the instructions, "to protect our 
 savages who may go to the chase, and serve them as an asylum against their enemies." 
 
 In 1701 the post was abandoned for the establishment of a fort at Detroit. This point was 
 occupied again, however, as a military station in 1763, when the English began to make permanent 
 settlements in the country. 
 
 In 1807, soon after General Hull became governor of the territory, the post was occupied by 
 the forces at his command, and immediately after the surrender of the English forces to General 
 Harrison, in 1813, at Detroit, the post was again without military occupation ; but in May, 1814, a 
 party arrived from Detroit, consisting of Major Forsyth, Captain Gratiot, and Captain Cobb, with 
 a detachment of about 40 men, with instructions from General Harrison to locate the post and 
 erect works. The fort thus established was rebuilt in 1828 upon the present plan. 
 
 " The lake and river shore in the immediate vicinity of the fort," says Assistant Surgeon Motte, 
 " is a low, gravelly ridge, extending nearly a quarter of a mile from the margin of the lake, when 
 the ground suddenly rises to the height of 25 feet above the surface of the lake, and retains this ele- 
 vation, with little variation, to near the shores of Black River. This elevated ground gradually 
 approximates the St. Clair toward the fort, and, a few rods below, it becomes a perpendicular 
 bluff in immediate contact with the water." 
 
 This geological section belongs to the upper portion of the devonian group. The subcarbon- 
 
FORT GRATIOT, PORT HURON, MICHIGAN. 121 
 
 iferous system outcrops about fifteen or twenty miles west of this; while upon the Canadian side of 
 the St. Clair River, the boundaries of the oil-hearing strata underlying this section are defined by 
 the outcrops in the vicinity of Petrolia, Knniskillen, and l.othwell. The general dip of the several 
 strata is to the westward, beneath the great coal basin in the central portions] of this State. The 
 peculiar situation of this region has led many to believe that petroleum oil might be obtained by 
 boring to the depth of a few hundred feet, as the geological stratilications have been little disturbed 
 by the upheavals between this and the oil-bearing regions of Canada. The result of explorations, 
 though not favorable to the capitalists engaged in them, gave a very complete knowledge of the 
 underlying formations, which may be made of some practical value. 
 
 All the wells sunk in the vicinity pass through the following formations from above down- 
 ward: 1. Soil and yellow sand, 8 to 12 feet; 2. Compact blue clay, 85 to 100 feet; 3. Vein of 
 coarse sand and gravel, 1 to 10 feet; 4. Limestone shale, intercalated with thin veins of sand 
 . and gravel, 875 feet; making a total depth of about 1,000 feet. Immediately beneath the strata of 
 blue clay immense quantities of gas have escaped in many places, and continued to do so even after 
 the lapse, of twenty-live years ; and, at the depth of two or three feet in the limestone shales, pure 
 water has always been obtained, which has risen in the wells about to the level of Lake Huron, or 
 within ten to twenty feet of the surface of the earth. At the depth of about 500 feet salt water veins 
 were struck, with a supply and strength quite sufficient to warrant investments for the manufacture 
 of that commodity. The soil is mostly a sandy loam, and the proportion of marsh is small. Most 
 of the surrounding country is covered with forest. Among the vegetable productions are oak, elm, 
 maple, ash, hickory, black walnut, pine, &c. 
 
 The physical peculiarities of the St. Clair and Black Rivers, which form the peninsula on which 
 the post is situated, are notewort hy in many respects. The latter is formed chiefly by the superficial 
 drainage of the bottom lands situated to the west and northwest, the smaller tributaries constitut- 
 ing its origin arising in the upland districts of the interior portions of the State. Its course 
 through the low districts is tortuous, the current sluggish, the water highly colored with decom- 
 posing vegetable matters, to the extent of suggesting its appropriate appellation. In the early 
 settlement of this region it was navigated by small sail vessels, and later for many years a little 
 steamer traversed its turbid waters for several miles in the interior. Now, however, its surface is 
 nearly covered with the products of the lumber trade, and millions of logs are annually floated down 
 its current with the spring freshets, ultimately to be manufactured into lumber by the numerous 
 mills situated within a few miles of its termination. 
 
 The St. Clair River presents many interesting features, alike as regards its physical 
 relations and its connection with the early settlement and military occupation of the country. 
 That the stream, has undergone some very important changes since the historic period scarcely 
 admits of doubt. Tradition and the configuration of the adjacent country both indicate it. 
 According to the Indian tradition the ancient river channel was fully a half mile east of the 
 present, and their canoes passed from Lake Huron directly to the head of Samia Bay. The river 
 was then a broad, shallow stream, fully four or five times its present width, and scarcely 20 feet in 
 depth. The changes effected are the result of the lake currents carrying down the. sands along 
 the eastern shore until, approaching the outlet, they have gradually accumulated and encroached 
 on the river, thus forcing the stream into a narrower channel to the westward, with a corresponding 
 increase of the rapidity of the current, and a final excavation of the clay bottom to its present 
 depth of about 65 feet. Within the past ten years, and since the time Captain (now General) 
 Meade made the survey, the shore has receded fully 100 feet, and nearly as much of an accretion 
 has taken place on the Canada side. In confirmation of the view that the channel has become 
 narrower, is the statement of Major Rogers, of the British army, the, officer who took possession 
 of the country in 1700, and who says " the river where it leaves Lake Huron is about 500 yards 
 wide," a distance more than twice its present width. 
 
 The officers' quarters and barracks are so situated as to inclose a parallelogram 100 feet wide 
 and 1'JI feet long, which is used for the parade ground. To the rear of the buildings is a pasture 
 field, and to the south, between the buildings and the railroad, is the post garden. The field south 
 of the railroad is the drill ground, and is also occupied by the Port Huron Driving Park Associa- 
 tion as a race-course. 
 16 
 
122 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The buildings occupied by the enlisted meii as dormitories are two in number, and built of 
 wood. The size of each is as follows : Of the main building at the north end of the parade ground, 
 100 by 30 feet, and 10 feet between floor and ceiling ; of the detached building, 40 by 30 feet, and 
 10 feet between floor and ceiling. On the east end of the main building 13 feet are taken off and 
 divided into two apartments for the use of the first sergeants. This leaves the dormitory space 
 occupied by the companies as follows : One 87 by 28i by 10 feet, and one 40 by 30 by 10 feet, to 
 be occupied by 145 men, the present strength, or au allowance to each of about 254 cubic feet of 
 space. In the main building the men are furnished with old-fashioned bunks, with two tiers of 
 beds, each to accommodate two men. These bunks are about 4 feet wide and Oi feet long, and are 
 occupied by four persons, and are placed so closely together as to allow room barely to get between 
 them. 
 
 lu the detached building the men sleep on a raised platform elevated about a foot and a half 
 above the floor, slightly inclined toward the middle of the room, and extending three-fourths . 
 round the interior of the building. It is needless to say the barracks are over-crowded, par- 
 ticularly so as the windows are all located upon the side fronting the parade ground, and 
 there are no arrangements for ventilation through the roof. In consequence of this, the men 
 situated at the backside of the room get no air except that which has first traversed the bedding 
 and persons intervening, of an almost unbroken line of sleepers. The barracks are warmed by 
 wood stoves, and lighted at night by kerosene lamps. 
 
 The allowance of air space recommended by the English surgeons for each man in quarters is 
 COO cubic feet, and the regulations of the military authorities have fixed the average at 450 feet. In 
 the place of those bunks so common in the American army, they have adopted iron cots for one man 
 only, with the heads of the iron frames fastened to the building, and so made as to be turned up during 
 the day against the wall, and by an additional device the cots form seats for the men. As for 
 bedding, each man is allowed an iron bedstead, a rug, a paillasse, a bolster, two blankets, and two 
 sheets. I must believe that the addition of these sheets to the allowance of enlisted men when in 
 quarters is a necessity to their health and comfort, as it admits of more personal cleanliness, and 
 by the greater facility with which such articles are washed contributing to the improvement of 
 the general sanitary condition of the dormitories. 
 
 Men sleep in their drawers from the first to the last of the week, and sometimes from two to 
 three weeks together, and the blankets are rarely washed every quarter of a year. What must be 
 the effect of the necessary accumulations of the absorbed effluvia of the body by these woolen 
 fabrics, particularly in close quarters and in warm weather, is not difficult to imagine. I believe 
 the government will ultimately see the necessity of some refo 'inatory measures in this direction, 
 and will feel constrained to adopt them. 
 
 The kitchen in rear of the main barrack is well arranged, and of sufficient size to meet the 
 requirements of one company for cooking purposes. The mess-room and kitchen of the other 
 company are very insufficient, being only 30 by 16 feet, and entirely unfinished on the inside. The 
 kitchen is separated from the mess-room by a thin board partition. The table-room is only suffi- 
 cient to allow of seating about one-third of the company at once. It is therefore impracticable to 
 serve the food of the men as it should be, and some complaints have been made in consequence. 
 
 Married soldiers' quarters within the garrison grounds are mere huts, but a building below the 
 railroad is used for some families, where the rooms are more comfortable. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of one building for the commanding officer, and four for the line 
 and staff officers, arranged to accommodate two families each. 
 
 Shallow wells have been sunk on the reservation, and are readily filled with surface water 
 to within four or five feet of the top, and afford a moderate supply of very inferior quality, 
 suitable only for the use of public animals and general police. One well has been sunk a few 
 feet in rear of the hospital building, and another in rear of the adjutant's office. The water in 
 the first is not used for any purpose ; while that of the latter, which is several feet deeper, is used 
 for general police purposes and for the government horses. At the foot of the bluff there are 
 several places where small springs appear. The water supply of the post is very deficient as to 
 quantity and quality. The present arrangements are as follows: A moderate supply of cistern 
 water to most of the. officers' quarters the wells before alluded to and a very limited quantity of 
 
FORT GRATIOT, PORT HURON, MICHIGAN. 
 
 123 
 
 lake water obtained by a penstock connecting with the reservoir of the Grand Trunk machine 
 shop. The cistern water at most of the officers' quarters is sufficient for all the ordinary purposes 
 of domestic use, and if a filtering apparatus were constructed, would do well for drinking pur- 
 poses, though it is generally colored either by the dropping foliage of the surrounding: trees, or by 
 collections on the roofs of the buildings of the soot, dirt, and other matters thrown out by the 
 passing locomotives. The total amount of all the cisterns would be soon exhausted in the event 
 of a conflagration of any magnitude breaking out in the garrison buildings. The supply from the 
 reservoir of the Grand Trunk railroad is very limited, and often entirely cut oft'. The height of the 
 reservoir is barely above the surface of the parade grounds, and to take advantage of this supply 
 a depression has to be made in the earth, so as to secure even a moderate flow. The penstock is 
 tapped near the magazine for the purpose of affording the enlisted men drinking-water, but, like 
 the supply to the officers, the flow is often stopped when the head is exhausted to meet the require- 
 ments of the railroad. In a word, therefore, the supply of wholesome water for the post is very 
 short, and better accommodations in this respect are greatly needed. 
 
 The natural drainage of the post is by no means what a casual inspection of the situation ' 
 would lead one to expect. The superficial deposits of soil, with the substratum of fine sand inter- 
 mixed with a small proportion of clay, render percolation down to the thin layer of coarse sand and 
 gravel immediately overlying the clay beds exceedingly slow; hence, when the surface drainage is 
 not good, the water, after heavy rains, will remain in pools for several days. 
 
 The surface of the surrounding country is quite level and the drainage very bad. Public and 
 private enterprise has done something to reclaim the lands and render them tillable, but not a 
 moiety has been accomplished as yet, compared with what is absolutely needed. The effect of this 
 condition upon the general healthfulness of the region is seen iu the character of the prevalent 
 diseases and the mortality of the inhabitants. 
 
 The general character of the diseases of this section may be inferred in part from what has 
 been said in relation to the medical topography and drainage. A clearer understanding of its 
 salubrity may be obtained, however, by an examination of the mortuary records of the city of 
 Port Huron for the last ten years, whence it appears that the average mortality "for that city is at 
 the rate per annum of one in every sixty of its inhabitants. This is a greater death rate than the 
 average of the whole State, the latter being one in sixty-eight. The diseases are chiefly those of 
 a malarial "origin, embracing remittent, intermittent, and typho-malarial fevers, and along the 
 lake and river, pulmonary diseases, often complicated with malarial manifestations. Rheumatism 
 for the last year has been quite prevalent in its milder forms, chiefly in consequence of the 
 extreme variability of the seasons. From observations, it would appear that typhoid fever, in the 
 restricted sense of this term, is of very rare occurrence, nearly all diseases approaching this condi- 
 tion assuming the typho-malarial form. 
 
 Statement slwwing menu strength, number of sick, andprincipal diseases at Fort Gratiot, Mich if/an, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 1 
 * 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Epidemic ca- 
 tarrh. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Catarrlial af- 
 fecSonB.* 
 
 33 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 rd 
 
 <M 
 
 O 
 
 I 
 
 1868 
 
 54.66 
 
 102 
 
 2 
 
 45 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 115. 08 
 
 320 
 
 3 
 
 113 
 
 24 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 
 16 
 
 33 
 
 25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
124 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT BRADY, MICHIGAN. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON M. K. TAYLOR, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Brady is situated on the southern bank of the Snult Ste. Marie, Michigan, in latitude 
 46 30' north, longitude 84 43' west; altitude COO feet. 
 
 The military history of this post extends back to 1750, at which time the French claimed 
 jurisdiction over all the territory north of the Ohio, and sought to establish posts at the more 
 important places, for the purpose of controlling the trade of the lakes, and excluding the English 
 as far as possible from obtaining a foothold on Lake Superior, as well as to establish a depot of 
 supplies and afford protection to the traders. 
 
 The Marquis de la Jonquiere, Lieutenant Governor General of "New France," as Canada was 
 then called, on the 18th of October granted the Chevalier De Repentigny, an ensign in the Cana- 
 dian troops, and Sieur De Benne, captain of a Condi regiment, six leagues of laud fronting on the 
 Ste. Marie River, and extending six leagues deep as a " seigniory," with the condition that they 
 should take immediate possession, establish a fort, cultivate the soil, and raise stock for the sup- 
 port of the French element then trading along the lakes. A short time previously, however, a 
 small fort had been established, and Repentigny had been in command; but it seems to have been 
 only a temporary arrangement. Under the authority and orders following the grant, that officer 
 proceeded to the post with a small body of French troops, and built a stockade a little east of the 
 present stables and out-house, a portion of the inclosure extending within the old boundary of 
 Fort Brady. The French held possession until 1762, after the fall of Quebec, when the command- 
 ant or governor, as he was called, hastily departed, and left the post in charge of Jean Baptiste 
 Cadotte,a trader and voyageur in the employ of De Repentigny. In the course of the same season 
 a small detachment of British troops, under the command of Lieutenant Jenette, arrived. On 
 December 22d following the post was burned, and the English seem to have held only nominal 
 possession until 1802, when another small force was sent to occupy it. As a matter of fact, how- 
 ever, from the abandonment of the post by De Repentigny until many years thereafter, it was 
 under the control of Cadotte and the French Indian element. At the time of the massacre of 
 Mackinac, during the Pontiac war, this was the headquarters of the Indian forces engaged. From 
 the reoccupation by the English in 1802 until 1820, only a small force was present, probably as a 
 mere exhibition of military possession for the purpose of protecting the traders. 
 
 In 1820 the late General Lewis Cass, then Indian agent for the northwest Indians, made a trip 
 around the lakes, visiting the shores of Lake Superior and afterwards of Lake Michigan, going as 
 far as Chicago, and when he landed at this place on his voyage up, the British flag was flying at 
 the head of the rapids, near the termination of the canal. He proceeded in person to haul it down 
 and raise his own in its place. There were nearly two thousand native and French residents 
 whose sympathies were intensely Canadian, and consequently this act of his so enraged them that 
 they were on the point of attacking him at once. Through the intervention of a few of the Eng- 
 lish half-breeds the Indians were quieted, and the general allowed to go in peace. On his return, 
 however, from his voyage around Lake Superior, General Cass concluded a treaty with the Chip 
 pewas on June 20, 1820, for the purchase of sixteen square miles of land, with a river front extend 
 ing from a large rock near the national boundary above the falls, to the Little Rapids, at the head 
 of Sugar Island, the Indians reserving the right to fish undisturbed. This purchase constituted 
 the original military district. Its boundary was about three and a half miles along the river, by 
 four and one-third miles deep. This rock still remains as one of the leading peculiarities on Ash- 
 man's Bay, being a large boulder lying in shoal water about twenty rods from the ship channel, 
 entering the upper end of the canal. In 1822 the government of the United States determined 
 upon its permanent occupancy, and accordingly General Brady was directed to proceed, in the 
 autumn of that year, to this place with six companies of infantry, and erect a stockade and build- 
 ings. The present hospital and bakery, the first of which was built for officers' quarters, and the 
 latter for a guard-house, are all that are left of the structures then erected. The old stockade and 
 
FOET BRADY, MICHIGAN. 125 
 
 buildings remained until 186C, when they were so dilapidated that it was determined to enlarge 
 the garrison grounds and to erect new buildings. 
 
 The occupation of the post by troops has been interrupted in two instances. The first was 
 during the Mexican war when, at the outbreak of hostilities, the regular troops were withdrawn 
 and replaced by a company of the first regiment of Michigan volunteers, under Lieutenant E. K. 
 Howard, who remained here until the spring of 1848. These troops constituted part of an organi- 
 zation specially mustered into the government service for this purpose. From that time until the 
 1st of June, 1849, the post was unoccupied by troops. The second instance occurred in conse- 
 quence of threatened hostilities in Minnesota, in 1857, when the troops were transferred to Fort 
 Snelling, and the public property turned over to the custody of an ordnance sergeant. It remained 
 unoccupied until May 8, 1866, when Company D, Fourth United States Infantry arrived, from 
 which time to the present, one or two companies have been on duty. 
 
 The boundaries of the reservation have been a source of much trouble from the beginning, but 
 more particularly was this the case when attention was drawn to the mineral wealth of the country 
 west, with corresponding commercial activity along the lakes and enhanced value of the lands. 
 Conflicting titles, growing out of long previous occupation or pre-emption, unsettled every one in 
 his possessions, and from this annoyance the post was not exempt. To determine, therefore, what 
 was necessary for military purposes, and should be permanently reserved, as well as to determine 
 the titles to the lands, Congress passed an act, dated September 26, 1850, authorizing the appoint- 
 ment of a commission to adjudicate claims and for making an authoritative survey of boundaries. 
 Under this act, Lieutenant Wescott, United States Army, was detailed to survey the tract reserved 
 for the occupation of the garrison. Since then various encroachments have been made under 
 different pretexts, until now it appears likely that the military are to be dispossessed of fully one- 
 half of the ground really needed for culture in raising vegetables for the use of the post. 
 
 Fort Brady is situated on the right bank of the St. Mary's River, six miles from Lake Superior, 
 and at an elevation ranging from 33 feet to 26 feet. The eastern portion of the garrison grounds 
 slopes gently to the river, but that between the commanding officer's quarters and the river forms 
 an abrupt bluff of about 26 feet in height. To the rear of the garrison inclosure, at a distance of 
 400 feet, there is a boulder ridge ranging from 30 to 34 feet above the surface f the river in front, 
 which is the dividing elevation between the river slope on the one hand and the watershed to the 
 creek in the swamp on the other. This boulder ridge extends from the head of the rapids to ] lax- 
 Lake, a distance of four miles, and constitutes what may be called the second terrace. Back of 
 this ridge, ranging from a third of a mile wide at the head of the rapids to a mile and a half at 
 the head of Hay Lake, there is a slight depression of three to five feet, the surface of which is wet 
 and known as the " Swam]),'' through which runs a small stream most of the year. In dry weather 
 in summer, and when the lake above is at loxv water, this stream may be dry, but in high water of 
 Lake Superior, with strong winds from the north or northwest, water will floxv from Ashman's 
 Bay at the head of the rapids through this little stream to Hay Lake ,probably falling about 2'2 
 feet in four miles. Back of this swamp are the highlands, at an elevation of from 100 to 150 feet 
 above Lake Superior. On the Canadian shore, at a distance of from six to ten miles, there are 
 high lands ranging from 400 to 600 feet above Lake Superior, and on Sugar Island, in St. Mary's 
 River, the elevation in the central portion attains to 300 or 400 feet. 
 
 All the swampland situated between the hills on the river, from the head of the Portage, as it 
 is called, to Hay Lake is susceptible of cultivation if properly drained, and would unquestionably 
 be very productive; but as it is now the line of cultivation does not extend beyond the boulder 
 ridge except for a short distance along the Mackinac road. The swamp is densely covered with 
 conifercc and thick beds of moss, which hold water like a sponge, almost from one year to another. 
 
 The St. Mary's River properly commences at " Pointe aux Pins," six miles above the falls, where 
 the river leaves the lake at a right angle with the general trend of its shores. From its commence- 
 ment to the head of the rapids its current is moderate, but gradually accelerating until reaching 
 the falls, the waters plunge tumultuously over the rocks on a declivity of 18 feet in three-quarters 
 if a mile. 
 
 The quantity of water discharged, according to Lieutenant Henry, United States Army, is 
 about 200,000 cubic yards per minute. The greatest depth on the rapids does not exceed eight feet, 
 
126 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and tliis only for a channel a few hundred feet in width. On either side of the channel the water 
 is very shallow, being rarely more than three feet at ordinary stages, except in the pools. Below 
 the falls the river has variable depths of from 16 to 100 feet. In the middle of the stream on the 
 rapids, and below for nearly a mile, the water is about two feet higher than it is on either shore, so 
 that the surface presents a divided convexity. 
 
 The geological peculiarities of this vicinity belong to the lower Silurian system, but geologists 
 differ as to the proper place of the out-cropping rocks. Exposed on the rapids and barely covered 
 by the soil, for some two hundred yards on the American side, a ferruginous sandrock appears, 
 varying in color from a light fawn to a dark red. According to American geologists, among whom 
 may be mentioned Professor Hall, of New York, and Winchell, of the University of -Michigan, and 
 Messrs. Foster and Whitney, United States geologists, these rocks belong to the lowest in the silu- 
 riau system, namely, the Potsdam sandstone, and until quite recently this has been accepted as 
 satisfactory. The Canadian geologists, however, have classified them as belonging to the chazy 
 system, or the second in the series above the Potsdam, which involves a corresponding correction, 
 as Sir W. E. Logan says, of the whole geological classification of the upper peninsula. These rocks 
 are nearly destitute of fossils, and hence the difference in opinion in relation to their position. No 
 fossils have been found in this immediate vicinity, but on Laquamenon Bay, where the rocks again 
 appear, one species of lingula was seen by Dr. Hall, and the same was found by Sir W. E. Logan 
 on the Island of Lachache, near the Canadian shore. In consequence of this paucity of fossils, and 
 from the peculiar relations of the superimposed rocks on the Canadian side, the latter bases his 
 opinion; and if this classification were established, says the authority, "the copper-bearing portion 
 of the Lake Superior rocks might reasonably be considered to belong to the calciferous and Pots- 
 dam formation." On the Canadian side, at a distance of from three to four miles, the laurentian 
 system appears at an elevation above the lake of from 300 to 600 feet, forming the metalliferous 
 rocks of that region, the metals found being chiefly copper as sulphuret, and iron as hematite, 
 with some plumbago, though not as yet in such quantities as to repay for investment in working 
 the mines. The limits of the Potsdam or chazy system are denned by a slightly elevated, well- 
 timbered ridge, appearing about one-third of the distance from here to Mackinac. South of this 
 ridge the Black River limestones appear, and as we proceed in that direction, the other diluvial 
 series, underlying the coal measures of the lower peninsula. It will be seen, therefore, that the St. 
 Mary's River defines the boundary between the Canadian azoic system and the diluvial rocks of 
 the American side. 
 
 The special geology of the immediate vicinity of the post has some interesting features in a 
 sanitary point of view. It has been stated that the sandstones crop out on the rapids and appear 
 on the surface about 500 feet on the American side, barely covered by a light soil. This occurs to 
 the west of the garrison inclosure about 1,500 feet, and can be traced to the hills in the rear. It 
 forms the barrier to the drainage of the great lake above, and has resisted for ages the combined 
 disintegrating action of water, ice, and frost in maintaining the general level of that vast inland 
 sea. Superimposed on this are the clay hills forming the table lands between this and Mackinac, 
 which are stratified in the following order from the surface downward, as appears by a dry well 
 sunk about two miles from the river, viz: first, soil and clay, 20 feet; second, clay marls, 5 feet; third, 
 boulders, 10 feet ; fourth, gravel, 10 feet ; fifth, sandrock, 10 feet total, 55 feet. The rock in this 
 instance is dense and very hard, light colored, and of the same color as that on the rapids. The 
 superficial strata of these rocks are light colored, compact, with matted patches colored with oxide 
 of iron, very hard to work, and withstand the weather most excellently. Beneath these it readily 
 splits into thin layers, and there is more oxide of iron mixed with its constituents, so that on expo- 
 sure, it readily disintegrates and crumbles into a dark red sand. Below, it becomes hard again, 
 has a dark brown color, and is more compact. Within the fort limits these several strata appear 
 as follows, from the surface downwards : 
 
 First. Soil, fine sand, infiltrated with a little clay from one to one and a half feet thick. 
 
 Second. A hard, compact ferruginous stratum, consisting of sand with clay and iron cement 
 almost impervious to water, and difficult to disturb, except with a pick; depth, three inches to one 
 foot. This almost totally prevents the water from percolating through to the loose lake sands of 
 
FOBT BKAUY, MICHIGAN. 127 
 
 variable depths beneath, and hence, wherever it is thickest, water stands until removed by evapor- 
 ation, unless drained off by surface ditches. 
 
 Third. White sand, loose, pervious to water. In the lower parts of the garrison water may- 
 be obtained in it by sinking shallow wells, except during the dryer seasons of the year. It appears 
 to be the natural. under drainage of the swamp. Southwest of the officers' quarters, near the anyle 
 of the inclosure, and also along the Portage road in several places where the side ditches cut the 
 dense stratum above, water comes to the surface ; depth from two to three feet. 
 
 Fourth. A second dense stratum, consisting of white sand and clay and a little lime, moderately 
 pervious to water, and rather hard to disturb with a spade simply ; depth variable, from a few 
 inches to one and a half feet. 
 
 Fifth. Lake sand of variable depth, extending down to the boulders. 
 
 Sixth. Boulders, infiltrated with sand and gravel to variable depths, extending down to the 
 saudrock in places. 
 
 The inclination of the several strata is toward the river, but when the same has been cut away 
 by the river at a former higher level, the boulders appear very profusely on the surface. These 
 boulders are quite peculiar in their character; they consist of large granite, gneiss, greenstone, por- 
 phyritic trap, and other azoic water-worn masses, weighing in many instances more than 30 tons, 
 with smaller rocks closely intervening, and the interstices filled with loose sand and gravel. Their 
 general lithologieal characters would indicate that they had been transported from the north shore 
 of Lake Superior by glacial action, and that they had been subjected to very great attrition. 
 
 The shores of the lake and river exhibit terraces corresponding to the different water levels of 
 past periods. There are four of these on the -river below the rapids and three above, which cor- 
 respond with the terraces on the lake shore. The business part of the village of Sa-ult Ste. Marie 
 is built on the first, counting from the river. Fort Brady stands on the second river terrace, with 
 an elevation above the first of from 10 to 12 feet. The boulder ridge constitutes the second lake or 
 third river terrace. All along the clay bluffs the last in the series may be distinctly seen. Those 
 terraces may be traced nearly the whole length of the river, and according to Messrs. Foster and 
 Whitney, constitute one of the characteristic features of the Lake Superior shore. 
 
 It is altogether probable that at no very remote geological age the great falls of the St. Mary's 
 River were at the Auebish Rapids, which, by a gradual wearing away of the rocks, have been 
 slowly approaching the lake above, at the same time lowering its surface. There is no evidence, 
 however, of any change in the character of waterfall occurring within the historic periods of this 
 country. Though I think, with careful attention to the subject, the law of recession will be found 
 to exist here, which is known to apply to the Falls of Niagara. The water level of this river and 
 the lake above is subject to occasional great fluctuations, but the precise cause of such change is 
 not well determined. 
 
 I am informed by E. Ashman, esq., a resident of this place for forty years, that on one occa- 
 sion, about the year 1832 or 1833, the waters of the lake receded to such an extent that persons could 
 easily walk across the rapids ; that himself, with many others, visited the pools thus left exposed, 
 and caught large numbers of fish. This lasted about one hour, when the waters returned with 
 great force, barely giving the fishermen time to retreat to the shore. 
 
 There were no prevailing high winds or other natural causes observed at the place suffi- 
 cient to account for the extraordinary phenomenon. It is possible that it arose from some 
 subterraneous convulsion, analogous to the earthquakes that disturbed the whole of the south- 
 ern Canadian counties in 1863, at short intervals, for one entire summer, and that from a similar 
 cause the angular sandstone boulders which line the shores of the river below the rapids became 
 detached from their original position, and were carried by the rushing waters down the stream. 
 I have seen none of these rocks inore than three feet above the water level, and manifestly they 
 have no connection with the azoic boulders heretofore mentioned, which are found from 20 to 30 
 feet above the present surface of the river, and constitute the third river or second lake terrace. 
 In consequence, however, of the gradual cutting down of the river channel by the waters, and 
 removal of the sand and fine gravel, the azoic boulders and sandstones are found intermixed 
 in the bed of the stream, and in many places become sources of great danger to vessels. Indeed, 
 it is rare that a month passes during the period of navigation without a casualty occurring, and 
 
128 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 what is more interesting these masses are changing their positions, so that in places the channels, 
 which for years previously have been regarded as entirely safe, are now dangerous. The chief 
 cause, probably, of this shifting of the boulders is due to changes in the channel banks by the un- 
 dermining of the currents so that the boulders roll toward the middle of the stream as the earthy 
 bed is carried away. Ice, also, has a very decided influence in shifting their positions, and even 
 \\ illiiu two or three years past large masses weighing, perhaps, ten tons, have been carried from 
 their original places into the channel some, distance below. 
 
 The general plan and arrangement of the post is shown in Plate No. 2. 
 
 The barrack is a two-story building, 120 by 24 feet. The lower floor is divided into six rooms, 
 which were originally designed for company kitchens and mess-rooms. They are now occupied a is 
 commandant's office, company officers' office, quartermaster's and commissary's office, commissary 
 store-room, court-martial and amusement room, and post library reading and school-room. This 
 story is 10 feet high. The second story, which is also 10 feet high, is designed for men's quarter*, 
 and is divided into six rooms; four being adapted to company quarters for two companies, and 
 two for their respective first sergeants. A recess from the main part was converted into a wash- 
 room ; before this arrangement was made the men were compelled to perform their ablutions on 
 the porch in all weather. This building taken as a whole is a most signal failure in everything per- 
 taining to barrack accommodations. It was intended to quarter two full companies of 100 men 
 each, at an allowance of 117.3 cubic feet air space per man. For the minimum strength of 68 men 
 the rate would be 173 cubic feet air space per capita, thus allowing a cube of air of a fraction over 
 5J feet to sustain a night's respiration. To make the matter worse, the two middle rooms are 27 by 
 23 by 10 feet, with but two windows and two doors, and designed to quarter 30 men. The result is 
 foul air both in winter and summer. The end rooms have six windows each, and arc generally in 
 good condition, but the windows are so arranged that the bunks have to be placed directly against 
 some of these openings, and consequently the men often contract colds by the atmospheric currents 
 blowing over them when asleep. The whole building is badly constructed; and a special defect is 
 in the laying of the upper floor. Originally the flooring was soft pine one inch thick, but this 
 became worn out so that last season it had to be relaid, which was done with but partially sea- 
 soned oak. This has shrunk so that it is now impracticable to scrub the floor in any manner with- 
 out wetting the ceiling and floors below. Indeed, in many places the cracks between the floor 
 boards are one-half to three-fourths of an inch wide. It is in contemplation to relay it the second 
 time the ensuing summer. In additiqii to the other defects the men are supplied with double 
 bunks 4 by 6J feet, two tiers high, and designed to accommodate four men each. These oecupy 
 so much of the interior that the men have but litths space in which to perform their ordinary duties 
 and have comfortable places to rest. The quarters are reached by two flights of stairs in the rear 
 of the building, under the porch. 
 
 The building is surrounded on all sides by a veranda G feet wide, and extending to the roof. 
 Back of the main building, at a distance of 10 feet from the veranda, are the company kitchens, the 
 two being connected by a covered passage way, 6 feet wide. At a distance of 12 feet from the rear 
 of the kitchens the company store and commissary rooms are located, being temporary structures 
 of frame-work, weather-boarded. Still farther to the rear is the bakery, an old building erected 
 in 1822 for a guard-house, constructed of hewn logs and weather-boarded. It is in a dilapidated 
 condition, and should be replaced by a suitable structure, planned so as to be convenient and 
 cleanly, and located where it will not endanger the other buildings in case of fire. 
 
 The guard-house is a small building one story high, situated to the west of the barracks at a 
 distance of 160 feet. It is divided into four apartments, the front half being in one room, and 
 occupied by the guard, and the rear being divided into a prison-room and two small cells. It was 
 erected in 18G7 ; size 24 by 20 feet, with a porch, 4 feet wide, in front. During the winter months 
 this porch is boarded up and three small windows introduced at the respective sides and ends, so 
 as to shield the sentinel from the cold, and yet allow a watchful care of the grounds and buildings. 
 
 The present hospital was erected in 1822 for officers' quarters. It was built of hewn logs, 
 weather-boarded on the outside, and plastered on the inner side. It is in a dilapidated condition, 
 and should be replaced by a suitable structure. 
 
 The ward, the largest room in the building, is 20 by 13| by 8 feet, and ventilated by two small 
 windows. The interior wood-work has been very badly used, and the whole structure, outside and 
 
Garrison field., 
 claimed- &y 
 
 Baptist ^Mission. 
 
 MAP 
 
 FORT BRADY, 
 
 MICHIGAN. 
 
 S rale : 450 feet to lirvch. 
 
 PLA^TE, N? 2. 
 
 French, Lautfran i Ogilvle. Li(h .Wash 11 
 
FORT BRADY, MICHIGAN. 129 
 
 in, is dilapidated and obnoxious to every sense of propriety and comfort. In tlie event of any 
 severe contagious or epidemic disease prevailing at the post it would be wholly inadequate to meet 
 the requirements of the hospital department. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters is a building 32 by 42| feet on the ground, and one and a 
 half stories high, and contains four rooms, a hall and two closets ; having a porch, G feet wide, ex- 
 tending along the front and half of the north end. The second or attic story has but two rooms. 
 To the rear, at a distance of 10 feet, is the kitchen, 12 by 20 feet, one story high. The building is 
 situated near the bluff at the northwest part of the inclosure, and has a beautiful view of the river 
 and Caiiadian shore. 
 
 South of the commanding officer's quarters, at a distance of 88 feet, is the building for the line 
 and staff officers' quarters. It consists of a one and a half story building, 52 by 56 feet on the ground, 
 with a porch, 6 feet wide, on the front. 
 
 It is divided through the middle, from front to rear, by a partition extending from the ground 
 floor to the attic, whereby the house is separated into two distinct parts, and on either side of which 
 is a long hall extending the whole length. The first floor of each side is divided into three rooms. 
 To the rear, at a distance of 12 feet, is a covered passage way leading to the kitchens, the latter 
 being one story high, and 15 by 15 feet each, and under one roof, but separated by a hall, 4 feet wide, 
 leading to the water-closet in the rear. The building was intended to accommodate two families, 
 but at present it is crowded so as to accommodate, after a fashion, the families of three married 
 and one unmarried officers a total of sixteen, who are stowed away in the building; one assistant 
 surgeon and one lieutenant occupy the lower floor, and two lieutenants the attic. There are cellars 
 under the kitchens only. The foundations of the main parts are sunk but little below the surface 
 of the ground, and hence during the winter months the buildings, more especially the line officers' 
 quarters, are subject to being raised by the upheaval of the earth by the frost, whereby they are 
 more or less damaged every season. They were erected only three years since, that is, in 18GC, but 
 the walls are now badly damaged, and will soon have to be repaired to make them habitable and 
 look decent. Already the south end of the porch of the officers' quarters has become detached 
 from the main building by the frost, and considerably injured. In consequence of the drifting of 
 the snow the foundations receive but very little protection during the winter, and hence are subject 
 to the direct action of the frost. 
 
 The sinks of the officers' buildings, hospital, and barracks are all in bad condition for want 
 of proper drainage and ventilation. They have had to be disinfected repeatedly during the 
 past season to make them tolerable. In the spring they are nearly filled with water, which,- 
 as the warm weather comes on, drains away until the contents of the vaults become in some 
 degree inspissated. Besides this, they are quite shallow', and rapidly filling up. Last fall the 
 men's sink had to be removed from its position in the angle of the inclosure near the convent to 
 its present position, 100 feet toward the river. The building is 16 by 8 feet on the ground, and 
 divided longitudinally by a board partition. On either side of this partition are pieces of scantling 
 at the proper height for a rest, which are boarded down to the floor, leaving the space on the top 
 entirely open, so that all the exhalations from below find a ready escape upward into the interior of 
 the building. To make the place bearable, therefore, the doors are kept constantly open, and even 
 then it is most intolerably obnoxious, not only to those who have to visit it, but to every one in 
 that section of the garrison grounds, as well as to persons living outside the military limits. There 
 is a small ventilating flue reaching from the floor to about two feet above the roof, but this effects 
 comparatively nothing in the way of efficient ventilation. From a careful investigation of this 
 subject, both in civil and military life, I am thoroughly satisfied that too little attention is generally 
 given to the construction of private water-closets and public sinks; that as a result of this inatten- 
 tion, habits of constipation and all the train of evils arising therefrom colds, and, with the more 
 delicate and sensitive, neuralgia and rheumatism, particularly of the lumbar regions are often 
 induced. 
 
 The garrison grounds are very inadequately drained. Nowhere within the government reser- 
 vation, except in the immediate vicinity of the commanding officer's quarters, can a cellar be exca- 
 vated to the depth of three feet without having water stand in it more than two-thirds of the year. 
 The cellar of the officers' quarters hats not been dry for mouths, although it purports to be drained 
 17 
 
130 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 by a small conduit about two inches square, in sections, put in at the erection of the building, three 
 years since. The garrison fields to the rear of the cemetery were cultivated in vegetables the past 
 season, and, although an unusually dry one for this region, when the fall rains commenced it was 
 found difficult to secure the crop because of the grounds being covered with water. 
 
 At the Baptist Mission a well has been dug to the depth of twelve feet, with an unfailing sup- 
 ply of water, coming to within nine feet of the surface, or about two feet above the grounds in 
 front of the officers' quarters. This indicates about the height of the surface water of the swamp. 
 Last spring the water stood to the depth of two feet for two months on the surface between the 
 officers' quarters and the corner of the inclosure containing the springs. Underneath the hospital 
 a cellar has been excavated to the depth of three feet, yet it is practically useless, for, in the first 
 place, it is not deep enough to be of any service, and, in the next place, it is always wet. 
 
 Heretofore the slops from the company kitchens have been drained by an open ditch less than 
 two feet deep, round by the rear of the hospital toward the river, and those from the hospital take 
 the same direction. In warm weather the stench arising from this ditch is intolerable, and in more 
 southern localities would be productive of the greatest harm. 
 
 What is required, therefore, is a proper system of drainage, and it seems strange that a gov- 
 ernment post like this should be occupied so long without any attention being given to this very 
 important matter. A large sewer, sufficient to carry off all the kitchen slops of the barracks, the 
 hospital, and the water falling from the roofs of the buildings and surface water, as well as to drain 
 the garrison privies, seems imperatively demanded. 
 
 The history of the post, as shown by Dr. McDougall's report in 1837-'38 to the Surgeon Gen- 
 eral, (see Meteorological and Medical Statistics, 2d part, page 72,) establishes beyond controversy 
 that want of attention to sanitary science cannot be allowed even in this northern region, except 
 at the most imminent risks. 
 
 Another sewer is required to drain the officers' cellars and grounds, and a system of open 
 ditches is needed to drain the garrison fields, if they are to be cultivated properly. This matter 
 cannot be urged too stongly, in view of this being occupied as one of the permanent frontier posts, 
 and the consequent steady accumulation of effete matter which in the end must be productive of 
 much disease. The ground is seldom frozen during the coldest winters; the heavy body of snow 
 affording such a protection that potatoes have remained unhurt in the ground as they were raised, 
 during the winter, and have sprouted again the next year most vigorously. 
 
 With the peculiar obstacles in the underlying strata to drainage below, the soil inevitably 
 becomes permeated with noxious elements, until ultimately some disastrous results must appear, 
 unless prevented by proper sanitary precautions, and of these more complete drainage is the chief. 
 During a long winter a certain amount of the slops, waste-water and garbage, and other matters 
 will inevitably be thrown out upon the snow, there to remain until warm weather, when much of 
 them goes into the soil, however thoroughly the ground may be policed. An effective sewer, there- 
 fore, is imperatively demanded, alike as a sanitary measure and as a saving of labor in keeping the 
 grounds in order. 
 
 Water is furnished to the garrison by water-carts. It is obtained from the river below the 
 landing, where the slope of the river is such as to allow the carts to be driven into the stream about 
 150 feet, near the verge of the channel. The supply thus obtained is excellent. What is needed, 
 however, is a more abundant supply kept in reservoirs near the places where it is to be used for 
 cooking and police purposes, and where in the event of fires breaking out it can be made available 
 in their extinguishment. As the matter now stands, there is no adequate means of saving the 
 garrison from a general conflagration if any one of the permanent buildings should take fire when 
 the wind is in a favorable direction for the spreading of the flames. Lake water can be obtained 
 and conducted to all the garrison grounds by a conduit not exceeding 4,300 feet in length; the fall 
 would be approximately between two and three feet, and with suitable reservoirs the garrison 
 could be abundantly supplied with pure water for all purposes at a moderate expense. With 
 force-pumps or water-rams it could then be made available for any emergency. This subject needs 
 special attention, for in four instances, within a short time, the post has been in danger of being 
 burned out. from causes arising within the military limits ; and in addition to this, the garrison is so 
 near the middle of the village of Sault Ste. Marie, which is built in a shabby manner, and with none 
 but the simplest means of arresting fires, that it is at all times in danger of a general conflagration. 
 
FORT BRADY, MICHIGAN. 
 
 131 
 
 The subsistence stores furnished for both officers and men of this post arc of the best quality 
 and in abundance. They are principally obtained from the purchasing commissary at Chicago. 
 The variety furnished for officers' consumption is very satisfactory. Extra vegetables and other 
 articles of food are raised on the grounds assigned to the company commanders for the benefit of 
 their commands. There are no special post gardens, nor is any ground set apart for the use of the 
 hospital. 
 
 The present command did not arrive here until the 10th of May, 18G7, and there was so much 
 to be doue to get the buildings in a decent condition for occupation and in clearing the inclosure 
 of rubbish, that comparatively nothing was accomplished in the cultivation of the garrison fields. 
 As a result of this, in the following winter the men were destitute of the necessary supply of fresh 
 vegetables, and in the month of March last there were some of the preliminary symptoms of scurvy 
 exhibited in about a dozen cases among the troops. 
 
 To meet the requirements of the men a diet table was prepared, (see which, annexed to the 
 end of this subject,) which the commanding officer directed to be strictly followed iu regard to 
 variety and daily changes. As will be seen, the table is a modification of that furnished from the 
 Surgeon General's Office for use in hospitals. The changes in the dietary arrangement thus effected 
 produced beneficial results. Under this system there is a decided gain iu the company savings, 
 and little additional articles in the way of relishes, and a very creditable supply of white ware 
 and good cutlery for table use, were purchased. The course pursued in relation to slaughtering beef 
 is very reprehensible. Under instructions of the commissary department, to economize in forage 
 and feed, several head have been slaughtered at once, the product in the aggregate amounting to 
 three or four thousand pounds, which is placed where it will be frozen, and kept in that condition 
 until issued. Last year the animals slaughtered in the latter part of December and first of Jan- 
 uary were sufficient for the wants of the garrison until the 1st of May. At the present time the 
 quantity on hand will last to nearly the same time. In other words, the beef is killed nearly four 
 months in advance of its ultimate consumption. The result of this course is, the beef becomes dry, 
 tough, tasteless, and subjected to great loss in weight. It is neither fresh beef, dried beef, nor 
 corned beef, but possesses rt sort of combination of qualities that makes it particularly undesirable 
 if anything else could be obtained as a substitute. For at least a half or three-fourths of an inch 
 on the outside the meat is dry and tough; the fatty parts, which are generally juicy, palatable, and 
 well flavored, become 'tasteless and repulsive, possessing more of the qualities of a tallow candle 
 than anything else, the juiciness and peculiar flavor of good fresh beef being entirely destroyed. 
 The loss is not less than ten per cent of the serviceable part of the animal as regards actual 
 weight, and the deterioration in quality is vastly more. 
 
 In answer to protests against this system, it was claimed that it was cheaper for the govern- 
 ment to sustain the loss in weight by desiccation than to feed the animals until required for issue. 
 So considerations of economy, having the ascendency, prevailed. 
 
 DIET TABLE. 
 
 Sunday. 
 
 Monday. 
 
 Tuesday. 
 
 Wednesday. 
 
 Thursday. 
 
 Friday. 
 
 Saturday. 
 
 Breakfast : 
 
 Breakfast : 
 
 Breakfast: 
 
 Breakfast : 
 
 Breakfast : 
 
 Breakfast: 
 
 Breakfast : 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Coffee, 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Hominy, with 
 
 Meat hash. 
 
 Succotash, with 
 
 Meat hash. 
 
 Hominy, with 
 
 Fried fish or 
 
 Hominy, with 
 
 gravy. 
 
 
 pork gravy. 
 
 
 gravy. 
 
 meat hash. 
 
 gravy. 
 
 Cold boiled or 
 
 
 Cold boiled pork. 
 
 
 Cold boiled pork. 
 
 
 Cold boiled or 
 
 roast pork. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 baked pork. 
 
 Dinner: 
 
 Dinner : 
 
 Dinner : 
 
 Dinner : 
 
 Dinner : 
 
 Dinner : 
 
 Dinner : 
 
 Roast beef. 
 
 Baked pork and 
 
 Beef soup. 
 
 Beef stew. 
 
 Baked pork and 
 
 linked fish or 
 
 Bef stew or 
 
 Bread. 
 
 beans. 
 
 Meat or baked 
 
 Bread. 
 
 beans. 
 
 boiled pork. 
 
 roast stow. 
 
 Bice pudding. 
 
 Broad. 
 
 fish. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Broad. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Brad. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Eice padding. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 
 
 Potatoes. 
 
 
 
 
 Rice pudding. 
 
 Supper : 
 
 Sapper : 
 
 Supper : 
 
 Supper : 
 
 Supper : 
 
 Supper : 
 
 Supper : 
 
 Tea. 
 
 Coffer. 
 
 Tea. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Tea. 
 
 Coffee. 
 
 Tea. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Tin-ad. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Bread. 
 
 Beet 'jravy. 
 
 Pork ffravy. 
 
 Cold Iwiledpork. 
 
 Beef jrravy. 
 
 Cold pork and 
 
 Gravy. 
 
 Cold meat. 
 
 
 
 
 
 beans. 
 
 
 
132 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 It has been said, and apparently sanctioned by the highest medical authority, that at this 
 post and at Fort Mackinac, malarial diseases were unknown among the native inhabitants, and 
 that only imported cases were ever seen in these regions ; but it has been discovered that such 
 statements are incorrect. Indeed, the prevalence among the native population of intermittent 
 fevers and intermittent neuralgia is quite equal to the same in many southern latitudes that are 
 supposed to be particularly liable in that direction. The first case coining to notice was a half- 
 breed woinan, born and brought up here and who had never been away, who resided below the 
 fort about one mile on the Portage road. It was 'a well-marked and severe case of tertian inter- 
 mittent. Soon after that another, in a three-fourths Indian, aged over seventy years. He was 
 born on the south shore of Lake Superior, but had been a resident for fifty years in this vicinity. 
 This was a tertian facial neuralgia, and very severe. About a dozen cases from Churchville 
 have called at the post for advice within the year, four of whom were native Indians, and two 
 Indians born near Hudson's Bay, and who had never been south of this place. At Fort William, 
 province of Ontario, Canada, on the north shore of the lake, in the middle of last September, there 
 was seen a well-marked case of intermittent fever which had been running from the 1st of June, 
 in a native Scotch girl, aged about twelve years, brought up at that post. She had all the 
 characteristics of chronic malarial poisoning chronic enlargement of the liver and spleen ; 
 and the paroxysms the while had been occasionally quartian, tertian, or quotidian, presenting the 
 usual capriciousuess in this respect that the disease exhibits along the banks of the Mississippi 
 north of St. Louis. 
 
 Furthermore, since this report has been commenced, twenty cases have occurred in native In- 
 dians, half-breeds, and native Canadian-French inhabitants residing along the river, in all of which 
 quinine had to be given to obtain relief, although it is mid-winter, a season of the year when such 
 maladies are rarely seen in any latitude north of 40. These cases have been accompanied with 
 hepatic and splenic enlargements, tenderness on pressure over these organs, and sympathetic neu- 
 ralgia in various parts of the chest, head, and upper extremities. Upon investigating the ante- 
 cedents of each individual for the purpose of determining, so far as practicable, the prevalence of 
 malarious disorders, it is believed that this northern section is no exception to the usual law of 
 paludal exhalations and consequent diseases. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Brady, Michigan, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Cat arrhal affec- 
 tions. * 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 107.41 
 
 201 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 47 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 106.66 
 
 194 
 
 1 
 
 42 
 
 21 
 
 7 
 
 
 10 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 33 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT MACKINAC, MACKINAC, MICHIGAN. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. R. MILLS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Mackinac is .situated on a bluff on the southeastern portion of the island of Mackinac, 
 near the straits of the same name which connect Lakes Huron and Michigan, latitude 45 51' 22" 
 north, longitude 84 41' 22" west. Height above the lake, 155 feet; above the sea, 728 feet. The 
 nearest post is Fort Brady, 60 miles to the northeast. The only town of importance near the post is 
 Sheboygan, on the mainland, 18 miles south. Its population is about 2,000. The nearest railroad 
 station is at Saginaw, 150 miles distant. The island was first occupied by the English as a mili- 
 tary post, soon after the destruction of old Fort Mackinac and its garrison on the mainland by the 
 French in 1763, on account of its security from attacks from Indians. About 1795, it was turned 
 
FORT MACK1XAC, MACKINAC, MICHIGAN. 
 
 133 
 
 over to the United States government by treaty, as a part of the result of the revolutionary war, 
 but in 1812 it was again occupied by the English. The island is about nine miles in circumference, 
 and rises on its eastern and southern shore in abrupt rocky cliff's, the highest point being 250 feet 
 above the water, Fort Mackinac being situated on the south side near the lake. Situated on the 
 highest point of the island and about half a mile to the rear of the fort is "Fort Holmes," which 
 was built by the English during their occupancy of the island in 1812-'13- r 14, and called by them 
 "Fort George." It was upon this point that the United States forces were making an attack when 
 Major Holmes, of the United States Army, was killed, which circumstance subsequently gave the 
 present name to the work. 
 
 Geologically the island is made up of the Onondaga salt group of the upper Silurian system, 
 and the upper Helderberg limestone group of the devonian system. The former is 25 feet in 
 thickness, forming the base, and the latter is about 275 feet in depth, forming the body and cap. 
 The face of the south end of the island is most plainly terraced. Beginning with the top of Fort 
 Holmes, more than 200 feet above the present level of the lake, there are four distinctly marked 
 tables or terraces before we come to the water, each bearing the undulating line of aqueous forma- 
 tion. Another proof of ^the existence of wave action, which must have been in process for a long 
 period of time, is the fact that from the base of Fort Holmes to the present beach, worn, rounded 
 pebbles, similar to those on the beach, are found upon digging two or three feet into the earth at 
 any point on the line indicated ; all arranged and sorted according to size, just as they are on the 
 beach at the present time. The existence of the island is therefore evidently due to no sudden up- 
 lift, but to the gradual subsidence of the waters of the lakes, consuming thousands of years of time. 
 
 The timber on the island is mostly small, probably owing to its having been cut down at not a 
 very remote period. It is composed of beach, maple, oak, and poplar, principally, with a liberal 
 supply of the coniferce, viz : pine, spruce, hemlock, cedar, juniper, tamarack, &c. Conium macu- 
 latum is found in abundance. 
 
 The reservation contains a little over two square miles. The surface is regular, but there is 
 very little soil covering the underlying rock. 
 
 The climate is agreeable, the presence of a large body of water preventing extremes of tem- 
 perature. The extremes are 90 F., and 23 F., the average about 39 F. 
 
 The fort consists of stone and earthworks, inclosing about half an acre of ground. 
 
 The barrack is a two-story frame building, 112 by 29 feet, and intended to accommodate one 
 company. The dormitories are fitted with two-story double-bunks, and allow 377 cubic feet of air 
 space per man. There are no special arrangements for ventilation. 
 
 Two buildings are used as officers' quarters. One, the oldest building at the post, is of stone ; the 
 other is a one-story frame house. These allow about four rooms to each officer. The buildings are very 
 plainly finished, and have none of the modern conveniences. They are warmed by wood stoves. 
 
 The hospital is a comparatively 'new frame building outside the fort, measuring 46 by 30 feet. 
 There are two wards, one for six beds, air space per bed 739 feet; the other, for four beds, air space 
 per bed 650 feet. It is heated by wood stoves. 
 
 There is a post library of 200 volumes. 
 
 The water supply is from the lake by water-carts, and from five cisterns. The natural drainage 
 is good, and is the only form in use. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good, and there are no prevailing diseases. 
 Statement slioicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Mackinac, Michigan, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 .; 
 
 e 
 
 B 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 3 1 
 
 '3 
 
 CM 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 'S 
 
 -S 
 1 
 
 l! 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 .2 
 1 
 
 1 1 /" 
 
 !! 
 
 'o 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 * 
 
 ^ 
 
 H 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 
 a 
 
 OH 
 
 
 ft 
 
 1868 
 
 55 16 
 
 54 
 
 
 4 
 
 9 
 
 
 9 
 
 j 
 
 
 
 1869 . 
 
 65. 16 
 
 99 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, ami 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Newport Barracks, Newport, Kentucky. 
 Taylor Barracks, Louisville, Kentucky. 
 Charleston, South Carolina. 
 Savannah, (Oglethorpo Barracks,) Georgia. 
 Atlanta, (McPherson Barracks,) Georgia. 
 
 Fort Pnlaski, Georgia. 
 Key West, Florida. 
 Fort Jefferson, Florida. 
 Fort Barrancas, Florida. 
 Mobile, Alabama. 
 
 NEWPORT BARRACKS, KENTUCKY. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON GLOVER PERIN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is in latitude 39 5' north, longitude 7 29' 4" west from Washington, and at an ele- 
 vation of 588 feet above the sea. It is situated 011 the left bank of the Ohio Kiver, at its junction 
 with the Licking, and constitutes a part of the town of Newport, Kentucky. On the opposite 
 shore of the Ohio Kiver is the city of Cincinnati, and on the left bank of the Licking, at its junc- 
 tion with the Ohio, the city of Covingtbn. The three cities are said to contain nearly 250,000 in- 
 habitants. 
 
 The first purchase at this point was made in the year 1803. The deed sets forth that the land 
 was for the purpose of having erected thereon an arsenal, magazine, &c. Two additions to the 
 site were made by purchase, in the year 1806, giving a total area of about six acres. The ground 
 is about five feet higher on the Ohio Eiver front, sloping gradually to Taylor street, and has about 
 the same descent from the northeastern line totheLicking liiver. The mean elevation above extreme 
 low water in the Ohio Eiver is nearly 55.8 feet. 
 
 The southeastern, or Taylor street front, is inundated once in from five to seven years, and the 
 whole ground once in fifteen years. From an inspection of the retained copies of sick reports I 
 have been unable to discover that these inundations had any effect upon the health of the command. 
 
 The post has been occupied mainly as a depot for recruits. The temporary barracks erected at 
 an early period have been replaced by structures built of brick ; this change was made, with few 
 exceptions, between the years 1843 and 1848. 
 
 The geological formation at this point is that of the lower Silurian. The blue limestone contain- 
 ing the trilobite and other characteristic organic remains of this period is about sixty feet below 
 the surface, and is covered by alluvium, sand, and gravel. 
 
 The primitive forest growth in the neighboring country is beech, walnut, hickory, sugar-tree, 
 white oak, &c. 
 
 The climate may be classed among the temperate, and the seasons are tolerably well defined. By 
 inspection of the accompanying abstract of meteorological observations taken from the register 
 kept at this post, embracing a period of fourteen years, from 1856 to 1869, inclusive, it will be per- 
 ceived that the seasons change by quite a regular gradation. 
 
 The greatest extremes of temperature registered during this period were 97 and 20 F. Aver- 
 age mean temperature during the winter was 33.24 ; spring, 53.12 ; summer, 71.25 ; autumn, 55.23 ; 
 average annual rain-fall, 43.89 inches. The prevailing winds are the south, southwest, north and 
 northwest. 
 
 The summer season is the longest, as the temperature of the months of May and September 
 would point to their classification with that season, rather than with spring and autumn respect- 
 ively. The mean temperature of the month of May for fourteen years was 63.07, and of Septem- 
 ber, 67.42. 
 
NEWPORT BARRACKS, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY. 
 
 135 
 
 Figure 17 shows the general arrangement of the post. 
 
 A, hospital ; B, laundry and store-rooms; C, church; I), officers' quarters; E, general headquar- 
 ters; P, headquarters; H, stables; I, commissary and carpenter; K, magazine; L, guard-house; 
 M, men's sinks and wash-house ; N, 
 wood-yard ; P, barracks ; L R, Lick- 
 ing River; R, road; S, parade 
 ground ; T, tents. 
 
 Two sets of officers' quarters, 
 the headquarters building, and the 
 stable, front on the Ohio River. On 
 the side overlooking the Licking 
 River are the various shops, mag- 
 azine, and guard-house; on the 
 south, three blocks of barracks and 
 the hospital ; on the east, the 
 chapel and officers' quarters. 
 
 The two buildings occupied by 
 troops are on the south side of the 
 garrison, 14 feet from Taylor street. 
 They are three stories in height, 
 built of brick, with porches on the 
 side overlooking the parade in one, 
 and on both sides in the other. 
 The two upper floors are used as 
 
 Figure 17. Scale, 150 feet to 1 iuch. 
 
 dormitories, and the basements as kitchens and diniug-rooms. The barracks are warmed by two 
 stoves in each room, lighted by candles and ventilated by windows. The dimensions of two dor- 
 mitories are 83J by 25 by 12 feet, and of the other two 58 T " 5 by 28 by 12 feet. The average occu- 
 pancy for the year 1809 was 228 men, giving about 471 cubic feet of air space per man. Two story 
 double iron bunks are used, with the customary bedding. 
 
 Temporary wash-rooms have recently been added to three of the dormitories, but the scanty sup- 
 ply of water lessens their usefulness materially. There are no arrangements for water-closets con- 
 nected with the barracks, the only sink for enlisted men being the one over the sewer, at the south- 
 west angle of the garrison. The barracks for the soldiers are satisfactory when not crowded to excess. 
 The kitchens and mess-rooms are in the basements of the barracks; the kitchens are supplied with 
 excellent ranges, of capacity to cook for about 500 men. 
 
 Quarters for laundresses and married soldiers are in a three-story block at the southwest angle, 
 of the garrison. This block is built of brick, with porches on the north side; access to the second 
 and third floors is by means of stairways on the porches. The stories are divided in such manner 
 as to give six rooms ou each floor. The upper rooms are 13 by 15 by 12 feet, the basements 13 
 by 15 by 8 feet. Five families, who have two rooms each, reside in this building. 
 
 There are two sets of officers' quarters at the northeast angle of the garrison, fronting the Ohio 
 River. These have a hail and nine rooms each. They are so arranged as to be assignable only to 
 field officers. They are built of brick, with a porch in front. 
 
 There are two sets of officers' quarters on the east side of the garrison fronting the parade. 
 These sets have four rooms and basements to each. 
 
 All the quarters are heated by open fires, and scantily supplied with water hauled in carts. 
 They have cisterns, but these do not afford sufficient quantity. There are neither water-closets nor 
 bath-rooms in the officers' quarters. Each set is supplied with a sink in the yard. These sinks have 
 vaults, varying in depth from six to fifteen feet. 
 
 The arsenal building is a two-story brick structure, S4 by 36 feet, occupied as store-rooms 
 and offices. 
 
 The guard-house, on the west side of the parade ground, is a two-story brick building, the upper 
 story being partly occupied by the prisoners, and the lower as a guard-room and place for storage 
 of fuel. The capacity of the upper floor is 5C by 39 by 14 feet. One room, 12 by 15 feet, is takeu 
 
136 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 from tbis floor for the officer of the guard, ami the remainder is allotted to the prisoners. Of this 
 space one room, 19 by 30 by 14 feet, has been added recently. The guard-house is now ample, and 
 well adapted for the purpose. It is ventilated by windows on all sides, and warmed by stoves. 
 
 The hospital is situated at the southeast angle of the garrison. It is a two-story brick structure, 
 50 by 25 feet, erected in the year 1843. A one-story brick addition, 18 by 24 feet, for a dining- 
 room, and a frame kitchen, 18 by 24 feet, have been erected since. The lower, or basement story, 
 is divided into rooms for office, dispensary, store-room, and apartments for the steward. The upper 
 floor is divided into two wards, with folding doors between, and two small rooms for attendants. 
 
 The two wards measure 35 by 23 by 10 feet, iu the aggregate, and contain eight beds, which 
 would give about 1,054 cubic feet of air space per bed. 
 
 The wards are ventilated by three windows, and doors toward the north and south. The build- 
 ing is warmed by open tires, except the dining-room, which is heated by a stove, and lighted at 
 present by candles. The dispensary is provided with a counter, chest of drawers, and shelves. 
 One wall tent is used as a bath-room, and one as a dead-house. The baggage of patients is stored 
 in a wardrobe. The hospital is too small to answer the requirements of a depot like this. It is 
 defective in construction, badly ventilated, deficient in bathing facilities, and has no water-closets. 
 The daily average nninber of sick requiring treatment in hospital during the years 1868 and 1860 
 was 11.9 ; and as only eight could be provided for in the wards of the hospital the others were 
 placed iu tents. Wards were constructed by erecting hospital tents on a small vacant space to the 
 north of the hospital. Two of these tents were placed with the ends together, floored and warmed 
 by a large wood stove, placed iu one, with pipes passing through and out of the door of the other. 
 At times, during the last four years, as many as four of such wards have been required. 
 
 The post bakery is in the basement of the block occupied as quarters for the families of soldiers. 
 
 There is no place that could be denominated a laundry. 
 
 The chapel is a frame structure, 45 by 28 by 13 feet, between the officers' quarters and the 
 hospital, on the east side of the parade. It is also occupied as a school-house. 
 
 The stable is at the northwest angle of the garrison, 49 by 28 feet, built of brick, and is one 
 story and a half high. , 
 
 There is no post library. 
 
 Water is mainly supplied from the Ohio River by means of carts. There are seven cisterns. 
 One at the hospital has a capacity of 19,950 gallons. The others contain 10,500 gallons each, and 
 are distributed as follows: One to each set of officers' quarters in front; one at the arsenal build- 
 ing ; one at the officers' quarters on the east side of the parade ; one at the guard-house, and one 
 between the block occupied by the permanent company and the quarters of the soldiers' families. 
 
 The quantity of water supplied the post is necessarily small. The project of sinking a well to 
 the depth of the bed of the Ohio River has been favorably considered, and I have no doubt but the 
 work will soon be commenced. Such a well would give an abundant supply of filtered water. The 
 quality of the Ohio River water, which is that chiefly used, is exhibited in the subjoined state- 
 ment of analyses performed by Professor Edward S. Wayne, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 There is no organized system for extinguishing fire. 
 
 The drainage of the grounds is surface. As the Ohio River front of the garrison is several feet 
 higher than the southern front, and the eastern side much higher than the west, these inequali- 
 ties are made available in the arrangement of surface drains. An underground sewer, traversing 
 the parade from east to west, emptying into the Licking River, and communicating with the vaults 
 of the sinks on the east side of the garrison, is now being laid down. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post at present is satisfactory. The prevailing diseases last year 
 were febrile iutermittents, diarrluea, and syphilis. It would not be correct, however, to ascribe the 
 prevailing diseases to this locality, as the men received at this depot are usually affected by the 
 diseases incident to the place where they have been living. They do not remain here long enough 
 to exhibit the operation of local causes. 
 
 The men composing the permanent party are very healthy. Their duties being purely mili- 
 tary, such as drill and guard, they are not exposed to the same causes of disease as soldiers belong- 
 ing to regiments. 
 
NEWPORT BARRACKS, NEWPORT, KENTUCKY. 
 
 137 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Newport Barracks, Ken- 
 tucky, for the yearn 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 tt 
 
 
 
 18158 
 
 1*69... 
 
 321.68 
 SS4. 
 
 816 
 
 12') 
 
 'JO 
 
 14<! I 63 
 
 66 
 
 64 
 59 
 
 25 
 13 
 
 33 
 52 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 Abstract of arernge temperatures and rainfall at Newport Barracks, Kentucky, for the period from 
 
 1856 to 18(50, inclusive. 
 
 Months. 
 
 Monthly average rauge 
 Monthly av- of temperature. Monthly av- 
 erage tera-j erage rain- 
 
 peratnre. fall. 
 
 Maximum. Minimum. 
 
 Deyrtn. Deyreti. Degree*. Inches. 
 
 January 30. 23 52 5 2. 84 
 
 February ; 35.35 60 4 2.04 
 
 March 42.50 68 17 3.39 
 
 April 53.79 76 32 3.97 
 
 May 63.07 75 44 5.27 
 
 June 72.69 S8 62 3.78 
 
 July 76.42 91 61 4.43 
 
 August 74.64 88 58 3.80 
 
 September 67. 42 85 46 3. 81 
 
 October 54.92 77 35 2.46 
 
 November 43. 35 68 20 3. 48 
 
 December 34. 14 60 11 4.52 
 
 Analyses of the water of the Ohio River, pcrfonnei by Professor Edward 8. Wayne, of Cincinnati. Ohio. 
 
 Water taken from the river when there was a depth of thirty-four feet in the channel, contains 
 
 Carbonate of lime grs. 3.41 
 
 Sulphate of lime " .31 
 
 Chloride Of calcium " .17 
 
 Chloride of magnesium " .10 
 
 Chloride of sodium ' " .17 
 
 Oxide of iron " .05 
 
 Organic matter " .4.'$ 
 
 Total in a wine gallon " 4.04 
 
 When there was a depth of eight feet in the channel- 
 Carbonate of lime grs. 4.71 
 
 Sulphate of lime ' .30 
 
 Chloride of calcium " .40 
 
 Chloride of magnesium -. " .10 
 
 Chloride of sodium " .-1 
 
 Oxide of iron " .11 
 
 Organic matter " .-3 
 
 __ 
 
 Total in a wine gallon " 6.24 
 
 18 = 
 
138 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 When there was a depth of four feet in the channel 
 
 Carbonate of lime grs. 5.63 
 
 Sulphate of lime " .24 
 
 Chloride of calcium " .84 
 
 Chloride of magnesium , " .20 
 
 Chloride of sodium " .34 
 
 Oxide of iron " .29 
 
 Organic matter " .29 
 
 Total in a wine gallon " 7.83 
 
 TAYLOR BARRACKS, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON C. R. GREENLEAF, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Taylor Barracks is located in the southern outskirts of the city of Louisville, Ken 
 tucky, and covers au area of four squares, being bounded on the south by Ormsby avenue, east by 
 First street, north by St. Catharine street, and on the west by Third street. Latitude 38 3' north, 
 longitude 8 27' 1" west from Washington. 
 
 Within a radius of about a mile from the barracks is a range of low hills, skirted on the south 
 and east by the head of Beargrass Creek, which flows into the Ohio lliver, and on the south and 
 west by the head of a creek which flows into Salt Eiver. and thence into the Ohio. Between the 
 city and these hills the original growth of timber, which was very heavy, has been cut down, and 
 the country presents a level, flat surface, cut up by anticipated streets, pastures, &c., and through 
 which numerous little streams run to the creeks above mentioned. 
 
 From the date of the erection of the barracks until June, 18C6, the station was used successively 
 as a rendezvous for drafted men, a depot for deserters, and a depot for the reception of troops to 
 be mustered out at the close of the war. 
 
 The post is almost completely encircled by marshy ground, which is, however, being rapidly 
 filled up by debris from the city, and upon which it is proposed to erect many of the finest dwelling- 
 houses. 
 
 The soil is a rich alluvium, with a substratum of sand, beneath which is a layer of boulders. 
 Water is found at a depth of 25 feet. As the city limits are extended drains are dug, which carry 
 off a large quantity of the surface water and leave but little material for the. development of disease. 
 
 The average temperature for the year 1869 was 55 F. The prevailing winds are from the 
 southwest. 
 
 Taylor Barracks consist of a series of poorly constructed wooden pavilions arranged in the form 
 of a square, and inclosing an area of about sixteen acres of ground. The walls of the buildings are 
 battened, the roofs shingled, and, with the exception of the officers' quarters, the ceilings are open. 
 
 The building forming the north side of the barracks is 540 by 24 by 16 feet, and occupied as quar- 
 ters for four companies. From the center of each company quarters, an "L," 18 feet long, 20 feet 
 wide, and 16 feet high, projects at right angles, which is used as quarters for the first sergeant of 
 the company. In rear of the company quarters an " L," 20 by 20 feet, and 16 feet high, projects, 
 for use as the company kitchens. Fifty feet in the rear, and detached from the buildings, are lat- 
 rines, 23 by 12 by 16 feet, placed over dry wells, 30 feet deep. 
 
 Two buildings, 180 by 24 feet, form the east side of the barracks ; one of them is occupied as 
 company quarters, and is arranged like the north building, having "L's" in front and rear ; the 
 other is used as a fire-engine room, and quarters for the non-commissioned staff. 
 
 The south side is formed by a building corresponding in all dimensions (except length, which 
 is 400 feet) to the north side, and is intended for use as company quarters. 
 
 The west side is formed by three buildings, each measuring 184 by 24 feet, and occupied as 
 quarters for officers and their families. 
 
TAYLOH BARRACKS, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. 
 
 139 
 
 The company quarters are warmed by coal stoves, lighted at night by candles, and ventilated 
 through the ridge. The dormitories give 524 cubic feet of air space per man. The bunks are of 
 wood, each frame making four berths, two above and two below. All cracks, nail-holes, &c., are 
 closed by putty to exclude bugs, but the success is small, the walls, roofs, and ceilings of the buildings 
 being full of them. The bedding of the men is good in quality and abundant in quantity. 
 
 The sinks are very well constructed, and from the nature of the soil do not for a long time fill 
 up. They are dug until the stratum of boulders is reached, through which and the sand all the 
 fluids percolate, leaving only the solid residue. One sink is used in common by two companies. 
 
 The kitchens, one for each company, are furnished with hydrants, and large cooking stoves or 
 galleys. They are also abundantly supplied with delf ware and other conveniences. 
 
 Quarters for laundresses and married soldiers consist of six cottages, built of wood, each 49 by 
 18 feet, and divided into three rooms, furnishing accommodations for three families. Between the 
 buildings is a yard about 30 feet wide. Water is supplied in abundance from hydrants. The rooms 
 are lathed and plastered, and the walls of the cottages battened outside. Heating is done by 
 stoves, and ventilation effected by windows and doors. 
 
 The buildings occupied as officers' quarters are old, like the rest ; the walls and ceilings are, how- 
 ever, lathed and plastered, and by partitioning rooms to suit the convenience of the officers have 
 been made comfortable. Each set of quarters has a small plot of ground in front for a garden, and 
 one in the rear for a yard. The buildings are warmed by large drum stoves, burning coal. Venti- 
 lation is obtained principally through cracks and crevices in the walls, and at the doors and windows. 
 
 The store-houses are rooms partitioned off from the south building. 
 
 The guard-house is located in the southern end of the pavilion, forming the eastern boundary 
 of the garrison ; 70 feet of this pavilion have been partitioned off, double lined, &c., for safety, 
 and divided into one large guard-room, 38 by 24 feet, and another, 30 by 24 feet, which is further 
 subdivided into six cells, C by 9 feet each, on one side, and on the other (separated by a hall, 5 feet 
 wide) a targe cell extending the length of the room. These rooms are ventilated through the ridge, 
 warmed by stoves, and lighted through grated windows. 
 
 The hospital is constructed of wood, 32 by 56 feet, and two stories high. The plan was made 
 by General Thomas Swords, Deputy Quartermaster General, and is a condensation of the plan recom- 
 mended by the Surgeon General in Circular !So. 4. A hall, 8 feet wide, divides it in the center. 
 The lower floor is appropriated for the kitchen, bath-room, dining-room, steward's quarters, attend- 
 ants' quarters, dead-room, store-room, dispensary, and surgeon's office. A stairway, 4 feet wide, 
 leads to the second story, which is divided by the hall into two rooms used as wards. 
 Figure 18 represents the general arrangement of the hospital. 
 
 Figure 18. Scale 24 feet to one inch. 
 
 1, first floor ; 2, second floor. 
 
 A, office; B, dispensary; C, steward's room; D, matron's room; E, store-room; F, dead-room; 
 H, attendant's room ; I, hall or passage; K, bathroom; L, pantry; M, kitchen; X, dining-room ; 
 O, medical officers' water-closet ; P, water-closet for men ; R, wards ; T, stove ; W, water-closet ; 
 V, lattice opening to communicate with ridge ventilation; X, porch. 
 
 The wards have a capacity of 24 beds, giving to each 768 cubic feet of air space. At the head 
 of the stairway is the water-closet, containing two sinks, (Carr's patent.) The privy outside is 
 
140 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 similar in arrangement (o tliose already described. In the west ward arc tbe .wash-stands. The 
 bath-room is furnished with tin bathing-tubs, with hot and cold water. There are iron sinks in 
 the kitchen, dispensary, and dead-room, with large earthen drainage pipes leading to the eastern 
 corner of the building, and discharge into the dry well, which is also used as a privy. 
 
 All the rooms are lathed and plastered, and heated by stoves. The ventilation of the wards 
 is accomplished by ridge ventilators, as recommended in the Surgeon General's plan. Along the 
 north side of the building is a double porch, 8 feet wide, for use of the patients. 
 
 The bakery is located on the west front of the parade, and is a wooden structure, 32 by 24 feet, 
 containing brick ovens. 
 
 The southeast corner of the ground is occupied by the quartermaster for stables, wood-house, 
 and workshops. The stable, a new wooden building, measures 24 by 100 feet, with a dirt floor, and 
 accommodates 20 animals. A hydrant is placed at the entrance, with a trough for watering the 
 animals. 
 
 The post library is placed in a room in the north building, and contains a good selection of books. 
 The post is supplied with water from the Ohio Eiver, conducted through pipes of the city water 
 works. The water is of good quality and abundant. Its main impurity is inud, which can be 
 separated either by being allowed to settle or by nitration. Sand and charcoal are the materials 
 used for this purpose at the post. The color of the water during freshets is yellow, from red clay 
 and sand, which deposit freely on standing. The water contains but little lime. Its color, when 
 the river is low, and when seen in a body, is a dark green, but when observed in a glass, is almost 
 colorless. 
 
 A fire-plug, hand-engine, ladders, and buckets constitute means of extinguishing fire at the 
 post. 
 
 The natural drainage of the garrison is very defective; the surface of the ground is so little 
 undulated as to make it almost impossible to carry off water except by artificial drains. Advantage 
 has been taken of such slight declivities as exist to construct drains of wood, and where an eleva- 
 tion is met with it is cut through. Nearly all the drains center at the southwest corner of the gar- 
 rison, and from thence a covered drain carries the water along the west side to the second square 
 north, where, it empties into one of the city drains. The eastern portion of the ground is drained 
 into a well dug to the boulders. This well is an experiment, having been but recently sunk, and 
 thus far it fully answers the purpose for which it was intended. It is in contemplation to sink a 
 number of these wells at different points through the garrison, into which the whole of the drainage 
 is to be turned. 
 
 Debris of the post is removed daily outside the garrison limits. 
 
 The dead are buried at the National Cemetery at Cave Hill. There are no gardens at the 
 post. 
 
 The diseases endemic in this locality are remittent, intermittent, and typhoid fevers, rheuma- 
 tism, and dysentery. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick,, and principal diseases at Taylor Barracks, Louis- 
 ville, Kentucl-y, icJiite troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 'S 
 
 Years. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken siek. 
 
 | 
 
 "3 
 
 E 
 
 Diarrluca and 
 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 Scurvy. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal af- 
 fections.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 301 75 
 
 841 
 
 494 
 
 75 
 
 1 i 
 
 27 
 
 19 
 
 3 
 
 42 'i 
 
 18C9 193.25 
 
 451 
 
 183 
 
 54 
 
 21 -- 
 
 40 1 
 
 11 
 
 
 67 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Statement allowing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Taylor Barrack*, Louis- 
 ville, Kentucky, colored troops, for the year 1868. 
 
 
 fc 
 
 t* 
 
 Q 
 
 1 
 
 e 
 
 .i 
 
 5 
 
 j 
 
 a 
 
 * 
 
 X 
 
 .3 
 
 
 5 
 
 S 
 
 *s 
 
 1 
 
 *=: * 
 
 G 
 
 ~~. 
 
 i. 
 
 s 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 _2 o 
 
 i 
 
 *H 5 , (- O 
 
 g ** - ^ i 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 C ~ "-" "*" 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 S 
 
 > a i o 
 
 ^ 
 
 1368 (4 mouths) 
 
 I 28 
 
 23 
 
 1 
 
 1 i 3 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON T. C. SKRINE, UNITED STATES ARMY. . 
 
 The military post or citadel of Charleston is situated near the center of the city, on a ridge 
 about 35 feet above sea level. Latitude 32 45' north, longitude 79 50' west. 
 
 The city of Charleston is on a neck of 
 land between the Cooper and Ashley Riv- 
 ers, and now includes an area of three miles 
 in length by two in breadth at the widest 
 part. The soil is alluvium, and a large part 
 of the present city was formerly subject to 
 inundation, and was cultivated as rice fields. 
 The neighboring country is low and swampy, 
 and is prolific in malaria. The climate is 
 mild. The temperature in summer seldom 
 exceeds 90 or falls below 76, the average 
 being about 83 from May to October. The 
 range of temperature in winter is between 
 68 and 35. 
 
 The citadel was originally built for a State 
 military academy, and also, probably, for de- 
 fense in case of servile insurrection. The 
 central portion was completed in 1827, the 
 wings two or three years later. The western 
 wing was destroyed by fire in October, 1869. 
 
 It was first occupied by the United 
 States in 1865. It forms a hollow parallel- 
 ogram, constructed of brick and stone, two 
 stories and a basement in height, for the 
 general plan of which see Figure 19. 
 
 1, basement; 2, first floor; 3, second 
 floor. 
 
 A, quarters of enlisted men : 
 
 L 1 
 
 i-jqffp] fTjT] 
 _l.j.J.J.J_ 
 
 ''J 
 
 B, gate 
 
 fir 
 
 Figure 19. Scale 120" feet to 1 inch. 
 
 and sally-port ; C, guard-room ; D, guard-house ; E, dining-room ; G, kitchen ; H, yard ; L, engine- 
 house ; M, privies ; N,.commissary ; P, quarters of officers ; L, hall ; S, dispensary. 
 
 There are no special arrangements for ventilation in any of the rooms. 
 
 The dormitories are fitted up with double bunks in two tiers, and allow about 850 cubic feet of 
 air space per man. 
 
 The water supply of the building is from cisterns, and is sufficient in quantity and of good 
 quality. A room in the basement is fitted up as a bath-room for the enlisted men. 
 
142 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The present hospital, a plain woodeii pavilioii, is situated about 80 yards 1'roiu the citadel, and 
 was formerly the eastern ward of the Tradd Street Hospital, now occupied by the quartermaster's 
 department. It measures 90 by 25 feet, has a capacity of 14 beds, allowing 1,243 cubic feet air 
 space to each, is well lighted, and has ridge ventilation. It has no water-closet or bath-room, and 
 no piazzas, and is not well adapted to its purpose. 
 
 The drainage of the post is good, being connected with the city system of sewerage. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good, and few of the cases of disease are sup- 
 posed to be due to local causes. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Charleston, South Carolina, 
 
 ichite troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 J 
 
 S3 
 
 N 
 
 EC 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 =; 
 
 
 a 
 
 s u 
 
 fe 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 * 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 p co 
 
 o o 
 
 * 
 
 | 
 
 1 "S 
 
 is 
 
 3 s 
 
 i 
 
 ac 
 
 3 s 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 r^Z 1- 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 a 
 
 
 
 1 3 
 
 4 
 PI 
 
 "3 
 
 J ;*> 
 
 S nz 
 
 (D 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 B 
 
 I 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 'o 
 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 H 
 
 *j 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 426. 08 
 
 892 
 
 12 
 
 205 
 
 88 
 
 18 
 
 146 
 
 63 
 
 i 
 
 88 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 272. 58 
 
 432 
 
 1 
 
 74 
 
 59 
 
 2 
 
 76 
 
 25 
 
 
 34 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Charleston, South Carolina, 
 
 colored troops, for the year 1868. 
 
 
 i 
 
 b 
 
 S 
 
 ^ '* 
 
 0) 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 1 . 
 
 
 C3 
 V 
 
 V 
 
 S 
 
 
 6 
 
 j= 
 
 
 
 
 ii 
 
 v. 
 
 
 
 L 
 
 cS 
 
 ao 
 
 ^ 
 
 - 
 
 n 
 
 
 ~ * 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 i 
 
 ^ 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 ff 
 
 Malarial 
 
 Diarrhoe 
 dysent 
 
 Tonsillit 
 
 B S 
 4J -2 
 
 'P. 
 
 Venerea 
 ease 
 
 Rheunaa 
 
 Phthisis 
 
 Catarrha 
 tioni 
 
 o 
 6 
 ^ 
 
 1868 (three mouths) 
 
 162.66 
 
 158 1 
 
 27 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 18 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 l 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Inclnde laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and plenrisy. 
 
 OGLETHORPE BARRACKS, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON E. F. BAKER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This military post is in the central part of the city of Savannah, Georgia, latitude 32 5' 
 north, longitude 81 7' west, and elevated about 40 feet above low-water mark. Situated upon a 
 sandy plateau, this city stands upon the southern side of the river of the same name. This ridge 
 extends upwards of a mile along the river, terminating abruptly. At the depth of twenty or thirty 
 feet, fine water is obtained. The city is bounded on the east and west by tide swamps, which are 
 subject to inundations by the ordinary spring tides, and are consequently well adapted to the cul- 
 tivation of rice. 
 
 The site originally chosen for the post was situated in the outskirts of the town, and in the 
 vicinity of low swampy lands just mentioned, where it was found to be so unhealthy that the camp 
 could not be occupied during the summer; it was therefore necessary to move the command into 
 the more central part of the city. Accordingly, in the year 1833 the present site of Oglethorpe 
 Barracks, situated in the most elevated part of the. city, was purchased from the city government, 
 and in 1839 the buildings of the post were completed. The city, being divided by numerous and 
 wide streets intersecting each other at right angles, is open and spacious, and being planted with 
 the Pride of India, (Melia azedarach,) the long-continued heats of summer, moderated by the sea- 
 breeze, prove less oppressive than in some more northern towns. The maximum temperature is 
 
OGLETHOKPE BARRACKS, SAVANNAH, (IKOBGIA. 143 
 
 99 F. ; minimum, 31 F. : average of hygrometer, 65.2. In the summer the prevailing winds are 
 east and southeast ; in winter, north, northeast, and west. 
 
 The post occupies a lot of about three-fourths of an acre in extent, fronting upon Bull street, 
 ;nid bounded on the south by Harris street, on the east by Drayton street, and on the north by 
 Liberty street. The lot is inclosed by a brick wall, 10 feet high; the buildings of the barracks are 
 placed along the four respective sides of the square, facing inwardly, and having a large open 
 space within for a parade ground. 
 
 The troops are quartered in a two-story brick building, with heavy walls, slate roof, and gal- 
 leries extending along the front above and below. The galleries are supported by circular pillars, 
 and the upper gallery is protected by an iron railing, about one yard in height, extending between 
 each pillar. The sally-port, opening to the rear, upon Drayton street, divides this building into 
 two sets of quarters, each calculated for one company, and arranged as follows : A company office 
 and three rooms for laundresses' quarters in the lower story, and one large room for men's quarters 
 in the upper story ; in the basement are the kitchen and dining-room ; over the sally-port is a 
 small room which separates the two dormitories on the second floor, and is used as a store-room. 
 With the present small command the dormitories give 1,039 cubic feet of air space per man. 
 Woollen bunks, painted and in good repair, are used. The bath-room for the use of the men is con- 
 veniently arranged, and contains five bath-tubs ; near it is a sink containing a number of hand-basins. 
 Ordinary vaults are situated conveniently to the quarters, and are cleaned out when required. A 
 much better arrangement would be to connect the water-closets with the city sewers. The kitchen 
 and mess-room are well furnished. The principal building occupied as quarters for officers, located 
 on the west side of the square, is similar to that just described as soldiers' quarters, and divided below 
 by the front sally-port opening into Bull street ; built of brick, two stories high, with basement, 
 the latter containing the kitchens and dining-rooms. The upper floors are each divided by a hall 
 into two large rooms, used as quarters. The other building for officers' qviarters has no basement ; 
 tie lower story consists of one large and undivided room, used as a general lumber room and car- 
 penter shop ; the second story contains three sets of quarters of two rooms each, with kitchens 
 and dining-rooms in the attic. This is the only building at the post which has attic rooms. 
 
 Water-pipes are introduced into each set of officers' quarters, and bath-rooms and water-closets 
 are constructed in the principal building. A bath-house is also situated near the officers' quarters, 
 and waste-pipes connect with the city sewers. All the quarters are supplied with fireplaces, which, 
 with windows, afford the only means of ventilation. 
 
 The only special buildings for offices are those for the quartermaster's and adjutant's offices. 
 The first is 25 by 14 feet, and contains two rooms, equal in size. The adjutant's office is in a small 
 brick building adjoining the preceding. Both buildings are located on the north side of the parade, 
 between the smaller set of officers' quarters and the stables. The only general store-room is in the 
 tower story of the smaller set of officers' quarters ; length, 60 feet ; breadth, 30 feet ; height, 10 feet. 
 
 The guard-house is a two-story frame building, located on the south side of the parade. It has 
 been erected since the war, and is ample in size and well adapted for a two company post; warmed 
 by two fireplaces ; the cells are lighted by grated windows ; ventilation is adequate. The average 
 occupancy of the guard-house is 5.11. 
 
 The hospital is situated upon the same side with the guard-house. The lower story is built of 
 brick, the upper story of wood. Its dimensions are 59 by 24 feet. A veranda, 10 feet wide, extends 
 around the building above and below ; it is warmed by fireplaces, artificially lighted by kerosene oil, 
 and well ventilated when not crowded. The ground floor contains the dispensary, store-room, 
 kitchen, and dining-room. The upper story is divided into two wards of equal size ; and each cor- 
 ner of the veranda above is inclosed, making four small rooms for the accommodation of attendants. 
 A small two-story building connects with one end of the hospital by a covered way. The upper 
 story contains a bath-room and water-closet combined, being furnished with a bath-tub, hydrant, 
 and stool. The lower part of the building contains the hospital privy. The dispensary is ample in 
 size and well furnished. Each ward measures 26 feet 9 inches by 23 by 13 feet, and contains 
 eight beds, giving to each 999 cubic feet air space. The laundry is a small house furnished with a 
 stove, a 20-gallon caldron set in masonry, tubs, and other conveniences for washing. There being 
 no dead-house, one of the small rooms in the second story of the hospital building is used for that 
 
144 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 purpose when required, though it is ill adapted for that use. The store-room is fitted up with 
 boxes for the storage of baggage. 
 
 The stable, situated iu the northwest angle of the lot, is a substantial brick building, 43 by 22 
 feet, and one and a half stories high. The lower floor is used for the accommodation of public 
 animals, and the loft for the storage of forage. 
 
 The post library is kept in the adjutant's office, a soldier being detailed as librarian. The col- 
 lection includes about 200 volumes, principally popular novels, travels, and the class of books com- 
 prised in " Harper's Select Library." 
 
 The water supplied to the garrison is obtained from the Savannah lliver, and is first drawn off 
 into a reservoir, where some of the impurities subside. It is then pumped into an elevated tank, 
 from which it is distributed to the city. The amount of organic matter in the unfiltered water is 
 objectionable ; but as the water used for drinking purposes throughout the garrison is filtered 
 through charcoal and gravel, this defect is in a great measure removed. The following tabular 
 statement will show the result of an examination of the water both before and after filtration : 
 
 
 
 
 
 Hardness 
 
 
 
 Solids per gallon, filtered water. 
 
 Solids per gallon, unfiltered water. 
 
 Clark's scale. 
 
 
 
 . a 
 
 rt 
 
 
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 = 
 
 
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 Physical character of 
 
 
 
 
 b^ 
 
 <s s 
 
 
 
 
 
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 the water. 
 
 
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 s S 
 
 
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 tc ? 
 
 
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 b 
 
 
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 ^r w 
 x" *" 
 
 1 
 
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 H 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
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 9 
 
 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 Grains. 
 
 
 
 Usually clear, but is 
 
 Neutral 
 
 1-flr 
 
 .686 
 
 .0343 
 
 .27 lif 
 
 2.89 
 
 .1445 
 
 .37 
 
 .70 
 
 .70 
 
 turbid after heavy 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 rain. Tasteless; no 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 odor. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 : i 
 
 i . 
 
 
 
 In addition to the above specified substances, traces of the following were discovered by testing 
 the water concentrated, viz: lime, chlorine, sulphuric acid ov sulphates, nitrous acid, ammonia, 
 phosphoric acid. Excepting chlorine, no results were obtained by testing the water before it was 
 concentrated. A few drops of the perchloride of gold colored the unfiltered water purple, but did 
 not produce much if any change in the filtered water. 
 
 The amount of inorganic substances, with the exception of silica, is very small, so small that 
 they probably cannot produce any injurious effects. The solids obtained by evaporation appeared to 
 consist principally of silica, as a large residue, which was undissolved in nitro-hydrochloric acid, 
 dissolved readily in a hot solution of potash. 
 
 Means of extinguishing fire at the post consists of a lire-plug in the center of the parade, and 
 sufficient hose to reach all parts of the buildings. 
 
 The drainage of the grounds is inadequate, there being no convenient way of connecting drains 
 with the city sewers, owing to their distance from the post. The defect has been remedied in a 
 measure by having four large pits dug, one at each corner of the parade, which pits are covered 
 over, leaving an opening about two feet square, which is guarded by an iron grating, to receive 
 the water. The pits are unlined, and as the soil is light and sandy the water soon oozes away. 
 During moderate rains the pits are sufficient to carry away all the water, but during severe storms 
 water sometimes accumulates and remains upon the surface for several hours after the storm has 
 ceased. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post has been very good during the past year. The pre- 
 vailing diseases have been malarial fevers, diarrhoea, catarrh, venereal diseases, with a few cases of 
 
BARRACKS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. 
 
 145 
 
 rheumatism, though none of them have prevailed extensively, or have assumed a dangerous aspect. 
 By far the larger proportion of diseases has arisen from imprudence or excesses, and, with the 
 exception of malarial fever, cannot be considered to be of local origin. 
 
 Statement shoiciiig mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Savannah, Georgia, for the 
 
 years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 .2 
 
 !H 
 
 '3 
 
 3 
 H 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 76 83 
 
 254 
 
 131 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 61.33 
 
 106 
 
 23 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 McPHERSON BARRACKS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. 
 
 f 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON A. K. SMITH, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ASSISTANT SURGEON 
 
 J. W. WILLIAMS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is located within the limits of the city of Atlanta, latitude 33 54' north, longitude 
 7 28' west from Washington, and at an elevation of 1,084 feet above low-water mark at Savannah, 
 Georgia. It is said, also, to be on the divide of the great watershed, the waters of which, on the 
 one hand, find their way through the Chattahoochee into the Gulf of Mexico ; and, on the other, 
 empty into the Alan tic Ocean through Proctor's Creek, the South and Ocmulgee Elvers. About 
 fifty miles to the northeast the Blue llidge Mountains form their terminal spur, and bifurcating 
 from this range toward the west are seen Sweet's Mountain, the Allatoona Range, Great and Little 
 Kenesavv, and Lost Mountains. Stone Mountain, sixteen miles southeast of Atlanta, is an isolated 
 peak of granite some 800 feet high. 
 
 The site of McPherson Barracks comprises an area of 53.84 acres, and resembles an ellipse in 
 figure. The grounds are leased by the government for a term of years, with a view to purchase should 
 permanent possession be desired. The site consists of two knolls, separated from each other by an in- 
 tervening ravine, which affords excellent natural drainage of the grounds. The surrounding country 
 is broken up into hills and valleys, and was formerly wooded with pine, oak, chestnut, and gum trees, 
 but is now under imperfect cultivation. The geological features of the site are as follows : Top soil, 
 fine, round sand, mixed with clay, mica, and feldspar; subsoil, red clay; evidently of granitic origin, 
 mixed with a small proportion of calcareous matter, and largely with quartz gravel. The subsoil 
 stratum is from twelve to twenty-five feet thick, underneath which lie strata of unctuous clay resem- 
 bling halloysite, and green sand. The azoic rocks, which approach the surface and form the sub- 
 strata of the above formations, are hornblende, schist, granite, and syenite. Pure water is found at 
 a moderate depth below the surface. 
 
 Sanguinaria, eupatorium, ginseng, symplocarpus, and senega are among the more common 
 medicinal plants found in this vicinity during their proper season. 
 
 As a general rule the climate may be called temperate, the thermometer rarely falling below 
 25 in the winter, and seldom rises over 92 or 93 in summer. The winters and the early spring 
 months are somewhat remarkable for cloudy and rainy weather, and consequent difficult traveling. 
 The snow-fall is very slight. The prevailing wind is from the northwest, excepting during a wet 
 season, when the direction is from the south and southwest. What may be termed the cold season 
 exists from about the middle of November to the 1st of April ; occasional frosts, however, are seen 
 later than this. 
 
 The buildings of the posts were erected in 1867 and 1868, constructed of pine lumber, and 
 occupy three sides of a parallelogram, the fourth side remaining open. For general arrangement, 
 see Plate No. 3. 
 19 
 
146 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The company barracks are ten in number. Their general plan is that of a "pavilion" ward, 
 elevated from the ground on brick piers and surrounded by a veranda. Each barrack is 150 by 137 
 by 13 feet, interior measurement, which gives a superttcial area of 4,225 feet; deducting two small 
 rooms for sergeants' quarters and store-room, the ward contains a cubic air space of 48,753 feet. 
 The companies present average 67 men ; each man, therefore, enjoys an air space of 727 cubic feet. 
 Both iron and wooden single bunks are provided, each furnished with a straw tick. There ar^ 
 neither wash nor bath-rooms ; but as each barrack at its rear is elevated several feet from the 
 ground, long troughs, on supports, are constructed underneath for the purpose of washing. The 
 only bathing facilities are found in the creeks and ponds near the post. The barracks are warmed 
 by wood stoves, and artificially illuminated by candles and fixed oil. Ventilation is secured by 
 thirty-two windows, four doors, and three central apertures in the ridge. These apertures are 
 hooded. 
 
 The company kitchens are five in number, and placed sixty feet in rear of the barracks. They 
 are built cottage style, and resemble, externally, the figure of a cross. Internally, they are divided 
 into two kitchens and two mess-rooms for the accommodation of a like number of companies. 
 
 The laundresses' quarters are placed 45 feet in rear of the company kitchens, and are ten in 
 number. They are square cottages, 3G by 36 feet, exterior measurement, and divided internally 
 into four equal rooms for the reception of as many laundresses. A veranda surrounds each 
 building. . 
 
 The officers' quarters are eighteen frame buildings, 55 feet by 35 feet 5 inches, two stories high, 
 elevated on brick piers, with a veranda in front. Interiorly they are divided as follows : Colonel's 
 quarters, four rooms to the story; lieutenant colonel's, major's, surgeon's, and chaplain's quarters, 
 three rooms to the story; captain's and lieutenant's quarters, which are double houses, two rooms 
 to the story ; kitchens are placed immediately in rear. There is no especial ventilation in the offi- 
 cers' quarters; they are heated by fireplaces and lighted by coal oil. 
 
 The commissary and quartermaster building consists of a main building two stories high, 
 divided into eight rooms for offices, and two wings, each 50 by 28 by 14 feet, used for storage pur- 
 poses. The whole structure is elevated from the ground on brick piers, and the main building has 
 a veranda in front and rear. 
 
 The guard-house, 55 feet distant from the last company barracks, consists of a main building, 
 33 by 46 feet, and one story high, and awing, 44 feet by 8 feet 5 inches. The main portion contains 
 two rooms, 20 feet 5 inches by 14 feet by 10 feet 7 inches, and 12 feet 5 inches by 14 feet by 10 feet 
 7 inches for the guard ; a jail-room, 17 feet by 32 feet by 10 feet 7 inches, and five cells, each 6 feet 
 5 inches by 10 feet by 10 feet 7 inches. The jail-room has a cubic air space of" 5, 820.8 feet; cells 
 647.85 feet. The wing is divided into ten cells, 4 feet by 8 feet 5 inches by 9 feet 3 inches, 
 having a cubic capacity of 316.20 feet each. Ventilation is effected by six grated windows in the 
 jail-room, and one in each of the cells, 2 feet by 2 feet 3 inches. In the cells of the wing the doors 
 contain, in addition, a grated aperture, 3 by 6 inches. The guard-house is warmed by a wood stove, 
 which, for this climate, is sufficient. 
 
 The hospital is a two-story main building, with two wings for wards, and is constructed on the 
 plan issued from the Surgeon General's Office in Circular No. 4, 1867, for a post hospital of forty- 
 eight beds. It is elevated from the ground and surrounded by a veranda. The building is warmed 
 by coal stoves, and artificially lighted by oil. Each ward contains twenty-four beds, giving to each 
 an air space of 1,031.25 cubic feet. Ventilation is effected by twelve windows, six on each side, 3 
 feet by 6 feet 5 inches, four doors, two with movable sashes, 3 feet 5 inches by 9 feet, and ten 
 apertures in the ceiling, 2 by 3 feet, communicating 'with the ridge ventilator. These apertures can 
 be closed at will by means of blinds. But one chimney shaft is furnished each ward, under the 
 absurd idea that one stove, burning one or two bushels of coal per day, will maintain a constant 
 temperature of 55 F. in a cubic air space of 24,750 feet. 
 
 The main building is divided as in the plan of Circular No. 4, with the exception that the space 
 intended for a closet has been converted into a passage into which the adjacent rooms open, instead 
 of the main passage. A considerable improvement might be made in lighting the passage of 
 entrance by a sash above the door and by side transoms. 
 
 There are three portable bath-tubs in the hospital for use of the patients. The only water-closet 
 
McPHERSON BARRACKS, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. 147 
 
 is the privy in the rear, close stools being kept in one of the small rooms, which is also used as a 
 bath-room. The privy has no vault, but is provided with boxes sliding under the seats, and into 
 which dry earth is daily thrown. These boxes are carried away every night and emptied. The 
 dead-house, or dead-room, is most inconveniently arranged, it being in one of the small upstairs 
 rooms in the main building, and reached only by a narrow, winding stairway; it is exceedingly 
 difficult to carry a coffin up to or down from it. One of the wards being unoccupied, it is at present 
 used as a school-room for the few children who' attend instruction. 
 
 The post bakery is a brick building, 18 by 45 feet, and one story high. The stables, two in 
 number, are 27 by 56 by 17 feet each, and intended to accommodate thirty-two animals. Two work- 
 shops are placed in rear of the stables. 
 
 The sinks are ten in number for company and laundresses' quarters, and placed fifty feet in rear of 
 thelatter, occupying the space lying between the laundresses' quarters and the stables. They are ar- 
 ranged with sliding boxes under the seats, into which dry earth is thrown daily, and which are removed 
 and thoroughly cleaned every night. The officers', hospital, and guard-house sinks are similarly 
 arranged. The system works admirably, and scarcely any odor is perceptible in or about the privies. 
 
 The post library is kept in the hospital, and contains 550 volumes, mostly novels ; but there are 
 also several series of histories and biographies. 
 
 Pure water is obtained for the garrison from twenty-two wells, one of which is located to the 
 rear of every kitchen belonging to the barracks and officers' quarters and the hospital. They 
 average in depth 27 feet, with a diameter of 4.318 feet. 
 
 The water of these wells, upon examination, is found to be soft and very desirable for drink- 
 ing and washing purposes. 
 
 Several springs in this vicinity contain iron in sufficient quantity to render their waters available 
 for medicinal purposes. Chief among these is the "Atlanta Mineral Spring," situated near the 
 Macon and Western Railroad depot, in the city of Atlanta. The iron of this water is said to be in 
 the form of a carbonate of the protoxide by Professor A. Means, of the Atlanta Medical College, 
 whose complete analysis is here appended. 
 
 Analysis of water of the Atlanta Mineral Spring by Professor Means, estimate made upon one gallon 
 
 imperial measure. 
 
 Specific gravity, (distilled water being 1) 1.0005 
 
 Temperature 66 P. 
 
 Quantity per hour 32 gallons. 
 
 Gaseous contents 
 
 Carbonic acid 9.96 cubic inches. 
 
 Hydrosulphuric acid 2.33 cubic inches. 
 
 Atmospheric air About 1 per cent. 
 
 Solid contents 
 
 Iron, as a protocarbonate, suspended in carbonic acid gas 13.34 grains. 
 
 Sulphate of magnesia 11.84 grains. 
 
 Carbonate of magnesia 4.15 grains. 
 
 Magnesia as base in both 6.01 grains. 
 
 Sulphate of soda 8.82 grains. 
 
 Chloride of sodium - 16.06 grains. 
 
 Lime A trace. 
 
 Silica, (not estimated.) 
 
 Entire solid contents 55.11 grains. 
 
 This analysis was made some years ago. The spring now yields from sixty to seventy gallons 
 of water per hour. 
 
 There are two large brick underground cisterns, containing severally 45,000 and 90,000 gallons, 
 which are kept well filled with water forced from a small artificial pond about a quarter of a 
 inile distant by the steam-engine belonging to the post. This engine has attached 2,000 feet of 
 hose. 
 
148 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 There is no artificial drainage, with the exception of a small brick gutter around each company 
 barrack; nor is any needed, surplus water being removed beyond the limits of the camp by the 
 slopes of the site. 
 
 The post garden is changed from time to time, as it is rented for one year only, and available 
 but for a portion of that time. The hospital garden is in the rear of the hospital, and is about an 
 acre in extent. Some of the officers' quarters have small gardens attached in rear. Owing to the 
 heavy, clayey nature of the soil, vegetation will not do well except under constant manuring and 
 admixture with lime and richer earth ; where this has been done the success has amply repaid the 
 labor of cultivation. The post garden is cultivated by details. Fair crops of cabbage, peas, onions, 
 potatoes, melons, squashes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes are obtained. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past year have been the different forms of malarial fever, 
 diarrhoea, dysentery, syphilis, and gonorrhrea. Some few well-marked cases of typhoid fever have 
 occurred. The troops have been much exposed to miasmatic influences by the frequent calls for 
 detachments for temporary duty in unhealthy localities. One case of cerebro-spinal meningitis has 
 occurred in the garrison, at a time when there was a transient epidemic of the disease in the city 
 of Atlanta. Pulmonary diseases have been rare in garrison, with the exception of mild cases of 
 bronchitis. This, however, is a bad location for young children. Bowel diseases are very rife 
 among them during the summer, and though at first apparently easily checked, are extremely apt 
 to recur, each time with more force. 
 
 The sickness among the infant population in Atlanta during the warm weather of 1869 was 
 startling, and in the garrison the same condition prevailed. When the disease had continued any 
 length of time, removal to a distance appeared to offer the only hope of cure, and the beneficial 
 effect of the change would be apparent in even twenty-four hours. To a certain extent the same 
 obstinate trouble obtains already this year. Rheumatism is not a frequent complaint that is, 
 original cases are rare; when, however, a person previously attacked comes to Atlanta with a rheu- 
 matic diathesis, the locality seems to be a very unfortunate one. 
 
 The population of Atlanta, as estimated by the taker of the census for 1870. will not be far from 
 22,500 souls. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at McPherson Barracks, 
 
 Atlanta, Georgia, for the years 18G8 and I860. 
 
 
 id 
 
 
 y 
 
 
 
 13 ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 1868. 
 
 307 90 
 
 627 
 
 9 
 
 227 
 
 93 
 
 8 
 
 78 
 
 20 
 
 3 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 1869 
 
 416. 25 
 
 321 
 
 8 
 
 90 
 
 46 
 
 8 
 
 33 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 33 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT PULASKI, GEORGIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS T. N. ROBERTS AND JOHN N. NILES, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Pulaski, Georgia, is located on Cockspur Island, at the head of the Tybee Roads, command- 
 ing both channels of the Savannah River. Latitude, 32 2' north ; longitude, 3 51' west from 
 Washington. The city of Savannah is 16 miles distant. The fort was named after Count Pulaski, a 
 Polish patriot who fought in the war of the American Revolution, and died in consequence of a 
 wound received in the attack on Savannah, in October, 1779. 
 
 The fort was commenced in 1829-'30, under the supervision of Major Samuel Babcock, Corps of 
 
FOKT PULASKI, GEORGIA. 149 
 
 Engineers, and consists of a brick-work of five sides, or faces, including the gorge, casemated on 
 all .sides, with walls 23 feet high above high water, and surrounded by a wet ditch. The work was 
 seized by State troops by order of the governor of Georgia, January 31, 1861, and retaken by the 
 United States forces April 11, 1802, under commaud of Brigadier General Q. A. Gilmore, United 
 States volunteers, captain of engineers. 
 
 Cockspur Island is an isolated portion of marshy land, one mile wide and two miles long, and 
 separated by a small creek on the west from a long sweep of marshes, called islands, extending up 
 the river. Salt marshes, surrounding the island in every direction, except a limited portion of the 
 sea front, are daily left uncovered by the reflux of tides. 
 
 The soil is essentially alluvial, and sufficiently characterized by au admixture of the siliceous and 
 clayey elements ami mingled detritus, brought down and deposited by the current of a large river 
 draining an area of a diversified geological character. The amount of organic matter contained 
 in the soil is large, in part derived by deposit from the river, and in part by the local growth and 
 decay of marsh, marine grasses, stunted trees, &c. In a word, the geological features of this 
 island are such as generally characterize formations near the mouth of large rivers opening into 
 the sea. 
 
 The buildings at this station are few, and all located outside the fort. There arc 51 case- 
 mates in the gun fronts of the work, and 14 in the gorge, the latter being designed as quarters. 
 The general dimensions of the casemates are as follows: Length, from scarp to parade, 2(i feet; 
 width, 15 feet ; height to the springing, 6J feet, and to the crown of arches, 14 feet. A modification 
 of the entire work is contemplated. 
 
 The garrison quarters are in twenty casemates, each affording accommodation for 10 men, giving 
 675 cubic feet of airspace per man. These quarters are warmed by open fireplaces, and ventilated 
 by means of one chimney in each, aided by au outlet tube, two windows and four embrasures. Cau- 
 dles are used for artificial illumination. Beds consist of single bunks, straw mattresses and 
 blankets. The sinks are well arranged, being located outside of the fort. Excrement is washed 
 away by the sea. The kitchens and mess-rooms for the men are capacious and well ventilated. 
 
 Quarters for officers are also constructed in casemates, and consist of seven sets of two rooms 
 each. The ventilation and air space of these casemates are the same as of those described. A 
 few officers occupy frame buildings outside of the fort, and those casemates not occupied by officers 
 are assigned as quarters for married soldiers. The dwelling-houses referred to are three in num- 
 ber, with kitchens, siuks, &c., attached. One building contains seven rooms ; the others five 
 rooms each. 
 
 Three casemates are used as store-rooms by the quartermaster, commissary, and ordnance de- 
 partments. 
 
 The guard-house consists of three casemates, each containing 14,272 cubic feet, with ventilation 
 the same as the others described. The rooms are warmed by large stoves and open fireplaces. 
 The guard-house at present contains 42 general court-martial prisoners. 
 
 The hospital is a one-story wooden structure, 40 by 20 feet, with piazza front and back. The 
 building was formerly occupied as offices for clerks in the engineer department. It is built on a 
 brick foundation, and the partitions between the rooms having been removed, it is converted into 
 one large room or ward, with thorough ventilation beneath. The ward is provided with two fire- 
 places, and illuminated at night by candles. The building is small and inadequate for hospital pur- 
 poses. There is uo office ; a small room connected with the hospital is used as a dispensary. The 
 ward contains 10 beds, allowing 469 cubic feet of air space to each. There are no lavatories ; a bath- 
 tub is used in the ward. The kitchen is a small detached building. Meals are served to the 
 patients in the ward. 
 
 The bakery is adequate to the command. The library, numbering 107 volumes, is kept in a 
 casemate occupied as a post school-room. The books are selections from the general literature of 
 the day. 
 
 The troops bathe regularly in the Savannah Eiver during the summer months ; in winter the 
 sponge-bath is used in quarters. 
 
 Communication with Savannah City is very irregular, being by a small open boat. 
 
150 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The chief source of the water supply at this station is.from the rain-fall, with the addition of a 
 certain amount by distillation, (condensed water,) all stored in large cisterns. The amount of 
 water obtained from the rain-fall 400,000 gallons per year is received into eight large double- 
 connecting cisterns built beneath the fort. In addition to the above supply there are outside of 
 the fort, on the island, four cisterns of an aggregate capacity of 40,000 gallons, and estimating 
 their receiving surfaces and the annual rain-fall, they ought to be twice filled per year. Thus the 
 total amount of water obtainable by the rain-fall (supposing all the cisterns in the fort to be in 
 good order) would be about 440,000 gallons annually. However, very large deductions must be 
 made from the latter amount, on account of the defective condition of six of the cisterns under 
 the fort, leaving only two out of the entire number in good order, (fit to hold drinkable water.) All 
 the others are so defective that they admit sewerage and brackish water from the surrounding 
 moat to flow into them. 
 
 The other source of supply is condensed (distilled) water, which, though useful for general 
 cleaning and many other purposes, cannot be included in the estimate of the drinking-water, being 
 not altogether free from certain impurities. The condenser in its present condition yields about 
 1,000 gallons of water per day. 
 
 The supply of water is large in the defective cisterns under the fort. The amount of the impurity 
 (chiefly organic and saline) varies somewhat in the different cisterns ; in some so large as to render 
 the water useless, in others within such limits that it may be applied to the coarser cleansing pur- 
 poses, &c. A serious defect in all these cisterns is, that the overflow pipes are on too low a level, 
 allowing a danger of the absorption of gaseous effluvia, and in very high tides of the passage of 
 sea water into the cisterns. 
 
 The water of the two cisterns in good order, at the fort, and of those outside, is tasteless and 
 without odor. The condensed water is quite transparent, almost tasteless, and without smell. The 
 impure water of the defective cisterns has a disagreeable and saline taste, and, during the hot 
 season, a somewhat fetid odor. 
 
 There is no engine at the post for the purpose of extinguishing fire ; buckets are at hand. 
 
 A brief glance at the topography of this island will facilitate the understanding of the drainage 
 question. This island is situated on a low plane, the large part of its extent being on a level below 
 the high-water mark. Its surface is not of a uniform grade, but is dotted over with low marshy 
 spots, or depressions of the general level, varying from a small size to an area of an acre or more. 
 The island on a casual inspection would appear to be quite level, as the low spots above de- 
 scribed are more or less completely hidden by the high marsh weeds and grasses which grow in 
 rank profusion all over it. 
 
 A system of dikes or levees protect the island from the ordinary overflow of the tides. They 
 run parallel with the general outline of the island, and include an area of about one square mile. 
 These dikes, if in good order, would in a great measure prevent the overflow of the tides, except 
 during the prevalence of easterly gales, which, driving large masses of water from the sea into the 
 mouth of the river, would pass over them and submerge the island. To be effectual against such 
 inundations, the levees would have to be raised several feet above their present height. The present 
 levees are broken at many points, and consequently do not even protect from the ordinary tidal 
 overflow parts of the island. 
 
 There is nothing to deserve the name of drainage on this island. The water in the moat sur- 
 rounding the fort is daily removed by the reflux of the tides, through a large open sewer which 
 deposits its contents into the river. It was doubtless the intention that this large sewer should 
 also drain the portions of the island adjacent to it, but the difference of level on account of the 
 inequalities of the surface above described never having been properly removed by grading, no 
 water flows from the low ground into the sewer, and the only purpose it answers is to permit the 
 daily reflux of the tides into and out of the moat. 
 
 In its present condition the island is constantly overflowed, in a large part of its extent, by the 
 tides, while the water from the rain-fall settles into the low spots of marshy ground and becomes 
 stagnant. There is an abundant generation of inalaria in these low places, which causes the 
 different forms of paludal fever prevailing here during the hot 'season. This cause (malaria) would 
 operate here with much greater intensity were the miasma not carried off or greatly diluted by the 
 breezes from the sea. 
 
FORT PULASKI, GEORGIA. 
 
 151 
 
 As related to this question in a sanitary point of view, it may be mentioned that the water 
 of the river in this vicinity is generally brackish. This condition is modified by the state of 
 the river and the tides, being almost fresh when the former is overflowed by rains from the 
 up country, and quite salt at high tides and a low state of the river. This evidently affects 
 the evolution of malaria, the freshened current, in a high state of the river, saturating the soil 
 almost to the surface, which, upon the subsiding of the water, is left exposed to the heat of the 
 sun, producing the forms of paludal fever more incidental to interior fresh-water streams and 
 swamps. 
 
 On the other hand, at low states of the river and high tides occurring for a period of several 
 weeks, the soil is then impregnated with water quite salt or brackish, and, exposed to a high tem- 
 perature, evolves malaria copiously, and produces a form of fever of a peculiar hybrid type, much 
 less amenable to quinine and other auti-periodics than ordinary intermittent fever. 
 
 During the hot season and the occurrence of a calm and moist air there is given off from 
 the salt marshes an odor perceptibly sulphurous. In fact, the presence of sulphurated hydro- 
 gen has been detected in the exhalations from the marshes. The known antagonism between 
 the existence of low forms of animal and vegetable life and the presence of sulphureted hy- 
 drogen, would seem to favor the opinion that the exhalations from the marshes would tend 
 to repress and destroy these forms of life, and perhaps concurrently somewhat prevent the 
 development of the germs of malaria and the fever now known to result from them. But this hy- 
 pothesis, though theoretically plausible, receives no support from the actual facts of the case, which 
 rather encourage the belief that the effluvia of the marsh (tainted with sulphureted hydrogen) 
 and the active, noxious principle (gerins) of malaria mingled together, are more toxic than the latter 
 agent alone. 
 
 Attention is drawn to this point, viz : the influence of the salt marshes, and especially when 
 inundated by the occasional overflow of fresh water, in the production of paludal fever, because, 
 with some, it is still regarded as a mooted point. A previous experience in low coast regions long 
 since convinced me that salt marshes, even in situations where no fresh water was to be found, and 
 the full saline strength of the sea water prevailed, were productive of a peculiar form of fever, 
 resembling in type the so-called malarious-yellow fever. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, during the past year have been rheumatism, 
 dysentery, diarrhoea, intermittent fever, bilious remittent fever, and other miasmatic diseases. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 . Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 eases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal af- 
 fections.* 
 
 dj 
 
 1 
 
 B 
 
 >a 
 "8 
 
 6 
 fe 
 
 1868 
 
 66 83 
 
 215 
 
 84 
 
 48 
 
 
 14 
 
 5 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 1869 
 
 67.83 
 
 229 
 
 25 
 
 70 
 
 3 
 
 26 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 31 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, 
 
 prisoners, for the year 1809. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 h 
 
 e 
 
 T3 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 dl 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 2 * 
 
 S <L 
 
 
 .fe 
 
 = . 
 
 =3 >i 
 
 
 3 
 
 = 
 
 ,. 
 
 2 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 U 
 09 
 
 c3 
 
 Whole uui 
 taken si 
 
 Malarial 1 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dyseute 
 
 Tonsillitis 
 
 Venereal 
 eases 
 
 Rheuiuati 
 
 Catarrhal 
 fection 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 1869, (nine months) 
 
 36.55 
 
 163 
 
 25 
 
 66 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, anil pleurisy. 
 
152 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 KEY WEST, FLORIDA. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON WILLIAM F. CORNICK, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is situated on Key West or Thompson's Island, about 40 miles southwest of Capo 
 Sable, in latitude 24 30' north, longitude 80 40' 1" west. The island is ^abont 7 miles long, and 
 from 1 to 1 miles wide, the highest point being about 10 feet above the sea level. 
 
 The whole island, one-fourth of which is government reservation, is a rocky formation of coral, 
 with no fertility of soil nor mineral products, with the exception of salt, of which a fine quality is 
 made by natural evaporation. The Palma Christi plant grows here wild, but it is not cultivated to 
 any extent. 
 
 Of reptiles we have the rattlesnake, moccasin, black snake, and also scorpions and centipedes. 
 All kinds of birds which frequent a tropical clime are found here. 
 
 Previous to 1820 the island was, on account of its peculiar situation, a rendezvous of pirates 
 and other wild characters, who at that time made their homes in these waters. It was first perma- 
 nently settled by a few emigrants from New York, and some fishermen of the Bahama Islands, and 
 at present the inhabitants are mostly fishermen and sea-faring men from the latter place. 
 
 It was occupied by troops in 1831. The only water on the island fit for use is rain water. 
 There are a few wells dug into the rock, but the water therefrom is very brackish and only fit for 
 washing purposes. On the northeast side of the island there are a few ponds, which dry up in the 
 summer. The climate is very mild during the months of November, December, January, February, 
 and March. During the other months in the year it is extremely hot. The yearly mean of tem- 
 perature during the past year was 79.29; hygrometer, 73.78, with a rain fall of 2!)f inches. 
 
 The prevailing winds are southeast in summer occasionally southwest; in winter, or during 
 the five milder months, from the northeast. The highest point of the thermometer during the past 
 year was 96 ; hygrometer 90, with a perfect calm. There are only two seasons here, spring and 
 summer; the length of the latter is about seven or eight months. 
 
 The post consists of Fort Taylor and the United States Barracks. The former is situated on the 
 extreme southwestern part of the island, is surrounded by water, and connected with the land by 
 a wooden bridge about 300 feet long. The quarters in Fort Taylor were intended for four compa- 
 nies, but have never been completed, and are not in good condition. The fort is occupied only by a 
 guard. The barracks are on the northwest side of the island, about one mile from the fort. The 
 quarters for enlisted men are two wooden buildings, each 90 by 34 feet, and one story high, 
 well lighted and ventilated. The dormitories are furnished with single iron bedsteads for one com- 
 pany, the remainder of the troops occupying double wooden bunks in two tiers. The sinks are 
 wooden buildings placed over the water's edge, all refuse being carried into the Gulf. 
 
 Quarters for laundresses and married soldiers are contained in one wooden building, eight 
 rooms, each 10 by 12 by 10 feet. 
 
 Officers' quarters consist of five wooden buildings, each 34 by 24 feet, and two stories high. They 
 are neatly finished, and each contains four rooms for parlor and bed-rooms, besides kitchen, dining- 
 room, laundry, and servant's room. The buildings are divided in two sets of quarters each. The 
 arrangement of water-closets and bath-rooms is good, and the ventilation excellent. The climate 
 at this post is such that the quarters of the officers and men require no artificial heating. 
 
 The commissary and quartermaster store-house is a stone building, 90 by 34 feet, very strong and 
 secure, and in good condition. 
 
 The guard-house is on the south side of the parade ground, a stone building, 34 by 24 by 20 feet, 
 well ventilated and adapted for its purpose. 
 
 The hospital is located on the extreme northwestern point of the barracks ground. It is a two- 
 story wooden building, 90 by 34 feet, for the general arrangement of which see Figure 20. 
 
 1, first floor; 2, second floor; A, A, wards, 33 by 34 feet; Cm, cisterns; D, dispensary, 13 feet 
 C inches by 15 feet; E, E, stewards' rooms, 15 by 15 feet; K, stewards' and attendants' kitchen. 15 
 
KEY WEST, FLORIDA. 
 
 153 
 
 w 
 
 M 
 
 C,, 
 
 
 feet by 30 feet 9 inches ; K, hospital kitchen, 15 feet by 30 feet 9 inches ; M, mess-room, 13 feet 6 
 inches by 30 feet 9 inches; O, office, 18 feet by 18 feet 6 inches; P, porch; R, attendants' room. 
 15 feet by 30 feet 9 inches ; W, W, W, 
 wash-rooms. 
 
 The building is \vell ventilated, and 
 for reasons given above requires none 
 other than natural heating. The wards 
 contain fourteen beds, giving to each 
 905 cubic feet of air space. 
 
 The post bakery is a wooden build- 
 ing well adapted. 
 
 The stable is a large wooden build- 
 ing with sheds attached. 
 
 There being no post library the men 
 at this post have access to a regimental 
 library, which consists of 69 volumes of 
 
 a very good character. Figure 20. Scale, 52 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 The water supply of the post is obtained from the rain fall which is collected from the roofs of 
 the various buildings and contained in cisterns attached to every building in the barracks. The 
 water is of good quality and the supply ample, the cisterns having a capacity (aggregate) to keep 
 2,000 men. There are no special means at the post for subduing fire. 
 
 Owing to the elevation of the barrack grounds above high- water mark the natural drainage at 
 the post is sufficient without the aid of artificial drains and sewers. Slops, offal, and excreta of the 
 post are daily carried into the Gulf by the police party. 
 
 The bath-house is built over the water, where the men can ba-the in the sea all the year round. 
 
 The post cemetery is located on the extreme southwestern side of the barracks ground contains 
 an area of about three acres, with 279 graves. 
 
 The average price of milk is $1 per gallon; butter GO cents per pound; eggs from 75 cents to 
 $1 per dozen; chickens from $5 to $10 per dozen; potatoes from $3 to 10 per barrel. The commis- 
 sary department is supplied from New Orleans, Louisiana, and the length of time it takes to get the 
 stores from there makes it impossible to have the necessary fresh vegetables. Very many of the 
 stores are always spoiled before they arc received at this post. 
 
 The quarters and barracks are, well furnished with good and substantial furniture, which can 
 be procured on the island. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained once a year. About a year's supply is now on hand. Commu- 
 nication with the nearest city is by water or telegraph; the former is very irregular, being liable to 
 interruption from heavy winds. The mails are, therefore, sent once a week, sometimes once a 
 month. In winter time we nearly always get one mail a week, but in summer \ve have to wait some- 
 times a. month or six weeks, which delay also regulates the length of time required to transmit com- 
 munications to department headquarters and to Washington. 
 
 There is at the post a schooner, the property of the quartermaster's department, of about 160 
 tons burden. 
 
 There are about 2,000 regular inhabitants, and about 1,200 Cuban refugees on the island. The 
 people are mostly fishermen, spongers, and wreckers. The Cubans are mostly employed in the 
 manufacture of cigars. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good, and this is as healthy a station as there 
 is on this coast. With the exception of yellow fever there is no special disease at the post. 
 Yellow fever prevailed here last summer, but neither the water nor climate, &c., had any influence 
 in producing it, and I am confident it was brought by the Cuban refugees who Hocked to this island 
 in the early part of last summer. Notwithstanding the excellent quarantine regulations of the 
 island several cases of this disease have been permitted to land during the past year, by order of 
 the civil authorities, who have control of this matter. It may also be remarked that the sanitary 
 condition of Key West is anything but favorable. Key West barracks is as clean and sweet as pos- 
 sible, but being only one-quarter of a mile from the city, with more or less intercourse, it is almost 
 impossible to keep disease away. 
 20 
 
154 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases, at Key West, Florida, for the 
 
 years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 j 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 N 
 
 g 
 
 
 ,= 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 | 
 
 a # 
 
 ^ 
 
 Years. 
 
 <c 
 
 ,J 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 i 1 
 
 tt 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 00 
 
 * 3 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 23 
 
 ^ 
 
 'cS 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 H 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 i? 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 fc 
 
 1868 
 
 76 58 
 
 195 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 65 
 
 17 
 
 10 
 
 
 i 
 
 1869 
 
 85 5 
 
 396 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 104 
 
 g 
 
 22 
 
 24 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT JEFFERSON, FLORIDA. 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEON S. A. STORROW, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACTING ASSISTANT 
 
 SURGEON W. E. DAY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Jefferson is situated on Garden Key, one of the Tortugas group of islets, being the most 
 southwestern part of the so-called Florida reefs. The latitude is 24 37' 47" north, longitude 82 
 52' 53" west, and the post is about five hundred miles southeast of Fort Barrancas and seventy-five 
 miles west-northwest from Key West. The light-house on Garden Key was built in 1825, and the 
 building of the fort was commenced in 1846. The post was garrisoned for the first time during the" 
 winter of 1S60-'61, at which time the fort was still incomplete and hardly defensible. During the 
 war this island was used as a military prison, having in 1864 about 1,000 prisoners confined upon it. 
 
 The Key contains seveu acres, five of which are within the walls of the fort, the remainder 
 being a narrow spit of sand and coral. 
 
 The average height above the sea is three and a half feet, but an excavation over two and a 
 half feet in depth develops the primitive coral and the salt water of the Gulf. The soil consists of 
 pulverized coral and sand. 
 
 The fort is a double-casemated, hexagonal structure of brick. The quarters for enlisted men 
 are in a three-story brick building, 350 by 45 feet, which is not finished, and is but partially occu- 
 pied. ParJ of the men are quartered in casemates, four men to each casemate, giving an air space 
 of 1,000 cubic feet per man. The men have iron bedsteads, and the bedding is aired at least twice 
 a week. The kitchens are in brick buildings in rear of the barracks, and there is a good bakery 
 in one of the bastion casemates. 
 
 The married soldiers' quarters are in casemates, which are not well adapted for the purpose, 
 being constantly damp from percolation from the parapet. 
 
 The officers' quarters are contained in a brick building, 272 by 42 feet, and three stories in 
 height. It contains seventy-two roomsj averaging 15 by 18 feet, and 14 feet in height. The quarters 
 are well finished and conveniently arranged. All buildings at the post are heated when necessary 
 by open fireplaces. 
 
 There is no bath-room at the post, either for officers or men. The temperature of the sea 
 rarely falls below 70 F., hence it is almost always available for bathing purposes. 
 
 The casemates on each side of the sally-port are used as a guard-house. 
 
 Part of the material for the erection of a temporary hospital has been on hand at this post for 
 nearly two years ; the site has been selected outside the fort, but the necessary authority has not 
 been obtained. 
 
 Previous to 1870 the hospital consisted of two unfinished and uuplastered rooms in one of the 
 barracks, with a small wooden shanty for a dispensary, arid a small, damp, and inconvenient store- 
 room, originally intended for a kitchen. 
 
 The hospital now occupies five rooms in one of the barracks. The space is considered ample, 
 and the general arrangement satisfactory. 
 
 The post library contains about 500 volumes of a miscellaneous character, 
 
FORT JEFFERSON, FLORIDA. 
 
 155 
 
 The water supply is from three sources : first, a steam condensing apparatus ; second, cisterns 
 within the fort which receive the drainage from the various buildings ; and third, cisterns outside 
 the fort. The condensed water is sweet and pure. The water in the cisterns under the casemates, 
 which receive the drainage from the terre-plein, is so contaminated with lime salts as to be nearly 
 unfit for use. 
 
 The main sewer follows the internal circumference of the fort, forming the same outline, having 
 exits at the alternate bastions by lateral sewers which open into the moat without, below low-water 
 mark. The depression of the exits below the main sewer is not sufficient to secure a ready transit 
 of debris. The vaults of the privies are of little less depth than the sewer. The opening between 
 is trapped, but this does not prevent the return of offensive gases into the water-closets. 
 
 It will be seen at once how imperfect must be the sewerage where the entrance and exit are so 
 nearly on a level. To obviate this difficulty the sewers are flushed from the privies by a stream of 
 water thrown through hose by steam power. This partially remedies the evil, but at all times a 
 sheet of paper saturated with a solution of acetate of lead will blacken if suspended above the 
 privy seat. 
 
 There are no gardens at the post except a small one in the center, which is kept up more as a 
 curiosity than for any practical benefit. 
 
 This post is in direct communication only with Key West, Florida, the means being a small 
 schooner. It is intended that this vessel shall make one round trip per week, but at times, from 
 stress of weather or calms, double this time is required. 
 
 Few or no fresh vegetables are to be had at the post, and for those exorbitant prices are charged. 
 
 If a small steamer could be substituted for the schooner above referred to, it could occasion, 
 ally run over to the mainland, where vegetables, fruits, &c., could be procured at prices from fifty 
 to one hundred per cent, lower than at Key West. 
 
 Interments are made on Bird Key, three-fourths of a mile from the post. This place is unfit 
 for the purpose, in consequence of the encroachment of the ocean upon the shifting coral sands of 
 which it is composed. There were recently, after a storm, twelve coffins exposed and liable at any 
 moment to be washed out to sea, and, as matters now stand, the dead at this post cannot be so 
 buried as to insure their being subsequently found by inquiring relatives or friends. 
 
 The prevalent diseases are malarial fevers, usually mild, and catarrhal affections. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of troops at Fort Jefferson, 
 
 Florida, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 33 
 be 
 
 | ^ 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 I x 
 
 OB 
 
 '-5 
 
 g 
 
 
 1 
 
 B 
 
 
 = 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 = * 
 
 g 
 
 Years. 
 
 f 
 
 'S 'a 
 
 a c 
 
 VH 
 
 1 
 
 
 3 S 
 
 ? * 
 
 -s 
 
 00 
 
 C3 !B 
 
 f: a 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 If 
 
 2 
 
 ^s 
 "3 
 3 
 
 71 03 
 
 -. 
 
 3 -3 
 
 S 
 
 i * 
 S 
 V 
 
 c 
 
 B 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 | 
 S 
 
 |l 
 
 6 
 
 'S 
 
 1868 
 
 210 41 
 
 573 
 
 101 
 
 153 
 
 8 
 
 50 
 
 n 
 
 47 
 
 
 1869 
 
 239. 75 
 
 487 
 
 79 
 
 83 
 
 15 
 
 38 
 
 2 
 
 74 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of prisoners at Fort Jeffenton, 
 
 Florida, for the years 1868 and 1860. 
 
 
 Jjj 
 
 "So 
 
 h 
 
 Ij 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 B En 
 
 
 ca * 
 
 0- 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 Years. 
 
 00 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 Whole n 
 taken 
 
 Malarial 
 
 1 s 
 
 2 S 
 - > 
 
 a -= 
 
 (3 
 
 Venereal 
 ease 
 
 Rhcuma 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 C'atan-ha 
 .tious 
 
 s 
 
 1868 
 
 43 58 
 
 306 
 
 78 
 
 67 
 
 2 
 
 39 
 
 
 26 
 
 
 1869 
 
 33.33 
 
 132 
 
 35 
 
 27 
 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
156 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 'FORT SAN CARLOS DE BARRANCAS, FLORIDA. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON T. ARTAUD, UNITED STATES ARMY, AUGUST 12, 1870. 
 
 The ground occupied by Fort San Carlos tie Barrancas and the military reservation in Florida 
 is situated in latitude 30 19' north, and longitude 87 1C' west, thirty feet above the level of the 
 sea, and directly opposite the 'extreme end of Santa Rosa Island. It is bounded north by the 
 Grand Bayou, which is six miles long, two hundred yards wide, and from three to twelve feet deep, 
 running east and west, and opening into the bay four miles east of the fort. The Grand Bayou 
 has some branches, which are from one to two miles long, running north and south. On the south 
 is the Bay of Pensacola; on the east, the national cemetery, marine hospital, Warrington, and 
 the navy yard reservation; on the west, the light-house and Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 Warrington is a small village, inhabited by pilots and government employes, containing a post 
 office connected with that of Pensacola. Woolsey is a small village on the north and east of the 
 navy yard, and is a continuation of Warrington. The city of Pensacola is about nine miles north 
 and east, and from it a railroad connects with the Mobile and Montgomery railroad, five miles 
 south of Pollard, Florida. There is, also, a line of steamers running from New Orleans to Havana 
 weekly, which stop at Pensacola and carry the United States mail. 
 
 This is an important point on the Gulf of Mexico, being well fortified, and defending the 
 entrance of Pensacola Harbor. Its occupation dates from the 24th day of October, 1820, when it 
 was ceded by Spain to the United States. 
 
 Fort San Carlos de Barrancas, in shape a semicircle, was the only one commanding the harbor 
 at that time ; but a new and more formidable one has since been built behind it without interfering 
 with the old fortification. 
 
 The military reservation contains about thirty square miles of land, partly timbered, not fertile, 
 being incapable of raising good grass. There are but few trees in the immediate vicinity of the 
 fort, although the surrounding country is woody. Indigenous trees are the pine, magnolia, 
 azedarach, and oak. Trees furnishing edible fruits are the pomegranate, persimmon, fig, and plum. 
 
 Wild animals and birds are the black bear, deer, fox, opossum, squirrel, coon, turkey -buzzard, 
 chicken and hen hawks, mocking birds, cedar birds, turtle doves, woodpeckers, and robins. 
 
 Reptiles of almost every description are found. Of fish, the shark, cat, snapper, red and blue 
 mullet, and Spanish mackerel, are the most abundant. 
 
 Water is obtained from eight wells, distributed about the garrison, which are from thirty to 
 fifty feet deep, and from three to four feet in diameter. 
 
 The climate is mild, the mean temperature being 49 in the winter, and 85 in the summer. 
 
 The prevailing winds are in summer south-southwest ; in winter north-northeast and south- 
 west, and, except those of the equinoctial season, are moderate. The summer, or warm season, is 
 quite long, leaving the cold season but two or three months' duration. 
 
 The fort, in shape a parallelogram, is situated on the southwest side of Pensacola Bay, and 
 one-quarter of a mile west of Barrancas Barracks ; it is built upon a sand blutf, thirty feet above 
 the level of the sea, and four hundred and forty yards from the edge of the bay. 
 
 The inclosure contains about ten acres. Fort Barrancas has not been occupied since the war, 
 except for target-firing, &c., as a means of instruction to troops stationed at this post. 
 
 Barrancas Barracks is a large three-story fire-proof building of brick, unfinished, measuring 
 190 by 36 feet, The building contains fifteen rooms, 32 by 26 by 16 feet, all well lighted and venti- 
 lated, and warmed by open fireplaces. Part of the upper floor, and two rooms on the lower floor, 
 are occupied by the men; also, two rooms on the lower floor as kitchens and mess-rooms. In the 
 whole building seven rooms are occupied, and eight rooms are unfinished and vacant. The air 
 space per bed is about 1,100 cubic feet. The bunks consist of combined iron and wooden single 
 bedsteads, furnished with blankets and mosquito bars, and the bedsacks filled with straw. There 
 are n wash or bath-rooms in the building. Sinks are built in the rear of the barracks. 
 
 The quarters for laundresses and married soldiers are very poor. There are four two-story 
 
FORT SAN CARLOS DE BARRANCAS, FLORIDA. 157 
 
 brick buildings, five feet in tlie rear of the barracks; two buildings arc divided into twelve rooms, 
 four for kitchen ;md wash-rooius, and eight as sleeping apartments. The dimensions are, of wash- 
 rooms, 18 by 19 by 9 feet; of sleeping rooms, 8 by 10 by 8 feet; and one building is divided into 
 six rooms, but untinished and cannot be occupied. The remaining house is occupied as a guard- 
 house. These, quarters are not sufliciently ventilated, and are unlit for the purpose for which they 
 wen- made. 
 
 The officers' quarters are five wooden buildings with verandas in front, and raised from oiie to 
 two feet above the ground ; they are lathed and plastered, but some are insecure from rain. The 
 building occupied by the commanding officer contains five rooms and an attic; the dimensions are 
 47 by 3G feet. There are also two out-houses, one used as kitchen and the other as a sleeping 
 apartment for servants. 
 
 The western wing of the building is occupied as headquarters. The building occupied by the 
 post surgeon contains two rooms, and a kitchen adjoining; the dimensions of the rooms are 24 by 
 20 feet; of the building, 52 by 23 by 20 feet. It is situated about one hundred and fifty yards 
 north of the commanding officer's quarters. 
 
 The building occupied by the quartermaster is the only one fit for permanent use, being new, 
 one story high, and containing two rooms, with a closet; it is two feet above ground, with a 
 veranda running around the whole building, eight feet wide. Dimensions, 55 by 48 feet. It is 
 located abolit forty yards northwest of the surgeon's quarters. The remaining two buildings are 
 similar to the post surgeon's quarters in size. Water is supplied in barrels in such quantity as is 
 required daily. There are no water-closets or bath-rooms in the quarters for any officer at the post. 
 
 The quartermaster's office, a new building located one hundred yards south of the barracks, 
 contains two rooms, 14 by 16 feet, with a veranda in front, eight feet wide. 
 
 There are two store-houses, one on the wharf, a plain pine building for hay and straw, CO by 
 36 by 36 feet, which is also used as a boat-house. The other is used as a quartermaster and com- 
 missary store-house ; its dimensions are 100 by 40 by 36 feet. It is situated four hundred yards from 
 the bay at the upper extremity of the wharf, and stands four feet above the ground. Opposite 
 this is another building of the same dimensions, used as a carpenter's shop. There is a car-track 
 running from the lower part of the wharf to the upper extremity; belonging to this is a car on 
 which all stores, &c., are drawn up to the store-house ; but the track and car are now in a dilapi- 
 dated condition, and nearly useless. 
 
 The guard-house, like the laundresses' quarters, is situated five feet in the rear of the barracks. 
 It is an untinished building of brick, containing a guard-room, 18 by 19 by 10 feet, a dark cell, 6 by 
 8 by 10 feet, and in my opinion answers very well for the purpose for which it is used ; it is wanned 
 by large fireplaces of brick. 
 
 The hospital is situated 100 yards northeast of Fort Barrancas, and consists of two frame build- 
 ings of yellow pine ; one measures 90 by 20 by 20 feet, the other 150 by 22 by 20 feet. The last- 
 named building is warmed by four large brick fireplaces, and well ventilated, having 22 windows, 
 3 by 6 feet, and 6 doors, 4 by 8 feet, with ventilators running through the whole building, 3J by 3 
 feet. This building contains two wards, 50 by 22 by 12 feet and 30 by 22 by 12 feet, respectively, 
 an examination room, 20 by 22 by 12 feet, an office, 15 by 22 by 12 feet, a hall, 8 by 22 by 12 feet, a 
 dispensary, 15 by 22 by 12 feet, and two store-rooms, 9 by 12 by 12 feet. The other building con- 
 tains a kitchen, a mess-room, sleeping apartments for the cook, and two store-rooms. 
 
 The wards contain twenty -five beds, with accommodations for fifty, and ward furniture belong- 
 ing thereto; the air space per bed is 840 cubic feet. There are no bath or wash-rooms in the hospital 
 building. A sink is built 100 yards north of the hospital. 
 
 The dead-house is a yellow pine building located 100 yards north of the hospital, the dimen- 
 sions of which are 10 by 12 by 14 feet, well ventilated ; it has 2 windows, 2 by 4 feet, and a door, 3 by 
 8 feet ; also a ventilator in the floor and ceiling. It has all the accommodations necessary for a post- 
 mortem examination. 
 
 The baggage of patients is stored in the linen-room, there being no other room for the purpose, 
 as the store-room intended for baggage, &c., is occupied by the hospital steward and his family, he 
 having no other quarters at present. 
 
 The post bakery is a pine building containing three brick ovens, which are capable of baking 
 
158 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 five hundred loaves of bread at one time, when in good order; two of them, however, are totally 
 useless, but could be repaired. The remaining oven is also very much out of repair, an occasional 
 brick falling upon the bread. It is located 150 yards southwest of the barracks, directly in front 
 of a marsh which is full of reptiles. Its dimensions, inside measurement, are .36 by 14 by 10 feet. 
 
 There is neither laundry, school-house, nor chapel at the post. 
 
 There are two stables, one 40 by 40 by 16 feet, capable of -stabling five horses and forage ; the 
 other, 40 by 40 by 16 feet, has accommodations for 10 animals. Both are fine buildings, well ven- 
 tilated. 
 
 The library contains twenty-five novels, which are kept in the first sergeant's room. 
 
 The general water supply is good. Water is obtained from eight wells, and distributed in bar- 
 rels by prisoners in any quantity desired. 
 
 The natural drainage is very good, as the white sand will immediately absorb any liquid thrown 
 upon it; and I have often noticed the surface to be quite dry a few minutes after the hardest rain. 
 Slops, offal, and excreta of the post are carried two hundred yards away. There are no sewers at 
 the post. 
 
 There are no arrangements made for bathing at this post ; there is a beautiful sandy beach, 
 and clear Avater, but the numerous sharks render this healthy exercise dangerous. 
 
 The national cemetery is situated about half a mile northeast of the barracks, and occupies a 
 space on the naval reserve of about 7 acres, surrounded by a brick wall 10 feet high ; It contains 
 1,0,38 graves of soldiers, 95 graves of mariners, &c., and 224 graves of unknown soldiers. 
 
 There is but one garden, situated about three-quarters of a mile directly north of the post 
 hospital. It belongs to the company at this post, has an area of about ten acres, and is cultivated by 
 two men daily employed on extra duty ; the product is small in quantity and inferior in quality. 
 The hospital receives a share daily. The soil is very poor, (white sand,) yet they have managed to 
 raise some cucumbers, carrots, string and butter beans, watermelons, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes; 
 but nearly all have dried up from the intense heat of the sun and an insufficient supply of water. 
 It is the intention of the surgeon to cultivate a garden next spring for the hospital. 
 
 Food of almost every kind can be purchased at the post commissary, but fresh vegetables can 
 rarely be procured, except those which come from the post garden, as the inhabitants do not culti- 
 vate more vegetables than they require themselves; however, venders now and then come from 
 Bayou Grand, a distance of six miles, and dispose of their vegetables at an enormous price. The 
 fresh beef supplied at this post is of a very inferior quality. Fresh milk cannot be purchased. 
 Butter, eggs, and other articles of food are imported monthly from New Orleans. The price of 
 butter is from 55 to 75 cents per pound, and of eggs 40 to 75 cents per dozen. 
 
 The furniture of the barracks are pine tables and benches in sufficient quantity; but that of 
 the officers' quarters is very poor and scantily supplied. None can be procured at a nearer place 
 than Peusacola or Mobile. The first is nine miles by boat, and the second is one hundred and twenty- 
 six miles by boat and railroad. Medical supplies are obtained yearly from New Orleans. 
 
 Communication with the nearest city, Pensacola, is made by the post yacht. From thence 
 railroad connections are regular and uninterrupted. Three days are required for a letter to reach 
 department headquarters, and five days to Washington. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity of the post are chiefly employed in the navy yard ; some occa- 
 sionally in the quartermaster's department, and, except those who are pilots, have no other means 
 of support. 
 
 The general character of the inhabitants, both white and black, is good. Many are leaving 
 Warrington and Woolsey, as the work in the navy yard has stopped. There are at present no 
 civilians employed in the quartermaster's department. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is good. The prevailing diseases of the past year were inter- 
 mittent and remittent fevers, acute diarrhoea and dysentery, conjunctivitis, constipation, and cholera 
 morbus. 
 
MOBILE, ALABAMA. 
 
 159 
 
 Statement sluicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Barrancas, Florida, 
 
 for the yearn 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .=' 
 
 | 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 tc 
 
 
 
 c* 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 i, 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 \ 
 
 
 
 Whole ni 
 
 taken si 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Venereal ili; 
 
 Rheuinatis 
 
 ('ataiTlial 
 tions.' 
 
 I 
 
 It 
 
 6 
 
 1868 
 
 75.5J5 
 
 261 
 
 34 
 
 53 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 67 
 
 
 1869 
 
 58.75 
 
 265 
 
 19 
 
 58 
 
 24 
 
 20 
 
 46 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 MOBILE, ALABAMA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON R. H. WHITE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Mobile is situated within the limits of the city of Mobile, on the west bank of the 
 Mobile River, at its entrance into Mobile Bay ; latitude 30 42' north, longitude 88 1' west. The 
 site is little elevated above the level of the river, but sufficiently so for the purpose of drain- 
 age, as the dikes that connect the barracks with Mobile River are about a mile long. 
 
 Immediately above the post, on the north, is a swamp extending on either bank of the river for 
 36 miles, and covered by the white, black, and Spanish oak, Quercus alba, Quercus tinctoria, and 
 Quercm fnlcata, and by the bald and black cypress. 
 
 The post is surrounded on the northwest, west, and south by sand-hills, the characteristic growth 
 on which is the long-leafed yellow pine, (Finns australis.J 
 
 The first fortified settlement on Mobile Bay was made by the French in 1702, on the western 
 .side, about four miles below the present site of Mobile, and was called " Port St. Louis de la 
 Mobile." This post was retained by the French as headquarters of Louisiana until 1711, when a 
 wooden fort named " Fort Coude" was built on the present location of Mobile. 
 
 Fort Conde was in good condition and in actual possession of the Spanish in 1813, when the 
 United States government took possession of the territory purchased from France in 1802. 
 
 The post and its vicinity in southern Alabama belong geologically among the deposits of the 
 tertiary period, which extends from the post to latitude 32. Eight artesian wells have been 
 bored at various points in the barrack inclosure, to an average tlepth of 50 feet, and have passed 
 through the various deposits characteristic of this period, such as clay, sand, and marl. In the 
 immediate vicinity of the barracks the surface soil is apparently loose, dark sand, and not rich in 
 organic matter. At a greater distance, where vegetation is uncontrolled, the reverse is the case. 
 The amount of heat absorbed by soil of this character may be inferred by the observation that the 
 reading of a thermometer whose bulb was placed on the surface of the ground on June 30, 1868, 
 was 129 F., when its reading under the usual circumstances was 98 F. The color of the soil im- 
 plies considerable reflection of light and heat, which has been the obvious cause of hemeralopia 
 in certain cases. 
 
 The long-leafed yellow pine, (Pinus amtralis,) the live oak, (Quercus virens,) the bald and 
 black cypresses, (Taxodium tlistichum and Cupressus tkyoides,) and the magnolia, (Magnolia 
 grandiflora,) are the characteristic trees; and the drop seed and wire grasses f ,!/// /<'>/</( tri- 
 cophodus and Aristida speciformisj are important items on the list of herbs. 
 
 Although the post is situated on the northern limit of the northeast trade- wind, its climate is 
 mainly influenced by the land and sea breezes. The mean annual temperature is 67.16 F. Obser- 
 vations of the thermometer have not been made for a sufficient number of years to definitely fix 
 the amplitude of the fluctuation in its yearly reading. August is the hottest mouth, and Decem- 
 
160 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 ber the coldest. The mean daily temperature of August is 85.58 F., that of December is 45.12 F. 
 The raiu-fall is frequent, and gives a mean annual amount of 66.29 inches. 
 
 The barrack iuclosure, bounded by a picket fence, is a parallelogram, the longer sides of which 
 are 8 chains and 95 links in length, and run due north and south, the shorter sides being 4 chains 
 and 50 links in length, and running due east and west. Its level, having an altitude of 30 feet, 
 and belongs to a plain upon which the elevation nearest the barracks is five miles distant. Nu- 
 merous depressions, with corresponding drainage and bodies of stagnant water, appear in every 
 direction upon the plain which stretches northward, as a marsh, for 36 miles along either bank of 
 the Mobile Eiver. 
 
 The post consists of fourteen detached wooden buildings, distributed over an area of 644 
 square rods, with the windows facing north and south. The buildings containing quarters for the 
 men are two in number, each 85 by 50 feet, two stories high, with verandas in front, and situated 
 on the north side of the parade ground. To the rear of these buildings are quarters for married 
 soldiers, the store-house, hospital, shops, stable, &c. The south side of the inclosure is occupied by 
 the officers' quarters. The adjutant's office is the only bnildiug on the east side, and the guard- 
 house stands alone on the west side of the inclosure. 
 
 The ventilation of the men's barracks is effected by windows and ventilating tubes ; additional 
 ventilation is supplied in the second stories of the buildings by ridge openings at the apex of the 
 slanting roof. The warming is by stoves, burning wood; the lighting, by oil and candles at night. 
 The dormitories are four in number, each 42J by 50 feet, allowing 779 cubic feet of air space per 
 man. Bunks are of wood, measure 6 feet by 27 inches, and are single. The bedding consists of 
 straw mattresses and blankets. The privies are made with boxes, zinc-lined, in which the night 
 soil is collected, to be daily emptied by fatigue parties. There are four kitchens belonging to the 
 barracks, each measuring 23 by 11 feet, and containing a range with sufficient apparatus for cook- 
 ing; each kitchen opens into a mess-room, 20 by 23 feet. 
 
 There are twelve rooms, contained in two long buildings directly to the rear of the men's quar- 
 ters, for the use of married soldiers; their dimensions are 14 by 15 feet. Each family is entitled 
 to two rooms. 
 
 The officers are quartered in three detached buildings that are forty-one feet distant from each 
 other, and seventeen rods from the barracks on the opposite side of the parade ground. Each 
 building is two stories high, with veranda in front, and contains four sets of quarters of two rooms 
 each, exclusive of the halls and kitchens. The buildings are 51 by 46 feet; the rooms are 15 feet 
 square, and are warmed, lighted, and ventilated as are the men's quarters. 
 
 There is one store-house of the assistant commissary of subsistence, situated on the north side 
 of the inclosure. It is 42 by 40 feet, and two stories high, with a veranda in front. This building 
 is also occupied by the quartermasters' department for the storage of property. 
 
 The guard-house, situated on the west side of the parade ground, is in a line with the bakery 
 and stable. It is 27| by 18 feet, has a veranda, and contains the guard-room and four rooms open- 
 ing into it for prisoners of various grades. Ventilation, warming, and lighting are the same as in the 
 barrack rooms. 
 
 The hospital building is situated in the northeast corner of the inclosure, and in rear of those 
 occupied as quarters for married soldiers. It is 80 by 60 feet in dimensions, and, like the other 
 buildings of the post, is constructed of wood. Verandas extend the full length of the building on 
 every side. It is warmed by stoves and open fireplaces, lighted artificially by candles, and venti- 
 lated by cross currents. Each of the two wards was designed to accommodate 25 patients, giving 
 to each man 496 cubic feet of air space. The bath-room contains two bath-tubs, with towels, &c. 
 There are also two lavatories, made of wood, lined with zinc, and accommodating at one time six 
 patients. There is one hospital privy, at which the soil is collected in boxes, to be daily emptied. 
 
 The bakery is 17 feet by 14 feet, and contains an oven whose capacity is 280 loaves. 
 
 Water in large quantity is supplied by cisterns and artesian wells drove both of which are 
 furnished to each of the detached buildings that is inhabited. Besides these a well 25 feet deep 
 has been dug near the center of the iuclosure. 
 
 The well water is of acid reaction, (slight,) and when one drop of a standard solution of per- 
 manganate of potash (four grains to one drachm) is added to one-kalf pint of water, a pink color, 
 
MOBILE, ALABAMA. 
 
 161 
 
 permanent, is imparted. As, however, the water contains the salts of the protoxide of iron, the 
 permanganate test is not regarded as conclusive of the quality of organic matter held in solution. 
 
 A white precipitate (carbonate of lime) is given by liquor calcis. A slight white precipitate 
 is thrown down when nitrate of silver is added. 
 
 This water, exposed in a shallow basin, is soon covered by an irridescent pellicle that soon falls 
 to the bottom as peroxide of iron. The water is colorless, without odor, and slightly saline to the 
 taste. The quantity of chlorides and of salts of iron held in solution by it does not forbid its use. 
 
 The quality of the soil implies dryness and permeability for water, for which there is a good 
 outfall to the east, that conducts to the Mobile River. A system of sewers is, however, not in use 
 by the city, and, as the character of the soil prevents the opening of large and permanent trenches 
 of proper slope on either side of the streets, the water, during heavy rains, runs off too slowly for 
 health. 
 
 The barrack inclosure is drained by dikes, five feet in depth, running parallel to the sides that 
 extend east and west. The surface water is conducted to these by shallow drains running north 
 and south. These trenches convey their contents directly to Mobile Bay. Slops, offal, and excreta 
 of the post are conveyed in carts a mile distant from the post, and buried. 
 
 The post garden contains three acres, and is cultivated by enlisted men. 
 
 ' Fresh bread is issued daily, and fresh beef tri- weekly. Fresh vegetables (potatoes, onions, &c.) 
 are purchased in large quantities. Other elements of the army rations are issued in sufficient 
 quantities. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from the medical storekeeper at New Orleans, Louisiana ; received 
 and kept in good condition. 
 
 The City of Mobile contains 50,000 inhabitants, of which 75 per cent, are Caucasians, and 25 
 per cent, negroes. A small number of Choctaw Indians still remains. 
 
 The register of the city gives no summary or tabulated list of diseases. I am, however, credi- 
 bly informed, by the most skillful practitioners of medicine in Mobile, that malaria is the cause of 
 one-half the cases occurring in practice. In 1850 the population had reached the number of 20,000, 
 and iu it there was a mortality, from all causes, of 611, i. e., 30.55 per 1,000; in 18G5 the total 
 number of deaths was 1,042 in a population of 50,000, or 20.84 per 1,000 ; in 1866 the mortuary 
 record gave the sum of 1,310 ; in 1807 there were 1,182 deaths ; in 1868, in a population of 50,000, 
 there were 1,064 deaths. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Mobile, Alabama, for the 
 
 years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 "8 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 ft 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 
 ^ . 
 
 fl >v 
 
 
 i 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 .- 
 
 
 
 
 fl so 
 
 4H 
 
 t 
 
 
 X 
 
 i i 
 
 
 
 r-> ^ 
 
 g 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 -g 
 
 a 
 
 2 1 
 
 "0 
 
 'S 
 
 
 1 
 
 ~ -4J 
 
 32 
 
 'S 
 
 1 
 B 
 
 S 
 
 
 .2 
 
 11 
 I* 
 
 01 
 
 3 
 
 "g 
 
 
 
 .3 +* 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 p 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 .a 
 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 - 
 
 S 
 
 P 
 
 ff 
 
 s 
 
 Q 
 
 
 t> 
 
 a 
 
 CH 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 143. 83 
 
 442 
 
 1 
 
 221 
 
 67 
 
 2 
 
 42 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 1869 
 
 165. 
 
 315 
 
 4 
 
 69 
 
 51 
 
 18 
 
 86 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 21 
 
DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Jacksou Barracks, New Orleans, Louisiana. 
 
 Fort Pike, Louisiana. 
 
 Forts Jacksou and St. Philip, Louisiana. 
 
 Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 
 
 Shreveport, Louisiana. 
 
 Jefterson, Texas. 
 
 Austin, Texas. 
 
 San Antonio, Texas. 
 
 Fort Richardson, Texas. 
 
 Fort Griffin, Texas. 
 
 Fort Concho, Texas. 
 
 Fort McKavett, Texas. 
 
 Fort Brown, Brownsville, Texas. 
 
 Ringjjold Barracks, Texas. 
 
 Fort Mclntosh, Texas. 
 
 Fort Duncan, Texas. 
 
 Fort Clark, Texas. 
 
 Fort Stockton, Texas. 
 
 Fort Davis, Texas. 
 
 Fort Quitman, Texas. 
 
 Fort Bliss, Texas. 
 
 JACKSON BARRACKS, LOUISIANA. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON B. A. CLEMENTS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Jackson Barracks is situated on the left bank of the Mississippi River, three miles 
 below the center of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, in latitude 29 57' north; longitude, 90 
 west; altitude, 10 feet. The land was purchased in 1833, and the buildings erected in 1834-'35, 
 the purpose probably being that of the defense of the people of New Orleans and vicinity in the 
 event of a servile insurrection. Surgeon W. J. Sloan, United States Army, furnishes the following 
 memoranda relative to this post during the Mexican war : "I was assigned to duty at New Orleans 
 Barracks early in 1847. The post hospital was then a small, two-story brick building, with two 
 wards on the second floor. The garrison was withdrawn, and the hospital gradually enlarged by 
 the occupancy of the vacant barrack and the admission of sick men from the regiments encamped 
 in the vicinity en route to Mexico. During that year it became gradually a general hospital. An 
 officer remained with a small guard, but all the soldiers' barracks and the unoccupied soldiers' 
 quarters were fitted up for hospital purposes, and during the years 1847-'48 were filled with sick 
 and wounded from the army in Mexico. In the fall of 1848 additional accommodations became 
 necessary. Adjacent ground was purchased, and a general hospital erected, which was finished at 
 the close of the war in season to accommodate the returning sick and wounded. This hospital is 
 the present post hospital." 
 
 The mean temperature of this post during the year 1869 was 66 F.; the extremes being 39 
 and 88. The post occupies a rectangular plot of ground about 300 by 800 feet, surrounded by a 
 high brick wall, and distant from the river 40 yards. 
 
 The buildings are well constructed of brick and granite. The quarters for enlisted men con- 
 sist of four separate buildings, two stories high, each 53 by 32 feet, and surrounded with a spacious 
 veranda. They are heated by open fireplaces, and lighted and ventilated by large windows. The 
 dormitories are all on the second floor. Each contains 20,187 cubic feet of air space, with an aver- 
 age occupancy of about 45 men, giving 440 cubic feet of air space per man. The doors and win- 
 dows are large, and during a great part of the year the majority of the men sleep on the veranda. 
 The dormitories are fitted up with double bunks in two tiers; but it is believed that the upper tier 
 is generally unoccupied, and no. ill effects are known to have arisen from want of air space. 
 
 The post is designed to accommodate four companies of infantry, and its arrangement, including 
 that of the hospital, is shown in Figure 21. 
 
JACKSOX BAREACKS, LOUISIANA. 
 
 163 
 
 ~| 
 
 w 
 
 EH n 
 
 DDL 
 
 I 
 
 V 
 IP- 
 
 T.H 
 
 1K 
 
 [T 
 
 D 
 
 CZJ 
 
 D 
 
 EZ1 
 
 D 
 
 A, headquarters; B, chaplain's quarters; C C, officers' quarters; D, quartermaster's quar- 
 ters; E, surgeon's quarters; F, assistant surgeon's quarters; H II II H H, barracks; I,, prison; 
 K, commissary store-house; L, barrack bak- 
 ery; M, engine-house; N N N, hospital; (), 
 tower; P, dining-room; E, kitchens; S, hos- 
 pital bakery; T, ordnance sergeant and hos- 
 pital steward's quarters; V V, privies; W, 
 laundry. 
 
 There are no wash or bath-rooms, and* 
 the men wash near the cisterns. There are 
 two large sinks, built of brick, about 8 feet 
 deep, sloping on all sides toward the bot- 
 tom, and lined with cement ; they are 
 cleaned through a trap opening from the 
 level of the. ground into the sink. They 
 are disinfected twice daily ; are provided 
 with two urinals each, and are good and 
 convenient. 
 
 The kitchens and mess rooms are all on 
 the first floor of the buildings, well adapted 
 and furnished with the usual furniture. 
 
 Quarters for married soldiers are in a 
 building similar to those occupied by the 
 troops, 45 by 21 feet, and two stories high. 
 
 The officers' quarters are contained in 
 seven two story buildings, two of which 
 measure 42 by 21 feet, and five 82 by 21 
 feet, divided into rooms about 18 feet square. 
 They are very substantially built, though 
 now somewhat out of repair. There are 
 forty-eight rooms in all, of which one-half 
 are on the first floor, and one-half on the 
 second, the former being used for kitchens 
 and dining-rooms, and the latter for living 
 apartments. 
 
 The building designed for quarters of Figure si. Scale, 195 fr.-t to 1 inch. 
 
 commanding officer fronts the river, and has four rooms on the second floor and four on the lower. 
 The buildings for other officers' quarters are on the long sides of the post, opposite, and similar 
 to each other. The two nearest the commanding officer's quarters con tain each two rooms up stairs 
 and two down, with a small yard adjacent. There are two more buildings on each side of the post, 
 each containing four rooms on the upper and lower floors, with small yards at each end. 
 
 As the main wall of the post forms one of the sides of the rooms in the lower stories of the 
 officers' quarters, and appears to have been made with a view to defense alone, there are no win- 
 dows except at the front in these lower rooms ; hence they are deficient in ventilation, and gener- 
 ally dark. Itiver water is supplied to the rooms, both up and down stairs, through pipes leading 
 from the large tank in the tower at the southwest angle of the post. There is one cistern to each 
 building. Water-closets are situated in the yards; they are brick sinks, cleaned through a trap in 
 the floor. The want of natural drainage of course prevents the use of water in them. 
 
 The quartermaster and commissary store-house is a two-story building. 42 by 32 feet, con- 
 structed of granite and brick. A similar building, 32 by 14 feet, is used as an engine-house, and 
 another, 42 by 21 feet, is occupied as quarters by the band. In addition, at each of the four angles 
 of the main wall surrounding the post, there is a circular brick tower, 29 feet in diameter, and used 
 as store-houses, &c. 
 
 The guard-house is a building 05 by 21 feet, and similar in construction to those described. 
 
 n 
 
 -o 
 
1G4 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Only the lower story of the building is used for guard purposes, and the cells consist of three of 
 the following dimensions, viz : One, 20f feet long, 17 feet wide, and 11 feet high ; two, 9 feet 
 long, 8J feet wide, and 11 feet high. The ventilation of all is defective, and of the large cell 
 very bad, there being no openings at all on one side of it, and on another only a grating above 
 the door. 
 
 It is ascertained that these three cells, affording an aggregate air space of 5,817 cubic feet, 
 have contained for the six mouths ending with December, 1808, an average of 22;| prisoners daily, 
 which would give but 2GO cubic feet of air space per man. But at times there have been as many 
 as ."Hi men occupying these three cells at one time, thus having but 103 cubic feet of air space per 
 man ; the smallest number occupying them at any one time, during the period mentioned, has 
 been 9. 
 
 In practice it is found undesirable to treat prisoners, sick with even ordinarily trivial ailments, 
 without removing them to the hospital. And as, in addition to the small space given, the ventila- 
 tion of the large cell especially is bad, it is evident that nothing but an imperative necessity can jus- 
 tify its being used for so large a number of men. I am informed that prisoners from other com- 
 mands than the garrison of this post are sent here for confinement, and it certainly is desirable 
 either that this practice should be discontinued, or more ample accommodations be provided. 
 There are two large and well-constructed sinks for the use of the men. They are disinfected daily, 
 and are kept in good order, though they would be much more cleanly were they provided with 
 urinals. 
 
 The hospital buildings and grounds are immediately adjacent to the post proper, and occupy 
 about the same space. The buildings were erected in 1849, and are constructed of wood, two 
 stories high, and arranged in the shape of a square, open at the angles. (See Figure 21.) In front 
 and nearest the river is a fine garden, handsomely and thickly shaded with magnolia, cedar, pine 
 and other trees. The buildings are in number and dimensions as follows, viz : Three, 168 by 31 
 feet ; one, 112 by 31 feet; two, 50 by 25 feet. They are all at present in bad repair. The first three 
 mentioned arc intended for wards, the second for mess rooms, quarters of nurses, &c., and the 
 last mentioned for kitchens and quarters. The wards are divided ou the second floor into two 
 separate rooms, while ou the first floor they are in one large room. The buildings are all sur- 
 rounded by spacious" verandas, and the ventilation of all is excellent. In the center of the square 
 formed by the four principal buildings is an octagonal structure, 27 feet in diameter, intended and 
 used for a dispensary and office. At present only one of the buildings is used as a ward ; they each 
 aflbrd accommodation for twenty beds, with 1,551 cubic feet of air space per bed. The buildings 
 could accommodate 240 patients, together with the necessary kitchens, mess-rooms, &c. There are 
 no permanent bath-rooms, however, and no water-closets in the buildings. At present, in one ward 
 there is an inclosed space, 9 feet square, containing one tin bath-tub ouly ; the water is drawn 
 from the pipe supplied from the main tank above mentioned. Washing is done on the veranda, 
 a wooden zinc-lined trough, supplied with basins, being used. The quartermaster intends, very 
 soon, to construct a proper bath and wash-room in each ward. There is also on the veranda a tem- 
 porary inclosed space, 6 by 8 feet, used -for the purpose of water-closet for the more seriously sick, 
 being provided with close stools. 
 
 The hospital sink is distant some 75 yards from the main buildings. 
 
 The dead-house is a temporary board hut, 13 by 8 by 10 feet in size, provided with table and 
 buckets. During the course of the repairs to the hospital buildings, now going on, an effort will 
 be made to have a more permanent one built. 
 
 The post bakery and stables are in the rear of the barracks iuclosure, on the outside. The 
 former is a small brick building iu bad repair; the latter of wood, open in front. 
 
 The library is kept in one of the hospital wards; the miscellaneous collection consists of the 
 debris from former general hospitals in the department, and numbers 500 volumes, but few of them 
 being standard works. 
 
 There is a large iron reservoir, containing about 40,000 gallons, in -the tower at the south- 
 west angle of the post, into which the water is pumped from the river by a steam-engine, and 
 forced through pipes to all the post and hospital buildings ; there are numerous fire-plugs 
 throughout the grounds, and recently a better arrangement and larger amount of hose than 
 
JACKSON BARRACKS, LOUISIANA. 
 
 165 
 
 formerly. There is one cistern of about 8,000 gallons capacity to each building of the officers' 
 quarters, and two of 8,000 gallons each to each set of company quarters. There are also six cis- 
 terns of 12,000 gallons capacity each in the court of the hospital buildings, and three others, 
 capacity 8,000 gallons each, at the sutler's store, bakery, and ordnance sergeant's quarters. The 
 supply of water from the reservoir is only limited by the capacity of the steam-engine, and there 
 is always an abundant supply of cistern water. 
 
 The general surface of the whole vicinity is but 10 feet above tin- level of the sea. The almost 
 inappreciable natural drainage is from the river to the swamps in the rear, and is almost wholly 
 inefficient. The grounds of the post proper, and the immediately adjacent hospital grounds, are 
 elevated artificially about 30 inches at the highest parts. Large brick-lined drains extend through 
 the whole area of the post and hospital grounds, and are very skillfully constructed and adapted 
 to the artificial elevation of the surface. There are no sewers. The drains discharge in the rear of 
 the post, toward the swamps, and are entirely efficient in draining the post proper. Slops, ofl'al, 
 and excreta are dumped into the Mississippi River. 
 
 There are no arrangements for bathing, either in summer or winter. Good swimmers bathe 
 after night in the river, in summer, but it is attended with danger. 
 
 The post garden has heretofore been neglected, but recently efforts have been made to have a 
 very large garden, and with every prospect of success, the ground being of the richest kind. The 
 area of the ground now being put under cultivation is about 40 acres; it is cultivated by a general 
 detail from the garrison, under the direction of an officer, and is capable of producing almost 
 every kind of vegetables. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post could scarcely be better, considering its location 
 and the general character of the surrounding country. The prevailing diseases during the past 
 year, 1869, have been malarial and venereal. The slight altitude and marshy character of the 
 entire region is doubtless the productive cause_pf the large amount of malarial disease. The large 
 number of cases of venereal disease is to be attributed to the unclean habits and salacious dispo- 
 sition of the colored troops, who composed the garrison during nine mouths of the year. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Jackson 
 
 Barracks, Louisiana, for the years 18G8 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Menu strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Venereal dis- 
 
 eaHCH. 
 
 Kheiiinatisiii. 
 
 1 
 
 Catarrhalaffec- 
 
 tioiiH.* 
 
 | 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 301 
 
 1 084 
 
 i 
 
 442 
 
 201 
 
 66 
 
 32 
 
 2 
 
 fil 
 
 7 
 
 1869, (3 mouths) 
 
 340. 33 
 
 138 
 
 
 48 
 
 19 
 
 21 
 
 11 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Jackson 
 
 Barracks, Louisiana, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 i 
 
 g 
 
 j 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 sc 
 
 "= * 
 
 ': 
 
 1 
 
 Z 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 
 1. 
 
 5 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 
 5 " 
 
 c 
 
 3 
 
 
 "3 1 
 
 "S 
 
 X 
 
 1 S 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 |l 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 S^ 
 s 
 
 
 | 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 ^_ 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 1869, (9 months) 
 
 293 55 
 
 565 
 
 1 
 
 213 
 
 61 
 
 116 
 
 . , 
 
 
 i-t 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
166 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT PIKE, LOUISIANA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON A. C. GIRAHD, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Pike, Louisiana, is situated on the island Les Petites Coijnilles, at the entrance of Lake 
 Pontchartraiu from the Gulf of Mexico, latitude 30 1' north, longitude 89 1' west from Green- 
 wich. It is 28 miles from New Orleans. The natural elevation of the surface of the island nowhere 
 exceeds two feet. 
 
 With regard to the history of the post nothing definite can be ascertained. The fort was built 
 some time in the commencement of this century. The original establishment must have been at the 
 present site of the hospital, which still retains the name of " Old Spanish Fort." There are some 
 traces of former fortifications around this latter place. The fort was not occupied by troops before 
 the outbreak of the rebellion, and became an easy prey to the rebels. It fell simultaneously with 
 the capture of New Orleans, and was abandoned without the destruction of property. Since that 
 time it has been occupied successively by the Tenth Louisiana artillery, a detachment of the First 
 United States Infantry, and the Thirty-ninth United States Infantry. 
 
 The island is of rhomboid form, about three miles long, and at its greatest breadth two miles. 
 It is bounded west by Lake Pontehartraiu; north and northeast by the Rigolets; east, southeast, 
 and south by Lake Catharine; and southwest by an unnamed bayou. The island is a large marsh, 
 overflowed by spring tides, and the only dry ground is artificial, embracing the fort, barrack- 
 ground, a narrow shell road three-quarters of a mile long, and at the end of it a raised shell bank, 
 where stands the hospital. 
 
 The island seems to have been originally formed of a congeries of small shells, with an admix- 
 ture of earthy deposit, based upon a substratum of argillaceous earth, rendered black or blue by 
 the oxide of iron. The botany and zoology of the post are of little interest; no plants grow in 
 the marsh but the marsh grass. The wild cat, raccoon, rat, wild duck, wild goose, snipe, king- 
 fisher, and blackbird, are the only warm-blooded animals inhabiting the swamp. Alligators, water- 
 moccasins, king snakes, and black snakes abound in summer time. The never-tiring, ever -hungry 
 mosquito is the chief plague of this post, and renders its occupation during the hot season almost 
 unendurable. 
 
 In summer the prevailing wind is from the Gulf of Mexico ; in winter, east, southeast, or 
 north. The south and northwest winds usually bring storms sometimes with terrific gales. Rain 
 is not very frequent, and rarely of long continuance. It is usually brought by east, southeast, or 
 west winds ; the quantity has not been ascertained. 
 
 The fort, situated on the Rigolets, one mile from the entrance of the lake, is built on a founda- 
 tion of cypress logs, sunk in the marsh, over which lies a layer of cemented shell. It is a triangu- 
 lar brick fortification, with a segment of a circle for base. It opens toward the Rigolets, from 
 which it is separated by a breakwater. On the land side it is protected by an inner and outer 
 moat. 
 
 The citadel of the fort is a building 70 feet long by 24 feet deep, two stories high; the lower 
 story is casemated, and contains six divisions, used as kitchens; the upper story is occupied as 
 officers' quarters, containing six rooms, each 1.2 by 24 feet. The three bastions have small frame 
 buildings, used as offices. On the east side of the outer moat arc the quarters of the troops, a 
 single-story frame building, 314 by 19 feet, and 11 feet high, running from east to west. At the 
 east end is a part of the commissary store-house ; at the west end, a shoemaker's shop. The build- 
 ing is comfortable, well lighted and ventilated, and warmed by two stoves in winter. Air space 
 per man, 400 cubic feet. The men sleep in single, two-story bunks, furnished with bedsack, blan- 
 kets, and mosquito bars. The company and officers' sinks are built on piles, over the outer moat, 
 and are washed by the tide, except at very low water. The kitchens and mess-rooms are separate 
 buildings, parallel with the quarters on the bank of the outer moat, and separated from them by 
 the parade ground. They are temporary buildings, and poorly adapted to their purpose. On the 
 other side of the quarters, running parallel also, are the carpenter shop, bakery, commissary and 
 
FORT TIKE, LOUISIANA. 
 
 167 
 
 quartermaster's store-house, and the blacksmith shop. The laundresses' quarters are bnilt more 
 toward the west, in the swamp, and are miserable shanties, submerged in high water. 
 
 On the wharf is situated the guard-house, a whitewashed frame building, 24 by 1C feet, and 
 9 feet high. This is the poorest building at the post, and not at all suitable for a guard-house. It 
 is amply ventilated through the cracks and door ; warmed by a large open fireplace. From its posi- 
 tion the building is an "eyesore" to the post. 
 
 On the site known as the "Spanish fort" is situated the post hospital. It is at a distance of 
 three-quarters of a mile from the fort, and directly on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. There 
 have been at different intervals hospital buildings at this place, but they were all destroyed by fire 
 or blown down by gales. The present hospital was commenced in 18C8, the plan of the same hav- 
 ing been previously made by an officer of the quartermaster's department under the directions of 
 the commanding officer. Neither capacious wards nor ventilation were provided for, the largest 
 room of the house being 15 by 16 feet, the average 15 by 10 feet. Upon the suggestion of the medi- 
 cal officer two additional wings were erected, according to the directions laid down in the Surgeon 
 General's Circular No. 4, 1867, retaining the original structure as an administration building. The 
 central building is warmed by fireplaces, the wings being supplied with stoves. The ward is ven- 
 tilated in summer by eight openings, with movable shutters, near the floor, and a raised ridge 
 capable of being shut on the sides by eight boards, hinged, so as to be opened by pulling a cord, 
 and shut by their own weight. In winter the ward is ventilated as directed in the Surgeon Gen- 
 eral's circular, by a shaft. The ward contains twelve beds, giving 1,320 cubic feet air space to each. 
 One wing of the building is fitted up as quarters. for the medical officer. There is no bath-room or 
 lavatory. The water closet is a small building placed over the water and cleansed by the tide. 
 
 The post bakery is _a common frame building, well whitewashed, containing a new oven. 
 
 The post library is as yet in its infancy. A good selection of military works, English and 
 American authors, has been recently obtained. 
 
 The water supply by cisterns, twenty-two in number, is sufficient, except during the latter part 
 of the summer, when condensed water is required. The means of extinguishing fire are a hose 
 connected with the condenser and water buckets. 
 
 The troops are marched twice a week by companies to the bathing ground on Lake Pontchar- 
 train, a mile from the fort. The bathing hour is 2 p. m. 
 
 There are no post gardens. Attempts have been made to raise vegetables, as the soil appears 
 fertile and well adapted to cultivation, but without success. 
 
 The only inhabitants of the island besides the military are the custom-house inspector and the 
 quarantine officer, with their crews. 
 
 The hygienic condition of the troops is good. On account of the difficulty of obtaining liquor, 
 drunkenness is rare among the soldiers. Venereal diseases are contracted by the men when on fur- 
 lough in the city of New Orleans. They are more difficult to treat satisfactorily than in white 
 troops, and not unfrequently necessitate discharge. Scurvy made its appearance last year on ac- 
 count of the poor quality of the soldiers' food. Recommendations were made that the company 
 funds be more liberally applied to the purchase of vegetables, and that efforts be made to procure 
 fresh meat more frequently. The locality is healthy, and no diseases of local origin occur, except 
 during a dry season, when there have been a few cases of intermittent fever in the vicinity. The 
 barracks are whitewashed, outside and inside, every three months. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops, at Fort 
 
 Pike, Louisiana, for tlie years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 A 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 -3 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 ti> 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 S *, 
 
 V 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 > 
 
 .3} 
 
 &> 
 
 
 s 
 
 rB 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 a * 
 
 3 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean stre 
 
 Whole nn 
 taken s 
 
 t 
 
 'S 
 A 
 a, 
 
 P 
 
 Malarial i 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis 
 
 Diphtheri 
 
 Venereal 
 eases 
 
 1 
 
 Rhenmati 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions 
 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 6 
 
 1868 
 
 197. 33 
 
 456 
 
 
 90 
 
 48 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 47 
 
 5 
 
 26 
 
 8 
 
 58 
 
 2 
 
 1869 . 
 
 94.08 
 
 312 
 
 1 
 
 86 
 
 38 
 
 5 
 
 
 42 
 
 
 34 
 
 4 
 
 29 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
168 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 POST OF FORTS JACKSON AND SAINT PHILIP, LOUISIANA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON P. F. HARVEY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Jackson, the more important of the two forts constituting this post, is situated on the 
 right bank of the Mississippi River, 32 nautical miles by river from the Gulf of Mexico, about 22 
 miles above the light-house at the head of the passes, and 65 miles in a southeast direction below 
 New Orleans. The flag-staff of the fort is located in latitude 29 21' 30.68" north, and longitude 
 89 26' 21.46" west. The altitude of the post above the sea is but a few feet. 
 
 The quarantine, station, for the protection of the State, is distant five miles up the river. Ves- 
 sels from infected ports are subject to a quarantine of not less than ten days, or longer if deemed 
 necessary, by the board of health. Buras village, a small assemblage of houses opposite quaran- 
 tine, is the most important settlement in this vicinity, being the post office and telegraph station 
 for the post and vicinity. This site was first occupied for military purposes in the latter part of 
 1814, and the construction of the fort commenced at that time as a defense against the British, who 
 had invaded Louisiana from the Gulf and were attempting the capture of New Orleans. Prior to 
 that date Fort Bourbon had stood on the river bank, at a point about a mile above this post, but it 
 succumbed to the gradual encroachments of the current, and to-day not a vestige remains. Several 
 years elapsed after the erection of Fort Jackson before permanent barracks or quarters were com- 
 menced, tents being the habitations used. In 1840, or thereabouts, a large two-story brick build, 
 ing for use as quarters and offices was commenced by the engineer department. At the outbreak 
 of the rebellion the confederates obtained and held this post in their possession for a period of 
 about one year. On the morning of the 18th of April, 1862, a mortar flotilla, under command of 
 Captain I). D. Porter, commenced the bombardment of Forts Jackson and Saint Philip, which con- 
 tinued until the 24th, failing, however, to break the casemates, or render the works untenable. At 
 2 o'clock, on the morning of the 24th, the fleet of vessels moved up the river, and with the aid of 
 the gunboats succeeded in passing the forts without serious damage or loss of life. After passing 
 the forts the federal vessels encountered a rebel fleet, and a sharp conflict ensued, ending in the 
 discomfiture of the latter. The fleet then proceeded unmolested to New Orleans. In the meantime 
 the bombardment was continued by Captain Porter, and ended on the 28th in the capitulation of 
 the two forts. The works were found not materially damaged or weakened, with an armament of 
 80 guns at Fort Jackson and 40 at Fort Saint Philip. Both places have since been garrisoned con- 
 stantly either by volunteer or regular troops. Additional buildings as quarters, store-rooms, and 
 hospital have been erected within the last six years. 
 
 The reservation was made February 9, 1842, and comprises sections u, 6, 7, 8, and 9, of town- 
 ship 20, range 30 east of the southeastern district of Louisiana. It is composed entirely of 
 swamp lauds, and during seasons of high water is almost completely inundated. That portion con- 
 taining the fort, quarters, and other buildings, is leveed on all sides, but notwithstanding the pro- 
 tection thus aflbrded, there are times when the water rises so high as to become a source of 
 great inconvenience in going about the garrison. This is especially the case when rain is super- 
 added to the water, which percolates through the levees. At such times the stationary engine 
 used for pumping out the water, although going night and day, is inadequate to the demand. Such, 
 however, is rarely the case. Generally the engine meets all requirements. 
 
 The soil is alluvial, and is covered during the greater part of the year with rank tropical vege- 
 tation. In the levee inclosure this growth is mown from time to time and burnt. I have observed 
 no arable land on the reservation, although I am told that both rice and potatoes were cultivated 
 on it before the war. The only useful product of the soil which I have noticed is the grass, which 
 furnishes excellent and unfailing pasturage for cattle. 
 
 The geological formation is referable to the post-tertiary epoch, and consists mainly of a 
 deposit of loam, sand, infusoria, shell, marl, &c., produced by the ordinary operations of sea and 
 river, resting probably on a cretaceous base. 
 
 The soil is fertile, but to render it secure for tillage the greatest possible care is required in the 
 erection and supervision of levees, in which the slightest leak readily becomes a crevasse. 
 
FORTS JACKSON AND SAINT PHILIP, LOUISIANA. 
 
 169 
 
 The varieties of indigenous trees flourishing in this locality are numerous, and many 'of them 
 are of considerable value and importance. The ash, the cypress, and the white oak are esteemed 
 for many purposes. The willow and myrtle constitute the main growth. The oil or wax obtained 
 from the seeds of the latter is much used by the inhabitants of the country for making candles. 
 Buttonwood and hackberry are intermixed, but are not of general growth. Cottonwood and 
 poplar Hourish in abundance. The peach, plum, orange, banana, fig,'and cherry arc cultivated. 
 
 The blackberry, strawberry, and dewberry attain great perfection here, and appear in the mar- 
 ket as early as April. Watermelons, muskmelons, and cantcloupes appear early in June. Tomatoes 
 appear early, but do not last long. Egg-plants, okra, Irish and sweet potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, 
 onions, beets, cauliflowers, &c., are raised with facility, and are of excellent quality. Heads of cab- 
 bage weighing 25 pounds are reported to have been raised in this locality, and three crops of pota- 
 toes are said to have been produced from one plot of ground in one year. Turnips do not yield 
 well, in consequence, perhaps, of too great moisture of the soil. The reed cane used for making 
 fishing rods grows in thick brakes along the banks of bayous, but I have seen no sugar-cane grow- 
 ing in this vicinity, although it constitutes the staple product of the lower parishes of the State. 
 
 The common or Virginia deer, rabbit, gray and black squirrel, mink, raccoon, and opossum, are 
 the only wild animals found in this vicinity. 
 
 The fish inhabiting these waters are the sheep-head, red fish, green trout, catfish, mullet, 
 sucker, gar, stingeree, eel, drum, buffalo, plaice, croaker, sunfisli, gasper, and porpoise. 
 
 Any account of Fort Jackson would be incomplete without an allusion to its alligators. These 
 reptiles constitute one of the principal objects of interest to visitors, and may be seen in numbers 
 floating in the moats or stretched out on the shore basking in the sun. They are from five to fifteen 
 feet in length, and possess great strength. It has been customary to feed them with bread and 
 crackers, from the bridges over the moats, calling them up by whistling, and from frequent repeti- 
 tion they appear to have learned that signal, and generally obey it with as much readiness as so 
 many dogs. 
 
 The rattlesnakes of this vicinity are numerous and formidable. One was caught here recently 
 measuring 11 feet, and having 27 rattles. Black snakes are large, but rare. Moccasins, of which 
 there are two species, attain a large size, and are exceedingly poisonous. Among the harmless 
 snakes are the grass, whip, chicken, and king snakes. Among the reptiles and poisonous insects 
 may be enumerated the chameleon, a black lizard supposed to be poisonous, small flesh-colored 
 scorpion, and centipede. 
 
 l!ain. and river waters are used exclusively. The supply of the former is obtained from wooden 
 reservoirs, built over ground adjoining the officers' quarters, barracks, and hospital. Of these there 
 are seven capable of containing about 5,000 gallons each. During seasons of drought the supply 
 thus obtained is liable to become exhausted, and river water is then the sole dependence. In JUay 
 last, in consequence of continued dry weather, it became necessary to use rain-water for 'some 
 weeks. An analysis made at that time of a specimen taken from the surface gave the following 
 result: 
 
 
 
 Grains per gallon. 
 
 Reaction. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 Date of examination. 
 
 Physical characters. 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 3 
 
 
 ti 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 to 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 "a 
 
 S s 
 
 ST 
 
 "1 ** 
 
 CM 
 O 
 
 
 'C 
 
 d 
 
 I 
 g 
 
 _g 
 1 
 
 N 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 o a 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 May 14, 1870 
 
 Turbid, tasteless, no odor. 
 
 128 
 
 2.156 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 Slightly acid.. 
 
 Alkaline. 
 
 
 The mosquitoes constitute a serious obstacle to the enjoyment of life at this post, for they not 
 only ply their calling with great diligence during the night, but in summer time arc equally zealous 
 22 
 
170 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITAKY POSTS. 
 
 throughout the day. Various expedients are adopted to avoid and drive them away. The smudge 
 is brought into frequent and useful requisition ; gloves are worn, and a covering made of mosquito- 
 bar is frequently used to protect the head and face. Kerosene oil, spirits of camphor, essence of 
 pennyroyal, and other pungent substances are rubbed on the skin with good effect. Rags saturated 
 with crude carbolic acid, and waved to and fro in the air, and camphor, volatilized by heat, will 
 drive these pests out of an apartment; but they return soon after in increased numbers. Probably 
 the best course is to endure them as philosophically as possible. 
 
 The constituents are subject doubtless to variation, the earthy as well as the organic particles 
 being augmented during high water, and the reverse obtaining during a low stage. The amount 
 of sediment brought down by the Mississippi River is enormous. Forshay and Riddle, of New Or- 
 leans, from observations extending over a period of thirty years, have shown it to be between 
 three and four hundred millions. of cubic feet annually. 
 
 The extremes of temperature are never very great. The mercury seldom, if ever, reaches 100 
 F. in the shade, and ice has formed but twice in the past three years, and then only temporality in thin 
 pellicles. A pleasant breeze from the Gulf prevails throughout the day during summer, and the 
 nights are almost always cool enough for comfortable and refreshing sleep. The atmosphere is 
 usually charged with moisture, especially during the warmer seasons, and yields it readily to sub- 
 stances having an affinity therefor. The phosphorus on matches frequently becomes so moist as 
 to be incapable of ignition, and instruments rust with great readiness. Snow is a most unusual 
 event, and only occurs in a few scattered flakes at a time. The prevailing winds are from the south 
 and southwest. Warm weather commonly commences in the early part of April, and continues until 
 the latter part of November. 
 
 The fort is located on the bank of the river. The parade inside the fort and the surface of the 
 river have generally a common level. Brick and sod are the materials of which the fort is con- 
 structed. It is a bastioiied work surrounded by a wet ditch, with a second wet ditch exterior to 
 the covered way. The parade before the rebellion was occupied by a defensive barrack, but either 
 during the time it remained in possession of the rebels, or shortly afterward, this building was re- 
 moved. A portion of the parapet over the covered way was used during the war, and for some 
 years previous, as a burial ground ; but the bodies have since been exhumed and removed to the 
 cemetery at Fort St. Philip. 
 
 The quarters, barracks, and hospitals, at both Forts Jackson and St. Philip, are built on brick 
 piles between two and three feet high. The barracks consist of one frame building, lathed and plas- 
 tered inside. The building is divided in the center by a hall, 24 by 11 feet, into two equal compart- 
 ments, each measuring 70 by 24 feet, with a general height of 13J feet. A covered gallery, 11 feet 
 wide, surrounds the building. Ventilation is effected solely by means of windows and doors. There 
 are ten of the former opening into the barrack rooms, each measuring 5 by 3 feet, and four of the 
 latter G by 4 feet. Two rooms, 11 by S feet, at each end of the building, are occupied by non-com- 
 missioned officers. A ridge ventilator and registers are great desiderata for all barracks in this 
 climate, and especially for the one in question, as the windows are altogether too small to admit 
 the requisite amount of air. These rooins are at present occupied by about 100 men, giving to each 
 an air space of 453 cubic feet. Double bunks in two tiers are used. 
 
 There are no wash or bath-rooms, or water-closets. The men use a sink, built projecting over 
 the water, on the remains of an old gunboat at the bank of the river. Disinfection is thus accom- 
 plished by the current. 
 
 One kitchen and mess-room are used in common between the two companies. They are built 
 in rear of the barracks, extending back at right angles from the center of the main building. 
 
 Two buildings, old and dilapidated, are used as quarters for laundresses and married soldiers.. 
 They are built of rough boards, whitewashed outside and inside ; contain together about twelve 
 rooms, and stand on the bank of the exterior moat. 
 
 Five buildings are used as officers' quarters ; No. 1, a large two-story brick building, containing 
 twelve rooms, and belonging to the engineer department, old and condemned, and nearly unfit for 
 occupation. Each room has an average size of 18 by 15 feet. In addition to quarters for two officers, 
 the building also furnishes offices for adjutant and quartermaster. No. 2, a one-story frame 
 building, 82 by 1C feet, yellow washed, and containing four rooms and a kitchen, formerly used as 
 ft hospital, is situated on the bank of the ri ver, heated by means of stoves, and ventilated by windows. 
 
FORTS JACKSON AND SAINT PHILIP, LOUISIANA. 171 
 
 The remaining three buildings are built in cottage style, roofed with slate, painted white, and fur- 
 nished with green window shutters. They are each one story high, 45 feet long by 18 feet wide, 
 with ceiling 14 feet high. The first of this series contains three rooms, each 18 by 14 feet, and hall, 
 18 by 13 feet; the second, two rooms and hall of same dimensions; the third, three rooms, each 
 about 18 by 14 feet. The latter was formerly intended for use as offices, but has served as quarters 
 ever since it was built. The rooms do not connect. There are no water-closets or bath-rooms. 
 Two sinks, which were built many years ago, and stand facing the row of cottages, are used by officers. 
 They should be removed or inclosed in lattice-work. 
 
 One large frame building, GO by 47 feet, one story high, divided equally by a partition, is used 
 for commissary and quartermaster store-rooms. It is whitewashed and slate-roofed, and stands be- 
 tween the officers' quarters and barracks. 
 
 The guard-house is situated in the fort, with two doors opening into the sally-port and one into 
 the fort. It com prises three rooms, viz: The guard-room, 13Jby 14ifeet; the prison, 17 by 20 feet; 
 and the dungeon, 14 by 7 feet, all having an average height of eight feet, warmed by means of fire- 
 places, and ventilated by one embrasure, 3 by 2 feet, and three doors, 3 by 5 feet. For the ordinary 
 uses of a guard-house the prison-room would be entirely suitable ; but for the confinement of gen- 
 eral prisoners, in such numbers as are at present confined, it is altogether unfit. Fort Jackson has 
 recently been converted into a penal post, and there are at present sixty-five convict prisoners here, 
 undergoing sentence for various offenses, desertion being the principal. Eleven are confined in the 
 prison-room above described, and thirty-two in a casemate of the fort, (29 by 15 feet, and 9 feet high,) 
 and twenty-two in two hospital tents pitched on the parade in the fort. It will be readily seen that the 
 allowance of air to the prisoners in the casemate and prison is quite insufficient. As a remedy for 
 tliis state of affairs another casemate in the fort is preparing for the reception of a dozen or so, and 
 will be ready for occupation in a few days. The stockade, at present in course of erection, is built 
 of piles, 10 by 10 inches, implanted five feet in the ground and projecting twelve feet above. A 
 space of two inches is left between each pile to secure a little circulation of air inside. This structure 
 will inclose an area 150 by 75 feet, and a building 100 by 25 feet, with ceiling about fourteen feet 
 high, eighteen windows, three doors, fourteen registers, and a ridge ventilator running the entire 
 length of building. It will accommodate about 100 prisoners, and at least two mouths will be con- 
 sumed in its completion. 
 
 The hospital, situated on the bank of the river, is a new building, 135 by 25 feet, constructed 
 of boards, arranged vertically and battened; the ward, Co by 24 feet, occupying the center. At 
 one end are two lavatories, 15 by 13 and 13 by 8 feet; kitchen, 15J by 10 feet; pantry, 10 by 8 
 feet, and dining-room, 15 by 24 feet the dispensary, 15 by 15 feet; the store-room and steward's 
 quarters occupy the other end. The rooms are all 14 feet high. The building is yellow washed and 
 furnished with green window shutters exteriorly, and is lathed and plastered inside; warmed by 
 means of stoves, lighted and ventilated by windows and doors. The ward contains twenty beds, 
 allowing to each an air space of about 1,100 cubic feet. No water-closet ; no dead-house. Baggage 
 of patients stored in store-room. A covered gallery around the hospital is included in the plan of 
 the building, but as yet has not been constructed. I consider it an essential feature to all hospitals 
 in this latitude. A ridge ventilator I regard also as an almost indispensable necessity. Two case- 
 mates in the fort are occupied as a post bakery. There is no library. 
 
 Accumulations of water in the immediate vicinity of the fort and buildings are conducted by 
 ditches into a reservoir near the edge of the river, where a stationary engine of eight to ten horse- 
 power is worked almost incessantly in rainy seasons discharging into the river. This apparatus 
 was brought here in 1865 upon the recommendation of an inspecting board of surgeons, and answers 
 an excellent purpose. The slops, ofl'al, excreta, &c., are thrown into the river. 
 
 The river affords the only means of bathing. The men are obliged to bathe twice a week. 
 
 There is no garden, the ground being too wet for cultivation. 
 
 There is regular communication with New Orleans twice a week, liable only to interruption by 
 the occurrence of an epidemic. 
 
 In the ordinary course of mail a letter will go to department headquarters in about ten days, 
 and to Washington in seven days. 
 
 The vicinity is thinly settled by Creoles, Spanish, French, Germans, and Irish. They follow 
 agricultural pursuits chiefly. 
 
172 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past year were malarial fevers and diarrhoea. While colored 
 troops garrisoned the post intermittent fevers were comparatively rare, but since the advent of 
 white troops there has been a marked increase of these diseases. In many of the latter the disease 
 appears to have been contracted elsewhere ; however, there can be no doubt that the conditions of 
 this locality are eminently favorable to the development of that class of complaints. Indeed, in a 
 paludcil district such as this, near the delta and embouchures of a large river, covered partially with 
 water and overgrown with exuberant vegetation, which is acted upon by a high degree of tempera- 
 ture during many months of the year, it might reasonably be supposed that miasmatic diseases 
 would constitute the exclusive forms of sickness. They certainly are the most important; but when 
 we take into consideration that the great majority of troops serving here are unacclimated, the ratio 
 is found to be surprisingly small. The immunity is probably due iu a measure to the sanitary pre- 
 cautions adopted early iu the season and subsequently. Rigid police measures have been enforced, 
 and special attention has been given to the use of disinfectants and the removal of vegetable mat- 
 ter liable to undergo decomposition. The administration of prophylactics was also commenced on 
 the first of this month. The men are much exposed to the night air and direct rays of the sun, 
 which necessarily exert a deleterious influence upon their health, and it is not unreasonable to an- 
 ticipate an increased amount of sickness during the ensuing summer and fall mouths. Diarrh<ea 
 is rarely serious,- and usually yields to appropriate treatment. 
 
 Fort St. Philip, opposite and a short distance above Fort Jackson, and a work of less magnitude 
 and importance, islocatediu latitude 29 21' 52.74" north, and longitude 89 26' 55.96" west. The fort 
 is on the same general level with Fort Jackson, but the ground immediately surrounding it is some" 
 what higher. Further beyond the ground again becomes low, marshy, and subject to overflow 
 Occupied first as a military post by the Spaniards, the main portion of the fort now standing was 
 built during the Spanish occupation of the country, probably some time during the middle of the 
 eighteenth century. During the first year of the war it was held and considerably improved by the 
 rebels. It sustained more damage from the bombardment in 1862 than Fort Jackson. The reserva- 
 tion made iu 1842 comprises section 11 of township 19, range 17 east, of the southeastern district 
 of Louisiana. The main work of the fort is built of brick, and in the form of a very irregular poly- 
 gon, surrounded by a wet ditch. 
 
 There are no suitable quarters provided for garrison iuside the fort. One wooden building is 
 used for barracks, 88 by 25 feet, with a porch, 9 feet wide, running the length of the building in 
 front and rear. The barrack-room is 74 feet long by 24 feet wide, 14 feet from the floor to the 
 eaves, and about 19 feet from the floor to the ridge. There are two rooms at one end, 12 by 9 feet, 
 with a corridor between them, 12 by 5 feet. Inclusive there are fifteen windows, each 7 by 3J 
 feet, and five doors, 8 by 3 feet ; a ridge ventilator about 50 feet long by 3 feet in height, and 
 twelve base ventilators, (registers,) afford an ample circulation of air. Warmed by stoves, burn- 
 ing wood. 
 
 These barracks were intended for occupation by one full company, (100 men,) but as compa- 
 nies are rarely or never full, that number is seldom quartered in them. For 50 men there is an air 
 space of about 560 cubic feet for each. At present Fort St. Philip is not garrisoned, and there 
 is consequently no bedding in the quarters. There are no water-closets ; sinks built over the moat. 
 The kitchen and mess-room are in a detached wooden building about 15 yards from the bar- 
 racks, 50 by 20J feet, with a porch in front, 50 by 5 feet. 
 
 The officers' quarters are two new wooden buildings, of equal size, 45 feet in length by 25 feet 3 
 inches in width, built in cottage style. There are porches in front and rear of the buildings, and of 
 the same length, by 9 feet 7 inches wide. Each building contains four rooms, each 17 feet 10 inches 
 in length by 11 feet 9 inches in width, and 13 feet 9 inches in height. A hall, 24 by 9 feet, divides each 
 building into two equal parts. There are no offices or store-houses. Supplies are obtained from 
 Fort Jackson. 
 
 The guard-house is a small frame building, situated on the bank of the river, 1S by 14 feet, 
 with four windows and one door, and divided into two rooms of nearly equal size. 
 
 The hospital is precisely similar in its main details to the one at Fort Jackson. 
 
 No bakery, laundry, school-house, or chapel, nor stables. 
 
 Water is obtained from four overground cisterns, each capable of holding about 5,000 gallons. 
 No means of extinguishing fire. Natural surface drainage pretty good. No artificial drains or 
 sewers. 
 
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. 
 
 173 
 
 The hygiene of the post is perhaps a little better than that of Fort Jackson, in consequence of 
 the higher and dryer ground on which the quarters and barracks stand. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Jackson, Louisiana, 
 
 colored troops, for Hie years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 t-t 
 2 .* 
 
 C o 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 " 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 
 1. 
 
 - 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 II 
 
 .2 
 
 49 
 
 w 
 
 1 
 
 .S 
 
 
 "a s 
 
 "rt 
 
 
 1 
 
 o a 
 
 .2 
 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 X 
 
 r; .^ 
 
 m 
 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 11 
 
 i. 
 
 a "a 
 
 X 
 
 a 
 
 d 
 
 D 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 1 ~ 
 
 o 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 W 
 
 
 M 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 f o 
 
 1868 
 
 136. 16 
 
 808 
 
 233 
 
 99 
 
 25 
 
 18 
 
 39 
 
 53 
 
 11 
 
 71 
 
 
 1869 
 
 98.75 
 
 653 
 
 97 
 
 147 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 48 
 
 4 
 
 51 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement shoielng mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort St. Philip, Louisiana, 
 
 colored troops, for the years 18G8 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 v 
 
 ri 
 
 "fl 
 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 tS 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 P M 
 
 E 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 CD 
 
 
 CD 
 
 5 u 
 
 | 
 
 b 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 pfl 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 & 
 
 3 
 
 5 '3 
 d 
 
 o SJ 
 
 'O C3 
 
 1 
 
 9 -^ 
 
 8 g 
 
 .22 
 
 *OQ 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 "8 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 s 
 
 '3 
 
 i 
 
 49 
 
 II 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 r 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 . !> 
 
 W 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 1868 
 
 67.41 
 
 379 
 
 84 
 
 80 
 
 7 
 
 24 
 
 ' 25 
 
 18 
 
 j 
 
 37 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 91. 18 
 
 439 
 
 50 
 
 101 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 36 
 
 40 
 
 3 
 
 47 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, broiicliitis, pneumonia, and plurisy. 
 
 BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON E. A. KOERPER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Baton Rouge is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, latitude 30 3G' north, lon- 
 gitude 14 28' west of Washington, and on the first high land or bluff found in ascending the river. 
 This bluff is about 22 feet above high water and GO feet above the level of the Gulf. The surface 
 of the government reservation is undulating, and has good natural drainage. On the north is a 
 bayou, which empties into the river about 200 yards above the barracks. 
 
 The barracks consist of four two-story brick buildings, erected in 1823-'24. There was origin- 
 ally a fifth building forming the river side of the pentagon, but this was removed many years ago. 
 The northeast and southeast wings are used as officers' quarters, the dimensions of each being 182 
 by 24 feet, and a veranda, 12 feet in width, extends the whole length of the building, both front and 
 rear. Staircases lead from the outside to both galleries. The north and southwest wings, occu- 
 pied by the enlisted men, are similar to the officers' quarters, except that the dimensions are 184 by 
 34 feet. The upper stories contain two dormitories, accommodating one company, fitted up with 
 double bunks, and allowing 5G3 cubic feet air space per man. Fireplaces are the means of warm- 
 ing the quarters; the ventilation is ample. Large sinks are built near the river. Two small rooms 
 at each end of the building, and communicating with the dormitories, are used as offices and store- 
 rooms. The ground floor contains two kitchens, two mess-roo as, and two store-rooms. Each 
 building is adapted for two companies. The northeast and southwest wings have each a sally-port 
 through the center. The sally-port of the north wing has been closed up and is now used as a 
 guard-house. This contains a fireplace and three windows, two in front and one back, which are 
 the only means of ventilation. One of the store-rooms is used as a cell, which is badly ventilated, 
 unless the door is kept open. 
 
174 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The hospital is a new frame building arranged according to the plan laid down in Circular No. 4, 
 Surgeon General's Office, 18C7, for twelve beds. Its situation is very unfavorable and much inferior 
 to one on the high bank of the river, where ventilation and drainage would have been Ccisily 
 accomplished. The building is placed on the north side of the barracks ; it is weather-boarded on 
 the outside, and plastered and ceiled on the inside. The wards, each 21 by 44 feet, are supplied 
 with ridge ventilators, and shafts inclosing the stove-pipe in winter. The necessary current of air 
 is admitted through an opening in the floor under the stove. Air space per bed, 8G4 cubic feet. 
 The bath-rooms are well arranged; pipes lead from the cisterns to the bath-tubs, and waste-pipes 
 from thence to the drain. There is a sink apart from the main building. The whole hospital is 
 lighted by thirty gas burners, of which, however, only one-third are in permanent use. The hospi- 
 tal grounds are, as yet, in a primitive condition; fruit and shade trees have been planted the 
 grounds in the rear of the building are used as a garden. 
 
 The post bakery is in good condition and well conducted. 
 
 The water supply is obtained from cisterns, which are kept clean, and the water is all that can 
 be desired. The grounds about the post are well drained by artificial surface drains, which are 
 daily disinfected with lime and carbolic acid. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at this post are of a malarious origin; quotidian and tertian intermit- 
 tent fevers make their appearance in May and June; in July and August, they are more of remit- 
 tent character, and frequently congestive. In September, the fevers are of a severe congestive or 
 typhoid type. Dysentery appears in isolated cases, and is easily controlled if properly attended to 
 in the commencement. There is a swamp situated behind the garrison and arsenal where, proba- 
 bly, most of the malarial agents are formed which render the garrison so unhealthy in summer. 
 During high water or rainy weather, a lake of a half a mile in length, and from 20 to 150 yards in 
 breadth, is formed, which, as soon as the Mississippi falls, or the season becomes fair, dries out, and 
 so gives rise to the formation of malaria. The side of the garrison facing toward the swamp is most 
 unhealthy, and whenever the wind comes from that direction malarious diseases increase in number. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 cc 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 Sj 
 
 to 
 
 I . 
 
 00 
 
 <u 
 
 s 's 
 
 X 
 
 oid fever 
 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 "3 
 
 fr 
 
 C2 
 
 S *= 
 o a 
 ^) i 
 
 
 *-u 
 
 _g 
 
 v 
 a 
 
 jmic cata 
 
 5 
 
 "3 
 v 
 
 matism. 
 
 TK 
 
 "H 
 
 rhal aft'e 
 
 ions.* 
 
 f deaths. 
 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 'O r^4 
 
 -a 
 
 > 
 
 1 
 
 - x, 
 
 .5 = 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 CH 
 
 12 
 
 o 
 a 
 ^ 
 
 g 
 A 
 
 3a 
 
 43 
 f 
 
 ~ 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 O 
 
 w 
 
 > 
 
 a 
 
 PH 
 
 o 
 
 Zt 
 
 1868 
 
 226. 83 
 
 1,518 
 
 
 1,033 
 
 132 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 65 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 51 
 
 7 
 
 1869 
 
 253 25 
 
 1 059 
 
 2 
 
 681 
 
 80 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 45 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 50 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Iiiclude laryngitis, bronchitis, pueuiiionia, and pleurisy. 
 
 SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON P. F. HARVEY, AND ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON 
 
 MILTON A. ROACH, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is located about half a mile northwest of the city of Shreveport, on the right bank of 
 Bayou Cross. 
 
 The buildings at the post were erected and used as an arsenal by the rebels during the late 
 war. There were, at the close of the war, about fifty-six buildings, as near as can be learned, upon, 
 the ground three constructed of brick, and evidently designed for the manufacture of ordnance ; 
 the remainder, rude unfinished frame buildings, many of them destitute of windows, and all in a 
 state of dilapidation. A number of them have been torn down, others are occupied by troops as 
 quarters, and the remainder are rented by the ordnance department to negroes. 
 
JEFFERSON, TEXAS. 
 
 175 
 
 The post is pleasantly situated in a healthful locality, on an eminence surrounded by natural 
 ravines. The ground occupied embraces an area of 73 acres. The climate is mild ; average tem- 
 perature 65.24 ; moisture 61.07. Prevailing winds from southeast and north. 
 
 An old frame building is used as quarters for the men. It is much out of repair, and badly 
 ventilated and lighted. For the want of window-sash and glass the windows are closed with 
 boards. The building is warmed by open fireplaces. Wooden bunks are used, with the usual 
 bedding. Air space per man 406 cubic feet. The kitchen is a frame building, 13 by 14 by 7 feet> 
 containing one door and one window ; the mess-room measures 24 by 14 by 7 feet, and contains 
 two doors, and one window without sash or glass. The sinks are well arranged, beiug placed over 
 the bayou. 
 
 Two unfinished frame buildings, of two rooms each, comprise quarters for as many families of 
 soldiers. The houses are neither lathed nor plastered. Similar buildings, in similar repair, are 
 occupied by the officers as quarters. 
 
 The store-houses, two in number, are commodious and well policed. The guard-house, a frame 
 buildiiig, 13 by 10 by 7 feet, is also much out of repair, and ill adapted to the wants of the 
 command. The only means of ventilation is by the door and fireplace. The average occupancy 
 is five. 
 
 The hospital building is 60 by 24J by 9| feet, partitioned into a ward, dispensary, and kitchen, 
 and, if thoroughly repaired, would be sufficient for the sick of this command. The rooms are 
 warmed by fireplaces, and lighted by windows. The ventilation is bad. The ward contains eight 
 beds, with an air space to each of 812 cubic feet. There is no wash-room nor water-closet; the 
 sink is situated in a ravine to the rear of the building. The stable is a brick building in excellent 
 repair. 
 
 The water supply cannot be said to be good, either in quantity or quality, although with 
 straining it answers tolerably well. The supply is obtained from two cisterns which will furnish, 
 during a moderately rainy season, sufficient for the number of men now present. 
 
 There is no artificial drainage at the post. After heavy rains the water collects upon the low 
 grounds which partly surround the 'barracks on the south, rendering it marshy and the source of 
 infectious gases. Vegetation is luxuriant and insect life abundant. The locality is represeuted 
 to be exceedingly unhealthful during the summer season. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at the post and vicinity are intermittent and remittent fevers. 
 
 /Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Shreveport, Louisiana, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 SB 
 
 Sb 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 o> 
 
 aj 
 C 
 
 O 
 
 s 
 
 
 | 
 
 a 
 
 cs 
 
 Rjj 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 w 
 
 ^ 'cc 
 
 1 
 
 "3 
 
 i-i 
 
 
 
 .2 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 00 
 
 3 .1 
 
 1 
 
 
 03 
 
 03 ~ 
 
 o 
 
 a 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 q 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 c 3 -^ 
 
 & 
 
 | 
 
 C5 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,9 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 E-" 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 H 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 1868.. 
 
 109.08 
 
 561 
 
 2 
 
 349 
 
 78 
 
 
 27 
 
 4 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 186S), (10 months) 
 
 72.9 
 
 266 
 
 3 
 
 207 
 
 8 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 'Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 POST OF JEFFERSON, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON CARLOS CARVALLO, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Jefferson, Marion County, Texas, the fifth city of Texas, having a population of 8,000 inhab- 
 itants, is sitviated on the border of Big Cypress Bayou, which communicates with the Bed Eiver. 
 Latitude, 32 49' 30" north, and longitude 94 17' west from Greenwich. It is 59 miles distant from 
 Shreveport Louisiana, whence there is direct water communication to New Orleans, Louisiana, all 
 the year round, and 16 miles distant from Marshall, which is in railroad communication with 
 
176 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Shreveport, Louisiana. Direct communication by water in June, July, and August, to Shreve- 
 port, is generally limited to steamboats of light draught. 
 
 There is no reservation, the troops being quartered on hired ground in the suburbs of the town. 
 The soil is sandy. No mineral products in the vicinity. The soil is fertile for cotton, tobacco, 
 wheat, and vegetables. 
 
 There is plenty of water in the Big and Black Cypress Bayous, which surround the southern 
 limits of the town, and drinking water is obtained from numerous wells and a few cisterns. The 
 climate is mild, a fine breeze blowing even in the middle of the day; the nights in summer are 
 generally cool and pleasant ; in winter " cold northers " are frequent and sudden. 
 
 Itain falls all the year round, but especially in the winter mouths. Snow storms are rare and 
 light. 
 
 The troops have been quartered in two distinct camps until July 20, 1870, on which date the 
 cavalry were ordered within the limits of the infantry camp. The infantry camp is situated on a 
 slight elevation on the borders of Cypress Bayou, and includes 9 acres on the southwest outskirt 
 of the town. 
 
 The enlisted men's quarters are on a sandy slope of the elevation referred to. It has been 
 occupied siuce December 13, 1868, and contains the stockade, which was in constant use during 
 the " period of reconstruction." 
 
 Tents are used exclusively as quarters for the men, generally in patches of two, three, or four 
 common tents, floored and framed with pine lumber, some with brick chimneys, others provided 
 with sheet or cast iron stoves; they are lighted with candles, and ventilated by raising the sides. 
 
 There are generally two or three men in each tent, giving 492 cubic feet air space per man. 
 There are no bath-rooms. Pit sinks are used, disinfected with lime. The kitchens are wooden sheds, 
 with brick floors. 
 
 The quarters for laundresses and married soldiers are common tents, framed; some have the 
 addition of one or two wooden sheds. 
 
 The officers occupy tents in camp ; generally one hospital and wall tent, as quarters for married 
 officers, with two or three wall and common tents as kitchens and servants' quarters, and two wall 
 tents for single officers. They are heated by stoves or open fireplaces with chimneys. 
 
 The depot quartermaster and depot and post commissary have hired houses for their store- 
 houses in the center of the town. 
 
 The guard-house at the infantry camp is the outer portion of the stockade, under a covered 
 porch, protected on the exposed side by canvas ; it is heated by cast-iron stoves, and ventilated by 
 raisiug the canvas. At the cavalry camp is a guard-house, divided into two rooms, one for the 
 prisoners, about 10 by 10 feet, with small window and door opening into the other room, 7 by 
 10 feet, for the guard; the fireplace of brick for burning wood, the window and door furnishing 
 ventilation, which would have been imperfect but for the numerous cracks and holes throughout 
 the entire house. 
 
 The hospital formerly occupied a two-story frame building, at the head of the main street, but 
 on account of its dilapidated condition was transferred, May 15, 1869, to a fine new two-story house, 
 opposite the cavalry camp, with seventeen rooms, and two large lots, rent $100 per month for each. 
 On January 24, 1870, in was moved into tents in the cavalry camp, which have since Jbeen trans- 
 ferred to the permanent camp. It now consists of three hospital tents as wards, one hospital tent 
 as office, one hospital tent as dispensary, two wall tents as dining-room, one wall tent, two'wall- 
 tent flies, and one common tent as kitchen, one wall tent and one common tent as steward's quar- 
 ters, one wall tent as commissary store-room, three common tents as hospital attendants' quarters, 
 one common tent as laundry, and one common tent as matron's quarters, all floored and framed 
 with pine lumber, and heated with stoves, lighted with candles, and ventilated by raising the tent 
 sides. 
 
 The bath and wash-room is in a wall tent, at the back end of the ward, and furnished with 
 wash-tank and a bath-tub. 
 
 The library consists of 199 miscellaneous works. 
 
 Water for cooking, washing, and bathing purposes is obtained hi barrels from the bayou, 
 prisoners hauling it in wagons every day. Drinking water is obtained from one spring and one well 
 in camp, and from neighboring wells, and is of good quality. 
 
AUSTIN, TEXAS. 
 
 177 
 
 The natural drainage is excellent ; the ground is very sandy, and absorbs the moisture. 
 
 The men bathe in the bayou at pleasure in the summer. 
 
 There is no hospital garden. Last year an attempt was made to cultivate a post garden across 
 the bayou, but it proved a failure. 
 
 There is communication to New Orleans, Louisiana, by steamboat direct, or by stage to 
 Marshall; thence by railroad to Shreveport, Louisiana ; thence direct, by Ited River and the Mis- 
 sissippi, to New Orleans. The mails are regular from New Orleans, twice weekly. It requires 
 generally ten days for a letter to reach headquarters, Department of Texas, and from fourteen 
 to seventeen days to Washington. 
 
 Intermittent fever is very prevalent, probably due to the large amount of stagnant water 
 around the town. Pulmonary catarrh is prevalent in winter ; also, diarrhoea, dysentery, and 
 rheumatism. 
 
 The general duties of the garrison during the past year have been those of sheriff and mounted 
 constables, arresting murderers and horse thieves, &c. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Jefferson, Texas, for the 
 
 years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 t 
 
 Id 
 
 e 
 
 > 
 
 e 
 
 t) 
 
 s ^. 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 9 .2 
 
 <S 
 
 
 
 a S 
 
 CO 
 
 u J3 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 ~ 2 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 SO 
 
 a - 
 
 c 
 
 | 
 
 ^ 1 
 
 9 
 
 s E 
 
 S S 
 
 S 
 
 is 
 
 r~ '" 
 
 -c 
 
 (*H 
 
 
 d 
 
 'o *"^ 
 
 XI 
 
 s 
 
 r P 
 
 CO 
 
 r * - 
 
 o 
 
 S 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 H' 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 
 i 
 
 A 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 jo 
 H 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 175 
 
 315 
 
 
 161 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 32 
 
 9 
 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 401.25 
 
 1,440 
 
 7 
 
 551 
 
 323 
 
 16 
 
 
 101 
 
 36 
 
 3 
 
 94 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, aiid pleurisy. 
 
 AUSTIN,, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. V. D. MIDDLETON, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Austin, the capital of Texas and county seat of Travis County, is situated on the left bank of 
 the Colorado Eiver, 400 miles from its mouth, and 230 miles from Galveston, in latitude 30 15' 
 north, and longitude 97 47' west from Greenwich. Brenham, the present terminus of the railroad 
 in this direction, is 100 miles southeast. San Antonio 80 miles southwest. Between Brenham and 
 Austin there is a daily line of stages, and between San Antonio and Austin a tri-weekly line. 
 
 ' The town is built on a succession of hills, between Waller and Shoal Creeks ; the most elevated 
 point, known as Capitol Hill, is 640 feet above the level of the sea, and 150 feet above the bank of 
 the river ; the State-house stands upon this hill, commanding an extended view of the surround- 
 ing country. The houses are built chiefly of wood and stone, one story high, and, with the ex- 
 ception of those on Main and Pecan streets, are very much scattered. The most prominent buildings 
 in the town are the State-house, governor's mansion, land office, and headquarters fifth military 
 district. There are also many private houses of one and two stories, well built and presenting a 
 handsome appearance. 
 
 It is difficult to obtain reliable information in reference to the early occupation of Austin as a 
 military post. One or two companies of the Second United States Dragoons, with regimental 
 headquarters, were stationed here from 1847 to 1852, Colonel Harney, commanding. The ground 
 occupied by these troops is about half a mile north of the State-house, and is known as the Harney 
 Place. It is believed there were no troops here from the latter date above mentioned until the 
 close of the late war in 1865, when General Merritt established his headquarters temporarily at the 
 governor's mansion, the troops being encamped at various points about the town, lu October, 
 1865, the Sixth Kegiinent of United States Cavalry, Seventh and Twelfth Indiana, and First Iowa 
 23 
 
1 78 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 volunteer cavalry, General Sturgis, commanding, arrived here, and went into camp about one mile 
 northwest of the city on Shoal Greek. During the spring of I860 the volunteers were mustered 
 out, and the Sixth United States Gavalry moved camp to the site now occupied on the left bank of 
 the Colorado, one mile west of the city. This location was Avell selected for an encampment; the 
 soil is sandy, the drainage naturally good, and an abundant supply of water is always at hand ; 
 since its establishment in 1865 this camp has been garrisoned by two companies of either the Fourth 
 or Sixth United States Cavalry, and one or two of the Tenth, Eleventh, or Seventeenth United 
 States Infantry. These companies have been moved on an average once in six months, other 
 companies of the same or another regiment relieving them; three companies always constituting 
 the garrison. 
 
 The country surrounding Austin is diversified by hills, valleys and plains, streams and 
 rivulets. The town is surrounded by hills, which are covered with grass, evergreen, chaparral, and 
 live oak, and from many prominent points the view is very picturesque. The valleys and plains 
 are extremely fertile and highly cultivated. The soil consists of a black calcareous loam, admira- 
 bly adapted for gardening purposes. The hills are composed of limestone, clay, and gravel. The 
 geological formation, in general, belongs to the lower chalk and upper oolite. 
 
 No portion of Texas surpasses this for stock-raising. All uncultivated laud is covered with 
 rich grass, and is abundantly supplied with water running in streams and rivulets in every direc- 
 tion. The curly mesquite is said to be the most nutritious variety of grass, and grows quite luxuri- 
 antly ; the common prairie grass is, however, the most abundant. In the spring and early summer 
 beautiful flowers adorn the prairies; among them may be seen the verbena, violet, blue lark- 
 spur, coreopsis, and cactus. The principal trees are the live oak, water oak, post oak, black 
 jack, red oak, scrub oak, and white oak; pecan, black walnut, cotton wood, cypress, cedar, slippery 
 elm, hackberry, ash, wild cherry, and mesquite. About six miles northwest of the city there is an 
 extensive cedar brake. The wild plum grows quite abundantly and bears a delicious fruit. Of 
 the plants may be mentioned the woodbine, sumach, milkweed, sunflower, pope weed, poison vine, 
 and lamb lettuce. The lamita, a bush growing to the height of several feet, is quite plentiful, the 
 berries of which are somewhat similar in taste to the currant, and may be used for the same pur- 
 poses. Several varieties of grape grow in great profusion in the low-lands aiid will make an excel- 
 lent quality of wine. 
 
 There are but few wild animals in the immediate vicinity of Austin. The hare, rabbit, fox, 
 squirrel, and skunk abound, but the deer, antelope, and bear are rarely, if ever, seen. 
 
 Among the birds are the pinnated grouse, quail, white and blue crane; duck, viz., teal, gray, 
 ring-neck, and mallard ; chaparral cock, mocking-bird, woodcock, curlew, plover, wild pigeon, dove, 
 robin, blackbird, crow, and buzzard. 
 
 There are many fish in the Colorado. The most prominent are the catfish, buffalo, bass, gas- 
 per, alligator, gar, and perch. 
 
 Many reptiles and insects exist here as in other parts of the State, viz., the rattlesnake, mocca- 
 sin, copperhead, and adder; tarantula, centipede, scorpion, horned frog, and several varieties of 
 lizard; the black and red ant, sand fly, buffalo gnat, and mosquito. The whole country is some- 
 times devastated by the grasshoppers, which come in a perfect swarm about the mouth of August. 
 
 The country is abundantly supplied with water, very clear, but holding a large quantity of 
 lime in solution, and thus rendered objectionable for drinking and washing. Nearly every honse, 
 however, has a cistern; and as there are several public ones in the town, there is no difficulty in 
 obtaining a bountiful supply of good rain water at all times. 
 
 The climate of this section of Texas is quite salubrious. Although the sun is extremely hot 
 in summer, the temperature of the atmosphere is much modified by the southeasterly breeze that 
 blows almost continuously during the twenty-four hours. The summer usually lasts from April to 
 October, about six months. The daily mean of the thermometer during the past year, 18G9, was as 
 follows, viz: January, 51.48 ; February, 55.3 ; March, 62.49 ; April, 67.01; May, 72.7<J; June, 
 74.83; July, 81.66; August, 84.27; September, 75.59; October, 62.54; November, 62.66, and 
 December 46.74. The highest range of the thermometer was 98 at 2 p. m. on the 8th of August. 
 August was the warmest month, the monthly mean being 94 at 2 p. m., while that for June was 
 88.26, and for July 89.45. A remarkable feature of this climate is the suddenness with which the 
 north wind arises in the winter, constituting "the norther;" the temperature of the atmosphere is 
 
AUSTIN, TKXAS. 179 
 
 sometimes reduced from 80 to 30 in a few hours, and is very trying to both animal and vegetable 
 life. The coldest day of the year was December 22d; the thermometer indicated 21 at 7 a. m., 42 
 at 2 p. m., and 30 at 9 p. in. The amount of rain during the past year was 30.12 inches, the 
 greater portion of it falling during the months of May, June, and July. The prevailing wind iu 
 summer is southeast; in winter, southeast, north, and northwest. 
 
 The military camp, as before stated, is situated one mile west of the city, on the left bank of 
 the Colorado, and is well located as regards drainage, the water running oft' in every direction and 
 conveyed by a ravine on either side into the river,, the bluff being about 40 feet above its surface. 
 
 The officers and men are quartered in tents, and with the exception of the guard-house, library, 
 kitchens, and mess-houses, there are no buildings at the camp. Each set of officers' quarters con- 
 sists of one hospital tent as parlor and sitting-room, two wall tents, one as dining-room, the other 
 as bedroom, and one common tent as kitchen. These sets are so arranged that they are about 10 
 feet apart and in a line on the east side of the encampment facing the guard-house. They are 
 heated by fireplaces and stoves, and lighted by kerosene oil lamps and candles. 
 
 The enlisted men are sheltered by common tents, two of them placed end to end, boarded up 
 and floored, and arranged in a line on each side of the encampment. Four meu occupy a set of 
 quarters, each man having his own bunk, bedsack filled with hay, and blanket. These quarters 
 are warmed in winter by stoves and lighted by candles, which assist materially in causing a very 
 vitiated atmosphere. In the rear of each company there is a mess-room, kitchen, and bake-oven. 
 Each married soldier has a wall tent for quarters and common tent for kitchen. The laundresses, 
 who are not soldiers', wives, are similarly quartered. 
 
 It is poor economy to continue troops for any length of time under canvas. I have fre- 
 quently advised the erection of permanent quarters at this post as being much less expensive 
 to the government and more conducive to the health of the garrison than tents. Although 
 lumber is high in this country on account of expensive transportation, yet. when it is remembered 
 that the cost of a hospital tent is $103 22, including transportation, of a wall tent $72, and of a 
 common tent $27 47, and that canvas must be replaced in this climate about once in eight months, 
 it will be seen that the advantages, as regards expense, are decidedly in favor of permanent quarters. 
 Even if the post should be discontinued in the course of a year, the lumber could be sold for almost 
 as much as it originally cost. The hygienic advantages to be derived from commodious and well- 
 ventilated quarters are incalculable, and should be paramount to all other considerations. 
 
 The quartermaster and commissary store-houses are iu the city, in the first story of the build- 
 ing occupied by district headquarters. They are large, airy store-rooms, well arranged and kept 
 scrupulously clean. Hospital tents are used at camp for company store-houses. 
 
 The guard-house is situated on the west side of the square opposite the officers' quarters. It 
 is constructed of heavy lumber, 20 by 30 by 10 feet, with piazza all around it; the front piazza is 
 boarded up and used for guard-room. The buildin'g is entirely too small, and is badly ventilated. 
 It is warmed in winter by a stove in the prison-room and fireplace in the guard-room. On an 
 average there are thirty prisoners, white and black, citizens and soldiers, in constant confinement 
 in this house, each man having only about 200 cubic feet of air space. In the winter the apertures 
 for the admission of fresh air are closed, and the room is heated by a stove. The atmosphere is 
 sometimes intolerable, especially at night, as the necessities of nature are performed in the room, 
 and the barrel into which fecal and other refuse matter is .thrown remains unemptied until after 
 reveille. The citizen prisoners rarely, if ever, wash themselves or have change of clothing, and 
 the exhalation from their bodies is very offensive. There being oitly one prison-room, soldiers who 
 are confined for minor offenses, such as absence without leave, drunkenness, &c., are made to asso- 
 ciate with murderers and thieves, which is certainly not well calculated either to improve their 
 morals or to elevate the status of the enlisted men of the army. I have time and again recom- 
 mended that the guard-house be enlarged so that there could be sufficient air space for the number 
 of occupants, with proper ventilation, and a sufficient number of rooms to allow a classification of 
 prisoners; nothing has, however, been done in reference to my suggestions. 
 
 The post hospital is located in the city, on Pecan street, one square west of Main. The 
 administration building was formerly occupied as a private residence. The lot attached to it is 
 200 feet front by 135 feet deep, and it was rented by the Quartermaster's Department in 1868, at 
 $90 per month, with a proviso that the owner would build a suitable ward and laundry in the yard. 
 
180 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The administration building contains three rooms, 16 feet square, and a hall. It is built of wood, 
 and has a wide, piazza in front the whole length of the building. The rooms are used as office, 
 steward's room, and store-room, the dispensary being in the hall. The kitchen and mess-room are 
 immediately in rear, in a small wooden building hardly large enough for the purpose. The ward is 
 about 10 feet in rear of the kitchen and the laundry 10 feet to the left. These buildings were 
 erected by the owner of the property in the summer of 1868, but are not well adapted to the pur- 
 poses for which they are required. The ward is 40 by 20 by 10 feet, with two doors, one at each 
 end, and ten windows, five on each side. It contains ten beds, is heated by a stove, and ventilated 
 by a small cupola in the roof with openings in it. Air space per bed, 800 cubic feet. It is a rough 
 wooden structure, in which the boards are placed up and down ; there is no plastering or lining of 
 any kind, nor is it ceiled; an awning has been placed around it, except on the north side, which 
 shields it from the sun and renders it somewhat more comfortable in summer than it would be 
 otherwise. An old building in very bad repair, situated about 20 feet to the left of the adminis- 
 tration building, is used as a convalescent ward, and answers a very good purpose in summer, but 
 is too open for winter use. An old building to the right of the kitchen is used as a bath and wash- 
 room, and is supplied with a bath-tub and basins. The linen-room is fitted np very nicely with 
 shelving, and next to this is the commissary store-room. There are no water-closets, but tolerably 
 well-arranged sinks, kept well cleansed and disinfected, are located about 30 feet from the ward. 
 No dead-house has as yet been erected ; post-mortems are made in the dispensary, and the dead 
 are placed in the laundry to await burial.. The baggage of patients is stored in the linen-room. 
 
 There has not been a post bakery in operation at this post for several years ; each company 
 has an oven, and the saving on flour accrues to the company fund. The post school is held in a 
 hospital tent immediately in rear of the library; an educated soldier is employed as teacher, and 
 eight or ten children enjoy the advantages of the school. 
 
 The stables are located about a quarter of a mile northwest of the camp, forming three sides 
 of a square ; they are 620 feet long, tightly closed on the outside with pickets, but open on the 
 inside all the way around ; shed-roof shingled. 
 
 The library is hardly worthy of mention no attention whatever has been paid to it ; in fact 
 there has been no post fund out of which to purchase books. 
 
 There being no roofing at the camp it is impossible to have cisterns, and the water supply is 
 derived entirely from the river. This contains a large amount of lime, but is much less impreg- 
 nated than that from wells and springs in the vicinity. The hospital is supplied with drinking 
 water from the cistern at district headquarters, but there is a well in the yard from which water is 
 obtained for other purposes. With the exception of fire buckets, of which there is a sufficient 
 number on hand, there are no means of extinguishing fire; pains are taken to have these placed 
 at suitable distances in the hospital, so as to be in readiness in case they are needed. 
 
 As before stated the drainage at camp is naturally good ; there are no sewers ; refuse is col- 
 lected in barrels which are emptied every morning in a neighboring ravine. The sinks are situated 
 about 50 feet in rear of the company quarters ; they are well policed and disinfected every few days. 
 
 No special arrangements have been made with reference to bathing in winter. In summer the 
 men are required to bathe in the river at least once a week. 
 
 The full army ration, of good quality and sufficient quantity and variety, is drawn every ten 
 days from the subsistence store-house in Austin. Fresh vegetables, butter, and eggs can be pro- 
 cured in the vicinity at moderate prices, and the company fund allows each company commander 
 to supply his men with these articles as often as two or three times a, week. No gardens have 
 been cultivated at the post during the past year. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from New Orleans, Louisiana, and received in good condition, 
 but there is often great delay in transportation, and it has frequently happened that stores have 
 been three months en route. A larger supply of medicines is required at this post than the 
 strength of the command would seem to justify, but when the large number of persons entitled to 
 medicine is taken into consideration, embracing officers and enlisted men at district headquarters, 
 with their families, transient officers and troops, it will be seen that a supply for a permanent gar- 
 rison would be very inadequate to meet the demands of the service. Frequently, small requisi- 
 tions for other posts are filled at.this hospital, and detachments of troops going out on scout or 
 other duty are furnished with a small supply of medicine. 
 
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 
 
 181 
 
 Thi.s is one of the healthiest points in the State, and the true estimate of the amount of sick- 
 ness will embrace only those cases that were admitted to hospital for treatment, which will reduce 
 the percentage to 23.8. Sick-call is held at the camp dispensary at 7 a. in., and such cases as 
 require hospital treatment are sent to the city by ambulance. During the months of June, July, 
 August, and September, intermittent fever (quotidian and tertian) prevailed to a very great extent, 
 and all other diseases received an impression from, and were much modified by, malarial influences. 
 During the month of May a pond of standing water, located about fifty yards southeast of the 
 camp in the river bottom, was drained successfully, and shortly afterwards intermittent fever 
 began to appear, the sick report increasing from 10 to 40 out of a mean strength of 250. In July 
 an immense overflow occurred, the river rising 30 feet in as many hours. When the water sub- 
 sided a large amount of alluvial deposit was observed along the river bank, and almost immedi- 
 ately afterwards the sick report was again increased by the addition of a number of cases of 
 malarial fever, in connection with diarrhrea and dysentery. Quinine in 10 or 15-grain doses, three 
 times daily, has usually been thoroughly efficient. Rheumatism seems to prevail very extensively 
 in this climate; perhaps the variation in temperature between the days and nights, amounting to 
 fifteen or twenty degrees, may have some influence in producing it. 
 
 The garrison being so near town there is, as may be expected, a great deal of venereal diseases 
 and derangements of the digestive organs, the result of dissipation. As a general rule, however, 
 the sanitary condition of the troops is about as good as that of any other post in Texas. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Austin, Texas, for the years 
 
 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 
 -d 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 ID 
 
 5 ,H 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 i ^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 1. 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 -s 
 
 a 
 
 0) 
 
 'o 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 e -K 
 8 S 
 
 Efi 
 
 
 > 
 
 5 
 
 C3 
 1 
 
 pj 
 *S 
 
 a i 
 
 = -1 
 
 rt 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 "3 s 
 
 S "" 
 
 
 5 
 
 fr- ^i 
 
 S 
 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 O 
 
 
 a 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 S 
 
 'p 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ,3 
 
 W 
 
 fi 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 O 
 
 1868 
 
 265 08 
 
 701 
 
 4 
 
 243 
 
 165 
 
 46 
 
 2 
 
 28 
 
 4 
 
 23 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 276. 25 
 
 650 
 
 1 
 
 345 
 
 111 
 
 20 
 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON D. BACHE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post or town of San Antonio de Bexar is situated in latitude 29 30' north, and longitude 
 22 rf 30' west from Washington, at an altitude of 55G feet above the level of the sea, 
 
 The barracks, store-houses, and other buildings in the service of the garrison, being wholly 
 within the corporation limits, any description of the post will of necessity embrace an account of 
 the topography of the town, and such features'in its construction, drainage, and general character- 
 istics as may influence the hygiene of the population. Broadly speaking, the town lies upon both 
 banks of the San Antonio River, and stretches across the tongue of land separating that stream 
 from the Arroyo San Pedro, a small creek emptying into the former at the lower limits of the 
 suburbs. The San Antonio River rises three miles above the town, where it springs boldly from 
 the base of the low limestone hills, which are here the outlying spurs of the great cretaceous strata 
 constituting the high table lands of Texas. The valley of the river is shut in by hilly ranges run- 
 ning in a southeasterly direction, the hills having generally an altitude of from 200 to 300 feet 
 above the level plain that lies between. The area occupied by the town is, for the population, 
 quite extensive, extending for two miles in the line of the river, and from a half to three quarters 
 
182 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of a mile upon either side but, except in the central, or business portion, it is not closely built, the 
 houses being widely separated, and for the most part surrounded by gardens. 
 
 The population of San Antonio is variously estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000 persons, com- 
 posed nearly equally as to nationality of Americans, Germans, and Mexicans, or mixed races. 
 There is a difficulty iu even making this estimate with approximate correctness which attaches to 
 -few other places, due to the large migratory or floating population. As the great freight center 
 for Western and Northwestern Texas, and for Chihuahua, and, indeed, all Northern Mexico, San 
 Antonio is subject during the season of business activity to a large influx of strangers, and to con- 
 stant fluctuations iu this respect from the numbers of those employed as carriers of merchandise 
 iu the requirements of their trade. 
 
 The old mission of San Antonio de Valero was founded in 1715, the barracks of the garrison 
 and other offices occupying the sides of the quadrangle, in the center of which were the missions 
 afterwards secularized as parish churches. These quadrangles form the present plazas or squares, 
 the churches and garrison buildings remaining much as they were finished, altered only to suit the 
 demands of present utility. The remainder of the town is modern in architecture, the poorer 
 Mexican population only living in the thatched huts, or jacals, a style of habitation which the 
 general mildness of the climate permits. 
 
 Owing to the small average rain-fall in this section of Texas, amounting to but 30 inches in the 
 year, and the danger from protracted droughts, a thorough system of artificial irrigation is neces- 
 sary to insure any certain return in crops, especially iu the smaller articles, such as vegetables. 
 Ditches for this purpose some of them five or six miles in length intersect the town, in various 
 directions, and from these mains smaller trenches traverse the gardens to every point. As these 
 water channels are not protected or built with masonry, but are simply cut rudely in the earth, 
 they are constantly filling with the washings of the ground under irrigation, and choked with 
 garbage and refuse matter thrown into them for the purpose of removal. The water supply of 
 the town is so defective, and so little a subject of regulation, that the water of these ditches is 
 commonly used both for drinking and cooking by many living on their banks and their vicinity, 
 except when so muddy as to be repulsive. In this I think we may find an easy explanation of the 
 rapid and fatal spread of the various epidemics of cholera that have visited this place. It is fair to 
 ascribe also to this system of irrigation, in which large surfaces of ground are constantly exposed 
 alternately to the action of water and the heat of the sun, much of the increasing prevalence of 
 malarial disease, which, it is affirmed, was almost unknown here not many years ago. To the de- 
 cay of vegetable matter from this cause must be added also, as an important factor in the production 
 of zymosis, the exhalations from the sluggish streams in the ditches, and the rank growth upon 
 their banks. The other means of water supply are wells and cisterns, though the latter, owing to 
 the cost of construction, are but few. The garrison is wholly supplied for drinking purposes from 
 this source, the cisterns having iu all a capacity of over 70,000 gallons, sufficient to serve through 
 a season of unusual drought. The system of drainage, if system it can be called, employed through- 
 out the town is in every way defective and insufficient. Upon only one or two of the principal 
 thoroughfares is any attempt made to carry off artificially even the ordinary rain-fall, which in 
 summer is often sufficient to flood the streets. As the ground is almost level, the surface drainage 
 is reduced to its lowest point of efficiency, leaving for slow removal by evaporation and absorption, 
 the water that could readily be carried into either of the larger streams or the irrigating ditches. 
 
 The buildings used as barracks, hospital, and store-houses are, with the exception of the Alamo, 
 the property of private citizens, and are rented by the government. They are constructed of both 
 the compact and soft limestone, quarried a few miles from the town, this being the material in 
 almost universal use for building. 
 
 The- barracks were originally designed as store-houses, in connection with the larger building 
 adjoining them, used by the subsistence department and as offices for post headquarters and the 
 depot quartermaster. The situation of the barracks is bad, bordering upon the low ground in a 
 curve of the river, and subject, during the spring freshets, to sudden inundation. Once during the 
 past year, and once in 1806, the water rose rapidly in the night, attaining a height of several feet 
 above the barracks floor, forcing the soldiers to abandon their quarters. These overflows, besides 
 their danger to life, destroy and damage much public property, and are apt, unless their effects are 
 
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 183 
 
 neutralized at once, to produce a serious increase of disease. While objectionable in this resect, 
 and faulty in want of adaptation to their present use, the buildings are, however, more suitable for 
 the occupation of troops than any others accessible. The government would certainly gain much in 
 point of economy in the health and discipline of the garrison, were permanent barracks erected upon 
 the higher ground at some distance from the town. 
 
 The building occupied as cavalry quarters is 34 by 83 feet; height of wall, 15J feet; to top, 8J 
 feet. It is warmed by stoves; lighted naturally by windows, and artificially by candles. The 
 amount of air space in infantry barracks with present occupancy is 830 cubic feet per man ; cavalry 
 barracks, 1,058 cubic feet. Ventilation is effected by doors, windows, and shafts. The bunks are 
 of wood, double, in two tiers, containing tlie usual bedding. The sinks are pits, 8 feet in depth, 
 emptied as occasion requires. The kitchens are well arranged and supplied; the mess-rooms are 
 furnished with good tables, benches, and table furniture. 
 
 Quarters for married soldiers are principally in small rented houses in the vicinity of the com- 
 pany barracks. 
 
 No special buildings are provided for officers' quarters, which are rented and assigned by the 
 quartermaster. 
 
 The Alamo is occupied by the quartermaster's department as a store-house for forage, camp and 
 garrison equipage, and to some extent for workshops. The walls are still in excellent preservation, 
 though dating from 1744, and subjected since then to several siege's and assaults. 
 
 The guard-house, in its general features, does not differ materially from buildings of this kind 
 in use throughout the army, at least such has been my experience. The faults and deficiencies are 
 so palpable that it scarcely is necessary to recite them. The building contains a guard-room, 16 
 feet 4 inches by 2G feet ; prison-room, 1C feet 4 inches by 16 feet ; and 7 cells. With au occupancy 
 of 15, the air space in the prison-room per man would be 153 cubic feet, with a superficial area of 
 16 feet per man, or a space little over 5 feet long by 3 feet wide. The construction of the cells is, 
 however, intolerably worse, 7 feet long, 7 feet in height, and 2 feet wide, giving an interior space of 
 98 feet. It is noticeable, in this connection, that the only deaths (two) occurring at this post during 
 the past year have been in cases of men in confinement in the guard-house, one resulting from 
 typhoid pneumonia, the other a case of congestion of stomach, and meuiuges of the brain with 
 effusion, in a man who had been confined for six mouths at this post and elsewhere. Though no 
 direct cause of death can be traced in their confinement, there was evidently a strong devitalizing 
 agency at work in both. There is no means of warming the guard-house, except a stove in the 
 guard-room. 
 
 The hospital was a private residence, but from the manner of its construction and from loca- 
 tipn it is admirably adapted to its present purpose. It is two stories high, with basement, the 
 latter containing the dining-room, kitchen, and store-room. The first story is divided in the center 
 by a hall, 7 feet 9 inches, extending from front to rear, with a staircase leading to a similar hall 
 above. On the right of the hall are the office and dispensary, above which arc the steward's room 
 and linen-room. Three wards occupy that portion of the building left of the halls mentioned ; the 
 largest ward, extending from front to rear, on the first floor, is 19 feet 9 inches by 34 feet 3 inches, 
 and has a capacity for eight beds, giving to each a cubic air space of 930 feet. Over this ward are 
 two others, the first 19 feet 9 inches by 19 feet 9 inches; the other, 19 feet 9 inches by 14 fe.-t. 
 These rooms are at present unoccupied. There is no bath-room; the lavatory is supplied with 
 ordinary appliances. The hospital sink is located at a distance from the building, and consists of 
 pits which are emptied every three months. 
 
 The post bakery will supply 200 loaves daily. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from New Orleans, and received in good condition and so kept. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at the post are intermittent and remittent fevers, and various forms of 
 catarrh. 
 
184 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement sho win g mtia-n strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at San Antonio, Texas, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 <S 
 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 -g 
 
 > 
 
 
 So 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 a * 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 4 a 
 
 3 
 
 C3 -S 
 8H 
 
 
 I 
 
 >a 
 
 "S 
 
 g 
 
 *3 
 
 || 
 
 a 
 9 
 
 
 s 
 
 I 1 
 
 1 
 
 "P " 
 
 = -= 
 
 S 
 
 (D 
 
 1 
 
 E 
 
 1 
 
 !3 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 o 
 
 1868 , . . 
 
 143. 33 
 
 151 
 
 41 
 
 15 ' 
 
 17 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 30 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 128 83 
 
 154 
 
 71 
 
 24 
 
 11 
 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pnoumouia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT RICHARDSON, TEXAS. 
 
 RETORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. H. PATZKI, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Fort Richardson is located in Jack County, Texas, in latitude 33 15' north, and 
 longitude 21 15' west, upon the smith bank of Lost Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River, south- 
 west from and about seven miles above the point at which it empties its waters into the west fork 
 of that stream. The nearest range of hills is that known as "Flat Top Mountain," about 20 miles in 
 a west-northwesterly direction, aud which is one of the low ranges of hills that divide the head- 
 waters of the Brazos from those of the Trinity. These hills appear to be detached spurs of the 
 Wichita Mountains, through which the Red River passes at about CO miles northeast of the post, 
 and which seem to form part of a mountain system from which diverge the lesser tributaries of 
 the Brazos, the Trinity, aud the Red Rivers. The village of Jacksboro, the county seat of Jack 
 County, is in the immediate vicinity of the post, being situated on the north bank of Lost Creek, 
 and about one-half mile distant. The nearest settlements are Weatherford, the county seat of 
 Parker County, distant 42J miles in a southeasterly direction, on the direct mail route to Waco and 
 Austin ; Decatur, in Wise County, distant 40 miles cast-southeast on the road leading toward Jeffer- 
 son and towns in eastern Texas, and Montague, in Montague County, distant about 40 miles in a 
 northeasterly direction and on the line of the overland mail route from Fort Concho, in Texas, to 
 Fort Smith, in Arkansas. Calvert, the present terminus of the Texas Central railroad, is the 
 nearest' point at which railroad communication can be obtained, and is distant 202 miles from the 
 post, reached via Waco, from which it is 55 miles distant in a southeasterly direction. 
 
 The village of Jacksboro, before the war a station of the overland mail route, was occupied as 
 a military post in the summer of 1866. In April, 1807, the place was abandoned, except as a mail 
 station, and the troops moved to Fort Belknap and Buffalo Springs. The latter place, in Clay 
 County, about 28 miles north from Jacksboro, was selected as the site for a permanent post, 
 and the necessary materials aud a force of mechanics and laborers sent there in July, 1867, and 
 operations commenced, but owing to a failure in the supply of water, and the distance from 
 timber, it was abandoned, and the material sent to this place, where the present post was 
 commenced in the latter part of November, 1867, the plans originally designed for the post at 
 Buffalo Springs being partially followed in its construction. The reservation on which the post 
 is built is a rectangle of one mile square, Ideated on a high rolling prairie, bounded on the eastern, 
 southern, aud western sides by belts of timber, and on the northern side, for nearly its entire 
 ength, by Lost Creek, which runs in an easterly direction at that point. 
 
 The geological formation of the vicinity consists principally of lime and sandstone, and large 
 masses of rock predominate. The whole region appears to be underlaid with a stratum of rock, 
 . which is covered but thinly by soil, or crops out at the surface, except in the " bottoms" or small 
 valleys watered by streams, which sometimes admit of cultivation. The adjacent country for 
 many miles around the post is of the same general formation. Notwithstanding the thinness and, 
 barrenness of the soil the grazing in the immediate vicinity is excellent, the grass being prin- 
 
I ( >HT KICHARDSOX, T K X AS. 185 
 
 cipally rnesquite, a variety superior to ordinary prairie grass. At Fort Belkuap, -5- miles west of 
 the post, ou the east bauk of the Brazos, bituminous coal of a quality resembling that of western 
 Pennsylvania' is found, and some small veins which crop out near the surfaep have been opened. 
 Indications of considerable deposits of copper ore have been seen within about 75 miles, iu a 
 northwesterly direction, some specimens of which on being assayed have proved very rich, and 
 contain silver in considerable quantity. 
 
 The varieties of timber in the neighborhood are oak, pecan, and mesquite, but generally of a 
 small and stunted growth, and unfit for building purposes, except the construction of picket or 
 stockade houses; the timber used in the building of the post having been procured on the I'.ig 
 Sandy in Wise County, about ,'5S miles due east from the post, at which point the government saw- 
 mill was located. Within the past month the mill has been removed to a point distant about 18 
 miles from the post, on a small tributary of the west fork of the Trinity, the supply of timber at 
 its former location having been exhausted. 
 
 The mustang grape and chickasaw plum abound, and the pecan nut, which grows upon the 
 tree of that name, may be gathered in great quantities. The wild onion, a wholesome and palata- 
 ble addition to the soup ration, is found iu small quantities on the prairies, and along the banks of 
 the water-courses. Buffalo are found during the winter months within .'JO or 40 miles to the north- 
 west of the post, but in the warm season are rarely seen south of lied River. Antelope and deer 
 are numerous, and bear and panther occasionally met with. Of smaller animals raccoons and rab- 
 bits are very plentiful. Of the latter the hare, or, as it is popularly known iu this State, the uinle- 
 ear variety, is the most numerous. Wild turkeys exist along all the water-courses in incredible 
 numbers, and prairie chickens and wild duck are seen at times. Fish cannot be obtained (except 
 some small varieties in Lost Creek) nearer than the Brazos Itiver, the nearest point of which is 
 about 30 miles distant. In that stream they are very abundant, but of little variety, catfish, drum, 
 buffalo, and gaspers, (the latter nearly resembling the catfish,) being about the only kinds found 
 which are tit for food. Turtle abound in all the streams. Tarantulas, centipedes, and scorpions 
 infest this whole region, and chameleons and horned-toads may be frequently met with. The copper- 
 head, moccasin, puff-adder, and rattlesnake are found, the latter very frequently, but generally 
 of small size. Besides these there are several unimportant varieties of harmless' serpents found 
 in great numbers, such as the black snake, chicken snake, and common house snake. 
 
 The water for culinary purposes is obtained from the creek, and that for drinking from springs, 
 of which several are to be found along the creek iu proximity to the post. The supply of water 
 from this source is both good and ample, although containing a slight excess of lime. The creek 
 cuts its course through the rocks and runs between steep banks shaded with fine trees, the narrow 
 seam of which forms a pleasant relief from the monotonous prairie. It is at most places narrow and 
 shallow, but expands at others into pond-like basins with beautifully clear water. To the great 
 depth of some of these expansions the creek is supposed to owe its name, and they contain an ample 
 supply of good water for the post during the dry season when the creek ceases to run. The heavy 
 rains of the wet season swell the creek not unfrequeutly to the top of its banks. 
 
 The heat of the summer months, reflected from the rocky soil, bare of shade trees, would be in- 
 supportable if it were not tempered by constant breezes from, the southwest or southeast, and close 
 sultry nights are unknown even during the hottest weather. These winds contain but little moist- 
 ure, owing to the character of the surface over which they sweep before reaching here. The rain- 
 fall during this season is but scanty, yet sometimes so heavy as to render the labors of the farmer 
 fruitless. The uncertainty of the climate in this respect, together with the thinness of the soil cov- 
 ering the rocky substratum, form the most serious obstacles to successful agriculture in this portion 
 of Texas. The mean temperature of the summer is 7(5.52, and the maximum 100. From the be- 
 ginning of November until the end of March "northers" are frequent ; and although, usually of short 
 duration, yet they sometimes prevail for days, the cold being intense during their continuance. 
 Snow-storms occur but rarely, generally but one or two during the season, and the quantity of snow 
 which falls is so slight that it soon disappears. The mean temperature of the winter is 51.21, and 
 the minimum lb'. Spring may be said to fairly commence early in April, and no degree of cold is 
 experienced before the end of October. Horses and other domestic animals inured to the climate 
 24 
 
186 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 arc exposed to the weather during tbe entire winter with impunity, the low temperature incident 
 to the "northers" above referred to being about all the really cold weather experienced. 
 
 No fortified buildings or fort proper has been erected, the Jbrt as described below comprising 
 the garrison and structures contained therein. It is located in the northwestern angle of the res- 
 ervation, and is about 200 yards distant from the creek, the ground sloping gradually up from its 
 banks, the highest portion (the southern side of the quadrangle on which the officers' quarters are 
 built) being about 30 feet above the level of the stream. It is a parallelogram of 1,400 feet from 
 north to south, and 1,300 feet from east to west. Four buildings for barracks were built by the 
 troops in the summer and autumn of 1809. They run in a line from east to west, with an interval 
 of 50 feet between them, 550 feet from and facing the officers' quarters. They are constructed of 
 pickets, on what is known as the stockade principle, the pickets being cut of a length of 11 feet, 
 and sunk two feet in the ground. Three of these buildings, marked Q on the accompanying Plate 
 (Plate No. IV) are 85 feet in length by 20 feet in width, and one marked R, 100 feet in length and 
 20 feet in width, all being of a height of 9 feet in the elear (to the eaves) and 15 feet to the ridge. 
 A room of 15 feet is partitioned off at the western end of each building for the use of the first and 
 quartermaster sergeants, the loft above serving as a store-room for company property. Each bar- 
 rack is warmed by two large wood stoves, the pipes of which pass through the roof. Six windows, 
 three in front and the same number in rear, and two doors, one in front, the other in rear, supply 
 light and ventilation ; the latter of which, however ample it may be in summer, is, in the absence 
 of ridge ventilation, very deficient in the winter, when the cold necessitates the closing of windows 
 and doors and the maintaining of fires. The three smaller barracks have a capacity of 28, and the 
 larger one of 34 men, at COO cubic feet of air space per man. The present average occupancy of 
 the former is about 35, with about 457 cubic feet of air space per man; and of the latter, which is 
 occupied by two companies, 00 men, with 340 cubic feet of air space per man. But while the oc- 
 cupanc.y of the others has not varied much in the past from the present average, the larger bar- 
 rack was occupied last winter by more than 100 men, (I Company Twenty-fourth Infantry,) re- 
 ducing the air space below 200 cubic feet per man. To judge from the number of bunks with which 
 these barracks are furnished, the three smaller (Q) were intended to accommodate 72 men, and the 
 larger one (R) 90 men, which would have given 233 cubic feet of air space in the former and 210 in 
 the latter, per man.* It is to be regretted that these buildings were not erected with a view to 
 proper air space and ventilation, and to be hoped that new barracks, which will be necessary if the 
 present garrison of nine companies is continued, will be free from such grave objections. . Some 
 difficulty, however, will be experienced to locate such structures, as there is not room to build four, 
 much less five, of them in a line with the old buildings, without 011 one side encroaching too 
 much upon or even overlapping the hospital, and on the other side blockading the subsistence and 
 quartermaster's store-rooms. This difficulty would have been obviated if the quarters for the men 
 had been built en echelon from north to south, which would have afforded the additional advantage 
 of permitting the prevailing southerly breezes to sweep their whole length, while the present plan 
 prevents to a great extent the current of air in the rear of the barracks and kitchens, where refuse 
 is most apt to collect, and at the same time exposes a large surface to the northerly storms of the 
 winter. The beds are wooden bunks, 4 feet wide and 6 feet long, each holding four men, two above 
 and two below. The bedding consists of blankets, and double bedsacks filled with hay, which is 
 renewed monthly. There is no provision made for wash and bath-rooms, the men having to wash 
 in the open air. The privies are situated in the rear of each set of quarters, (150 feet distant,) and 
 have movable troughs, lined with zinc, under the seats, the contents of which are required to be 
 emptied daily. Each of the three barracks (Q) has a kitchen and mess-room 25 feet in rear, 50 feet 
 in length, by 17 feet in width, and 8 feet high in the clear, built in the same manner and of the 
 same material as the barracks. A space of sufficient size is partitioned off at one end as a cook- 
 house, the remainder being used for the mess-room. The stoves and cooking utensils are of the 
 description furnished by the Quartermaster's Department, and are suitable for the purpose. The 
 fixtures of the mess-rooms, provided from the company funds of the respective companies, are suf- 
 ficiently complete. 
 
 The mess-rooms are of adequate capacity for the present strength of the companies, but in case 
 
 * In the above calculation space occupied by furniture is not deducted. 
 
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FORT RICHARDSON, TEXAS. 187 
 
 they were to approximate to the maximum strength, only one of the barracks (the larger one, and 
 which has a mess-room and kitchen of 75 by 20 feet) would be sufficiently roomy for the purpose 
 designed. 
 
 The quarters for laundresses and married soldiers consist of a varirty of log huts, frame houses, 
 picket houses, and tents, scattered along the creek in the northwestern angle of the fort, without 
 any system being observed either as to their location, structure, or fitness for the purposes for 
 which they are used. Their location is highly objectionable, as the drainage from this portion of 
 the cam]) is received into the creek above the point where the water for cooking purposes is ob- 
 tained, which water is, however, also used by many for drinking. A board of officers has recently 
 been convened to select a proper site for these quarters. Eight buildings have been erected for 
 officers' quarters, located upon the southern side of the fort. Five of these (one marked a, two 
 marked &, and two b' on the plate) are frame buildings; the remainder are stockade or picket- 
 houses. The lumber used in their construction is principally cottonwood, a variety considered ut- 
 terly worthless for building purposes in regions where any other can be obtained, but the only 
 kind of timber convertible into lumber found in any quantity within 200 miles of the post. These 
 houses are one and a half stories in height, have each two dormer windows in the front roof to 
 light the attic which forms the second story, have porches in front and rear, and being finished 
 uniformly in cottage style with large windows, present a neat appearance, and are quite comfort- 
 able, being ceiled and plastered, and the wood-work painted. Four of these (marked b b, and b' b') 
 contain four rooms, one large room, 18 by 18 feet, on one side, two smaller rooms, 18 by 15 feet and 
 15 by 15 feet, on the other side of the hall, and a kitchen, 15 by 15 feet, adjoining the latter and 
 forming an L with the main building. Two of these buildings (V V) are occupied by the two field 
 officers present. Of the remaining two (b b) the continuous sets of two rooms and kitchen are 
 occupied by senior captains, and the single rooms on the other side of the hall by junior captains 
 or subalterns, who contrive to add a dining-room to their quarters by inclosing the back veranda 
 with canvas, using tents in the yard as kitchens. These cottages would accommodate comfortably 
 two families if an additional room had been built to adjoin this single front room as in the central 
 building (marked ) occupied by the commanding officer, which, by this arrangement, contains five 
 rooms. The three remaining buildings (marked c c and d) are picket buildings, one story in height, 
 9 feet to the eaves and 15 feet to the ridge, two of which (c c) are 47 by 16 feet; the third (d) 73 by 
 18 feet in size. The former are divided into three rooms, 15 by 10 feet, two of which are occupied 
 by captains, the third by subalterns. The third of the picket buildings (d) contains four rooms, 16 
 by 18 feet, and is occupied by two captains. A back building, 33 by 15 feet, containing two kitchens, 
 is in the rear of each of these buildings, completing thus the allowance of the officers occupying 
 them. These picket quarters are decidedly inferior in finish to the frame houses, not being ceiled, 
 the floors consisting of rough boards, the walls being rough logs, the interstices tilled with plaster. 
 The absence of verandas, as adding to the discomfort of the occupants, is much complained of. 
 The officers not provided with quarters live in tents. It is intended to erect three more buildings 
 of the description of the one marked d. All of these quarters are heated by open fireplaces, and 
 ample light and ventilation are secured by windows. 
 
 The post water-wagon supplies the officers with sufficient water for cleansing purposes, while 
 that needed for drinking and culinary uses is obtained from springs near the margin of the creek, 
 a distance of but a few hundred yards from the quarters. 
 
 Privies are erected 75 feet in rear of the quarters, having movable troughs, (similar to those 
 in use at the barracks,) which, in accordance with existing regulations at the post, should be 
 emptied and cleaned at an early hour each day. 
 
 The adjutant's office is a stockade building of 47 by 16 feet, divided into three rooms, used 
 as offices by the commanding officer, adjutant, and clerical force employed at post headquarters. 
 The quartermaster's office is a stockade building of 77 by 16 feet, and is divided into four rooms, 
 two of them furnishing quarters for the post quartermaster, one used as an office, and the remain- < 
 ing one as quarters for the veterinary surgeon and post quartermaster sergeant. Both of these 
 buildings are of the same height and description as the stockade houses for officers, and are suit- 
 able for the purpose to which they are applied. 
 
 The quartermaster store-house and commissary building (n n on plate) are built of sandstone 
 
188 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 each 80 by 29 feet, and of a 19-foot story, with a space between them of 20 feet, which was originally 
 designed to be arched and to form an entrance to the fort, it being the central point of its eastern 
 side. This spaee. has been, however, filled by a frame structure built flush with the two store- 
 houses, making them parts of a continuous building. The lower part is used by the commissary 
 officer as a store-room, and the upper floor as his office and a sleeping room for his subordinates. 
 An upper story or loft in both of the store-houses has recently been added by laying a floor on the 
 joists, thus securing a space where light stores may be kept. These buildings are well constructed. 
 having 18-inch walls, and being sufficiently ventilated. The subsistence store-room is not, however, 
 of sufficient capacity for storing a six months' supply of provisions for six companies, much less 
 
 for nine companies, the present garrison of the post. The guard- 
 house, which is built of sandstone and of pickets, is 37 by 24 
 feet, and 10 feet in height. Figure 22 shows the general arrange- 
 ment of the building. C, cells, 4 by 8 feet, by 8 feet high ; G, 
 guard-room, 13 by 24 feet, by 10 feet high ; P, prison-room, 12 
 by 24 feet, by 10 feet high. 
 
 The building is warmed by a wood stove placed in the center 
 of the guard-room, the pipe passing through the roof. The only 
 ventilation of the cells consists of a grating in the outer walls, 
 
 12 by 18 inches in size, and a few auger holes in the doors! The atmosphere is stifling and unhealthy 
 in the extreme, and there being usually two, and frequently three, prisoners confined in each cell, 
 they have but 90 cubic feet of air each, and that of the most impure description. The prison-room 
 has two windows, (not, however, so arranged as to give cross ventilation,) of about three sqiiare 
 feet. As there are frequently 30 inmates * of this room at one time, the allowance of air for each 
 man is reduced to 90 cnbic feet. The average occupancy of the guard-house since January 1, 1870, 
 is 23J, and since April 1, at which time the garrison was augmented to its present strength, 28. 
 An open tub in the prison-room used for excreta renders the limited amount of air still more im- 
 pure and offensive. That such a state of affairs must prove deleterious to the health of the occu- 
 pants is evident, and it is the imperative duty of the proper authority to take such steps as will 
 prevent confinement from becoming a cruel punishment. Besides the prisoners, the members of 
 the guard, (six upon an average,) also suffer by breathing the foul air diffused through the whole 
 building. Considering that the prisoners are working the greater part of the day in the open air, 
 their allowance of air space may, perhaps, for a limited time, be reduced below that in permanent 
 quarters, but the occupancy of the cells should never exceed one to each, and of the prisoner's 
 room it is thought that, with its deficient ventilation, eight would be the highest number of pris- 
 oners it could contain without prejudice to their health. 
 
 The hospital is built of the sandstone found in the immediate vicinity of the post, the lum- 
 ber used in its construction being furnished from the government saw-mill, with the exception 
 of the doors, window sashes, and ceiling boards, which were forwarded from the quartermaster's 
 depot at San Antonio. It is 128 feet in length, from north to south, and consists of a main 
 building of two stories in height of 33 by 35 feet, two wings, 44 by 24 feet, and a kitchen in 
 rear of the main building, 12 by 20 feet. A veranda of 12 feet iu width surrounds the whole 
 building. The plan furnished from the office of the Surgeon General, (Circular No. 4, April 27, 
 1867,) has been followed in the construction of this building, except in a few particulars. The main 
 building is wanned by open fireplaces, and the wards by one large wood stove placed in a central 
 position in each, the pipes of which pass into the flues of the main building the one in the south 
 ward into that of the dispensary, that of the north ward into the flue of the office. Ample light 
 is admitted by the various windows, which are judiciously placed, and although the wards are 
 ceiled and ridge ventilation thus cut off", thorough ventilation is secured in the warm season through 
 windows and doors ; but the wards, if filled to their capacity in the season when fires are rendered 
 necessary, would be found very deficient in this vital particular, as the ventilating shafts, which 
 are but 16 inches square, are too narrow to admit of a stove-pipe with safety passing into them, 
 whereby the air boxes, intended by the original plan from the Surgeon General's Office to open 
 
 * On August 5, 1870, there were 10 prisoners in the cells, (one of whom was in solitary confinement, occupying one 
 and cell, 38 in the prison-room more than can find sleeping room on the floor. 
 
FOET RICHARDSON, TEXAS. 189 
 
 under the stoves, are rendered useless, and therefore omitted. It is necessary to have arrange- 
 ments made for proper ventilation before the beginning of the cold season. 
 
 Each ward is 33 by 24 feet, and contains 12 beds, which gives an air space of 990 cubic feet to 
 each patient, the ceiling being 15 feet high. 
 
 The bath and wash-rooms, 11 by 9 feet, are furnished with bath-tubs and basins. Sinks are 
 here much needed to drain oft' the refuse water. The water supply being inadequate for water- 
 closets, the rooms designated for that purpose are furnished with air-tight dose stools, which are 
 emptied immediately after use. Two sinks are located about 100 feet in rear of the building. The 
 flight of stairs ascending to the second story is very narrow, (2 feet 8 inches in width,) and at an 
 angle (nearly 45) that makes it both dangerous and difficult to move heavy packages from one 
 story to the other. The plan, so far as regards a dead-room on the second floor, has been changed 
 on account of the narrowness and steepness of the stairway, and of the climate, which makes it 
 imperative to have the dead-house at a distance from the hospital. 
 
 It is thought that the room on the first floor, intended as a store-room, is best adapted 
 as quarters for the hospital steward, it being opposite to the dispensary and well suited to super- 
 intend both wards. The baggage of patients is properly labeled and kept in the store-rooms 
 on the second floor. The roof .of the hospital is very defective, owing to the inferiority of the 
 shingles with which it is covered. It is desirable that a vane should be placed upon the roof, as 
 the observations of the directions of the winds are necessarily inaccurate without one. A lightning 
 rod is necessary on account of the hospital building forming the highest point within the post or 
 vicinity. The artificial illumination of the hospital since the promulgation of General Orders No. 
 17, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, District of Columbia, Feb- 
 ruary 8, 1870, is rather deficient even for the ordinary routine of duty in the eveniug, and would 
 be found still more so if the performance of surgical operations in the evening should become 
 necessary. 
 
 A stockade laundry has recently been erected about 60 feet in rear of the hospital, (marked t 
 on plate,) 16 by 17 feet in size, covered with canvas, the pipe of the caldron passing through the 
 roof, no chimney or fireplace having been built. The fixtures are yet incomplete. This building 
 is also used as a dead-house for want of one built for the purpose. 
 
 It is to be regretted that a cistern has not been provided for in the plan, as the large expanse 
 of roofing, embracing an area of over 8,000 square feet of surface, would, if properly guttered, 
 supply an abundance of rain water. It is more particularly to be desired that such an arrange- 
 ment could be made, as the supply of water furnished by the water-wagon is. at times inadequate 
 for bathing and cleansing purposes. 
 
 The post bakery (marked/ on plate) is built of stone. 26 by 26 feet, and twelve feet high to the 
 eaves. The oven, built against its rear wall, is 14 feet square, and hasacapacity of about 400 rations 
 at one baking. As two "batches" of bread could, upon occasion, be produced in the course of 24 
 hours, its total capacity per day is upward of 800 loaves. The floor of the bakery is of stone, two 
 windows give cross ventilation, and the whole structure is commodious, and entirely suitable for 
 the purpose designed. 
 
 There is no laundry, chapel, or school-house at the post, and no provision is made for affording 
 the troops any opportunity for religious or other instructions. 
 
 The magazine is built of stone, 18 by 16 feet, and 11 feet in height to the eaves. The roof is 
 rendered fire-proof, being of rock, covered with a cement of tar and gravel. The walls are double 
 and 18 inches in thickness. 
 
 The stables, of which two have been erected, (marked fc I; on plate,) are built of pickets with 
 shingled roofs. The one nearest the guard-house is 200 feet in length and 35 feet in width, the 
 remaining one of the same length and 30 feet in width ; double doors at each end and in the center 
 of each side of the buildings, and loop-holes in each stall admit plenty of light and air. 
 
 The post library is at present kept in the office of the post commissary, and contains 120 vol- 
 umes, the greater part of which are well selected works of fiction, embracing, among others, those 
 of Scott, Lever, and Dickens; in addition to which are a few standard text-books and historical 
 and poetical works. A few weekly papers are furnished from the post funds, but there being neither 
 a reading-room at the post, nor any suitable place provided for the library, its usefulness is greatly 
 restricted. 
 
190 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The water supply is obtained from Lost Creek, and from the several springs situated near its 
 banks, all of which are in close proximity to the post. No cisterns -or reservoirs are constructed, 
 although the large area of roofing on the hospital, store-houses, barracks, &c., would serve to collect 
 large quantities of rain water during the wet season. The post water-wagon (a tank of about 500 gal- 
 lon sea pacity) is kept running constantly, by which the officers, troops, hospital, bakery, offices and 
 laundresses are supplied, and each cavalry company, having a cart of their own, can procure addi- 
 tional supplies for their own use when required. The water thus supplied is depended upon by the 
 enlisted men mainly for cooking purposes, by some also for drinking, and by the officers exclusively 
 for cleansing purposes. There are no means at hand for extinguishing fire except by pails filled with 
 water kept standing in the passages and rooms of the various buildings. A fire-engine, with suffi- 
 cient hose, is needed for the protection of the large amount of public property from this source of 
 danger, as a fire would be very destructive, in the absence of a tire apparatus, owing to the highly 
 inflammable nature of the lumber used in the construction of the buildings. 
 
 The natural drainage of the camp is so good that it has not been deemed necessary to improve 
 it by artificial means. Notwithstanding that the drainage from the post reaches the creek at a point 
 above that at which the supply of water is obtained by the post water-wagon, the water is free from 
 impurities, as the rains, during which the washings from camp reach the creek, are usually so vio- 
 lent as to carry away the impurities and leave the water in comparative purity after a short lapse 
 of time. The place where the water, is obtained is not a matter of choice but of necessity, the 
 banks above the post being so steep as to be inaccessible to a team. There are no sewers at the post. 
 The slops, offal, and excreta are removed daily, and are emptied into the old bed of the creek below 
 the point where, the water supply is obtained and about 500 yards leeward to the post. Nature's 
 scavengers very effectively prevent an accumulation of filth. The system of privies at the post is 
 not free from objections, and notwithstanding the attention paid to the police of the camp by the 
 commanding officer and the officers of the day, they will occasionally become offensive. The sol- 
 diers, naturally averse to work of such a nature, will try to shirk it, in handling the boxes care- 
 lessly spill the contents, or bring them back insufficiently cleaned ; the boxes besides are not suffi- 
 ciently tight to prevent leaking. As it appears to be intended to continue Fort Richardson as a 
 permanent post for a large garrison, it would be a most important improvement if earth closets or 
 similar contrivances could be arranged, to be cleaned under contract. 
 
 A large water-hole in Lost Creek, below the fort, is used by the troops for bathing purposes, 
 and has never yet failed to have a sufficient depth of water. Except this place, however, no facilities 
 for bathing, either natural or artificial, exist. 
 
 The cemetery, located nearly in the center of the reservation and about 400 yards east from 
 the fort, is 50 feet square, surrounded by a paling fence, and contains twelve graves. 
 
 The post garden, containing about two acres, is located on the bank of the creek in the north- 
 western corner of the fort, (marked w on plate.) It is cultivated by the labor of two enlisted men 
 detailed for the purpose, the necessary seeds and implements being purchased from the commissary 
 officer at the expense of the post fund. Sweet potatoes, Lima beans, beets, tomatoes, and lettuce 
 have been produced in limited quantities, but, as before remarked, the irregularity and uncertainty 
 of this climate present almost insurmountable obstacles to the successful prosecution of "truck 
 gardening" in average seasons. 
 
 No hospital or officers' gardens have been laid out, but at recent distributions of vegetables a 
 portion has been furnished the hospital for the use of the sick. 
 
 Cows can be procured in the spring of the year by obtaining permission from the owners to 
 drive them in from the prairie, as they prefer having their cows and calves cared for during the 
 summer season to allowing them to roam at large. The only labor incident to keeping them is the 
 building of a pen or corral, and to have them driven up each night, feeding being unnecessary, as 
 Texas cattle derive all their sustenance, during the entire year from the surrounding prairies. 
 Milch cows (and calves) can be purchased at from $15 to $20 each, and sheep at from $2 to $3 50 
 per head. 
 
 The majority of the officers at the post have secured cows, but owing to the small number of 
 attendants during the last spring and the considerable number of patients usually in the hospital 
 at the time, the post surgeon did not feel warranted in attempting to secure a supply of milk in 
 this way. The scarcity of timber makes the building of pens also difficult. 
 
FOET KICHARDSON, TEXAS. 191 
 
 The kind arid quautities of subsistence stores required by existing orders to be kept on band 
 by commissary officers can always be obtained from tbe post commissary. The post trader has 
 occasionally a small supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, but as there is no farming country in 
 the vicinity, and the roads leading to this place from a distance being frequently rendered insecure 
 by the presence of hostile Indians, the market is but poorly and irregularly supplied. An occasional 
 wagon-load of vegetables, brought from Parker or Tarrant Counties, is (he, only source of supply in 
 this particular. Milk during the summer season averages about 10 cents per quart, and butter 
 from 25 to 40 cents per pound, while during the winter the former article brings 25 cents per quart, 
 and the latter from 50 to GO cents per pound. These high prices in a country where cattle are so 
 abundant, is occasioned by the owners not feeding their stock, but allowing them to depend solely 
 on the herbage they can pick up. Eggs and chickens are proportionately high, the former ranging 
 from 30 to 75 cents per dozen, and the latter from 40 to 75 cents apiece during the year. Fresh 
 vegetables can seldom be obtained, and command enormous prices for the reasons given above. 
 
 The furniture of the barracks has been made by the troops of the garrison, and answers the 
 purpose sufficiently well. That of the officers' quarters (with the exception of a few tables and 
 wardrobes and the shelving in the five frame houses) has been obtained by them from a distance. 
 Owing to the scarcity of lumber, and the small force of mechanics, the officers and men derive but 
 little benefit from the provisions of General Order No. 31, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant 
 General's Office, Washington, District of Columbia, March 21, 1870. The nearest point at which a 
 general assortment of furniture can be procured is Weatherford, in Parker County, and as a matter 
 of course it commands the high prices occasioned by scarcity of material, long and costly transpor- 
 tation, and want of competition. 
 
 The medical supplies are obtained on semi-annual requisitions upon the medical purveyor at 
 New Orleans, and are forwarded by water to Galveston, thence by rail to Calvert, and to this place 
 by teams. There is occasionally a long delay before the supplies are shipped from the railroad 
 terminus. The amount on hand is sufficient to meet emergencies even in case the filling of requisi 
 tions should be delayed. On account of the prevalent diseases of the post and the frequent issues 
 to scouting parties or transient troops, the quantity of some articles as fixed by the supply table 
 proves inadequate, especially quina- sulph., sinapis nigri pulveris, line pulvis., tr. ferri chloridi, 
 liquor ammonia, and bismuth. The supplies are stored in store-rooms on the second floor of the 
 hospital, which are well furnished with shelving and closets. 
 
 The routes leading to the post are liable to frequent interruption, owing to the suddenness and 
 rapidity with which the rivers and creeks become converted from almost dry ravines into impass- 
 able torrents, in which condition they remain for days after a heavy fall of rain. Bridges are rare, 
 and but little labor being expended on roads in this region, their condition after a continued storm 
 is such as to render teaming difficult. 
 
 Two mails are received weekly, via Waco. Two mails from the north, via Fort Smith, Arkansas, 
 are also received each week, but this latter line is not yet in successful operation, and along its 
 entire route, from a point about 70 miles east of Jacksboro to Fort Coucho, its western terminus, its 
 coaches have been frequently attacked and several of its employes killed by Indians. Letters reach 
 the headquarters of the department (Austin, Texas,) via Waco, in six days, and Washington by 
 either the Waco or Fort Smith route in from twelve to twenty or twenty-four days. 
 
 The great majority of the inhabitants in the vicinity of the post are engaged in the cattle 
 business, but little attention being paid to agriculture. The character of the population is such as 
 is peculiar to a frontier country, but less marked by lawlessness than in some other parts of Texas. 
 
 The whole of the frontier line of counties of the State west of Grayson County has been for 
 the past four years subject to the inroads of Indians during the summer and fall of each year. 
 Prior to the late war the population of Jack County was about four fold what it now is, the settle- 
 ments having been deserted during the war, owing to the increased danger from Indians, at a time 
 when the fighting material was engaged elsewhere. The boldness of these predatory Indians is 
 increasing from year to year, the scouting parties sent in pursuit of them failing to overtake or 
 meet them, except in rare instances. It would appear that these bands are principally Kiowa 
 Indians, who draw supplies from the United States government at the reservations north of the 
 Texas frontier, as the instances in which they have boasted of their exploits, after returning from 
 a plundering and murdering expedition in this region, are numerous and well authenticated. The 
 
192 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 " Southern Comancbes," whose hunting grounds cover all of the unsettled territory of the State west 
 of the Brazos, are also constantly committing depredations, but it is believed they rarely extend 
 their operations so far cast as this post. The settlers in the tiers of frontier counties being widely 
 scattered, bands of savages, frequently numbering hundreds, cross into the State during the first 
 of the moon, divide into small parties, and plunder the country (often 50 jnile.s further from this 
 post) during the full of the moon, and in the wane pass out of the country and meet at some point 
 far out of reach of pursuit, with large numbers of horses and scalps as the result of their raid. 
 Each mouth while the grass lasts depredations are committed, the settlers living in constant dread. 
 There is scarcely a family in Cook, Montague, Clay, Young, Jack, Wise, Denton, or Parker Counties 
 that has not suffered in property or the lives of its members within the past five years. A scout 
 of about fifty men of Sixth United States Cavalry, under command of Brevet Major C. B. McLellan, 
 captain Sixth Cavalry, was attacked by a band of upward of two hundred Indians, near the south 
 fork of the Little Wichita River, (some sixty miles from the post,) on July 12, that was evidently 
 en route for the settlements. Major McLellan fought them for several hours, retreating at the same 
 time, and suft'ered a loss of two enlisted men killed and ten wounded, besides the surgeon accom- 
 panying the scout. It was noticed that this band of Indians was armed with breech-loading fire- 
 arms, in some instances of a superior description to those of the soldiers. 
 
 The health of the garrison during the past year was comparatively good, notwithstanding the 
 prevalence, to a certain degree, of malarial diseases. These increased in frequency from February 
 until, in August, they formed nearly three-fourths of all the diseases reported ; then gradually 
 decreased, so that after October but few cases were observed, but never disappearing altogether. 
 Many of these diseases are contracted in the river bottoms, where the scouting and escort parties 
 usually camp, in order to be within easy distance from the water; but the majority of the cases 
 certainly originate here, some of the most obstinate cases being observed in persons who have 
 never left the post. The quotidian intermittent is the most predominant type, tertian being much 
 rarer, and quartan not observed in a single case. The cold stage is usually absent, or only observed 
 during the first attacks ; the fever high and protracted, with a tendency to anticipating, until, if 
 not checked by the proper treatment, it assumes the remittent type. In obstinate cases the remis- 
 sions soon become indistinct, so as to give the disease' the character of continued fever. The 
 duration of these remittent fevers varied from a few days to three weeks and longer. Several of 
 these protracted cases were observed during the last two months, in which the diagnosis was not 
 without difficulty, their resemblance to typhoid fever in its second week being very striking. They 
 were recognized, after prolonged observation, as remittent fevers, although rather different from 
 those described in text-books. The more important symptoms distinguishing this form of fever 
 from typhoid are absence of the eruption, the most careful examination failing to detect true 
 rose-spots, (sudamina seen in one case.) Clearness of the sensorium during the whole course of 
 the fever; the patients were quite rational, perfectly free from stupor, coma, or delirium, (with the 
 exception of one case ;) absence of bronchitis ; absence of pain in the ileo cuecal region. The tongue 
 was heavily coated, but without the bright edges and tips, remaining moist throughout. The 
 pulse, however, was not nearly as frequent as in typhoid fever, but exceptionally ranging 
 above 100. The spleen was much enlarged. The temperature ranged from 100 and 102.5 
 in the morning, to 101.5 and 104 in the evening. When approaching convalescence .the remis- 
 sions became more marked, until constituting true intermissions, with not rarely a difference of 
 4 to 6 between morning and evening temperature. In a few cases, where the progress of the 
 fever from the intermittent, through the remittent into the continued type had been watched, the 
 curve of the temperature was that of a mild case of typhoid fever in its second and first half of 
 third week, preceded and followed by vacillations, closely resembling Wunderlich's ambiguous 
 period of typhoid fever. Gastric and intestinal irritation was marked with some tympauities and 
 tenderness in the epigastrium. The stools resembled closely the ochrey discharges of typhoid 
 ever. The debility was great and the convalescence very slow. The proueness to recidivation 
 was striking; all but two cases relapsing, one case twice with fatal termination. The relapses 
 occurred in from two to eight days after apparent convalescence. The temperature, after sinking 
 below the normal, continued during the apyretic stage to show daily undulations, in the evening 
 approaching, and receding again in the morning from the normal. In the case which terminated 
 fatally, death occurred during the second relapse, after three days of violent delirium, algidity, 
 
FOET RICHARDSON, TEXAS. 
 
 193 
 
 and coma. The post-mortem examination revealed meningitis, hypostatic spleni/.ation of lungs, en- 
 gorgement of spleen and liver, and well-marked inflammation of lower portion of ilium extending into 
 the ascending colon. Peyer's glands were slightly prominent, but no trace of ulceration or cicatri- 
 zation observable. Mesenteric glands were enlarged. 
 
 Ague increased in frequency in hot weather, following heavy rains. The cause of disease is as 
 obscure here as it is generally. Perhaps the vegetable elements of the bottom of Lost Creek, 
 and of the surrounding alluvial soil, decomposing under the influence of heat and moisture, may 
 appear as the true cause to the adherents of one of the many theories. 
 
 Dysentery, which was quite frequent last summer, is rare this year. Diarrho?a is of frequent 
 occurrence. The privations and exposure of scouting parties, and ague, appear to be exciting 
 causes of the diseases of the alimentary canal. 
 
 The water at the post, so far as can be ascertained with the means at hand, is free from an 
 appreciable amount of organic matter. Pulmonary and rheumatic diseases are rare the latter 
 chiefly of the character of pseudo-rheumatism, (myalgia,) caused by the local malarial influences. 
 Wounds heal kindly, without complications. 
 
 The population of Jack county, taking the vote at the election in the fall of 18G9 as a basis, 
 and allowing five souls to each voter, would be 640, nearly the whole of which number live in the 
 village of Jacksboro, the settlers in the remainder of the county being few and widely scattered. 
 
 The duties of the garrison during the summer and fall of 1860, in addition to the large amount 
 of fatigue duty incident to building barracks and officers' quarters and removing rock and rubbish 
 from the parade ground and other parts of the fort, were rendered more arduous on account of the 
 incessant escort duty required by the civil authorities, in quelling disturbances in adjacent coun- 
 ties, and in preserving the peace during the process of reconstructing the State. Since the State 
 has been admitted to the Union, and the interference of the military power is no longer necessary, 
 large scouting parties are almost constantly in the field endeavoring to check the depredations of, 
 and to punish hostile Indians. 
 
 Statement allowing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Rich- 
 ardson, Texas, for the years 1808 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 j 
 
 g 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 iS 
 
 
 
 
 3 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 O> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c; 
 
 
 
 
 Sc 
 
 d 
 
 
 be 
 
 3 2 
 
 pC 
 
 
 P* 
 
 
 1 
 
 ac 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 w t 
 
 M 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 30 
 P 
 .S 
 
 'o 
 
 ci 
 
 '3 
 
 |1 
 
 .2 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 00 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 .2 
 
 CO 
 
 11 
 
 r 
 1 
 
 
 3 
 
 - - 
 
 p. 
 
 1 
 
 = 
 
 00 
 - 
 
 2 
 
 V 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 s 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 OH 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 
 U 
 
 o 
 
 1868 (10 mouths) 
 
 '254. G 
 
 688 
 
 i 
 
 269 
 
 163 
 
 13 
 
 
 22 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1869 
 
 119 
 
 313 
 
 .... 
 
 154 
 
 48 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 Richardson, Texas, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 . 
 
 = 
 
 
 i- 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 g 
 
 B 
 
 S ^ 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 
 
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 3 
 
 Tear. 
 
 - 
 
 I 
 
 M 'oQ 
 
 a 
 
 M 
 
 2 ? 
 
 M' 
 
 5 
 
 r. 
 
 i 
 
 3 i 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 
 ts 
 
 _o J 
 
 .2 
 
 - X 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 *- 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 'o *3 
 
 Q 
 
 t - 
 
 'x 
 
 S 
 
 
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 0) 
 
 * +" 
 
 "3 
 
 S " 
 
 
 1 
 
 & 
 
 j: 
 
 *: 
 
 ^ 
 
 . 
 
 * 
 
 F 
 
 S 
 
 5 
 
 H 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 1869 (five months) . . - '. 
 
 144 
 
 68 
 
 35 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 fl 
 
 , 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 laryiigitis. hroncliitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
194 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT GRIFFIN, TEXAS. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS HENRY McELDERRY AND WILLIAM R. STEIN- 
 
 METZ, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The precise geographical location of Fort Griffin, Texas, has not been ascertained ; approxi- 
 mately it is as follows: Latitude 32 8' north, longitude 99 1' west of Greenwich. It is situated 
 abont half a uiile from the west bank of the Clear Fork of the Brazos, 37 miles west of Belknap, 
 85 miles west-northwest of Jacksboro, 150 miles east-southeast of Fort Concho, and about 80 miles 
 east of Double Mountain the highest peak of the surrounding country. The post was established 
 in the summer of 1867 in lieu of Fort Bdknap, which was at that time abandoned on account of a 
 great scarcity of water. After a careful survey of the surrounding country the present location 
 was selected, which is upon a place formerly known as Maxwell's ranch. The command arrived 
 July 31, 1867, and encamped on the plateau near the river, which position being found uusuited 
 for a camp on account of the marshy condition of the ground during the rains, was soon after 
 changed to a point on a neighboring height, situated about a quarter of a mile from the river. 
 Here the camp was permanently located, and designated as Camp Wilson, in honor of the memory 
 of the late Lieutenant Wilson, of the Sixth United States Cavalry. The name of the camp was 
 afterwards changed to that of Fort Griffin, in honor of General Griffin, the late commander of the 
 district. 
 
 Through a valley on the east, half a mile wide, runs the Clear Fork of the Brazos, the banks 
 of which are lined by a thick growth of trees ; the valley becomes wider about half a mile below 
 the fort, where the Clear Fork makes an abrupt curve, changing its course from south to east. It 
 empties into the Brazos at a point about 15 miles south of Fort Belknap. The left bank rises 
 from the valley with some abruptness, in the shape of bluffs, and, gradually sloping, is lost in a 
 table-land, which, extending to the valley and the bluff's of the Brazos, forms a level or slightly 
 undulating country, broken by vales and creeks. The hills on the right bank rise in form of ter- 
 races, some of which, at a distance of four miles from the fort, attain a considerable height. 
 
 About a quarter of a mile from the Clear Fork, the first prominent series of terraced hills rise, 
 in the shape of bluff's, the top of which forms a plateau of about a square mile. The fort has its 
 location on the eastern portion of the plateau, covering an area of about half a square mile. To 
 the west this plateau slopes gradually to the bed of Limpid or Collins's Creek in a bottom land, 
 which extends to the foot of the second series of terraces. This is the most prominent series of hills. 
 
 The vegetable kingdom is poorly represented in the vicinity of the post. Of trees, there are 
 found the post and live oak, the ash, mesquite, pecan, and cottonwood. There are also several 
 species of the cactus. 
 
 The wild animals found in this vicinity are the cougar, or Texas wild cat, the gray and white 
 wolf, coyote, black wolf, gray and red fox, skunk, raccoon, black bear, opossum, gray and fox 
 squinel, prairie dog, mule rabbit, American buffalo, antelope, deer, and peccary, or Mexican hog. 
 
 The birds are the eagle, (bald and Mexican,) wild turkey, goose, duck, buzzard, owl, scissor- 
 tail, Arkansas fly-catcher, common robin, bluebird, mocking-bird, red-winged blackbird, common 
 crow, quail, white crane, sandhill crane, plover, and snipe. 
 
 Rattlesnakes, (common und prairie,) copperheads, and meadow snakes, the horned toad, striped 
 and green lizards, snapping and common box turtle, centipedes, and tarantulas are found. 
 
 The fish are the bass, cat, gar, perch, and buffalo. 
 
 The mean temperature of the winter months is 44.63; minimum, 11; summer months, 
 86.99; maximum, 99 F. The fall of rain for the months of June, July, and August amounted to 
 14.40 inches; very little snow falls in this latitude. Prevailing winds during winter, north and 
 northeast; during summer, south and southeast. 
 
 The fort is elevated about 100 feet above the level of the Clear Fork, and, as it now stands, 
 has no regular shape; but it appears that originally it was intended to form a square. It was at 
 first proposed to erect permanent buildings of stone at the post, and every preparation to this end 
 
FOET GRIFFIN, TEXAS. 195 
 
 was made. Steam saw-mills, window-Hub, door frames, tools, and a uumber of mechanics were 
 promptly forwarded to the post from Sail Autouio; aud, as it was supposed that it would take a 
 year or more to complete the work, it was determined to erect such temporary structures for the 
 accommodation of the command as could be sawed from lumber in the vicinity protecting the 
 troops, in some degree at least, from the piercing cold northers so frequent in this climate during 
 the winter season. 
 
 Small temporary houses, with shingled roofs, were built for the men. A line of officers' quar- 
 ters was put up, consisting of a room and a kitchen each. A log house, consisting of two rooms, 
 with a hall between, was hauled from an old deserted ranch, and formed the quarters of the com- 
 manding officer. A similar building was brought in for the hospital. Thus the troops, with the 
 exception of being crowded, were comfortably quartered during the winter; and here they still 
 remain. From some cause or other the building of the permanent post hae never been commenced. 
 
 The barracks consist of four rows of small frame huts, running northeast to southwest, and 
 about 50 yards apart; ten in each row, of the following dimensions: 13 by 8 by feet, giving a 
 capacity of 660 cubic feet air space to each hut. Each row is supposed to accommodate one com- 
 pany, but, as seen by the figures, is entirely inadequate for the purpose; for, putting the minimum 
 .strength of a company down to 60, each shanty would be occupied by six men, which would give 
 ' to each man 110 cubic feet air space. The only means of ventilation are the door in front and 
 several small openings in the rear of the house intended for windows, the fireplaces, and the 
 crevices between the shingles of the roof. When the door and openings in the rear are closed, as 
 they necessarily must be in the winter and inclement weather, there are no means by which air can 
 enter to supply the upward current with sufficient rapidity to secure an adequate change of air, and, 
 thus crowded, poisoning must be the result. The records of the hospital show that such actually 
 has been the case, and various cases of dysentery, diarrho?a, and continued fever, which occurred 
 during the autumn of 1868, were attributable to this cause. This fact was reported at the time by 
 the post surgeon, with recommendation that more spacious quarters be built ; but, so far, nothing 
 has been done in regard to the matter. The beds consist of single wooden bunks; each man has 
 his own bedsack and the proper allowance of blankets. There are no wash or bath-rooms. 
 
 About 35 yards from the southwest end of each row of company quarters are the kitchens 
 aud mess-rooms rough frame buildings, of the following dimensions: kitchen, 20 by 20 feet, mess- 
 room, 20 by 60 feet. 
 
 The sinks for the companies are three in number, aud are situated about 150 yards distant 
 from the quarters, and on a line with the cavalry stables. They are supplied with movable boxes, 
 perforated in the bottom to allow the fluid portion to drain away; the solid portion retained in the 
 boxes is removed by the prisoners every morning after reveille. The boxes, after being washed 
 and disinfected, are replaced. 
 
 Since the arrival of the new troops two rows of wall tents have been pitched and used as 
 quarters. 
 
 The quarters for the laundresses consist of six rough frame buildings and fourteen wall tents, 
 two of which accommodate one laundress aud family. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of frame buildings arranged in two lines, the first running north- 
 east and southwest, parallel to the company quarters, with the parade ground intervening. The 
 first building on the northeast extremity of this line has two rooms aud a kitchen. The next has 
 four rooms and a hall, and is inclosed in rear aud sides by a picket fence; its roof is hipped. The 
 next is one and a half stories high; has four rooms, a hall, and two attics. The two next are similar 
 to each other, having each four rooms, a hall, and a kitchen. The last building on, and standing a 
 little back of, the line has three rooms and a kitchen. All of these quarters have porticos in front, 
 and some of them in rear. The first, third, fourth, and fifth sets have underground cellars in rear. 
 With the exception of the first and last set, all the buildings are raised eight inches from the ground, 
 resting upon stone pillars. The second line runs almost at right angles with the first, with the 
 parade ground between, some 200 yards from the northeast end of the company quarters, aud con- 
 sists of four small buildings. Commencing from the northeast extremity, the first and second are 
 similar to each other, each containing two rooms, with a kitchen and servants' room detached. The 
 third is a log building, with a shingle roof, having two rooms, a hall, and porch ; also servants' 
 
196 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 room. The last contains three rooms, a kitchen and servants' room attached; its rear is inclosed 
 by a ricket fence. All the buildings are one story high, except the third in the first Hue, which is 
 . one and a half stories high. 
 
 Since the arrival of three more cavalry companies, a hospital tent has been put up, so as to 
 cover somewhat the insufficiency of officers' quarters ; it is boarded three feet from the ground, and 
 is floored. 
 
 The quartermaster's office is in a small frame house in rear of the first line of officers' quarters ; 
 its rear is inclosed by a small fence made of barrel staves. The office of the acting commissary 
 of subsistence is at the commissary store-house. The quartermaster's store-house consists of three 
 large wooden buildings, joined so as to form three sides of a square, the fourth side being closed by 
 a fence. The first is a block-house with a shingle roof, and runs northwest and southeast; it is used 
 as a granary. The two others are used for quartermasters' stores, and clothing, camp, and garrison 
 equipage. The open center is used for storing lumber and such other articles as are not damaged 
 by the weather. 
 
 The commissary store-house is situated at the extreme southwest end of the fort, and runs north- 
 east and southwest; it is a large frame building, 125 by 25 feet. At its southwest end it is parti- 
 tioned off into two small rooms, which are used as the commissary office. During a heavy gale last 
 spring it was necessary to support the building by props on either side to prevent its being blown 
 over. 
 
 The guard-house is situated between the two mess-rooms belonging to the two inner rows of 
 company quarters. It is an old frame building, 14 by 32 feet, and poorly adapted to its purpose. 
 It is divided into t\vo apartments, one for the guard, the other for prisoners; it is ventilated at the 
 ridge, and by means of one grated window on its front side. The prison-room is heated by a stove, 
 the guard-room by an open fireplace. A small house, 9 by 14 feet, 12 feet from the guard-house, 
 is used by the non-commissioned officers of the guard. 
 
 The post hospital stands on one of the prominent bluffs forming the plateau of the fort. It 
 consists of four distinct buildings; the first is a dilapidated log building, which, shortly after 
 the establishment of the post, was hauled in from an old, deserted ranch. It contains the steward's 
 room, dispensary, and a store-room. This building is covered with a dirt roof, is very much dilapi- 
 dated, leans considerably to one side, and leaks badly. The apartment used as a store-room was 
 poorly adapted to the purpose, as it was impossible to keep it in order, in consequence of the dirt 
 falling off the roof, and rain driving in through the cracks and crevices. It had become necessary, 
 in order to protect the papers and records which were kept in the steward's room, and the medicine in 
 the dispensary, to cover the walls and roof with old pieces of canvas, and even then, during heavy 
 rains, it was necessary to move the papers from one place to another to keep them from getting wet. 
 In its present condition, the old store-room is uusuited for any purpose except storing such articles 
 as will not be damaged by the rain and dirt which is continually falling off the walls and roof. 
 The second building is a frame one, joined to the first at a right angle ; is 12 by 34 feet, and is 
 divided into apartments of unequal size, the larger of which, the one adjoining the dispensary, with 
 which it is connected by a door, is 14 by 24, and is used for the mess-room. The smaller, being 10 
 by 14, is used as the kitchen. The third building stands on the opposite (northwest) side of and six 
 feet from the log building, at right angles with it. It is an old frame house, formerly used as the 
 adjutant's office, and is divided into two rooms; the smaller, at the southeast end, is the office of 
 the surgeon in charge ; the other, the store-room, is provided with shelves for the medicines, and a 
 closet, in which are kept the poisons and most expensive drugs. On a line with, and ten feet from 
 the log building, stands the pavilion ward, erected of lumber, raised 18 inches above the ground, on 
 stone supports; it is 44 by 20 by 12 feet, has four windows on each side, and a door at each end ; at 
 the northeast end two small rooms are partitioned off, one the wardmaster's, and the other the wash 
 and bath-room. The ward proper is 20 by 33 feet, is heated by two sheet-iron stoves, and ventilated 
 by two shafts, through which pass the stove-pipes. This building is plastered, but not ceiled; it 
 has a shingle roof. The capacity of the ward is 7,920 cubic feet of air space; it contains twelve 
 beds, giving an air space of CGO cubic feet to each man. In order to secure an upward current of 
 air, several small holes are made in the floor under the stove. The crevices between the boards of 
 the floor, at the ends of the building, and between the shingles of the roof, furnish a sufficient 
 
FOKT GRIFFIN, TEXAS. 197 
 
 amount of ventilation. The privy for the hospital is placet! 60 feet from the ward, and is provided 
 with two sets of movable boxes lined with zinc, placed one within the other. The smaller boxes 
 are perforated in the bottom ; through these orifices the fluid excreta passes into the bottom box, 
 leaving the solid portion in the top. These boxes are emptied every morning immediately after 
 reveille, by the prisoners, thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. 
 
 The dead-house is a small frame building, 14 by 14 feet, situated on the side of the hill, 
 about 300 yards from the ward ; it Las a large window on each side, and is ventilated at the 
 eaves; it is furnished with a good post-mortem table. This building and the ward are the best 
 buildings belonging to the hospital. An attempt was made to dig a cellar, but had to be aban- 
 doned, as the ground was too rocky. 
 
 The hospital laundry formerly consisted of a shanty south of the hospital, the sides of which. 
 were weather-boarded, and the roof covered with paulin. This building was destroyed by fire last 
 April ; lumber being very scarce at the post, another could not be erected at the time ; in lieu 
 thereof a hospital tent was pitched in the hospital cow-pen to prevent its being blown down by 
 heavy storms ; in spite of this precaution, however, the tent was blown down several times during 
 severe storms. The matron has since bought some pickets from a squatter in the vicinity, and had 
 a shanty erected in the old place, covered with a tent-fly. 
 
 The post bakery is an old dilapidated building at the northern extremity of the post. The 
 oven is of sufficient capacity to bake 200 loaves. 
 
 The stables for the cavalry horses are situated at the western extremity of the fort, and consist 
 of four sheds running parallel to each other. 
 
 The post library formerly consisted of .56 volumes of miscellaneous books and magazines of a 
 very poor selection. Upon the arrival of Company I, Sixth United States Cavalry, it was increased 
 by 58 volumes more, which had constituted the post library of Corsicana, Texas. 
 
 The building which was intended for a reading-room has at present been temporarily assigned 
 to one of the officers in consequence of the great scarcity of officers' quarters ; it is a small frame 
 house, 12 by 25 feet, placed between the northwest extremity of the second line of officers' quarters 
 and the outermost row of barracks. 
 
 The principal water supply is from Collins's Creek; it is hauled to the post in a wagon built for 
 that purpose. During the winter the water can be used for almost any purpose, but during the 
 summer it has a bad taste, and is unfit for drinking. During the hot weather a cart is sent to the 
 spring on the bank of the Clear Fork, which furnishes a supply of water sufficient for drinking 
 purposes. Behind each set of quarters are several water barrels which are filled every morning. 
 There is no cistern or reservoir at the post. The only means of extinguishing fire are the water 
 barrels and the water-wagon, which is kept over night filled with water. For immediate use in the 
 hospital a dozen fire-buckets are kept constantly filled with water. Owing to the circumstance that 
 the plateau on which the fort stands has an inclination on all sides, the natural drainage is suffi- 
 cient to relieve the ground of all surplus water. There are no artificial drains. 
 
 The offal, slops, and excreta of the post, as also all refuse matter of the stables, are carted 
 away every day by the prisoners, and taken to the flat to the west and about half a mile from 
 the camp. 
 
 There arc no arrangements or regulations in regard to bathing. During the summer the men 
 bathe in Collius's Creek and the Clear Fork. 
 
 There are no gardens at the post, owing to the great difficulty in raising vegetables in this 
 locality during the dry season, it being necessary to keep up constant irrigation. 
 
 The provisions are generally of good quality. The flour delivered at the post by the contractor 
 has not been of the best quality. There are two or three stores within a mile or two of the post, 
 from which provisions may be obtained. Fresh vegetables are extremely scarce. Several settlers 
 around the post raise some few vegetables for sale, but ask such high prices that only the officers 
 can afford to buy them. Potatoes do not do well in this vicinity, but can be obtained from Jacks- 
 boro and Weatherford for from $3 to $5 a bushel. 
 
 The only means of communication with any town or nearest railroad station (which isCalvert^ 
 Texas) are government trains. These trains consist of a number of wagons drawn by horses, mules, 
 and oxen ; sometimes as many as ten wagons are in one train. These trains are often, during the 
 rainy season, obliged to camp on the banks of rivers for some days before they are able to cross. 
 
198 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Four mails per week are received at tlie post, viz : from the East, via St. Louis aud Fort Smith, 
 Sundays and Thursdays; from the West, via San Antonio aud Fort Concho, Mondays and Thursdays, 
 The mails are often detained by floods and freshets that occur during the rainy season, and occa- 
 sionally are captured by the Indians. Eight days are required for a letter to reach department 
 headquarters, and twelve days to reach Washington. 
 
 The inhabitants in the vicinity of the post are a rough, hardy people, possessing all the charac- 
 teristics of the frontier man. Their occupation is chiefly cattle-driving ; some little attention is paid 
 to farming. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is good ; the location in regard to hygiene is most excellent. 
 The camp is thoroughly policed every day and the refuse matter carted away. Acute dysentery 
 .and diarrhusa, as also malarial fevers in some form or other, prevail here during the summer and 
 autumn months. Of several cases of acute dysentery, which occurred here during the fall of I860) 
 one proved fatal. Half a dozen cases of this disease have come under my care during this summer, 
 all of which were of an obstinate character; one of them ended fatally. The miasmatic fevers are 
 more amenable to treatment. The cause for these diseases is the malaria which prevails in and 
 about the post, but more especially iu the valley of the Clear Fork. In consequence of the frequent 
 heavy rains during the spring and summer months, the creeks aud rivers rise above their banks and 
 overflow the valley, and when retreating within their beds leave many animal and vegetable sub- 
 stances behind, which, by means of the high temperature iu this latitude, soon undergo rapid decom- 
 position, and malaria is the consequence. Another cause for dysentery aud diarrhoea may be found 
 in the men's quarters, which are entirely unsuitable. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of siclt, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort 
 
 Griffin, Texas, for the years 18CS and 1809. 
 
 
 
 .. 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 a 
 
 x 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 j: 
 
 A 
 
 e 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 "Si 
 
 a 
 
 -i 
 
 lole num 
 taken sick 
 
 1 
 
 rrhoea and 
 entery. 
 
 isillitis. 
 
 .demic cat; 
 
 lereal disc 
 
 enmatism. 
 
 rt 
 
 1J 
 
 
 
 X 
 W 
 
 cS 
 
 e 
 
 a 
 
 
 3 
 
 I** 
 
 a 
 
 
 o 
 
 ft 
 
 v 
 
 ,a 
 
 8 
 
 c 
 
 
 s 
 
 * 
 
 S 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 fe 
 
 1868 
 
 243 
 
 263 
 
 110 
 
 55 
 
 3 
 
 fi 
 
 7 
 
 19 
 
 2 
 
 
 1869 
 
 98 83 
 
 128 
 
 35 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement xhotriiiy mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 Griffin, Texas, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 M 
 <O 
 
 
 ' 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 
 Yew. 
 
 j 
 
 "& 
 c 
 
 
 IS 
 
 a ^ 
 
 3 i 
 
 2 
 
 V 
 
 1 
 
 US 
 -d 
 
 g fr - 
 
 i 1 : is 
 
 i 
 
 en 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 *_ 
 
 deaths. 
 
 
 
 
 C 
 
 r^5 ^ T-( 
 
 
 
 H "*" 
 
 < 
 
 
 
 
 
 H a: 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 a c 
 
 a 
 
 -5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .2 o 
 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 Q ^ 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 ? 
 
 169 (5 months) 
 
 138 
 
 39 
 
 16 
 
 12 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Im-Uule larynptiB, hronehitis, pneuinonin, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT CONCHO, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON \V. M. NOTSON, UNITED STATES Ali.MV. 
 
 Fort Concho is the center of a line of posts extending from El Paso, ou the Kio Grande, to the 
 northeastern border of Texas, on the lied liiver. Beginning from the west the garrisoned posi- 
 tions are Forts Bliss, Quit-man, Davis, Stockton, Concho, Grift, aud Richardson. It also geo- 
 graphically, but without as direct a road connection as with the one just named, forms one of the 
 
FORT CONCHO, TEXAS. 199 
 
 southern chain to the mouth of the Rio Grande ; beginning from the north, Forts Concho, McKavett, 
 Clark, Duncan, Mclntosh, Ringgold Barracks, and Brownsville. Upon the establishment and gar- 
 risoning of the new or outer line several of the older posts, which had been occupied by federal 
 troops since the war, were abandoned; Fort Mason, Camp Verde, and Forts Inge, Lancaster, and 
 Hudson on account of their position, and Fort Chadburne because of the failure of the water 
 supply. 
 
 Fort Concho is situated at the junction of the North Concho and main Concho Rivers, imme- 
 diately west of their point of confluence, the North Concho flowing in nearly a southeasterly di- 
 rection, and the main Concho very nearly east, continuing that course until its junction with the 
 Colorado River. The site, by approximation, is about 100 20' west longitude, and 31? 30' north 
 latitude, upon a comparatively elevated plain of prairie land. Brief as has been its existence, the . 
 foundation of the first building having been laid in January, 1868, the identity of the post has nearly 
 been lost, especially to the Post Office Department, on account of the multiplicity of names. Orig- 
 inally called Camp Hatch by the first garrison, five companies of the Fourth Cavalry, it was changed 
 at the request of the distinguished officer of that name of that regiment, and re-baptized Camp 
 Kelly, in memory of another officer of the same regiment. The construction department, or quar- 
 termaster, called it Fort Griffin, until an order from district headquarters fixed the present appella- 
 tion. It is still misnamed, and the disappointment of the young officer who may be ordered to it 
 for a station, who has built his ideas of defensive works upon such examples as may be found upon 
 eastern coasts or northern frontier, will not be lessened after his experience has taught him that 
 the isolated post amongst merciless foes should be what it is named, a fort. 
 
 On March 1, 1870, the buildings of the post were, in the order of their construction, a commissary 
 and quartermaster store-house, hospital, five officers' quarters, a magazine, and two barracks, all 
 built of light-colored sandstone. 
 
 The commissary's and quartermaster's store-houses are built upon the same plan, and are of 
 the same dimensions, about 100 feet in length, 30 in width, and about the same to the peak of the 
 roof, each building forming one large room, with one little closet about 10 feet square walled off 
 for office purposes. The flooring is of large irregular slabs of stone, cemented with ordinary 
 mortar. The wood-workrafters, beams, &c. as in all the other buildings, is of pecan, a peculiarly 
 intractable variety of our northern hickory, which by its twisting, curling, and shrinking hardly 
 promises a permanence of the symmetry of the buildings in which it has been used. 
 
 The hospital, built upon the plan issued from the office of the Surgeon General of the Army, 
 is by far the handsomest and best finished building at the post. It is plastered throughout, and 
 though incomplete, it is better adapted to the necessities required of it than any other structure at 
 the post. It has been objected by some inspecting officers that the hospital building is too large and 
 elaborate. This does not accord with the experience of the medical officer. The capacity of the 
 two wards is for twenty-four beds. Had the original plan of construction been carried out of 
 establishing a post for eight companies, it is doubted whether sufficient accommodation for the 
 sick directly entitled to care would have been found in the building. During last summer (18G9) 
 the Fifteenth and Thirty-fifth regiments of Infantry consolidated near this post, and although their 
 combined numbers would not have exceeded the probable full garrison contemplated for Fort Con- 
 cho, it was found uecesssary by the post surgeon to pitch a number of hospital tents. The par- 
 tition walls of the building are of stone, adding much to its stability and security. A belvedere 
 has been placed on the main building, affording a distant if not diverse view of the prairie in every 
 direction. Fire-buckets and axes are kept in the several halls of the building, with printed direc- 
 tions for their use in emergency. The surgery is tastefully and conveniently fitted up. Cases 
 requiring isolation and not contagious are taken care of in the upper rooms, but from the narrow 
 and winding stairway communicating with the upper floor, the rooms are scarcely available for that 
 purpose, and the middle upper room not at all so for the uses laid down in the plan. The wards are 
 heated by stoves, all other rooms by open fires. Ventilation and light, thanks to shrinking windows 
 and doors, are abundantly supplied. The present defects of the hospital building, it is hoped, will 
 gradually be provided for. Among them is the absence of any special means of ventilation as 
 provided for in the plan of Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office. The plan of this hospital 
 was drawn by the quartermaster at San Antonio, without following closely the designs shown in 
 " Circular No. 4," and without any consultation with the post surgeon. 
 
200 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 No measures have yet been taken for securing the rain water, a necessity which will be ex- 
 plained further on in this report. One cistern, at much expense and labor, has been dug and blasted 
 close to the building, but was left unfinished in February, 1809, since which time no work has 
 been done on the hospital. This subject and the necessity for a lightning-rod and tire-extinguisher 
 were called to the attention of the Quartermaster General of the Army during his recent personal 
 inspection, and he suggested to the commanding officer that they should receive early attention. 
 The flooring of the portico has not been completed, and cave-spouts are not attached to the roof. 
 No inclosure marks the hospital limits, and the out-buildings are of a temporary character and 
 insufficient. 
 
 The officers' quarters, standing next in the order of construction, are five cottage buildings of 
 stone. Four, erected for captains' quarters, and one for major or lieutenant colonel. The quarters 
 are built with two rooms facing the parade, separated by a broad hall ; in the rear of the west 
 room a kitchen. The rooms are commodious, about 15 feet square, well lighted, without closets or 
 shutters. The larger quarters are built upon the same plan, with one additional room in the L, 
 and is about four feet higher. All of the buildings have attics, and are heated by open fires. Each 
 kitchen is provided with a pantry. The officers' quarters are not inclosed, nor is any provision 
 made to secure the privacy of separate families. The officers have erected by their own exertions 
 temporary inclosed sheds in the rear of their several quarters, which during most of the year can 
 be used as out-door kitchens. The other outbuildings are temporary structures. 
 
 The men's quarters, last in the programme of construction, have never been completed. The one 
 facing the left of the parade is composed of three stone buildings ; the two upon the front intended 
 to be used as company rooms and dormitories are each about 120 feet long and 25 in width; the 
 third building stands at right angles in rear of the center of these, and was proposed for mess-room, 
 kitchen, and store-room. These buildings are all joined under one roof, and called a set of quarters 
 for one company, although at present occupied by two. A wide portico surrounds the two main 
 buildings, but has not yet been floored. An experiment was made, after the order discontinuing the 
 building of the post was received, to floor the set of quarters with concrete. It proved a failure. 
 The other set of quarters was started upon the same plan, and except that the wood-work i. e., 
 fitting in of doors and window sashes is not so far advanced, and that it has no rear building, is 
 similar to the one already described. No permanent outbuildings of any kind are attached to the 
 men's quarters. The company stables are merely frames covered with canvas. 
 
 Anew guard-house has just been constructed of heavy pecan plank; it promises to be suitable 
 for the purpose designed. It contains two rooms, one for the guard and one for confinement of 
 general prisoners, and also three secure cells for the security of the more refractory. A stone cor- 
 ral, 200 feet wide by 250 deep, is being inclosed, with the intention of accommodating both the sta- 
 bles of the quartermaster and those of the companies. 
 
 The original plan of the post Avas a parallelogram running due east and west. The cessation 
 of construction has so modified it that it now forms nearly three sides of a square. On the north 
 side of the parade ground, and facing the south, are the men's quarters; facing the west the com- 
 missary, quartermasters' buildings, and the hospital; facing Ihe north the officers' quarters. 
 
 The general appearance of the country in the vicinity of the post is a flat, treeless, dreary prairie. 
 The edges of the two streams are scantily fringed with the pecan and wild plum ; straggling 
 growths of niesquite sprinkle the plain. The open nature of the country greatly affects the climate 
 to the comfort or discomfort of the residents. The glare from the scorched and yellow grass during 
 the summer usually produces inflammation of the eye, while the unchecked sweep of the north wind in 
 winter (the well-known Texan norther) is felt more keenly by the northern sojourner than the severer 
 winters of his home. During but small proportion of the winter is it necessary to wear more 
 clothing than ordinarily would be required in November in the latitude of Washington, but the 
 severity of the " norther" is only equaled by the suddenness of its appearance. A fall of more 
 than 30 F. in the thermometer within an hour has happened more than once during the last 
 year. The irregularity and uncertainty of the season precludes any agricultural calculations, 
 for while the annual rain-fall may equal that of the most fertile of the eastern States, the gather- 
 ing of all the rain into one or two months of the year either drowns or scorches out the crops. 
 After these rains the narrow streams swell to impassibility, and the luckless gardener who has 
 
FORT CONCHO, TEXAS. 201 
 
 trusted to his better chances upon some river-side flat has his labor and investment swept away in 
 an hour. For these reasons no post garden has yet been successful, although an effort is being 
 made about seven miles southwest of the post, by a fanning company, to cultivate some bottom 
 lands by irrigation. This is to be done by damming one of the tributaries of the main Concho and 
 bringing the water through a ditch about three-fourths of a mile. The post will undertake 
 to cultivate a garden there, it is understood, this summer. Water-cresses are now abundant 
 upon both streams, having been planted by the present medical officer for obvious hygienic reasons. 
 
 The question of the supply of water, wholesome and sufficient for the use of the garrison, is 
 one which may in any year be an urgent sanitary question. Although the, rain-fall of 1808 marked 
 about 30 inches and last year 20 inches, it is believed by the medical officer, on the testimony of 
 men whose occupations have made them familiar with these frontiers, and especially cattle drovers, 
 to whom an abundant supply of water is a vital pecuniary question, that the two years recorded 
 have been exceptional, and even with the abundance recorded for the former year, the North Concho, 
 instead of a running stream, has been standing in shallow pools, while the water of the main 
 Concho was so impregnated with putrefying animal m.itter as to be offensive bi>th to smell and 
 taste. The waters of both streams are slightly impregnated with lime. In very dry seasons, when 
 the half famished buffalo arrive at their banks, they crowd into it in such numbers that very many 
 are drowned so many as to affect the purity of the stream in the manner just referred to. These 
 rivers in the vicinity of the post and above it vary from fifteen to forty feet in width, have a gravel 
 or rock bottom, and are fordable at almost any point. 
 
 In anticipation, of this deficient supply of water the post surgeon earnestly urged that suitable 
 cisterns might be attached to each of the buildings, and his application so far met with favorable 
 consideration as to have one, intended then to be one of a series, started. The one begun was at 
 the rear of the hospital building, and was planned according to the diagram and description recom- 
 mended by Dr. Parkes to the barrack commission. It was completed only as far as the main reser- 
 voir. One or more of the large wooden tank cisterns, formerly in use by some of the United States 
 general hospitals in the South, have been asked for. 
 
 Three or four severe storms, accompanied by thunder and lightning, have been experienced 
 during the existence of the post, the flashes being vivid, near, and rapid. Considerable anxiety was 
 felt for the safety of the hospital building, standing as it does upon an elevated plain, and being itself 
 higher than any building or tree for many miles. One unusually severe hail-storm occurred 
 in June, 1808, arising without warning, and from the weight and accumulation of the masses of 
 ice, breaking in the tents, (the garrison were not then in quarters,) the troop horses were stampeded, 
 and most of the poultry about the post killed. In lifteen minutes from the beginning of the storm, 
 the parade ground was covered with hail-stones to the depth of more than two inches. Several 
 were measured and found to exceed an inch and a half transversely by three fourths of an inch 
 in thickness. The belt of storm cloud was very narrow, not quite reaching a mile, and was travel- 
 ing due southeast. 
 
 Supply is a vital question to the post. No means of transportation from the coast exist except 
 by wagons. Indiauola is about 550 miles distant ; San Antonio, the commissary and quartermaster 
 depot, about 230 miles. When the rainy season sets in, communication almost entirely ceases. 
 Two or three days' rain upon the light soil of the prairie so loosens it that an ordinarily ladened 
 wagon will sink to the hubs and the mule to his girth. The winter of 1808 and 1869 was specially 
 marked as wet, and no supplies were received. The succeeding winter has been unusually favorable. 
 Rising rivers frequently delay even the mail for several days. 
 
 The post is entirely dependent, the soil having no natural products of any utility to a resident. 
 For prevention of scurvy, the post surgeon was fortunate enough to find some "lamb's quarter" 
 (chenopodium) for the use of the troops while, awaiting the arrival of supplies last spring. The 
 nearest village is Fredericksburg, a German settlement upon the Perdenalis River, ICO miles from 
 the post. The nearest neighbors are the mail station, three miles, Bismarck farm, seven miles. 
 Those are both companies, and not actual settlers. The nearest actual resident is 18 miles, and 
 his nearest neighbor 11 miles beyond him. The vicinity of the post is abundantly supplied with 
 game. Buffalo exist in countless herds during the winter and spring, and deer and antelope at all 
 seasons. The large gray wolf and the coyote, are abundant, and the fox, the badger, and peccary 
 20 
 
202 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 can easily be found when desired. The prairie for miles in every direction being one vast " dog 
 town," the prairie-dog holes interfere somewhat with the pursuit of the chase. Water fowl of 
 every kind, from the large white swan to the green- winged teal, abound upon the rivers. Wild 
 turkey and quail, both the brown of Virginia and the blue or tufted quail of Xew Mexico, can be 
 found anywhere upon the streams. Immense catfish, weighing even as much as 75 pounds, with eels 
 of proportionate size, and a trout, called in this country a bass, with smaller fish, reward the angler 
 for very little exertion. It may be some drawback that a country supplied so lavishly with game 
 is equally generously furnished with venomous reptiles and insects. A prairie-dog town is the 
 well-known habitat of the rattlesnake, as also the rocky borders of the streams ; his kindred, the 
 water-moccasin, in this country attains a gigantic development. Tarantulas and lesser spiders lurk 
 under every cactus shrub, and the centipede brings forth its interesting brood in every pile of chips 
 or lumber about one's quarters. The post surgeon having been bitten on the hand, while taking- 
 hold of a towel in which the insect was coiled, by a centipede, afterwards measured and found to 
 be seven and a half inches long, enters so much testimony against the special virulence either of 
 their jaws or claws. The bite was painful for an hour or two, but no other trouble resulted, 
 neither ulceration nor swelling. Small scorpions, from two to three inches in length, are found, 
 though less frequently than either the centipede or tarantula. Indians, believed to be chiefly Co- 
 manches and Kiowas, commit frequent depredations in the vicinity. Horses have been repeatedly 
 stolen within the post lines, and as late as the middle of February of the present year a citizen 
 has been killed and scalped within a mile of the adjutant's office. 
 
 The situation of the post is an unusually healthful one, and it is thought, under some precau- 
 tions, such as guarding against the sudden change of temperature, especially in winter, a desirable 
 one for the treatment of tubercular cases. The prevalent disease has been rheumatism, while at 
 times, from causes before referred to, diarrhoea has been epidemic. The similarity of diseases, as 
 well as topographical resemblance between this portion of Texas and the reports of some of the 
 British surgeons concerning the table lands north of Cape of Good Hope, has been noticed. The post 
 is now garrisoned by three companies of colored soldiers; their duties are scouting, picketing 
 the mail road, escorting the mail coaches, and general escort duty. From the central position of 
 the post on three roads of travel more duty devolves upon the troops and officers than of any post 
 forming parts of either of the chains of defenses referred to in the beginning of this communica- 
 tion. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sicJc, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Concho, 
 
 Texas, for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 f 
 
 a 
 Years. 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 Wholi 1 number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial levers. 
 
 Diarrhopa and 
 dysentery. 
 
 .2 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Venerealdiseases. 
 
 *-> 
 
 1 
 
 Rheumatism.. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 o 
 ft 
 
 1868 (11 months) 323 54 
 
 736 
 
 
 263 
 
 164 
 
 2 
 
 17 
 
 15 
 
 20 
 
 50 
 
 
 1869 (7 months) 226 57 
 
 131 
 
 1 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort Concho, 
 
 Texas, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 li 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 <e 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o5 
 
 a 
 
 
 E 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 ji 
 
 s .* 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 r; 
 
 Year. 
 
 a 
 
 3 . 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 s 1 
 
 .2 '-5 
 
 .t: . -3 
 
 
 41 
 
 
 
 " * 
 
 1 S 
 
 9 
 
 
 05 
 
 i 
 
 1 * 
 
 1 
 
 ft 
 
 | 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 E 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 I 1 
 
 "8 
 
 
 i 
 
 P 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 aG 
 
 M 
 
 C3 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 z 
 
 1869 (10 months) 
 
 225.3 
 
 261 
 
 21 
 
 97 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 34 
 
 25 
 
 .1 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
FORT MoKAVETT, TEXAS. 203 
 
 FORT McKAVETT, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SFRGEON REDFORD SHARPE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort McKavett is situated on a high bluff on the right bank of the San Saba, some two miles 
 from the source of the river, latitude 30 50' north, longitude 100 20' west, and 180 miles north 
 west of San Antonio, and 2,OGO feet above the level of the sea. 
 
 The spring which furnishes the post with water expands into a lagoon of considerable size be- 
 tween the post and the San Saba river, and is distant from the post about 300 yards the post being 
 about 125 feet above the level of the spring. I find in the notes compiled by Brevet Major J. V. D. 
 Middleton, assistant surgeon United States Army, the following historical facts: This fort (McKav. 
 ett) was built by the Eighth United States Infantry in 1852, and named after Lieutenant McKav- 
 ett, who was killed in the battle of Monterey, Mexico. In 18GO the post was abandoned by order 
 of General Twiggs. and the troops moved into the interior of the State. When reoccupied April 
 1st, 1868, the post was found to be one mass of ruins only one house being at all habitable, and 
 the whole command was compelled to go under canvas. The post covers about six acres of a 
 broad hill which slopes gradually to the river. The river has the appearance of rising from three 
 heads, called the "North, Main, and South prongs," but is now furnished almost entirely by the South 
 prong, arising about two miles west of the post. This prong, in its course, spreads out into a 
 lake about three-quarters of a mile in length, and from 50 to 100 feet in width. Opposite the post 
 the stream becomes small a mere creek 20 feet wide, and from one to three feet deep. It 
 flows through a fertile valley a mile in width, and afterwards through broad plains to the Colorado, 
 about 100 miles from its present source. 
 
 The post is completely surrounded by hills, with intervening valleys. The hills, as a rule, arc- 
 low, and of uniform size, sloping on every side, and covered with grass, mesqnite, and live oak. 
 The stunted live oak, interspersed here and there with trees of larger growth in the valleys, 
 with the pecan, w r ater oak, and willow on the margin of the water- courses, each presenting a differ- 
 ent hue, give to the whole country, as far as the eye can reach, a variegated aspect, which is very 
 beautiful. The prevailing wind during the summer months, and, indeed, during the whole year, 
 (except the " northers,") is from the southeast. 
 
 Fort McKavett was built originally of stone, the roofing, flooring, &c., of wood. During the 
 time of its abandonment, all the buildings went to ruin. The walls, which were not put up properly 
 in the first place, tumbled down, and the wood- work went into decay. When the post was reoccu- 
 pied in April, 18G8, one house alone was habitable, and that had been kept in repair by the owner 
 of the post. The buildings are located on the top of the hill, and are situated on the four sides of 
 a parade or plaza, 100 yards square. It was, perhaps, built in this manner to render it defensible 
 against the attacks of Indians. At a later period, several buildings were put up on the outside of 
 this square, among which were the quarters of the commanding officer, hospital, and quarters for 
 married soldiers and laundresses. 
 
 Until March, 1869, very little work had been done, owing mainly to the lack of mechanics and 
 the extreme slowness with which material was supplied. At that date, Company A, Fourth Cavalry, 
 and one company of the Thirty-fifth Infantry were relieved by headquarters and two companies of 
 the Forty-first Infantry and Companies F and M of the Ninth Cavalry, under command of Brevet 
 Brigadier General E. S. Mackenzie, colonel Forty -first United States Infantry. Almost immediately 
 the work of rebuilding the post commenced ; ample and substantial corrals for the cavalry horses 
 were built at once ; the barracks for the men were put in complete repair, and company kitchens, 
 guard-house, sinks, and all outbuildings thoroughly renovated. Officers' quarters have also been 
 enlarged, and in fact almost rebuilt, with new floors, roofing, windows, doors, &c. 
 
 The quarters of the commanding officer are situated about 100 feet south of the parade, are 
 comfortably large, and, when repaired, will be commodious, and in every way pleasant. 
 
 The quarters for officers are on the south and west sides of the parade, opening upon it ; are 
 well adapted to the purpose, although not large, and will compare favorably with other frontier 
 quarters, especially so far as the expenditure of money is concerned. 
 
204 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The barracks for the men are three in number, situated on the north, east, and west sides of 
 the square, and, unless the command is very materially increased, afford ample room. Each man 
 is furnished with an iron bedstead, and the quarters are kept strictly clean. 
 
 The commissary and quartermaster's store-houses are on the eastern flank, outside the parade, 
 as also the chapel and store of the post trader. The carpenter shop, quartermaster's granary, and 
 other outbuildings, are on the north, in rear of the barracks. 
 
 The post hospital is in the southwest corner, rather in the rear of the line officers' quarters, and 
 on a parallel line with commanding officer's house. The main building, 50 by 20 feet, of wood, 
 consists of one ward, containing twelve beds, a dispensary, and a ward-masters room. It is a 
 very inferior building, and in no way adapted to rainy or winter seasons. Upon the occupancy of 
 this post by General Mackenzie, the hospital was, perhaps, the most comfortable building here, 
 hence no work has been done to render it better. A comfortable building of stone should take the 
 place of this temporary wooden structure, with such an addition to its size as would bring the 
 store-room, steward's room, dispensary, office, &c., all under one roof, having the dining-room, 
 kitchen, laundry, and room for attendants in an addition, to the rear, thereby dispensing with the 
 many small and ungainly-looking houses that have been put up from time to time, as kitchen, wash- 
 house, &e., since the temporary hospital was built. 
 
 The guard-house is on the north, and in rear of the barracks, and is ample and quite comfort- 
 able, as it should be. Its occupancy will average twelve for the past six months. 
 
 The post gardens are situated in the north, on the lagoons, and about half a mile distant from 
 the post. They are furnishing a good supply of vegetables, and are in every way a benefit to the 
 command. Fresh vegetables are distributed every morning. 
 
 I have served at no post since I have been on duty in Texas, since December, 1865, where more 
 attention is paid to cleanliness of quarters, and where all sanitary and hygienic rules are more 
 thoroughly enforced, and where more deference is paid to the suggestions of the medical officer in 
 regard to such rules. The sinks for both officers and men are built of stone and furnished with 
 movable troughs. These, in addition to being thoroughly disinfected every morning, are washed 
 three times a week, and recently, during the warm weather, they were removed a mile distant, near 
 the San Saba Kiver, daily, washed and returned, and fresh lime, acid carbolic, and ferri sulphas 
 freely used in and about them. No slops of any kind are allowed to accumulate about the kitchens, 
 but all swill, &c., is emptied regularly every morning after reveille. All offal from the stables is 
 removed daily in army wagons more than a mile from the post, except such as is needed at the 
 post gardens. 
 
 Water is supplied from the springs in water-wagons, and delivered morning and evening in 
 barrels at each kitchen. The water is pure and clear, but contains a large per cent, of lime. 
 Cisterns have been asked for, which will add greatly to the comfort and health of the command. 
 
 There is no more healthy post on the Texas frontier than Fort McKavett. The dryness of the 
 atmosphere, the height above the sea-level, the pure bracing winds that come here divested of 
 everything noxious, or even damp or unpleasant, all tend to make it a paradise for any one suffering 
 from any weakness of the air passages. 
 
 The sick rates during the past two years afford ample proof of the above. During the past 
 month, however May there has been an endemic or epidemic of acute diarrhoea, resulting in two or 
 more instances in dysentery. What may be the cause it is difficult to conjecture. Unusual pains 
 have been taken both as regards the cleanliness of the camp, carefulness in cooking, variety in 
 diet, and personal cleanliness of the men. The want of force or vim in colored troops in sick- 
 ness, in contrast with the white, has been thoroughly and forcibly exemplified in this epidemic. 
 That there are some wonderful exceptions to this has been fully proven at this post. They are, 
 however, the exceptions necessary to make the rule good. 
 
 The great drought seems to have affected the milk, which has been used in large quantities by 
 the troops, the absence, of grass forcing the cows to eat many poisonous weeds. The meat (beef) 
 seems to have been affected in the same way. Whether these causes have in any way influenced 
 these cases of diarrhrea is, to say the least, very doubtful. The use of milk was, however, stopped 
 by a post order, and at this writing the epidemic is almost exhausted, (the last of May.) The 
 disease has not been confined to the men alone, nearly all the officers of the command have been com- 
 plaining, and an infant daughter of the commanding officer, Captain H. Carroll, died. The exu- 
 
FOKT McKAVETT, TEXAS. 
 
 205 
 
 berant growth of cryptogamous and other plants may have induced or helped to bring on a mias- 
 matic influence, which, added to the general carelessness of the black race, is, perhaps, the most 
 probable cause of the endemic. Happily, at this writing, June 20th, there is very little, if any, of 
 the disease left. An abundant rain has given plenty of grass, and the milk and beef are both freed 
 from their poisonous influences. 
 
 The post bakery is new, and furnishes most excellent bread ; it is under the management of 
 the post treasurer. 
 
 So much has already been said as to the geology of the post that little remains. Limestone 
 is the base, and the water is thoroughly impregnated with it. Colonel Crawford, late assistant sur- 
 geon United States Army, speaks of the formation as follows, iu his report of this post in 1853 : 
 
 The region consists of the upper secondary, or the substitute for the chalk formation in this country, and the lower 
 tertiary. Here aud there the secondary appears in small patches, and continues superficial. No evidence of primary 
 formation or of volcauic rocks exists. The hills have no regularity, are low, of almost uniform size, and composed 
 entirely of limestone. Toward the southwest these hills become higher, and of a rougher and more broken character ; 
 and further, there is no sandstone formation iu the vicinity, or any arenaceous deposits that have yet been discovered 
 nearer than 35 or 40 miles, where there is a belt running uorth and south. From the regular outline of the hills there 
 are no faults existing where an opportunity is presented to examine the succession of strata. 
 
 Again : The flinty formation is scattered over the whole face of the country, and is deeply imbedded. At the head 
 of Llono River, where the side of a large hill has been washed so as to expose the strata to the depth of 200 feet or more, 
 a continuous layer of flint, underlying marl, and marly limestone was observed. 
 
 Upon my arrival in Texas, in December, 1805, after the close of the war, I was continually told 
 that the seasons were exceedingly dry, aud at times there would be no rain for months. A residence 
 of nearly five years has disproved this assertion, aud there is nothing needed to develop the vast 
 mineral and agricultural resources of the whole State but muscle and vigor. The valley of the 
 San Saba is a garden, waiting to be planted, and wealth awaits those who come here and go to work. 
 The extreme healthfulness of the climate is another great inducement. The steady work of a few 
 years in this magnificent country will enrich any man, and add to the wealth of the State and 
 nation. Once establish a system of railroads, and no more children are stolen, or families made 
 desolate by the inroads of the Indians. The cattle can truly be said to roam upon a thousand hills, 
 and Texas will be the empire of the Occident. 
 
 I cannot close this report without calling attention to the fact that much too long a time is used 
 in transporting medicines, &c., from the medical purveying depot; quite frequently four and five 
 and even six months are necessary to receive supplies from said depot. This I do not. in any way 
 believe to be the fault of the medical purveyor in Xew Orleans. While stationed in San Antonio, 
 there were many commands ordered on the frontier whose only supplies were such as I could furnish 
 them from the post hospital ; and this I could not have done had I not retained extra quantities of 
 medicines and supplies turned into me by the volunteers going out at that time. But for this the 
 troops would have suffered greatly, and in many instances they did, as I could not supply them. 
 A medical purveyor at San Antonio is a necessity for the convenience of the frontier. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, andprincipal diseases of white troops at Fort McKarett. 
 
 Texas, for the years 1868 and 1800. 
 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 
 tf 
 
 
 g 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 ri 
 
 c 
 
 
 Ji 
 
 rt 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "So 
 
 5 j> 
 
 SJ 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 X 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 *_ 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 S 'Z 
 
 a 
 
 S 
 
 43 
 
 I 
 
 CD 
 
 
 rt 
 
 
 'S 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 d 
 B 
 
 3 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 'S 
 
 c 
 
 f3 X 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 >. 
 
 a 
 
 . 
 
 *C -^ 
 
 
 . 
 
 | 
 
 S, ~ 
 
 
 a, 
 1-. 
 
 I* 
 
 X 
 
 d 
 
 rs 
 
 "S< 
 
 a 
 
 L 
 
 B 
 
 a 
 
 D 
 
 d 
 
 3 
 
 "n 
 
 c 
 
 
 * 
 
 ^ 
 
 H 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 2 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 !Z 
 
 1868 (9 months) . . . 
 
 218.44 
 
 116 
 
 1 
 
 59 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 93 
 
 27 
 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
206 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 McKavett, Texas, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 0) 
 
 ,0 . 
 
 
 cc 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 ll 
 
 1 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 GO 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 * * 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 & 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 a, 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 i 
 
 
 "2 " 
 
 w 
 
 "2 
 
 'o 
 
 a 
 
 Malarial f< 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysent 
 
 Tonsillitis 
 
 Venereal i 
 
 6 
 
 a 
 
 $ 
 
 Rhumatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tion 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 1869 (10 months) 
 
 290.9 
 
 141 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 24 
 
 5 
 
 16 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT BROWN, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON WILLIAM J. WILSON, UNITED STATES ARMY, DATED JULY 19, 1870. 
 
 The government reservation upon which the post of Fort Brown is built is a tract of land 
 containing in all 358.J acres, situated on the Rio Grande immediately adjacent to the city of 
 Brownsville, Texas, in latitude 25 53' 16" north, and longitude 97 96' 26" west, and with an elevation 
 of about 50 feet above the level of the sea. On the opposite side of the river, and distant about one 
 mile, is the Mexican city of Matamoras. The reservation is of a somewhat triangular shape, and 
 on the east, west, and south bounded by the Rio Grande. 
 
 In 1846, during the Mexican war, a six-bastioned field work old Fort Brown, (the remains of 
 which are still in existence) was thrown up by the troops under the command of General Taylor, 
 and when he marched to Point Isabel to bring up his trains, was garrisoned by the Seventh In- 
 fantry, under the command of Major Brown. During General Taylor's absence it was bombarded 
 by the Mexicans for seven days. Major Brown lost his life from a shell-wound received during that 
 bombardment. The Mexicans also attempted an assault, but were driven off by few discharges 
 of grape and cannister. After having fought the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, 
 General Taylor reached Fort Brown, and relieved the fort. In the fall of 1848, immediately after 
 the treaty of peace, the United States troops moved over to this bank of the river, and in the be- 
 ginning of 1849 quarters for the officers and soldiers were built and a permanent post established. 
 In 1861, at the outbreak of the rebellion, it was evacuated by our troops, and remained in the pos- 
 session of the rebels till 1864, when it was burned by General Bee. In 1865 it was again occupied 
 by United States troops, and temporary huts or cantonments were built, which were nearly all 
 demolished by the hurricane of 1867. Plans and specifications had at that time been prepared and 
 approved for the erection of quarters, and one house had actually been commenced, but it too was 
 destroyed. 
 
 The reservation consists of low flat prairie land covered with chaparral, a small stunted growth 
 of underbrush or small timber, mostly consisting of mesquite and wausatchie. This prairie land, at 
 no very distant period of the earth's history, must have been covered with water, as it consists mostly 
 of an alluvial deposit, underlaid at a depth of about 6 feet with a quicksand some 4 to 6 feet in 
 depth. It contains no mineral products whatever, but is very fertile during favorable seasons, 
 producing two crops of corn or cotton annually. Cotton here, as in Mexico, is perennial, and 
 sometimes reaches the height of 15 or 20 feet. Sugar-cane grows in great luxuriance. The castor- 
 bean seems a native of the soil, and can be produced with very little trouble, and in great abun- 
 dance. These are the principal crops raised in this vicinity. 
 
 There is a considerable variety and abundance of game ; the bob-white or quail, plover, and 
 several varieties of wild duck the teal, the black duck, the gray or spoonbill, a few mallard, and 
 still fewer canvass-back visit this neighborhood, and are easily obtained on the ponds or lagoons 
 about here. Wild geese and brant are plentiful, and deer can be obtained at a distance of from 
 6 to 12 miles from Brownsville. The fish that are obtained here are brought from Brazos 
 
FORT BROWN", TEXAS. 207 
 
 Santiago, a distance of some 28 miles ; they consist of bass, mullet, flounders, oysters, and redfish. 
 The June fish, weighing sometimes some 300 to 500 pounds, is also caught and obtained from there. 
 In the Kio Grande and in the lagoon inside the reservation, the silver bass and the mud catfish, buf- 
 falo, and perch, weighing from 5 to 6 pounds, are caught. Of wild animals there are few, the 
 principal being the catamount, and the prairie wolf or coyote. Of reptiles, there are the rattlesnake, 
 moccasin snake, the adder, the blacksnake or racer, and the chicken snake. 
 
 The climate of this part of Texas is very dry, i. e., with rain at very long intervals, though 
 the average annual fall i.s probably as great as in other and more northern parts of the State. 
 The air, however, as shown by the wet-bulb thermometer, is nearly always saturated with moist- 
 ure, there being at the most about two degrees difference between the wet and dry bulb. During 
 the summer mouths, from May till October, the thermometer generally stands, in the daytime, 
 from about 85 to 95 F. There is, however, a steady breeze (the southeast trades) blowing all 
 the time, which very considerably moderates the temperature and renders the extreme heat very 
 endurable. The nights, after sundown, are also very cool, so that we can sleep with comfort, and 
 rise in the morning refreshed for the labors of the day. In the winter months the temperature 
 rarely falls, even on the coldest days, below the freezing point, though the sudden change on the 
 occurrence of a "norther" makes us feel the cold much more than what would be supposed from 
 the actual temperature. The mean temperature from November till the end of April was about 
 04; the greatest cold on the 10th of December, 18G9, 30; the greatest heat, 87 F. Snow or ice of 
 any considerable thickness is such a rarity that the oldest inhabitant has hardly any recollection 
 of either. Since last January we have had hardly any rain ; 1 inch was recorded as having fallen 
 during the montli. Two or three slight showers have since occurred, none ot any consequence 
 until the 12th of June, when half an inch of rain fell. During the summer mouths, however, rain 
 is more frequent, and in large quantity. In August, 1 T J 7 inch; September, 10 inches; October, 1; 
 and in November 1 inch. During the summer months the prevailing winds are the southeast 
 trades, mentioned above, which blow almost constantly during the twenty-four hours from the 
 southeast or south. In the winter months the winds vary more from the south and east, with fre- 
 quent "northers." The "northers" are to me more pleasant than otherwise, as the system, debili- 
 tated by the long-continued heat of summer, feels the refreshing influence of a good, strong, cold 
 wind from the north. They are said by the citizens here to bring an increase of sickness on ac- 
 count of passing over the salt marshes between this place and Corpus Christi, but I did not find 
 such to be the case last winter; on the contrary, there was very little sickness in the garrison, and 
 that of a very mild type. 
 
 Inside the reservation is the lagoon, evidently an old channel of the Kio Grande. It is of an 
 elliptical form, about 150 yards in width, and in some places from 10 to 14 feet in depth. It in- 
 closes a small island, containing 25 \ acres, which was formerly (prior to 1846) heavily covered with 
 timber, but this timber was at that time cut down by United States troops to prevent the Mexicans 
 from massing and stealing up to attack Fort Brown. The national cemetery, containing space for 
 2,000 graves, is there located. In the center of the island is a flag-staff, and circularly arranged 
 around it are the graves of Major Brown and various other officers of the regular and volunteer 
 army. Extending south from the flag-staff, and laid out in plats 75 by 15 feet, separated by walks, 
 is the space reserved for the graves of enlisted men. PJach plat is intended for 50 graves. 
 
 The post of Fort Brown has accommodation for one battery of artillery, one company of cav- 
 alry, and four companies of infantry. These different quarters are separated from each other 
 by a very considerable distance. The four sets of infantry quarters are situated on the northern 
 boundary of the reservation, merely separated by a wall from the city of Brownsville. The artil 
 lery quarters are almost at the extreme southern end, while the cavalry are stationed about mid 
 way between. In close proximity to each of these barracks are the officers' quarters. 
 
 The infantry officers' quarters consist of seven houses, situated along the northern border of 
 the lagoon, opposite to and distant from the infantry barracks about 175 yards. The commanding 
 officer's house is a one and a half story frame building, 39 by 33 feet, elevated on brick piers 
 about two feet above the ground. It contains on the ground floor four rooms, each 16 by 16 by 12 
 feet, with a hall, 6 feet wide. There are four attic rooms on the second story, each similar in size 
 to those below, but only about 8 feet in height. A covered porch, 7 feet wide, is jn front of the 
 house. The porch at the rear of the house is 12 feet wide, and by means of a lattice-work at the 
 
208 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 sides is converted into a dining-room. In the rear of tins is a kitchen, 16 by 12 feet. Extending 
 backward for about GO feet, and inclosed by a lattice-work, is a yard, and at the lower end of this 
 is a small water-closet, 11 by 11 feet, situated over a brick vault about 8 feet in depth. Underneath 
 the stairs leading to the second story is a small closet or pantry. The three houses for captains 
 are almost similar in size to this, but each house contains two sets of quarters, i. c., two rooms, 15 
 by 16 feet on the ground floor, attics above, a small dining-room and kitchen, and yard in the rear. 
 
 The lieutenants' quarters are similar in plan, but the rooms are only 14 by 15 feet, on ac- 
 count of the staircase running up between the rooms. These quarters are all very comfortable and 
 in good repair. A brick walk, 4 feet wide, runs along the front of the officers' quarters, and up 
 to each house. The intervening ground is nicely sodded with Bermuda grass, as is also the re- 
 mainder of the ground between these quarters and the main barracks. 
 
 The cavalry officers' quarters are situated adjacent to the cavalry barracks, and distant about 
 150 feet; they are built of brick, on the same plan as described for the infantry officers' quarters, 
 and consist of two houses, each having a covered veranda, 7 feet wide, in front. One double 
 house, containing four rooms, 15 by 16 by 14 feet, with attic of the same size on the second story, 
 a kitchen and dining-room in the rear. This is occupied by the captain of the cavalry company 
 stationed here. The other house is divided into two sets of quarters, each containing two rooms, 
 kitchen and dining-room, with attic rooms above; these are occupied by the cavalry lieutenants. 
 
 The artillery officers' quarters are situated almost on the extreme southern end of the reserva- 
 tion, and about half a mile distant from the infantry quarters and hospital. They consist of three 
 brick buildings, built on exactly the same plan as the cavalry officers' quarters one, the middle 
 house, containing four rooms, with attics, kitchen, and dining-room, intended for the captain ; the 
 other two houses are situated one on each side of this, and eacli contains two rooms, with attics, 
 kitchen, and dining-room one set of quarters for each lieutenant. These quarters are at present 
 occupied by some of the non-commissioned staff and their wives, who act as laundresses for the 
 command. 
 
 The infantry barracks consist of four two-story frame buildings, each 34 by 103 feet, elevated 
 on brick piers some 3 feet above the level of the ground, and with a covered porch, 7 feet wide, on 
 either side on each story. The lower story, 9 feet high, is divided into an office, lij by 55 feet; 
 first sergeant's room, 11J by 22|; reading-room, 11 by 19; lavatory, 11 by 22; day-room, 11 
 by 55; mess-room, 23 by 49|; kitchen, 13 by 29 ; cook's room, 9 by 10J; and commissary store- 
 room, 9 by 18 feet. The upper story, 8| feet in height, is reached by a staircase, and is used as a 
 dormitory for the men, and is fitted up with a sufficient number of single, two-tier wooden bunks, 
 ranged down both sides of the room. The building is ventilated by twenty-eight windows in each 
 story, and also by ridge ventilators through lattice work in the ceiling of the dormitory. Situated 
 as these quarters are, almost north and south, they are freely exposed to the prevailing winds, and 
 thorough ventilation as a consequence ensues. In each of these dormitories there is an air space 
 per man, for an average strength of 50 men, of about 650 cubic feet. 
 
 The cavalry barrack is a long, one-story brick building, 26 by 20 feet, elevated some 3 feet 
 above the surface of the ground, and surrounded by a covered veranda, 9 feet in width. This 
 building is divided by an archway, 12 feet in width, into two large rooms, each 24 by 92 by 14 feet, 
 used as day-rooms for the men, and also as dormitories. Though an extremely comfortable barrack 
 in every respect, still I believe a barrack built on this plan, where a common room is used by the 
 men both as day-room and dormitory, is objectionable, as the men, during the day, are accustomed 
 to lounge in their beds, which would not be so much the case were the dormitory in a different 
 story. In this climate, where diseases of a malarious type prevail, the dormitory should, in my 
 opinion, be in the second story. As in infantry quarters, the men sleep in single, two-tier bunks, 
 on bedsacks filled with hay, and covered by the ordinary government blanket. Each room of the 
 barrack is sufficiently ventilated by doors at each end, and by twelve windows, six on each side, 
 and also by ridge ventilator, through lattice-work in the ceiling. Projecting backward from the 
 center of the building is a large mess-room, 40 by 40 feet, divided into two rooms by four open 
 arches. It is fitted up with a sufficient number of tables and wooden benches. There are two small 
 store-rooms, one 14J by 10 feet, the other 19 feet eight inches by 10 feet, at one end of the mess- 
 rooin, in which commissary stores are kept. One of these was, I believe, intended for a kitchen, 
 
FORT BROWN, TEXAS. 
 
 209 
 
 but it was utterly inadequate for the purpose, and a small, temporary wooden building was erected 
 in rear of all, in which tbe cooking is done, and answers the purpose. This barrack, for an average 
 strength of 80 men, gives an air space of 775 cubic feet per man. 
 
 The artillery barrack is a long, one-story building, 26 by 300 feet, elevated some 3 feet above 
 the ground, and entirely surrounded by a covered veranda, 9 feet in width. By a covered arch- 
 way, 12 feet wide, it is divided into two rooms, each 24 by 142 by 14 feet, which are used both as 
 day-rooms and dormitories by the men. Projecting backward from the center of the building is the 
 dining saloon, 50 by GO feet, at one end of which is a kitchen, 23 feet 9 inches by 14 feet 3 inches, 
 store-room, 12 feet 9 inches by 14 feet 3 inches, and sergeant major's room, 8 by 14 feet 3 inches, 
 The dining-room proper is, by four open arches and a passage, 5 feet wide, divided into two rooms, 
 21 by 48 feet. This barrack is occupied at present (the battery of artillery having left here April, 
 1869) by the band of the Tenth Infantry. 
 
 To all these barracks water-closets are provided, situated some little distance in the rear, and 
 all built on the same general plan, being small, frame buildings, elevated some 3 feet above the 
 ground, with a trough which slides underneath, and can be drawn out as often as necessary, 
 emptied, and washed out in the Rio Grande below the reservation, and disinfected. The water- 
 closets attached to the cavalry and artillery barracks are, like the quarters, built of brick. 
 
 The ordnance building, about 150 yards distant from the artillery officers' quarters, is a large, 
 fire proof, brick building, 60 by 40 feet, used as an ordnance store-house ; it is roofed with slate, and 
 furnished with six windows, 7 by 3 feet, in each side, secured by iron window-shutters, inside 
 of which the windows, or rather the window frames, are covered with iron gauze. The floor is of 
 Roman cement. 
 
 Close to the gate of the principal entrance to the reservation is the guard-house a quadrangu- 
 lar building, 44 by 35 feet constructed of hewn logs, with a veranda, 9 feet wide, all around. The 
 arrangement of the building is shown by Figure 23. , 
 
 0, cells, 4 by 8 feet ; Gr, guard-room, 18 by j 
 21 feet ; H, hall, 3 feet wide ; P, prison-room, 18 } 
 by 21 feet; V, veranda. 
 
 The cells and the room used by the guard 
 are floored with lumber. The prisoners con- 
 fined in the large room sleep on the ground, 
 or upon some pieces of loose lumber in the room. 
 There is a wooden bed made for the guard, and 
 in most of the cells there is a small wooden bunk 
 erected, upon which the prisoners sleep. In the 
 doors of each of these rooms and cells, and in 
 the ceilings, a small hole, secured by iron bars, 
 is cut for ventilation. Those in the ceilings com- 
 municate with a small, dome-shaped ventilator 
 at the top, and also with lattice- work around the 
 side underneath the eaves. The number of pris- 
 oners confined in the guard-house would average Figure a;i. 
 at least 30. The guard-room is wanned in the.winter by a wood stove, but there are no means of warm- 
 ing any other portion of the building. At night it is lighted by candles secured in lanterns and 
 kept in possession of the guard. This building is entirely inadequate for such a garrison as this, 
 for besides being an unsightly structure situated at the main entrance to the garrison, it is much 
 too small, the ventilation is very insufficient, and I am only surprised that there has not been much 
 more sickness among the prisoners confined there. The building should be condemned and a new 
 one of proper size, capable of free ventilation, erected. Owing to its insufficient size, the com- 
 manding officer has been obliged to place the prisoners in the room intended for the guard, and 
 have the guard sleep on the porch around the building. I understand that plans and specifications 
 have been prepared and approved for the erection of another guard house, but nothing further has 
 been done in the matter. 
 
 The post hospital is a handsome brick building, recently erected, and only fitted for occupation 
 L>7 
 
210 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 about May 1, 18G9. It was built in accordance with the plans of Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's 
 Office, for the year 1867. A covered veranda, 9 feet wide, surrounds the entire building. Extending 
 laterally from the executive building, and separated from it by a covered archway, 10 feet 3 inches 
 in width, are the wards, each of which is 24 by 66 by 14 feet, intended for twenty-four. beds. These 
 wards afford sufficient accommodation for the sick of the command, and seem admirably adapted for 
 hospital purposes. A constant breeze (sometimes almost too strong) blows through each ward, thus 
 securing perfectly free ventilation. Each ward is intended for twenty-four beds, though, at present, 
 I have only fourteen in each, and the amount of sickness in the garrison, for several months past, 
 has been so small that one ward is quite sufficient to accommodate them. Each ward is ventilated 
 by thirteen windows and one door on the side, and a door on each end; there is also ventilation 
 through the ridge by lattice-work in the ceilings. The windows are 11 feet high by 5 feet wide, 
 and are furnished with Venetian blinds, opening down to the floor. In the winter months a large 
 wood stove is used in each ward, which gives sufficient heat. The fuel used is the " mesquite," the 
 same as supplied to the post, an excellent fuel, making almost too hot a fire. The hospital is lighted 
 by candles and lard-oil lamps in each ward. A post order, issued long before the order from the 
 War Department, prohibited the use of volatile oil in any of the public buildings in the post, except 
 the officers' quarters. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained, on the usual quarterly requisitions, from the medical storekeeper 
 at New Orleans, and usually reach here by the middle or latter part of the first month of the 
 quarter for which the supplies are drawn. They are of good quality and in excellent condition. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post during the past year was excellent, the principal 
 diseases being diarrhrea, intermittent and remittent fever, venereal diseases, a few cases of rheu- 
 matism and pulmonary complaints, and, after pay-day, some cases of delirium tremens. I believe 
 that most of the cases of diarrhoaa are produced by some excess in either eating or drinking, and 
 also by the water. The rise in the Rio Grande generally takes place about the end of June. For 
 the few months previous to this, the water being very low, is much saturated with salts, principally 
 sulphate of lime, when it is by no means palatable. The water in the lagoon, by evaporation and 
 soakage through the bank between it and the river, (the bed of the river being much lower than 
 that of the lagoon,) also becomes very low, so that a by no means pleasant odor arises from those 
 portions of it covered over with water in the winter and now dry. These two causes, I believe, 
 give rise to intermittent and diarrhcea. General Clitz, fully alive to this source of danger from the 
 lagoon, causes about 40,000 gallons of water to be pumped into it every day from the river, which 
 makes up for the loss by evaporation. There is a much less number of intermittent cases treated 
 this spring than were treated for the corresponding portion of last year. The occurrence of a sud- 
 den "norther" brings a few cases of pulmonary complaints, mostly catarrh and slight bronchitis; 
 but I think this climate is very favorable for some cases of pulmonary disease. Cases of phthisis, 
 where there is little expectoration, would be benefited, while to some other cases of the same disease 
 it would be a constant source of torment, and certain death. It is also very unfavorable 
 for rheumatic diseases, there being so much moisture constantly present in the atmosphere. 
 The excessive heat is also very debilitating to weak constitutions, and few persons of this kind 
 remain perfectly well during the summer months. 
 
 About 100 yards distant from the guard-house is the office building, a large quadrangular brick 
 building, 50 by 112 feet, elevated some three feet above the ground, and surrounded with a covered 
 veranda, 9 feet wide. This building, by means of two halls, 9 feet wide, intersecting one another 
 at right angles, is divided into adjutant's office, quartermaster's office, library, also used as reading 
 and court-martial room, with a small room at one end, formerly used as the commissary's office. 
 On the opposite side of the hall are two corresponding rooms, one, the larger one, used since the 
 1st of May last as a billiard-room and officers' club; the other, and smaller one, is not in use at 
 present. 
 
 On the edge of the river, about 75 yards from the office building, is a small frame house, 26 by 
 58 feet, used as a post bakery. It contains two ovens, though one is out of order at present, and 
 is provided with the necessary bake-pans, troughs, &c. It is capable of supplying bread for a 
 command of 1,000 men, and the bread is generally of good quality. The baking is done by en- 
 listed men, detailed for that purpose, who receive some extra compensation out of the post fund. 
 
FORT BROWN, TEXAS. 211 
 
 Along the western side of the lagoon, and on the spit of laud between it and the river, are the 
 quartermaster and commissary store-houses, stables, &c. The store-houses, of which there are 
 seven quartermaster's and one commissary's, are frame buildings of sufficient capacity for both 
 depot and post. There are also one blacksmith shop with seven forges, one carpenter's shop with 
 four work-benches, one paint and saddlery shop, one small steam engine (about five-horse power) 
 for pumping water, and one fire-engine house, containing one hand-engine. There is one large 
 stable for depot and post mules capacity 120 mules ; one large shed stable (east and a little north 
 of the cavalry barracks) for cavalry horses capacity 100 horses ; and also one stable for the horses 
 of mounted officers capacity 10 horses. 
 
 The water is an important item about this post, which I think is capable of improvement. The 
 water supplied to the officers' and men's quarters, the hospital, and the entire post, is taken from 
 the Rio Grande, pumped up by the engine mentioned above, received into large tanks, of which 
 there are eight, drawn off into other tanks where the mud separates, and finally, by means of a 
 water-cart, is distributed to the different parts of the garrison. Each officer's quarters and the 
 lauudresses have a couple of barrels, the different sets of men's quarters a large wooden tank, 
 which is filled every morning. This water is used for drinking, washing, and culinary purposes. 
 In the spring and early part of the summer, before the summer rise takes place in the Rio Grande, 
 the water gets pretty bad, charged with salts, principally sulphate of lime. A large dripping stone 
 is used in the hospital, through which every day passes a quantity of water sufficient for drinking, 
 and though it is not by this process purified from the salts, still, the taste is very much improved, 
 and it is rendered much more agreeable and palatable. It would be extremely easy for large tanks 
 or cisterns to be erected in which the rain water could be secured and used for drinking and culi- 
 nary purposes. There is an enormous surface from which the rain water could be collected, and 
 though the rain-fall is by no means equally distributed over the different months, still the average 
 fall would be quite sufficient for all the wants of the garrison. When persons first arrive at this 
 post they are generally attacked by diarrhoea, which I attribute in a great measure to the quality 
 of the water necessarily used by them. Ice is such a rarity that of course none can be procured or 
 saved during the winter, so that we are entirely dependent upon artificial ice. There is a manu- 
 factory on the opposite side of the river at which 12 cents per pound, specie, was last year charged. 
 This year, thanks to a manufactory started in Matamoras, a block of ice weighing at least 10 
 pounds is procured for 50 cents, specie, so that we are now able to indulge to a limited extent in 
 this luxury. The ice machine, however, frequently gets out of order, and we are sometimes for 
 two or three days without it. 
 
 In the same room of the office building used as the court-martial room is kept the post and 
 regimental library; the post library, lately purchased, consists of 295 volumes, and the regimental 
 library, formerly belonging to the Twenty-sixth Infantry, of about 400 volumes. These are mostly 
 works of a scientific, historical, and biographical character, with works on naval and military 
 science, travels, novels, &c. Several of the weekly papers are also taken, and reading desks have 
 been erected for the convenience of the readers. Books are lent to the officers and enlisted men 
 of the command. t 
 
 About midway between the hospital and cavalry quarters are the quarters for the married 
 soldiers, whose wives act as lauudresses for the command; these consist of twelve wooden "shan- 
 ties," placed six in each row; two of these are, I believe, unserviceable. As mentioned before, 
 some of the non-commissioned staff, with their wives and families, are temporarily occupying the 
 artillery officers' quarters. It is intended to build twelve more frame houses for their accommo- 
 dation, which will be amply sufficient. There are, in all, twenty laundresses with twenty-two 
 children, and two soldiers' wives not laundresses, who have three children. 
 
 The ground occupied being so level, there is very little natural drainage; but two or three 
 large drains have been made one about half-way between the infantry officers' quarters and the 
 hospital, and one midway between the hospital and cavalry barracks. Both these drains empty 
 into the lagoon by means of square wooden pipes; this prevents any water from accumulating in 
 the immediate vicinity of the hospital. All the slops, offal, and excreta of the officers' quarters 
 hospital, and barracks, are received into barrels, which are emptied each morning into a slop-cart 
 and thrown into the river. 
 
212 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 On the east bank of the lagoon is a small wooden building, about 18 by 20 feet, intended as a 
 bath-house; there is a small wooden platform running from this house down into the lagoon. 
 Every evening, after retreat, the men are at liberty to bathe in the lagoon ; and, on every Saturday 
 evening, the prisoners are inarched from the guard-house, under a sufficient guard, and permitted 
 to bathe and wash themselves. 
 
 Cows being of small value in Texas, the butcher who has the contract for supplying the post 
 with meat usually loans, without charge, a cow to the hospital and to the different officers of the 
 post; these cows, however, give but little milk; they are usually worth about $10 to $18, specie, 
 and can at any time be readily procured at that price. 
 
 A most excellent commissary supply is kept at this post, where nearly every article of food 
 required by families can be procured at much more reasonable rates than are charged by the 
 citizen traders in Brownsville. The enlisted men purchase small articles from the post trader 
 principally, because he sells to them on credit, and they pay him on the arrival of the paymaster. 
 But few articles are obtained from the vicinity. There is usually a supply of vegetables in the 
 market all the year round ; and. for 12J or 25 cents, specie, a quantity sufficient for a family's con- 
 sumption can be procured. Irish potatoes are very scarce and dear about $9 a barrel, specie. 
 The climate seems to be very unfavorable for their preservation, as they sweat on their way hither 
 on board the steamer, and soon decay and spoil after their arrival. 
 
 Servants can hardly be procured here at any price ; and even for the very poor class we are 
 compelled to take we pay from $12 to $20, specie, per month. 
 
 Last spring the captains of the three infantry companies then stationed here attempted to 
 start a company garden, and for that purpose each of them fenced in about three-quarters of an 
 acre of ground some little distance from the hospital building ; various vegetables Irish potatoes, 
 string beans, tomatoes, onions, radishes, turnips, &c. were planted ; but the season was very 
 unfavorable, being very dry, and notwithstanding constant irrigation, a very small crop was raised. 
 There is no hospital garden. 
 
 The population of Brownsville is said to be about 5,000 one-third Americans, or foreigners of 
 the Anglo-Saxon race; the remainder are Mexicans, with some few Spaniards and negroes. The 
 white men are generally employed in trade, the Mexicans and negroes as laborers. The country 
 .around Brownsville is very sparsely settled, and mostly by Mexicans employed in "ranching" and 
 raising cattle. There is, also, very little respect for human life or property outside the town a 
 very small amount of property offering an irresistible temptation to the Mexicans to plunder or 
 kill. There is very considerable smuggling of everything dry-goods, wines, brandies, cigars, 
 &c. going on from Mexico, notwithstanding the constant vigilance of the custom-house authori- 
 ties. 
 
 The Morgan steamers, carrying the United States mail, are supposed to arrive at Brazos every 
 alternate Tuesday; but it is generally every alternate Thursday, or perhaps later; should the 
 weather be unfavorable, the mail is then brought by land direct to Brownsville. The river steamers 
 pass up and down the river frequently, carrying freight and passengers. One of these steamers, 
 also, goes up twice a month to King-gold Barracks. A private telegraphic wire runs to Brazos and 
 Clarksville, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. There is no telegraphic communication between 
 Brazos and Corpus Christi, or Indianola, the nearest points from which communications can be 
 made with the North. We cannot have a letter go from this place to department headquarters, or 
 to Washington, and an answer received, in less time than a month. A mail rider leaves here every 
 Monday, carrying the mail by land to Corpus Christi; and the mail from that place reaches 
 Brownsville every Thursday evening. Letters leave here for Ringgold Barracks, by land, every 
 Monday, and arrive every Friday. 
 
KLMiGOU) liAKRACKS, TEXAS. 
 
 213 
 
 Statement showing matn strength, number of nick, and principal dixcases at Fort Brown, Texas, white 
 
 troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 =? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .d 
 
 I 
 
 
 r- 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 Years. 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 II 
 
 a * 
 
 u 
 
 o JX 
 
 1 5 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 irrlm-a and 
 entery. 
 
 48 
 '3 
 
 thtlicria. 
 
 .1 
 
 >c 
 
 i 
 
 . 
 
 a 
 
 | 
 
 ouiiiatism. 
 
 i 
 
 'x 
 
 s 
 
 a * 
 
 CO 
 
 II 
 
 03 
 
 of deaths. 
 
 1 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 * 
 
 1868 366. 25 
 
 1,535 
 
 1 
 
 863 
 
 195 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 86 
 
 4 
 
 40 
 
 
 te 
 
 
 1869 307 91 
 
 640 
 
 
 245 
 
 92 
 
 a 
 
 
 93 
 
 
 28 
 
 i 
 
 AK. 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * luvludf laryngitis, bronchitis, pufumouiu, anil i>lrtiruy. 
 
 RINGGOLD BARRACKS, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON H. M. CRONKHITE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Kinggokl Barracks is situated in Starr County, Texas, latitude 26 23' north, longitude 08 47' 
 west from Greenwich, with an elevation of 121.9 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. The location is on 
 the left bank of the Kio Grande, which at this point, flowing in a southeast direction, is about 
 200 yards wide, shallow, and impeded by sand-bars ; navigable for 20 miles further up, and of an 
 exceedingly tortuous course. Kio Grande City, a town containing 300 inhabitants, is on the left 
 bank of the river, three-fourths of a mile northwest^from the post. Brownsville, Texas, also situ- 
 ated on the left bank of the Kio Grande, is 125 miles to the southeast. Fort Mclntosh is 120 miles 
 to the northwest, at the town of Laredo, Texas. 
 
 For the protection of the frontier, a temporary camp was, in 1819, established near the present 
 site of Itinggold Barracks. In the year 1850 the location now occupied was selected for a per- 
 manent post, and the erection of quarters was commenced. From 1850 till 1859, the place was 
 garrisoned by United States troops. After its abandonment, in 1859, Costina, with a company of 
 Mexican maurauders, pillaged the adjoining country and murdered many of the inhabitants. For 
 that reason a detachment of United States soldiers regarrisoned Einggold Barracks in the same 
 year, and the occupation was continued from that time until the commencement of the rebellion in 
 1SG1, when the troops were again withdrawn. Since the termination of the war in 1865, the post 
 has been garrisoned by the military forces of the United States. The reservation here is in the 
 form of a square, extending 1,000 yards along the bank of the Rio Grande, and the same distance 
 at right angles back from the river. It is above the extreme limit of high water; generally it is 
 level, but there is an elevation of ground near the southwest corner, upon which stands the building 
 now occupied as quarters by the commanding officer. 
 
 Geologically this region is of aqueous formation. Univalve inollusea are found in the recent 
 tertiary strata, identical with those which now inhabit the country, feeding upon cactus and 
 mesquite ; and beds of oyster shells to be found in the older tertiary strata give proof of marine 
 action during a more remote period. In its general configuration the surface of the country is flat, 
 but there are hills of moderate altitude at various places in the vicinity of the river covered by, and 
 containing in their interior, pumice and siliceous boulders, which have evidently been transported 
 by water from distant mountain ranges. Beautiful specimens of agate and jasper have been col- 
 lected in the vicinity of Itinggold Barracks. The soil is very fertile, but the long droughts to which 
 southern Texas is liable are prejudicial to many kinds of vegetables. Maize is the cereal most 
 cultivated, and it constitutes the principal food 'of the inhabitants upon this border. One charac- 
 teristic of the indigenous vegetation in this locality is the abundance of many species of the cactus 
 family. The acacias are represented by mesquite, of which the forests here are principally com- 
 posed. Of animals the most conspicuous are the antelope, deer, Mexican lion, wolf, prairie wolf, 
 wild cat, peccary, badger, raccoon, rabbit, and several species of the bat tribe. Of birds the prin- 
 
214 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 cipal are the eagle, vulture, turkey, goose, duck, snipe, quail, crow, blackbird, turtle dove, mocking 
 bird, and swallow. The rattlesnake is the only venomous reptile. There are many innocuous 
 species. Catfish are caught in the Rio Grande ; their flesh is inferior in flavor. There are no fresh- 
 water wells, springs, or ponds. 
 
 From the first of June to the end of October the heat is extreme, Fahrenheit's thermometer at 
 midday usually indicating 100 in the shade. Occasionally the mercury attains a height, in the 
 shade, of 110 or more. The prevailing wind during the summer is from the southeast. In winter 
 there are occasional frosts, but snow is rare. From November to May northwest winds, popularly 
 termed " northers,*' prevail at irregular periods. The usual duration of a norther is from three to 
 five days. If the norther is accompanied by rain the weather is cold and disagreeable. When the 
 northwest wind does not blow the climate in midwinter is warm and pleasant. The mean annual 
 temperature is about 73 ; the extremes are about 102 and 29 F. 
 
 The buildings now occupied by the garrison are constructed of wood, ill adapted to the pur- 
 pose, and liable to be blown over by the first heavy gale. There is, however, in process of con- 
 struction, an entire new set of quarters for officers and enlisted men, with hospitals, store-houses, 
 and all other buildings necessary for the use of the garrison, and if the plan now pursued in the 
 building of the post is followed to completion, there will be little room for improvement. The 
 buildings are to be of brick. The guard-house and one company barrack are completed, and the 
 hospital, commanding officer's quarters, four other buildings for officers' quarters, and second com- 
 pany barrack, are far advanced toward completion. This post is intended to accommodate a com- 
 mand of four companies. 
 
 Each company barrack is two stories high, 130 feet long, and 43 feet wide, inclusive of a porch, 
 9 feet wide, upon Moorish arches, in front and rear. It contains on the first floor a reading-room, 
 wash-room, dining-room, squad drill-room, store-room, and a room for the first sergeant. The 
 second story is to be occupied as a dormitory. The bunks are of wood, double, and in two tiers. 
 The company kitchen is in rear of the main building, with which it is connected. It is 24 feet long, 
 and 18 feet wide. A large building, divided into nine compartments, with wash-shed in rear of 
 each, will be erected for laundresses' quarters. 
 
 Officers' quarters, six in number, are each 54 feet long, 40 feet wide, and one story and a half 
 in height. A building contains quarters for three officers, a captain and two lieutenants. It has 
 two halls, each 7 feet wide, running through the center from front to rear. By the halls the build- 
 ings are divided into halves. Each half contains two rooms on the first floor, and two on the 
 second. Each room is 18 feet square. The lower rooms are 12 feet high, and the upper are 9 feet 
 high. In the rear of every building is a smaller one, the roof of which projects and connects with 
 the main structure. It contains two kitchens, each 14 feet long by 10 feet wide. The command- 
 ing officer's quarters is 50 feet long by 40 feet wide, and has a hall, 10 feet wide, running through 
 the center from front to rear. In all other respects it resembles a building for officers' quarters as 
 above described. It will be ready for occupation in fifteen days. 
 
 The guard-house is 43 by 34 feet and one story high, with a porch in front, 12 feet wide, resting 
 upon Moorish arches. It has a guard-room, 20 by 1C feet : and a prisoners' room of the same dimen- 
 sions. It contains also three cells, each 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. 
 
 The hospital is 190 feet in length, and has a porch, 12 feet wide and !." feet high, upon Moorish 
 arches, extending around the building. It is composed of a central administration building two 
 stories high, and of two wings, each one story high. The central portion has a capacity of .'>7.', 
 by 36 feet, exclusive of the porch. It has a hall, 4 feet wide, running length wise through the center. 
 Each wing contains a ward, 40 feet long, 25 feet wide, and 15 feet high. In addition to this it con- 
 tains a matron's room and a store-room, each 13i feet long by 8 feet wide. The hospital kitchen 
 is 20 feet long, 14 feet wide, and 15 feet high, and is connected with the porch in the rear of the 
 central building. The post bakery is 43 by 33 feet, and contains a bake-room, store room, and a 
 sleeping-room. The dimensions of the other buildings to be erected cannot be ascertained at pres- 
 ent. There is ample ventilation in those which have been described. The post is to be supplied 
 with earth-closets. 
 
 For drinking and cooking, rain-water will be supplied from brick cisterns; for washing and 
 bathing, water will be obtained from the Rio Grande. 
 
FORT McTNTOSH, LAREDO, TEXAS. 
 
 215 
 
 There are no gardens at the post, and it is almost impossible to procure fresh vegetables. 
 
 "Weekly mails are received from Laredo, Brownsville, and Corpus Christi. Mail commiiniea 
 tions with the North are through Brownsville and Corpus Christi. From Brownsville there is a bi- 
 monthly mail to New Orleans, Louisiana. There is a bi-weekly mail to New Orleans from Corpus 
 Christi. Mail communications with Brownsville are sometimes interrupted by the overflowing of 
 the Kio Grande. With Corpus Christi they are always regular. The average time occupied by 
 Idlers in transit from Washington to Ringgold Barracks is fifteen or twenty days. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are mostly Mexican. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post during the last year has been good. The diseases are priii 
 cipally of malarial origin, and most prevalent in midsummer, when the water is high in the Rio 
 Grande. The erection of suitable privies and brick cisterns of ample capacity will very much 
 lessen the frequency and severity of the typhoid and malarial fevers, diarrhoea, and dysentery, 
 which were so prevalent among the troops during the summer and autumn of 1SG8. 
 
 Statement shoiclng mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of irhite troops al Ringgold 
 
 Barracks, Texas, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 3 . 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 5 "S 
 
 , 
 
 0) 
 
 1 
 
 g 
 '5 
 
 8 
 
 i 
 
 g 
 
 c 
 
 O 
 
 = c- 
 
 1 - 
 
 = I 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 M 
 
 inali-iii. 
 
 B 
 I 
 
 I! 
 
 1 
 
 c 
 
 V. 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 <- 
 
 
 -. 
 
 
 c 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 '^. 
 
 l_ 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 r. 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 1868 
 
 149. 18 
 
 485 
 
 10 
 
 232 
 
 59 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 14 
 
 , 
 
 28 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 169.66 
 
 338 
 
 8 
 
 214 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement allowing mean strength, numler of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at 
 
 Barracks, Texas, for the year 1868. 
 
 1868, (3 months). 
 
 
 5 
 
 L 
 
 g 
 
 i 
 
 e 
 
 i 
 
 
 { 
 
 
 1 
 
 r- 
 
 
 
 = .i 
 
 > 
 
 
 s >, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 i 
 
 = ^ 
 
 il 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 'S 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 s C 
 
 usillitis. 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 I 
 
 "5 c 
 r .= 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -. 
 
 
 gS 
 
 c 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 S 
 
 f 
 
 > 
 
 M 
 
 D 
 
 /-. 
 
 
 173. 66 
 
 162 
 
 1 
 
 59 
 
 45 
 
 2 
 
 23 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include larynjntif*. bronchi tin. pneumonia, and jtlr- 
 
 FORT McINTOSH, LAREDO, TEXAS. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTIXO ASSISTANT SURGEONS HENRY SI'OHN AND J. E. TALI.oN, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Mclutosh is located on the left bank of the Rio Grande, latitude 27 45' north, lon- 
 gitude 99 50' west, altitude 806 feet, and situated near the town of Laredo, Texas. Ringgold Bar- 
 racks is distant 118 miles, Fort Duncan 125 miles, and San Antonio 180 miles. The nearest 
 approach by railroad is to Brenham, 350 miles east of the post. 
 
 Laredo is the oldest settlement on this frontier. It was founded in 1757 by a company of 
 Spaniards, who received a large grant of land from the Spanish crown. They were armed occu- 
 pants of the soil. The first United States garrison entered the town in 1849, at the clow of the 
 Mexican war, and Fort Mclntosh was built during the following year. In 185.S the post was aban- 
 doned and all stores were removed to Fort Brown. Subsequently the fort was reoccupied by two 
 
216 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 companies of the First United States Infantry, who garrisoned the post until the outbreak of the 
 war. In 1865, a company of the Second Texas cavalry held the post, which has been continuously 
 occupied until the present time. 
 
 " The plain upon which the post is placed," says Assistant Surgeon Periu, " has about 50 feet 
 elevation above low water of the Rio Grande, and extends from the river at this point about two 
 miles, where it is interrupted by a low range of hills running parallel with the same. The soil is 
 of a loose, sandy character, containing a small portion of clay; it has a depth of from 15 to 30 feet, 
 resting upon a basis of cretaceous limestone. Coal of a very bituminous character is found in 
 small quantities in the bank of the river, a few miles above the post. The principal, and almost 
 the only tree to be seen, is the mesquite. Along the river banks may occasionally be observed the 
 willow, ash, and mulberry. A great variety of the family of the cacti grows here ; the most com- 
 mon is the prickly-pear. The climate is mild. The seasons may be considered as but two sum- 
 mer and winter. The summer usually commences in March and ends in November ; a high tem- 
 perature usually prevails during this period, the thermometer ranging between 75 and 107F. in the 
 shade. The winters are very mild, except during the prevalence of northers, which continue from 
 three to six or eight days, accompanied usually by rain. The mean annual quantity of rain, on an 
 average of three years, is 16.63 inches." 
 
 Troops stationed at this post have been quartered either in Fort Mclntosh, about one mile out- 
 side of the town, or in buildings in the town hired for the purpose. Buildings for anew post are 
 in course of erection, though the plan of the post is not definitely fixed upon. The only buildings 
 completed are the hospital, post bakery, and quartermaster's store-house, which, together with 
 tents, afford shelter for the command. The store-house, built of sandstone, is used as quarters for 
 one company. A new frame building is occupied by the cavalry troops. 
 
 Officers are quartered in the new hospital building, which is substantially built of sandstone, 
 with roofing of wood. 
 
 The building is 136 by 40 feet, one story high, with a porch extending its entire length both 
 front and rear. Halls extending through the building divide it into three sections, the first of 
 which contains five rooms, varying in size from 10 by 15 feet to 15 feet square; the second or middle 
 section contains four rooms, divided by a hall, each 10 by 15 feet. The remaining portion of the 
 building contains the ward, 40 by 25 fee*t the dispensary and bath-room adjoining. Each room 
 contains an open fireplace and a sufficient number of windows to insure perfect ventilation. At 
 present the officers occupy the smaller rooms of the building, while the ward is converted into a 
 headquarters. There are no water-closets in the hospital, in lieu of which pits are dug at conve- 
 nient distances from the building. The kitchen is a detached building of similar material, measuring 
 15 by 20 feet, placed to the rear of the hospital, and reached by a hall extending from the porch of 
 the latter. 
 
 The guard and prisoners occupy tents. The sick, with hospital attendants, are accommodated 
 in an old stone building in the town. Though in poor repair the building is well adapted for hos- 
 pital purposes. It is warmed by fireplaces, and well lighted and ventilated. The ward contains 
 twelve beds, giving 250 cubic feet to each. Its average occupancy is one patient. 
 
 As there are as yet no stables at the post, horses are fastened to picket lines in a large yard. 
 
 The post is supplied with water from the Rio Grande, hauled by the water-wagon and distrib- 
 iited to the entire garrison. The population of the town, as well as of the whole Rio Grande frontier, 
 obtain water for all purposes from this source. The water, no doubt owing to the fact that the 
 river in its upper course runs through a large bed of stratified clay and other cretaceous matter, is, 
 even in its purest state, contaminated with alkaline salts, such as chloride of sodium, and sulphate and 
 carbonate of lime, which give it a slightly brackish taste. In the fall and spring of the year the 
 river water becomes so muddy as to form nearly a paste, and only after continued filtration is it 
 comparatively fit for domestic use. This change is effected by the steady and heavy rains which 
 commence to fall in August and the subsequent fall months of the year. 'During that season the 
 river rises immensely. Tributaries, which for the most part of the year have been without water, 
 become powerful rivers, filling the bed of the Rio Grande with muddy water. 
 
 But little drainage or sewerage is required on account of the dryness of the climate. 
 
 There are no means of communication except by government trains and horseback. The mails 
 
FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS. 
 
 217 
 
 are irregular and liable to interruption from floods and Indians. Tlie mail contract is for once a 
 week, but it is often delayed two or three weeks. The length of time required for a letter to go to 
 department headquarters is from ten days to three weeks. The inhabitants are chiefly Mexicans 
 and mixed breeds. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the command has been excellent. The prevailing diseases during the 
 past year were acute diarrhosa and dysentery, probably caused by defective diet and dissipation. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of siclc, and principal diseases at Fort Hclntosh, Texas, for 
 
 the year 18C9. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,- 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,3 
 
 & . 
 
 
 
 s . 
 
 
 
 '~ 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 % 
 
 1 
 
 A '* 
 
 a 
 
 V 
 
 v 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 * 1 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 <Xi 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 d 
 
 1 
 i 
 
 
 
 C -L, 
 
 
 ? 5 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 "tJ "-^ 
 
 
 
 Q 
 
 'o +5 
 
 eg 
 
 '-* r~ 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 v 
 
 g 
 
 cS 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 w 
 
 6 
 
 
 m 
 
 p 
 
 * 
 
 Q 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 g 
 
 1869, (10 months) 
 
 127.4 
 
 350 
 
 97 
 
 69 
 
 17 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, broncliitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON G. C. DOUGLASS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Duncan is situated in Maverick County, Texas, on the east bank of the Kio Grande, and 
 about 650 miles from its mouth ; latitude 28 50' north, longitude 100 30' west. It is south of, 
 and adjoining, the town of Eagle Pass, directly opposite the town of Piedras Negras, Mexico, 40 
 miles south of Fort Clark, and 150 miles southwest of San Antonio. A range of low hills, with 
 abrupt bluffs or spurs projecting toward the river, lie about a mile to the eastward. These hills 
 rise to a height of 80 feet, and abound in detached masses of sandstone, which are suitable for 
 building purposes, and from which most of the buildings at the post have been constructed. 
 
 There is no reservation, the government having a lease of about GOO acres of land upon which 
 the post is situated, and of another tract of about 2,000 acres, lying along the river north of Eagle 
 Pass. This last tract is leased with the privilege of cutting timber, quarrying rock, and mining 
 coal. Coal is not known to exist on this tract, but its presence is inferred from the fact that sur- 
 face coal of tolerable quality has been found on neighboring land. The soil is sandy, and not 
 fertile. 
 
 This post was first occupied in 1849, was abandoned in 1SG1, and reoccupied by the United 
 States in 1868. It was occupied by the -rebel forces during the war, and the buildings were all 
 more or less injured or destroyed. It was originally intended for a two-company post, and the 
 buildings are now much crowded, four companies being present. A part of the men are in tents. 
 
 The buildings are of stone and adobe. The dormitories for enlisted men measure 76 by 30 by 18 
 feet, each being intended for one company. They are warmed by fireplaces and ventilated by 
 openings at the eaves. The officers' quarters consist of two stone and one adobe buildings. 
 
 The guard-house is of stone, 47J by 22 feet, and 10 feet high to the eaves. It is divided into 
 three rooms, which are not ceiled. The average number of prisoners is 19. The building is too 
 small, and not properly lighted or ventilated. 
 
 The hospital is a one-story stone building, 84 by 25 feet, and 14 feet high, surrounded by a 
 porch, 14 feet wide. It is warmed by fireplaces, and has no provision for ventilation. The ward 
 measures 40 by 25 by 12 feet, and contains 12 beds, the average occupancy being 4. One end of 
 the building is occupied as quarters by the post surgeon. There is no bath or wash-room. Water 
 is kept in barrels, supplied by water-wagons. 
 
 The post library contains about 200 volumes of a miscellaneous character. 
 28 
 
218 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Water for the use of the garrison is obtained almost entirely from the river. The natural 
 drainage is good. 
 
 San Antonio is the nearest city of any size. Communication with it is effected semi-weekly 
 by stage. The town of Eagle Pass contains about 1,500 inhabitants. There is a camp of 80 Seui- 
 inoles attached to the post. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sic!;, and principal diseases at Fort Duncan, Texas, col- 
 ored troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 <O 
 
 f> . 
 
 = * 
 
 
 
 P 
 
 S . 
 b 
 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 
 d 
 
 1 
 
 (E 
 A 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean stren 
 
 X 
 
 g 
 
 JJJ 
 
 2 -2 
 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 
 dvsente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 >> 
 
 b 
 L 
 
 1 
 
 Rlu'iimatisi 
 
 i i 03 
 
 J 
 .2 & '-5 
 
 5 , .g 
 
 jq : S 
 PH O 
 
 I 
 
 IM 
 
 o 
 
 6 
 
 
 1868, (9 mouths) 
 
 197.44 
 
 259 
 
 47 
 
 100 
 
 3 
 
 17 
 
 5 
 
 22 
 
 2 16 
 
 
 1869 
 
 126.5 
 
 249 
 
 23 
 
 58 
 
 3 
 
 15 
 
 
 26 
 
 (j 23 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 * luclude laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT CLARK, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON DONALD JACKSON, UNITED STATES ARMY, JULY 20, 1870. 
 
 Fort Clark, Texas, is situated in Kinney County, in latitude 29 17' north, longitude 100 25', 
 west, at an approximate elevation of 1,000 feet above the level of the sea. It is 125 miles west of 
 San Antonio, and about 45 miles north of Fort Duncan, at Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande. 
 
 The site of the post is a rocky ridge of limestone, embraced in a curve of Las Moras Greek 
 at its head, the post being about 400 yards south of the Las Moras Spring, from which the creek 
 takes its rise. There is, west of the post, at the San Felipe Creek and Bio Grande, 30 miles 
 distant on the El Paso and San Antonio road, a small settlement containing about a dozen families. 
 There are but few settlers in the county; they are scattered along the Rio Grande and Nueces River. 
 From the spring the Las Moras takes an easterly direction, curving south, then west, and keeping 
 this general direction until it reaches the Rio Grande, distant about 18 miles. The government 
 reservation extends from the spring down the creek about 8 miles, for which distance the creek is 
 skirted with a belt of heavy timbered land, varying in width from a few yards to 70 or 80 rods. 
 
 This bottom land is very fertile, and about 500 acres are susceptible of irrigation; but a great 
 part of this is liable to overflow during the summer freshets, greatly diminishing the value of the 
 land in an agricultural point of view. Brackettsville, (or Bracketts City,) a small village contain- 
 ing about thirty families, is situated between the reservation and the El Paso road. 
 
 This post was established in 1852, with a view of protecting the southwest frontier against 
 depredations by Mexicans and Indians, as well as for the protection of the road. Since the reoccu- 
 patiou of the post in 1866, (it having been abandoned in 1861,) the Indians operating in this region 
 have been the Lipan and Kickapoo tribes, whose homes are in Mexico. The military operations 
 have been, therefore, comparatively futile, as but little injury can be done to Indians unless their 
 homes are reached ; however, on several occasions they have been known to reside on the Pecos 
 Eiver, in this State. While there, in 1867, Captain Wilcox, Fourth Cavalry, succeeded in driving 
 them from their encampment, whence they had been operating successfully against mail parties 
 and others. In 1869, Major J. M. Brown, Ninth Cavalry, succeeded in completely routing the Lipans 
 from the Lower Pecos. 
 
 The land included in what is called the reservation belongs to a citizen of San Antonio, who 
 owns nearly all the land on the Las Moras. The first survey of the reservation included the spring, 
 and is one mile square; the other surveys vary in size and shape, so as to include the creek with all 
 the arable and timbered land on it for a distance of eight miles from its source. I believe the 
 
FORT CLARK, TEXAS. 219 
 
 lease on which the government holds this property expires in 1872. The land on the reservation 
 is gently rolling or level, and generally well timbered with mesquite or post oak. Along the river 
 bottom the timber is pecan, live oak, and elm. 
 
 The land lying from southeast to southwest of the post for the most part is low and gently 
 undulating, and the flats well covered with mesquite, while that from northwest to northeast is high 
 and rocky, with but little timber, except on the banks of streams. On the north the highlands 
 dividing this scope of country from the Xueces bound the view," while on the east and southeast 
 is seen, some 20 miles distant, what is called the Turkey Creek range of mountains, ridges of from 
 100 to 200 feet iu height. The Las Moras, Piedro Pinto, Elm Creek, and Turkey Creek ranges of 
 mountains are all elevations of from 100 to 200 feet in height, and from one-half to one mile in 
 circumference, all visible and within 20 miles of the post; they are all on this side of the Nueces 
 "Divide," and are near the sources of the streams from which they receive their names. A range 
 of mountains in Mexico is seen, iu clear weather, west of this place; they are upwards of 100 miles 
 distant, and extend parallel to the Rio Grande and to a point opposite to the mouth of the San 
 Felipe Creek. 
 
 In the greater portion of this section of country limestone forms the surface. In the flats and 
 valleys the soil, which is calcareous mixed with vegetable mold, is exceedingly productive in grass 
 and timber, and in wet seasons, or when susceptible of irrigation, produces excellent sweet potatoes 
 beans, onions, com, cotton, and sugar. The latter are cultivated at the San Felipe settlement, 30 
 miles west of this. 
 
 Beds of bitumen are found on the Nueces. probably of little or no value. Grass is abundant, 
 and the country is adapted to stock-raising only. Along some of the streams, such as the Rio Frio, 
 Nueces, &c., are to be found, though not very plentifully, cypress, walnut, oak, elm, sycamore, 
 mulberry, willow, and pecan. Iu the region of the Nueces and the mountain regions cedar grows 
 abundantly. Prairie flats are usually covered with mesquite, or post oak. Large quantities of mul. 
 berry timber is to be found below the reservation along the Las Moras. The cactus is in great 
 variety, and abundant throughout the barrens and higher regions. 
 
 The principal wild animals are the wolf, black bear, panther, wild cat, lynx, leopard, lion, gopher, 
 red squirrel, raccoon, polecat, civet cat, red deer, and antelope. Buffalo rarely come down this far. 
 Wild turkey, duck, grouse, plover, &c., are found, and all the streams have abundance of fish 
 trout, sunflsh, bass, catfish, and buffalo. 
 
 All the rivers and creeks iu this vicinity contain good water, originating from mountain springs ; 
 the most famous in this section, and, I believe, the largest in Texas, being the San Felipe Spring, 30 
 miles west of this. The Las Moras Spring, about 400 yards north of the post, is a sort of pon d 
 about one-eighth of an acre in area, from which issues the Las Moras Creek, a rather sluggish 
 stream, having an average breadth for the first mile of about 20 yards; for the rest of its course its 
 breadth is 6 yards; depth from 3 to 4 feet, with marshy banks. 
 
 When this section of country was first occupied by United States troops the rivers were much 
 higher than at present; the period of time from 1858 to 1868 was considered exceedingly dry. In 
 18C6, when I came to this post, there was but one (medium) running stream crossing the road from 
 San Antonio to this place; (Las Moras does not cross the road.) The San Felipe alone continued 
 to run an abundant stream to the Rio Grande from its source. In 1865 the Las Moras was dry 
 eight miles below here, and it was generally believed the whole country would become uninhabit- 
 able. In 1868 rain was more abundant. In 1869 all the streams, from the Devil's River, 40 miles 
 west of this, to San Antonio, again commenced to flow from long dried up springs, and nearly all 
 have since continued to run. Last season rain, during summer and spring, was so constant and 
 abundant that corn was raised in abundance ; this year only that irrigated, or in very low bottoms, 
 will be of any use. The mean temperature of the Las Moras Spring is 73.50 F. 
 
 The mean annual temperature at this post during the year ending June 30, 1870, was 07; wet 
 bulb, 63.45 F. Lowest mean monthly temperature, December, 48.64 F. ; highest, August, 82.87 F- 
 The lowest extreme was 26, at 7 a. m., December 20; the highest 97, on August 9, at 2 p. m. The 
 rain-fall during the year ending June 30, 1870, was 2:5.87 inches. It usually snows on three days 
 of each year. 
 
 The prevailing winds at this post are east-southeast. Excepting just preceding a "norther," 
 
220 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the wind does not vary. When it varies in force and direction, it is always the premonition of a 
 "norther," which occurs about once every ten days during the winter season, i. c., from the begin- 
 ning- of November to the end of March. During these northers the wind usually blows with great 
 violence from the northwest, north, or northeast, but most severely from the northwest, during 
 which it is impossible to travel over the plains ; in summer they are less frequent and not so vio- 
 lent. 
 
 The seasons are usually divided into " wet" and " dry," or summer and winter, the former com. 
 ineucing in April and ending in October, and consequently' the dry or winter months being Novem- 
 ber, December, January, February, and March. 
 
 There is no fort proper. The post is built in a quadrangle, one of whose sides, the northeast, 
 runs nearly parallel to the Las Moras Creek, from which it is distant from 75 to 100 yards, and on 
 an elevated ridge of nearly bare limestone rock, 40 or 50 feet above the level of the creek. 
 
 Two buildings were erected last year for barracks, but are not yet quite completed; each 
 measures 120 by 20 by 15 feet clear; they are of limestone rock, and have square gable roofs, which 
 are shingled. In the front of each' are three doors and two windows ; on one end of each is one 
 window, and in the rear three windows and one double door. From one end of each is set off a 
 space of 20 feet, which is again divided into two rooms the front, the first sergeant's; the rear, the 
 commissary and quartermaster sergeants' store-room. The first sergeant's room has a door in front, 
 a window in the end, and a door leading iute the men's quarters. In the rear room there is a win- 
 dow in the rear and a door leading into the general quarters ; there is also a neat fireplace in each 
 of these rooms. 
 
 In the general barrack-room, which is 100 by 20 feet, there are two doors and two windows in 
 front, and one double door and two windows in the rear, with a large fireplace at each end. Ven- 
 tilation is secured through the gable and ridge. To a company of 80 men this would give 450 cubic 
 feet air space per man. There are no wash or bath-rooms. Bedsteads are arranged in tiers, each 
 GTS ky 2y feet. There is a gun-rack at one end and two shelves at the other, near the wall. 
 These beds are placed at right angles to the wall, or across the barrack, in two rows. 15edsacks 
 are filled with hay. Ordinarily each man has two blankets, of tolerably good quality. 
 
 The water-closets are of a temporary nature, built of wood, situated about 150 yards from the 
 barracks. 
 
 A kitchen and mess-room of stockade, and shingled, has been erected for one of the barracks ; 
 it is in the rear of and parallel to the latter; has one double door and three windows in front, and 
 one door in the rear, with fireplace in one end ; it has no fixtures as yet. There is also used as a 
 kitchen and mess-room for one company, a stockade grass-covered building, formerly used as 
 traders' store ; it is situated some 150 yards from the barracks. The barracks are on the southeast 
 side of the post. Married soldiers and laundresses are provided with small tents. 
 
 There are five buildings at present used as officers' quarters ; three on the northwest side, 
 framed, grass-covered, square or gabled-roofed buildings. The space between the posts of the 
 frame are filled with light logs, lying horizontally, and fitting into grooves in the post ; they were 
 put up in 1854-'55, and are 18 by 50 by 10 feet. In each end is a room, 18 by 20 feet, with fireplace, 
 two windows, and a door opening into a hall between these rooms, which is open, except in one of 
 these buildings ; there are also dilapidated portions of porches in front, and old stockade kitchens 
 in the rear. All the kitchens are shingled. These buildings are all leaky and generally in very bad 
 condition. On the southwest side of the rectangle are two stone buildings, with shingled roofs; 
 one built in 1857, the other just completed ; the latter, now occupied as headquarters, is intended 
 for two sets of quarters dimensions 50 by 37 by 12 feet. It has two halls, C feet wide, through 
 the center. The front room in each set is 18 by 18 feet ; each has one fireplace, two windows in 
 front, and one in the end, and each communicates both with the hall and the room in the rear. The 
 latter are not quite so large. In each there is also a fireplace and two windows, with door opening 
 into the hall. From one side, or set of quarters in this building, there extends a stone building, 
 shed roof, shingled, 30 by 12 feet, divided into three equal apartments, the one adjoining the main 
 building communicating with it by a door and window ; one used as dining-room, another as kitchen, 
 and the third as servants' room. 
 
 The building formerly used as headquarters is 40 by 50 feet, 12 feet high, with shingled roof, a 
 
FORT CLARK, TEXAS. 
 
 221 
 
 porch both in front and rear, 12 feet deep ; a hall, 8 feet wide, through the center, and two capacious 
 rooms on either side opening into it. Each room is about -0 by 20 feet. The front rooms have two 
 windows in front and one in the end, with fireplace in cadi; the rear rooms have fireplaces, one 
 window in end and one in rear. Extending fromoue side or one set of these rooms, is a stone building, 
 shingled and shed-roofed, 30 by 12 feet, divided into three equal apartments for dining-room, 
 kitchen, and servants' room. In the rear of the other set of rooms, but not connected, is a stockade 
 shingled building, used as kitchen and servants' quarters. The new building was designed for two 
 sets of officers' quarters. The set with the dining-room, kitchen, and servants' room is at present 
 occupied by the commanding officer. The old stone building was designed, I believe, for one set of 
 quarters only, but is now intended for two sets, though not very well adapted for this, as there is 
 but one hall. The double hall style of building, like the new quarters, is not well adapted for this 
 climate, as the wind in the warm season invariably blows from the same direction, southeast or 
 east ; unless the building fronts toward the east or southeast, one set of quarters must be effectually 
 shut off from the direct breeze. 
 
 Except the commanding officer, who has two rooms, no officer has at present more than one, 
 exclusive of kitchen. The officers and men not provided with quarters occupy tents. 
 
 The privies are placed in the rear of the officers' quarters, at a distance of fifty yards, and are pro- 
 vided with portable boxes. There are no bath-rooms. Water is supplied from the spring by a wagon. 
 
 The adjutant's office at present is a hospital tent; the offices of the acting commissary of sub- 
 sistence and acting assistant quartermaster are in the second story of the commissary and quarter- 
 master store-house. 
 
 The principal building used as store-house is on the northeast side of the quadrangle ; it was 
 built in 1855, of stone, with shingled roof, two stories, 56 by 30 by 19 feet. The lower story has two 
 windows and one door in front, and one door in each end ; it is used exclusively as the commissary 
 store-house. An addition is built of stone, with shingled shed roof to the rear, and extending 
 around each end to near the end doors, 16 feet wide ; this is used as corn-room and carpenter shop. 
 The upper story of this building is used as quartermaster's store-house, and one room set off in front 
 for the offices of the acting commissary of subsistence and acting assistant quartermaster. Next 
 the store-house, on the same line, is an old stockade, shingled-roofed building, 16 by 30 feet, used 
 also as quartermaster's store-house and harness shop. 
 
 The guard-house is a substantial stone building, placed on the northeast side of the quadran- 
 gle, outside the line, and near the eastern extremity. It measures 19 by 51 by 14 feet, and contains 
 two rooms and four cells, for the arrangement of which see Figure 24. 
 
 C, cells, 3 by 8 feet; G, guard-room, 18 by 18 feet; H, corridor, 9 
 by 18 feet; P, prison-room, 15 by 18 feet. 
 
 The cells open by grated doors into the corridor, which opens on 
 the front of the building. There is also a grated door between the 
 guard-room and prison. The cells and prison-room are ventilated and 
 lighted through grated holes high up in the wall, which are entirely too 
 small, admitting an inadequate supply of air and light, 
 these cells or the general prisoners' room. 
 
 The hospital is built at the north angle of the post, on the northwest side; it is a substantial 
 stone building, with shingled roof; outside dimensions, 81 by 28 feet, with walls 13 feet high, and 
 porches, 12 feet deep, all around; it was 
 built in 1850, and is now very much out of 
 repair. In each end is set off a ward, with 
 fireplaces, doors in front and rear, two win- 
 dows on the end, and two on each side. 
 The arrangement of the hospital may be 
 seen by reference to Figure 25. 
 
 A, ward, 25 by 25 feet; U, dispensary; 
 E, steward's quarters, 9 by 12 feet ; K, kit- 
 chen and dining-room ; S, store-room, 9 by 
 12 feet ; P, porch. Fi ., m ,. ..,.-,. 
 
 J . 
 
 j-f 
 
 
 !.._. 
 
 
 
 
 Figure al 
 There are no direct means o! heating 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 4 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 
 s 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. 1 
 
 
 
 P 
 
222 DESCBIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The dispensary is the only ceiled room in the building, and contains the usual shelving, the 
 drawers having been taken out during the rebellion and never replaced. To the rear of the hospi- 
 tal, at a distance of a few feet, is a stone building, 18 by 24 feet, now used as a store-room, but for- 
 merly designed for a kitchen. Only one ward is used as such, the other being in use as kitchen 
 and dining-room. The ward occupied contains twelve beds, and gives 1,200 cubic feet air space to 
 each man. There is a temporary bath-room arranged on the porch, but no wash-room. A privy is 
 situated 50 yards in the rear of the hospital ; it is provided with portable boxes. A dead-house, G 
 by 9 feet, in bail repair, is also located in the rear of the hospital. 
 
 The hospital requires a new roof, new joists under the porch, a few doors, and other general 
 repairs. The baggage of patients is stored in the general store-room. There is abundance of room 
 in the hospital for all legitimate purposes if properly divided. There is also a good cellar under- 
 neath. 
 
 The post bakery is a substantial stone building on the northeast side, 25 by 19 by 9 feet, with 
 shingled roof. In its rear is an oven capable of baking at one time 300 rations. There is neither 
 chapel, laundry, nor school-house at this post. 
 
 The stable was formerly on the opposite side of the creek in the rear of the commissary and 
 quartermaster's store-house, being a stockade shingle-roofed shed. It is very much dilapidated, and 
 used at present as quartermaster's corral. A new stable, 200 by 30 feet, of boards, with shingle roof, 
 has been lately finished, situated 100 yards in the rear of the new barracks. It is divided into two 
 rows of stalls, 10 feet wide, has a door on either end, 12 feet wide, an air hole, 8 by 12 inches, opposite 
 each horse, and a corn-room, 8 by 20 feet, in one corner. 
 
 The regimental library of the Twenty-fifth Infantry is kept at present by the regimental adju- 
 tant, boxed in his office. It containes 900 volumes. The post library at present consists of 184 
 volumes, kept in the quarters of the post treasurer. The books are generally in good condition. 
 
 The water supply of the post is obtained from the spring a few hundred yards distant, and dis- 
 tributed by means of a water-tank on a wagon. At the commissary's and quartermaster's store- 
 houses and hospital water is stored in barrels; those of the hospital sunk in the ground. The water 
 supplied by this means is abundant for all culinary and other ordinary purposes; it is slightly im- 
 pregnated with lime, but answers very well for washing purposes. 
 
 There are no special arrangements for extinguishing fire except at the hospital, quartermaster's 
 and commissary store-house, where water and buckets are kept in readiness. 
 
 The post being on a limestone ledge with not more than an inch or two of soil, and some 40 or 
 50 feet above the level of the creek, and embraced in a curve of the same, it is evident that the 
 natural drainage itself is ample ; offal, slops, and excreta are carted off some distance to leeward 
 of the post and dumped out on the prairie. There are no special arrangements for bathing; shel- 
 tered and secluded spots along the creek are usually selected, both in summer and winter, for this 
 purpose. 
 
 The cemetery is located south of the post about 200 yards, near the creek; it is unfenced. 
 
 The garden this season has been an entire failure, as the frost in the early part of the seasoii 
 destroyed the early vegetables. Scarcity of labor, as the men were busy working at the buildings, 
 was another cause of failure. Fresh vegetables sell at almost fabulous prices, and, except onions, 
 which are brought from Mexico, are very scarce. 
 
 Medical supplies are at present obtained from New Orleans, Louisiana, semi-annually. 
 
 Communication may be made with San Antonio, Texas, by stage twice a week, liable in the 
 wet season to interruption from floods, which occur about half a dozen times a year. After leav- 
 ing the post a letter usually reaches department headquarters at Austin in three to four days, and 
 Washington in from ten to twelve days. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are principally Mexicans of the most worthless 
 class. They subsist by performing the work required around the post, such as cutting wood and 
 hay, and many of them have no visible means of support. There are a few industrious and ener- 
 getic stock raisers in the country who thrive well, notwithstanding Indians and others are con- 
 stantly committing depredations on their herds. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post has been excellent during the year, the prevailing diseases 
 being malarial, chiefly in the form of intermittent fevers of a mild type. Pulmonary diseases or 
 
FOI1T STOCKTON, TEXAS. 
 
 223 
 
 rheumatism are rarely met with unless in persons predisposed by previous condition. The climate 
 is favorable to both of these diseases. Bowel diseases are not uncommon, and are chiefly of 
 malarial origin. During the late dry season malarial diseases were very prevalent. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases at Fort Clark, Texas, colored 
 
 tfoops, for the years 1808 and 18C9. 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 a . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *g 
 
 9D 
 
 
 to 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strei 
 
 Whole n 
 taken sic 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 (lysentc 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal <li 
 
 Q 
 
 02 
 
 Rlu'iunatis 
 
 PhtliiM*. 
 
 Calarrlml 
 
 tioiis. 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 1868, (9 months).... 
 
 227.55 
 
 238 
 
 -39 
 
 38 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 1869 
 
 150 
 
 148 
 
 28 
 
 40 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON P. J. A. CLEARY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Stockton, Texas, is situated on Comanche Creek, on the line of the great Comanche trail, 
 latitude 30 50' north, longitude 102 35' west from Greenwich, with an elevation of 4,950 feet above 
 sea level. It is on a line of travel across a vast dry and barren prairie, far removed from any city 
 or town, and is 35 miles southwest from the nearest river, the Pecos, and 50 uiiles north of the 
 nearest mountains, a continuation of the Guadalupe chain, which runs in a southeast direction to 
 the Rio Grande. The nearest post is Fort Davis, 74 miles southwest. Fort Concho is 170 miles 
 east-northeast, Fort Clark lies 266 miles southeast, and Fort Quitman 202 miles west-southwest. 
 The nearest towu is Presidio del Norte, in Mexico, 147 miles southwest. The nearest American 
 town of any importance is Fredericksburg, 370 miles west, with a population of about 7,000. San 
 Antonio is 392 miles southeast. The nearest railroad is at Columbus, 575 miles east-southeast. 
 The place was first occupied as a military post in December, 1858, by a detachment of twenty men 
 of the First and Eighth United States Infantry, under command of Lieutenant Clierbourne. In 
 May, 1861, it was abandoned by the United States troops, and soon after was occupied by the rebels, 
 who only remained here a short time, but burned all government property before they left. It was 
 reoccupied by United States troops in July, 1867, and has been garrisoned ever since by the Ninth 
 Cavalry and Twenty -fourth, formerly the Forty first, Infantry. 
 
 The reason for establishing a military post here was to guard the mail route from San Antonio 
 to El Paso. It is also a valuable link in the chain of forts which protect emigrants, merchandise 
 &c., going to or coining from California and Chihuahua, against the attacks and depredations of 
 hostile Indians. Before the post was established, and also prior to its reoccupation by the Ninth 
 Cavalry, the Comanche Indians lived here, and, being far from any settlement, held almost undis- 
 puted possession oi' the road, rendering it exceedingly dangerous to all who attempted to travel 
 on it, and issuing in bands to the settlements drove off stock and found here a safe retreat with 
 plenty of water. But at present, though they yet roam about in thieving bauds, the road is com- 
 paratively safe, as they very rarely attack the mail or a passing train. 
 
 There is no government reservation, the post being located on land belonging to a citizen. 
 The land gradually rises from the creek, so that the center of the post is about fifty feet above it. 
 The land on the opposite bank of the creek is much lower and almost perfectly level, so that 
 when there is a heavy rain the creek overflows it to a distance of half a mile from its bank. For 
 the most part the land in the neighborhood is flat, though in some places it is gently sloping 
 for miles, terminating abruptly in extensive valleys. Elevations, called "table-lands," are in all 
 
224 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 directions from the post, varying from seven to twenty miles distant. They are from 100 to oOO feet 
 high, with an area varying from three to twenty miles. Their surface is flat, and covered with 
 coarse grass and several species of cactus. Their sides are abrupt and rocky. But few mineral 
 products have as yet been found in the vicinity. Gypsum has been found in several places in and 
 near the post, about three feet below the surface, but not in such quantities as to warrant an outlay 
 in procuring it. The soil for the most part is sandy and strongly alkaline, containing chloride of 
 sodium, sulphate of potash, &c., and cannot be farmed except by irrigation, but when cultivated 
 in the vicinity of the creek and of a large spring, where it can be thoroughly irrigated, it pro- 
 duces corn, melons, and garden vegetables generally. Wheat and oats have not been success- 
 fully cultivated yet, though the effort this year promises to be a success; neither have potatoes nor 
 cabbage. 
 
 There are no indigenous trees at or in the vicinity of the post, except one cotton tree in the 
 post garden. Mesquite bush covers the entire surface. There is a water-cress which abounds in 
 the creek, and which is an excellent antidote for scorbutus, as is also a species of cactus called 
 the "Turk's head." This last is often roasted and eaten by the Mexicans, and frequently fed to 
 their horses when on the road, in absence of other food. 
 
 In winter there is an abundance of ducks, and sometimes of wild geese, on the creek, while 
 the marsh is frequented by crane's, herons, and a large number of water-hens. In the spring im- 
 mense flocks of curlew visit the creek and remain about six weeks, and recently a species of par- 
 tridge, called the Mexican, or California partridge, has made its appearance in the vicinity, and is 
 increasing so rapidly that it will soon be an attraction for the sportsman. 
 
 There are but two kinds of fish found in the creek, the perch and catfish; but fishing is carried 
 on to such an extent by the soldiers and Mexicans that they rarely attain over a pound in weight. 
 Turtle are plenty, and are often caught, weighing from 12 to 15 pounds. 
 
 The only water at the post is from the creek, which rises about half a mile south of the post 
 and runs nearly due north for about four miles, when it sinks into the ground, forming a kind of 
 marsh or swainp. In the first half mile of its course it is fed by six fine, clear springs, has an 
 average width of about 40 feet, and a depth of 5 feet. About eight miles west from the post are 
 what are called the "Leon Holes," three large springs, having an average diameter of 30 feet and 
 a depth of 20 feet. From them issues a stream which irrigates a large tract of land cultivated 
 chiefly by Mexicans. Eighteen miles east from the post, on the mail route to Fort Concho, is the 
 Escondido Spring. It is about 10 feet square ; its stream runs a short distance and forms a minia- 
 ture lake about 50 by 8 feet; its water is strongly impregnated with sulphur, but is cool and pleas, 
 ant. About 12 miles northeast from the post, on the "Horsehead" crossing road to Concho, is a 
 large spring called the " Antelope." There is a salt lake about 35 miles to the northeast, near the 
 Pecos River, whence excellent rock salt can be obtained. The supply is almost inexhaustible. 
 Frequently large quantities of it are taken to Mexico by trains returning from San Antonio. 
 
 The mean temperature is 70 F., with extremes 104 F. and 27 F. The heat is not so oppress- 
 ive as the same temperature in the Eastern or Middle States, but the cold is felt more acutely, 
 owing, probably, to the suddenness with which it comes. In the winter and early spring the ther- 
 mometer sometimes falls as much as 30 in two hours. The climate is for the most part dry, even 
 in winter, the wet bulb on an average standing 15 lower than the dry. When* there is rain it gen- 
 erally comes in a violent tornado. The heaviest rain-fall since the reoccnpation of the post, in 
 1807, occurred September 17. 18G8, to the depth of 3 inches. There are generally one or two 
 heavy rain-falls in the spring and early part of summer, and then again toward the latter part of 
 autumn. The only time snow has been known to fall, by any of the old settlers here, was in Jan- 
 uary, 18G8, when it fell to the depth of half a foot. 
 
 The winter may be said to commence about the 1st of December, and lasts until about the mid- 
 dle of February, when the spring opens. Though we frequently have "northers" after that 
 time, we have no continued cold weather. The spring continues until about the middle of June, 
 and from then until December the summer and autumn prevail. What is somewhat remarkable 
 is that, although the spring commences so much earlier than in the Eastern or Middle States, the 
 garden and farm produce is absolutely later. 
 
 Although the place is called a u fort," strictly speaking there is no fortification at the post. 
 
FORT STOCKTON, TEXAS. 225 
 
 The barracks consist of three adobe buildings with stone foundations. E-.ich building is 80 by 
 24 feet, and two of them have wings for kitchen and mess room, each-wing being 40 by 24 feet. 
 They are roofed with thatch, except the wings, which are partly roofed with canvas and partly 
 with thatch. The barracks have a capacity of 462 cubic feet air space per man. Each building 
 is warmed by one lar^e fireplace, the fuel being " mesquite root," and is lighted and ventilated by 
 eight large windows and two doors. Each building is intended to accommodate a full company, 
 but seldom contains over 50 men. The men sleep on straw-ticks and wooden bunks, two men to 
 each; the bunks are of old lumber, and, having been made by the men, are of rough workman- 
 ship. There are neither wash-rooms, bath-rooms, nor water-closets. Two of the quarters have 
 each a mess-room and kitchen, formed by the wing of each building; the remaining company uses 
 a tent for a kitchen and has no mess-room. The kitchens have no special furniture ; the cooking 
 is done in camp kettles,* &c., on a kind of a rude mud construction which answers the purpose of a 
 cooking range or stove, and, as the mess-rooms are not furnished with anything, the men generally 
 eat their meals out of doors, each man supplying his own knife and fork and seat; yet they have 
 plenty to eat, and seem to be well contented. 
 
 There are no quarters set apart for laundresses or married soldiers. 
 
 The officers' quarters comprise five buildings, built of adobe, with stoiie foundations and 
 shingle roofs, and a porch front and rear, boarded floors, plastered and whitewashed inside, and 
 well finished : they are each one story high. 
 
 The buildings altogether contain thirteen rooms; the dimensions of the rooms are 18 by 15 by 
 14 feet, and are heated by a fireplace in each room, and supplied with water every morning by a 
 water-wagon, from which barrels are filled. There are neither water-closets nor bath-rooms. 
 
 The guard-house is built of rock, with shingled roof, and is* located on the south side of the 
 parade ground, in view of the officers' quarters. It is 56 by 16 feet, and is divided into two rooms, 
 one for the guard, and the other for the prisoners. That for the guard is ventilated by means of 
 one door, one window, and a fireplace. The cell where the prisoners are confined is ventilated by 
 two openings in the wall, each 18 by 4 inches ; it is not lighted except by these apertures, and is 
 not heated except by the exhaled air of its occupants. Its means of ventilation are such that its 
 capacity ought to be two, though it is generally occupied by fifteen prisoners. As to its fitness for 
 the purpose, it is very well fitted, since it combines security with punishment, but punishment 
 which deprives a man of light, ventilation, and of fire in winter. 
 
 There is no hospital at the post, though an old building which was formerly used for an officers' 
 quarters is used as such, but it does not deserve the name. A permanent hospital is in process of 
 completion. 
 
 The post bakery consists of one apartment, or building, of adobe, with shingled roof; it' is 22 
 by 18 feet, and well adapted for the purpose. 
 
 There is neither laundry, chapel, nor school-house at the post. 
 
 The stables are situated 100 yards in the rear of the men's quarters, between them and the 
 creek ; it was intended to complete three large buildings for the purpose, but two of them have not 
 been finished and will not be; the remaining one is an excellent building for the purpose.. It is 
 250 by 30 feet, has stone foundation and adobe walls, with shingled roof. There are 100 apertures, 
 each 18 by 10 inches, for the purpose of ventilation, iu addition to two large doors at the ends and 
 one large door on each side. 
 
 There is no post library. 
 
 The post is supplied with water from the creek and from the springs which flow into it, but 
 there are no cisterns nor reservoirs. The water is hauled every morning in a large wagon, and dis- 
 tributed into barrels kept for the purpose. The quantity of water is abundant; it is decidedly 
 alkaline, but is not unhealthy; one likes it very well a short time after using it, though at first it 
 is rather unpleasant to the taste. It has not been analyzed, but it contains chloride of sodium and 
 probably nitrate of soda and sulphur, with salts of lime and magnesia. The only means of extin- 
 
 " Note by Surgeon L. A. Edwards, Uuitcd States Army, Medical Director Department of Texas. The cookin ; :ippa- 
 ratus is entirely unsuited to the needs of a permanent post only proper for the march ; this method of servi; g fooil is 
 exceedingly objectionable, for it is not only in violation of sanitary laws, but subversive of good order and to the 
 prejudice of military discipline. 
 29 
 
226 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 gnishing fire are the barrels of water kept outside the quarters of the officers and men for drinking 
 purposes. 
 
 The drainage of the post is effected by the gradual slope of the ground toward the creek. It 
 has a fall of about 50 feet in 1,000 yards, so that no water whatever remains on the surface at the 
 post. The only artificial drainage consists of a ditch on the west side, in rear of the officers' quar- 
 ters, and emptying into a ravine, which carries its water to the creek. This ditch prevents the rains 
 from running over the parade ground, or into the officers' quarters, barracks, and stables. The 
 excreta of the men accumulate in neighboring ravines, which are thoroughly washed by heavy rains. 
 The offal or rubbish of the post is carried off on carts by police parties, and conveyed to a distance 
 beyond the post. 
 
 There are no special arrangements for bathing, but the men, and all who desire, bathe in the 
 creek, parts of which are well adapted for the purpose. 
 
 The cemetery is located one mile north from the post. 
 
 There is a post garden which has an area of 20 acres, and is cultivated by men detailed for the 
 purpose. This is the third season it has been under cultivation. It is located about four miles 
 north from the post, and is rendered productive by an excellent system of irrigation, the water 
 being obtained from the creek. It furnishes abundance for the entire command; in fact, last year 
 the supply of some articles was more than could be consumed, as of okra, onions, melons, cucum- 
 bers, &c. The value of the garden is almost inestimable, from the frfct that vegetables cannot be 
 obtained from the citizens in the vicinity except in small quantity, small variety, and at enormous 
 prices. The amount of articles of food procurable from the post commissary is abundant, and, for 
 the most part, they are of good quality. Although the supply of milk is abundant, it is high, 
 chiefly, I presume, because it is sold only by two persons at the post. -Jt is 20 cents per quart ; 
 butter is $1 per pound; eggs, 75 cents to $1 per dozen; chickens, from $1 to $1 50 each. 
 
 The medical supplies are obtained from the depot at New Orleans, Louisiana, semi annually. 
 The amount on hand of every article required is ample. The supplies called for on a requisition 
 rarely arrive sooner than six months after the requisition is forwarded ; more frequently nine 
 months after. The supplies are at present stored in the ordnance store-house, which is badly adapted 
 for the purpose, being an old and leaky building; yet it is the ouly available place at present.' When 
 the new hospital is completed there will be an excellent store-room. 
 
 The only means of communication with the nearest large city is by the stage coach, which is 
 generally regular, though liable, to interruption from Indians and floods; last year during the sum- 
 mer it was frequently interrupted by floods for two weeks at a time. The mail arrives and departs 
 twice weekly. This year it has not been interrupted by floods and only once, for about an hour, 
 by Indians, who, to the number of 25, made an attack upon it at the head of the Concho ; they 
 were driven off by the driver, an escort, a passenger, and the road agent, four in all ; six Indians 
 were killed in the encounter. This occurred the 1st of May. 
 
 It requires seven days for a letter to reach department headquarters at Austin, Texas, and 
 fifteen days to reach Washington, although letters have been received here from Washington in 
 twelve d,ays ; but so short a time is the exception. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity are chiefly Mexicans, a cross between the Spaniard and Indian, 
 which seems to have deteriorated both races; their occupation is farming and laboring work, such 
 as making adobes a! the post. They are quiet and inoffensive, and, with few exceptions, are thrift- 
 less and immoral, and, in consequence, most of them are poor and afflicted with syphilis in all its 
 stages. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is and has been excellent. In the winter and spring^ 
 in consequence of the " northers," catarrh is the prevalent affection ; during the summer and autumn 
 there are many cases of mild diarrhrea, and a few of intermittent fever. The only apparent cause 
 of the diarrhcea is indiscretion in eating fresh vegetables, especially watermelons and cucumbers. 
 The cases, however, are mild, and yield readily to treatment. The ouly malarial diseases were 
 a few cases of intermittent fever, which also yielded readily to treatment; it is supposed to be 
 due to the men bathing in the creek at evening, often after sunset; also to the men fishing at 
 that part of the creek where it forms a marsh. In other respects, the place is entirely free from 
 the affection, and there are several parties now at the post who have been, before their arrival, liv- 
 
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS. 
 
 227 
 
 ing iu a malarial atmosphere, and for months suffering with ague, who have never suffered since 
 their arrival here nor taken medicine. The only cases of rheumatism during the past year were ia 
 patients who were suffering with the disease before corning to this post. There has been but a 
 single case in that period of acute rheumatism originating' at the post. There has not been a single 
 case of pulmonary disease, which originated at the post, during the past year. The beneficial 
 effects of the atmosphere and climate of this place on pulmonary affections, and particularly on 
 phthisis pulmonalis, cannot be too highly extolled. The atmosphere is warm, dry, and pure. There 
 were two cases at the post recently which forcibly illustrated the effect of the climate on the dis- 
 ease ; they arrived here last autumn with the disease well developed, and left this spring strong 
 and well enough to herd cattle going to California. Many people come to the State to have their 
 "consumption" cured, but generally arrive when the disease is too far advanced, and, moreover, 
 do not come far enough west. 
 
 Notwithstanding poisonous reptiles abound in the vicinity of the post, there has not been 
 an instance of a soldier or civilian having been poisoned from such during the past two years, 
 liattlesnakes, tarantulas, and centipedes are very numerous. 
 
 There are no special amusements for the soldiers, though they indulge considerably in card- 
 playing and going to dances or parties of their own getting up. It is but justice to them to state 
 that there is less drunkenness among them than is generally found among an equal number of 
 white troops. During the past eighteen months there has not been a case of delirium tremens, 
 and even on pay-day it is rare to see a soldier drunk. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Stockton, Texas, 
 
 colored troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 (H 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^3 
 
 ^ . 
 
 j 
 
 S 
 
 cl 
 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 "v 
 
 s; 
 
 I 
 
 " 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 s 
 
 4 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean stren 
 
 a 
 1 * 
 
 <s 
 
 i 
 
 c. 
 o> 
 H 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysentt 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 '1 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 1868 (11 mouths) 
 
 398.09 
 
 648 
 
 1 
 
 27 
 
 90 
 
 71 
 
 22 
 
 140 
 
 92 
 
 1 
 
 41 
 
 10 
 
 1869 
 
 279.66 
 
 537 
 
 
 33 
 
 107 
 
 75 
 
 10 
 
 35 
 
 55 
 
 2 
 
 74 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Include laryngitiB, bronchitis, pneumonia, and plenriny. 
 
 FORT DAVIS, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON D. WEISEL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Davis is located near Lirnpia Creek, Presidio County, Texas, in latitude 30 36' 23" north, 
 longitude 103 36' 45" west, about 475 miles northwest of San Antonio, and 220 miles southeast of 
 El Paso. Altitude above the sea, 4,700 feet. 
 
 The post was created by virtue of the following order : 
 
 [Order No. not given.] 
 
 HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OK TEXAS, PAINTED CAMP, ON THE LIMPIA, 
 
 October 23, 1854. 
 
 Lieutenant Colonel Washington Seawell, with his command of six companies of the Eighth Infantry, will occupy 
 the camp where he is at present in position, which will be called Fort Davis, where he will proceed to make his com- 
 mand as comfortable as circumstances will admit of for the winter. He will immediately make requisition for the 
 necessary stores, provisions, and forage for the half year commencing November 1st next, drawing as little as possible 
 upon the forage already and about to be delivered. Preparations will be made for an additional quantity of provisions, 
 supplies, and forage for detachments which may shortly be expected for service in the field. 
 By order of Brevet Major General Smith : 
 
 A. GIBBS, 
 
 Brevet Captain, A. D. C. and A. A. A. G. 
 
228 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Fort Davis was named after Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, and the location was 
 selected because of its communication with San Antonio and El Paso by a fine natural road, its 
 fine climate, its defensibility, and its vicinity to the favorite haunts of many of the wild Indian 
 tribes, as the Mescalero Apaches, the marauding- bands of the Gila Apaches and Comanches, 
 (southern,) who could be easily intercepted from this post at the different crossings or fords of the 
 Rio Grande to or from Mexico. It was partly designed, also, it is said, as protection to Presidio 
 del Norte, 110 miles distant, and at one time it was seriously debated whether or not to move the gar- 
 rison to that place. 
 
 Fort Davis was continuously occupied by the Eighth United States Infantry until April, 38<jl, 
 when General Twiggs, commanding the department, forwarded orders to the post commander to 
 prepare to turn over the fort and property to commissioners belonging to the State of Texas, move 
 down the country, concentrate his command at Eagle or Beaver Lake, and there await the settle- 
 ment of the differences between the State of Texas and the United States. He also ordered that 
 no property be destroyed, and care be taken not to offend or exasperate citizens. About the 1st of 
 April, 1861, the garrison evacuated and marched for San Antonio, but when within nine miles of 
 San Antonio, at- Adam's Hill, was captured by General Van Dorn, C. S. A., and taken to San 
 Antonio. Immediately upon the evacuation of the post by the United States troops it was occu- 
 pied by Colonel Baylor's Texas troops, who remained until the large amount of stores left by the 
 Eighth Infantry was consumed. Upon their leaving it was occupied by roving Mexicans and Indian 
 bands, and by the latter almost entirely destroyed. The post was reoccupied by United States 
 troops July 1, 1867. 
 
 Fort Davis is located at the month of a canon about three fourths of a mile long, about 400 
 yards wide at its mouth, and gradually narrowing to its termination in a recess in the mountain 
 The mountains on either side are formed of metamorphic rocks, are about 250 feet high, very rough 
 and precipitous, and covered with grass and small oak trees. The surrounding country is wild and 
 barren, with no trees excepting -a few live oaks in the canon in rear of the post, and a few cotton- 
 woods on the Limpia. 
 
 The climate is delightful and very healthy, ami sudden changes of temperature are not so com- 
 mon as in other parts of Texas. There is but a small amount of rain-fall during the year, and that 
 occurs chiefly in June and July, and scarcely any snow. January is the coldest mouth, the mean 
 temperature of which last year was 42 mean, maximum 62, minimum 15, and August the warm- 
 est, the mean temperature last year being 74, maximum 87, minimum 02. 
 
 There are no local causes of disease at this post. During the summers of 1867 and 1868 dysen- 
 tery and scurvy prevailed very extensively and fatally. The causes of the prevalence of these dis- 
 eases, however, at that time, were pi-obably, of the first, the use of water rendered impure by long 
 neglect, and a system of acclimation the troops were undergoing; of the second, an irregular sup- 
 ply of provisions. But during the entire year of 1869, and thus far, June 20th of this year, scarcely 
 any sickness has occurred at this post. West winds prevail, and in spring are very strong. 
 
 The officers' quarters are located in a line running north and south across the mouth of the 
 canon. These are nineteen in number, one story, a covered porch in front and rear along the entire 
 building, a separate house for each officer, and distant from each other 24 feet, the commanding 
 officer's in the center, each third building a captain's set, and on either side a lieutenant's set; each 
 of these consists of a main building, 48 by 21 feet, containing two rooms, each 15 by 18 feet and 14 
 feet high, with a hall between, 12 by 18 feet ; in addition, the commanding officer's has a wing, 41 by 
 21 feet, containing two rooms, each 15 by 15 feet; in all four rooms. The captain's set have each a 
 wing, 21 by 18 feet, containing one room, 15 by 15 feet; in the t main line are thirteen of these build- 
 ings, and on each flank adjoining are three additional. Four are built of native limestone from a 
 quarry one mile from the post, the rest of adobe; all have shingle roofs, and are warmed by open 
 fireplaces. Bat nine of these buildings are completed, all that at present it is contemplated to 
 complete. East of, and in a line parallel with the officers' quarters, with a parade of 500 feet in 
 width intervening, are located the barracks, four separate buildings, distant from each other 30 
 feet, built of adobe, plastered inside and out and ceiled, a wide covered porch extending entirely 
 around. Each barrack is 186 feet long and 27 feet wide, and contains two dormitories, separated 
 by a passage-way, 27 by 12 feet, which leads to a building, 86 by 27 feet, containing the mess-room, 
 50 by 24 feet, the kitchen, 20 by 24 feet, and store-room, 10 by 24 feet. Each dormitory is 24 by 82 
 
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS. 229 
 
 feet and 12 feet high, containing 23,760 cubic feet of air space. They are warmed by open fire- 
 places, and ventilated by large windows, four in the opposite sides of each room, and by a large 
 ventilator in the ceiling, 20 by 4 feet. But two of these barracks are completed. Large, and com- 
 modious sinks are placed 200 feet in the rear. There are no permanent quarters for laundresses 
 and married men. On the north side of the parade, midway between the barracks and officers' 
 quarters, are the executive offices, three rooms, each 15 by 18 feet. On the south side of the parade, 
 and opposite the executive offices, is the guard-house, built of limestone, 54 by 22 feet, and con- 
 taining the guard-room, 13 by 15 feet and 11 feet high, three cells, each 4.J by 9 feet, and the prison- 
 ers' room, 15 by 1C feet. The cells are between the prisoners' room and the guard-room, and a passage, 
 6 feet wide, by the cells communicates with these two rooms. It is warmed by an open fireplace, 
 and ventilated by holes, 12 by 3 inches, in the upper part of the walls, and a large ventilator in the 
 ceiling. Average number confined monthly, 15. In the rear of the barracks, at a distance of about 
 700 feet, are the quartermaster's and company stables and corrals. The former occupies a space 367 
 by 300 feet, inclosed by walls built of adobe, 10 feet high. Along two of these walls are the stables, 
 well roofed, but otherwise open, the climate being such that additional shelter for the stock is not 
 required. Separated from this 70 feet, are the company stables, inclosing a space 350 by 450 feet, 
 constructed like those just described, with stalls on all sides, capable of accommodating 400 horses. 
 
 The quartermaster's and commissary store-houses are located respectively north and south of 
 the corrals, 100 feet distant. They are each 110 feet long by 27 feet wide, constructed of adobe and 
 not ceiled. 
 
 The post bakery recently completed is situated south of the commissary's store-house, and con- 
 sists of one room, 40 by 16 feet, and one oven with a capacity of 600 loaves. 
 
 The permanent hospital, after the plan published in Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office, 
 Washington, April 27, 1867, was begun in February, 1869. It is located north of the executive 
 offices, about 400 feet therefrom, at the foot of the mountain, fronting east of south. It was being 
 constructed of native limestone, and the walls of the entire building had reached a height of 8 feet 
 when work upon it, together with that upon a large part of the post, was suspended, and so it still 
 remains, June 20, 1870. There is a prospect, however, that work upon it will be either soon 
 resumed or another building upon a different plan, which has been submitted by the post quarter- 
 master for approval, will be erected. The hospital now in use is a temporary adobe building, 50 by 
 19 feet, and contains one ward, 35 by 17 feet, with a capacity of fourteen beds, and the dispensary, 
 13 by 15 feet. It is plastered inside and whitewashed, well lighted and ventilated by numerous 
 small holes in the lower and upper part of the walls. There is an L addition containing the dining- 
 room, 8 by 10 feet, and the kitchen, 12 by 16 feet. The entire building was hastily and tern porarily 
 constructed, but, with some repairs lately put upon it, answers all the requirements of the post. It 
 is situated about 500 feet in the rear of the officers' quarters, midway up the canon. A full supply 
 of medical stores is now on hand, and for eighteen months there has been no difficulty in obtaining 
 supplies regularly and without delay by requisitions upon the medical purveyor at New Orleans. 
 
 The post is supplied with water distributed by means of a water-wagon from the Limpia Creek, 
 a small stream running through Limpia canon and the northern part of the reservation. It is 
 always clear, pure, and cool, not very hard, containing carbonate of lime and a small amount of 
 organic matter, during the season of heavy rains, which is probably washed from the mountain at 
 the foot of which it runs. Observation and experience show that it does not affect those using it 
 in any manner, and no means of purification have been resorted to. There is also a large spring 
 within the limits of the post, the water from which is harder than that from Ihe Limpia. This 
 water, it appears, was once, for some reasons unknown, condemned as unfit for potable purposes. 
 It does not contain either organic or alkaline matter sufficient to render it unhealthy, and if it did, 
 the cause was probably neglect during the long time the post was unoccupied. For extinguishing 
 fire a sufficient number of barrels and buckets are kept constantly filled with water and placed at 
 proper and convenient places. 
 
 The general conformation of the ground, gradually sloping from the post, is such that but little 
 artificial drainage is necessary. Slops and refuse are collected in barrels, and emptied some dis- 
 tance from the post. 
 
 The post garden, heretofore situated on the creek, has been very successful, but the post com- 
 
230 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 mamler, thinking it not sufficiently large, established it this season at Mosque's ranche, about 8 
 miles from the post. It is rich prairie soil, and when well established will probably yield an abund- 
 ant supply of all vegetables. So far, however, owing to- the labor of preparing the new soil and 
 the continued dry weather, it has not succeeded. 
 
 Domestic animals are scarce and inferior. Poultry of all kinds, butter, milk, eggs, &c., are 
 scarce, and command high prices. 
 
 The El Paso and San Autonio mail line, driving four-mule coaches thus far, and running twice 
 a week, communicates with San Autonio, the nearest and largest city. The communication is liable 
 to frequent interruptions by floods and Indians. The time required for a communication to reach 
 department headquarters is about ten days, and Washington from fifteen to eighteen days. 
 
 The duties of the troops have been the usual garrison and guard duty, and much scouting also. 
 Owing to the large amount of work going on at the post, and the very limited number of employe's, 
 much irregular work has been necessarily imposed npou the troops and greatly interfered with their 
 legitimate duties as soldiers. As yet there are no permanent facilities for bathing, but it is con- 
 templated soon to erect bathing houses on the Limpia, where the troops now bathe. 
 
 Fort Davis, by reason of its delightful climate, its healthfulness and comfortable quarters, is 
 one of the most desirable posts on the Texas frontier, and the surrounding country may be called 
 grand and picturesque. In front of the post the country is undulating for a distance of 15 or 20 
 miles, then start up abruptly high mountains. On either side are mountains ascending abruptly 
 some distance, and capped by immense masses of uustratified basalt or trap rocks. At the base 
 are numerous stones of various sizes, from small pebbles to immense boulders. One range of hills 
 adjoining the post is formed almost entirely of limestone, from which was quarried the stone used 
 in constructing the post. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases at Fort Davis, Texas, colored 
 
 troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 tl 
 
 
 <s> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,- 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 || 
 
 1 
 
 >> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 j 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean stret 
 
 a -3 
 a 
 
 C 
 
 o *^2 
 
 Malarial f( 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysentei 
 
 Tonsillitis 
 
 Venereal t 
 
 i 
 
 Rheumatie 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 IM 
 
 O 
 
 ^d 
 
 1868 
 
 267. 75 
 
 472 
 
 48 
 
 231 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 47 
 
 31 
 
 1 
 
 22 
 
 17 
 
 1869 
 
 241 91 
 
 274 
 
 32 
 
 105 
 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 21 
 
 
 24 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, an 
 
 FORT QUITMAN, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON JOHN J. CULVER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Fort Quitman is situated between the 104th and 105th degrees of west longitude and 
 between the 30th and 31st degrees of latitude. The post was abandoned by the United States troops 
 during the war, and not occupied again until the spring of 1868, when it was garrisoned by three 
 companies of cavalry and one of infantry. 
 
 The country in every direction is a rolling sand prairie, covered with small stunted chaparral 
 and mesquite bushes, and wild cactus which grow very high ; beyond the prairie and within ten 
 mijes of the post at one point are steep rocky mountains, destitute of all vegetation. At the foot 
 and on the sides of these mountains are found beautiful specimens of quartz containing small quan- 
 tities of silver, iron, copper, &c. West of the post, about 400 yards, runs the Eio Grande from 
 which the post receives its supply of water. 
 
 The climate is warm during the summer, and liable to sudden changes from warm to cold and 
 from wet to dry during the winter. 
 
FORT QUITMAN, TEXAS. 
 
 The site has u gradual slope toward the river, thereby allowing excellent drainage. The build- 
 ings are all adobe houses, and when new were doubless comfortable quarters, but are now in a 
 deplorable condition, entirely unfit for the accommodation of troops. Whenever it rains, which 
 it does frequently during certain seasons of the year, officers, but more especially men in quarters 
 and patients in hospital, are invariably subjected to a disagreeable and unhealthy wet and muddy 
 bed. Nor can this be avoided until the present roofs are replaced by new ones, put ou by mechanics 
 who understand building adobe houses. 
 
 Fort Quitmau is, as a whole, entirely unworthy of the name of fort, post, or station for United 
 States troops. The buildings, from the commanding officer's quarters to the smallest corral are 
 nothing but patch work. The post was established previous to the war, and during the period from 
 1863 until 1868, was abandoned by the United States, and the rebels, Indians, and all travelers 
 passing back and forth over the road, made it their stopping place, and while resting here appar- 
 ently used every endeavor to dismantle the houses, tearing away and burning doors, windows, and 
 all available wood in their reach ; the consequence was that when the troops were sent here in 1868, 
 they found the adobe walls yet standing, but minus all other appurtenances which would tend to 
 make them habitable ; in some of the quarters even the roofs were gone. There are barracks for 
 two companies, but so insecure are they that every rain we have floods the rooms, and all bedding 
 becomes wet and muddy. The doors and windows are only so many holes in the wall. One com- 
 pany has built quarters for themselves by placing sticks perpendicular in the ground and closing 
 the crevices with mud; they are probably a little superior to the original barracks, but, neverthe- 
 less, unfit to be designated as quarters for soldiers. 
 
 The hospital has been, until lately, in the same condition, and it has been necessary, upon 
 mere than one occasion, to take the patients out of the wards during a rain and place them in tents. 
 The building is very inconvenient as a hospital. It was found necessary to convert one of the 
 wards into a dispensary and steward's room. The kitchen and store-room are entirely too small for 
 the requirements, and the dining room is so situated, that it is impossible to get at it from the ward 
 or dispensary without walking on the outside half the length of the building. The rains have 
 washed away parts of the walls and left it in a deplorable condition. Heating is effected by open 
 fires ; lighting and ventilation abundant. The ward contains eleven beds ; air space per bed, about 
 900 cubic feet, 
 
 The dormitories of -the barracks, haviug neither doors or windows, have an abundant ventila- 
 tion ; they are warmed by open fires. Air space per man, 620 cubic feet. Temporary bunks are 
 used. The sinks are ordinary pits. Kooms built of logs and mud are used as kitchens and mess- 
 rooms combined. 
 
 The married soldiers' quarters are adobe houses, built by the soldiers. The laundresses, who 
 wash for the soldiers, either occupy a small " jacal" or tent immediately in the rear of the barracks, 
 or else live, in "jacals" of their own within a quarter of a mile of the post. 
 
 The guard-house is in the same condition as the barracks, with the exception of light and venti- 
 lation, it being impossible in the present building to allow sufficient of either. 
 
 Several attempts have been made to cultivate a post garden, but have all proven failures, 
 owing to the warmth, dryness, and sterility of the soil. 
 
 In the immediate vicinity of the post we are able to purchase milk, and sometimes butter, 
 eggs, and chickens. Fresh vegetables, grapes, peaches, pears, melons, &c., can usually be pro- 
 cured during the summer months, but they are hauled over a dusty road 50 or 75 miles before they 
 reach us, being raised in the Mexican towns of San Ignatius Guadalupe, San Elizario, and El 
 Paso. Milk can be purchased for 5 cents per gallon ; butter, from 70 cents to $1 per pound ; eggs, 
 50 cents per dozen ; chickens, $1 per pair ; and vegetables, such as cabbage, onions, turnips, beets, 
 &c., range from 8 to 12 cents per pound. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from New Orleans every six months, unless muddy roads impede 
 transportation. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are Mexicans and Pueblo and Apache Indians. 
 
232 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort QtiitHi, Texas, 
 
 colored troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 ,3 
 
 o> 
 f 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 63 ^ 
 
 3 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a "a 
 
 Cj ^ 
 
 .5 
 
 "3 
 
 
 X 
 
 *?. 
 
 j 
 
 ^^ 
 
 a . 
 
 V 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 I 
 
 1 
 
 I* 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 p 
 
 > 
 
 <s 
 
 1 
 
 45 
 
 i 
 
 
 a 
 
 f 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 
 O 
 02 
 
 A 
 
 S 
 
 c3 
 
 1 
 
 1868, (sis months) 
 
 195. 16 
 
 156 
 
 15 
 
 61 
 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 
 Q 
 
 i 
 
 1869 . . 
 
 189 16 
 
 203 
 
 7 
 
 C6 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 r. 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and plonvixy. 
 
 FORT BLISS, TEXAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON E. H. BOWMAN, UNITED STATES AllMY, JULY 19, 1870. 
 
 Fort Bliss is located oti Concordia ranclie, three miles northeast from the town of El Pasoi 
 Texas, in latitude 31 46' 5" north, longitude 106 21' west, at an altitude of 3,600 feet. It is situ- 
 ated on the immediate edge of the drift formation where the alluvium of the Rio Grande and the drift 
 meet. It is near the northern apex of the detour formerly made by the river after emerging from 
 the Paso del Norte and sweeping around the town of Franklin, now called El Paso, in a northeast 
 direction, gradually turning almost due north, then abruptly turning east and southeast. The post 
 is so located that it is exposed to malaria from the bottom lands of the Rio (Jrande whenever the 
 winds prevail from the west, southwest, south, or southeast. 
 
 The depression of the ancient river bed is in close proximity to the post on the west. It is 
 usually kept full of water from the acequia, but the supply failed this year in April, May, and 
 June, so that there was an insufficient supply for the ordinary purposes of irrigation. The mud of 
 the pond dried out to a great depth, opening into large seams, so that it was dangerous for stock 
 to travel over it. Large quantities of malaria were thus evolved. The region around was under 
 the same condition of drought ; the earth everywhere was parched and cracked to a great depth. 
 In consequence of this malarious influences have prevailed to an uusual extent. 
 
 The post is located on a bed of sand and gravel destitute of loam. Small sand-knolls abound 
 in the immediate vicinity, north of the post. Two and a half miles north are found the broken 
 hills of sand and gravel, the southern terminus of the Mesa, or great plain between the El Paso 
 and the Huaco Mountains. The total elevation of the post above the waters of the river is esti- 
 mated at 10 feet. 
 
 The post is distant from the southern terminus of the El Paso Mountains 2J miles; from the 
 center of Paso del Norte 3 miles; from Fort Quitman, Texas, 90 miles; from Fort Stanton, Few 
 Mexico, 200 miles, and from Santa Fe, New Mexico, 350 miles. 
 
 Fort Bliss was formerly located half a mile south of the present site, close to the river. The 
 encroachments of the river washing away the corral and part of the buildings, the location was 
 abandoned March 1, 1868, and the present place occupied. 
 
 The post is rented property, a rauche, the extent of which is 100. acres, only a small part of 
 which is occupied or controlled by government, say 10 acres for garden, vineyard, and the post 
 buildings. These latter consist of three large adobe structures and several small ones, some of 
 which are outside of the limits of the rauche, on adjoining property. The buildings are all one 
 story high, with earthen roofs and floors. 
 
 Two of the main buildings are situated in line on the north of the parade ground, with a street 
 between them of 60 feet width. Each has a front of about 125 feet, one has eleven, the other 
 twelve rooms. Each has a court in the center; they are occupied as quarters by the quartermas- 
 ter and commissary, as adjutant's office, as store-rooms of quartermaster's and commissary's stores, 
 quarters for the troops, kitchens, guard-house, &c. The rooms are large, the ceiling 14 to 16 feet 
 
FOET BLISS, TEXAS. 233 
 
 high, with a sufficient number of doors and windows for light and ventilation. On the north 
 side of the west building, and adjoining by an adobe wall, 10 feet high, are the post bakery, 
 carpenter shop, and blacksmith shop, the three, with the side walls, inclosing a second court, 
 which is used for storing lumber, charcoal, &c. On the north side of the east building, and 
 adjoining, is the corral, inclosed by an adobe wall, 10 feet high. On the south side of the parade 
 ground and near the southwest corner, is the other large building, coutainingeighteeii rooms. Two 
 officers occupy part of it as quarters. One large room is occupied as a store room by the assistant 
 quartermaster. Three rooms are now vacant. Seventy-five feet east of this main building is a 
 small building, 18 by 28 feet, of one room, occupied as surgeon's quarters. 
 
 The present location presents no advantages of a military character that is not afforded in as 
 great, or greater degree, by almost any forty-acre lot that borders 011 the Itio Grande. 
 
 There is no water nearer than the river, and it requires to be hauled three-fourths to one 
 mile in a wagon-tank, at the daily expense of three men and eight mules. No trees grow in 
 the vicinity. It will be readily seen that the only inducement to retain this as a post would be its 
 importance as a military position ; but a single glance at the topography will show that it has no 
 such importance. The Paso del Norte, three and one half miles distant, has an important mili- 
 tary significance. It is not commanded in any respect nor secured from possession of any hostile 
 force by this post. 
 
 The best soil, when the supply of water for irrigation is abundant, will produce two crops in 
 one season. The drift is composed of sand, gravel, and boulders, is destitute of loam or any ap- 
 pearance of fertile soil, and is two or three miles in width. In some places near the mountains it 
 is formed into an imperfect conglomerate, the cementing medium of which looks like carbonate of 
 lime. It is a barren region, with nothing but stunted, scattering tufts of chaparral and cactus, with 
 an occasional dwarf mesquite, sparsely sprinkled over it. The scanty rains of July and August 
 gave rise to a few weeds and small and widely-scattered tufts of a short, thorny-pointed grass. 
 
 The Mesa is a vast elevated plain which terminates two to three miles north of the post, in 
 sandy, gravelly hills. It embraces the region between the El Paso Mountains 011 the west and the 
 Huaco Mountains on the east. This plain is, at the lower end, if possible, more barren than the 
 drift, but further north the influence of the mountains, causing great precipitation of moisture, has 
 developed more fertility, and a short grass is produced which, carefully gathered by hand, consti- 
 tutes the principal supply of hay for this post. 
 
 The mountains are distant from the post at the nearest point about li miles. They are called 
 by different names, as the El Paso Mountains at the southern end, where they terminate or are 
 broken by the pass. At the northern end of the chain, 50 miles from here, they are called the 
 Organ Mountains, probably from the basaltic columns which are said to present the appearance 
 of gigantic organ pipes. The elevation of the mountains, in the absence of any means of meas- 
 urement, save ascending them on foot, I should estimate at between 3,001) and 4,000 feet above the 
 level of the plain. These mountains are tilted over to the west at an angle of about 35, thus exhib- 
 iting on the eastern face the different strata. The lowest visible stratum is red granite, of which 
 feldspar appears to be the principal component. Narrow seams of quartz traverse this region of 
 granite, but again other seams of later date, probably made at the time of upheaval, are filled with 
 beautiful specimens of carbonate of lime, in some observed instances so beautifully colored as to 
 justify the name of " landscape marble." On a seam of this description in the south end of the 
 mountain a shaft was sunk in former times, at a great expense of time and labor, in fruitless search 
 for the precious metals. Old red metamorphic sandstone, in heavy strata of over 100 feet thick- 
 ness, appears next above the granite, easily accessible and capable of furnishing inexhaustible sup- 
 plies of the most durable building material. Above this appears a six-feet vein of a mottled brown 
 and gray stone, in appearance not unlike the samples of ore from the recently discovered mines in 
 New Mexico, which are said to be rich in chloride of silver. Some distance above this, with vari- 
 ous kinds of secondary rock intervening, is a stratum of very light gray stone, very hard, of crys 
 taline fracture. It is not acted upon by acids, and would make indestructible material for monu- 
 ments, &c. Heavy ledges of brown ferruginous sandstone appear above, next in order, giving 
 dark lines of shading to the landscape view. The ancient limestone formations commence above 
 and comprise many hundreds effect in thickness. In one place the appearance of outcrop of dolo- 
 30 
 
234 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 mite or magnesian limestone shows itself near the surface rocks. We have not had opportunity to 
 develop this so as to test it. It it should prove to be the true water-lime, its value for roofing and 
 flooring would be immense in this treeless region, particularly in view of the prospect of influx of 
 population expected to flow in with the advent of the Southern Transcontinental railway or thirty- 
 second parallel railroad. 
 
 The crests of the mountains are surmounted by immense ledges of limestone, in which the fos- 
 sil remains of gasterpods, crinoidea, chain coral, column aria, and other varieties of coral and radi- 
 ata abound. I observed a section about two feet long of what appeared to be the remains of a 
 gigantic orthoceras, at least six feet long when perfect. Fragments of baculites and ammonites of 
 large size are to be seen in abundance. The western slope of the mountain was evidently once the 
 ocean bed; the limestone ledges over the mountains show everywhere the action of eroding agen- 
 cies of an active and powerful character, as if, for instance, of water impregnated with acid or cor- 
 roding agents; the rock is of almost flinty hardness, and very compact, yet is so corroded as to 
 have an exceedingly rough surface. In many places they are covered by a ferruginous coating that 
 presents to the eye the appearance of extensive deposits, but the hammer shows only a thin in- 
 crustation over the blue limestone. 
 
 "No evidences have been found of the existence of coal in this vicinity. If found at all, owing to 
 the great displacement of strata, it will probably be in small basins at great depths. The mountains 
 terminate within two miles of the town of El Paso. The Paso delNorte is about 2 miles in width, 
 and is made up of a collection of small hills of drift, about 150 feet above the level of the river. 
 The strata of the mountains clip to the south, so that at the southern terminus the limestone is at 
 the surface, affording inexhaustible supplies of most excellent building material already uncovered 
 for the hand of the workman ; yet with all this profusion not a single house of any size in this 
 country is built of stone. To the northward of this post the mountains are said to give evidence 
 of mineral wealth, gold, silver, and lead. Near the north end of the chain, 50 miles from here, sil- 
 ver was discovered twenty years since, but the interior location and exposure to Indian depreda- 
 tions have prevented proper exploration and development. 
 
 There are no springs, wells, or ponds at the post except the pond made by the old river bed, 
 which is a muddy nuisance. The drainage into the river is slight, and the water found a few feet 
 below the surface is so brackish and alkaline as to be unfit for use. 
 
 This is an almost rainless region. The little that falls is during the month of June, July, and 
 August, making a period of about two mouths during which an occasional shower may fall, but no 
 heavy continued rains occur. The temperature is mild and agreeable most of the year. The win- 
 ters are mild, no snow to cover the ground. The springs are windy, with terrible storms of sand 
 and dust. So densely was the air filled with sand and dust during one of the storms in April, that 
 the large building on the opposite side of the parade ground was for a time completely invisible. 
 
 The extremes and mean temperature, with amount of rain, for the months of the year ending 
 June 30, 1870, are as follows : 
 
 1 
 Months. 
 
 Maximum. 
 
 Minimum. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Rain. 
 
 1869. 
 
 Degrees. 
 
 Degrees. 
 
 Degrees. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 July 
 
 103 
 
 66 
 
 98.48 
 
 0.26 
 
 August - 
 
 102 
 
 64 
 
 97.27 
 
 5.14 
 
 September. .. 
 
 99 
 
 57 
 
 75.15 
 
 
 October 
 
 90 
 
 35 
 
 60.51 
 
 0.58 
 
 November 
 
 85 
 
 32 
 
 58 
 
 .... 
 
 December 
 
 66 
 
 15 
 
 44. 03 
 
 
 
 1870. 
 
 
 
 
 
 January 
 
 71 
 
 13 
 
 40.03 
 
 0.10 
 
 February . . . 
 
 77 
 
 20 
 
 42. 21 
 
 
 March 
 
 81 
 
 26 
 
 52. 15 
 
 
 April . 
 
 89 
 
 37 
 
 59.08 
 
 
 May... 
 
 100 
 
 60 
 
 72. 01 
 
 
 June 
 
 105 
 
 58 
 
 77 
 
 0.40 
 
 
 
 
 
 6.48 
 
FORT BLISS, TEXAS. 235 
 
 The prevailing winds in winter are west, northwest, north, and northeast ; in spring, west and 
 southwest ; in summer, southwest, south, and southeast; in autumn, west and northwest. The east and 
 northeast winds seem here to be caused by the " northers' 1 sweeping down over the Llano Estacado 
 and crowding over westward, giving rise to cold and uncomfortable winds. These are only the 
 western overflow of the mighty aerial current that sweeps down from the Rocky Mountains, and, 
 descending the slopes of the Staked Plains, expends its force over middle Texas, making the much 
 dreaded " norther." The farming season lasts most of the year, as it rarely freezes so that wheat 
 cannot be sown. 
 
 There' is no fortification whatever here. The barracks are in the two large buildings on the 
 north side. There is capacity for two hundred men. The buildings are warmed by fireplaces, 
 and ventilated by windows and doors, the air space per man being 500 cubic feet. 
 
 The quarters for laundresses are two small buildings outside, one of adobe, two rooms, the 
 other, of " jacal" style. The quarters for married soldiers are in rooms in the barracks and in 
 rooms to the rear of the officers' quarters. 
 
 The officers' quarters are in the large buildings at the southwest quarter of the parade ground 
 and in the west building on the north side. They are supplied with water by the water-wagon 
 daily. 
 
 The post hospital is located outside the northwest corner of the parade ground. It is built of 
 adobe; dimensions, 75 by 30 feet. There are six rooms in all, being a store-room, kitchen, dining- 
 room, dispensary, steward's room, and a ward. They are warmed by fireplaces, ventilated by 
 doors and windows. The ward contains six beds, giving 800 cubic feet of air per man. There is 
 no bath-house, wash-room, or dead-house. The privy is in the rear, and consists of a vault, with 
 wooden superstructure. 
 
 The water supply is obtained from the Rio Grande by means of a wagon-tank, and deposited in 
 barrels at each set of quarters. As it comes from the river it is always muddy and alkaline, but 
 by settling or filtering it becomes comparatively pure and good. 
 
 There are, practically, no means of extinguishing fire, the only supply of water being that 
 contained in the barrels. In case of fire at night there is almost no water on hand, as the use dur- 
 ing the day has nearly exhausted the barrels, and there are not half a dozen buckets in the entire 
 garrison to distribute what little may be on hand. 
 
 The surface drainage is naturally good, water easily- running on' or soaking in the ground; but 
 permanent water of a brackish and alkaline character may always be found within 10 to 12 feet 
 from the surface. 
 
 There are no bathing facilities about the post. 
 
 The post garden contains two acres. The product has as yet been small and unsatisfactory. 
 It is cultivated by hired labor and details from the troops. 
 
 Cows, sheep, &c., cannot be kept, oil account of the scarcity of water and grass, and the un- 
 fenced condition of the cultivated land. The expense of a herder when animals are at large, and 
 the high price of forage when kept up, make the cost and trouble too great. There are few cows 
 or sheep in the country. Goats are kept for milk and meat for the reason that they are more man- 
 ageable in flocks, and can subsist where cattle would starve. 
 
 Communication may be made with St. Louis by wagons and railroad, 500 miles by the former 
 and GOO by the latter; also with New Orleans, Louisiana, 900 miles by wagons, 400 by railroad and 
 steamer. Either way is tedious and uncertain, as wagon trains only start when a full load of freight 
 is obtained. Mail communication with the southeast semi- weekly ; with the north, via Santa Fe", 
 six times a week, quite regularly. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity of the post are Mexicans and Pueblo Indians, agricultural and 
 industrious ; thieving and lewd, as a general thing, among the lower orders. The exceptions are 
 said to be few, and, therefore, more honorable. 
 
 Malarious influences were rife at the post during the present season, commencing and "continu- 
 ing through the months of May and June. Nearly every person, white and black, was more or less 
 under malarious influence, and suffering in many instances quite seriously, although not reporting 
 on the sick list. The causes were low water in the river, defects in the dam, making scarcity of 
 water in the acequia, so that there was not enough for the ordinary purposes of irrigation, and 
 
236 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the pond made by the old bed of the river, immediately west of the post, was completely dried out, 
 the mud cracking into great seams, and to a great depth ; the rich alluvial grounds around the 
 vicinity were also parched and wonderfully cracked, thus evolving immense quantities of malaria. 
 Intermittent, diarrhoea, and dysentery, from the malarious poisoning, were quite prevalent. One 
 case in the hospital of syphilitic poisoning pi-ogressed favorably until he came under malarious in- 
 fluence, then diarrhoaa set in, which rapidly ran into dysentery, resisting all treatment, and finally 
 terminating in death. The rise in the river filling up the acequia and permitting irrigation, the 
 tilling up of the pond, and the occurrence of rain, have pretty well relieved us of malarious impres- 
 sions. The salubrity of this location has been greatly overrated. In the spring, when the west 
 and northwest winds prevailed, rendering the weather raw and chilly, several pulmonary and 
 rheumatic cases were observed, but none of a very grave or serious character. 
 
 The population in the vicinity of the post is estimated at between 400 and 500. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Bliss, 
 
 Texas, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 jq 
 
 1 , 
 
 s 
 
 1 . 
 
 . | 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 s 1 
 
 > 
 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 Tear. 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 c3 a 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 "3 
 
 1 
 
 "* 1 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 rt OD 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 "t '* 
 
 SK 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 S .11 
 
 9 
 
 ~" 
 
 a 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 O 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 M 
 
 Q 
 
 !* 
 
 M 
 
 O 
 
 
 1869 (6 mouths) 
 
 106.5 
 
 78 
 
 3 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort Bliss, 
 
 Texas, for the year 18C9. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 
 ii 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 f 
 
 .* 
 5 .i 
 a 
 
 v 
 
 ^5 sc 
 
 3 
 
 S 
 
 33 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 C8 ^ 
 
 "3 P 
 11 
 
 f deaths. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S3 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 42 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 5 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 fc 
 
 1809 (4 months) 
 
 91 
 
 90 
 
 36 
 
 s 
 
 4 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
?*,*; . ?*? 
 
 as 
 
 ''.V .-I 1 -' i, ^ ? 
 
 Ji r,- aij ~ .V)' . '* ^S 
 
 PLATE 5 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Fort Seklcn, New Mexico. 
 
 Fort Cumuiings, New Mexico. 
 
 FoVt Bayard, New Mexico. 
 
 Fort McRae, New Mexico. 
 
 Fort Craig, New Mexico. 
 
 Fort Stanton, New Mexico. 
 
 Fort Wingate, New Mexico. 
 
 Fort Bascom, New Mexico. 
 
 Santa Fe", New Mexico. 
 
 Fort Union, New Mexico. 
 
 Camp Supply, Indian Territory. 
 
 Fort Sill, Indian Territory. 
 
 Fort Gibson, Cherokee Nation, Indiau Territory. 
 
 Fort Smith, Arkansas. 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas. 
 
 Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. 
 
 Fort Leavenworth, Leavenworth City, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Riley, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Harker, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Larned, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Dodge, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Hays, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Wallace, Kansas. 
 
 Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory. 
 
 Fort Reynolds, Colorado Territory. 
 
 Fort Garland, Colorado Territory. 
 
 FORT SELDEN, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES STYER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Selden is situated in a sandy basin one and a half miles from the Rio Grande, in southern 
 New Mexico, latitude 32 25' north, longitude 107 west, height above the sea about 4,250 feet. 
 At this point the river incloses an irregular crescent, upon which the fort is placed. Twenty-five 
 miles east are the Organ Mountains, the Pechaco Mountains lying four miles to the west. The 
 nearest posts are Fort McRae, 58 miles north ; Fort Cummings, 55 miles west, and Fort Bliss, 
 Texas, 67 miles south. The nearest towns are on the river to the southeast, being Leesburg, 1J 
 miles distant; Dona Ana, 12 miles; Las Graces, 18 miles, and Franklin, Texas, 65 miles. A 
 good rope ferry across the Rio Grande is one and a half miles above the post. 
 
 The reservation is four miles square. The soil is sandy and sterile, resting on volcanic rocks. 
 The ground rises gradually to the north for about four miles ; on the south it slopes to the river 
 bottom. The cottonwood on the river, a coarse and scanty growth of grass on the reservation, 
 with plenty of cacti and stunted mesquite comprise the botany of the vicinity. Deer, antelope, and 
 bear are found in the mountains. Wolves and skunks are annoyingly numerous about the post. 
 At the river, beavers are plenty. 
 
 The climate is warm and dry, mean annual temperature, 66 F.; extremes, 99 F., and 13 F. 
 Amount of rain-fall, 7.3 inches. No snow. 
 
 The post was established in May, 1865, for protection of settlers and of the post road. It is 
 not yet completed. The buildings are of adobe, plastered outside and in, and the plan of arrange- 
 ment is shown in Plate No. 5. 
 
 The dormitories measure 90 by 24 feet, and allow 840 cubic feet air space per man. They are 
 warmed by stoves. The bunks are double in two tiers. No special arrangements for ventilation. 
 
 The officers' quarters are all one story buildings, with flat earth roofs. They are heated by 
 fireplaces. 
 
 The hospital is also one story, with dirt roof and floor, warmed by fireplaces, and ventilated 
 by these and by windows. It has two wards, each containing five beds, giving 1,440 cubic feet of 
 air space per man. 
 
 Sinks to all the buildings are ordinary latrines with deep vaults. 
 
238 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The water supply is from the river, by a water-wagon. It is kept in barrels, there being no 
 cisterns or reservoirs. The quantity supplied is ample and the quality tolerably good. The natural 
 drainage is good, and answers every purpose. 
 
 There is a mail six times a week, irregular. Time to department headquarters, from 12 to 20 
 days. 
 
 The only inhabitants of the vicinity are at Leesburg, which consists of a small store and grog 
 shop with about twenty miserable huts. The residents are principally Mexicans of the lowest 
 class, having no occupation except prostitution by the females. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is good, and there are no prevailing diseases. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of ivhite troops at Fort 
 
 Selden, New Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 nS 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 jA 
 
 -S . 
 
 g 
 
 g , 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 fcjD 
 
 U 
 
 2 
 
 >, 
 
 
 <u 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 E 
 
 i 
 
 C "3 
 
 Malarial fe' 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysenter 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dis 
 
 Rheumatisr 
 
 Catarrhal 
 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 0) 
 "Q 
 
 IM 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 63 58 
 
 156 
 
 3 
 
 29 
 
 
 26 
 
 4 
 
 24 
 
 
 1869 
 
 53.58 
 
 144 
 
 5 
 
 31 
 
 l 
 
 18 
 
 g 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 Selden, Neic Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^S 
 
 a :j 
 
 6 
 
 =8 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 to 
 
 
 SC 
 
 3 o 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 M 
 
 | 
 
 
 * . 
 
 3 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 X 
 
 C 'S 
 a 
 
 ijj 
 
 i' 
 
 
 rH 
 
 T3 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 'S 
 
 "a a 
 
 g .2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 3 
 
 A 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 H 
 
 " * 
 
 fM 
 
 w 
 
 ' C 
 
 p 
 
 OJ 
 
 ** 
 
 
 
 
 E 
 
 ? 
 
 
 O 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 94.91 
 
 262 
 
 4 
 
 42 
 
 3 
 
 16 
 
 21 
 
 2 
 
 47 
 
 1 
 
 1869, (ten mouths) 
 
 74.8 
 
 199 
 
 
 58 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 
 41 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT CUMMINGS, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS G. M. WARMOTH, J. LECARPENTIER, AND 
 
 SAMUEL KITCHEN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Cummings is situated on the northeast side of Cook's Mountain, near the mouth of Cook's 
 Canon, in Grant County, New Mexico; latitude 32 20' north, longitude 107 48' west; altitude, 
 4,750 feet. It is 53 miles west of the Rio Grande, and 20 miles east of the Rio Miembres, the near- 
 est water after leaving the post. Camp Bowie, Arizona, is over 100 miles to the west by road, 
 130 miles. Fort Bayard is 40 miles northwest. Fort Craig 137 miles north. The reservation in- 
 cludes four square miles, a part of which is on the side of the mountain. The rocks are volcanic. 
 The soil is a coarse gravel, not arable. There is no timber. Deer, antelope, bear, quails, centipedes, 
 and rattlesnakes are found in the vicinity. The post was established in 1864 for the purpose of pro- 
 tecting trains passing through the canon from the Apaches, who have committed many murders at 
 this point. 
 
 The climate is mild mean temperature for 1869, 56.5 F; extremes, 99 F. and 38 F. Total 
 rain fall, 15.4 inches. No snow. 
 
 The post is small, compactly built, and inclosed by a wall, 10 feet high, composed of adobe. 
 
FOKT CUMM1NGS, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 Figure 26. Scale 125 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 The store-houses belonging to 
 
 The buildings are one story high, built of adobe and covered with earth. For general arrange- 
 ment, see Figure 20. 
 
 A, store-rooms: B, company and adjutant's offices; C, quartermaster's office; D, corral; E, 
 shops ; F, sally port ; G, prison ; H, sheds ; I, guard-house ; J, officers' quarters ; K, commanding 
 officer's quarters ; L, hospital ; M, unfinished 
 room ; N, company quarters ; P, sinks. 
 
 The barracks occupy the eastern side of the 
 garrison, and consist of two sets of quarters poorly 
 built and badly ventilated. The quarters afford 
 sufficient room for one company. They are 
 warmed by open fireplaces, and lighted by win- 
 dows. Air space, per man, is 223 cubic feet, with 
 the actual strength. They are supplied xvith 
 double bunks. The sinks are located too near the 
 post by 100 yards. They are used by the whole 
 command, and are in a very bad condition. The 
 kitchen and mess-rooms are large and well adapted 
 to the purpose. There are no special quarters for 
 married soldiers at the post. 
 
 Three sets of quarters for officers are com- 
 pleted, and two sets are in process of erection. 
 They contain four rooms each, plastered within, 
 well lighted and ventilated, and sufficiently large and convenient, 
 the post are sufficient and in good repair. 
 
 The guard house is in good condition, and its means of ventilation and warming are all that 
 can be desired. The hospital building, in point of location, is badly situated. It contains one 
 ward, 29 by 20 feet; a laundry, 23 by 20 feet; kitchen, 23 by 20 feet; store-room, 17 by 20 feet; dis- 
 pensary, 15 by 20 feet, and steward's room, 12 by 20 feet. The hospital is sufficiently large for a 
 post of one company. It is warmed by open fireplaces, which, by the aid of windows, afford good 
 ventilation. There is no bath-room. The dispensary, store-room, and kitchen are convenient and 
 well adapted. The ward is furnished with seven beds, allowing 828.G7 cubic feet to each. The hos- 
 pital sinks are insufficient. Those formerly used have been taken for the use of the troops. 
 
 A never-failing supply of water is obtained from a large spring located nearly one-fourth of a 
 mile from the post. Though the water is of good quality by itself, owing to a prolonged state of 
 stagnation it becomes impregnated with a large amount of organic matter, animal and vegetable, 
 dead and alive, so as sometimes to become really obnoxious to health. 
 
 Inside, and also outside of the post, the drainage is not sufficient, as may be noticed after any 
 heavy rains, where immense pools of water cover the ground, particularly in front of all the build- 
 ings. It has been recommended that the ground be leveled and covered from time to time with a 
 new bed of gravel, making it more consistent. The drains are greatly out of repair, retaining a 
 part of the water instead of carrying it off. Behind the post-trader's buildings, and over a great 
 extent of ground, may be seen many piles of refuse. As it stands at present, rain-storms wash 
 away the greater part of this refuse, which, mixing with the water contained in the ponds, is a cause 
 of disease at the post. 
 
 A post garden is cultivated by irrigation and the use of fertilizers. Corn, cabbage, onions, 
 melons, and peas are raised. 
 
 Mail communication is by weekly stage to Santa Fe. Mail is received three times a week from 
 California, via Tucson. Time to Santa FC", 7 days. 
 
 There are no inhabitants in the immediate vicinity of the post. 
 
 From January to April, 18G9, a mild epidemic of small-pox existed at the post. Intermittent 
 and remittent fever also existed for a few months, and a few cases of diarrhoea and dysentery. To 
 the impurities contained in the water used at the post must be attributed several cases of the last- 
 named diseases. Proper measures have been recommended, as mentioned above, for purifying the 
 water, and also that the water-tank and barrels used for water purposes be well cleaned and washed 
 
240 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 as frequently as practicable. Large pools of water, or ponds, between the butcher's house and the 
 post-trader's buildings, make of that ground a sort of marshy place, to the existence of which may 
 be attributed the numerous cases of intermittent and remittent fever referred to. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Cummings, Neic 
 
 Mexico, colored troops, for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal afiec- 
 tions.* 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 3 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 79.5 
 
 108 
 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 
 g 
 
 is 
 
 
 
 
 1869, (10 months) 
 
 88.5 
 
 55 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT BAYARD, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS J. LK CARPEXT1ER AND A. J. GRAY, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Bayard is situated in a small valley between the Sierra Madre and Santa Rita ranges of 
 mountains, latitude 32 40' north, longitude 108 25' west; altitude about 6,000 feet. 
 
 On the summit of the Sierra Madre, distant ten miles, are the gold mines and village of Pinos 
 Altos; and at the base of the Santa Rita range, distant eight miles, are the copper mines of Santa 
 Rita, 
 
 The valley ends abruptly four miles north of the post in a series of precipitous cliffs connect- 
 ing the mountain ranges. Two miles to the south, the location of the little town of Central City, 
 or Santa Clara, the valley opens on a vast and nearly level plain, across which are visible the 
 mountains in Mexico; and to the southeast, Cook's Peak, distant forty miles, the location of Fort 
 Cummings, the nearest post. 
 
 It is on no direct line of travel, the nearest railroad being nine hundred miles distant. The 
 only stream of any size in the vicinity is the Gila, thirty-five miles west. The post was established 
 in 3866, its object being to protect the miners against the Apache Indians, whose trail lies through 
 this valley from southeastern Arizona to the settlements in ^New Mexico, the objective point of 
 many of their thieving expeditions. 
 
 The reservation is two miles square, with an undulating surface, the cliff's and sloping hills 
 crowned with cedars, and the long and circuitous arroyas fringed with willow and cottonwood. 
 
 The soil, where it can be irrigated, is rich and productive. A great variety of minerals is 
 found in the vicinity; gold and copper being the most important; silver, .cinnabar, iron, lead, zinc, 
 and antimony are also present. 
 
 The agave, or American aloe, called here "mescal," grows in abundance, and its root forms 
 one of the staple articles of food of the Indians. 
 
 There are few wild animals deer, bear, wolves, and foxes being the principal ones. Of birds, 
 the wild turkey, duck, snipe, meadow lark, robin, raven, and mocking bird have been observed. 
 
 The only water on the reserve proceeds from a series of small springs in an arroya near the 
 fort, the united capacity of which is about fifteen barrels per hour. 
 
 The climate is delightful, and changes in temperature are gradual. Mean annual temperature, 
 51.97 F.; extremes, 8 F. and 89 F. Rain fell on twenty-eight days; total fall, 11.2 inches. 
 Total snow-fall, 15.77 inches. 
 
 Winds are chiefly northwest and southeast; seldom severe. Late in the fall, after several 
 days of continuous wind from the southeast, a few cases of interinittents are said to appear. This 
 wind passes over a marsh twenty-five miles distant. 
 
FORT BAYARD, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 241 
 
 The post is on the side of a small hill, sloping -to the east, near the center of the reservation. 
 
 The officers and men occupy temporary log huts, which are in bad condition. When the post 
 is bnilt, it will be of adobe; the hospital and store-houses having already been so constructed. 
 
 The post will form a parallelogram, C50 by 400 feet, and is intended for three companies. 
 
 The barracks for enlisted men are log structures, roofed with earth, warmed by open fire- 
 places, fitted with double bunks in two tiers, and allowing at present 368 cubic feet air space 
 per man. 
 
 The officers' quarters are log huts in very bad condition. 
 
 The store-houses are new, commodious, and convenient. The hospital building has recently 
 been completed, though its location, from insufficient drainage and aeration, is not desirable. In 
 the construction of the building, the plan proposed in Circular No. 4, from the Surgeon General's 
 Office, has not been followed. It is built of adobes, and very badly constructed; the windows are 
 too small and not sufficient in number; there is no steward's room, and the administration building 
 is but one story high. The roof is formed by sloping rafters meeting at the apex; the inclination 
 of its sides is contrary to all architectural principles, being twenty-five degrees, when, in this lati- 
 tude, fifteen to sixteen degrees only would be indicated for greater security. There is but one ward 
 in the building, which is used alike by white and colored patients. It has a capacity for twelve 
 beds, and its superficial area is 910 square feet, allowing 1,060 cubic feet air space per bed. Pro- 
 vision is made in the plan of the building for a bath-room adjoining the ward, though as yet it is 
 not prepared. The sinks and urinals are separate from the building and in good condition ; they 
 are situated too far away from the hospital for the convenience of the sick. The dead-house is also 
 too far oft', being placed outside of the hospital yard. 
 
 The water supply is good as to quality and quantity. There are no facilities for bathing. 
 
 The drainage is entirely superficial, and is imperfect. .Post gardens are cultivated, and furnish 
 a good supply of vegetables. There is good grazing on the reservation. Cows, pigs, and chickens 
 are kept. Mail is received twice a week. It is rare that any article of value reaches its destina- 
 tion by mail, to or from this point. Communications to publishing or furnishing houses are almost 
 invariably opened en route, and money removed if present. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is very good. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Bayard, 
 
 New Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 gi 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 5* 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 a 
 
 S 
 
 Years. 
 
 | 
 
 g 
 
 =2 
 
 5 
 
 * fi 
 
 e 
 
 .2 
 
 "3 
 
 135 
 
 a 
 
 . 
 
 3 * 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 O J 
 
 o 
 
 
 S, 3 
 
 Q 
 
 5 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 fc- . 
 
 CM 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 3 
 
 s 
 
 I 
 
 & 
 
 "3 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 o 
 H 
 
 
 
 a 
 K 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 1868 (nine months) 
 
 60 11 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 4 
 
 l 
 
 1869, (eleven months). 
 
 71. 63 
 
 66 
 
 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 l 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 Bayard, Neic Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 _s 
 
 ii 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 ft 
 
 S x 
 
 P 
 
 b 
 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean stren 
 
 Z ' 
 
 jJ 
 
 1 
 
 Malarial fc 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysento 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 41 
 
 s 
 
 1868 '. 
 
 168 5 
 
 85 
 
 10 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 3 
 
 22 
 
 l 
 
 1869, (ten months) 
 
 135 9 
 
 108 
 
 11 
 
 18 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
242 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT McRAE, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON W. B. LYON, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort McRae is situated three miles from the Rio Grande, on the line dividing the counties of 
 Socorro and Dona Ana, New Mexico. Latitude 33 01' north, longitude 107 08' west; height 
 above the sea, 4,500 feet. 
 
 It is in a wide canon extending westward from the plain of the Jornada del Muerto to the Rio 
 Grande, and is five miles from the head of the canon. The Mierabres range of mountains is 25 
 miles distant to the west, and 30 miles to the east are the San Andres Mountains. It is 32 miles 
 south of Fort Craig, and CO miles north of Fort Selden. The post was established in 1863, for the 
 protection of the Jornada del Muerto from the depredations of the Miembres branch of the Apaches. 
 The crossing at the mouth of the canon is the best on the river, and this was the principal 
 pass through which the Indians drove their stolen stock. The fort also protects the Ojo del 
 Muerto, (spring of the dead,) which, except at certain seasons, is the only water to be found near 
 the Jornada, between Fort Selden and Paraja, a distance of 90 miles. The reservation is 2 miles 
 square. The formation is quite recent, nearly the whole of the reservation having been simply 
 washed out from the original level of the plain to the present broken slope to the river. The 
 whole mesa is of recent water formation. A well sunk at Aleman, midway between Paraja and 
 Fort Selden, passed through successive layers of soft sandstone, in which hard, flinty water- 
 washed pebbles were imbedded. 
 
 Thirty feet from the surface well-preserved bones were found. At a depth of 100 feet a petri- 
 fied walnut was discovered. Abundance of water was struck at a depth of 140 feet. Thin veins 
 of coal crop out at several points near the river. A ten-foot layer of lava covers the mesa near the 
 fort, extending to the mountain of Fra Christobal above, and the Sierra de Caballo below. The 
 soil is covered with fine grama grass, but is not arable, as it cannot be irrigated. Cedar and ash 
 grow in the neighboring ravines, groves of cottonwood on the river bottoms, and there is a good 
 supply of mesquite on the higher slopes. Many species of cacti abound. The principal wild 
 animals are the antelope, deer, panther or Mexican lion, cinnamon bear, wolves, foxes, and beaver. 
 The eagle, crane, wild turkey, ducks, and quail are found. The Rio Grande abounds with cat- 
 fish. The climate is delightful, except in June and July, when the heat is excessive. Mean tem- 
 perature CO F., extremes 105 F. and 8 F. The rainy season sets in about the middle of July, 
 and continues one or two months. Average amount of rain-fall about 9 inches. There is very 
 little snow. 
 
 The buildings are all of adobe, and of but one story. The barracks, officers' quarters, and 
 hospital buildings are plastered on the inside with lime ; they have mud roofs, and jaspe or 
 gypsum floors. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters, barracks, guard house, and hospital were built in 1866 ; 
 the other buildings belonging to the post are new. 
 
 The barracks, for one company of soldiers, measures 120 by 27 feet, and is divided into two 
 apartments, with a hall. The rooms are sufficiently Avarmed by one heating stove in each, and 
 lighted by three windows in the east and five in the west side; there are no means of ventilation 
 except by the windows and doors, and the air space per man is 260 cubic feet when the barracks 
 are full. They are furnished with double bunks, with an interval of 2 feet and 10 inches between 
 the beds. The kitchen and mess-room are together in the rear of the center of the main building. 
 Two small rooms are cut off from the east end of the barracks for the use of married soldiers. 
 
 Excellent quarters for officers have recently been completed, the outer walls of which are of 
 adobe, and 27 inches in thickness. These quarters are lime plastered, with jaspe floors and good 
 cellar, and are heated by open fireplaces. Each set contains four rooms and a hall ; the rooms 
 measure from 14 by 18 feet to 18 feet square. The commanding officer's quarters contain six rooms, 
 each about 16 feet square. 
 
 The store-honse comprises two large rooms, 20 by 30 feet, with an office, 20 by 15 feet, between. 
 
FORT McKAE, SEW MEXICO. 
 
 243 
 
 This building is used by the commissary and quartermaster department, and is in excellent con- 
 dition. 
 
 The guard-house is also of adobe, with jaspe floors; dimensions, 44 by 18 feet, and 10 feet high. 
 The walls are mud-plastered and whitewashed. It comprises a guard-room, 14 by 14 feet, a 
 prisoners' room, 14 by 18 feet, and a cell, 10 feet square; these rooms arc 10 feet high, and are all 
 warmed by open wood fires. The ventilation of the guard-house is insufficient, consisting only of 
 openings, 12 inches by 24 inches, in the north, south, and west walls, 7 feet and 8 inches from the floor. 
 Prisoners sleep on boards without ticks, and with but 'one blanket per man; the average occu- 
 pancy, 2 prisoners. The hospital fronts on the parade ground, facing cast, with shade trees both 
 in front and rear. The building is 95 feet front and 25 feet deep, and, excepting its low and leaky 
 roof, is in good condition, and well adapted. On the right of the main hall entrance is the dispen- 
 sary, and immediately adjoining is the steward's room. On the left of the hall is a ward, 30 by 14 
 feet, containing five beds, and giving, when full, 83 square feet,. or 707 cubic feet of air per man. 
 The hospital is warmed by large wood open fires, which, with the windows, furnish good ventila- 
 tion. The sink is located 40 yards to the rear of the hospital, and is kept in good condition. 
 There is no bath-room. 
 
 The post bakery is a separate building, in good condition, and well adapted to the purpose. 
 
 A large corral in which 28 permanent mules, besides transient animals, arc kept, is placed 
 40 yards to the southwest of the medical officer's quarters and hospital, and to the windward 
 of both. 
 
 The police is excellent ; the refuse is daily carted to a point half a mile down the canon. 
 
 The men's sink is so situated that in the rainy season the excrement is washed to the river by 
 each successive rain ; at other times it is transported to the same place and in the same manner 
 as the refuse of the corral. 
 
 The post is supplied with an abundance of good clear water from the Ojo del Muerto, so named 
 from historical associations. The water is slightly alkaline, but pleasant to the taste and perfectly 
 healthy. A post garden has been planted near Alamosa, (six miles distant,) cultivated by a per- 
 manent detail from the garrison, but from an insufficient supply of water has as yet been but par- 
 tially successful. The hospital garden, for the same reason, has been a failure. Extra vegetables 
 have been obtained from the surrounding country, but at high prices. 
 
 There is a weekly stage line to Santa Fe\ The nearest post office is Aleman, distant 20 miles. 
 Mails are received twice a week. A letter should go to Fort Leavenworth in from 12 to 15 days. 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are Mexican farmers, who are a very healthy class of 
 people. About 300 Apache Indians, professing to be friendly, have recently been living within 30 
 miles of the post. 
 
 Diarrhcea has prevailed at the post and in the vicinity ; among the citizens, rheumatism and 
 skin diseases. 
 
 Statement shoiciny mean strength, number of sick, and principal (linemen at Fort McRae, Xew Mexico, 
 
 colored troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 t, 
 
 
 TJ. 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 t 
 
 J . 
 H 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 g 
 
 =a 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 3D 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 | 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 8 ^ 
 
 
 a 
 
 . 
 
 I 
 
 1 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 ~ 
 
 i 
 
 7* *> 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 ** 
 
 13 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 > 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 89 16 
 
 312 
 
 58 
 
 116 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 31 
 
 
 1869 (10 months) 
 
 81 5 
 
 125 
 
 13 
 
 43 
 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pU-misv. 
 
244 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT CRAIG, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES SUTHERLAND, ASSISTANT MEDICAL 
 PURVEYOR UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS AV. R. BREWER AND H. G. 
 TIEDEMANN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Craig is situated in tbe county of Socorro, Territory of New Mexico, on the right or west 
 bank of the Rio Grande del Norte; latitude 33 38' north, longitude 107 west, with an altitude of 
 4,57G feet above the sea. Its location is about 10 miles above a well known landmark in that vicinity, 
 known as Fra Christobal, the commencement of the Jornada del Muerto. This Jornada is about 
 80 miles in length on the eastern side of the river, "and mostly dry during the year. The nearest 
 military post is Fort McRae, 32 miles distant to the south, on the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. 
 Paraja, 8 miles distant south, on the east side of the river, and San Marcial, 3 miles distant north, 
 on the west bank, are the only neighboring towns. 
 
 The post was established on the abandonment of Fort Conrad, distant 9 miles north, April 1, 
 1854, the buildings having been in process of erection some months previous. The object of Fort 
 Craig was to afford protection against the inroads of the numerous bands of Apaches that roamed 
 at large throughout the lower portion of New Mexico, from the Pecos to the Gila Rivers. Those 
 supposed to be most immediately under its influence were the Gila or Miembres Apaches, and the 
 Mogyon Apaches, both of which bauds lived on the western side of the river. The fort served 
 also the purpose of protecting a road running to the lower portion of the Territory on the west 
 side;* this road, not much traveled ten years ago, is now principally used. The Apaches have 
 always been a terror to the inhabitants and travelers of New Mexico, and at the time of the loca- 
 tion of this post they had spread desolation far and wide. The location of Fort Craig was pre- 
 ferred to that of Fort Conrad as affording better grazing, and, being at the entrance of the Jor- 
 nada del Muerto, as affording greater protection to the inhabitants of the vicinity. 
 
 The reservation embraces an area of a little over 38 square males ; the fort overlooks the river 
 from the edge of a plain which extends for miles to the base of the western range of mountains. 
 This table land is a succession of rude grades, increasing in height as they proceed, until the for- 
 mation is lost among the mountains. To the south, southwest, west, and north of the fort, 
 the mountains are mainly basaltic, and partially covered with timber and scrub bushes. There 
 is a large " mesa " nearly opposite and northeast of the fort, rising very abruptly from the river 
 bank, which is of volcanic origin, and whose summit is crowned with an extinct crater. 
 
 The mineral products are gold, silver, mercury, galena, and copper; also mines of bituminous 
 coal. A small portion of low land used for gardens is immediately on the bank of the river, which 
 is here narrow and rapid. The soil of the bottom lands is fertile, producing excellent vegetables 
 and cereals, while that of the uplands affords only pasturage for stock. The cottonwood, oak, black 
 walnut, mesqnite, cedar, and willow, are the indigenous trees, and are sparsely scattered ; the cot- 
 touwood and willow on the bottoms, and the others on the mountains. 
 
 Of wild animals, the grizzly, brown, and black bear, panther, wild cat, weasel, large and small 
 wolves, are the most important. The rodentia are represented by the large hare, (jack rabbit,) the 
 ordinary burrowing rabbit, gray and ground squirrel, the ground rat, prairie dog, the badger, and 
 mouse. Black and white tailed deer, as well as antelope, are abundant in the mountain regions. 
 Swans, pelicans, wild geese, brant, and almost every species of duck abound on the river, as well 
 as sand-hill cranes, blue herons, bitterns, and several species of snipe. At sonic distance from the 
 post, and principally in the mountains, are found turkey, quail, blackbird, meadow lark, robins, 
 doves, sparrows, bluebird, cardinal bird, snow bird, and many others. Of the birds of prey, are 
 the golden eagle, white headed eagle, the falcon, chicken and sparrow hawks, turkey buzzard, car- 
 rion crow, and raven ; the last three species being the most numerous, and answering the purpose 
 of scavengers. The river abounds in catfish, buffalo, and white fish. Beavers and muskrats are 
 found in great numbers within a mile of the post. 
 
 The climate/ is variable; in summer the heat is very great; in winter there is slight frost, and 
 
FORT CEAIG, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 245 
 
 some little snow. This season is disturbed by the great storms of dust which blow, from the west 
 principally, over this post as well as over all the lower posts of New Mexico, thereby marring what 
 would otherwise be a very delightful climate at that time of the year. The dust at times'is stifling. 
 The average temperature is 58.59 F.; the greatest degree of heat, 98 F.; that of cold, 4 F.; the 
 greatest diiference observed between the thermometer and hygrometer, 26 F. The anunal rain- 
 fall for 1869, was 11.23 inches. The prevailing winds in summer are southwest ; during winter, 
 from the north. The fort is placed nearly equidistant from the northern and southern boundaries 
 of the reservation, and is 72 feet above the Rio Grande. 
 
 The buildings are, with few exceptions, constructed of adobe, and are arranged around a rec- 
 tangular area 1,050 feet by COO feet. For the general arrangement of the post, see Figure 27. 
 
 A, casemates ; B, commanding officer's quarters ; C, 
 
 guard-house ; D, initial point ; E, adjutant's office ; F, sol- 
 diers' quarters; H, officers' quarters; I, store-houses and 
 shops ; K, married soldiers' quarters ; L, old hospital ; M, 
 new hospital ; N, corral ; P, unfinished part. 
 The post was designed for two companies. 
 The barracks, two in number, built of adobe in the form 
 of a hollow square, each inclosing a plazita, are occupied, 
 the one by white troops, the other by colored troops. Each 
 barrack contains two dormitories, 51 by 20 by 12 feet, with 
 a wide hall extending from the front of the building to the 
 inclosed court in the rear. The buildings are badly designed ; 
 the ventilation is defective; they cannot be heated; and 
 should they happen to be crowded during an epidemic, the 
 consequences would be serious. The dormitories have each 
 
 two windows in front and one in the outer end ; at the ad- Figure 27. Scale 500 feet to l inch, 
 
 joining ends a door opens from each into the hall. Air space per man, 538 cubic feet ; single 
 iron bedsteads are used. Movable sinks have been built 200 yards distant. The kitchens are 
 comfortable and well floored rooms, furnished with stoves and open fireplaces for cooking pur- 
 poses. These, with the mess-rooms, non-commissioned officers' quarters, laundresses' quarters, and 
 wood and coal rooms, are located to the rear of the dormitories, and complete the square inclosing 
 the court. 
 
 The officers' quarters are three one-story buildings, built of adobe, well finished, being plastered 
 within and without; the flooring of all is composed of impure gypsum ; the roofs are flat and of 
 the same material. A portico, supported by wooden columns, extends the entire length of the 
 western front of two, and eastern front of one of them. Each set of quarters has a hall, 20 by 15 
 by 12 feet, extending from front to rear, with a bed-room, 20 by 20 by 12 feet, on either side. 
 Adjoining one of these rooms is the dining-room, 20 by 20 by 12 feet, which communicates by a 
 hall with the servants' room, 12 by 15 by 12J feet, and kitchen, 20 by 20 by 12J feet. All the quar- 
 ters for officers are heated by open fireplaces, and well lighted by windows. There' are no bath- 
 rooms ; the privies are small detached buildings in rear of the quarters ; the guard-house is located 
 in the center of one side of the post ; the sally-port passes through it. On one side of the sally- 
 port is the guard-room, 20 by 17 feet, and in rear of this a room, 20 by 21 feet and 10J feet high, 
 which is used for colored prisoners. On the opposite side of the sally-port is a room containing 
 2,226 cubic feet of air space used for the confinement of white prisoners. 
 
 The prison-rooms are poorly j lighted and ventilated, the last mentioned having only a few 
 .small holes near the roof and chinks around the door for the admission of fresh air. The guard 
 room and room occupied by white prisoners are warmed by open fireplaces; but there is neither 
 fireplace nor stove in the room occupied by colored prisoners. The prison-rooms had, during a 
 period of three years, -an average of sixteen men confined in them the greatest number reached 
 was thirty-two. 
 
 In one corner of the guard-room is a trap-door opening upon a stairway which leads down to 
 the cells where prisoners are kept in solitary confinement. The cells are six in number, three on 
 each side of the passage way. Each cell is 5 feet 7 inches long, 2 feet 10 inches wide, and 4 
 
246 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 feet 10 inches high, giving a cubic space of 76 feet ; width of passage way 3 feet 7 inches. 
 Eight augur holes and the chinks around the doors are the only means of admitting air and 
 light froni the passage-way into the cells. The whole amount of air and light, admitted into the 
 dungeons passes through an opening beneath the guard-room steps, not to exceed in area one 
 square foot. This is the only opening, except the trap door, which is always closed at night. 
 
 The glaring defects noticeable in these rooms and cells are, first, the great want of ventilation; 
 and, next in importance, the want of proper board flooring. 
 
 The men, with seldom more than a single blanket, sleep upon the earthen floor, which, from 
 being frequently sprinkled to lay the dust, contains much moisture. Colds and rheumatism are 
 frequent among the inmates, and, if not removed at once to the hospital for treatment, are very 
 difficult to treat. 
 
 The old hospital consists of two adobe structures; one 15 by 90 feet, the other 20 by 90 feet, 
 parallel to each other and 40 feet apart. The rooms contained in each building communicate with 
 each other by doors, and there are no halls, except the one which separates the two wards. Open 
 fireplaces are the means of warming the hospital, the rooms of which are insufficiently lighted and 
 ventilated by windows measuring only 4 by 2 feet. The wards measure each 20 by 20 by 14 feet. 
 The windows, four in each ward, two in front and two back, are very small, and no appliance 
 exists for roof ventilation. These rooms contain each eight beds, giving 700 cubic feet per bed. 
 
 Owing to the many defects in the hospital, a new adobe building, 70 by 22 feet, (inside measure- 
 ment,) has been erected for the accommodation of the sick. It contains two wards, each 30 by 22 
 by 14 feet, and a hall, 10 by 22 by 14 feet, extending through the center of the building, from front 
 to rear, and is well lighted by windows, 4 by 8 feet. The building, however, is still in an unfin- 
 ished state, owing to a want of material and skilled workmen. Before the walls had attained the 
 required height, the citizen mason who had superintended the work was discharged, and the com- 
 pletion of the building was left to the soldiers of the command. ^Ihe remaining layers of adobe 
 were laid by a man on extra duty and some prisoners. The rafters and planking for a flat roofing 
 were put on, and it is here that the inexperience of the workmen is plainly to be seen. The roofing 
 is composed of sand and impure gypsum, a material the proper use of which was unknown to the 
 soldiers, and the result was that nearly 500 bushels more than requisite was used on the roof, 
 causing the rafters and sheathing to sag and spring. The enormous weight of the roof, with 
 the addition of collected rain in its hollowed center, thus imperil the walls by its immense side 
 pressure. 
 
 The building is ventilated by six ventilators placed on the ridge, each presenting an orifice, 
 4 by 15 inches, which is increased in size as it enters the ward where the diameter is 12 by 15 
 inches. The wards contain 16 beds, allowing to each 1,155 cubic feet. 
 
 The old building is still occupied, and has been repaired and plastered. Even in the event of 
 the new building being completed, the present hospital -could not be dispensed with, the original 
 purpose of the former being to have sufficient accommodation for the sick only, giving an 
 abundance of air space and light. No provision is made for bathing. The dispensary is used as 
 an office. The hospital sink is located about fifteen yards distant from the building. A small 
 room is used as a dead-room and for the storage of lumber and wood. The grounds are well 
 drained by means of grading, together with wooden pipes, which convey the water into the outer 
 trench. 
 
 The post bakery contains an adobe oven, situated in the center of a room, 22 by 20 by 11 feet, 
 and supplies the garrison with excellent bread. The floor of the room is of gypsum. 
 
 The cavalry stables and corral are located inside the fort and within 200 yards of the officers' 
 quarters. In summer the effluvia is often distinctly perceptible on the parade ground, and mos- 
 quitoes and flies are attracted in great numbers, to the discomfort of the garrison. Refuse is re- 
 moved in carts and deposited below the hill, where it is burned. 
 
 The post library contains 63 volumes of novels, histories, and scientific works. 
 
 A good supply of water is obtained from the Rio Grande, about one mile distant, and distrib- 
 uted about the post by water-wagons. Though turbid, the water is of good quality. 
 
 The fort being placed upon a slope, leading to the river, the natural drainage is all that can 
 
FORT CRAIG, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 247 
 
 be desired. The soil, also, being loose and gravelly, water disappears rapidly from nearly all parts 
 of the post. 
 
 There are no systematic arrangeinen ts for bathing, either in summer or winter; the men avail 
 themselves of the river during the hot months, at their own discretion. In the cold months, the 
 wash tubs of the laimdresses are used for that purpose by the men. 
 
 Attempts have been made to cultivate gardens, but with little success. With the exception 
 of the very small quantity of vegetables raised, none have been used by the troops. It has been 
 recommended that potatoes be provided for winter use; but the chief commissary of the district 
 reports that his department will not countenance such purchase. 
 
 The furniture of the barracks, though meager, is quite sufficient for the wants of the men. 
 There are no benches or chairs; the men rolling up their bedding each morning to the head of the 
 bunk, employing the foot of it as a seat. 
 
 Communication from here to Sheridan, the nearest railroad station, is by wagon. As a- rule it 
 is regular, but liable to irregularities from snows, floods, and Indians. The mails have been very 
 regular, arriving and departing six days in the week. A letter from the post to St. Louis, Mis- 
 souri, usually occupies ten days in its transit. 
 
 Means of transportation are government wagons, old and needing repairs, drawn by six mules, 
 and inadequate to the wants of the post. 
 
 The Mexicans who occupy the vicinity of the post subsist by agriculture and their flocks and 
 herds. Some few are rich ; but the greater part are very poor and lazy, with barely sufficient eu- 
 ergy to earn enough to meet the wants of their large families. The Navajoes and Apaches are sel- 
 dom seen in this vicinity, and can hardly be classed among the inhabitants. 
 
 No cases arising from malarial influence can be said to originate directly at the post ; the few 
 which are brought under treatment are derived from the troops who may have been stationed in 
 Arizona and Texas. Pneumonia occurs somewhat frequently, and is apparently epidemic in char- 
 acter, more cases, however, occurring among the inhabitants than the troops. Rheumatism is ap- 
 parently more prevalent among the inhabitants than almost any other form of disease. Soldiers 
 who have served any considerable period in this district are also sufferers from it; still, in the 
 acute form, it submits readily enough to treatment. 
 
 Statement xhoirini/ mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Craig, 
 
 Neic Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "4 
 
 - ^ 
 
 
 * ? 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 
 1* 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 a x 
 z 
 
 01 
 
 <a 
 
 a a 
 
 X 
 
 a 
 "a 
 
 .S 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 v 
 i^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a , 
 
 ~ 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 v 
 
 ti -*- 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 V. 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 \ 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 2 
 
 S 
 
 o 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 CJ 
 
 
 1868 
 
 49. 5 
 
 61 
 
 1 
 
 21 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 63.5 
 
 57 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement, showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort Craig, 
 
 New Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 
 
 - ( 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 S -a 
 
 3- a 
 
 a 
 
 > 
 
 4^ 
 
 &> 
 
 
 
 
 g . 
 
 1. 
 
 7? 
 
 Years. 
 
 | 
 
 O "55 
 
 a 
 
 f 
 
 3 
 
 I 1 
 
 .2 
 
 d 
 "3 
 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 ff 
 
 'C 
 
 > 
 
 ^H 
 
 
 
 i^S 
 
 ^ 
 
 fci * 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 ^ 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 "^ 
 
 Ej 
 
 a 
 
 c 
 
 M 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 41 
 
 O 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 H 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 > ^ 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 118 33 
 
 281 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 70 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 19 
 
 22 
 
 43 
 
 2 
 
 1869, (10 months) 
 
 103.4 
 
 56 
 
 
 9 
 
 18 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
248 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT STANTON, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. R. GIBSON, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Stauton, New Mexico, is in latitude 33 29' 27" north, longitude from Greenwich 105 
 28' 19" west, and situated on the Eio Bonito, a mountain stream, having its source in the White 
 Mountains, and, running easterly to join the Eio Euidose, twenty miles distant. The post has an 
 approximate altitude of 7,500 feet above the level of the sea. The Capitan Mountain lies north, dis- 
 tent about 15 miles. The Sierra Blanca is to the southwest about 20 miles. The country is settled 
 to but a limited extent by a scattered population of Mexicans and Americans. 
 
 There are no towns in the vicinity excepting three small Mexican villages, one distant 9 miles, 
 with a population of 100; the others are distant, respectively, 60 and 55 miles, and are somewhat 
 larger. 
 
 The post was originally constructed in the year 1855 for the purpose of holding in check the 
 band of Mescalero Apaches, who roamed the country. On the occupation of the Territory of New 
 Mexico by the Texan troops, Fort Stanton was abandoned and fired by the United States troops in 
 the year 1861, and, with the exception of the walls of the buildings and corrals, the post was de- 
 stroyed. In the year 1862 a garrison of volunteer troops reoccnpied the post, and by covering the 
 walls with rafters and earth roofs made the quarters tenable. In this condition the post was occu- 
 pied until 1868, when repair and reconstruction were commenced. 
 
 The valley of the river at the site of the post is from one-half to three-quarters of a mile 
 wide. Its banks ascend gradually until the plain of the valley is reached, which, at the site of the 
 post, is about 75 feet above the bed of the stream. 
 
 The geological formation exhibits outcroppings of new red sandstone and magnesian limestone. 
 Gold ore is found in limited quantity in the Jicarillo Mountains northwest, distant about 30 miles 
 from the post. Pines, cedars, and cottonwoods abound. The game consists of bear, deer, ante- 
 lope, wild turkeys, and quail. Trout are abundant in the stream. 
 
 The climate is niild; the average temperature during the warm season greatest, 92; lowest, 
 43 F. During the cold season greatest, 39 ; lowest, .2 F. The average rain-fall during the 
 year is between 18.30 and 20.16 inches. The prevailing winds are southwest and northwest. 
 
 The post was originally laid out in a rectangular form. In the middle of one side of the 
 square, that next and parallel to the river, is situated the commanding officer's quarters. On the 
 side facing this are two sets of company quarters, and one building in the center is designated for 
 use as adjutant's office, guard-room, and cell. In each of the remaining sides of the square are 
 three buildings, viz: One set of company quarters, a store-house, and one building designated as 
 four sets of officers' quarters. All the buildings of the post are constructed of undressed stone, 
 and originally shingled roofs. As before mentioned, these dilapidated walls were rudely and tem- 
 porarily repaired on the reoccupation of the post, and with earth roofs, (earth floors in the barracks,) 
 constituted the quarters of the troops from 1863 until the present time. 
 
 The post is now undergoing repairs, and will be restored to its former condition, and upon an 
 improved plan. Two companies are quartered in new stone barracks, and a third company occu- 
 pies temporary barracks, which are old and dilapidated. These barracks are warmed by fireplaces, 
 and well ventilated by means of chimneys and cupolas. The squad-rooms afford 1,000 cubic feet 
 of space per man, and are furnished with double bunks in single tiers, containing bedsacks, &c. 
 Attached to each set of barracks is a wash-house for ordinary daily use. 
 
 Sinks, consisting of pits, are dug in the rear of each set of barracks and quarters. 
 
 From each set of company quarters, giving the building an L-shape, a wing is prolonged, used 
 as kitchen and mess-reom. 
 
 The laundresses and married soldiers are living in temporary quarters, the old walls of a former 
 company barracks, having been roofed in with earth. Two laundresses occupy temporary frame 
 shanties. 
 
 The officers' quarters are in two buildings, sufficient for a full garrison of C9mpany officers and 
 
FORT STAXTOX, XEW MEXICO. 249 
 
 staff. Each building is 90 by 35 feet, divided into eight rooms, with two halls, four rooms opening 
 into one hall. In rear of each of these buildings is another, divided into eight rooms, with 110 
 halls, intended for use as dining-rooms and kitchen for four sets of quarters. Both main buildings 
 and rear are constructed of stone, undressed, finished inside with plaster; they are one story, 
 shingled roof, heated by fireplaces and lighted by windows. In the exterior set of quarters there 
 are two windows to each room; in the interior one each. Ventilation is procured by the windows 
 and doors only, each room having two doors, one communicating with the hall, and the other be- 
 tween the two rooms. The buildings are not supplied with water; a water-course circuits the 
 parade ground about 20 feet in front of the quarters and barracks. There are neither water-closets 
 nor bath-rooms. Privies arc constructed at a distance on the flank of the officers' quarters. 
 
 On the east side of the square or parade is located the quartermaster and commissary store- 
 house, the dimensions of the entire building, externally, being 110 by 30 feet. It was originally 
 intended for quartermaster store-house, and is too small for. the purpose for which it is now used. 
 
 The guard-house is located on the south side of the parade or square, constructed of stone, 100 
 by 35 feet, and is divided into four apartments. The most eastern is the adjutant's office, 25 by 18 
 feet; then the library-room, 18 by 16 feet; then the guard-room, 20 by 18 feet; next the prison 
 cell, 25 by 18 feet, 
 
 The prison-room is lighted and ventilated by grated apertures. Each room in the building 
 is heated by a fireplace, excepting the prison cell, which is not heated. The guard-house is well 
 adapted to its purpose. 
 
 The hospital buildings are four in number, (the original plan,) consisting of one oblong 
 building, (part of which-is demolished,) designed as a ward; parallel with this, and at an interval 
 of about 10 feet, two smaller buildings, the united length of which, with the interval between 
 them, equals the length of the ward; these two buildings are used, one as dispensary and office, 
 the other as store-room. The kitchen is detached, making the fourth building, and is placed in the 
 rear of the wards. An entirely new plan is proposed for the hospital. The buildings now in use 
 will then be demolished. 
 
 The present hospital is warmed by fireplaces, and chimneys are its principal means of ventila- 
 tion. The only ward is an adobe building with mud roof, 28 by 18 feet in the interior, and in the 
 rainy season is untenable for the sick. Ten beds can be placed in this building. This number 
 includes also those occupied by the attendants, giving to each man 1,000 cubic feet of space. As 
 there is no bath-room connected with the hospital, portable baths are used in the ward. An excel- 
 lent sink, built of adobe, is in the rear of the hospital, with water drainage and urinals in the 
 rear of the sink. 
 
 The post bakery is a temporary shanty, erected over a brick oven. The stables are temporary 
 sheds inclosed in corrals, located northeast of the post, and 400 yards distant from it. The library 
 contains about 125 volumes, embracing historical works and standard novels. 
 
 Water is carried into and through the post by means of an aqueduct which taps the river 
 about three-quarters of a mile above the post, and, passing in front of the bake-house, enters the 
 southwest corner of the square. Running on the exterior of the four sides of the parade, it again 
 diverges at the northeast angle of the square and passes as a single aqueduct by the hospital 
 buildings, and thence to the corrals, where it makes a detour and drains into the river. There is 
 also a force-pump and section of hose under charge of the acting assistant quartermaster. Water 
 buckets are always ready in case of fire at the post. 
 
 The slopes from the plateau form the natural drainage of the post to the river. 
 
 Gardens are cultivated by each company on duty at the post; also, one by the hospital. The 
 area of the company gardens is nearly two acres, that of the hospital garden half an acre. Almost 
 every variety of vegetables can be cultivated except the sweet potato and tomato. 
 
 Two cows are kept for the garrison and one for the hospital. 
 
 The nearest.supply depots are at Fort Union, Xew Mexico, 207 miles distant. The route of 
 supply is generally via Fort Sumuer, 271 miles. The shortest route (207 miles) is via Anton Chico 
 and the Galliua Mountains. This route has but little water on it, and in the dryest seasons trains 
 go via Fort Sumner and Pecos River, a distance of 301 miles; road good, and open at all seasons. 
 All supplies are transported by wagon. 
 32 
 
250 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The prices of milk, butter, eggs, &c., are usually high ; milk, from 15 cents to 25 cents per 
 quart; butter, 75 cents to $1 per pound; eggs, 75 cents to $1 per dozen ; chickens, si each; fresh 
 vegetables in summer from 5 to 7 cents per pound. 
 
 The surrounding country is not inhabited within a distance of GO miles, excepting by a few 
 scattering Americans and Mexican families. The region is known as the Apache country, which 
 tribe is in open hostility. 
 
 During the fall of 1868 many cases of remittent fever, with a tendency to run into a continued 
 fever of a typhoid nature, were under treatment at this post. Several cases of typhoid fever also 
 occurred. A fe.w cases of simple catarrh and rheumatism have been under treatment in the 
 winter season. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of nick, and principal diseases at Fort Stanton, New Mexico, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrlioea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 4 
 
 % 
 
 9 
 
 | 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 U 
 
 <n 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal niVce- 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 * 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 160.16 
 
 104 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 25 
 
 
 g 
 
 n 
 
 10 
 
 i 
 
 
 Q 
 
 1869 
 
 111 
 
 50 
 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 g 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 " Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WINGATE, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON R. S. VICKERY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The exact location of this fort has never been accurately determined; but by the latest official 
 map it is latitude 35 20' north, longitude 108 25' west. It is laid down on some maps as Ojo del 
 Oso, or Bear Spring, and is nearly on the site of a former temporary post called Fort Fauntleroy 
 and afterward Fort Lyon, which was abandoned in 1862, at the time of the Texan invasion of the 
 Territory. 
 
 This post was formed about the beginning of August, 1868, by the arrival of troops with the Na- 
 vajo tribe of Indians, who were moved by General Sherman from the reservation of Fort Sunnier, 
 New Mexico, where they had been for some years, back to this, their old country. At the same time 
 old Fort Wiiigate, sixty miles southwest, was abandoned, and the troops moved to this point. The 
 present fort is west- northwest of Albuquerque, on the Rio Grande, about 150 miles from it by the 
 road, and about 45 miles southeast of old Fort Defiance. It is on the Pacific slope of the mount- 
 ains, about 23 miles west of a slight elevation called the Dividing Ridge, and is situated on gently 
 rising ground at the south side of a valley, about two miles in diameter, opening to the north. The 
 valley is open and grassy, with some pine timber and scrubby oak scattered through it, and has 
 well-wooded hills back of it. The mountains around are mostly red sandstone and clayey rock. 
 The surface soil is clay and decayed sandstone mixed with gravel, the latter being in larger pro- 
 portion near the head of the valley. 
 
 The wild animals found in this region are antelope, black-tailed deer', black bear, large gray 
 wolf, coyote, wild cat, fox, (dark gray,) beaver. On the Nutria Creek, a tributary of the Zuni 
 River, about twenty miles to the south, are prairie dogs, kangaroo rats, pouch rats, and field 
 mice, (white footed.) 
 
 Birds: Wild turkey, wild duck, (teal,) large raven, blackbird, blue jay, (Canada,) wood bluebird 
 or rusty bluebird, woodpecker, (speckled,) woodpecker, red-headed, large, (slate-colored body 
 with black spots,) woodpecker nicker, sparrow-hawk, (small,) hawk, (several varieties,) owls, (sev- 
 eral species,) mourning-dove, fly catcher, meadow lark, magpie, snowbird, Rocky Mountain blue- 
 bird, Rocky Mountain swallow. 
 
FORT WINGATE, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 251 
 
 There is very little game in the neighborhood of the post, it having been thinned out of late 
 years by the Navajo Indians. 
 
 The climate is dry and equable; breezy and pleasant even in the hottest weather. There are 
 no very high winds, except in March. Mean annual temperature, 52.08; highest 9th July, 2 p.m., 93; 
 lowest 22d December, 7 a. m., 6. Average difference between dry and wet-bulb thermometer in 
 summer, 10.59; in winter, 4.43. Bain-fall, summer of 1869, 7.58 inches; in winter, .67 inch. 
 Snow, 11. 10 inches. Rainy season, July, August, and September. The summer rains mostly from 
 same directions. In March and April there are occasional high, dry winds from southwest and 
 west, bringing much dust with them, and going down generally at sunset. The nights are nearly 
 always calm. The coldest winds in winter are from northwest and northeast, partly because the 
 fort is not sheltered from these directions. 
 
 Spring begins about the middle of March. There are light snow showers and frosts occasion- 
 ally until the end of April, or early in May, making the season for planting late. Frosts some- 
 times set in in the latter part of September, keeping late corn from ripening fully. 
 
 The stream from the spring crosses the east angle of the plan. The buildings of the post are 
 near the head of the valley, and are all temporary log-houses, with the exception of the store-house 
 and one of the officers' quarters, which are built of adobe, and are permanent. 
 
 The post was begun on a circular plan, which has been disapproved at district headquarters, 
 as giving too much space to defend, and as being too expensive. This plan is shown in Figure 28. 
 
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, officers' quarters; 7, store- 
 house; 8, cavalry quarters; 9, infantry quar- 
 ters; 10, guard-house ; 11, 12, infantry quarters ; 
 13, store-house; 14, chaplain's quarters; 15, 
 16, 17, 18, officers' quarters; 19, 23, 27, 30, 
 sally-ports; 20,22, post trader; 21, hospital ; 
 24, 26, cavalry quarters ; 25, cavalry stables ; 
 28, 29, infantry quarters ; 31, stream ; 32, wash- 
 house. 
 
 A square plan has been sent up for the 
 approval of the Secretary of War, which will 
 cover the same site now occupied. Good, 
 permanent buildings will be commenced on 
 the "square plan" as soon as the weather 
 permits. 
 
 The men's quarters are built of logs, each 
 company's forming one range of houses, with 
 earth roofs and floors. The squad-rooms are 
 too crowded, but it could not be avoided, as 
 nearly all the work was done by soldiers, and 
 had to be completed in three months, that they Figure 28. Scale, 300 feet to l inch, 
 
 might have shelter before the winter snows. This evil, however, is being remedied daily by the 
 number of men being lessened by discharge. The four sets of quarters consist of twenty-four rooms, 
 each 20 feet square ; the ventilation is by windows measuring 4 by 3 feet, and by air spaces, 4 inches 
 wide, extending the whole length under the eaves, which are kept open when the weather permits ; 
 open fireplaces are in each room, which are also furnished with rough bunks, bedsacks filled with 
 hay, and blankets. Each company has its own kitchen, measuring 20 by 20 feet, and a mess-rooin of 
 the same dimensions. The sinks are 100 yards behind each company quarters, and they are fre- 
 quently filled and changed. 
 
 There is one married soldier in each company, and each has a detached log or frame building 
 near the company quarters, measuring about 20 feet square. 
 
 There are ten sets of officers' quarters, all temporary ; one is of adobe, the others are log or 
 frame structures. 
 
 An adobe building 100 feet square, inclosing a plazita 60 feet square, is used as a store-house. 
 
 The guard-house is a log building containing two rooms, each 18 by 20 feet; one is used as 
 
252 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 guard-room, the other for prisoners. Both rooms are wanned by open fires, and ventilated by two 
 small windows, and additional openings made under the eaves in the prisoners' room; the average 
 occupancy is 15 men. 
 
 The hospital is a temporary log building, with additional frame building recently put up. A 
 permanent hospital is to be built in a few months. The present one is 80 by 20 feet in 
 dimensions, and 10 feet high, with earth roof; it is warmed by open wood fires, lit by windows, 
 and ventilated by the same with the addition of open spaces under the eaves ; the ward is 40 feet 
 long by 20 feet wide, and adjoins the dispensary and wash-room, each of which measures 20 by 10 
 feet ; the steward's room and store-room are next in order, and of the same size. The capacity of 
 the ward is twelve beds, though it at present contains but eight ; and the superficial area per bed 
 is 100 feet, air space 1,000 feet. The wash-room adjoining the ward is furnished with a bath-tub, 
 which is usually used in the ward. The water-closets are 20 yards in the rear of the hospital ; these 
 are properly policed, and, when necessary, filled up and new ones made. The additional new frame 
 building is 40 by 20 feet, and divided into three apartments, two of which are used as sur- 
 geon's rooms, and the third is the hospital kitchen, which is also used as mess-room. The sick 
 were in hospital tents previous to their removal to this hospital, which, though rough and small, 
 will answer until a permanent hospital is built. 
 
 The post bakery is a stone building with two ovens. 
 
 A building of upright logs, not plastered, is the stable. It is 312 feet long by 24 feet wide ; 
 refuse is transported by wagons every morning to a ravine one-half a mile from post and burned. 
 There are post and company libraries, aiul in addition there are many papers and periodicals takeii 
 by the men. 
 
 The water supply of the post is from a pure, cool, and abundant spring, situated back of the 
 post, and high enough to be conducted to any part of it ; the water contains a little lime, and is all 
 that can be desired. The permanganate of potash test shows it to be nearly free from organic 
 matter. Water buckets and barrels are the present means of extinguishing fire. 
 
 The slope of the ground everywhere gives good natural drainage. At the men's quarters the 
 substratum of clay, coming near the surface, made the ground rather damp ; but by cutting a new 
 channel for the stream, thereby turning it off further, this has been much improved. This is nearly 
 all the artificial drainage that has been found necessary as yet. The west side of the post is well 
 drained by a small stream running in a deep channel. An acre and a half of land is allotted to 
 one company, and one acre to each of the other companies, for garden purposes. The soldiers are 
 assisted by some Navajo Indians in the cultivation, and good crops of vegetables, except potatoes, 
 have been raised. One and a half ounces of desiccated potatoes are issued to each ration. No tea 
 is used, nor mixed vegetables, which the men dislike. 
 
 The nearest city is Santa Fe\ A new road has been opened, almost due east, to the Rio Grande, 
 crossing that river at San Fe'lipe about 28 miles north of Albuquerque. Distance to Santa F6", via 
 Albuquerque, 208 miles ; to the same place, via San Fe'lipe, 170 miles a saving of 38 miles. The 
 mails arrive once a week from Santa Fe, via the latter route. They are regular, though sometimes 
 interrupted for a week or two in the spring by floods and snows. It requires about seven days for 
 a letter to reach department headquarters, and from nine to ten days to Washington. Kit Carson, 
 on the Kansas Pacific railroad, 542 miles from Fort Wiugate, is the nearest railroad station. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are the Navajoes, numbering about 7,500, who are 
 generally of good physique, and better looking and more intelligent than most tribes of Indians. 
 They were moved to this place from a former reservation, and about two months afterward the 
 most of them were removed to old Fort Defiance, about 45 miles to the northwest Fort Win- 
 gate. These Indians receive from government, clothing, and a daily ration of half a pound of beef 
 and half a pound of corn ; they have small flocks of sheep and goats, and some ponies ; they culti- 
 vated in 1809, 4,000 or 5,000 acres of corn. Some of them work for the quartermaster and for 
 private parties at this post ; they are industrious and quick to learn, even some of the mechanical 
 arts. The squaws make excellent woolen blankets, woven in a way peculiar to their tribe. 
 
 The treaty provides that a school-house shall be built and a teacher supplied for them. 
 
 The nearest Pueblo village is Zuni, about 40 miles south of the post. These Indians are an 
 agricultural and a very peaceful people, living in fortified towns or pueblos. They keep horses, 
 
FOET BASCOM, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 253 
 
 cattle, sheep, goats, &c., and raise corn, and some vegetables and fruits, such as peaches and ap- 
 ples. They visit the post occasionally to trade. Much syphilitic disease exists among the Nava- 
 joes, and in the summer of 1868 an epidemic of small-pox raged, of which many died. 
 
 The prevalent disease at the post and vicinity during the past year has been of a venereal 
 character. In the summer and fall cases of diarrhoea occurred ; also, of intermittent fever, which 
 probably was caused by the crowded state of the squad-rooms at that time. With good, permanent, 
 and roomy buildings, there is no reason why the sanitary condition of this post should not be as 
 good as that of any post in the country. A few cases of intermittent fever, and diarrhoea and 
 dysentery of malarial origin, occur each fall. There were some cases of typhoid and typho-inala- 
 rial fever in the fall of 18C8, supposed to be from much turning up of the soil and exposure of the 
 men while building quarters. Almost the only pulmonary disease is a little pneumonia each win- 
 ter, of a mild type. Some few cases of rheumatism occur, acute and chronic, the latter generally a 
 manifestation or consequence of constitutional syphilis. 
 
 Statement show-ing mean strength, number of siek, and principal diseases at Fort Wingate, Neic Mexico, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 -d 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 ,d 
 
 ft 
 
 jj 
 
 S3 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 P 
 
 g ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 S x 
 a 
 s 
 
 ]| 
 
 P 
 
 Typhoid fe 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrha>a 
 dyseute 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.' 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 d 
 
 1868 
 
 195. 08 
 
 158 
 
 4 
 
 28 
 
 40 
 
 5 
 
 23 
 
 - 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 
 1869 
 
 169. 91 
 
 193 
 
 3 
 
 10 
 
 31 
 
 7 
 
 48 
 
 2 
 
 17 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include liii-yn^itis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and plonrisy. 
 
 FORT BASCOM, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS GEORGE S. ROSE AND W. H. H. MICHLER, AND 
 ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. DUANE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Bascom is located on the east bank of the Canadian River, in San Miguel County, New 
 Mexico, latitude 35' 23' 20" north, longitude 107 27' 20" west from Greenwich; elevation above the 
 sea about 4,000 feet. Fort Sumner, nearly due south, is distant 80 miles. Fort Union, the nearest 
 mail post, is 145 miles to the northwest, and the border of the Llano Estacado is about 15 miles to 
 the eastward. 
 
 The fort is on a plateau about 20 feet above the river bottom, and 500 yards from the bed of 
 the river, which, at this point, is about 25 feet wide and 2 or 3 feet in depth during ordinary stage 
 of water, but which is subject to great and sudden overflows, having been known to rise 15 feet in 
 twenty-four hours. On the opposite side of the stream is a bluff from 50 to 60 feet in -height, be- 
 yond which the country is rolling and broken. 
 
 The soil of the plateau is sandy and alkaline, nothing thriving except prairie grass, soap weed, 
 and cactus ; that of the bottom is alluvial and fertile. Cotton was successfully cultivated in 1864. 
 Timber consists of cottouwood and cedar. Wild animals are deer, puma, wild cat, wolf, fox, prairie 
 dog, beaver. Birds are duck, blackbird, quail, partridge, and turkey. The only fish caught in the 
 river are trout and catfish. The climate is mild; mean temperature for 1869, 58.38 F.; exflfemes, 
 103 F., and 8 F.; rain-fall, 9.97 inches; snow-fall, 2.55 inches. 
 
 The post was established by the following order : 
 
 [General Orders No. 20. Extract.] 
 
 HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO, SANTA FK, NEW MEXICO, August 11, 1863. 
 
 1. A military post, to be garrisoned by one company of infantry and one of cavalry, will at once be established at 
 or near the mouth of Utah Creek on Red River, otherwise known as the South Fork of the Canadian. Unless other- 
 
254 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 AL 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 h r 
 
 B 
 
 i 
 
 A 
 
 J 
 
 HI 
 
 wise directed, this post will be known as Fort Bascom, to perpetuate the memory of the gallant Captain George N. Bas- 
 com, of the United States Sixteenth Infantry, who foil in the defense of our colors at the battle of Valverde, February 
 21, 1862. 
 
 2. Captain P. W. L. Plympton, Seventh United States Infantry, is designated as the commander of Fort Bascom. 
 
 #**** +*#**#** 
 
 3. While Fort Bascom will be an outpost to New Mexico during the present rebellion, its advanced pickets watch- 
 ing the roads from Arkansas and Texas, it will be of the greatest importance in preventing the predatory incursions of 
 the Comanche and Kiowa Indians. ** 
 
 By order of Brigadier General Carleton : 
 
 B. C. CUTLER, 
 Assistant Adjutant General. 
 
 No reservation has been declared, but one square mile is held as reserved. 
 The post covers an area of 1,000 by 500 feet, inclosed by an adobe wall, and trench. Its gen- 
 eral arrangement is shown by Figure 29. 
 
 A and AI, cavalry stables; B, cavalry 
 corral ; C, quartermaster's corral ; D and DI, 
 officers' quarters; E, quartermaster's store - 
 
 T7>0 
 
 house; F, commissary's storehouse; HI, 
 store-house; K, barracks; L, mess-hall; M, 
 MI, laundresses' quarters; N, old hospital; 
 NT, new hospital ; P, guard-house. Houses, 
 the walls of which are indicated by double 
 lines, are finished and occupied, the remain- 
 der, marked I, with single lines, are incom- 
 plete or unfinished. 
 
 The buildings are not in a state of com- 
 pletion according to the original plan. The 
 barrack, sit ated on the southeast side of the 
 garrison, is an adobe building, roofed with 
 poles and earth, and divided by four covered 
 passage-ways into four rooms, each 100 by 20 
 by 13 feet. Each room is warmed by three 
 large fireplaces, and the floors, constructed of 
 earth, are hard and dry. The barrack is gen- 
 erally comfortable, and in good order ; it easily 
 accommodates two full companies, allowing 
 at least 500 cubic feet of air to each man. 
 The circulation of air through the doors and 
 windows, with the addition of the fireplaces, 
 
 Figure 29. Scale, 264 feet to l inch. ventilates the building thoroughly. The roof- 
 
 ing is bad, and leaks whenever it rains. The company sinks are 75 yards in the rear of the barrack; 
 and about 25 yards distant, and in rear of the quarters, are situated the cook-houses, mess-rooms, 
 company laundry, and post bakery. 
 
 On the northwest side of the garrison are the officers' quarters, five in number, constructed of 
 sandstone, and roofed with poles and earth. Each set of quarters is divided by a wide covered 
 passage way, leaving two rooms on each side. The rooms are small, 15 by 9 feet, badly constructed, 
 and very inconvenient; the roofs leak badly, rendering the quarters very uncomfortable during wet 
 weather. The commissary and quartermaster's buildings are on the north side of the garrison, con- 
 struct^! of adobes, and roofed with poles and earth. The buildings are large and convenient, and 
 are in good order, with the exception of the roofing, which leaks. 
 
 The post hospital, situated in the southeast corner of the garrison, is built of adobe, and is 80 
 feet long and 20 feet wide. The hospital grounds are about 75 yards square, and are separated 
 from the company grounds by a low adobe wall. The building is divided by a hall, 10 feet wide, 
 making two wards, 30 by 20 feet, and 16 feet high. Each ward is heated by two large fireplaces, 
 and ventilated by common roof-ventilators. The floors are made of earth, and the roofing of poles 
 
 --] 
 
 cr 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 ;M 
 
 
 I '. 
 ^ 
 
 |MI 
 
 1 
 
 
 LLJ i 
 
 c; 
 
 L 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 I 
 
 C 
 
 JvL 
 
 
 Pi 
 
 J 
 
 Ti 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 J 
 
 
 n f 
 
 Q: 
 
 S 
 
 J 
 
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 255 
 
 and earth. The beds iu one ward are separated from each other four feet, allowing 1,100 eubic 
 feet of air space per bed. The other ward is used as steward's room, dispensary, and store room. 
 There is no mess-room, bath-room, or quarters for matron connected with the hospital. The sinks 
 arc situated 70 yards in rear of the wards, and are constructed on the same plan as those of the 
 companies. 
 
 The water supply is from the river, casks being placed outside of the wall in the rear of the 
 various buildings, and filled every day by water-wagons. Small adobe water-houses have been 
 erected to shade the water during the summer months. When the river is low, during the winter 
 and fall, the water is clean and good, but during the summer, when the river is high, overflowing 
 its banks, the water is muddy and loaded with organic matter, so much so that it becomes putres- 
 ceut, standing in the water-casks, within twenty-four hours. The casks are cleaned every day, and 
 alum used to settle the water. No deleterious effects from the river water have as yet been 
 observed. 
 
 The drainage is entirely surface ; none other is required, as the post is so situated that there 
 is a natural drainage into the river. 
 
 No cows are kept for the garrison, and but one for the hospital. Two company gardens, on the 
 bank of the river, are cultivated by a detail of each company. There is no hospital garden. 
 
 There are no inhabitants in the vicinity of the post. 
 
 The sanitary condition of Fort Bascom is very good. There are no prevailing diseases, and ma- 
 larial, pulmonary, and bowel affections are seldom met with. Rheumatism exists to some extent 
 and is of syphilitic origin. 
 
 Communication has been regular by private conveyance or government wagons, with very little 
 danger from Indians, though occasionally delayed from floods and snow. A weekly mail is received 
 and sent, varying from seven to fifteen days to department headquarters, and from twelve to twenty 
 days to Washington. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Bascom, New Mexico, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 
 oj 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 d 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 s 
 
 !j 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 1 
 ja ^ 
 
 .2 
 +3 
 
 "S 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 J= _0 
 
 1 
 "S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 ^ 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 H 
 
 ? 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 133. 58 
 
 305 
 
 22 
 
 112 
 
 
 23 
 
 32 
 
 11 
 
 
 1869 
 
 105. 91 
 
 139 
 
 10 
 
 54 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON C. T. ALEXANDER, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ASSISTANT 
 SURGEON D. L. HUNTINGTON, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The city of Santa Fe is pleasantly situated on an extensive plateau on the western slope of 
 the Rocky Mountains, at an elevation of about 7,000 feet above the level of the sea, and in latitude 
 35 41' north, longitude 106 2' west. To the north and east rise the foothills and peaks of the 
 Rocky Mountain range; on the south, the plateau is gradually lost in spurs of mountains shooting 
 out of the main range, and on the west it terminates somewhat abruptly in the valley of the Rio 
 Grande. The city is reached from the north by the stage road from the terminus of the Kansas 
 Pacific railroad, this terminus being about 400 miles distant. Fort Union, on this same road, lies 
 to the east about 100 miles. To the south runs the main road to Albuquerque and Southern New 
 Mexico, and less important roads leading to neighboring towns. The Rio Grande runs in a south- 
 westerly direction from Santa Fe, about 18 or 20 miles distant at the nearest point. A small mount- 
 ain stream, a tributary of the Rio Grande, called the Rio de Santa Fe", nearly bisects the town. 
 
256 , DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The present site of the city of Santa Fe" was originally held by some tribe or band, probably 
 of the ancient Aztecs, Toltecs, or Anahues, and remains of their buildings are still to be seen 
 within the limits of the present city. In the early part of the seventeenth century a Spanish settle- 
 ment was made under the name of the City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis, the abbreviation 
 of which is still retained. 
 
 The geological features of the country about the town are mainly tertiary, and indications of 
 volcanic action are apparent on every side in the remains of craters and trap dikes. In certain 
 localities where the primitive rocks have been exposed, discoveries of silver, gold, and copper have 
 been made, but whether in quantity and quality sufficient to make it an object to work mines, is 
 yet doubtful. There are beds of bituminous coal, of an excellent quality, about 25 or 30 miles to 
 the southwest. 
 
 The soil of Santa Fe and vicinity is dry, light, and sandy, yet very fruitful. Irrigation is 
 almost entirely relied upon, and extensive systems of acequias or canals surround the town, the 
 water for this purpose being taken from the Santa Fe" River, which has sufficient fall to afford 
 facilities for the irrigation of the soil for miles around. Good crops of wheat, corn, beans, red 
 pepper, and many of the vegetables are raised. Potatoes cannot be successfully cultivated in this 
 vicinity. Until recently, but few fruits or berries have been raised, but late experiments in the 
 culture of apples and the smaller fruits have been quite successful. The grape does not mature 
 well, the frosts are too late and early. 
 
 The country for miles about Santa Fe is destitute of trees. The large growth is said to have 
 been cut away, at an early date in the history of the place, for fuel and for better security against 
 hostile Indians, and a subsequent growth of large trees has not appeared, though stunted cedars 
 and pines are very common. This want of vegetation detracts much from the natural beauties of 
 the town and vicinity. On the hills toward the mountains are found large pines and cedars. The 
 pinon, a species of pine, furnishes the almost sole supply of fire wood. It is brought for miles 
 on the backs of donkeys and sold by the load, in the plaza, at from twenty five cents to one dollar, 
 according to the season of the year or severity of the winter. Coal is not brought to market. 
 
 The natural drainage of Santa Fe is excellent, and is materially assisted by the above men- 
 tioned system of acequias. Still little attention is paid to the subject, and many of the narrow 
 streets and lanes of the city are excessively filthy. 
 
 The river water is very extensively used for drinking purposes, and is excellent. Good water, 
 but a little impregnated with lime, may be obtained by wells at a depth of from 10 to 40 feet. 
 
 The population of Santa F6" is about 6,000, of which the larger portion is Mexican and Indian, 
 or an admixture of the two. The American element is rapidly increasing, and already has the 
 chief influence in matters of trade and politics. 
 
 The place is irregularly built of adobe, and, when seen from the approaches to the town, has 
 an exceedingly uninviting appearance. The houses are generally built on the Spanish plan, a 
 quadrangle with an interior court-yard, the entrance being through a gateway, generally kept 
 closed. The older portions of the town are built upon narrow lanes and passage ways, rather than 
 upon streets. The better portion is the more recent and inhabited by the American residents. 
 The plaza holds a conspicuous place as a business center, and about it and in its vicinity are the civil 
 and military offices, Santa Fe being the headquarters of both the civil and military establishment. 
 For many years Santa Fe had been the business center for New Mexico and Arizona, but of late 
 the increasing facilities for transportation have had the tendency to create other centers, and to 
 some degree Santa Fe has lost some of its commercial importance. 
 
 The climate is exceeding salubrious. The winters, though long, are not generally severe, the 
 thermometer rarely falling below zero. The snow fall is variable, but heavy falls are rare, and the 
 snow remains upon the ground but a short time. The summers are late, and excessive heat is un- 
 known. The mountain peaks are covered with snow, often until June, and render the air cool and 
 chilly. The yearly mean is 60 F. The highest temperature reached in 1869 was 97; the lowest 
 was 6. The trees leaf about the middle of May, and shed their foliage early in October. July 
 and August are the rainy months proper, during which showers, accompanied with thunder and 
 lightning, are of daily occurrence. There is generally more or less rain during the spring months, 
 but a storm of long continuance is rare. The rain-fall in 1869 was 3.60 inches; snow, 3.16 inches, 
 
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 257 
 
 North winds prevail, bringing, in winter, snow or bail, and in spring, rain. The southeast wind 
 prevails from the middle of June to the first of August, which season is known as the rainy season, 
 after which it is perfectly dry, until a fall of snow, which may happen any time after the middle of 
 October. High winds prevail in February, March, and April. The summer, fall, and early winter 
 mouths are the pleasant seasons of the year, during which the bright sunny days, and the trans- 
 parent, clear atmosphere are unequaled. 
 
 The buildings formerly composing Fort Marcy, which was abandoned as a post in 18G7, are 
 still used in connection with the military headquarters, as quarters for guards, escorts, and de- 
 tachments, and for store-houses; they are in fair repair and answer well the purpose indicated. 
 
 The quarters formerly allotted to officers and the barracks are occupied by the enlisted men of 
 the band and detachment, also affording room for offices and store rooms. These buildings are 
 warmed by fireplaces, and well lighted. In the band quarters the air space per man is 1,000 cubic 
 feet, and in the detachment quarters 936 cubic feet; in the former single bunks are used, while in 
 the latter double bunks are furnished, and the bedding is both good and in sufficient quantity ; 
 each detachment has its own mess-room ; the kitchen is good, and the cooking is performed by men 
 belonging to the detachment, and is inspected by the officer commanding. 
 
 The quarters of married soldiers and laundresses are those formerly occupied by officers, and 
 the officers' quarters are the same as those occupied by the officers of the post, and are also used 
 as offices for the non-commissioned staff. There are two sets of officers' quarters, built of adobe, 
 one story high, plastered in and out, and have dirt roofs; there are three and four rooms to each 
 set, with hall in the center. The rooms are 18 by 18 by 10 feet. The kitchens and servants' rooms 
 are 14 by 14 by 10 feet. A porch extends the entire length in front of both sets. 
 
 The buildings are heated by fireplaces, and lighted by windows, and ventilated by one door 
 and one window to each room ; they are supplied with water from a well in the yard; there is no 
 water-closet or bath-room. The offices and store-houses are located on the east side of the parade 
 ground; they are built of adobe, with dirt roofs, and are in bad condition, one office, with two 
 rooms, used as quartermaster and commissary offices. There are two commissary store-houses, each 
 114 by 18 by 10 feet, and two quartermaster's store-houses, one 103 by 24 by 10 feet, and the other 
 132 by 24 by 10 feet. 
 
 The guard-house is but little used ; it is well ventilated, and is warmed by fireplaces, and 
 lighted by a large window; its average occupation is not one during the year. 
 
 The hospital is located upon grounds 201 by 120 feet, or 24,120 square feet in extent. The 
 buildings are of adobe, and are of sufficient capacity to receive the usual per cent of sick enlisted 
 men, and well adapted for the purpose. They are built in the form of a square, measuring 77 feet 
 on a side, and inclosing a court-yard, 47 feet square. The plan of the hospital is shown in Figure 30. 
 
 A, ward, 15 by 32 feet; A, ward, 15 by 17 feet; 
 A, ward, 14 feet 6 inches by 15 feet; C, surgery, 15 
 by 15 feet 6 inches ; E, steward's room, 15 by 15 feet ; 
 H H, halls ; K M, kitchen and mess-room, 14 by 25 
 feet; S, store-room, 15 by 15 feet ; V, matron's quar- 
 ters, 15 by 22 feet; V, matron's quarters, 15 by 15 
 feet; V, matron's quarters, 14 by 14 feet; W H, 
 bath room, 14 by 15 feet. 
 
 Nearly all of the rooms have windows and doors 
 opening both to the outside of the building and to 
 the court-yard within. The hospital is warmed by 
 fireplaces, which, in connection with the windows, 
 are the only means of ventilation. The dispensary 
 is large and convenient, and furnished with all the 
 necessary fixtures. In the large wards, the air space 
 per bed is 798 feet ; in the smaller wards, 840 feet ; 
 
 the average occupation is three men. As there is no Figure 30. Scale, 28 feet to i 
 
 bath-room, a spare room is used for the purpose, in which there is a large bath-tub for cleaning pur- 
 poses, and can be used for vapor baths, &c. There are two water-closets outside of the hospital. A 
 33 
 
 A 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 E 
 
 CN o 
 
 N^< 
 
 E 
 V 
 
 -*s 
 
 V 
 
 S 
 
 H 
 
 M 
 
 Al H 
 
 V 
 
 A 
 
 KM 
 
 V 
 
258 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 spare room is used as a post-mortem room, which is sufficiently adapted for the purpose. The hospital 
 diet is very good, following the diet table as nearly as the necessities of so small a hospital will 
 allow. The food is well cooked and daily inspected, and served to convalescents on table set in 
 kitchen ; to the sick, in the wards. 
 
 The post bakery is in good condition and well adapted. As there is no laundry at this post, 
 all washing is done outside. 
 
 The stables and corral are separate, distant from the quarters 100 yards. Eefuse is trans- 
 ported to the distance of one-quarter of a mile or more, and deposited on waste land. 
 
 The water is procured from wells sunk upon the premises, and is of excellent quality. These 
 wells, by the aid of buckets, are the only means of extinguishing fire. 
 
 The drainage is mostly natural, modified and improved by acequias and surface drains ; it is 
 good. All drainage is toward larger arroyos, west and northwest of the post; all slops and offal 
 are carried off in carts beyond the reservation. Excreta are used to fertilize the garden. 
 
 The post garden has an area of about two acres, aud supplies in part the garrison and hospi- 
 tal ; it is cultivated by details of men for that purpose, and produces vegetables (except potatoes) 
 sufficient for the detachment and hospital. 
 
 As milk can be bought cheaply in town, no cows are kept at the post. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained upon requisition on the medical storekeeper, United States 
 Army, of the district of New Mexico, and are received in good condition and kept in a store-room 
 of the hospital, well adapted for the purpose. 
 
 The mails are received daily, except Fridays, and regularly most of the time. Letters go to 
 department headquarters in six or seven days, and to Washington, in nine or ten days. 
 
 Mexicans who till the soil are poor, indolent, and improvident, and, consequently, are low and 
 demoralized. Their disposition is mild and inoffensive, but when aroused they are treacherous, 
 vindictive, and dangerous. 
 
 The principal Indian tribes in and about the vicinity are known as the Pueblos, most probably 
 the remains of the ancient Aztecs, resident in this country and in old Mexico before the conquest 
 by Cortez. They are all docile and industrious, living in their own communities and governed by 
 their own system of laws. They are principally engaged in agricultural pursuits ; but some com- 
 munities are engaged in the manufacture of a rough leather ware and baskets. They constitute a 
 very well-behaved and worthy class of the population. They dress mainly in their own style, and 
 associate but little outside of their own villages. The Utes, Northern Apaches, and Navajoes are 
 frequently seen in and about Santa F6", to which point they come at intervals on business with the 
 agents. 
 
 This region is exempt from many of the diseases incident to more populous districts, and those 
 which prevail may be generally traced to imprudence or irregularity of life. From February to 
 May, pneumonia, rheumatism, and erysipelas prevail to some extent; but when occurring in per- 
 sons of good physical condition are easily managed. As a general thing the bronchial affections 
 are not severe or frequent. Asthmatic patients generally do well in this climate, though at first 
 the symptoms are aggravated. 
 
 Santa Fe", from June to February, is a good climate for consumptives or persons predisposed 
 to phthisis ; but such persons, to receive benefit from the climate, must come here during the first 
 stages. Cases in which the disease is fully developed, seem to fail more rapidly than in other cli- 
 mates. During the more inclement seasons of the year consumptive patients should spend their 
 time in the southern portion of the Territory, where will be found a milder and. more equable 
 climate. 
 
 Syphilis is the disease of the country, and prevails extensively in all classes of society ; it is of 
 a mild type, and anti-syphilitic treatment is generally well borne and effectual. The prevalence of 
 this disease for generations among the native race may account for its mildness on the ground of 
 acquired immunity. Skin diseases and affections of the eye and ear are common, aud can gener- 
 ally be traced to a specific cause or to neglect of cleanliness. Strangers coming to Santa Fe are 
 liable to a mild acclimating fever, assuming the typhoid type and running a course of from seven 
 to fourteen days. No cases of typhus or of malarial fever originating here have been noticed. 
 
 Epidemics of small-pox occasionally rage, but the ignorance and superstition of the people 
 
FOET UNION, NEW MEXICO. 259 
 
 relative to the protecting powers of vaccination is rather the cause of its severity than any unusu- 
 ally severe type of the disease. 
 
 In parturition the Mexican women generally prefer women of their own race, who are believed 
 to be especially skillful in such cases; but the treatment is only barbarous, consisting of a violent 
 kneading and pounding of the abdomen, the result of which is seen in the unusually large number 
 of cases of peritoneal inflammation. As a race the Mexicans are hardy and bear exposure and ha'rd- 
 ship well. The children grow up with little or no attention or care ; the stronger ones survive, and 
 the feeble ones perish in the first year. The menstrual period is developed at a very early period, 
 often so early as the eleventh and twelfth year. 
 
 The women become mothers at an early age, and at a correspondingly early age pass the criti- 
 cal turn of life, not unfrequently in the twenty -eighth or thirtieth year. 
 
 Diseases of the uterus are frequent, and can generally be traced to imprudence at or after 
 childbirth. 
 
 The Mexicans have many remedies for diseases, but they generally partake of the nature of 
 charms or useless superstition. Decoctions of various herbs are favorites in all diseases. The 
 Chili or red pepper and peppermint are used on all occasions. In gonorrhoea, the iron and grease 
 weeds are very generally employed, and seem to be very effectual. The manifestations of second- 
 ary syphilis are commonly treated by sweating-baths.- Several of the hot springs near this locality 
 are reputed to have great efficacy in such cases. 
 
 Want, hardship, and exposure, with often lives of vice, all tend to shorten the term of a Mexi- 
 can's life. Both sexes show age prematurely, and their ignorance of their own ages makes it impos- 
 sible to do more than conjecture the probable years of a seemingly old person. 
 
 FORT UNION, NEW MEXICO. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON D. C. PETERS AND GENERAL C. GROVER, UNITED STATES 
 
 ARMY, AND OTHERS. 
 
 Fort Union is situated in latitude 35 54' 21" north, longitude 104 57' 15" west, at an eleva- 
 tion above the sea of about 6,750 feet. Santa Fe is 100 miles southwest. The nearest railroad 
 station is Kit Carson, on the Kansas Pacific, distant about 250 miles. Las Vegas, 28 miles distant 
 on the Santa F route, is the nearest large settlement. The post is in a beautiful valley, about 25 
 miles long by five and a half wide, which has been carved out of the cretaceous plateau. On the 
 east the ascent is gradual ; on the west is an abrupt bluff cut through by many ravines. 
 
 About five miles to the northeast is a small range of mountains, called Turkey Hills, composed 
 of red and white sandstones, well timbered, and rising from one to two thousand feet above the level 
 of the plain. The Taos Mountains, a spur of the rocky chain, are about 40 miles distant. Nine 
 miles north of the post is an old volcanic crater, the rim of which is circular, and well defined. 
 The depression is shallow, and thickly grassed ; the sides are covered with masses of rough basalt. 
 
 The grazing in the valley is good, the grass being principally gramma. No minerals of value 
 have as yet been discovered within 80 miles of the post, the nearest mines being at Elizabethtown, 
 New Mexico. There is no running stream, proper, within five miles. Water, of excellent quality, 
 is obtained fro'm springs a quarter of a mile west of the post. Four miles south is a pond fed by 
 springs, from which ice is obtained in winter for the use of the post. 
 
 Five miles northwest of Las Vegas are a number of hot springs, which "appear at the junc- 
 tion of the carboniferous and the gneissic rocks. The lowest spring issues from the granite just 
 beneath a mass of limestone. The bed of limestone is quite hard and cherty, with a dip southeast 
 40 to 45; the underlying rock is rotten gneiss."* 
 
 These springs have, for years, been famous among the inhabitants of this country for their 
 efficacy in relieving rheumatism and chronic syphilitic complaints, and are known as the "ojos 
 calientes." The temperature is about 140 F. ; the water is very clear, and contains carbonates 
 
 * Report of Dr. F. V. Hayden, United States Geological Survey of Colorado, New Mexico. 
 
260 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of soda and potash. When rendered more accessible, by extension of railroads, it is probable 
 that these springs will be much resorted to. 
 
 The indigenous trees of the vicinity are the pine, piiion, and scrub oak, with cottonwood and 
 willow on the streams. The soil is sandy. By irrigation a great variety of vegetables can be raised 
 near the fort; but the farmers are mostly Mexicans, who are too indolent to do more than procure 
 the. necessaries of life. Wheat, corn, and oats are raised ; potatoes do not thrive, and no fruits 
 are cultivated. 
 
 The climate is dry; in winter, cold and bracing. The prevailing winds are from the west. 
 Mean temperature, for 18C9, 50.97 F. ; extremes, 95 F., and 1 F. 
 
 Fort Union was established in August, 1851, as a check upon the northern tribes of Apache 
 and Utah Indians, who were at that time hostile. It was, at first, placed immediately under the 
 bluffs west of its present site, at a point now included in the ordnance reserve. 
 
 In the fall of 1801 General C. Grover, United States Army, built a bastioned earthwork south- 
 west of the present post, about three hundred yards from the springs, and removed the stores and 
 troops to it. The quarters were constructed of logs and adobe behind, and forming a part of, the 
 parapet. This was done in anticipation of an attack from the Texans, the post being the main 
 supply depot for the Territory. The reservation, nearly square, contains 51 square miles. There 
 is, also, a timber reservation of 50 square miles. 
 
 The arrangement of the main part of the present post is shown in Figure 31. 
 
 A, officers' quarters; B B B B, squad-rooms; C C, mess- 
 rooms ; D, forage-rooms ; E, bakery ; F, quartermaster's store- 
 room ; H, issuing room ; I, quartermaster's stables ; L, cavalry 
 stables ; M, cavalry corral ; N, quartermaster's corral. 
 All the buildings are constructed of adobe. 
 The barracks are one story high, with flat tin roofs, which, in 
 this climate, do not answer, for the reason that where artillery is 
 used, the firing springs the nails and solder, and severs the attach- 
 ments. The adobe settles and causes the tin also to loosen ; the 
 tin rusts ; the high winds detach it ; and, in every respect, it is more 
 expensive and less serviceable than shingles. 
 
 The squad -rooms are ceiled; each measures 72J by 26 feet 
 by 12 feet high, and contains twenty-one movable single bunks, 
 giving 1,098 cubic feet per man. Each has three ventilators, 
 being round tin pipes ten inches in diameter, and three and a half 
 feet long, extending above the roof, and located in the ceiling 
 twenty-three feet from each other. 
 
 There are eight of these squad-rooms, intended to accommo- 
 date four companies ; when so occupied, the allowance of air space 
 would be about 500 cubic feet per man. 
 [Figure 31. Scale 340 feet to 1 inch. The officers' quarters are well constructed and arranged, with 
 
 commodious yards and out-houses. The quarters for the commanding officer contain eight rooms ; 
 each of the others, six. All have large porticos. 
 
 The hospital is located on the open prairie about 300 yards .from the post. It consists of three 
 houses parallel to, and 6 feet 5 inches from, each other, each house being 81 feet long and 37 feet 
 wide. 
 
 A hall, 140 feet-by 11 feet, traverses the middle of these buildings perpendicular to their long 
 axis. There are six wards, each 29 by 19J feet, and 12 feet high, containing 10 beds, giving 
 090 cubic feet air space to each. 
 
 Each ward has two windows in one end, and a square opening in the ceiling which can be 
 closed at pleasure. They are warmed by stoves. The arrangement of the wards is bad in a sani- 
 tary point of view. 
 
 The hospital has two cisterns, each 24 feet in diameter, and 27 feet 3 inches deep. 
 
 The guard-house is built of stone, inclosed by an adobe wall which supports the roof, there 
 
CAMP SUPPLY, INDIAN TERRITORY. 
 
 261 
 
 being a space between the walla four feet in width. There are two cells, each 9 by 4 feet by 
 7 feet high, giving 300 cubic feet air space. The ventilation is by a trap in the iron door. 
 
 There is no laundry, chapel, nor school-house. There are no facilities for bathing at the post, 
 either for summer or winter. 
 
 The water is hauled by water-wagons from the springs above referred to. The drainage is 
 entirely superficial, but is very satisfactory. 
 
 The means of communication with the nearest railroad is by the mail coach, which runs six 
 times a week ; time to department headquarters, five days. 
 
 The inhabitants within fifteen miles of the post number about 3,000, the majority being 
 Mexicans. The sanitary condition of the post is very good. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort ' Union, New 
 
 Mexico, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 A 
 
 * 
 
 
 oi 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ja " 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 c 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 u 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 R x 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 
 13 
 
 C3 ^ 
 
 sl 
 
 8 
 
 .2 
 
 C5 
 X 
 
 3 
 
 
 S 
 
 X 
 
 s 
 
 CS 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 _ 
 ^H QD 
 
 =3 a 
 
 A O 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 
 a 
 
 "3 cs 
 
 | 
 
 a ?. 
 
 2 T; 
 
 '03 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 S3 
 
 
 
 S 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 8 
 S 
 
 
 1 
 
 d 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 C 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 41 
 
 o 
 
 ^ 
 
 1868 
 
 272 
 
 434 
 
 28 
 
 84 
 
 1 
 
 98 
 
 2 
 
 53 
 
 5 
 
 69 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 208. 58 
 
 418 
 
 4 
 
 63 
 
 
 54 
 
 
 41 
 
 2 
 
 101 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * luclude laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP SUPPLY, INDIAN TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. A. FITZGERALD, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Supply is situated on the neck of land between Wolf and Beaver Creeks, about a mile 
 and a half above their junction to form the North Fork of Canadian River, in latitude 36 30' 
 north, longitude 99 30' west. Fort Dodge, the nearest military post, lies 86 miles north-northwest. 
 Fort Hays, the nearest railroad station, is 166 miles distant. The Cimarron River is 30 miles to 
 the north. The country in the vicinity is rolling prairie, with much sand near the streams. The 
 soil is a sandy loam, and good gardens can be made. Grass is abundant and good. 
 
 The climate is warm. Temperature during the summer months frequently reaches 100 F. 
 
 The prevailing winds are from the south and west, and are almost constant, varying in force 
 from a gentle breeze to heavy gales; and during the autumn and early spring months they are 
 very disagreeable from the quantity of sand and dust suspended. 
 
 There is good hunting in the vicinity ; antelope, buffalo, deer, bear, rabbits, wild geese and 
 ducks, pinnated grouse, plover, quail, snipe, turkeys, and reed birds being found. 
 
 The post was established in November, 1868, as a base for troops operating against hostile 
 Indians. The fort consists of a stockade, 150 feet square, situated about 700 yards from Wolf 
 Creek, the peninsula being at this point about 2,000 yards wide. The buildings are of rough 
 cottonwood logs, that being the only available timber. The men were at first quartered in 
 " dug-outs," being excavations about 4 feet deep, with log walls above the .surface, 3 feet high, 
 and covered with earth and warmed by fireplaces. A few common tents gave shelter to two 
 companies. The officers occupied tents, but in the spring of 1869, log huts were built for their 
 accommodation. A stockade inclosure, covered with paulins, was used as stables and forage 
 rooms, and was at some distance southeast of the main stockade. During the latter part of 1869, 
 the arrival at the post of recruits increased the command to 600 men, and immediately steps were 
 taken for the construction of suitable quarters for the officers and men, and stables for the stock. 
 
262 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 The barrack, containing five sets of company quarters, is 90 feet long, 18 feet wide, and 9 feet 
 high ; a kitchen to each set, measuring 15 by 15 feet, is attached. The dormitories are warmed by 
 stoves, but none of them are too well lighted. Bunks are constructed of poles and boards ; and 
 bedsacks filled with hay, with the ordinary blanket, comprise the bedding. The arrival of recruits 
 has made it necessary for one of the companies to take up their quarters in the old dug-outs, 
 having first erected new buildings above ground, similar to those just described. The company 
 quarters give not more than 220 cubic feet of spacje per man. Married soldiers are quartered in 
 small log huts built above ground. Quarters for laundresses are five in number, and recently 
 constructed. The officers' quarters have been increased in number by the erection of five complete 
 sets, 70 feet long, 15 feet wide, and 9 feet high, with kitchen attached, 20 by 12 by 9 feet. The 
 commanding officer's quarters are in dimensions 31 by 15 by 9 feet, and have a kitchen 24 by 12 
 by 9 feet. The buildings above-mentioned and described are of unhewn logs, set upright in 
 trenches to form sides, and have a covering of logs and earth. The guard-house and bakery are 
 similar buildings, the first being 31 feet long by 15 feet wide and 9 feet high ; the bakery 16 feet 
 square by 9 feet high. The guard-house is ventilated by windows and doors, and warmed by 
 stoves. The quartermaster and commissary store-houses occupy the east, west, and south sides of 
 the main stockade, by which their outer walls are formed; the rooms are excavated 3 feet below 
 the surface ; the log walls rise about 7 feet above the same, and are roofed with paulins. The 
 several offices are excavations about 4 feet in depth, with log walls extending 3 feet above the 
 surface, with a roofing of earth. They are warmed by fireplaces, and lighted by openings for 
 windows. The forage-house, 40 by 15 feet, is also similarly constructed. New store-houses are 
 indispensable. 
 
 The hospital consists of tents framed and floored, and warmed by stoves. The dispensary is 
 a log hut, with a hospital tent, framed and floored. A log hut is also used as a store-room. 
 
 Five sets of stables have been erected, measuring 150 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 9 feet high. 
 
 The post is supplied with water from Wolf Creek, half a mile distant, and is found to be of 
 good quality. The water of Beaver Creek is highly alkaline. Water has been obtained from 
 wells, from ten to twelve feet deep, but it was quite alkaline in character, and much inferior to 
 water obtained from Wolf Creek. 
 
 The drainage of the post is naturally bad, the surface being basin-like in character; but as 
 the soil is loose and sandy, with the subsoil entirely sand, there is never any standing water in the 
 vicinity. No gardens have been cultivated. 
 
 There are no settlements at the post. The nearest Indians are the Arapahoes and Cheyennes. 
 Their physical condition is good, though somewhat impaired by venereal taint. The prevailing 
 diseases at the post are mild intermittents, diarrhrea, and catarrhal affections. There is a weekly 
 mail, comparatively regular, but liable to interruptions from snow, floods, thieves, and Indians. 
 Time to department headquarters from seven to ten days. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Camp 
 Supply, Indian Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 00 
 
 s 
 
 
 CB 
 | 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 11 
 
 a 
 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 & 
 
 a 
 
 11 
 
 .2 
 
 i 
 
 la 
 
 'a 
 
 1 
 
 - *<D 
 
 Is a 
 
 ^3 * 
 
 GO 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 
 i 
 
 CJ 
 
 1 - 
 
 1 
 
 P 
 
 *QD 
 
 a 
 
 N 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 B 
 
 i 
 
 ja 
 
 
 V- 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 
 a 
 
 P 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 t> 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 IK 
 
 1868, (2 months) ; 
 
 236 
 
 75 
 
 7 
 
 24 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 g 
 
 
 1869 
 
 135 33 
 
 96 
 
 21 
 
 29 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 'Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
FOET SILL, INDIAN TEEEITOKY. 
 
 263 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Camp 
 Supply, Indian Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 jd 
 
 1 . 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 
 
 fr 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 J- 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 a ' s 
 
 a 
 
 fi 
 
 si 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 "3 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 o 
 
 * 
 
 O " 
 
 J3 *" 
 
 D 
 _d 
 ~a 
 
 14 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 | 
 
 1 
 
 I 1 
 
 o 
 i 
 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 
 oc 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 X 
 
 1868, (2 mouths) 
 
 104 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 
 1869 
 
 175 08 
 
 194 
 
 19 
 
 65 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ; Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT SILL, INDIAN TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. S. KILBOURNE, UNITED STATES ARMY, DATED SEPTEM- 
 BER 24, 1870. 
 
 Fort Sill is situated oil the Coinanche, Kiowa, and Apache reservation, Indian Territory; lati- 
 tude 34 40' north, longitude 98 25' west; elevation above the sea, 1,700 feet. The post is near 
 the confluence of Medicine Bluff and Cache Creeks, on the south bank of the former. Fort Smith, 
 Arkansas, is 275 miles east ; Fort Eichardson, Texas, 110 miles south ; Camp Supply, 190 miles 
 northwest ; and Fort Arbuckle, 75 miles east. The post is situated at the eastern extremity of the 
 Wichita Mountains. Mount Scott, the highest peak and eastern spur of the range, is 9 miles in 
 a right line from the post. Several hills belonging to the range intervene, among which are the 
 noted Medicine Bluffs, one mile west by north. Washita Eiver is 30 miles north ; Eed River, 45 
 miles south. Fort Sill was located by General Grierson in June, 1868, under the name of "Camp 
 Wichita," and was first occupied by four companies of the Tenth United States Cavalry in January, 
 1869. It was selected by Major General Sheridan as a base of operations against the Cheyennes 
 and Kiowas, in his winter campaign of 1868-'69, and from that date has been the military center of 
 the reservation of Comanches, Kiowas, and affiliated bands of the Wichitas, Keechies, Wacoes, 
 and Caddoes. The military reservation upon which the post is situated is six miles long (east and 
 west) by three miles broad, (north and south,) and is a quadrangle. Within its boundaries are in- 
 cluded the confluence of Cache and Medicine Bluff Creeks, and the timber and bottom lands which 
 fringe and skirt those streams, the hills called Medicine Bluffs, the Indian commissary buildings, 
 lime-kilns, quarries, &c. 
 
 Cache Creek flows through the reservation from the north, through a valley ranging in width 
 from one-half to three miles, having on each bank a belt of timber from 100 to 500 yards wide. It 
 takes a southerly course, and discharges its waters into Eed Eiver, 45 miles from the post. The 
 region through which it flows is well covered with flue grass. Medicine Bluff Creek rises in the 
 northeastern portion of the mountains, and flows through a broken and abrupt region to its junc- 
 tion with the Cache ; there are small areas of fertile bottom lands along its course. 
 
 The Wichita range of mountains extends from the northwest corner of the military reservation 
 westward for about 50 miles. The width of the chain is from 5 to 15 miles. The highest peak is 
 Mpunt Scott, at the northeast extremity of the range ; it has an elevation of 1,135 feet above the 
 waters of Medicine Bluff Creek. Mount Webster, at or near the western extremity, has nearly the 
 same elevation. 
 
 West Cache Creek, the main branch of the main Cache, rises by numerous small streams from 
 the southern slope of the Wichitas, and joins at a point about 10 miles from Eed Eiver. 
 
 The Indian reservation is of an irregular form, averaging 83 miles in width (north and south) 
 by 120 miles in length, (east and west.) Its boundaries, as determined by the War Department, 
 are as follows : On the east the 98th meridian, on the west the 100th meridian, on the north the 
 Washita Eiver, on the south the Eed Eiver ; (the north fork of Eed Eiver forms the main western 
 
264 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAET POSTS. 
 
 boundary.) This region appears, I think, on Dana's geological map of the United States as within 
 the limits of the region covered by the great marine lagoons of the cretaceous period. But, as 
 the rocks and marls are noil fossiliferous, it is inferred that we are not within the ancient shore line 
 of these waters. The vast deposits of gypsum and selenite mentioned by Colonel Marcy as found 
 by him west of the 100th meridian on Bed Eiver would seem to indicate that we are east of the 
 cretaceous. The surface soil of the bottoms is a dark sandy alluvium. The Cache flows between 
 abrupt clay banks from 5 to 50 feet in height. 
 
 The surface of the prairie is loam and marl, with various admixtures of sand and gravel. 
 Black sand is washed out of the soil near the post by rains. The subsoil is a dingy red clay, with 
 sand. The bed-rock is a light gray limestone, which is ordinarily far below the surface, but crops 
 out occasionally in the hills and at points along Cache Creek; it makes a good quality of lime and 
 fine building material. Quarries have been opened within one mile of the post, which furnish the 
 rock in any desirable quantities. 
 
 The soil of the creek bottoms is very fertile, producing all varieties of plants belonging to this 
 latitude. I have seen no finer agricultural region in the West than the slope between the Wichitas 
 and Red Eiver. Several mineral springs have been found, which will be described under the 
 proper heading. 
 
 The largest and finest forest trees are the oaks, cottonwood, and pecans, found in the bottoms. 
 The two former are sufficiently numerous to furnish lumber for building purposes. There are three 
 varieties of the oak, also hackberry, ash, black walnut, elm, and rnesquite; among the small trees 
 and shrubs are dogberry and willow. Among the fruits are the wild plum, wild grape, and black- 
 berry ; strawberries are found in small quantities. The edible plants are what is known as the 
 prairie pea, the artichoke, and the fruit of one sort of cactus, of which latter there are several 
 varieties. The taraxacum and cheuopodium, the latter in large quantities, are seen about the post. 
 There are also a large variety of flowering plants. 
 
 The following is a list of wild animals found on the reservation and vicinity : Buffalo, bear, 
 elk, antelope, white-tailed deer, panther, gray wolf, wild rabbit, coyote or prairie wolf, wild cat, 
 otter, squirrel, coon, and a few others of small size. 
 
 Among the birds are the wild turkey, wild goose, wild duck, (four varieties ;) prairie hen or 
 grouse, snipe, quail, meadow lark, blackbird, and swallow. Cache and Medicine Bluff Creeks fur- 
 nish the following kinds of fish in small quantities: Catfish, white fish, sunfish, eels, and garfish ; 
 the latter stream has also a few trout, in the mountains. Thirteen sorts of game have been killed, 
 besides fish, in one week, among the head-waters of West Cache Creek, where all the above varie- 
 ties are plentiful in their season. 
 
 Both Cache and Medicine Bluff Creeks furnish a plentiful supply of water for all purposes the 
 year round. There are several springs of good water on the military reserve, and one on the post 
 reserve. The latter is the largest, and is situated on the north bank of Bluff Creek opposite the 
 post; this spring is of sufficient size to furnish water to the post for drinking" and culinary pur- 
 poses. It is proposed to raise the water to a reservoir with an engine for supplying the new post. 
 No wells have been sunk. Several mineral springs have been found on the military reserve. 
 
 A bituminous substance resembling coal tar exudes from the soil at a point near the east line. 
 There is a salt spring one mile northwest of the post. Several small springs, holding a small quan- 
 tity of iron in solution, are found on the southern slope of Medicine Bluffs. 
 
 A meteorological register has been kept at this post since April 1, 1870, the necessary books, 
 instruments, and apparatus not being in order until that date. The monthly mean temperature is 
 as follows: April, 62.85; May, 75.73; June, 73.97; July, 81.81; August, 79.23. The monthly 
 extremes are as follows: April, highest, 88; lowest, 40. May, highest, 94; lowest, 64. June, 
 highest, 101; lowest, 64. July, highest, 105; lowest, 64. August, highest, 106; lowest; 62. 
 The amount of rain-fall in April was 3| inches; no rain in May; in June, 4.60 inches; in July, 4.55 
 inches; in August, 3.03 inches; total, 15.90 inches. The average annual rain-fall is large. 
 
 The map shows that the region lying between the Wichita Mountains and the Eed Eiver is a 
 network of streams, receiving their water supply from the southern slope of those mountains. 
 The northern slope towards the Washita Eiver has but two inconsiderable streams, (Elk and Eainy 
 Mountain Creeks.) It is probable that more than two-thirds of the mountain rain-fall is drained 
 
FORT SILL, INDIAN TERRITORY. 265 
 
 off by Cache Creek. This fact is due either to the greater inclination of the southern slope or the, 
 influence of the chain on prevailing winds; perhaps to both causes. Vegetation usually commences 
 about the 1st of April. Foliage appears early in May. The warm season is from May to October, 
 inclusive. The winters are mild, the mercury rarely falling below the'freezing point in the daytime. 
 Ice forms not to exceed one-half inch in thickness. 
 
 The prevailing wind is from the south the year round. In warm weather a daily breeze rises 
 from the south about three hours after sunrise, and blows with more or less constancy until sunset. 
 A cold north wind, the "norther," appears occasionally at all seasons, and prevails steadily from 
 two to four days at a time, with a temperature of from 10 to 30 lower than the seasonable one. 
 The mercury falls rapidly under its influence, and occasionally the extreme is reached within an 
 hour. The changes of temperature here are generally less marked and sudden than in central 
 Texas. Snow-storms have come most frequently from the northeast. The number of the latter is 
 few, and the amount of snow inconsiderable. Snow fell twice in the winter of 1869-'70, not to ex- 
 ceed two inches in depth. 
 
 Fort Sill is situated in the center of the post reservation. The latter is an area of one square 
 mile, situated in the center of the United States military reserve. The ground occupied by the 
 buildings is a plateau of irregular outline, containing an area of about one-half mile square. The 
 sides of this plateau slope in all directions. Its elevation above low-water mark is about 50 feet. 
 All buildings excepting the commissary store-house are to be built of the gray limestone previously 
 described. This stone is easily quarried and worked, and when laid into walls presents a bright 
 and fine appearance. The general plan of the post is a square. Its capacity, when complete, will 
 be six companies of cavalry. The lots for each barrack are 200 feet square; those for the officers 
 are each 200 by 106 feet. The number of buildings intended for use as barracks is three. These 
 buildings, of which the walls are now r completed, are constructed of gray limestone, unfaced. The 
 inner surface of the walls will not be plastered. Each building is double, and of one story, each 
 division having capacity for the accommodation of a company of one hundred men. The buildings 
 are to be warmed by stoves; they are well lighted by windows on all sides, and ventilated from 
 the ridge. The walls are one and a half feet thick; the external dimensions are 200 by 30 by 12 
 feet. Two wings, each GO by 30 by 9 feet, with porches, 10 feet deep, in front and rear. The air 
 space per man is about 388.57 cubic feet, calculated on the basis of one hundred men to each bar- 
 rack. In the one building now occupied bunks are in two tiers, each for the accommodation 
 of four persons. There are no wash or bath-rooms in the plan. The wing of each set of company 
 quarters contains a mess-room, 27 by 40 feet, a kitchen, 17 by 17 feet, and a store-room, 15 by 17 feet. 
 Laundresses and married soldiers are quartered in tents. 
 
 The number of buildings for officers' quarters on the plan is eleven; the. walls of six of them 
 are now complete. These buildings are of the same material and style as the barracks, but they 
 are to be lathed and plastered. They are all one story high, double, excepting the quarters of the 
 commanding officer, and each is intended for the accommodation of the officers of one company. 
 Each building contains four rooms, two kitchens, two halls, and a covered porch between the main 
 building and wing, (kitchen.) The outside dimensions are 52 by 34 by 9 feet ; wings, 18 by 30 by 
 9 feet ; a porch, 10 feet deep, front and rear. There are in each set of quarters two rooms, each 15 
 by 15 feet, a hall, 8 by 30 feet, a covered porch, 10 by 15 feet, and a kitchen, 12 by 14 feet. The 
 quarters of the commanding officer are of the same style and shape as the others; the dimensions 
 are, exteriorly, 52 by 40 by 10 feet. They contain four rooms, 18.J by 18 feet, a hall, 10 by 30 feet, a 
 covered porch, 10 by 22 feet, and a kitchen, 14 by 18 feet a porch on all sides. Each room has a 
 fireplace. There are no special arrangements for ventilation. There are no bath-rooms in the offi- 
 cers 1 quarters. 
 
 The buildings for headquarter offices, quartermaster's and commissary's store-houses are located 
 on the south side of the parade ground on the same line. *Their dimensions are as follows : Quar- 
 termaster's and commissary's store-houses are each 200 by 30 by 12 feet, outside measurement. Each 
 store-house has an office, private office, issuing room, and entry in one end. There is also an 
 ordnance building, 75 by 25 feet, and a second quartermaster's store-house, 120 by 25 feet. The 
 building for the headquarters offices is of the following dimensions : 80 by 30 by 12 feet, outside 
 34 
 
266 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 measurement. It contains a hall and four rooms, each 17 by 26 feet, and a porch in front and rear, 
 10 feet deep. 
 
 The guard-house is located at the southeast corner of the post, near the commissary and 
 ordnance buildings. Its dimensions are 46 by 46 feet, exterior measurement ; the foundation walls 
 are to be three feet in thickness ; the upper wall is two feet thick. It contains a hall and four rooms, 
 and has a basement containing four cells for prisoners. Ventilation is by the ridge above and 
 grated windows below. The plan appears to be adequate to the needs of the post, arid well adapted 
 to its piu'pose. 
 
 The hospital will be located in the northwest corner of the post; it will be constructed of the 
 same material as the other buildings; its capacity will be twenty-four beds. The plan is the one 
 furnished from the Surgeon General's Office for a building of that size. 
 
 The places for post bakery, laundry, chapel, and school-house are yet undetermined. 
 
 The stables are located in rear of the barracks, at a distance of 300 feet. They are three in 
 number; each has a capacity for a squadron. Dimensions, 200 feet square. The plan is a square, 
 inclosed by a wall, furnished with sheds on the inside, and open in the center. 
 
 The total number of volumes of all kinds in the library is now about five hundred. 
 
 The water used for washing and bathing and for' general purposes is obtained from Medicine 
 Bluff Creek, a few yards above the post. Except at high water the quality of this water is good, 
 and suitable for all purposes; the impurities, during a high stage of water, are mostly clay, sand, 
 and some organic debris washed down by the stream. Much of the drinking water is obtained 
 from the large spring opposite the post, previously mentioned, and from two smaller. ones, one just 
 above and one just below the present post, and from a private well on the premises of the post 
 trader. The water of the creek is supplied by means of water-wagons (tank on four wheels drawn 
 by eight mules) in liberal quantity. The water thus furnished is kept in covered barrels. There 
 are no cisterns or reservoirs at the post. 
 
 The efficiency of the natural drainage, both in the new post and of the ground now occupied, 
 is nearly complete. There is a spot of low ground of about 50 yards square in area, lyigg between 
 the two posts, which is not drained; a small amount of labor is only needed to drain it toward the 
 creek. 
 
 There is no special arrangement for bathing, except at the hospital. 
 
 The post garden has an area of about 5 acres. The hospital has no garden as yet, At the 
 present post two officers only Lave gardens ; the area of each is about one-quarter of an acre. Each 
 of the four infantry companies and two of the cavalry of the garrison have cultivated gardens of 
 about two acres area each. 
 
 Vegetables, except canned articles, have not generally been supplied by the commissary. It 
 is proposed hereafter to keep a supply on hand. There is no market capable of supplying the post 
 with vegetables, butter, &c., within 50 miles. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from the medical purveyor at St. Louis, Missouri. 
 
 The nearest railroad station is at Fort Barker, Kansas, distance 334 miles. The means of 
 communication with that post are trains, public and private. Communication is somewhat 
 irregular, being liable to interruption by high water in the Washita, Canadian, and Arkansas 
 Rivers rarely from the attacks of Indians. Mails are usually regularly received twice weekly. 
 Occasional interruptions occur from high water. The line is one of light wagons from Boggy Depot, 
 Indian Territory, to Fort Sill; at the former place connection is made with the main line from Fort 
 Smith, Arkansas, to Fort Coucho and El Paso. The time required to communicate with depart- 
 ment headquarters is about ten days. 
 
 There are no inhabitants on the Indian or military reservations excepting those authorized by 
 law; these include contractor's men, drovers, and persons adopted into the Indian tribes; also, 
 employe's of the Indian agent. * 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past year, ending June 30, 1870, have been intermittent 
 fever, acute diarrhoea, acute dysentery, and acute catarrh. The malarial influence is predominant 
 at all seasons, and the majority of cases of acute disorders are complicated with it. The water 
 used at the post is not an appreciable cause of disease. The origin of malaria is regarded as being 
 both climatic and endemic. At Fort Arbuckle, in the same latitude, 75 miles east, malarial 
 
FORT GIBSON, CHEROKEE NATION, INDIAN TERRITORY. 
 
 2C7 
 
 diseases are much less frequent than at this post. The amount of low, moist ground in the 
 vicinity of the post, the nature of the subsoil, and rapid alternations of heat and moisture are 
 regarded as the endemic causes. An epidemic catarrh of mild form has prevailed once during the 
 past year. The graver forms of pulmonary diseases are not common. Bowel affections and rheu- 
 matism of the muscular variety are common. Acute rheumatism is rare. Two cases of congestive 
 fever have occurred at the fort, with one death. Malaria has been the bane of the post; probably 
 one-half of the entire garrison have been attacked with some form of malarial disorders. 
 
 Work on the new post of Fort Sill was commenced in the summer of 1809, and during 
 that year one building, the commissary warehouse, was completed. This building is con- 
 structed of hewn timber, laid one piece upon another, horizontally. All other buildings are of 
 stone. The number of buildings now completed and occupied is nine, as follows: Quartermaster 
 store-houses, two; commissary store-house, ordnance building, headquarter offices, (partly occupied 
 by the library,) one barrack building, quartermaster corral, and two small dwellings adjacent. 
 The walls of the following-named buildings are now nearly completed, viz : Two barracks, six sets 
 of officers' quarters. The former lack only the partition walls, as do the latter. 
 
 Foundations for the following-named buildings have been excavated, viz : Five sets of officers' 
 quarters and guard-house. The following have not been commenced : Hospital, bakery, and chapel. 
 The work of construction is still in progress, but with a diminished force of laborers. At the old 
 v post the meu are quartered in tents, and the officers in log houses. 
 
 The commanding officer occupies a frame house. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of ichite troops at Fort Sill, 
 
 Indian Territory, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 t 
 a 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 S? 
 
 i 
 
 fr 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 j| 
 
 ^Tear. 
 
 Mcanstreu 
 
 Whole n 
 taken si 
 
 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrlura 
 dysente 
 
 Venereal d 
 
 Scurvy. 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 |Z5 
 
 1869, (four months) 
 
 194. 75 
 
 90 
 
 57 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort Sill, 
 
 Indian Territory, for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 Mean streugth 
 
 Whole numl 
 taken siek. 
 
 Typhoid fever 
 
 Malarial fever 
 
 Diarrhoea a 
 dysentery. 
 
 Venereal disea 
 
 L 
 
 B 
 
 cc 
 
 t 
 
 IMlrllllKII i-MI. 
 
 Catarrhal aff 
 tious.* 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 1869 (six mouths) 
 
 401 83 
 
 387 
 
 6 
 
 256 
 
 63 
 
 g 
 
 t 
 
 7 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pmmmonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT GIBSON, CHEROKEE NATION, INDIAN TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON ALFRED DELANY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The reservation upon which Fort Gibson is situated has not been defined or declared ; its sur- 
 vey is in progress. The fort is located on the east bank of the Neosho or Grand River, 3 miles north- 
 east of its confluence with the Arkansas, latitude 35 48' 10" north, longitude 95 3' 15" west, and 
 000 feet above the level of the sea. Tahlequah, the territorial seat of government, is 17 miles dis- 
 tant in a northeasterly direction. The nearest military post is Fort Smith, Arkansas, 65 miles dis- 
 
268 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 taut, in a southeasterly direction, on the dividing line between Arkansas and the Territory. . The 
 site is the western terminus of a high rolling prairie, which extends in an easterly direction from 
 the fort to the Menard Mountain, distant about 3 miles. On the north side of the fort the prairie 
 descends rapidly to a narrow strip of bottom, which has a river margin of 1 miles. On the south 
 side it generally slopes to a plain, which is fifty feet below the fort, and distant about 400 yards. 
 This plain extends back from the river more than 300 yards, where it is terminated by a ridge of 
 land, the commencement of the prairie. To the south and west this plain is continuous with an 
 extensive river bottom, which extends to the Arkansas River, 3 miles, and along this river, in a 
 southeasterly direction, more than 4 miles to the " Bayou Menard ;" it has an average breadth of 3 
 miles, and contains several lakes. The southern half of this plain is covered with forest trees and 
 a very dense undergrowth. 
 
 On the west side of Grand River lies another extensive bottom, irregularly triangular in form, 
 which is limited by the Arkansas River on the southwest, the Grand River on the east, and the 
 Verdigris River on the west ; it has an average breadth of 2 miles, and is heavily timbered. Coal 
 is discovered in all parts of the country, but no veins or mines have been opened or worked. The 
 soil is sandy, underlaid by limestone, and varies in depth from a few inches to several feet. There 
 is scarcely an acre of land, except upon the ranges of high hills along the Grand, Verdigris, and 
 Illinois Rivers, that is not arable and susceptible of cultivation ; the soil will produce abundantly 
 all kinds of cereals, vegetables, fruits, cotton, and tobacco. The principal crops now raised are 
 corn, wheat, potatoes, and oats ; fruits (apples, pears, and peaches) of the finest quality are very 
 plentiful. Timber is scarce, growing only in the bottoms along the rivers and bayous, and on the 
 mountains, but there very densely. It consists chiefly of oak, walnut, hickory, pecan, and cotton- 
 wood. Wild prairie grass grows rank and heavy, and is cut for hay in large quantities. Xone of 
 the cultivated varieties, or clover, have been sown. The country is well watered, and abounds in 
 springs ; near the post, however, water is only found at great depths, and is strongly impregnated 
 with lime. There are innumerable salt springs of the purest quality on the Illinois, Grand, and 
 Canadian Rivers, some of which are extensively worked. The climate is variable. The summers 
 are very warm, and the winters, though usually mild and pleasant up to the end of December, are 
 occasionally very severe. The variations in temperature are often sudden and extreme. Spring 
 and autumn are delightful, and are highly propitious to agriculture. The annual average range of 
 the thermometer is 80 ; in summer rising above 100, and in the winter falling to 2. The mean 
 temperatures are as follows: Spring, 61.04; summer, 79.41; autumn, 61.06.; winter, 41.13. 
 
 The prevailing winds during the summer months are from the southeast and south-southeast, 
 blowing, in some months, twenty-eight out of thirty days from one of these points. These 
 winds traverse the extensive "bottom" above described before reaching the fort. As a general 
 rule the garrison is protected from the prevailing winds by the elevated prairie ridge. 
 
 The fort is 600 feet above the level of the sea, and more than 100 feet above ordinary low- 
 water mark in the Grand River. The present site of the fort was occupied by volunteer troops dur- 
 ing the war of the rebellion. The barracks, though erected twenty-five years ago, were never occu- 
 pied by regular troops until after the close of the war. It was in contemplation at one time to lo- 
 cate the fort at Webber's Falls, 35 miles southeast from here. In a sanitary point of view, it would 
 be a preferable site to the present one, being high, and far removed from swamps or bottom lands. 
 It is manifest that had a site been selected to the windward of these bottoms, one source of disease 
 would have been avoided. 
 
 The majority of the buildings now occupied are new. The officers' quarters, the barracks, and 
 guard-house, are arranged on the three sides of a square, and a new hospital building will be 
 erected on the vacant side. 
 
 The barracks are built of dark yellow sandstone, and are two stories high. In the lower story- 
 are the mess-rooms and kitchens ; in the upper story are the squad-rooms and orderly-rooms. This 
 building is divided into two distinct barracks by solid partitions, and each is occupied by one com- 
 pany. Each squad-room is 63 feet in length by 21 feet in breadth ; 19 J feet to the eaves, and 23 J 
 feet to the ridge, giving 28,444 cubic feet of air space. There are fourteen double bunks to accom- 
 modate 56 men, thus allowing to each man over 500 cubic feet of air space. The windows and 
 doors are large. Each squad-room has seven windows on the south side and six windows and a 
 
FORT GIBSON, CHEROKEE NATION, INDIAN TERRITORY. 
 
 269 
 
 door. on the north side; the latter open on. a veranda, 12 feet iu width, which extends the whole 
 length of the building. The orderly-rooms are each 14 feet long and 21 feet wide. The mess-rooms 
 and kitchens have the same dimensions as the rooms in the upper story. There are no cellars no/ 
 store-roorns. The upper floor is approached by the veranda, there being no stairway within the 
 walls. These squad-rooms are open to the ridge, are well lighted, and are provided with open fire- 
 places. The colored troops of the command, numbering 18 men, are encamped on the southern 
 slope of the prairie, about three-quarters of a mile northeast of the fort ; they are provided with 
 wall tents, and have constructed a log stable to accommodate their horses. 
 
 The sinks of the garrison are simply trenches, with frame shelters erected over them ; they are 
 regularly disinfected, and, as occasion requires, fresh earth is thrown in. 
 
 The quarters for married soldiers are located about 300 yards south of the garrison, and out- 
 side of the limits of the reservation ; they are very old log buildings, and much out of repair. It 
 is purposed to abandon them as soon as suitable quarters can be constructed. 
 
 There are five sets of quarters for officers. The commanding officer's quarters are built of dark 
 sandstone, one story and a half high, with an English basement. This house contains thirteen 
 rooms, including the attic and basement. Those of the first floor and basement are built on oppo- 
 site sides of a hall, 10 feet wide, extending through the building. All the rooms are large, well 
 lighted, and, excepting those of the attic, have open fireplaces. The other sets of quarters are 
 built in pairs. They are frame, with stone foundations. Two of them have basements ; the re- 
 maining two have, in lieu thereof, a small cellar each. There are six rooms in each house, includ- 
 ing the kitchen. These quarters are substantially built houses, having high, airy rooms, open fire- 
 places, and large doors and windows. 
 
 The store-house of the chief quartermaster and commissary of the district is a handsome 
 stone building, 150 feet by 42 feet, and one story high ; about 50 yards south of the officers' quar- 
 ters is a narrow stone building, 50 feet long, used as offices by the district and post commanders. 
 
 The commissary store-house stands 50 feet south of the barracks and parallel to them. It is 
 a substantial stone structure, 30 feet by 36 feet, two stories high, and has a cellar. This building 
 is dry, freely ventilated, and is admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is used. 
 
 In addition to the buildings described may be mentioned the saw-mill, the blacksmith shop, 
 and the officers' mess-hall. An ice-house has been erected which will hold sufficient ice to supply 
 the demands of the garrison throughout the summer season. 
 
 The guard-house is a substantial frame building, recently erected. It is sufficiently lighted by 
 windows, and warmed by wood stoves. There are no special arrangements for ventilation. 
 
 The hospital is located on a gentle slope about 117 yards south of the barracks. It consists of 
 two log huts of the following dimensions : 36 feet long, 15 feet wide, 8 feet to the eaves, and 15 
 feet from floor to ridge. Each hut is divided into two 
 rooms, making in all four rooms, which are used respect- 
 ively as dispensary, store-room, kitchen, and a ward of four 
 beds, for the sick of the colored troops. 
 
 The plan of the hospital is shown in Figure 32. 
 
 A, ward; D, dispensary; K, kitchen; S, store-room; 
 Z, covered passage. 
 
 Three hospital tents, spread over a frame and floored 
 constitute a ward for the sick of the white troops. The 
 huts and the tent ward are provided with open fireplaces. 
 This hospital is ill adapted to the needs of the post, and a 
 contract has been awarded for the construction of a frame 
 hospital to accommodate twelve patients, after the plan 
 contained in Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office, 
 1867. Figure 32. Scale, 21 feet to 1 iucb. 
 
 In the present hospital, the dispensary and office are in the same room, which is fitted up with 
 counter and shelves. The wards are furnished with sixteen iron bedsteads, and have an air space 
 of 317 cubic feet per man. 
 
 The post bakery is a new frame building, situated iu the vicinity of the barracks. 
 
 A 
 
 D 
 
 K 
 
270 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The stable is located on the northwest side of the officers' quarters, and to the leeward of them, 
 as well as the men's quarters; it is built in the form of a square, and consists simply of sheds 
 djvided into stalls. Refuse from the stable is carted to the distance of over a mile from the post. 
 The companies are in possession of good libraries which are liberally patronized by the men, both 
 in garrison and hospital. 
 
 Two cisterns, one in front and the other in the rear of the barracks, each having a capacity 
 of 8,000 gallons, are chiefly depended upon for the supply of water, though many prefer, for drink- 
 ing, the water of the Grand River, which, when confined to its sandy and rocky bed, is beautifully 
 clear, very agreeable to the taste, and remarkably free from organic matter. For cooking purposes, 
 however^ the cistern water is usually employed. 
 
 There is no system of sewerage at the post. The configuration of the surface on which the 
 fort is located, being a gradual declination to all sides, secures good drainage. All refuse at the 
 post is collected and carted away daily. 
 
 The cemetery is situated about a mile and a half from the garrison. The post garden consists 
 of about ten acres of land, from which the garrison and hospital are amply supplied with all kinds 
 of vegetables, especially potatoes. 
 
 Rations procured from the commissary are of good quality. Extra articles of food are pur- 
 chased by the company fund from neighboring farmers. 
 
 Medical supplies for the post are obtained upon requisition from the medical purveying depot 
 at St. Louis, Missouri, and are generally received in good condition. They are, for the want of 
 suitable store-rooms, difficult to keep well preserved. 
 
 The nearest quartermaster and subsistence depots are at Fort Leaveuworth, Kansas, 297 miles 
 distant. The route of supply is by the Arkansas River, which is open about six months in the 
 year, and the best method of transporting supplies is by steamboat. Communication between the 
 post and the nearest town is by boat, when there is sufficient water in the Arkansas River. 
 
 Fort Gibson has been called the " charnel-house of the frontier," and it may reasonably be 
 supposed that when the fort was located on the plain to the south the ratio of sick was greater than 
 at present ; for, while citizens and others who live in the village on the site of the old fort, and 
 those who live in the bottoms bounded by the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers, suffer almost con- 
 stantly from malarial fevers or in some other manner manifest symptoms of malarial poisoning, 
 the troops suffer much less, and are usually able to attribute an attack to special exposure. The 
 quartermaster's employes, who occupy quarters built on the slope to the south of the fort and about 
 35 feet above the village plain, suffer less than the villagers, but vastly more than the troops. 
 
 The Grand River is subject to an annual rise, which usually takes place in June or July. 
 The bottoms are then subject to an overflow. When the water subsides the soil is left saturated 
 with moisture, and the reeking, slimy surface, rich in decomposing vegetable matter, sends forth 
 that poison which is supposed to be the cause of malarial fevers. 
 
 The prevailing diseases are of malarial origin in the majority of cases. Remittent and inter- 
 mittent fevers constantly engage attention. Remittent fever is especially severe in its character, 
 and yields only to prompt treatment. Pneumonia of an asthenic type is a common and fatal disease 
 with the Indians ; death frequently occurs within forty-eight hours of the onset of the disease. 
 This great fatality is attributed to the depressed* condition in which the disease usually finds these 
 people, who are enfeebled by chronic malarial poisoning, poor and insufficient diet, and the general 
 insalutary condition in which they live. Lazy, filthy, and intemperate as they are, poorly housed, 
 fed, and clothed, it is a matter of no surprise that they should succumb to a disease attacking an 
 organ so important to life. 
 
 The ordinary treatment of malarial fever by quinia is usually found sufficient. It is not often 
 necessary to employ larger doses than are commonly administered in more northern localities. It is 
 considered highly important, however, promptly to arrest an intermittent to prevent its assuming 
 a more pernicious type or lapsing into a remittent. The law of recurrence at the septenary periods 
 is recognized here, and quinia is administered at those periods with the view t:> prevent a return. 
 Remittents are prone to become continued ; active lowering treatment is badly borno, even when 
 the symptoms would seem to strongly indicate it; prompt cinchonism only is trusted to, and, unless 
 some organ is specially assailed, no other treatment is employed. Malaria complicates most of the 
 
FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS. 
 
 271 
 
 diseases which occur, and the administration of quinia in dysentery and pneumonia is very fre- 
 quently necessary. Pneumonia is the most fatal disease the physicians of the vicinity have to 
 encounter. It is either typhoid from its commencement, or rapidly assumes that character. 
 The intemperate and half-starved Indians furnish the most cases. It is usually ushered in with a 
 chill, during which the brain or lungs, or both, are fatally congested. In other cases it runs a moiv 
 protracted course, and the lungs pass through the various conditions denominated stages of the 
 disease. The most frequent condition, however, is simply congestion, with commencing so-called 
 exudation. The treatment must be supporting from the onset, and especially addressed to tin- 
 malarial element of the disease. 
 
 All affections of the respiratory organs are sufficiently common, and peculiarly unmanageable. 
 The sudden and extreme variations in temperature seem to be the cause of the prevalence of this 
 class of diseases. The percentage of cases of disease of this class among the troops has not been 
 greater than in localities of a more equable temperature. 
 
 The settlement of Fort Gibson, adjoining the post, has a population of about 300. The nearest 
 Indians are the Cherokees and Creeks. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Gib- 
 son, Cherokee Nation, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 i, 
 
 
 "3 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 M . 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 tfl 
 
 1 "1 
 
 
 f* ' 
 
 
 00 
 
 c 
 
 
 C3 ^ 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 a '3 
 
 i 
 
 <8 
 "3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 .2 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 "= \ 
 
 j: ~ 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 Z 
 
 
 5 
 
 "r 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 r -M 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 I -2 
 
 1 
 
 cj 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 U 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 
 o 
 
 6 
 Z, 
 
 1868 
 
 164 G6 
 
 229 
 
 125 
 
 17 
 
 G 
 
 q 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 14 
 
 l 
 
 1869 
 
 145 
 
 251 
 
 79 
 
 47 
 
 2 
 
 24 
 
 11 
 
 
 Id 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort Gib- 
 son, Cherokee Nation, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 
 
 JS 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 -a 
 
 = ^ 
 
 1 
 
 >a 
 
 
 | 
 
 g 
 
 s 
 
 X 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 i 
 
 S 'S3 
 
 <s 
 
 O 
 
 8 S 
 
 .2 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 s a 
 
 = 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 "S ^3 
 
 5^ 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 3 
 
 H t^ 
 
 X 
 
 1) 
 
 c 
 
 ^3 
 
 
 
 
 v 
 
 i 
 
 
 s 
 
 S ^ 
 
 S 
 
 C 
 c 
 H 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 O 
 
 1868 
 
 45 33 
 
 49 
 
 19 
 
 10 
 
 " 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 1869, (three mouths) 
 
 16 66 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. MORRIS BROWN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Smith is situated in the western part of the State of Arkansas, in latitude 35 23' north, 
 and longitude 94 30' west from Greenwich. It is on the right bank of the Poteau, at its junction 
 with the Arkansas River. Fort Gibson is northwest, distant 60 miles. Fort Arbuckle is 200 miles 
 southwest, and Fort Sill is distant 350 miles. To the northeast, and adjoining the reservation, is 
 the city of Fort Smith, a thriving place, having a population of 5,000, and being the head of navi- 
 gation of the Arkansas River. Little Rock, the nearest town of any importance, is southeast, dis- 
 tant 200 miles. 
 
272 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Fort Smith was established in 1817, by Major Bradford, of the rifles, for the protection of trad- 
 ing posts, and is one of a cordon of posts established along the boundary of the Indian Territory 
 during that period. 
 
 The reservation contains about 300 acres, besides about 150 acres between the State line and 
 the Poteau River. The adjacent country outside the limits of the city is very much broken ; the 
 soil in the vicinity is very fertile, cotton being the staple product. Large quantities of corn are 
 also raised. Fruits, both large and small, are in abundance, as are also almost all kinds of vege- 
 tables. Coal abounds, and traces of iron are found iu the vicinity. 
 
 The climate is temperate, the temperature ranging from 5 to 95 F.; the mean temperature 
 is 56 F. The prevailing winds are from the southwest. The spring and fall winds blowing over 
 the valley of the Poteau cause an increase of malarial disease. The winters are usually short and 
 mild. The warm season begins in April and continues until November, the early part being gen- 
 erally rainy. 
 
 The fort is situated on the northern portion of the reservation, about 300 yards from the Po- 
 teau, and about 100 feet above its level. It is built of stone, irregularly pentagonal iu shape, in 
 dimensions 600 by 650 feet, and contains about ten acres. 
 
 The barrack is a brick building, one and a half stories high, with verandas in fr ont and rear. 
 It contains two rooms, each 56 by 29 feet, and was intended for one company. It is warmed by 
 fireplaces and lighted by windows, of which there are six to each room. There are no special means 
 of ventilation. The air space per man is 818 cubic feet. Wooden bunks are used, with the ordi- 
 nary supply of bedding in sufficient quantity, but of very poor quality. There are no wash or bath- 
 rooms nor water-closets connected with the barracks. Kitchens and mess-rooms are in the base- 
 ment of the building, and are of sufficient capacity for one company. 
 
 A number of small frame buildings located outside of the walls are occupied as quarters by 
 married soldiers. They are in a very poor condition. 
 
 The officers' quarters are contained in a two-story brick building, with verandas in front and 
 rear, and comprise sixteen rooms, each 15_by 17 by 14 feet, and 8 kitchens in the baseme nt. These 
 are divided into sets of quarters, two lower rooms and a kitchen being usually a set. They are 
 heated by stoves or fireplaces. Each room is lighted and ventilated by means of two windows. 
 There are no bath-rooms nor water-supply connected with the building. Yaults in the rear are 
 used as privies, there being no water-closets. 
 
 One small building outside the walls is used for offices. The quartermaster's store-house is 
 north of the fort about one hundred yards : it is a frame one-story building, 200 by 50 by 30 feet. 
 The commissary store-house is a two-story stone building located within the fort, and measures 
 46 by 45 by 36 feet. A number of smaller buildings about the post are also used for the same pur- 
 pose. The quartermaster's store-house being situated on lower ground between the fort and the 
 river is very damp, and therefore not well adapted to the purpose. 
 
 The guard-house, situated at the entrance of the garrison, is a one-story brick building, 30J by 
 27 J by 22 feet, warmed by fireplaces and lighted by four windows, which are its only means of ven- 
 tilation. The building is divided into four rooms, two for the guard and two for prisoners, one 
 being divided into three cells. Owing to imperfect ventilation, the guard-house is ill adapted for 
 the purpose. The average number of prisoners is six. 
 
 . The buildings, which have been in use for about twenty years as a hospital, have recently been 
 abandoned, and the one now occupied for that purpose is a two-story stone structure, 46 by 45 feet, 
 (inside measurement,) and 36 feet high, and situated at the northwest corner of the garrison. The 
 first story is used for a kitchen and dining-room; the second contains the ward, dispensary, and 
 store-room. 
 
 The ward, 45J by 26J by 12 feet, contains twelve beds, allowing about 1,200 cubic feet of air 
 space to each. It is warmed by fireplaces, lighted and ventilated by windows, of which there are 
 four, each6 feet 10 inches by 3 feet. There are no bath or wash-rooms, water-closet, nor dead-house 
 attached to the hospital. With some repairs the building will answer its intended purpose very well. 
 
 The post bakery is a log building, distant from the fort about one-fourth of a mile, and is well 
 adapted, having a capacity for 1,000 rations. 
 
 The stables, granaries, and shops are frame buildings erected during the war, and located 
 about a quarter of a mile from the garrison. 
 
LITTLE KOCK, ARKANSAS. 
 
 273 
 
 The library, containing 140 volumes of a miscellaneous character, is kept in a small frame build- 
 ing located between the officers' quarters and hospital. 
 
 The water supply for the garrison is obtained from the river ; for culinary purposes rain-water 
 is used, a large cistern furnishing all that is required. There are several wells at different points 
 about the garrison, but the water is not used for any purpose whatever. 
 
 The post being situated on high and rolling ground, the natural drainage is perfect, and no 
 artificial drains and sewers are required. 
 
 The river affords excellent advantages for bathing during the summer months, but in winter 
 no facilities are provided. The national cemetery is situated something over a fourth of a mile 
 from the garrison, has an area of about ten acres, and contains 1,785 graves, having been in use 
 some twenty years. The post garden contains fifteen acres of ground, which is cultivated by 
 the troops. Potatoes, cabbages, turnips, onions, and almost all small vegetables are raised, and in 
 sufficient quantities to supply the command. 
 
 Communication is had with St. Louis, Missouri, by stage and railroad, via Springfield, Mis- 
 souri, distant about 550 miles, and is occasionally interrupted by floods. The river affords means 
 of communication with Little Eock, Arkansas, and all points east and south of the post ; though, 
 on account of low water, it is very irregular in spring and summer. Stores received from St. Louis 
 are usually about three weeks on the route. Daily mails are received from the East. A letter to 
 department headquarters requires from four to five days. 
 
 The residents of the surrounding country in the State are principally farmers. To the west 
 lies the country of the Cherokee and Choctaw Indians, who are generally an idle, lazy, and shiftless 
 people. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good, the prevailing diseases of the past year de- 
 pending entirely on malaria. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Smith, Arkansas, 
 
 for the year 1869. 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 a 
 
 CO 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 k 
 
 a 
 a . 
 
 [j 
 
 6 
 
 i 
 
 1. 
 
 ri 
 J 
 
 Year. 
 
 1 
 
 fl 
 
 
 
 -1 
 
 SB 
 o 
 
 "3 
 
 1 
 
 ^a o 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 ^ *i 
 
 1 
 
 
 E 
 6 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 t '-S 
 
 
 
 
 1^ -^ 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 || 
 
 1869, (8 months) 
 
 107.75 
 
 114 
 
 82 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 j 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON W. A. CANTRELL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Little Eock, which is embraced within the corporate limits of the city of Little 
 Eock, the capital of the State of Arkansas, is situated on the Arkansas Eiver, about 300 miles 
 from its mouth, in latitude 34 43' north, longitude 92 10' west from Greenwich. 
 
 The Territory of Missouri, including the present State of Arkansas, was organized by the act 
 of Congress of June 4, 1812 ; and the Territory of Arkansas was established by act of Congress of 
 March 2, 1819, the whole Territory at that time comprising a population of scarcely more than 
 1,000, exclusive of Indians. Arkansas Post was the capital, being a Aallage of two or three hun- 
 dred persons, mostly of French descent. 
 
 From the general topography of the country this point had been a regular place for crossing 
 the Arkansas Eiver by the Indians from time immemorial ; for although the river was not forda- 
 ble here nor anywhere else for many miles, yet the hills set into the river on both sides, and gave 
 35 
 
274 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAKY POSTS. 
 
 the spot a marked and distinctive character, and the great Indian trail, pursued in their wanderings 
 and expeditions southward and northward, passed over the present site of the city. 
 
 Here in the course of time two or three families settled for the double purpose of cultivating 
 the soil and trading with the Indians, who were frequently passing ; and a tribe of whom, the 
 Quapaws, stayed in grounds in the immediate vicinity. Little Kock was then the extreme frontier 
 of the United States, beyond which no other place was occupied by white men. The city takes its 
 name from a prominent and well-defined rock that projects upon the river at the spot where the 
 wharf now runs down to the water's edge, an object which, at an early period, formed a noteworthy 
 landmark for boatmen on the river, as it was the first rock which they discovered in ascending the 
 stream from its confluence with the Mississippi, and it was called "La petite Rochelle" or "the 
 little rock, r in contradistinction with another much larger rocky promontory which projects upon 
 the river three miles higher up on the opposite side. 
 
 The steep, rocky bank upon the river, which originally rose sheer from the water's edge, grad- 
 ually increases in height, in ascending the stream, from twenty to about sixty feet, and extending 
 southward and westward within the city limits, the land attains a still higher elevation, being at 
 its highest point about 150 feet above the level of the river, the ascent being everywhere gradual. 
 The surface is a slight deposit of vegetable mold superimposed upon strata of sandstone, excellent 
 for building purposes, very hard, and of light gray and brown colors, and upon slate which ap- 
 proaches the surface in the northwestern part of the city, and is there exposed in thick layers upon 
 the bank of the river. 
 
 West and south of the city the country is broken and diversified with irregularly-shaped hills, 
 covered with pine woods. Granite and millstone grits form the capping of these hills, while the 
 cuts in the valleys reveal sandstone and reddish and dark underlying shales ; while eastwardly 
 extends the expanse of the alluvial lands of the Arkansas River, on both sides of the stream, which 
 is bounded 011 the north by prairie lands at some twelve or fifteen miles distant. The slate, which 
 forms the substratum on the bank in the western part of the city, has been formerly quarried for 
 making tiles and for other similar purposes ; but the work has been discontinued. Nine miles north 
 of the city are situated mines of argentiferous lead, which have been worked at intervals for over 
 a quarter of a century. 
 
 The climate of the post is good, and the place is healthy. It is^not subject to winds nor to 
 extremes of heat and cold, the mean annual temperature being about 61 F. It had never suffered 
 from epidemics of any kind until the year 1866, when 31 cases of cholera occurred in the city, 
 while among the troops, who had been removed from the garrison to the adjacent country, it raged 
 to an alarming extent. 
 
 The reservation, comprising 36 acres of ground, is situated in the southeastern part of the city, 
 and was purchased in 1836. Two years later the building of the post commenced. Five large 
 brick buildings, consisting of an armory, commanding officer's quarters, a barrack for one com- 
 pany, ordnance store-rooms and work-shop, and quartermaster's alid commissary store-room were 
 erected. Also a magazine, brick stables, and outhouses. 
 
 The post was continuously occupied as a military station until the war of the rebellion. On 
 February 18, 1861, the post was evacuated, and the governor of Arkansas, with his militia took 
 charge of and held the post until it was retaken by the United States forces under command of 
 Major General Steele, on the 10th of September, 1863. 
 
 The barracks now used by the enlisted men are composed of nine framed buildings. Each of 
 these buildings lately constituted a ward of the Little Kock General Hospital. They are each 160 
 feet long and 30 feet wide, and were removed in sections over the space of a quarter of a mile to 
 the arsenal grounds, where they are placed in parallel lines, fronting north, and in the rear of the 
 officers' quarters. Each building will accommodate one company, giving ample room for offices, 
 dormitories, mess rooms, kitchens, and store-rooms. They are well ventilated and lighted. The 
 dormitories are warmed by stoves and lighted at night by candles. Air space per man, 468 cubic 
 feet. Each one is supplied with a sufficient number of neatly painted two-storied bunks; the major- 
 ity of them are single bunks, a few being double. The sinks are located 200 yards in rear of the 
 barracks. A kitchen with mess-room adjoining is partitioned off of the rear end of each barrack. 
 The rooms are large well furnished, and adapted to the purpose. One barrack is occupied as 
 
JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. 
 
 275 
 
 quarters by laundresses and married soldiers. Three frame buildings, situated 80 feet in rear of 
 the men's barracks, are, also used as married soldiers' quarters. 
 
 The armory, a large two-story brick building with tower, lias been tastefully altered into offi- 
 cers' quarters, containing twenty rooms, with kitchens in the basement, so arranged that an officer 
 may have his quota of rooms entirely private from others under the same roof. 
 
 Two brick and two framed buildings are used for the storage of public property. 
 
 The guard house is built of brick, and ceiled at the level of the eaves with boards ; ventilated 
 and lighted by two grated windows and one iron grated door. The building contains a guard- 
 room, 23| by 26 feet, and 10 feet high, and five cells, each 10 by 4 feet, and 10 feet high. The 
 cells are ventilated by means of apertures in the doors. 
 
 A similar building to the barracks, located in the extreme southeastern part of the grounds, 
 is used as a hospital. It affords abundant room for dispensary, office, clothes-room, store-room, 
 dining-room, bath-room, kitchen, steward's quarters, and two large well ventilated and lighted 
 wards, holding twenty-live beds. 
 
 The building is warmed by stoves, lighted by windows, and ventilated through the ridge. The 
 wards, one 67 by 23 feet, the other 22 by 23 feet, give 1,157 cubic feet of air space per bed. A 
 small room adjoining the rear of the hospital building is used as a bath-room. There are no water- 
 closets. The dead-house, framed, 15 by 10 feet, is in the rear of the hospital, and still further in 
 the rear are the hospital sinks. 
 
 The post bakery is a frame building, 45 by 23 feet, containing a double oven with a capacity 
 for 800 rations. 
 
 The post is supplied with excellent water from five wells, sunk from 30 to (P feet beneath the 
 surface. The water obtained is cool, clear, and soft, being entirely free from all impurities. The 
 wells, together with a large cistern, abundantly supply the demands of the post. As a means of 
 subduing fire, two barrels of water are placed on the roof of each building. 
 
 The ground upon which the post is situated being rolling, the natural drainage is excellent. 
 Some artificial drainage is obtained by means of boxed trenches. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases at Little Rock, Arkansas, for 
 
 the years 18G8 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 k 
 
 
 
 
 
 dj 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 S 44 
 
 b 
 
 5 
 
 s 
 
 ^ . 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 rK 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 <s 
 
 a 
 
 tf - 
 O & 
 
 ! 
 
 J5 * 
 
 i 
 
 Typhoid fev 
 
 Malarial fev 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysenter. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dis 
 
 ft 
 
 i 
 
 Rheumatism 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrlial ; 
 tious.* 
 
 1 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 d 
 
 1868 
 
 456 33 
 
 1 794 
 
 1 
 
 891 
 
 230 
 
 
 243 
 
 
 56 
 
 
 108 
 
 
 1869 
 
 480.25 
 
 1,928 
 
 3 
 
 1,150 
 
 228 
 
 1 
 
 160 
 
 l 
 
 46 
 
 
 79 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pueuuionia, and pleurisy. 
 
 JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON JOSEPH R. SMITH, UNITED STATES ARMY, DATED AUGUST 13, 1870. 
 
 The post of Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis County, Missouri, is situated on the west bank of 
 the Mississippi River. 475 feet above the level of the sea,* in latitude 38 28' north, longitude 
 
 * Major Abbott, of the Engineer Corps, has computed, from monthly means of barometric observations, the alti- 
 tude of this post as follows : 
 
 Willett's Point, on the Atlantic coast, being the lower station of observation, the altitude of this place is 466.5 feet. 
 
 Yerba Bueua Island, on the Pacific coast, being the lower station of observation, the altitude is 490.7 feet. 
 
 The observations at this post, however, serving as data in computing the above, are not strictly accurate. 
 
 Railroad levels and former barometric observations show this place to be over 470 feet above mean tide, and I givo 
 475 feet as the altitude, not as being absolutely accurate, but as near as is known, and near enough for practical purposes. 
 
276 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 90 IT west. It is west of south of the city of St. Louis, whose southern boundary, now formed 
 by the river Des Peres, an insignificant stream, at times dry, is three miles distant. The Iron 
 Mountain railroad, passing along the river bank directly through the post, commences at St. Louis 
 and terminates at Belmont, Missouri, where a ferry across the river to Columbus, Kentucky, con- 
 nects this road with railroads to Mobile and New Orleans. To the south and west, partially incir- 
 cling the post, at a distance of about ten miles, runs tlje river Marainec, emptying into the 
 Mississippi. 
 
 The greater part of the barracks was erected in the year 1827 by the labor of soldiers. The 
 more modern portion, including the bake-house, quartermaster's store-houses, water-works, (steam- 
 engine and reservoir,) have been erected within a period of time varying from eight to fifteen years. 
 
 When the post of Jefferson Barracks was established the neighboring land was a wilderness ; 
 St. Louis, the nearest town, (Carondelet is now South St. Louis,) was but a trading village. The 
 Mississippi Kiver, from want of means of navigation, was an obstacle as much as a facility to inter- 
 course, and troops for this post arrived from the East via Chicago and thence down the Illinois 
 Kiver in bateaux, instead of using the now well-traveled highway of the Ohio River. At that time 
 this post was a frontier station, established for the protection of the neighboring population, and 
 was of considerable military importance, an importance which it long maintained. Here at different 
 times during its long military history have assembled expeditious for distant military service, and 
 prior to 1861 scarcely a regiment existed in the United States Army but at one time or other had 
 been here represented, either wholly or by some portion of its organization. The veterans who 
 here commanded in early days have passed away, but far the greater part of the distinguished 
 soldiers yet remaining of our army have some kindly recollection of life and pleasure within these 
 walls ; and the names of Grant and Sherman are both associated with the place as having been at 
 one time their military residence. With the progress of years, however, civilization rapidly 
 advanced westward. The valley of the Mississippi, from the outskirts, became the center of a 
 teeming population, when military necessity no longer required the presence of a large body of 
 troops. 
 
 During the great civil war extensive pavilion wards were erected for the accommodation of the 
 sick at suitable spots upon the military reservation, and the post was transformed into a large 
 hospital, which in turn became a depot for recruits. For a short time after the war it was again 
 used as a garrison, was soon thereafter abandoned, and finally, in the fall of 1867, was transferred 
 to the Engineer Department, by order of General Sherman, to be used as an engineer depot, gar- 
 risoned by one company of the Engineer battalion. 
 
 The orginal military reservation, of which the present engineer reservation formed the middle 
 part, contained between 1,700 and 1,800 acres, extending along the river bank about two miles, 
 and embracing some of the most beautiful sites on the river in the vicinity of St. Louis. The 
 present engineer reserve contains about 450 acres of land, is four-sided, and not far from rectangu- 
 lar, the sides running nearly north and south and east and west. It is bounded on the north by a 
 reservation devoted to the use of the Ordnance Department, on the east by the Mississippi River, 
 on the south by the National Cemetery, and on the west by a series of improved lands. Its river 
 front, or eastern boundary, is about 700 yards long, and its northern and southern boundaries 
 about 1,700 yards. Its western boundary being of nearly the same length as its eastern, its sur- 
 face rises abruptly from the river, and is generally from 50 to 150 feet above the level. It is roll- 
 ing, and abounds in what are called " sink holes," circular or oval depressions from 20 to 200 feet 
 in diameter, and from 25 to 75 feet in depth ; some of these communicating subterraneously with 
 the river, some of them constantly containing water. 
 
 Locust trees of many years' growth shade the parade ground, but are fast yielding to the 
 ravages of time and decay. Young saplings of elm and maple have been set out to supply the 
 place of these old trees, whose place a few years will see vacant. The remaining ground has been 
 mostly cleared of underbrush, leaving large-sized oaks scattered here and there, singly and in 
 clumps, converting the grounds into a great lawn. The vicinity of the reserve presents also a roll- 
 ing surface. As I have before stated, immediately to the north and south, government land, viz, 
 the ordnance property and the cemetery, adjoin the post, but a mile or two distant north and south, 
 and contiguous to the west, cultivated fields cover almost entirely the face of the country, and 
 attest to the prosperity of the State, The few uncultivated portions are covered by a low growth 
 
JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. 277 
 
 of trees aud bushes. Grapes have received much attention of late years, and vineyards and 
 orchards are interspersed among the farms devoted to the different cereals. The west side 
 of the river for some distance above and below this place presents no low bottom laud, the 
 limestone formation abutting on the river, or at a short distance therefrom. The river is 
 here about a mile wide, with sandy bottom, ever-changing bars, and changing channel; its 
 depth varies, according to the season of the year and the differing years, from 8 to 48 feet. 
 In the spring and early summer the water is deepest, from the spring raius and the thaw- 
 ing of the snow, which latter, taking place later in the distant mountains where the river 
 rises, extends the season of high water here into the summer. Coincident with the low water of 
 later summer and autumn is the prevalence of malarious diseases; in fact, the sickly season of the 
 valley. 
 
 Immediately across the river, in the State of Illinois, is an extensive bottom land of several 
 miles in width, of varied wood and prairie, and subject to overflow in the highest stages of water. 
 In one of the statistical reports published by the Medical Department, I find it stated that on the 
 river this bottom "is skirted with forests, varying in breadth from half a mile to a mile, while the 
 remaining space to the high ground consists principally of prairie covered with a luxuriant growth 
 of grass. This prairie is checkered with numerous lakes, and, as the evaporation of water during 
 the latter part of summer exposes the surface of the subjacent soil, a fruitful source of disease is 
 engendered, the influence of which is sensibly felt at the barracks." * * * "At least three- 
 fourths of the persons at this post have had fever this season, (1839,) while at the distance of one 
 mile from the river, a dense forest intervening, there has scarcely been a single case." This is a 
 correct topographical sketch even now, save that farms have replaced parts of the forest there 
 described ; but the connection above reported between disease at this post aud a source across the 
 river has ceased to exist. For the past two years and three-quarters careful observation has 
 shown that easterly winds coining from the direction of the bottom laud above described have not 
 been accompanied by a greater amount of disease than westerly or other winds, nor a change of 
 wind therefrom, by any diminution of disease. I may also add that while during the past year 
 (1809) malarious fevers have been rife here, they have equally prevailed throughout the sur- 
 rounding country; and I have been called to see professionally many cases of intermittent and 
 remittent fevers occurring several miles in the interior. 
 
 The soil in this vicinity is fertile, consisting of vegetable humus, of not generally great depth, 
 resting upon a silico-calcareous clay. This layer increases in depth with its distance from the river. 
 Much of this clay is very tenacious, and the sand hard and sharp, so as to be suitable for the manu- 
 facture of fire and other brick. Below the clay we come upon a member of the carboniferous sys- 
 tem, known by Western geologists as the St. Louis limestone. This stratum is exposed in hori- 
 zontal layers, dipping at an angle of about 20 to the northeast. It is estimated to be 250 feet in 
 thickness, and underlies the coal beds of Missouri, from which it is separated in stratagraphical 
 order by a ferruginous sandstone. This thick stratum of limestone is not of uniform composition, 
 but consists of different beds, calcareous, silico-calcareous, and silico-magnesian. It is extensively 
 quarried in the vicinity, and used, according to its quality, for building purposes, for sidewalks, and 
 for the manufacture of lime. Fossils have been found in this formation, and described by Shuniard, 
 belonging to crinoidea, zoophytes, brachiopoda, acephala, gasterpoda, fishes, mollusca, bryozoa, and 
 trilobites. Of these, Paloctrinus multipora, Lithostrotion canadense, Ecliinocrlnus nerd, Poteriscrinus 
 lonc/idactylus, and Atrypa lingulata are the most characteristic. 
 
 The main supply of water for the post is from the Mississippi River. Several springs flow 
 near the river bank, but their water is not used. The only ponds in the vicinity are those hereto- 
 fore referred to as contained in sink-holes, and those across the river. They are standing water, 
 the center of more or less vegetation, and, as far as I have seen, have exerted no unfavorable sani- 
 tary influence. 
 
 The climate of this place is variable but not insalubrious. Since the war of the rebellion me- 
 teorological registers have not been kept at the post. Daily observations of temperature have 
 been made since I have been stationed here, and from these it appears, that since October, 1867, the 
 maximum shown by the thermometer has been 98, aud the minimum 1. The exposure of the 
 thermometer was on the north side of a hurricane house, overhung by a porch, to a limited extent, 
 
278 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and freely exposed to the air. The examination of former meteorological records shows the extreme 
 recorded range of the thermometer at this post to be from 102 to 18, a difference of 120. The 
 extreme range of the mercury at St. Louis is given by Loomis as 133, from a maximum of 108 to 
 a minimum of 25. The mean annual temperature of the post, as calculated from observations for 
 20 years, from 1827 to 1854, is 55.43; and the mean annual fall of rain, calculated from 15 years, 
 observations, (from 1840 to 1854,) is 37.83 inches, divided as follows: In the spring, 10.56 inches; 
 in summer, 12.88; iu autumn, 80.2, and in winter C.37. 
 
 The post is on the same isothermal line as Washington, District of Columbia, on the Atlantic 
 coast, and San Francisco, California, on the Pacific, the three places being also iu nearly the same 
 parallel of latitude, but while, in most other respects, the climate of Washington and Jefferson 
 Barracks are alike, in nearly all other respects, viz., humidity, amount of rain-fall, range of tem- 
 perature, and distribution of heat and rain during the year, the climates of Jefferson Barracks and 
 !S;in Francisco are dissimilar. Here the dew point is habitually high, the greatest amount of 
 rain falls in June, and the least iu January; the fair days are to the cloudy in nearly the propor- 
 tion of three to two, and the days devoid of rain and snow to days of rain and snow iu about the 
 proportion of thirteen to four, days of rain being seven times more frequent than days of snow ; 
 January is the coldest month and July the warmest, the mean temperature of the former month 
 being 32 58', and of the latter 78, a difference of 35 42'. The wind blows most frequently 
 from the south and least frequently from the northeast ; the northwest wind blows with the greatest 
 force and the northeast with the least. 
 
 The post occupies about the middle half of the river front of the reservation. The railroad 
 runs along the river bank, 50 feet distant therefrom, and a line of buildings consisting of shops, 
 store-house, &c., runs along the railroad. From this point the ground rapidly rises, attaining an 
 elevation of nearly 40 yards in 100, and on the summit of a ridge extending back several hundred 
 yards and into the valley on either side is situated the main part of the post. Most of the build- 
 ings are built of limestone, some of brick, and a few of wood. Surgeon DeCamp reports that the 
 post was originally built for twenty-two companies; it has just been repaired and put in order to 
 accommodate a garrison of one company. Three sides of a rectangle are occupied by buildings ; 
 the fourth side, toward the river, being open. One building is occupied by the eidisted men as 
 quarters. It is of limestone, substantially constructed, and. of most excellent finish. It fronts 
 the parade ground to the east, and is about 120 by 36 feet. It consists of two stories and a base- 
 ment, the ceiling of the basement being below the level of the ground in front, but the whole of it 
 being open to the west and south. Covered porches, 10 feet 6 inches wide, extend the whole 
 length of both stories on the east and west sides. The first and second stories are occupied by 
 the men as day quarters and dormitories combined, while the basement contains the kitchen, store- 
 rooms, cooks' rooms, and diuing-room. Originally constructed for officers' quarters, the dividing 
 partitions have been torn down, and each story is now a single room partially divided, the two 
 stories (littering in size only by the different thickness of the walls and a slight variation in height. 
 The room on the first or lower floor is 116 by 33 by 10 feet. Three large chimneys occupy portions 
 of the room, one near the center, and one between the center chimney and either end, and diminish 
 the capacity by nearly 1,000 cubic feet. Short stanchions and a heavy longitudinal beam support 
 the weight of the upper stories, and two transverse walls, with two permanent openings in each, 
 running almost to the ceiling, aid iu supporting the weight from above and partially divide the 
 room. These avenues of communication in the transverse walls are 8 feet 8 inches in height, by 
 7 feet in width. Ten windows on each side and two at each end give light to the apartment, 
 while three doors on each of the long sides afford the means of entrance and exit in front to a brick 
 pavement near the level of the parade ground, iu the rear, by a wooden porch communicating 
 below by three stairways, the ordinary route to the mess-room. The floor of the room is wood. In 
 winter this room is heated by six large coal stoves, the pipes entering the upper part of the chim- 
 neys, whose fireplaces below are closed up by fire-boards. The only means of ventilation other 
 than doors and windows are semicircular openings of about 7 inches radius, pierced in the bottom 
 of each fire-board. It is difficult to see how these apertures could satisfactorily serve for venti- 
 lating purposes. At night oil lamps are used to give light. This room would furnish an actual 
 available space of about 37,179 cubic feet. Forty-two men are assigned to this room, which allows 
 
JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. 279 
 
 885 cubic feet per man. The highest number of men ever assigned to this room, fifty-three, would 
 still enjoy each over 700 cubic feet of air space, which is ample. 
 
 The second story resembles the first, which it slightly exceeds in size, being 8 inches higher; 
 while the diminished thickness of the walls, as not required to support such great weight, gives a 
 few inches increase in its other dimensions. The doors and windows are the same in number as in 
 the lower story, the windows, however, being 6 inches narrower, while the chimneys and partitions 
 are the same in each story. The dimensions of the second-story room are 10 feet 8 inches by 33 
 feet 8 inches by 116 feet 6 inches, which would give of clear space 40,680 cubic feet. Forty-three 
 men are assigned to this room, who thus have an allowance of 946 cubic feet per man. This room 
 does not communicate with the room below. Its doors open upon a covered porch, whence three 
 stairways lead below. 
 
 The basement is occupied as kitchen, mess room, store-room, and cook's quarters. The 
 kitchen is 24 feet 9 inches by 32 feet 4 inches by 7 feet 6 inches. It is insufficiently lighted and 
 ventilated, having an abundance of windows on one side only, the west. It occupies the entire 
 width of the basement, and is provided with an excellent range, sink, tables, hot and cold water, 
 and all that is needed for cooking purposes. The remainder of the basement is 89 feet in length. 
 It is irregularly divided by a longitudinal partition running north and south, of which the founda- 
 tions to the chimneys that run through the upper stories form a large part. This part is of course 
 very thick. The remainder is partly of wooden lattice-work. The portion east of this partition 
 furnishes store-rooms and cook's rooms. Its ceiling is nearly a foot below the level of the ground 
 upon the east, and it is but dimly lighted ; five windows on the east, opening into narrow grated 
 areas. The west half is the mess-room, and is 14 feet wide by 7 feet 6 inches high. A very thick 
 transverse wall, with a large permanent opening of communication, supports the superstructure, 
 and partially divides the room. Its furniture consists of eight tables and sixteen benches. It is 
 lighted and ventilated by windows and doors, all of which are on the west side. It has seated 130 
 men at meals. The table is bountifully supplied with good food and a good service. Being 
 crowded, low, ill lighted and ventilated from one side, I regard it as poorly fitted for its purposes. 
 The inen sleep on bedsteads made of iron, with longitudinal wooden slats. Their bedding consists 
 of a sack filled with straw, and blankets, and is good in quality and sufficient in quantity. The 
 washing arrangements, or lavatory, are to the rear of the mess-room, and under the porch. They 
 consist of a trough furnished with basins, the water being supplied from pipes connecting with 
 the reservoir. 
 
 There is but one privy, a plain board building, situated about 75 feet to the southwest of the 
 quarters, in a sink-hole about 15 feet below the level of the ground. Beneath the building is a 
 large brick vault emptying into a large sewer running to the river. The waste water from the 
 company kitchen follows this course. 
 
 The long buildings running east and west were built for soldiers' quarters, and the southwest 
 one was used as such by this command until January last. It was well suited for this purpose, 
 being 309 by 20 by 10 feet, with an abundance of doors and windows on the north and south sides, 
 the direction of the prevailing summer winds, conveniently divided into smaller rooms by trans- 
 verse partitions, and with ventilating openings in the roof and floors. Basement kitchens and 
 mess-rooms were the greatest objections to its use as soldiers' quarters. The building now used 
 as quarters, which has been above described, required a great deal of change from its former 
 condition as officers' quarters to fit it for its present use. Immediately previous to its occupancy 
 last winter it was entirely torn to pieces inside and renovated, and is now, in general repair and 
 finish, superior to the majority of officers' quarters at military posts. I regard it, however, as 
 faulty in many respects as barracks, and indeed as inferior to the barracks deserted in its favor. 
 The former barracks were cooler in summer, the long rows of north and south apertures promoting 
 the circulation of the prevailing southerly winds no mean item where the summer climate is as 
 warm as this. The mess-room of the new quarters is very faulty, narrow, and contracted, ill 
 lighted and worse ventilated. In this respect the basement of the abandoned quarters had much 
 the advantage, although the fact remains that basement quarters are never to be commended, and 
 basement kitchens underneath dormitories are particularly objectionable on account of the heat 
 and smell. The quarters now occupied are uneconomical in regard to space, having reference to 
 the arrangement of the beds and the cubic space allowed each, and the heating of the rooms in 
 
280 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 winter with the least expenditure of fuel per man. These barrack rooms are nearly 30 feet 
 wide. The unit of construction as to width recommended by Sutherland and other members of 
 the royal commission appointed by the English government for improving the sanitary condition 
 of barracks and hospitals was 20 feet ; and when the room was so much lower than 12 feet as not 
 to give 600 cubic feet with 5 feet breadth to each bed, (I quote from the language of their report,) 
 "it would be better to make up the unit of cubic space by increasing the bed space along the 
 walls than by making the room wider." This same principle has been recognized by sanitarians in 
 our own country, and our most perfectly proportioned pavilion hospitals during the late civil war 
 were but 25 feet in width, even when upwards of 1,200 cubic feet were allowed per man. These 
 new quarters are two stories in height. Where land for building purposes is plenty, barracks and 
 hospitals should both be built but one story high. Three stories are worse than two, and two than 
 one. Worse than all the above-mentioned objections, the new quarters are without adequate, or, 
 indeed, any special provisions for ventilation. In all the foregoing particulars the barracks for- 
 merly occupied had the advantage over these for which they were abandoned, and the same amount 
 judiciously expended upon them in improvements and repair that was expended on the present 
 quarters would have resulted in barracks more suitable in a sanitary point of view. These faults 
 were incident to the original construction of the altered building, and this is another illustration 
 of the difficulty attending the attempt to transform into suitable barracks or hospitals old buildings 
 not erected therefor. 
 
 When I first learned that it was contemplated to make the change of quarters here commented 
 on, I deemed it my duty, although not consulted, to represent to the commanding officer of the 
 post some of the disadvantages attending it; and while the building was undergoing the altera- 
 tions proposed, again expressed my opinion in the matter. As the late transfer of the post to the 
 Engineer Corps would seem to indicate its permanent devotion to military purposes, it would not 
 seem unreasonable to expect to find its soldiers' quarters, planned and altered since such transfer, 
 conforming to the strictest sanitary requirements ; and therefore the more reluctantly do I specify 
 the faults too conspicuous to escape notice. 
 
 The laundresses and married soldiers are quartered in one of the long buildings formerly used 
 as soldiers' barracks, and in two small but comfortable frame buildings a few hundred yards south 
 of west therefrom. The main building is of stone, well finished inside, of one story, with basement 
 kitchen, and so divided by partitions as to give nearly every family a large room of nearly 380 feet 
 area. In this room a bed-room is partitioned off, its separating wall not quite reaching the ceiling, 
 while accommodatious for cooking and washing are provided in the basement. I have never 
 elsewhere seen laundresses so well provided for. 
 
 At the northeast and southeast corners of the parade, and facing thereon, are situated the 
 buildings used as officers' quarters, for which they were originally built. Between them there are 
 no buildings, the parade ground being open to the river side. They are two in number, substan- 
 tially built of limestone, well finished inside, two rooms deep, two stories in height, with basement 
 and attic. Like the soldiers' quarters, the ground in the rear being lower than in front, the 
 basement is dark and subterraneous in front, but clear and level with the surface in the rear. On 
 the front covered porches, 10 feet 5 inches wide, extend the whole length of both stories. In rear 
 a similar porch is built to the lower story. The building on the south side is divided into two 
 double sets of quarters, two halls running through the building, with communicating rooms on the 
 east side of each hall, and chimneys between the rooms. The north building is differently divided; 
 a hall in the center, with rooms on each side, give one double set of quarters, while each end 
 affords a single set of quarters consisting of a hall with communicating rooms on one side. The 
 rooms are generally about 16 feet square and 10 feet high ; on the lower floor they have folding 
 doors. Coal grates and stoves warm them, and windows and doors light and ventilate. Water is 
 supplied by hydrants from the reservoir, but the fall is not sufficient to force the water into the 
 upper floors. A pump in each yard communicates with cisterns. Bath-rooms are provided in but 
 a part of the houses, and privies are built about 60 feet in the rear, covered ways leading thereto; 
 the privy vaults are of brick and mostly above ground ; they communicate with sewers leading to 
 the river, and are flushed by the waste hydrant water. They answer well their ends. The north 
 row of quarters have been put in good repair during the past year. The south set are not in 
 first-rate repair. 
 
JEFFERSOX BARRACKS, MISSOURI. 
 
 281 
 
 I I 
 
 i 1. Jl 
 
 Figure 33. Scalo, 30J feet to 1 
 inch. 
 
 The adjutant's and commanding officer's office adjoins the north row of officers' quarters; 
 quartermaster's and commissary's office and store-houses, and the smith's shop, are on the railroad, 
 and well built of limestone; other store-houses, and a carpenter's shop, of wood, are in the same 
 vicinity. All of these are well suited for the purposes to which they are devoted. The buildings 
 not heretofore described and occupying the remainder of the quadrangle of buildings are fitted up 
 as store-houses for engineer property, or are vacant. 
 
 The guard-house is immediately north of the quadrangle above referred to, and distant about 
 100 feet ; it faces the north, and is 47 feet 8 inches by 22 feet, and two 
 stories high, with a covered porch to the second story, 10 feet 4 inches 
 wide. 
 
 Figure, 33 shows the general arrangement of the guard-house. 
 
 1, lower floor; 2, second fl'oor; C, cells, each 8 by 3 feet by 7 feet 8 
 inches high; I, implement-room; P, prison-rooms, 20 by lOJfeet and 20 
 by 23 feet; G, guard-room, 19 by 20 feet; V, veranda. 
 
 The cells have brick walls, arched ceiling, and iron doors, the upper 
 half grated. They are destitute of windows ; the height of the lower 
 story of the building generally, between the beams, is 10 feet 6 inches. 
 The rooms in the second story are 11 feet 9 inches high. The whole 
 building is warmed by fireplaces and stoves, and lighted and ventilated 
 by windows on all sides, in abundant proportion ; the capacity of its pris- 
 on-rooms, exclusive of cells, is 6,670 feet. The guard-house is suffi- 
 ciently large, and well suited for the purpose. The average number of 
 prisoners occupying it daily during the past six months has been 10 ; 
 the maximum number of occupants has been 16. 
 
 There is no hospital belonging to this post, or on the engineer reserve ; the former post hos- 
 pital for Jefferson Barracks is now on the ordnance reservation, and is used as a hospital by per- 
 mission of General Callender, the commander of the St. Louis arsenal. It is built of brick, on an 
 elevated ridge of land running nearly east and west, about 95 feet above the river, and a little more 
 than 200 yards north of the barracks. About four acres of ground constitute its inclosure; that 
 which is in front, or to the south, being in grass and sprinkled with large oak trees, while that to 
 the north is cultivated for a garden, and contains a stable, cow-house, and chicken-coop. 
 
 The hospital is a single building, 122 feet 9 inches by 24 feet 4 inches, and two stories high, 
 with basement and attic. The wards for the sick are on the. first and second stories, which are 
 similarly divided, and contain rooms of corresponding size. 
 
 For general arrangement of the basement and the first floor of the hospital see Figure 34. 
 
 1, basement ; 2, first floor over the 1 
 
 basement; A, ward; B, bath-room and 
 water-closet; C, closet; D, dispensary; 
 E, steward's rooms ; F, mess-room ; K 
 kitchen ; L, laundry ; M, matron's 
 room ; S, store-rooms ; X, furnace- 
 room. 
 
 It will be seen that the center of 
 the first floor is occupied by two prin- 
 cipal rooms or wards extending the 
 whole width of the building, or 21 feet 
 11 inches from wall to wall ; each room 
 is 35 feet 2 inches long and 10 feet 1 inch high. 
 
 r~-nr-+ 
 
 _ fcffftm i* *W < 
 
 -iiiri-j n_ 
 
 *_____ 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 34. Scale, 35 feet to 1 iiieh. 
 
 Four windows on each side give light. The doors 
 are in the corners, in semi-circular walls, running from one room to the next, forming a vestibule be- 
 tween, into which a door from the outside porch gives admission. Fireplaces are at each end, and 
 heat-registers in the" floor. These wards are intended for the accommodation of six patients each, 
 giving 1,300 cubic feet of air space per man. The hospital has been rated and reported as one for 
 fifty beds, and this number of patients could be comfortably accommodated by making use of all 
 the available space. It is more thau ample for the necessities of this post. 
 36 
 
282 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 In the vestibules, at the corners of the wards, are situated the lavatories and water-closets, 
 three in number. Fixed bath-tubs and wash-bowls are provided with hot and cold water. The 
 water-closets contain sinks, with hydrants and one urinal, the contents flowing through a system 
 of sewerage to a large sink hole, 300 feet distant from the hospital, which communicates subterra- 
 neously with the river. Separate sinks are placed in the basement, and a vault is also dug a few 
 yards in the rear of the hospital for the use of the well. No separate dead-house exists. The dead 
 are laid out and post-mortem examinations made, when necessary, in one of the vacant rooms. 
 
 The furnace, a large circular iron stove in a masonry chamber, occupies a central position in 
 the basement, and pipes therefrom terminate at registers in the first and second stories. 
 
 The mess-room and kitchen are commodious and well furnished, with a range, hot and cold 
 water, and the necessary articles of that department. Dumb- waiters run up from the basement to 
 the first and second stories of the building. The laundry is fitted up with a washing trough, hot 
 and cold water, and a large stove ; the adjoining room is occupied by the laundress. 
 
 The attic is divided similarly to the lower stories, and is intended for store-rooms and attend- 
 ants' apartments ; the height from floor to ceiling is 7 feet ; the other diniensious are the same as 
 the lower stories. 
 
 Oil lamps are used for lighting the hospital at night. Gas-pipes are laid through the build- 
 ing, and gas-works, consisting of a reservoir, and furnace, and retort, were purchased and placed 
 in the rear of the hospital garden. They were never, however, put in position or connected or used, 
 although this could now be done at little expense. The only means of ventilation are by fireplaces, 
 windows and doors. The hospital source of water supply is that of the post. Iron pipes bring the 
 water from the main reservoir and distribute it throughout the building. A smaller reservoir is 
 constructed in the upper portion of the hospital in a purposely built room at the east end. This 
 reservoir room, and on the second floor the room beneath almost inclosed in glass windows, an- 
 swer well for a conservatory. Two cisterns of 600 barrel capacity collect the water from the hos- 
 pital roof. Pumps raise the water from the cisterns. 
 
 The subject of permanent hospital accommodations at this post is now to be considered. As 
 already reported, the hospital building now used by the Engineer Department is used as such by 
 the suft'erance of the Ordnance Department. So long as it can be so used no new one is required. 
 It is impossible for me to say when the necessities of the Ordnance Department may require the 
 hospital building for other uses, especially in view of recent legislation providing for the sale of the 
 arsenal grounds in St. Louis, and the transfer of the arsenal to the grounds on which the hospital 
 is situated adjoining the reserve. In this contingency the post would be left without any hospital 
 accommodations. I commend the matter to the attention of those having power to decide and 
 act. To avoid complication or conflict it would be well to turn over to the Medical Department for 
 permanent occupation as a hospital general or other the building under discussion, with the few 
 acres now included in its inclosures ; or, if this is deemed impracticable, a new permanent hospital 
 should be built for the use of the post. 
 
 The post bakery is a stone building near the commissary store-house on the railroad. It has 
 ovens capable of supplying 1,000 men with bread, and is admirably suited for its purpose. The 
 bread furnished therefrom is habitually of indifferent quality, owing, in my opinion, partly to the 
 want of skill, and still more of attention, on the part of the bakers, who are enlisted men. 
 
 No laundry for the post exists. The washing for the enlisted men is done at their quarters by 
 the authorized laundresses. 
 
 The chapel is a neat wooden building, 72 by 28 feet, plainly finished ; it is, however, of no 
 use, as 110 chaplain is assigned to the post, and no religious services have been held for a year past. 
 Formerly it was also used for school purposes, but there is now no children's school or provision 
 for the education of children at the post. 
 
 The stables are built in the valley to the south of the barracks, from which they are about 100 
 yards distant. They are built of wood on the simplest plan, namely, a long building, with win- 
 dowed stalls and forage rooms. They are erected for the use of the horses of a light battery. 
 Their refuse is used to manure the gardens. 
 
 The post library is in the building occupied as laundresses' quarters, and contains 254 volumes. 
 The room is also provided with a number of newspapers. A company library contains 94 volumes. 
 
 The main water supply is from the Mississippi Kiver. A steam-engine on the river bank forces 
 
JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. 283 
 
 water through an iron pipe into four large iron tanks of 00,000 gallons capacity, contained in a 
 brick building i in mediately west of the barracks, whence, after settling for aMongor or shorter time, 
 it is conducted by iron pipes to hydrants con venientjy distributed throughout the post. These 
 tanks can be filled daily if necessary, and the supply and use of water be practically unlimited. 
 Ten large cisterns, of GOO gallons capacity each, collect the rain water from the roofs. Four of 
 them are situated near the corners of the parade ground, and six of them in the rear of the differ- 
 ent quarters. They furnish an amount of water more than sufficient for drinking purposes for the 
 whole command. River water is, however, habitually used, being preferred by almost every in- 
 habitant of the post. As first pumped from the river it is very muddy, but becomes quite clear 
 after standing 24 hours. As is well known, -it ordinarily causes diarrhoea to those first using it, 
 but in a short time becomes a healthy and highly acceptable drink. Ice is put up every winter at 
 the post, mainly floating ice in the river seized while passing. Some winters the ice floating down 
 the river gorges a few miles below this place and ceases its motion, in which case the surface of the 
 river soon solidifies, and ice of a better grade is secured. It is issued to the men for drinking pur- 
 poses, and with its addition I know of no better water to drink than that of the Mississippi. 
 
 The main pipe conducting the water from the river to the reservoir, and which runs up the 
 center of the parade ground below the surface, is tapped for the attachment of large hose to be used 
 in case of fire. Abundance of hose is also provided, and hooks and ladders are conveniently placed 
 for instant use. Patent fire extinguishers are also placed at well-understood spots. They act by 
 the discharge of water saturated with carbonic acid, which is generated by the reaction between 
 carbonate of soda and sulphuric acid. These are very proper precautions, and, in case of fire early 
 discovered, would doubtless prove sufficient. The fall is so little, however, and the head of water 
 from the reservoir so feeble, that in case of a well-developed fire this means of extinguishing would 
 be, in my opinion, practically useless. 
 
 The natural drainage of the post is most efficient. The ridge on which the barracks are built 
 slopes in every direction, and the valleys on the north and south run down to the river, thus fur- 
 nishing a natural outlet for both surface drainage and artificial sewers. Down these valley sewers 
 are constructed into which other sewers from the rear of the quarters and the privies empty, car- 
 rying the fluid refuse of the place. Former privy vaults dug in the ground, when within a few 
 feet of the surface, have been filled with soil. 
 
 At the reservoir are fitted up seven bath-rooms for the use of the enlisted men, which are 
 compulsorily used twice a week in summer and winter, and oftener if desired. The rooms are 
 warmed in winter, and hot and cold water is supplied. They are open at all seasons of the year 
 and at all hours. During the summer mouths a certain proportion of the men prefer swimming in 
 the river. 
 
 The Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery adjoins the post on the south. It is laid out in 
 rectangular plots which are assigned to soldiers belonging to different States, colored soldiers, 
 prisoners of war, and children. It contains '20 acres and 10,894 graves. 
 
 A post garden and a hospital garden are cultivated ; the former by the labor of enlisted men 
 detailed for that purpose; the latter by the hospital attendants. The former, including a large 
 portion devoted to corn and potatoes, embraces nearly 25 acres, and furnishes an abundance of all 
 kinds of vegetables to enlisted men and officers. The latter, of near two acres in extent, supplies 
 the hospital with plenty. 
 
 Taking for a standard the only true measure of the salubrity of a place, viz., the amount of 
 sickness and mortality, this is a healthy locality. During the twelve months ending June 30, 1870, 
 there have been 117 cases of disease at this post, in a mean strength of 134, and no deaths, or a 
 ratio treated of .872 per 1,000 of mean strength. Of these cases 2 (inguinal hernia) were discharged 
 on surgeon's certificate of disability ; the remainder were returned to duty ; 59 of these cases, or 
 50 per cent., were of intermittent fever, and of these 59, 39, or 66 per cent., occurred in the months 
 of August and September. Venereal diseases constituted over 10 per cent, of all diseases. 
 
 The duties of the engineer soldiers at this post are very similar to those of infantry soldiers, 
 and their standard of mental attainments the same. Many of those in the company, when I first 
 served here, and of (hose enlisted in the past three years, have been discharged soldiers from other 
 arms of the service, and no discrimination as to educational requirements has been displayed in 
 
284: 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 accepting candidates. Some of them are unable to write their own names. (Since writing the 
 foregoing I have been informed by the commanding officer of this post that all candidates for enlist- 
 ment unable to read and write have been rejected since 1808.) The men regularly mount guard, 
 police the post, do general fatigue work, and are habitually instructed in infantry drill. During 
 the past year miniature earthworks. have been thrown up, siege operations imitated on a small 
 scale, and a drill taught on ponton-boats. During a portion of the year certain branches have 
 been taught at an evening school, but I have failed to discover any enthusiasm exhibited by the 
 command in regard to tliis privilege. An excellent band of six brass instruments has been formed 
 among the enlisted men of the company, and their well selected and performed music is no incon- 
 siderable element in the social enjoyment of the post.- 
 
 To sum up, then, for the past year this has been and is a healthy post. No epidemics have 
 prevailed, or deaths occurred; the enlisted men are well instructed in military duty ; enjoy an 
 abundance of good food, and the solicitous care of their officers; are subjected to no hardships, 
 excessive labors, or punishments, and are maintained in a strict state of discipline. Their quarters 
 and the post generally are kept in a state of excellent police, and proper means taken, as occasion 
 requires, to preserve the good sanitary conditions which now obtain. 
 
 Statement slioicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Jefferson Barracks, Mis- 
 souri, for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrlial afl'ec- 
 tious.* 
 
 | 
 
 1 
 
 <H 
 
 O 
 
 i 
 
 1868 
 
 127 5 
 
 191 
 
 1 
 
 42 
 
 39 
 
 1 
 
 
 25 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 31 
 
 i 
 
 1869 
 
 127 
 
 120 
 
 
 62 
 
 15 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON D. L. MAGRUDER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Leavenworth is situated on the right bank of the Missouri River, about 500 miles above 
 its junction with the Mississippi, latitude 39 20' north, longitude from Greenwich 94 33' 30" west. 
 At this point the river is about 300 yards wide, Avith deep and rapid current. The reservation has 
 not yet been declared. The amount of land held as reserved contains about 6,840 acres. 
 
 The fort is situated on the highest point of the undulating prairie, and about 150 feet above 
 the surface of the river, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country in all direc- 
 tions except towards the west, where it is bounded by a bluff about 200 feet in height. 
 
 The soil is very productive, yielding fine crops of cereals annually, without artificial fertiliza- 
 tion. The surface is a rich mold, under which is a sandy loam about 20 feet in depth, lying on a 
 stratum of magnesiau limestone, 8 feet in thickness. The strata beneath the limestone, from above 
 downward, are clay, 20 feet; blue limestone, 2 feet; blue pipe clay, soapstone, slate, sand con- 
 glomerate, and limestone alternating in strata until a depth of 710 feet is reached, when a vein of 
 bituminous coal, 27 inches in thickness, is found. A company has sunk a twelve-foot shaft down 
 to this vein, immediately upon the right bank of the Missouri River, at the extreme southern 
 limit of the military reserve. This company has been granted the right, by Congress, to exclusive 
 mining privileges, for all coal or other minerals underlying the whole military reservation, on both 
 sides of the river, (about 8,000 acres in area.) The company proposes to furnish eoal from this 
 vein at 20 cents the bushel, a reduction of 30 cents upon the present price of coal in Lea\ eiiworth 
 

 FORT 
 
 LEJ&ENWORTH 
 KANSAS. 
 
 Scate, 1000 Fe^i to 1 inch. 
 
 PLATE,N 6. 
 
FOET LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. 
 
 285 
 
 City. About fifty feet below the present vein, it is asserted that there is to be found another of 
 similar quality nearly four feet in thickness, which it is said this company intends working also. 
 No other mineral products of value have been found here. 
 
 The climate is variable and subject to sudden changes of temperature, but appears to be well 
 adapted to the production of large crops of cereals, roots, and grasses. 
 
 Mean temperature for the year 18(59, 51.19 F.; extremes, 96 F. and 6 F.; total rain-fall, 28.31 
 inches; snow-fall, 8.30 inches. The prevailing winds are from the south. 
 
 The post was established in May, 1827, by Colonel Henry Leavenworth, commanding a detach- 
 ment of the Third United States Infantry. At first it was extremely unhealthy, a large part of the 
 command being prostrated by malarial levers. The post was evacuated in May, 1829, and re- 
 occupied in 1830, being then and for several years known as Cantonment Leavenworth. 
 
 The post was originally arranged in the shape of the letter L, but now occupies three sides of 
 a parade, 495 by 490 feet. 
 
 The plan is shown in Plate No. C. 
 
 The barracks for enlisted men consist of three two-story frame buildings, with porticoes above 
 and below on the eastern front; each building being 
 intended for two companies, and each set of com- 
 pany quarters having barrack, orderly, and mess- 
 rooms, besides kitchen and store-room. Figure 35 
 shows the general arrangement of the building. 
 
 1, first floor; 2, second floor; A A, laundresses' 
 quarters, 19 by 15 feet; B, bed-rooms, 9J by 13 feet; 
 C C, halls, C by 15 feet ; D D, dining-rooms, 31 by 
 39 feet; E E, kitchens, 18 by 20 feet ; F F, store- 
 rooms, 10 by 18 feet ; H H, sergeants' rooms, 13.J by 
 16| feet; I I, dormitories, 52 by 39 feet; K K, 
 porches. Height of rooms first floor, 10 feet; sec- 
 ond floor, 11 feet. 
 
 The only means of ventilation in the dormi- 
 tories are fireplaces, windows, and doors. On the 
 20th of June, 1870, the number of men sleeping in Figure 35. Scale, 45 feet to l inch, 
 
 each room was as follows: In No. 1, 115; No. 2, 62 ; No. 3, 71; No. 4, 72 ; No. 5, 41, and No. 6, 38, 
 the allowance of air space varying from 193 to 586 cubic feet per man. Small detachments of 
 recruits are constantly arriving, and occasionally large numbers are sent off. In the winter a 
 strong barrack odor is present, day and night. In summer, when doors and windows are left open, 
 this is not perceptible. 
 
 There are twenty-five sets of laundresses' quarters, twelve of which are in the men's barracks and 
 the remainder in frame cottages, or rather shanties, which are badly ventilated, cold in winter and 
 hot in summer. The north side of the parade is occupied exclusively by officers' quarters, consist- 
 ing of fourteen sets, as follows: One large two-story frame building, (commonly called "Syracuse 
 Cottage,") contains four sets of captains' quarters; two log cottages, one and a half stories high, 
 with basement, each containing two sets of captains' quarters ; one large two-story double brick 
 house, occupied usually by the commanding officer; one two-story frame Cincinnati cottage, one 
 room deep; and lastly, two frame cottages, one and a half stories high, with basement, containing 
 two sets of captains' quarters each. On the east side of the parade is a long block built of stone, 
 one story and a half high, with basement, which contains two sets of field officers' quarters. Near 
 it and on the same side are two Syracuse cottages, similar in all respects to that on the north side 
 of the parade, each containing four sets of quarters ; next to the last mentioned is a large brick 
 building, two stories high, partitioned and divided into twelve sets of officers' quarters, and beyond 
 this a similar building intended for quarters for enlisted men, but which is now divided off into 
 offices, above and below. This building was used for office purposes, at the time headquarters of 
 the Department of the Missouri were at this post. Outbuildings are attached to all the officers' 
 quarters, and there is a cistern in the rear of each set. None of them have water-closets or bath- 
 rooms. 
 
 K 
 
286 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The guard-house is a massive structure of stone, two stories high, the arrangement of which 
 is shown in Figure 30. 
 
 1, ground floor ; A, general prison-room, 46f by 20 by 8f feet ; B, porch, 45 by 12 feet ; H, prison- 
 room, 46 by 20 by 8| feet ; 2, second story ; B, porch ; D, room for officer of the guard ; E, cells, 
 
 7 by 4f by 11^ f ee t ; F, hall, 50 by 4| feet ; 
 H, prison-room, 23 by 23 by 11 ^ feet ; H, 
 prison-room, 15 by 141 by 11 T 7 ^ feet ; K, 
 guard-room, 23 by 23 by 11 T 7 ^ feet. 
 
 There are no means of ventilation other 
 than small windows and grated doors. 
 The cells have no ventilation except by the 
 doors. 
 
 The post hospital is a two-story brick 
 building, the plan of which is shown by 
 Figure 37 . 
 
 1, flrstfloor; 2, second floor ; A, wards, 
 each 24J by 20 feet; D, dispensary, 17 by 
 20 feet ; M M, mess-rooms, 20 by 12, and 25 
 by 27 feet, respectively; K, kitchen, 16 by 
 20 feet ; O, office, 9 by 11 feet ; S, store- 
 room ; X, pantry. 
 
 The wards contain thirty-three beds, 
 giving 410 cublic feet air space to each. 
 Earth-closets have been sent to this hos- 
 pital. 
 
 The post is well supplied with good 
 water. A steam pump is located upon the 
 river bank which throws the water into a 
 reservoir that is higher than any point in 
 
 I 
 
 
 2 
 
 .MJ 
 'IT" 
 
 F 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 K 
 
 " 
 
 IB 
 
 
 
 
 ' 's ' ' 
 K 1 I D 
 
 1 X I 
 
 L 
 
 
 1 : j 
 
 
 
 
 H: 
 
 A 
 
 ! 
 
 A 
 
 iHiii'iii':;." 
 
 Figure 37. Scale, 47-} feet to 
 inch. 
 
 Figure 36. Scale, 36 feet to 
 
 inch. 
 
 the garrison. Under-ground pipes then conduct the water to the stables, where drinking troughs 
 have been erected, and to the yards of the quarters of two or three of the officers. A water-wagon 
 supplies all places where the pipes do not reach. 
 
 Each of the officers' quarters, as well as each barrack for the enlisted men, is supplied with a 
 good cistern, which furnishes, in ordinary seasons, most excellent drinking water throughout the 
 year. There are at the post two steam fire-engines, one under the control of the depot quarter- 
 master, and one at the United States arsenal. 
 
 The drainage of the post is very good ; natural declivities conduct the water off in all directions 
 'from the garrison, and no sewerage has been required. The sinks throughout the garrison consist 
 of vaults dug in the rear of all the habitable buildings, which, when they become too foul, are filed 
 up and new ones dug. Disinfectants are used regularly in all of these, particularly in the sum- 
 mer months, to keep up a constant acid reaction. All refuse at the post is carted about a mile from 
 the garrison and thrown into the Missouri River. 
 
 The post garden has been cultivated by detailed soldiers, but during the year 1869 nothing 
 was done in the way of raising vegetables. The hospital garden is cultivated by convalescents 
 and occasional details from the companies, and furnishes vegetables to the hospital in abundance. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good. Malarial diseases prevail in the fall, but 
 they are not of a congestive or malignant type, and yield readily to treatment. 
 
FORT RILEY, KANSAS. 287 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Leavemcorth, Kan- 
 sas, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 "1 
 
 1 . 
 -g 
 
 E 
 a 
 
 -d 
 S If- 
 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 2 * 
 
 [3 
 
 if 
 
 f 
 
 3 
 
 "3 
 
 B 
 
 b 
 
 f 
 
 z 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 K = 
 
 ^ - 
 
 fc - 
 
 1 
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 C8 ^ 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 <s> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 J2 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 *g 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 S 
 
 n 
 
 H 
 
 ^ ; 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 501 
 
 763 
 
 156 
 
 99 
 
 22 
 
 75 
 
 37 
 
 3 
 
 177 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 362. 16 
 
 520 
 
 167 
 
 91 
 
 '21 
 
 32 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 53 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT RILEY, KANSAS. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON GENERAL, J. K. IURNES AND ASSISTANT SURGEONS G. M. 
 STERNBERG AND L. Y. LORING, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Eiley is situated on a high plateau of prairie on the left bank of the Kansas River, im- 
 mediately below the confluence of the Smoky llill and Republican Forks, latitude 39 north, longi- 
 tude 90 30' west ; elevation above the sea about 1,300 feet ; above the bottom land on the east 
 between 50 and CO feet. From 300 to COO yards to the northwest is a ridge of secondary or rotten 
 limestone bluffs, from 150 to 200 feet high, from which the post is separated by a small ravine 
 which serves as a drain. To the south and southwest the plateau slopes rapidly toward the Kan- 
 sas River. On this slope runs the Kansas Pacific railroad. 
 
 The valley of the Kansas at this point is nearly three miles wide, the distance from the river 
 to the foot of the plateau on which the post is built being about 2,500 yards. The soil of the bot- 
 toms is a pale yellow loam, and very fertile. 
 
 The post was established in the spring of 1852, and was at first known as Camp Center, it 
 being very nearly the geographical center of the United States, but was finally called by its pres- 
 ent name after General B. C. Riley, United States Army. 
 
 The mean temperature for the past 14 years has been 54.49 F. ; hottest day July 18, 1859, 
 109 F. ; coldest day January 13, 18G2, 29 F. Average difference between wet and dry bulbs 
 4.98. Average rain-fall from October 1 to April 1, 5.G9 inches; average rain-fall from April 1 to 
 September 31, 17.83 inches. The climate, although subject to great and s.udden variations in tem- 
 perature, is healthy. In summer cool and pleasant nights are the rule, and owing to the dryness 
 of the atmosphere the heat is not oppressive. The winter months are pleasant, except during the 
 prevalence of a norther, and there is little snow-fall. The month of March and the fall months are 
 windy and disagreeable. 
 
 The principal wild animals in the vicinity are the deer, antelope, gray wolf, coyote, wild cat, 
 beaver, rabbit, jack rabbit, otter, raccoon, weasel, skunk, gopher, and black and red squirrels. 
 
 The birds are prairie chickens, ducks, snipe, doves, blackbirds, plover, mocking bird, hawks, 
 catbird, meadow lark, blue jay, snowbird, woodpecker, and martens. 
 
 The. fish are catfish, buffalo, whitefish, gar, and sunfish. 
 
 The post is built around a parallelogram 553 by GOO feet. The barracks for enlisted men con- 
 sist of six two-story buildings of hammered magnesian limestone, each intended for one company, 
 and measuring 88 by 40 feet, with piazzas in front and rear for both stories. The first floor is sub- 
 divided into rooms for kitchen, dining-room, orderly-room, &c. The second floor consists of one 
 room 85 by 37 feet, and 11 feet 9 inches high, lighted and ventilated by six windows on each side, 
 each G feet G inches by 3 feet 8 inches. At each end of the dormitory is a fireplace, which, how- 
 ever, is not used, stoves having been substituted. Each dormitory contains 37,740 cubic feet, 
 which gives 539 cubic, feet to each man on an average occupancy of 70. The latrines are from 100 
 to 300 feet distant, and have walled vaults about 20 feet in depth. 
 
288 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 A 
 
 B 
 
 The guard-house is a two-story stone building, 43 by 20 feet, and totally un suited for its pur- 
 pose. Its arrangement is shown in Figure 38. 
 
 The quarters for married soldiers consist of nine log huts, two frame cottages, and one two-story 
 frame building. The officers' quarters consist of six buildings of hammered stone, two stories in 
 height, and measuring 60 by 40 feet, five being intended for two sets of quarters each, the sixth 
 for the commanding officer. All of them have a piazza in front and rear for the lower story. The 
 kitchens are separate buildings in the rear, each with a good cellar underneath. All the quarters 
 are well finished. 
 
 A, first floor; I, cells, 
 
 3 by 7 feet ; 2, cell, 7 by 
 
 7^ feet ; 3, prison, 16 by 
 
 7 feet ; B, second floor ; 
 
 1, guard-room, 14 by 17 
 
 feet; 2, guard-room, 16J 
 
 by 25 feet ; 3, porch, 10 
 
 feet wide. 
 
 A broad stairway 
 
 leads to the porch in the 
 
 second story, the porch 
 
 being covered by an ex- 
 tension of the roof of the 
 
 building. The commis- 
 sary and quartermaster 
 
 store-houses are two frame 
 
 buildings, one story high^ 
 The north 
 
 Figure 38. Scale, 18 feet to l inch. 
 
 having basements or cellars about two thirds their extent. 
 end of each building is subdivided into several rooms designed for offices 
 and sleeping apartments. The remaining portion constitutes one large 
 room for storage purposes. The cellars are commodious, being well adapted 
 for vegetables, &c'. Each building is supplied v, ith a hoist. The offices 
 and other small rooms are plastered and whitened. On the top of the 
 roof of the quartermaster's building is suspended a bell in a belfry, by 
 which the employe's are directed to go to and return from work. The 
 ordnance building is a one-story stone building, 117 by 18 feet. 
 
 The magazine attached to the post is a brick structure, 16 feet square 
 and one story high, with a rock foundation. 
 
 The hospital is a large building of inagnesian limestone, situated 336 
 feet east of the middle of the east side of the garrison, and fronting 
 toward the north. It is located on a point of land included between two 
 ravines one beginning at a point 243 feet to the northwest, and the other 
 at a point 110 feet to the southwest of the building, and both extending 
 east toward the Kansas River. It consists of a main building and wing, 
 and the arrangement is shown by Figure 39. 
 
 1, ground floor ; 2, iipper floor ; A, wards ; D, dispensary, 20 by 17| 
 feet; O, oflBce, 18 by 21 feet; S, store-room, 17 by 21 feet; B, bath- 
 room, 17f by 21| feet; K, kitchen, 18^ by 19f feet; M, mess-hall, 17 
 
 K 
 
 ej 
 
 ^^MH 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 P 
 
 twff 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 A 
 
 l" ' 
 
 S 
 
 D 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 Z 
 
 by 2L| feet ; P, porch ; Z, covered porch, 
 wing, 11 feet 10 inches. 
 
 2. 
 Figure 39. 
 
 Height of room in the main building 12 feet ; in the 
 The rooms in the second story are 9 feet 10 inches high. 
 
 The ward occupying the ground floor of the main building measures 20 by 17f feet; those in 
 the wings are each 21| by 17-f feet in size. The upper story rooms are 17f by 20 feet. The rooms 
 in the second story of the main building are used as wards, two having a cubic capacity of 3,744 
 feet each, the other two each 3,364 feet. The windows to the rooms on the first floor are each 3 
 feet 8 inches wide, and 6 feet G inches high, having twenty -four panes, and are 3 feet 2 inches from 
 the floor. The windows on the second floor are each 3 feet 8 inches by 4 feet 6 inches having six- 
 teen panes, and are 2 feet 5 inches from the floor. All of the windows have green shutters. Each 
 
FORT KILEY, KANSAS. 
 
 289 
 
 of thie eight rooms comprising the main building has a fireplace, mantelpiece, and closet, case- 
 mates to the doors and windows, and washboards, the wood-work being grained. 
 
 Above the second story is an attic extending the length of the building, unfinished, with a 
 square hole opening into the hall and four apertures in the main wall at each end of the building. 
 The hall has a door at either end, forming entrance and exit. The hall on the second floor has a 
 window at either end. In front of the hospital is a porch, one story high and ten feet wide, which 
 extends the length of the building. It is raised from the ground about two feet and a half; has a 
 shingle roof, which is supported by six wooden columns with banisters between. 
 
 The kitchen is a separate building, which is connected with the wing by a covered porch, ten 
 feet wide, extending the length of the latter. The walls of the cellar form the foundation of the 
 kitchen, which is well supplied with closets, cooking-range, &c. 
 
 The various rooms and halls of the hospital and the ceilings of the porches are plastered, and in 
 some instances whitewashed. The floors are of yellow pine, and the wood-work generally is of pine. 
 
 A stone building, 12 by 14 feet and 1C feet high, is situated 115 feet east of the hospital, and 
 is well adapted for a post-mortem room. It has one small window and a door. The privy is a build- 
 ing similar in extent, and situated 22 feet south and 92 feet due east of the kitchen.. It is divided 
 into two unequal sections, each having one door and one window and a seat. The vault under- 
 neath corresponds in area to that of the building, and is about 18 feet deep, with stone walls, but 
 has no conducting shaft. 
 
 There are five stables built of stone, each 256 by 39 feet, running north and south, and par- 
 allel to each other. They are 62 feet apart, and contain over 100 stalls each. 
 
 Beading rooms and libraries are attached to the post. They contain over 700 volumes. 
 
 The water supply is from 19 cisterns, 5 wells, and from the river by means of water-wagons. 
 The cisterns are about 30 feet deep by 12 feet in diameter, and have stone bottoms with cement 
 walls. They receive the water from the various buildings, there being one to each barrack and to 
 each double set of officers' quarters. They have no filterers, but the water is of good quality. 
 The wells have an average depth of 58 feet. The water is alkaline and of poor quality. The 
 wells are in bad repair, and the water is seldom used. The water from the river, when the latter 
 is high, is soft and of good quality, when it is allowed to settle ; but when the river is low it con- 
 tains many impurities, and is very disagreeable. 
 
 There is no system of artificial drainage. The elevation and slope of the grounds, and the 
 numerous small ravines and gullies giving very good facilities for natural drainage. 
 
 It has been the custom of the men to bathe in the river, where they are exposed to the sun's 
 heat by day and to miasmatic influences in the morning or evening. It has been recommended 
 that arrangements be made to allow the men to bathe near their quarters, but as yet nothing has 
 been done in this respect. 
 
 Each company cultivates a garden, which supplies the garrison with vegetables. The hospital 
 garden has been a failure for the last two years. Several cows are kept for the garrison, and one 
 for the hospital. Each company has its library. 
 
 The surrounding country is being rapidly settled. Junction City, a flourishing town, lies three 
 miles to the west. The nearest Indians are the Pottawattomies, who are on a reservation and are 
 becoming civilized. 
 
 Statement slwicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Riley, 
 
 Kansas, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 JS 
 
 .2 . 
 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 S 
 
 ' X 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 Tc 
 
 H 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 48 
 
 d 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 * , 
 
 2 
 
 Years, 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 S .M 
 
 l^ 1 
 
 =2 
 '3 
 1 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrh(i>a 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria 
 
 Epidemic c 
 
 Venereal d 
 
 Kheuniatisi 
 
 Phtllisis. 
 
 t'iitiu-rluil 
 tions. 
 
 No. of deatl 
 
 1868, (nine months) 
 
 100. 77 
 
 115 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 , 
 
 20 
 
 
 1869 (eleven months). 
 
 244. 63 
 
 529 
 
 
 94 
 
 143 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 24 
 
 15 
 
 
 60 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 37 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and plenrisy. 
 
290 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort Riley, 
 
 Kansas, for the year 1868. 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 3! 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 rg 
 
 > , 
 
 a * 
 
 E 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 I. 
 
 TO 
 
 g 
 
 
 JU 
 
 11 
 
 <8 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 Year. 
 
 . 
 
 .1 
 
 3 
 
 i 1 
 
 ^ s 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 =3 
 
 00 
 
 1 
 
 1 '-i 
 
 -a 
 
 
 1 
 
 ! 3 
 
 P 
 
 "3 
 3 
 
 SI 
 
 p 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 B 
 
 02 
 
 6 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 1868 (four months) 
 
 490.5 
 
 291 
 
 38 
 
 29 
 
 26 
 
 22 
 
 24 
 
 11 
 
 i 
 
 57 
 
 f) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneunjonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT BARKER, KANSAS. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON B. E. FRYER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Barker is situated on the open prairie in a reservation of sixteen square miles, latitude 
 38 45' north, longitude 98 15' west from Greenwich, and height above sea level 1,856 feet. A 
 mile south, and flowing through a part of the reserve, is the Smoky Hill River, with a general 
 course here of south-southeast. This river receives water from several small creeks in the vicinity, 
 those discharging into it from the north draining large tracts of country, its banks in many 
 places are quite high and everywhere steep, and about one hundred feet apart, while its sandy bed 
 is rarely occupied by water for more than one-quarter of its breadth, \utli an average depth of 
 about two and a half feet, although at times the stream rises very suddenly and rapidly, coming 
 up as much as six or eight feet in as many hours, and often subsiding almost as quickly. During 
 these risings, which often occur from heavy rains west and north, the water brings down, mixed 
 with it, enough mud to produce a good deal of turbidity ; at other times it is clear, though holding 
 in solution salts (principally chlorides) in quantities large enough to preclude its use for drinking 
 purposes, although horses and cattle seem very fond of taking it, and apparently suffer in no way 
 from so doing. The Smoky Hill River, as is the case with all the smaller creeks and streams, is 
 fringed with a growth of timber, not generally extending more than twenty yards from its banks. 
 Trees are seen here in no other place than on the water-courses. 
 
 Forty miles south is the Arkansas River, on which are Fort Zarah, (lately abandoned,) distant 
 42 miles; Fort Lamed, southwest 75, and Fort Dodge, 130 miles. Tributaries to the Arkansas 
 drain the country south of here to within ten miles of the Smoky Hill River. The Saline and 
 Solomon Rivers, which are northward twenty and sixty miles respectively, flow through wide and 
 beautiful valleys, which are rapidly being filled up by settlers. 
 
 The Kansas Pacific railway runs through the reserve about three hundred yards north of the 
 post, and all regular trains east and west stop at the depot, which is but one-third of a mile north- 
 east of the garrison. The following important stations are on the line of the Kansas Pacific rail- 
 road eastward: Topeka, 152 miles distant ; Fort Riley, 93 miles; Junction City, 90 miles, and 
 Saline, 36 miles. Fort Hays is 65 and Fort Wallace 180 miles west. The travel on the railroad 
 has been somewhat interrupted in the winter by snow filling the cuttings, and by the washing 
 away of the tracks and bridges by floods in the summer, though the delay has never been very long 
 from these causes. The Indians tore up a few hundred yards of the track in the summer of 1869, 
 forty miles west, but this damage was soon repaired. A mail is due here every evening from the 
 west and each morning from the east. Letters reach headquarters of the department in thirty-six 
 hours. 
 
 No official record can be found at the post showing the date of its establishment, or anything 
 relating to its earlier garrison. It is said to have been commenced in 1864 by Iowa volunteers, who, 
 it is thought, did duty here until the fall of 1865, when relieved by part of the Thirteenth United 
 States Infantry. 
 
FORT BARKER, KANSAS. 291 
 
 The site of the post was, until January, 1867, a mile southwest of the present buildings, on 
 the north bank of the Smoky Uill River, at the crossing of the old Santa Fe stage road, and up to 
 November, 1866, was known as Fort Ellsworth. General Orders No. 22 of Department Headquar- 
 ters, dated November 17, 1866, directed a change of name to that of Fort Marker. In December, 
 1866, a location for the new post of Fort Harker (named after and in honor of General Charles G. 
 Harker, killed during the rebellion) was selected, and a move made to it as soon as the buildings 
 were ready for the men, several of the officers living still at the old post and going to and fro to 
 duty for some time, until their new quarters were ready for occupation. 
 
 The principal buildings composing the post are located near the center of the reserve, and are 
 arranged on the sides of a rectangle 252 by 120 yards. The parade ground inclosed by the build- 
 ings is well laid out, and divided by graveled walks, and margined by a broad roadway. Trees 
 have been planted, and are growing well. 
 
 The surface of the reservation and vicinity is generally rolling prairie, diversified on the south- 
 ern and southeastern borders by bluffs which overhang the banks of the Smoky River. Grass 
 grows here luxuriantly. On the higher prairie the " buffalo" grass only is found. On the low lands 
 the " blue " variety reaches often a height of six feet. 
 
 The/object of establishing the post appears to have been to furnish a point from which opera- 
 tions could be carried on against the Indians, who were very troublesome daring the greater part 
 of the rebellion. The Kansas Pacific railway had been commenced, was advancing west, and re- 
 quired protection for its working parties. Part of the duty of the present garrison of the post and 
 of Fort Hayes is to guard several of the more unprotected stations on the railroad west of here. 
 
 After a move to the new site had been completed a depot of the Quartermaster's and Commis- 
 sary Departments was established here, and two large store-houses were erected close to the rail- 
 road track for their use. From these depots, during the greater part of the years 1867 and 1868, 
 all the posts on the Arkansas, and many in Colorado and New Mexico, were supplied. 
 
 On the 28th of Jane, 1867, epidemic cholera appeared, the first case occurring in the person of 
 a herder and butcher working for the beef contractor. Several cases quickly followed in the gar- 
 rison. No new cases occurred after the middle of August, the disease being stamped out by the 
 efforts of the several medical officers on duty here at the time, and whose reports, published in 
 Circular No. 1 of 1868, from the Sargeon General's office, give a full history of the epidemic. It is 
 estimated that two hundred persons died at the post ami in the vicinity. 
 
 Cholera has not since shown itself. It was feared, however, that possibly the disease would 
 recur in the warm weather of the following year, (1868;) that, away from its original habitat, it 
 might have formed, as it is believed to have done elsewhere, the elements necessary, as regards 
 atmospheric and telluric conditions, to an endemic abode here, or that it might, as was doubtless 
 the case in 1867, be brought from places east, and every effort was directed to keep the post, and 
 its garrison in the best sanitary condition to prevent it. The closest attention to cleanliness was 
 given, a thorough state of police kept up, every sink in the garrison, both of officers and men, was 
 disinfected daily just before sunset, and the food of the men regularly inspected. 
 
 The geological formation of this vicinity belongs to the cretaceous period, the strike of the strata 
 extending from northeast to southwest, from above the Republican River, to below Fort Zarah on the 
 Arkansas. The formation is rather monotonous, its rocks consisting for the most part of red sandstone, 
 often very compact, and containing iron in large quantities, large beds of loose sand, conglomerate 
 limestone, both of the shelly and compact varieties, and clay. Coal in variable quantities has been 
 found, and also a fine variety of potter's clay. Fossils are not very numerous. A few teeth of sharks 
 and sauriaus, and some vertebrae of fish, have been found about 20 miles west on the river. The 
 limestone beds contain inoceramus and gryphae. Leaf impressions, (all exogenous,) in a good 
 state of preservation are somewhat numerous in the red sandstone. About sixty species have 
 been collected, principally of the oak, tulip tree, willow, poplar, and sassafras, all directly allied to 
 existing species of our forest trees. Several of the species found are believed to be new. 
 
 The soil here is a rich sandy loam, averaging from two to three feet thick, and is very fertile. 
 It is underlaid by a bed of sand, varying from 4 to 12 feet. 
 
 The following gives a moderately complete flora of this vicinity. Several species, believed to 
 
292 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 be new, remain to be described, and from some of them it will probably be necessary to construct 
 new genera. The edible plants and those bearing edible fruit in the list are marked.* 
 
 TREES. 
 
 Ulmiii amcricana, (white elm.) 
 Ulmuifulva, (slippery elm.) 
 Poi>nlus monilifera, (cotton wood.) 
 Frajcinus americana, (white ash.) 
 Juglaiis niyra,* (black walnut.) 
 Quercus alba, (white oak.) 
 Quercus castanea, (chesuut oak.) 
 Negundo aceroides, (box elder.) 
 Cercis canadensis, (red birch.) 
 Gymnocladus plati/carpa, (coffee tree.) 
 Salix lucinda, (shining willow.) 
 Salix discolor, (glaucous willow.) 
 Mortis rubra," (mulberry.) 
 Prumis cliicaw,* (white plum.) 
 
 SHRUBS AND V1SKS. 
 
 Ilubus canadenn'm* (dewberry.) 
 Kubus occidentaUs* (black raspberry.) 
 Kibes Kirtellum,* (wild gooseberry.) 
 liibesia aureum,* (buffalo currant.) 
 Sambiicus occidentalis,* (common elder.) 
 Prumin rirginiana,* (choke cherry.) 
 Villa cordifola* (frost grape.) 
 Rhm glabra, (smootli sumac.) 
 Cepatanthits occideniaUs, (button Imsh.) 
 
 Anemone caroliniana, (wind flower.) 
 Delphinium azureum, (azure larkspur.) 
 Argemone mejcicana, (prickly poppy.) 
 Sinapis nigra, (black mustard.) 
 Viola cucullata, (common violet.) 
 Portulaca oleracea, (common purslane.) 
 Malra paparera. 
 Callirhoe alcaoides. 
 
 Oxalin violated, (violet wood sorrel.) 
 
 Oxalis gtrleta, (yellow wood sorrel.) 
 
 Psoralea floribnnda. 
 
 Astragalus mexicaHU*,* (prairie pea.) 
 
 Lathi/rus paliislns, (marsh vetchling.) 
 
 Baptiniii australes, (blue false indigo.) . 
 
 Baptisia leucantha. 
 
 Baptixia leucopTtaxt. 
 
 Tephrosia virginiana, (goats' rue.) 
 
 Teptironia liispidnla. 
 
 Schrankia uncinata, (sensitive briar.) 
 
 Rosa liirinda, (dwarf rose.) 
 
 Oenothera sinuata. 
 
 Opuntia missouriensis,* (prickly pear.) 
 
 Heliaiithus, (a species of wild sunflower.) 
 
 Senecio vulgaru, (common groundsel.) 
 
 Trojclmon cuspidatum. 
 
 Hymen opappus, (a species of.) 
 
 Penstemou digitalis. 
 
 Penstfmon piibescens. 
 
 Penstemon grandijlorus. 
 
 Verbena, (a species of.) 
 
 Lippia innl(tlora. 
 
 Lltliospermum hirlum, (hairy puccon.) 
 
 Sida, (a uew species.) 
 
 Litkospcrmnm longijtorum. 
 
 Onosmodeiun, (a species of.) 
 
 Ascelpias cornuti, (common milkweed.) 
 
 Ascelpias tuberosa, (butterfly weed.) 
 
 Scilla fraseri, (wild hyacinth.) 
 
 .Ilium alriutum. 
 
 Alium, (species not described.) 
 
 Ti'adescantia virginiana, (spiderwort.) 
 
 Tradescantia, (species not described.) 
 
 Yucca filamentosa, (Adam's needle.) 
 
 Clienopoditim album, (lambs' quarters.) 
 
 Calystcyia lepitem, (hedge biudwood.) 
 
 The animals of the vicinity are as follows : The silver or prairie mole, American wild cat, gray 
 wolf, prairie wolf or coyote, prairie fox, common skunk, American badger, raccoon, western fox, 
 squirrel, stripped gopher, prairie dog, American heaver, white-haired or Canada porcupine, prairie 
 hare, gray rabbit, American elk, prong-horn antelope, and buffalo. 
 
 Birds. Turkey buzzard, duck hawk, prairie falcon, sparrow hawk, blue-backed hawk, red- 
 headed woodpecker, night hawk, belted kingfisher, cow bird, meadow lark, common crow, wild 
 turkey, (probably two species,) pinnated grouse or prairie chicken, quail, sand-hill crane, killdeer, 
 English or Wilson's snipe, brown-fronted goose, Canada, or wild goose, mallard duck, green- 
 winged teal, and blue-winged teal. 
 
 Reptiles. Snapping turtle, horned toad, black snake, prairie rattlesnake, harlequin snake, 
 (rare,) salamander. 
 
 One or two species of the catfish are found in the river. 
 
 The mean temperature, as obtained from three years' observations is 51.36 F. ; highest point 
 reached by the thermometer during that time, 102 F., on the 6th of August, 1869 ; lowest 7 
 below zero, on the 22d of December, 1869. The greatest variation in twenty-four hours took place 
 between the loth and 16th of January, 1870, when the mercury fell from 35 to zero. These 
 sudden changes in temperature are not very frequent. 
 
 Average annual rain-fall for three years, 14 \ inches ; average number of days' rain, 35; 66 
 per cent, of which fell in the early spring and summer months. Though the average fall is low 
 and the majority of rains light, large quantities of water, at times, fall in short periods. In 
 
FORT HAKKEK, KANSAS. 293 
 
 June, 1869, three inches of rain fell in four hours. Snow-storms are of short duration and rare 
 occurrence. Hail-storms are rare, but when they do happen the hail-stones are remarkable for 
 size. In June, 1868, hail-stones fell 2J inches in diameter, and none of a less diameter than half 
 an inch have ever been seen. 
 
 The prevailing winds are from the south and southwest, and north and northwest, and they 
 generally give dry weather; the north and northeast winds at all seasons bring rain or snow. 
 
 The following shows the direction of the wind in one hundred and six rains: 
 
 N. NE. E. SE. S. SW. W. NW. 
 
 1C. 17. 12. 14. 14. 9. 6. 18. 
 
 No accurate observations have been made as to the force or velocity of the winds. A good 
 anemometer would, it is believed, show a very high average. The atmosphere is remarkably dry 
 and bracing. Meat cut in slices and hung in the wind can be cured at almost any season. Fogs 
 are very rare, and occur only in autumn. The winters here, though occasionally severe, seldom 
 last long, the cold weather rarely beginning until January, and often ending in six or eight weeks. 
 The summer, which may be said to begin in April, continues imtil the middle or end of October. 
 The heat is seldom oppressive, being rendered more endurable by the winds. 
 
 There are four sets of quarters or barracks at the post, two of balloon frame, boarded and bat- 
 tened, and the others of logs. Each set of quarters is intended to accommodate one company, and has 
 its kitchen, mess-room, &c., in the rear. The frame barracks were built in the fall of 1868,.are at the 
 west end of the garrison, and are unlike in plan. The barrack building proper is 117 by 22 feet, 
 9J feet high to eaves, and 16 feet to ridge, and is divided through its middle by a first sergeant's 
 room, 14 feet by 8 feet 10 inches, and an entry into two dormitories, each 54 by 20f feet. Each 
 dormitory has six windows, (two on the sides opposite each other, and two at each of the ends,) 5 
 by 3 feet, and three doors, C by 3 feet. These dimensions are all from internal measurements. The 
 dormitories, entry, and sergeants' room are lathed and plastered up to the eaves; above which they 
 are open to the roof, which is well shingled. Through the peak of the roof an opening, 3 feet 9 
 inches square, has been made, on the " ridge plan," for ventilation. A brick chimney, with an 
 internal diameter of 12 inches, also pierces the roof of each dormitory. A building in rear of the 
 dormitory, and at right angles to it, 65 by 19 feet, is divided by a plank partition into a mess-room, 
 45 by 19J feet, and a kitchen, 20 by 19J feet, both having a height of 9J feet to eaves. The mess- 
 room has six windows, 5 by 3 feet, three on a side and opposite. In the kitchen are two windows. 
 The kitchen and mess-room communicate through a door, 6 by 3 feet. The mess room walls are 
 lathed and plastered. The lumber in these buildings is white pine. The sills rest on brick pillars 
 2J feet above ground, which gives a clear open space for the circulation of air beneath the floors. 
 The walls are lime-washed, both internally and externally. 
 
 The two sets of log quarters were built in the spring of 1867, on the stockade plan, each set 
 having its own mess-room and kitchen. The barrack-room proper of these quarters is 99 by 19 
 feet, and 9J feet high, (the roof is nearly flat,) giving a total air space of 17,488 cubic feet, and has 
 five windows on each side and opposite, 4 feet by 2 feet 9 inches, and three doors, 6 by 2J feet. At 
 the east end is an orderly sergeant's room, 12J by 19 feet. The spaces between the logs are filled 
 with plaster on both sides, and lime-washed inside and out. The roof is of logs, the inner ends of 
 them resting on a heavy ridge log, supported by stout posts ; the outer on the wall, though carried 
 four feet beyond it. Earth nearly a foot thick covers the logs, with a layer of hay intervening to 
 prevent the finer particles of the earth from falling through. Four chimneys, with internal 
 diameters of 12 inches, pierce the roof. A log building, constructed in the same way, in the rear, 
 60 by 19 feet, 9J feet high, is divided into mess-room and kitchen by plank partition. The floors of 
 all the log buildings at the post are one inch plank, on 3 by 4 inch scantling, which rests upon the 
 ground. 
 
 The warming of the barrack buildings is by stoves, burning wood, the pipes entering the 
 chimneys 6 feet from the floor. 
 
 Artificial light is obtained from candles. 
 
 The ventilation of the barracks is natural arid is believed to be sufficient, as the continuous 
 high winds move with velocity great enough to remove and renew the air in an ordinary building 
 here, with sufficient frequency for its complete purification. The barrack dormitories all face north 
 
294 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and south, the more general direction of prevailing winds, and, the windows being opposite, give 
 good cross ventilation, as during three-fourths of the year these can be left open. Even in the cold 
 weather, which would require a closing of the windows, the force of the wind is sufficient with open- 
 ings in the roof and with the chimneys to secure a continuous and frequent change of the air. The 
 accidental openings, such as spaces between window frames and walls, also give entrance and exit 
 to the air. 
 
 The floor of the log barracks, resting as it does almost on the ground, is, of course, a very 
 objectionable feature, and in a damp climate would produce marked results, but in this dry atmo- 
 sphere its effects on the occupants have not apparently been hurtful. 
 
 Though the ventilation of the barracks is believed to be sufficient, the mode of effecting it is 
 deemed objectionable ; the whole subject seems to have had very little attention given it in the 
 construction of the barracks at the post. The simpler and better plan of the ridge openings for 
 summer, with shafts .carrying the stove pipes for winter, might readily have been given to all of 
 these buildings. 
 
 The average air space per man in the frame quarters is 400 cubic feet, and in the log barracks 
 350 cubic feet. 
 
 The bunks, which are similar in all the dormitories, are double and two-tiered. This, as is 
 well known, (aside from any immoral tendency,) is a most objectionable form of bed. All barracks 
 should be constructed so as to give a sufficient area of floor to allow a separate bed to each man 
 placed on it. 
 
 The bunks are provided with bedsacks filled with hay, (often changed.) The blankets furnished 
 the men are good and sufficient. All the bedding is frequently sunned and aired. 
 
 There are no separate wash or bath-rooms attached to the men's quarters. The means for 
 bathing are limited. This must be the case at many posts at which, like this, water has to be 
 transported in water-wagons from the source of supply to the various parts of the garrison. 
 A recommendation has been made by the post surgeon that a bathing-house for the enlisted men 
 be put up near the spring from which the post is supplied, where abundance of water can be let 
 into tubs at all times, while the elevation of the suggested site is sufficiently great to furnish the 
 best drainage for all refuse water into a small creek at the foot of the hill. The order for the erec- 
 tion of this building has been issued. In the warm weather the men bathe in the Smoky River. 
 
 All the company quarters have sinks 150 yards to the rear. These sinks are of frame over a 
 pit ten feet deep into which a box is sunk ; and their dimensions are. 13 by 8 feet and 8 feet 
 high. They are divided by a partition through the middle so as to give a double row of seats. 
 The best police is maintained, and disinfectants are used daily during the warm season. 
 
 The company kitchens are moderately well adapted for the purpose. Those of the log build- 
 ings have too few windows to light and ventilate them well. 
 
 The mess-rooms of the frame barracks are very suitable ; those of the log quarters have the 
 same objections as the log kitchens. 
 
 There are eight buildings, all frame, occupied as quarters by married soldiers and laundresses. 
 Several of these buildings were put up as work-shops and mess-houses for quartermaster's em- 
 ploye's. None of them are well adapted for the purpose to which they are applied. 
 
 Nine buildings at the post are used as quarters for officers. Three of them (one story) are 
 built of red sandstone. The largest of these stone buildings contains eight rooms and a kitchen, 
 and is occupied by the commanding officer. Each of the other two stone houses contains four 
 rooms and a kitchen. The remaining six sets of quarters are frame. Three of them are two- 
 storied and have six rooms; the others contain each five rooms on one floor. All of these quarters 
 are well plastered and painted, and are moderately comfortable dwellings. Each building is 
 intended to accommodate one family, or one mess, there being but one kitchen to each; in conse- 
 quence of the number of officers at the post, however, in several instances two families occupy one 
 house and mess together. Water is supplied to these quarters from the spring, a short distance 
 west of the post, by wagons. There are no bath-rooms proper in any of the houses. The officers' 
 quarters are all heated by wood-burning stoves. 
 
 There are three large frame store-houses at the post, one each for quartermaster, commissary, 
 and ordnance stores. The quartermaster's store-house is 200 by 50 feet, and 12 feet high to eaves. 
 It is substantially constructed, dry, and well ventilated. The commissary warehouse is 150 by 50 
 feet. Both buildings are close to a side track of the railroad, so that cars can be unloaded into 
 
FOET HAEKEE, KANSAS. 295 
 
 them, and both are admirably adapted for the purpose of storing large amounts of supplies. The 
 ordnance store-house, 45 by 19 feet, and 10 feet high, is 100 yards north of the parade ground. 
 
 A large well constructed ice-house, (frame,) with a capacity of 400 tons, was put up in the fall 
 of 1867. Ice of fair quality is cut from Smoky Hill Eiver, and the building is filled every winter. 
 Liberal issues are made to the hospital, companies, and to officers, daily during warm weather, by 
 the quartermaster under whose charge the ice-house is placed. 
 
 The guard house, a substantial two-story stone building, is at the west end of the parade 
 ground. The upper floor is divided into two large rooms, one 17J by 12 feet, and 9J feet high, the 
 other 13 by 17 feet, and 9 feet high, and six small cells, each 7 by 3 feet, and 9 feet high. This 
 floor, which is reached by an outside staircase, has three windows. The lower story is divided into 
 three rooms, a guard-room, 26 by 15 feet, and 9 feet high, a non-commissioned officers' room, 13 by 
 8 feet, and a small tool-room. The guard-room is provided with three windows. The ventilation 
 of the cells is defective, and it is difficult to remedy this effectually in the present building without 
 giving many of the more daring prisoners chances to escape. Hygiene is not incompatible with 
 security in guard-house buildings, and it is thought more consideration of this important subject 
 might be well had in planning them and in their construction. 
 
 The post hospital, a substantial building of dressed sandstone, 200 yards south of the garrison, 
 fronting west, is, with a few unimportant exceptions, built after the plan prescribed by the 
 Surgeon General in Circular No. 4, of 1867. The front part of the administration building is one 
 story and a half (attic) high, and is 48 by 38 feet, with a height of 34 feet. The lower story, 14 
 feet high, is divided by a hall, 7 feet wide, running from front to back, and a cross entry connecting 
 the wards, of the same width, into dispensary, 18 by 15 feet; steward's room, 15 by 14 feet; two 
 offices, each 15 by 8 feet; and a store-room for medicines, &c., 18 by 15 feet. The attic, which is 
 reached by a stairway, 3 feet wide, is 8 feet high to eaves, and open 12 feet to ridge. This floor is 
 divided by a hall, 9 feet wide, into two rooms, one 20 by 20 feet, used as a dormitory for attendants, 
 and the other, 15 by 14i feet, as a store-room for linen, bedding, clothing, &c. The rear portion of 
 the central building is of one story, 40 by 18 feet, and 14 feet high to eaves. It is divided into a 
 mess-room, 18 by 12 feet, kitchen, 18 by 15 feet, and commissary store-room, 18 by 11J feet. These 
 rooms open into each other, and are reached through a door from the hall iu the central building. 
 
 The two wings, in which are the wards, are each 51 by 24 feet, and 14 feet high to ceiling, and 
 have an air space of 17,136 cubic feet. Each ward has ten windows, 7 by 3 feet. Through the 
 ridge, which is 20 feet above the ward floor, is an opening, 10 by 3 feet, with an arrangement of 
 slats, on the Venetian-blind plan, for closing in cold weather. The ward in the south wing has at 
 its southern end a room partitioned off, 8 feet square. Each ward has two chimneys, with openings 
 for stove-pipes. A good piazza, 9 feet wide, extends the whole front of the building. The roof of 
 the iiospital is well shingled. 
 
 The store-room for medicines and hospital stores, a light, dry room, is back of the office, sepa- 
 rated by the cross entry. It is well provided with shelves neatly painted. The steward's room is 
 in rear of the dispensary, is well lighted by two windows, and contains a good closet. 
 
 The mess-room is well furnished with tables and benches, neatly painted and varnished. The 
 mess furniture, such as knives, forks, spoons, plates, bowls, &c., is of good quality, and sufficient. 
 
 The kitchen is thoroughly supplied with furniture and fixtures. The cooking is done by a large 
 wood-burning stove. 
 
 The wards are each furnished with twenty beds, with an average air space per bed of nearly 
 900 cubic feet. Not more than a third of the number of beds are ever occupied, however. Bed 
 ticket-frames are attached to all the beds, and iu them are placed cards giving the occupant's name, 
 rank, company, and regiment, name and address of the nearest relative, diagnosis, with treatment, 
 result, and date ; and these tickets are filed away at the patient's discharge from the hospital. At 
 every bedside is a small table, and for every other bed a chair is provided. There are also three 
 comfortable arm rocking-chairs in use. The bed linen, which is ample, is changed on all the beds 
 at least once a week, and as much ofteuer as may be required. Most of the mattresses in use are 
 hair. The windows of these wards, as well as every window in the hospital, are fitted with a good 
 dark green rolling curtain, furnished by the Medical Department, and each ward is provided with 
 a good clock. The ventilation of the hospital wards is effected by the windows and ridge; the 
 former can be kept open during the greater part of the year, and the latter, from its height above 
 the ward floor, the year round, without lowering the temperature too much for health and comfort. 
 
296 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The nursing of the sick is moderately well done by soldiers detailed in hospital from companies on 
 duty at the post. A corps of nurses enlisted for the purpose, subject to no other duty, and assign- 
 able by the Surgeon General, would be of the utmost advantage. The walls and ceilings of the 
 hospital are plastered, though the mess-room, kitchen, and commissary store-room only are com- 
 pleted, by having the hard-finish coat of smooth work. The wards, hall, &c., are, unfortunately, 
 only rough-finished. The doors, door-frames, and window-frames, are handsomely grained and var- 
 nished. The doors are all lettered in black lettering, indicating the rooms within, viz., ''Dispen- 
 sary," "Post Surgeon's Office,* "Store-room," "Ward," "Dining-hall," &c. The floors of the hos- 
 pital, which are four feet above the ground, are painted a dark brown. The room partitioned oif 
 from the south ward is used for bathing and washing. It contains a good tin portable bath-tub, 
 furnished by the Medical Department. Patients who are able to do so, and all the attendants, are 
 directed to bathe at least twice a week. A second bath-tub is kept in the store-room, for use in giv- 
 ing to the sick, as may be required, a warm bath at the bedside. There are no water-closets in the 
 hospital building; earth-closets have been sent to this post. The sink of the hospital is about 68 
 yards to the rear. 
 
 The dead-house is a frame building, 60 yards to the rear of the hospital. It is 34 by 12 feet, 
 and 9 feet high, and is divided into two rooms of equal size, a dead-room and post-mortem room, 
 the latter well lighted by two windows and a skylight. Both rooms arc furnished with tables, &c. 
 
 There is no baggage-room at the hospital. The baggage brought by soldiers when about to be 
 admitted into hospital is generally limited to a knapsack, and this, with such other articles as are 
 occasionally offered for storage, is labeled with the owner's name, a list of the property entered in 
 a book kept for the purpose, and everything belonging to the patient sent to an appropriate place 
 in the store-room. 
 
 The hospital is wanned by wood burnt in box stoves. One large stove generally heats the 
 ward sufficiently, though two can be used. Until the general order from the War Department pro- 
 hibiting burning of volatile oils at posts, kerosene was in use. Now light is obtained from candles 
 supplied by the commissary. 
 
 A post and rail fence in rear of the hospital incloses a space 169 by 150 feet, in which is a good 
 well, forty feet deep, from which the water used in the hospital is obtained. 
 
 Medical stores are obtained from the purveyor in St. Louis, a year's supply at a time. The 
 quality of the stores sent here is invariably good, and they are always well packed. The year's 
 allowance is generally quite sufficient, and but occasionally special requisitions for a few articles 
 have to be made. The amount of medicines, dressings, and hospital stores furnished is ample, and 
 the articles of furniture, including that for wards, the mess-room, and kitchen, which are sup- 
 plied, give everything possibly needed in the working of the hospital. The medical supplies 
 (exclusive of bedding) are stored in the store-room, which is light, dry, and well ventilated. The 
 bedding not in use is put away, carefully protected against moths, in the attic store-room, which 
 is well fitted with good shelving. 
 
 The general plan of the hospital is excellent, and furnishes few grounds for criticism or sug- 
 gestions for improvements. The building is believed to be one of the best of the kind on the plains. 
 The ventilation of the wards, now moderately complete, would have been thoroughly accomplished 
 by the ridge and shaft plan, as described and figured in Circular No. 4, of 1867, from the Surgeon 
 General's Office. As it is, the number of beds in each ward might well be reduced a third. The plas- 
 tering of the walls and ceiling of the wards should have been completed by the addition of a smooth, 
 hard-finish, instead of being left at the rough coat, which is more permeable and harder to whitewash. 
 The piazza in front of the hospital would have been of more benefit to the patients had a door been 
 made to it from each ward. The addition of a small ward, which could be darkened when necessary 
 for eye cases, is desirable. The attic, or half-story, in the administration building should be a full 
 story, as in the Surgeon General's plan. A wind-power over the well in the hospital inclosure 
 would, at a small expense, furnish abundant water, which could be carried through the hospital, 
 and give a good supply for bath-rooms and water-closets. 
 
 The post bakery is a large, frame building, 36 by 14 feet, and 14J feet high. Within a year a 
 new and large oven has been built capable of preparing three hundred rations of bread at a baking. 
 As a rule, the bread made is of good quality. 
 
 There is no general laundry at the post. 
 
 The building used for a chapel was formerly the ofiice of the depot quartermaster. It is 37 by 
 
FORT IIARKER, KANSAS. 297 
 
 24 feet and 19 feet high. There are teu windows, 53 by 39 inches, which well light the room nat- 
 urally. It is furnished with benches, chairs, and a reading table. Service is held twice each 
 Sunday by the post chaplain, and the attendance of soldiers is fair. In the west end of the build- 
 ing is the post quartermaster's office, and in the east is the post library. 
 
 There is no school-house at the post. 
 
 Four frame buildings used as stables for the cavalry are at the west end of the parade ground. 
 They are each 175 by 39 feet, and 20 feet high, and contain sixty stalls in two rows, each stall 
 9 feet long and 4 feet wide. At the west end of each stable two rooms are partitioned oif, 9 feet 
 square, for forage, &c. These buildings are well roofed with shingles, and are dry and well ven- 
 tilated. 
 
 The post library is in a light and cheerful room, 10 feet square, adjoining the chapel. The 
 books are well arranged upon shelves, and classified. There are now 170 volumes, of which CO are 
 historical; the remaining are novels by the best authors, with a few poetical works. The library 
 is under the charge of the post treasurer, and is open daily from 9 o'clock a. in. till 4 o'clock p. m. 
 
 Water for the post is obtained almost exclusively from two springs, a hundred yards apart, 
 three hundred yards west of the post. These springs open through fine gravel underlaid by clay 
 midway up a bluff of sixty feet overhanging the small creek (Spring Creek) which empties into the 
 Smoky River, a mile from the garrison. The water is carried from the spring in wooden pipes to 
 water-tanks below, and from these tanks water-wagons convey it to barrels placed for use near the 
 barracks and quarters. The wagons make two or three rounds a day as may be required. The 
 tanks, pipes, water-wagons, and water-barrels, are frequently cleansed. The two springs will aver- 
 age a yield each of 4,500 gallons in the twenty-four hours, making a total of 9,000 gallons daily. 
 In the hospital yard is a good well, and three sets of the officers' quarters also have wells. With 
 these exceptions the garrison is supplied from the springs. The chemical examination has not been 
 made complete, though enough so for all practical purposes, and the result shows the water in use 
 here to be good; spring water neutral, slightly alkaline after boiling. A gallon of the water 
 decomposed one-eighth of a grain of permanganate of potash. Carbonate of lime in minute quan- 
 tity, with traces of chloride of sodium and lime, was discovered. The well water gave similar re- 
 sults, with the exception of the amount of contained organic matter being less, one-twelfth grain 
 of permanganate of potash leaving a slight tinge after a twenty-four hours' mixture. 
 
 The drainage of the post is entirely surface, though from the elevation it is as complete as 
 natural drainage can be. The slops, garbage, &c.. are collected in barrels daily, under the direc- 
 tion of the police sergeant, (a permanent detail,) and hauled a mile from the post and buried. Ma- 
 nure from the stables is hauled the same distance and burned. 
 
 The cemetery is about one-fourth of a mile southeast of the post ; it is 290 feet square, and 
 contains 183 graves. With but few exceptions the graves are filled with the dead of cholera. The 
 ground is prettily laid out, being divided by broad walks, and having also a walk on each of the 
 four sides. Trees have been planted and are growing well. A good post-and-plank fence surrounds 
 the cemetery. 
 
 The post garden is to the north of the garrison one-half a mile, and contains three and a half 
 acres. It is under the charge of the post treasurer, and is well worked. Last year a large amount 
 of vegetables was raised and distributed to the companies, band, and officers. Some seasons are 
 too dry for growth, but generally all kinds of vegetables do well. Two enlisted men are detailed to 
 work in the post garden. 
 
 The hospital garden is to the southwest of the post ; about three and one-fourth acres were 
 fenced in in the spring of 1868, at the request of the post surgeon. During the spring of 1869 but 
 little was done, it being impossible to get men detailed to work, the term of enlistment of all but 
 eight men in tDe companies here having expired. Some of the later vegetables planted in May 
 did well. Radishes, corn, okra, lettuce, beans, &c., yielded abundantly. This spring (1870) a gar- 
 dener has been detailed, and the garden is well under way, and it is hoped that a sufficient supply 
 of vegetables for the year will be obtained from it. 
 
 There are eleven milch cows here, one of which belongs to the post hospital ; the others are 
 owned by officers. The cows cost little or nothing to feed, fine grass abounding nine months of 
 the year. Hay can be had for about $6 per ton. Cows can be purchased at from $40 to $70 each. 
 Few, if any, horses or mules can be bought in the neighborhood. 
 38 
 
298 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The commissary department here is liberally supplied, and tbe quality of the stores is invari- 
 ably good. The food of the men is both ample and sufficiently varied. Purchases of articles not 
 in the ration are made in liberal quantity of the post commissary and of farmers near, and paid 
 for from company funds. Extra issues of vegetables, pickles, &c., are made on the recommenda- 
 tion of the post surgeon. The messes of the men are well cooked and served, and are inspected 
 regularly. 
 
 But very little cultivated fruit is produced near the post. Wild plums, wild grapes, and goose- 
 berries grow in abundance, and can be purchased cheaply and furnish a fair substitute. The prices 
 of vegetables, &c., will be reduced as the country becomes more thickly settled and more produce 
 is brought in. 
 
 The furniture of the barrack-rooms, as is the case at most of the posts on the plains, is very 
 limited, consisting of bunks, benches, and arm-racks. 
 
 Kitchen and mess-room furniture for the companies is very ample and good. The furniture in 
 the married soldiers' quarters is very simple, and made at the post. That in the officers' quarters, 
 with the exception of a few articles made by the quartermaster, is brought from the east. With the 
 exception of mess furniture, none can be procured in the vicinity. 
 
 The inhabitants in the vicinity of the post are principally farmers, who are hard-working, 
 industrious people ; their number is estimated in the county at five hundred. Great difficulty is 
 experienced by officers here in obtaining servants, and generally it is necessary to send to the East 
 for them. 
 
 Notwithstanding that a number of cases of malarious fever are presented for treatment here, it 
 is believed that there is no local malarial influence, in by far the larger number of cases the dis- 
 ease being one of recurrence in patients elsewhere primarily affected, and in the few cases (a very 
 small proportion) which show a first attack, it is thought that the malarial poisoning can be traced 
 to unhealthy regions through which the men had escorted trains, &c. Lung diseases are neither 
 frequent nor severe. Pneumonia and pleurisy are rare. Mild bronchial inflammations in the winter 
 furnish most of the pulmonary cases. The rarity of consumption is remarkable, and the first case 
 has yet to be seen in which this disease began to be developed here. A majority of cases treated 
 for it, in whom its commencement took place elsewhere, have been much improved. The cold of 
 the winters is trying for cases very far advanced, though the summer and early fall have their 
 advantages for even this stage of the disease, the one great remedy, exercise in the open air, being 
 interfered with but very little by wet weather. Bowel affections are not now numerous, and a 
 majority of those occurring among the men are caused by great indiscretion in eating or drinking, 
 (crude food, and poisonous whisky after pay day are frequent causes,) or exposure after both. Ty- 
 phoid fever is almost unknown, no case of it having appeared since July, 1867. Severe cases of 
 acute rheumatism are very uncommon, and in the majority that have been observed the attack was 
 not the first one. 
 
 Fort Barker is used as a base by troops not belonging to it for operations in the field, and 
 many sick from commands in the vicinity have been sent in here at various times for treatment or 
 discharge. The sick-list is often enlarged in this way. There are two out of five men in hospital 
 at the present time (May, 1870) who belong to commands which have never been at the post nor 
 attached to it. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Harker, Kansas, white 
 
 troops, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 ri 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 1 
 
 | 
 
 J4 
 
 E 
 
 3 ^. 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 ,| 
 
 S f 
 C 'S 
 
 g 
 
 JJ -H 
 
 JS| 
 
 1 
 
 iarrhoea 
 dysenter 
 
 msillitis. 
 
 enereal dis 
 
 tienmatisi 
 
 .2 
 -+j 
 
 <f 
 
 S 
 
 l = 
 
 I 
 9 
 
 -O 
 
 o 
 6 
 
 
 * 
 
 p 
 
 
 ft 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 AJ 
 
 ^ . 
 
 
 5 
 
 1868 
 
 215 16 
 
 255 
 
 61 
 
 72 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 2 
 
 20 
 
 i 
 
 1869 
 
 184. 66 
 
 160 
 
 41 
 
 30 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 24 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, anil pleurisy. 
 
FORT LABNED, KANSAS. 299 
 
 FORT LARNED, KANSAS. 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEON W. H. FORWOOD, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ASSISTANT SUR- 
 
 (1KON A. A. WOODHULL, UNI'I'EI") STATES ARMY. 
 
 * 
 
 Fort Lamed is situated on the right bank of Pawnee Fork, about eight miles from its conflu- 
 ence with the Arkansas River, latitude 38 10' north, longitude 99 Avest; altitude above the sea, 
 1,932 feet. The occupancy of the site dates from September, 1859, when it was known as Camp 
 Alert. Buildings were erected in 1860, when the post received its present name as a compliment 
 to Colonel B. F. Lamed, then Paymaster General. The object of the post was the protection of 
 the Santa F6" trail. The buildings were at first constructed of adobe. During several years the 
 agency for the Cheyennes and Arapahoes was located at Fort Lamed, but it was discontinued in 
 18G8, and as all the Indians formerly roaming in this vicinity are now on reservations at Camp 
 Supply and Fort Sill, and the travel by this post is now diverted by the railroad on the north, 
 it is now of little importance. Should the Arkansas bottom become settled it will be of value as 
 a nucleus, but at this date (March, 1870) there are no settlers, Indians, or lines of travel within 
 its influence. Four miles square are held as reserved, but the extent of the reservation has not 
 been officially declared. The post is bounded on the north and west by the creek ; on the south a 
 flat prairie extends six miles to the Arkansas Eiver. The bottom land is covered with good grass, 
 from which hay is obtained for the post. The post was rebuilt in 18(57, the buildings being of sand- 
 stone and arranged around a square, the quarters for enlisted men being on the north. There are 
 two buildings, each containing two sets of company quarters. Three of the four squad-rooms are 
 40 feet square by 10 feet high. Between the ceilings of these rooms and the roof, there is a free 
 space containing (in each building) about 30,000 cubic feet, and communicating with the external 
 air by a series of openings under the eaves on the south side, said openings having in each build- 
 ing the aggregate area of 30 square feet. Each squad-room communicates with this loft by three 
 rectangular openings in the middle line of the ceiling, having an aggregate area of 2,652 square 
 inches. In December, 1869, the air space per man in these dormitories was from 381 to 457 cubic 
 feet. In October, 18C9, the post surgeon (Assistant Surgeon Woodhull, United States Army) called 
 the attention of the commanding officer to the fact that the ventilation of these barracks was im- 
 perfect, that at night the air was perceptibly vitiated, and recommended that ventilating shafts 
 from the ceiling to the ridge of the roof be inserted, and that openings be made in the ceilings on 
 the south side for inlet of fresh air, having a sloping shelf underneath to protect the men sleeping 
 below from the descending current, and that the trap-doors covering the openings in the ceiling be 
 removed from the control of the men. The commanding officer approved these recommendations, 
 but as the post quartermaster did not concur nothing was done. Besides the dormitories the com- 
 pany quarters contain mess rooms, kitchen, orderly-room, and store-room. 
 
 The buildings for officers' quarters are three in number, built of sandstone, one story high, 
 shingled roof, with a broad portico in front. One of these buildings is for the commanding officer; 
 it contains a hall, four rooms, each 14 by 16 feet, a kitchen, 19 by 16 feet, and a servants' room 
 over the kitchen, which is the only up-stairs room at the post. Each of the other buildings is 84 
 by 33 feet, and contains four sets of quarters. They are traversed by two halls, 7 feet wide, each 
 hall being common to two sets of quarters, so that each building is supposed to accommodate two 
 captains and four lieutenants. The captains' quarters are in the ends, and consist of two rooms, 
 each 16 feet wide by 14.J feet deep, and 12 feet high, and a kitchen, 19 by 10 feet, from which opens 
 a servants' room. The two rooms communicate by folding doors, and the kitchen opens into the 
 back or bed-room. Under the kitchen is a cellar which, within the past year, has been deepened 
 and floored, and been thus transformed into a kitchen, leaving the kitchen proper for use as a 
 dining-room. On the opposite side of the hall two lieutenants are presumed to live in one room 
 each, without kitchens. At this writing (February, 1870) frame additions are being erected to the 
 subalterns' quarters, which will give to each two lieutenants three other rooms, although neither 
 has the superficial allowance of a room proper; so that hereafter two lieutenants will have be- 
 tween them a kitchen, a dining-room, and a servants' room, instead of none as at present. 
 
300 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 In the rear of each building just described is a well, not in use. Water is drawn in a wagon 
 from the creek and poured into barrels standing in the yards. There are no water-closets or baths. 
 Each hall opens into a yard common to all the occupants of that side of the building, and in each 
 yard is one small privy. 
 
 The hospital is an old adobe building erected in I860. It contains four rooms, each 16 feet 
 square, by 8 feet high, two of which are used as wards, each containing four beds, giving a little 
 over 500 cubic feet air space per bed. The building was improved in I860 by a shingle roof, which 
 leaks, and in 1867 by board floors in the wards and dispensary. One end fell in a storm in the 
 spring of 1869, and was replaced by weather-boarding. The ceiling is of old canvas. 
 
 The following letter shows its condition in October, 1868 : 
 
 SIR : I have the honor to request that I may be furnished with one hospital in good order, for the use of the sick 
 at this post. The adobe building now used for this purpose is about worn out, and in a condition which renders it 
 liable to fall down on the sick at every storm that comes. It has already given way in one wall, and has been propped 
 up. The steward has spent most of the past summer in patching it up to keep out the dust and rain, and still more 
 exertion will be required this winter to keep out the snow. It has been frequently inspected by the post commander, 
 aud by other officers, and pronounced unlit for the proper treatment of the sick, and this unfitness becomes still more 
 apparent by comparison with the new aud commodious stone buildings occupied as store-rooms and offices, and with the 
 comfortable houses of the officers. 
 
 It was a custom in former times to look after the comfort of the sick as one of the first things in building a post 
 but here it seems to have been left to the last, aud, finally, by some oversight, neglected altogether. It is hoped that 
 these just grounds of complaint may be speedily removed, by giving the matter that prompt attention which its import- 
 ance demands. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 W. H. FOKWOOD, 
 Bv't Maj. and Ass't Surg, U. S. A., in Charge. 
 
 Similar representations and requests were made during the year 1869, by Assistant Surgeon 
 Woodhull, United States Army, but without result. 
 
 The quartermasters' and commissary store-houses are stone buildings in good condition. 
 
 The water supply of the post is mainly from the creek, being hauled in barrels. There are 
 several wells, from 15 to 40 feet deep, but the water in most of them is sulphurous, and unfit for 
 use. The drainage of the post is entirely superficial, and not good, but this is of less importance 
 on account of the scanty rain-fall. 
 
 Owing to repeated failures in previous years, no garden was attempted during 1869. The 
 causes of want of success are deficient rains, intense heat, poor soil, grasshoppers, and hail storms. 
 
 Limited quantities of fresh vegetables are brought to the post in summer, and sold at high 
 rates, e. g., potatoes, $2 50 per bushel; tomatoes, $1 per peck, &c. 
 
 The nearest railroad station is Fort Hays, 50 miles distant. A mail is received once a week. 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at fort 
 
 Lamed, Kansas, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 if 
 
 
 -d 
 
 
 =5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 BJ 
 
 S 
 f* 
 
 P 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 J 
 
 4. 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 S X 
 
 d 
 
 o 
 
 "s 
 
 ~ 
 
 ; 
 
 | 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 S 
 
 8 
 
 c 
 
 
 3 
 
 pS ^ 
 
 S 
 
 "S * 
 
 ^2 
 
 g 
 
 p 
 
 S 
 
 1 - 
 
 Iw 
 
 
 
 
 o _~ 
 
 
 ^- ~ 
 
 
 it 
 
 c 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 eg 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1e 
 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 S 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 
 02 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 IZi 
 
 1868 
 
 165 5 
 
 259 
 
 25 
 
 71 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 Q 
 
 97 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 112 33 
 
 89 
 
 a 
 
 13 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
FOKT DODGE, KANSAS. 
 
 301 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 Larned, Kansas, for the year 1868. 
 
 Year. 
 
 3 
 
 ! 
 
 li 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 B 
 
 <2 
 
 g 
 
 g 
 ill 
 
 c 3 
 
 rf 
 
 1 
 
 
 j, 
 
 2| 
 
 J 
 
 1 
 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 f ". 
 
 
 E 
 
 >' 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 % 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 OB 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 83.33 
 
 88 
 
 8 
 
 32 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 g 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT DODGE, KANSAS. 
 
 INFORMATION FUKNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS C. S. DE GRAW AND W. S. TREMAINE, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Dodge is situated ou the iiortli bank of the Arkansas Eiver, ou the old Santa Fe trail, 
 latitude 37 50' north, longitude 100 west. It is at the foot of a range of limestone bluffs, about 
 75 feet high, on a low piece of bottom land, consisting of blackish clay mixed with sand, and formed 
 by washings from the bluffs. The width of this strip is about 800 feet. 
 
 The position is weak in a military point of view, being commanded by the bluffs, and liable to 
 surprise ou account of the numerous ravines in the rear, in a sanitary point of view the location 
 is bad, the low land being difficult to drain and flanked by a creek and low marshy ground. Ma- 
 larial diseases are frequent during the autumn mouths. A much better location, but a few hundred 
 yards distant, would be on an elevated plateau, with good natural drainage and commanding an 
 extensive view of the surrounding country. The meadow lands on the right and left of the post 
 and on the opposite bank of the river, here about 500 yards wide, furnish excellent grazing. The 
 upland in the vicinity is covered with buffalo grass. No timber is found within fifteen miles. 
 Buffalo, antelope, deer, and rabbits abound, and wild ducks in large numbers frequent the river 
 and adjacent ponds. The climate is dry, there having been 14 rainy days, with a.total rain-fall of 
 8.2 inches during 1809. The average temperature is about 56 F. 
 
 The post was established in 1864 by General G. M. Dodge, United States volunteers, the site 
 being an old camping ground for trains going to New Mexico what is known as the "dry route" 
 from Larned strikiug the Arkansas at this point. It is between the two principal points at which 
 the Indians cross the Arkansas one at Cimarron, twenty-five miles west; the other at Mulberry 
 Creek, fifteen miles east. 
 
 From the prevailing high winds in this vicinity it was very difficult to quarter the troops in 
 tents, and from the occupancy of the post to October, 1867, when one of the present barracks was 
 completed and occupied, the troops were quartered in "dug-outs" along the river bank, which is 
 from eight to twelve feet above the water. A "dug-out" consisted of a cellar near the edge of the 
 bank, 10 by 12 feet and 4 or 5 feet deep, roofed over with poles, gunny bags, brush, and earth, 
 about two feet above the ground, with one door, a hole for a window, and a sod chimney and fire- 
 place. Banks of earth were left for bunks. There were seventy of these, from two to four men 
 being quartered in each. The officers' quarters and the hospital were good buildings, roofed with 
 earth. During the summer of 1866 some lumber was obtained, and the condition of the "dug- 
 outs"' was materially improved, the roofs were raised, wooden bunks constructed, and the sides 
 and roof lined with pieces of condemned tents. In 1867 the post was visited by epidemic cholera. 
 During this year a stone quarry having been opened about five miles from the post, quarters, 
 store-houses, &c., were erected. 
 
 During the prevalence of Indian hostilities, in the winter of 1868-'69, the post was an import- 
 ant base of operations. The barracks for enlisted men consist of three buildings two of stone, one 
 of adobe, each 130 by 30 feet, and 9 feet high in the clear, with an L, 50 by 30 feet, containing the 
 
302 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 dining-room and kitchen. The dormitory, 118 feet long, contains 22 double two-tier bunks, allow- 
 ing 362 cubic feet per man. Ventilation is effected by opposite windows and doors; heating by 
 wood stoves. In the rear is a well, and attached to the kitchen is a wooden shed, with trough for 
 washing. The latrines are about 30 yards distant. Laundresses and married soldiers live in dug- 
 outs and sod buildings along the river bank. The commanding officer's quarters is a stone build- 
 ing, one and a half stories high, and arranged for a field officer; it consists of a central hall, with 
 two rooms on each side, 18 by 18 by 10 feet, a kitchen in L, and four attic rooms. The lower 
 rooms are heated by fireplaces, and lighted and ventilated by two windows each. 
 
 Quarters for the other officers of the command are insufficient in number, several being as yet 
 in an unfinished state. An adobe cottage, one story high, is divided by a partition wall into two 
 dwellings, each containing two rooms, 17 by 17 by 9 feet, a hall, a kitchen, and two attic rooms. 
 One dwelling is occupied by two families, ten persons in all ; the other dwelling accommodates one 
 family, consisting of six persons. Each room is warmed by a fireplace, and lighted and ventilated 
 by two windows. The material of which this house is constructed is poorly adapted for a build- 
 ing of a permanent character, exposed to the severe storms prevalent in this locality. The 
 walls are much washed away, and to prevent the destruction of the building it will have to be 
 weather-boarded at an early date. A one-story stone building, containing four rooms, 18 by 18 by 
 10 feet, one kitchen, and four attic rooms, is occupied by four officers. A small frame building, 
 containing three rooms, 15 by 15 by 8 feet, aifords quarters for three officers. Two small shanties 
 of the negro cabin order are quarters for one captain and two lieutenants, one of the latter having a 
 family of four persons. These comprise the quarters of the officers, ladies, children, and servants ; 
 thirty individuals to be sheltered from the weather in eight rooms, 18 by 18 feet each; by dint of 
 crowding into attics, closets, and shanties, the difficult problem is solved; but, of course, health, 
 comfort, and convenience are not taken into consideration. 
 
 The store-houses, two in number, located on the west side of the parade, are built of sand- 
 stone, 130 by 30 feet each, and separated by a wooden shed, 110 by 27 feet, which is used as a 
 forage house. At the north end of each building two rooms are partitioned off as offices, one for 
 post headquarters. The nearest depots of supply are at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 367 miles 
 distant; the route is by rail from Leavenworth City to Hays City, thence by wagons. Eight 
 months' supply of subsistence is usually kept on hand. 
 
 On the same side of the parade, and placed between the store- 
 houses and the hospital, is the guard-house, a temporary wooden shed, 
 18 by 24 feet, in very bad condition and poorly adapted to the pur- 
 poses for which it is used. Its cubic capacity is 4,860 feet; stoves 
 are used for warming; windows afford light and ventilation. Its 
 average occupancy is 18. 
 
 The hospital, located at the northwest corner of the parade, is 
 built of stone, one story high, and finished and occupied in February, 
 1868. The arrangement of the hospital is bad, as will be seen by 
 reference to Figure 40. 
 
 A, ward, 26 by 43 feet; B, wash-room, 6$ by 7 feet; D, dispensary, 
 15J by 16 J feet; K, kitchen, 10 by 18 feet; M, dining-room, 10 by 
 17 feet; N, bed-room, 10 by 15J feet; O, office, 15J by 16 feet; S, 
 store-room, 10 by 15J feet. 
 
 The ward is a passage-way between the dispensary and steward's 
 room on the one hand, and the kitchen, dining, and attendants' rooms 
 on the other, thus separating the administration. The building is 
 heated by stoves, and lighted by candles and lard-oil lamps. The 
 ward, containing 12 beds, is plastered and hard-finished, lighted and 
 ventilated by nine windows on opposite sides; no other means of 
 securing ventilation is provided, and the top sash of the windows is 
 Figure 40. Scale, 31i feet to l inch, not made to lower; the air space per bed, however, is ample, being 
 1,040 cubic feet. The wash room adjoining contains a bath-tub and basins. Situated about 75 
 feet to the west is a frame building, 40 by 24 by 9 feet, not plastered nor ceiled, and occupied as a 
 ward for colored troops, with a portion partitioned off for a store-room. The ward contains five 
 
 A 
 
FORT DODGE, KANSAS. 303 
 
 beds, with 784 cubic feet of air space to each. The sinks are about 30 yards distant from the main 
 building. 
 
 The post bakery, built of stone, contains two ovens, capable of baking 500 rations of bread 
 per diem. 
 
 The quartermaster's corral has a sod wall, 8 feet high, on the north side, with a shed 
 extending its entire length on the inner side ; the other sides consist of a postand-rail fence. At 
 the northeast corner is a forage-room and harness room. The cavalry corral, 464 feet east of the 
 cavalry quarters, is an inclosure composed of a sod wall, 200 feet long, by 150 feet wide, and 8 feet 
 high, with a shed roof on three sides, and capacity for one troop of cavalry horses. 
 
 The post library is kept at the adjutant's office, and comprises 225 Volumes, principally the 
 works of celebrated novelists of the day. 
 
 The water supply is obtained for drinking purposes from wells, and for washing and extin- 
 guishing fires from the Arkansas River; for the latter purpose, buckets and axes are kept in the 
 barracks and store-houses. The supply from the wells is plentiful, and of excellent quality. 
 
 The drainage of the post is effected by a drain from each of the company quarters, discharging 
 into a larger drain which empties into the river. Slops and refuse are carted into the river below 
 the post, and carried off by the current. During the summer months the men bathe in the river, 
 but in winter there are no facilities. 
 
 An attempt has been made to cultivate a garden for the post hospital, which has proven a 
 partial success. Radishes and string beans have been raised; the tomatoes, melons, and potatoes 
 are looking well. It is believed that if a systematic and determined effort was made to cultivate a 
 post garden it would be successful, as the soil is rich and fertile near the river. The difficulties 
 to be overcome are the natural dryness of climate and the attacks of insects and grasshoppers. 
 Watering the plants with a diluted solution of coal-oil has proved most successful in meeting 
 the latter difficulty. 
 
 The furniture of officers' quarters consists principally of plain bedsteads, tables, and chairs, made 
 at the post. The cost of transportation from St. Louis or Leavenworth makes it difficult to obtain 
 other furniture except at a very great expense. 
 
 Mail communication is had once a week with Hays City, on the Kansas Pacific railroad, dis- 
 tant 90 miles, the mail taking three days to go and three days to return. A letter requires five 
 days to go to St. Louis, Missouri. The mail is regular, except occasionally, during the winter 
 months; temporary interruptions are liable to occur from snow-storms. 
 
 The nearest Indians are the Arapahoes and Cheyennes now on the war path. There are no 
 settlements of any importance nearer than Hays City. 
 
 An examination of the sick reports of the post for the years 1866-'67 shows but little differ- 
 ence in the proportion and variety of the diseases treated; and while this could hardly be 
 said to be a malarious country, yet the greater number of cases is seen to be from diarrhosa, 
 dysentery, or intermittents. In the winter months diseases of the respiratory organs abound. 
 Cholera was brought to the post July 9th, 18G7, by a detachment of colored troops, en route to New 
 Mexico. The first case appeared among the troops July 21st, and the disease raged until the 31st 
 day of that month, when it disappeared as suddenly as it commenced. This is the onjy epidemic 
 that has been at, the post. The prevailing diseases during the summer mouths are diarrhea and 
 dysentery, but the general health of the post has been good. Nearly every patient in the hospital 
 has come from outside' sources, being left by transient troops en route to and from Camp Supply, 
 Indian Territory, and among them are several cases of scurvy. The sanitary condition of the post 
 has been generally good. Earnest attention is paid in the way of disinfection, chloride of lime and 
 carbolic acid being used, and every available means taken to insure the health of the garrison. 
 
304 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Dodge, Kansas, for the 
 
 years 1865, 1866, 1867. 
 
 
 
 fe 
 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 - 
 
 (O 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 .O . 
 
 s y 
 
 Si 
 
 X 
 
 (H 
 
 B 
 
 & 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 tM 
 
 X 
 
 
 Ed 
 
 5 o 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 41 
 
 Go 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 3 " 
 
 g 
 
 2 -3 
 | 
 
 g 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria 
 
 Epidemic c 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 C 
 
 o 
 cc 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 No. of deat 
 
 1865 1866, and 1867 
 
 201. 43 
 
 759 
 
 i 
 
 125 
 
 259 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 27 
 
 57 
 
 17 
 
 74 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases at Fort . Dodge, Kansas, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 f. 
 
 k 
 
 B 
 
 rS 
 
 
 E 
 
 >d 
 
 c 
 
 C3 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 Stt 
 
 
 
 -a 
 
 S ^ 
 
 5 w 
 
 
 k 
 
 v 
 
 
 
 fr 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 B 
 
 
 a 
 
 _2 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 cc 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 P '8 
 *1 
 
 _S 
 
 41 
 
 rd 
 
 'S 
 
 | 
 
 t^ 
 
 alarial fe 
 
 iarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 onsillitis. 
 
 1 
 
 ,9 
 
 & 
 
 enereal d 
 
 lieumatis 
 
 X 
 
 'x 
 
 !3 
 29 
 
 ^H X 
 
 - a 
 
 ,C 
 
 & S 
 
 
 
 4B 
 C3 
 
 I 
 o 
 
 "8 
 
 
 s 
 
 ^ 
 
 H 
 
 a 
 
 C 
 
 H 
 
 IS 
 
 > 
 
 M 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 232. 83 
 
 350 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 166 
 
 9 
 
 
 27 
 
 16 
 
 2 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 129. 41 
 
 164 
 
 
 30 
 
 40 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT HAYS, KANSAS. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON A. F. MECHEM, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Hays, in the central part of the State of Kansas, latitude 38 59' north, longitude 99 
 west from Greenwich, 2,107 feet above the level of the sea, is located on a slightly elevated piece 
 of ground a quarter of a mile from Big Creek, a branch of the Smoky Hill Fork of the Kansas 
 River; 10 miles north of the Sinoky Hill Fork, and 15 miles south of the Saline River, another 
 branch of the Kansas. 
 
 The nearest mountains are from 200 to 250 miles distant in a westerly direction. The nearest 
 post, Fort Lamed, is 41 miles southeast ; Fort Dodge, about 80 miles south ; Fort Harker, 69 
 miles east on the Kansas Pacific railroad, and Fort Wallace, near the same road, 127 miles west. 
 
 Hays City, about three-quarters of a mile from the post, is the nearest station of the Kansas 
 Pacific railroad. 
 
 Old Fort Hays, on Big Creek, 15 miles east of this post, was established in the autumn of 1866 
 to protect the employes of the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company from the attacks of Indians, and 
 at first was named Fort Fletcher, in honor of ex-Governor Fletcher, of Missouri ; but afterward, 
 in the winter of 1866-'67, the name was changed to Fort Hays, in honor of Major General Isaac G. 
 Hays, who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. During the summer of 1867, it became 
 necessary to abandon the site first chosen on account of a destructive overflow of Big Creek at that 
 point. The present site of Fort Hays was selected by Brevet Major General Gibbs, United States 
 Army, major Seventh United States Cavalry, June 22, 1867, by authority of Major General Han- 
 cock, commanding the Department of the Missouri. 
 
 The reservation is irregularly triangular, extreme length 6 miles, extreme breadth 3J miles, 
 and contains about 7,500 acres. This tract of land and country in the immediate vicinity are sit- 
 uated in a shallow basin surrounded by a low limestone ridge, the distance from the post to the 
 ridge varying from 2 to 5 miles. The surface of the reservation is gently undulating, and is tra- 
 
FOKT HATS, KANSAS. 305 
 
 versed by numerous gullies running from the ridge to the creek, which convey the surface drainage 
 of the reservation and the ground about the post. 
 
 The geological formation includes a series of groups constituting the secondary mountain for- 
 mation of the cretaceous system. This formation occurs at greater or less depths on the reserva- 
 tion, but crops out throughout the whole extent of the ridge which surrounds the post. Bivalve 
 fossil shells are very abundant in these rocks. 
 
 Overlying the cretaceous strata from above downward, we have dark, sandy loam, fine silicious 
 loam of a buff color, yellow clay, and hard marly clay. Selenite, breccia, and conglomerates are 
 found thinly scattered over the ground in the vicinity of the post. The soil is tolerably fertile in 
 the bottoms, but unproductive, not so much for want of rain as on account of the dry scorching 
 winds which sweep the plains during the summer season. 
 
 The trees grow almost exclusively along the banks of the streams, as there are but few other 
 localities which are protected from the annual fires which sweep the plains. A few elms have been 
 found in the ravines and cedars on the cliffs. The elm surpasses all other trees, both in beauty and 
 number, on the bank of the creek near the post. 
 
 The wild animals found near the post are three varieties of the common bat, the American 
 wild cat, gray wolf, coyote, long-tailed weasel, common mink, American badger, raccoons, skunk, 
 American otter, American beaver, striped gopher, prairie dog, wood rats, yellow haired porcupine, 
 common American hare, prairie hare, jackass rabbit, American elk, antelope, two varieties of the 
 genus cervus, and the American buffalo. 
 
 The birds are the turkey buzzard, duck-hawks, pigeon-hawk, sparrow-hawk, great horned owl, 
 screech owl, burrowing owl, sapsucker, black woodcock, red-headed woodpecker, red-shafted nicker, 
 whippoorwill, nighthawk, belted kingfisher, bee martin, robin, cliff swallow, mocking bird, red bird, 
 cowbird, red- winged blackbird, western lark, crow blackbird, crow, blue jay, Carolina dove, wild tur- 
 key, dusky grouse, prairie chicken, sand-hill crane, killdeer, wild goose, long-billed curlew, blue- 
 winged teal, mallard. 
 
 The fish found in Big Creek, near the post, belong principally to the Cyprinidte or carp family; 
 the common shiner, (Leuciscus americanus ;) brook, minnow, (Leuciscm atronacus;) chub suckers, 
 ( Catostomi.) Besides these are the catfish or common horned pout. The crustaceans are repre- 
 sented by the craw-fish, and the mollusks by the Unio or fresh-water clam, both found in the 
 creek. There are but few streams in this region. Big Creek, the only one within ten miles, is a 
 clear running stream, from 10 to 20 feet wide, with gravelly bottom and good fall. Four wells, 
 from 30 to 50 feet deep, were dug at different points about the post in July and August, 1867, and 
 walled with limestone. No springs have been found in the vicinity, and the nearest ponds, about 
 two miles distant, are near the creek, containing water only for a short time after heavy rains. 
 
 The climate is hot and dry in summer, and cold in winter ; very changeable ; strong winds pre- 
 vail the greater part of the year ; mean temperature for 18G9, 52.89; hygrometrical, 48.92; extreme 
 heat, 108, 2 p. m. July 12th, 1869 ; extreme heat (hygrometrical) 99, same date ; extreme cold 5 below 
 zero, 9 p. m., December 23d. Kain-fall for 1869, 18^ inches; greatest amount in any one month during 
 the year 4,% inches in June. The rain-fall was heavier in 1869 than had ever been remarked before in 
 this section of country. Six days of snow during the same year ; greatest fall in the months of Feb- 
 ruary and December. The prevailing winds for the greater part of the year are from the south; in 
 the fall and winter northerly winds prevail. The winds are dry and scorching in the summer and 
 early fall, cold and piercing in the winter and early spring. The barracks, for four companies, con- 
 sist of four frame buildings erected in the winter of 1867-'6S, by citizen carpenters in the employ 
 of the quartermaster. These buildings are temporarily constructed of pine lumber, with single- 
 cased wooden walls, boards nailed on vertically, and the joints battened. They are not ceiled or 
 plastered. Each barrack is 118 feet long by 24 feet wide, 10 feet high from floor to eaves, and 6 feet 
 from eaves to ridge ; divided into two dormitories, 55 by 24 feet and 42 by 24 feet, respectively. 
 Firs't sergeant's room, 13 by 13 feet ; store-room, 11 by 13 feet ; hall between the dormitories, 6 by 24 
 feet ; capacity of the dormitories, 22,152 cubic feet. The dormitories and first sergeant's room are 
 warmed by wood-burning stoves, and ventilated by means of opposite windows and louvres in sum- 
 mer. The strong winds prevailing in the fall, winter, and spring thoroughly ventilate the buildings 
 at those seasons by passing through the walls and roof. The average occupancy of the barracks 
 39 
 
306 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 allows frora'500 to 600 cubic feet of air space per man. The beds are double-tier wooden bunks, 
 two men sleeping together in each tier, four men in each bunk. There is a drawer for each occu- 
 pant under the lower berth, and an arm-rack and shelf at the foot of the bunk, the whole arrange- 
 ment being very objectionable. The bedding consists of bedsacks, washed and filled with fresh 
 straw monthly, and two blankets to each man. At present there are no wash or bath-rootns, but 
 it is proposed to build additions to the mess-rooms for that purpose. The sinks are in rear of and 
 lower than the barracks, about 50 yards distant, and consist of pits covered with small frame 
 buildings. These sinks are moved occasionally, and the excreta in the pits thickly covered with 
 dry earth. In rear of each barrack is a frame building, 66 by 20 feet, containing the mess-room, 46 
 by 20 feet, and kitchen, 20 by 20 feet; height from floor to eaves 10 feet, from eaves to ridge of roof 
 6 feet. 
 
 The married soldiers' quarters consist of four frame buildings of the same character as the 
 barracks, each building containing four sets of quarters of two rooms each, the rooms being 12 feet 
 square. Some of the quarters have temporary sheds in the rear which are used as kitchens. 
 There are nine buildings at this post used as officers' quarters. They are tolerably well constructed 
 of unseasoned pine lumber, which having shrunk since the erection of the buildings, allows the 
 rain and snow to drive in, particularly when accompanied by high winds. All the officers' quar- 
 ters are plainly finished, weather- boarded frame buildings, painted on the outside. The interior 
 walls and ceilings were at first hard-finished, but have since been lime-washed. Seven of the build- 
 ings are one story and a half high, with porches in front, the remaining two being one story high 
 without porches. 
 
 In the commanding officer's quarters there are four rooms on the first floor, each 15 by 13 feet, and 
 a kitchen 17- by 13 feet, with a hall, 31 feet by 8 feet 4 inches, running from front to rear. The four 
 attic rooms are used for servants, dormitories, &c. 
 
 The other one-story and a half buildings have two rooms in front, each 15 feet square, with a 
 hall between running from the front door to the dining-room, which is 13 by 15 feet. In rear of 
 the dining-room is the kitchen, 15 by 16 feet height to ceiling in all the rooms 10 feet. There are 
 two attic rooms over the front rooms. 
 
 The one-story buildings have each four rooms on the first floor; in one, two rooms are 14 by 9 
 feet; the dining-room, 16 by 14 feet; kitchen, 14 by 14 feet height to ceiling 10 feet. In the other 
 two rooms, one 15 feet square, and one 8 by 11 feet height to ceiling 8 feet; two other rooms, 13 
 by 11 feet height to ceiling 7 feet; kitchen, 15 by 10 feet. 
 
 The quarters are conveniently arranged for one family, or two or more officers without families; 
 but when it becomes necessary for more than one family to live in a single set of quarters, it has 
 been found exceedingly inconvenient. To obviate this in some measure temporary shed-rooms have 
 been erected in the rear of front rooms of some of the quarters. 
 
 In the story and a half buildings, and chaplain's quarters, the front rooms are heated by means 
 
 of wood fires in fireplaces, the other rooms by means of wood-burning stoves. They are ventilated 
 
 by means of the fireplaces, and the wind passing through opeuings about the windows and doors. 
 
 The water for officers' use is brought from the creek in a water-wagon and emptied into barrels 
 
 placed near the quarters. There are no bath-rooms. 
 
 The quartermaster's store-houses consist of three, one-story, frame buildings, each 96 by 24 feet, 
 built parallel to each other, at an interval of 10 feet, all joined the whole length by narrow roofs, 
 with less pitch than the main roofs. The quartermaster's offices, &c., are in a one-story frame 
 building, 96 by 24 feet. 
 
 The commissary office and store-house are in a one-story frame building, 150 by 34 feet. These 
 buildings are in rear of the company barracks, outside of the parade ground and diagonally in front 
 of the officers' quarters, on sloping ground, lower than the officers' quarters or soldiers' barracks. 
 The guard-house is a stockade building with shingle roof, located about seventy-five yards in rear 
 of the officers' quarters. It is 50 by 20 feet, and contains two cells, one 7 by 21 feet, height 10 feet ; 
 the other 11 feet 6 inches by 21 feet, height 8 feet; the guard-room, 27 by 20 feet, height to ridge of the 
 roof 13 feet ; cubic capacity of the cells 3,402 cubic feet wanned in winter by a wood-burning stove 
 in the guard-room ; imperfectly ventilated by windows. It is not well fitted for the purpose intended. 
 The hospital is from 50 to 75 yards from the nearest barrack and quarters. It is a one-story 
 
FOKT HAYS, KANSAS. 
 
 307 
 
 K.M 
 
 frame building, built of pine lumber, with jointed weather-boarding, constructed in St. Louis, 
 Missouri, shipped to this post, and erected in November, 1807. 
 
 There are two main buildings, 40 by 24 feet, with porches in front and at one end. The plan of 
 the hospital is shown by Figure 
 
 41. A, wards; D, dispensary ; H, ^ 
 
 passage-way; K M, kitchen and 
 dining-room; O, office; P, porch; 
 S, store-rooms. 
 
 One building is occupied en- 
 tirely by a ward, 40 by 24 feet ; in 
 the other is a ward, 28 by 24 feet. 
 Surgeon's office, 12 by 9 feet ; dis- 
 pensary, 12 by 7 feet, with a hall 
 between the office and dispensary, 
 12 by 8 feet. In the rear of the 
 large ward is a wing of the build- 
 ing, 24 by 12 feet, used as a kitchen 
 and dining-room. 
 
 Figure 41. Scale, 23 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 In rear of the other ward are two store-rooms, each 12 by 12 feet. The two main 
 buildings are joined by a passage-way, 14 by 12 feet. 
 
 The plan of the building is deficient in many respects. There are no wash-rooms, bath-rooms, 
 nor mess-rooms, and the storage-room is insufficient. The wards, office, and kitchen, which serves 
 the double purpose of kitchen and mess-room, are heated by wood-burning stoves, lighted and ven- 
 tilated by means of windows, louvres, and a modification of McKinnell's circular tube. 
 
 The cubic capacity of the wards, including the louvres and the passage between the office and 
 dispensary, is 18,072 cubic feet. This, with eighteen beds, will give as the air space per man 1,004 
 cubic feet ; the occupancy has, however, never exceeded fifteen. The average occupancy has been 
 seven. The bath-room is in the end of the laundry building, and there is no lavatory connected 
 with it. The sink is 50 yards in rear of the hospital, consisting of a pit covered with a frame shed. 
 The dead-house is a frame building, about 30 yards in rear of the main building, 15 by 11 feet 6 
 inches. The baggage of the patients is stored in the bafh-room. 
 
 The post bakery is a stockade building, plastered with mud, roofed with shingles, and contains 
 a well-constructed brick oven. 
 
 There is no post laundry, chapel, nor school-house. The quartermaster's stables are located 
 lower than the quarters and barracks, about 75 yards northeast of the nearest barracks. There are 
 four frame buildings, each 175 by 28 feet, roughly weather-boarded, shingle-roofed, with ridge 
 ventilation; or it may be considered as one frame building, 175 by 112 feet, with a double " M" 
 shingle roof, partitioned so as to form four parallel stables, the aisles between the stables having a 
 gradual slope the whole length of the building, so that the stables are dry and well drained under 
 all circumstances. This building is inclosed by a stockade corral, 250 by 225 feet and 10 feet high. 
 
 The quartermaster's workshops and the quarters of quartermaster's employes are adjacent to 
 and just outside the corral. 
 
 The cavalry stables are about 100 yards west of the nearest barrack, on a gentle slope, lower 
 than the post dwellings, and consist of a main building, 1 10 by 24 feet, with wings at the ends, 
 each 86 by 24 feet. This building has stockade walls, plastered outside and inside, shingle- 
 roofed, with louvre ventilation. The post library is kept in the adjutant's office, the post chaplain 
 acting as librarian. Books are given out every Saturday. Number of volumes about 200, princi- 
 pally history and novels. 
 
 The most of the water used at the post is brought from the creek in a water-wagon. Besides 
 this source of supply there are four wells, one near the quartermaster's corral, one near the bar- 
 racks, one in the hospital yard, and another in rear of the officers' quarters. The supply of water 
 is practically unlimited, as there is water in all the wells, and there is brought from the creek to 
 the post between 1,500 and 2,000 gallons daily. The water from the creek ordinarily deposits very 
 little organic sediment. After heavy rains the oxidizable organic matter is much increased, but not 
 
308 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 to such a degree as to produce any injurious effects. The water is impregnated to a limited extent 
 with lime and magnesia, in combination with carbonic and sulphuric acids. 
 
 The natural drainage is excellent, the post being so located on a slight elevation that the drain- 
 age in every direction is from the site of the post. 
 
 There are no artificial drains or sewers. The slops and offal of the post are transported every 
 morning to a point about two miles down the creek. The excreta is disinfected as often as neces- 
 sary, and covered thickly with earth whenever the sinks are moved. The post is very deficient in 
 bathing arrangements, tbere being at present no bath-rooms in any building at the post, except the 
 one mentioned at the hospital. Men bathe in the creek in the summer season. 
 
 The cemetery is badly located between two ravines, which carry the drainage into the creek 
 above the place where the water is procured for the post. This fact has been brought to the notice 
 of the commanding officer, and it has been recommended to change the site to some point below 
 the post, where all burials in future shall be made. Area of cemetery, 133,464 square feet, or a 
 little more than three acres. Number of graves, 86. 
 
 A hospital garden was cultivated last season, but the plants were destroyed by insects. Another 
 attempt to cultivate a small garden is being made this season. There are no post or officers' gardens. 
 
 Of the component parts of the soldier's ration, the flour, made of a mixture of spring and 
 winter wheat, is of average quality. The fresh beef, for some time during the winter, was very 
 inferior 5 at present good fresh beef of merchantable standard is furnished. Hard bread, very old 
 and musty ; salt pork, average ; occasionally rusty pieces are found. Much of the bacon is infe- 
 rior ; other articles of the ration from good to middling. 
 
 The articles in the list of subsistence stores are inferior with very few exceptions, so inferior 
 that they would not be considered merchantable by experienced purchasers. Similar stores kept 
 for sale at the trader's and in the vicinity of the post at Hays City are very much superior in 
 quality. Whether this inferiority depends upon defective storage, long keeping in store, or the 
 inexperience and carelessness of the purchaser, the fault can certainly be remedied. At this post 
 all are comparatively independent of the commissary department, being able to purchase from the 
 stores in the vicinity. 
 
 Besides the articles on the list, there can be procured from the post-trader and the stores in 
 Hays City fresh vegetables, such as cabbage, onions, asparagus, lettuce, and such fruit as apples, 
 pears, peaches, oranges, and grapes. Vegetables and fruits are comparatively dear on account of 
 transportation from a distance. 
 
 The furniture of the barracks is sufficient in quantity, but of very poor quality, the bunks, for 
 instance, being of the meanest possible description. 
 
 The medical supph'es for the post are obtained from the assistant medical purveyor of the 
 United States Army at St. Louis, Missouri, every six months. 
 
 There is an uninterrupted communication with Hays City, the nearest station on the Kansas 
 Pacific railroad. The railroad communication between this place and Leavenworth and other 
 cities of Eastern Kansas is at times interrupted by snow during the winter season, (last winter the 
 interruption, however, lasting but one day.) The mail communication is daily from the East, and 
 from the West as far as Denver, Colorado. The mail is daily to and from Fort Wallace, weekly to 
 and from Camp Supply, Fort Dodge, and Fort Larned. Length of time for a letter to go to 
 department headquarters, 36 hours. * 
 
 The only settlement in the vicinity of the post is Hays City ; population about 150, consist- 
 ing principally of whites and a few negroes. The inhabitants of this town are mostly store- 
 keepers, saloon and restaurant-keepers, and a few employes of the Kansas Pacific railroad. There 
 are some loafers and desperadoes, but the majority of the inhabitants are peaceable, good citizens. 
 The nearest Indians are the Sioux, Cheyeunes, Arapahoes, and Kiowas. These tribes have fre- 
 quently waged war with the whites, but are not now openly hostile. 
 
 The prevalent diseases at the post for the year ending December 31, 1869, were acute diarrhoea, 
 attributable to improprieties of eating and drinking, and pulmonary complaints, caused by frequent 
 and sudden changes of weather. Many cases of intermittent fever have been treated, but no case 
 originated at the post. Changeable weather is the only observed local cause of disease. 
 
FOKT WALLACE, KANSAS. 
 
 309 
 
 The population of the vicinity of the post is 200, many of the inhabitants of Hays City having 
 left during the latter part of 1809. The soldiers have been drilled very little during the past year. 
 Soldiers not on duty as post guards, guarding Hue of the Kansas Pacific railrofd, or escort duty, 
 are generally on fatigue duty, such as policing the grounds in and around the garrison, loading 
 and unloading quartermaster and commissary stores destined for Fort Dodge, Camp Supply, and 
 troops serving in the field, and cutting and packing ice in winter, iV<-. 
 
 Amusements of soldiers consist of gymnasium, ten-pin alley at the post- trader's, and some- 
 times ball-playing. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of white troops at Fort Hays, 
 
 Kansas, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 i 
 
 S 
 
 ,Q 
 
 a 4 
 
 8 
 
 IE 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 a 'S 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 - ^ 
 
 2 
 '3 
 
 & 
 3 
 
 1 * 
 
 A a: 
 
 1 
 
 > 
 
 s 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 !! 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 *5 S3 
 
 ifi 
 
 
 
 !* '" 
 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 ^ +J 
 
 e< 
 
 
 
 "^ 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 P 
 
 B 
 
 M 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 1868 
 
 120. 08 
 
 114 
 
 ~ 
 
 6 
 
 40 
 
 15 
 
 i 
 
 16 
 
 15 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 199. 16 
 
 106 
 
 j 
 
 35 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 
 6 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troops at Fort 
 
 Hays, Kansas, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 ~" 
 
 
 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 i-i . 
 
 Iri 
 
 fe 
 
 
 rt 
 
 
 
 jg 
 
 
 
 
 
 i * 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ^> 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 a 'S 
 a 
 
 TS 
 
 u 
 
 91 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 3 g 
 
 H 
 
 
 1C 
 
 a> ,id 
 
 'o 
 
 yH 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 a 
 
 "x 
 
 '^ 
 
 e^ 
 
 
 a 
 
 I 1 
 
 jS 
 
 p. 
 
 "3 
 
 S 3 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 O 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 H" 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 i 2 - 
 
 1868 
 
 184. 16 
 
 213 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 103 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 J 
 
 46 
 
 5 
 
 1869 (four months) 
 
 89 
 
 14 
 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include larjiigitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WALLACE, KANSAS. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON M. M. SHEARER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Wallace is situated on the south fork of Smoky Hill Itiver, three miles from Pond City, the 
 nearest settlement; latitude 38 55' north, longitude from Greenwich 100 50' west. Fourteen square 
 miles are held reserved. At this point the Smoky Hill is a comparatively beautiful stream of run- 
 ning water, due to one of its tributaries, which joins it about three miles west of the fort ; beyond 
 that point the river consists of occasional ponds with intervening sand beds, through which the 
 water takes a subterranean course. To the north the plateau ascends gradually for several hundred 
 yards, terminating in ravines which run to the river, east of the post. On the east, south, and 
 west it descends more rapidly to the stream, which is about 300 yards from the bluff on which the 
 fort is placed. 
 
 The soil is good, but unproductive, for want of water. There is no timber within sixty miles. 
 The surrounding country is rolling prairie, covered with buffalo grass. 
 
 Average temperature for 1868 and 1869, 50.69 F. ; extremes, 111 F. and 14 F. Eain-fall for 
 1869, 15.65 inches ; snow-fall, .55 inch. 
 
310 DESCRIPTIONS OF M1HTAEY POSTS. 
 
 The wild animals iti the vicinity are prong-horned antelope, black-tailed deer, elk, buffalo, 
 wild horse, jumping hare, muskrat, rabbit and jack rabbit, beaver, otter, wolves, and weasel. 
 
 The reptiles are rattlesnakes, (very numerous,) copperhead, (not common,) black snake, milk 
 snake, garter snake, ring snake, horned and common toads. 
 
 Birds Wild goose, canvas-back duck, mallard, teal, widgeon, spoonbill, pintail, black diver, 
 black chin, (Podiceps minor,) crane, bittern, coot, plover, three varieties, great, little yellow- 
 legged, and golden plover, (all quite numerous,) curlew, kingfisher, avocette, robin, finch, sparrow, 
 wren, meadow lark, crow, blackbird, red-winged blackbird, golden-winged blackbird, cow bunting, 
 woodcock, brown thrush, bee martin, or king bird, bobolink, woodpecker, yellow hammer, wild 
 turkey, quail, grouse. 
 
 Two of the barracks are constructed of adobe, or rather of a marl, which can be easily worked with 
 carpenters' tools, and in a recent state is of a light pink color. It grows harder and darker on ex- 
 posure, owing to the presence of magnesium and iron. These buildings measure 118 by 25 feet, with 
 a height of 11 feet 3 inches to the eaves, 3 inches to the ridge, inside measurement. The walls are 
 two feet in thickness. The buildings are divided into soldiers' quarters, 100 feet in length, and 
 two small rooms, used for first sergeants' and store-rooms, giving a space of 490 cubic feet to each 
 man of a company of infantry of minimum strength. 
 
 The buildings are placed so low as to prevent the possibility of any ventilation beneath, 
 though they are ventilated at the ridge. 
 
 The company quarters are lighted by three windows upon the west and two upon the east side, 
 each window being arched, 7 feet 3 inches in height, and 3 feet in width. Additional light is 
 obtained by means of a glass in the upper part of each door in the building. 
 
 The barracks are warmed with stoves provided with drums, the pipe extending the length of 
 the room. 
 
 Each dormitory contains forty double bunks in two tiers, intended for eighty men. 
 
 The remaining barracks (of wood) are a little wider than those just described, and are simi- 
 larly arranged. These quarters are unprovided with bath-rooms. The temporary structures used 
 for kitchen and mess-room purposes are of rough boards, battened, roofed with tenting, and only 
 in part floored. Similar material is used in most of the temporary structures at this post. The 
 cheerlessness of these accommodations is mitigated by a rigid system of cleanliness and white- 
 washing. 
 
 There are at this post three temporary structures occupied by the families of non-commis- 
 sioned officers. Four married soldiers occupy hospital tents, framed and lined inside, all contrib- 
 uting forcibly to the unfinished and temporary aspect presented by this post. 
 
 A row of officers' quarters forms the limit of the parade to the north, while to the south the 
 guard-house and magazine are all that interfere with the view south of the river. The officers' 
 quarters are each 40 feet in length by 20 feet in depth, and are one story high. They are con- 
 structed of rough boards, battened, roofed with shingles, and provided with verandas in front. A 
 board partition divides each building into two sets of quarters, which are subdivided into three 
 small rooms and a similar-sized hall. For the accommodation of married officers, similarly-con- 
 structed kitchens have been added to a part of the buildings, and lath and plaster replace the 
 ordinary lumber ceiling and partitions. These quarters have been greatly improved in appearance 
 by the construction of a high light fence of boards in rear and pickets in front of each building. 
 New large and permanent outhouses have also been erected for the use of the occupants of these 
 quarters. 
 
 The store-houses, occupying the southwestern portion of the camp, are durable buildings of 
 stone, 128 feet in length, 24 feet in width, and 10 feet to the eaves. Both are provided with venti- 
 lated cellars, and are lighted by sky-lights. The grain-house is constructed of wood, and has a 
 capacity of 15,000 bushels. The store-rooms are all in good condition. 
 
 The post guard-house is a durable structure of stone, 34 feet front by 31 feet in depth, with a 
 veranda in front, 8 feet in width. A hall passes through the center of the building, and is lighted 
 by a window in the rear. To the left of this hall is a sergeant's room, 15 by 8J feet, and five cells, 
 each 5 by 8J feet. To the right of the hall is the guard-room, 20 by 14 feet, and a prisoners' room, 
 29 by 13 feet. The height of this building to the eaves is about 9 feet. There is no ventilation 
 
FOKT WALLACE, KANSAS. 311 
 
 underneath, though it is ventilated at the ridge. For the original garrison at this post, two com- 
 panies, this guard-house was considered, for an ordinarily disciplined command, sufficient, but with 
 the increase of the troops it has been almost constantly crowded. 
 
 There is at the post, perhaps, no structure except the guard-house, for the proper construction of 
 which so much contention is necessary as a hospital. This building has received the denunciation 
 of officers from the present and previous post commanders to the Lieutenant General, and has 
 reached its present unfinished condition at a slow rate of progress. The necessities of the service 
 requiring the economy, so rigidly enforced during the latter part of 1867, resulted in the roofing of 
 the building before the wards had reached to within three feet of the height contemplated in the 
 original design, and the central administrative building was curtailed in its proportions even more 
 than that, altering it essentially in its internal arrangements. The building, however, is well 
 built of the stone referred to, and is well adapted for its uses. It consists of a central building 
 and two wings as wards, with a back building to the central part, 40 by 20 feet; the wings are 48 
 feet in length by 24 in width, 12 feet to the eaves, and 17 feet to the ridge. The wards extend in a 
 north and south direction, and are lighted by four windows on each side, and one window, same 
 size, on the end of the passage; a door communicates on either side with the verandas. These 
 wards are well ventilated underneath and throughout their length by the ordinary ridge ventila- 
 tion. They are warmed by two stoves of Minnesota pattern, large size, with drums, the pipe gain- 
 ing exit through the usual shaft ventilator. The windows are so arranged as to secure ventilation 
 at the top. 
 
 In the absence of any means of securing a flow of water, no closets exist in connection with 
 the wards, though the bath-room is well fitted up. The wards have each a capacity of 12 beds, 
 with an air space of 1,116 cubic feet per bed. The central building is 34 feet front by 44 feet deep, 
 and is divided below into four rooms, used respectively as surgery, office, steward's room, and store- 
 room. A hall, 8 feet wide, with staircase leading to the floor above, also communicates with 
 the rear building ; another hall, 5 feet wide, communicates with the -wards. The second floor is 
 divided and occupied by stores and attendants ; a dead-house is also obtained in this part of the 
 building; the utility of this portion of the hospital is compromised by the low ceilings. The back 
 building is provided with a cellar, and furnishes the dining-room, kitchen, and laundry ; this portion 
 is plastered, as is the central building, and the whole whitewashed throughout. The bakery is a 
 new and excellent structure, well furnished with appliances and facilities for the proper care of 
 flour, and has a capacity for the baking of 400 rations. A single story frame building standing in 
 the center of the eastern side of the parade ground is occupied as chapel and adjutant's office. The 
 stables are conveniently located, fitted with new stalls, gravelly floor, raised walk through the cen- 
 ter, and dormitory windows on each side. The library, kept in the adjutant's office, contains 
 118 volumes, consisting of works-ou history and standard light literature. 
 
 The configuration of the streain at this point has been somewhat altered by the construction 
 of a dam some six or eight feet in height and the formation of a pond, from which is obtained 
 during most of the year the water used by the garrison as well as the ice laid up during the win- 
 ter. The post, however, is supplied with a well, located near the foot of the bluff, which does not 
 extend below the bed of the stream, and furnishes only the surface drainage. The water is highly 
 impregnated with minerals, and is further deteriorated by a wooden curb, rendered necessary 
 by the variety of the soil, to prevent the refilling of the well. An attempt has been made to secure 
 water for the garrison by means of a well, located within the limits of the post proper. After pene- 
 trating the alluvium and drifts of the cretaceous in this region, at a depth of 36 feet, the un- 
 derlying shale was reached, through which, at the cost of great labor, the excavation proceeded 
 for fifty additional feet, when, by the advice of an experienced geologist, the effort was abandoned. 
 The appearance of petroleum in the underlying stratum was an interesting feature observed. 
 
 The fort being constructed on a gradual slope inclining to the river, no artificial drainage is 
 considered necessary. All refuse matter from kitchens and stables, or about the garrison, is con- 
 veyed away daily in wagons kept exclusively for that purpose. 
 
 The Smoky Kiver flows within a few hundred yards of the garrison. In the summer time the 
 enlisted men are compelled to bathe at least once a week. In winter season tubs situated in small 
 
312 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 rooms at the extremity of each dormitory are used for the cleansing of the persons of enlisted men. 
 The frequency of the baths is likewise in this case compulsory. 
 
 The failure of the post garden located here for three successive summers would seem to 
 demonstrate the incapacity of the soil and climate or the want of practical agricultural knowledge 
 on the part of the garrison. Not the least discouraging event in connection with the garden has 
 been the yearly destruction by insects of what little nature had allowed to grow. The tributaries, 
 either to the east or west, offer little better inducements to the agriculturist. 
 
 The character of rations obtained from the post commissary is unexceptionable, with an abun- 
 dant and excellent variety. By reason of exorbitant prices charged for extra articles of food by 
 private parties shipping them from Eastern States, extra vegetables are purchased from the com- 
 missary of subsistence, for the use of the men, with the company fund. 
 
 The nearest quartermasters' and subsistence depots are at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 
 402 miles distant. The route of supply is by the Kansas Pacific railroad, and is open at all 
 seasons. Twelve months' supply is usually kept on hand. Medical supplies are obtained from 
 St. Louis, Missouri, upon requisition, and are received and kept in good condition. The means of 
 communication between the post and the nearest town or settlement is by stage. A mail arrives 
 at the post daily each way, east and west, with the exception of one day in the week for each 
 direction. The length of time required for a letter to reach department headquarters at St. Louis 
 is thirty hours. 
 
 Five ambulances two only in running order are the means at the post for the transportation 
 of sick. Scouting parties or detachments sent from the post are never supplied, and it is believed 
 lives are lost in consequence. In the hospital are ten stretchers and one Tompkins wheeled litter. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country consist of roving bands of hostile Indians, as the 
 Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Sioux, and Kiowas. Their physical condition is excellent. 
 
 The prevailing disease at the post and vicinity is rheumatism in all its varied phases. Pneu- 
 monia has prevailed to an alarming extent among the citizens working on the railroad, due prob- 
 ably to exposure and poor diet. Colds, inflammation of longs, and pleural, nepatic, and intestinal 
 derangements are diseases of local origin, though the prevailing diseases in garrison are generally 
 such as would arise from error in diet, cold, and sudden changes. 
 
 During the winter and spring of 1869 a large proportion of the sick of colored troops at this 
 post were cases of scurvy, which developed itself with terrible malignancy. For the month of April, 
 1869, eighteen cases of this disease appear upon the hospital register, which only in a great minority 
 exhibits the number affected with the malady, which manifested itself in many to a degree not 
 requiring their being relieved from duty, though the modification was apparent in its rendering the 
 patient more susceptible to diseases arising from ordinary causes and more difficult to cure. The 
 manifest cause of this wide-spread scorbutic taint is to be found in the hardships and privations of 
 arduous winter scouts, which were frequent, with often little time intervening for purposes of 
 recuperation, and a constant pork diet. 
 
 The most prolific source of disease among white troops has been cold, manifesting itself in 
 bronchial affections, pulmonary diseases, and inflammatory diarrhoea. Among the colored troops 
 who have yielded to disease most readily have been those from the South, while those recruited in 
 the North have withstood the effects of climate and exposure equal to any troops in the garrison. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number ofsicl; and principal diseases of ichite troops at Fort Wallace, 
 
 Kansas, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Epidemic catarrh. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 >> 
 > 
 h 
 
 1 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 216 
 
 258 
 
 17 
 
 90 
 
 17 
 
 
 10 
 
 2 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 42 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 187 
 
 327 
 
 47 
 
 75 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 66 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY. 
 
 813 
 
 Statement Mowing mean xtrenyth, number of sick, and principal diseases of colored troopn at Fort 
 
 Wallace, Kanms,for the yearn 18(>8 and 18(!<). 
 
 i 
 
 1 . 
 
 II 
 
 j 
 
 S 
 
 5 ^ 
 
 
 j 
 
 i 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 a a 
 ca 
 
 <2 
 
 s -5 
 
 .2 
 
 3 
 
 .2 . x. 
 
 *Z ; ^ 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 , 
 
 'i 
 
 ^3 
 > 
 
 1 
 
 g 
 
 ^ I ll* 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 * 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 -c ja - 
 
 02 W fe v 
 
 x 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 1868, (five months) . . . 268. 4 
 
 83 
 
 13 
 
 17 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 4 20 
 
 
 1869, (five months) . . . 194. 2 
 
 134 
 
 11 
 
 20 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 21 8 1 28 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON H. R. T1LTON, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Lyon is situated on the north bank of the Arkansas River, in latitude 38 5' 36" north, longi - 
 tude west from Greenwich 103 3' 30", and is about 4,000 feet above the sea-level. The reservation 
 on which the post is situated has not been declared. A little over nine square miles is held 
 reserved. 
 
 The nearest spurs of the Rocky Mountains are 115 miles west. Fort Wallace is 11.5 miles to 
 the northeast. The. town of Kit Carson, on the Kansas Pacific railroad, is 55 miles to the north- 
 east. Los Animos, a small town on the opposite bank of the river, lies one mile to the west. 
 
 The geological formation is sandstone of the lower cretaceous period. Eight miles distant, 
 limestones of a later period, very rich in fossils, are found. Coal, of poor quality, has been discov- 
 ered on Rule Creek, ten miles from the post. 
 
 Over 1,000 acres are under cultivation within ten miles of the post. The land is irrigated by a 
 small canal leading from Purgatory River, a small stream emptying into the Arkansas, two and a 
 half miles west of the fort. Large crops of cereals, vegetables, and melons are raised. Wild 
 plums, currants, and gooseberries grow on the Purgatory River bottoms, and wild grapes are found 
 in great abundance on both streams. 
 
 The following animals have been killed or seen within 40 miles of the post, viz : Buffalo, prong- 
 horned antelope, elk, black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, American panther, wild cat, white, gray 
 and dusky wolves, coyote, cinnamon bear, fox, weasel, mink, otter, skunk, badger, raccoon, gopher, 
 prairie dog, beaver, kangaroo rat, Norway rat, porcupine, muskrat, mule-rabbit, sage hare, and 
 wild horse. 
 
 Birds seen are the golden eagle, bald eagle, pigeon, sparrow and fish hawks, prairie falcon, 
 great horned owl, burrowing owl, woodpecker, kingfisher, robin, bluebird, mockingbird, sky -lark, 
 sparrow, red-winged blackbird, meadow-lark, raven, magpie, turtle-dove, wild turkey, prairie 
 chicken, (rare but increasing,) sand-hill crane, white heron, blue heron, killdeer, plover, wild goose, 
 and ducks of several kinds. 
 
 The climate is mild ; the nights are always pleasant. Average temperature 49 F. ; extremes 
 108 F., and 22 F., a difference of 50 F. between the morning and 2 p. in., has been 
 observed, though very seldom. The average humidity is 56.25. Annual rain-tall 11 inches. 
 Snows are seldom more than three inches in depth, and rapidly disappear. . 
 
 The fort is located on a sandstone bluff, the highest point of which is 36 feet above the river. 
 There is a stratum of sand and gravel, more or less impregnated with alkali, overlying the sand- 
 stone. A low bottom, from 100 to 200 yards wide, separates the bluff from the river. This is over- 
 flowed when the river is unusually high, and is very objectionable, but no place within the limits 
 designated for the post could be found so free from disadvantages as this site. The bluff is 2,000 
 feet wide, and 1,500 feet long, with a face of sandstone 10 feet high. There is a gradual slope from 
 the center to the edge of the bluff, in all directions, making the surface drainage excellent. 
 40 
 
314 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The site was first occupied 011 the 9th day of June, 1867, the old site, 20 miles distant, being 
 abandoned because of its unhealthy location and the increasing scarcity of wood. Temporary 
 store-houses were first erected for the commissary and quartermaster. The officers and men 
 occupied tents, while the hospital consisted of one old hospital tent for a dispensary, a canvas 
 ward, 15 by 25 feet, and a canvas kitchen. The warehouses were completed and occupied in 
 December, 1867. 
 
 The arrangement of the post is shown in Plate No. 7. 
 
 Three sets of barracks are built of sandstone ; the fourth is of adobe. They are covered with 
 good shingle roofs, and plastered inside with hard-finished walls. The outside dimensions are 100 
 by 34 feet; each building is partitioned into a squad-room, mess-room, office, and store-room. The 
 squad-rooms measure (inside) 66 by 31 feet, and are 12 feet high. They have two ventilators, 
 18 inches square, eight windows, and two outside doors. The air space per man, allowing 50 men 
 to a company, is 492 cubic feet. The bunks, in two tiers and double, accommodate four men each. 
 The rooms are heated by wood-stoves, and the chimneys, being at the ends, necessitate a large 
 amount of stove-pipe. The floors, which are not tight, are two feet above the ground, and there 
 are numerous openings in the outside walls, giving free circulation of air, under and through the 
 buildings. The sinks are located over the edge of the bluff, and are rebuilt as required, from time 
 to time. 
 
 There are six laundresses' quarters, wooden buildings, 12 by 24 by 8 feet, and one forage- 
 master's house of the same dimensions. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters are 46i by 39,4 feet, outside measurement, one and a half 
 stories high, with a kitchen back, 16 by 17 feet, one story high. There are four rooms on the 
 first floor, 18 feet square and 10 feet high, and a hall, 7 feet wide; on the second floor are four 
 rooms, each 14 by 18 feet. 
 
 There are in course of erection six buildings, each containing two sets of captains' quarters, 
 which will be 54f by 39i feet, one story and a half high, with a kitchen, 21 by 32 feet, one story 
 high. The rooms will be of the same size as in the commanding officer's quarters. Temporary 
 quarters for officers are built of limes, ne and mud, with board roofs ; seven of them measure 22 
 by 54 by 9 feet, and the eighth 22 by 38 by 9 feet. The commissary's and quartermaster's store- 
 houses are 320 feet apart, built of sandstone, and are each 42 by 100 feet, outside measurement 
 with basements 9 feet deep, and an upper story, 12 feet high. The forage-house is built of wood, 
 40 by 140 by 12 feet, and well ventilated. Located at a distance from the garrison, and near the 
 edge of the bluff, is the magazine, constructed of sandstone. The ice-house is made of logs and 
 poles, in the side of the bluff, (under ground,) with a dirt roof, and a shingle roof above that. It 
 is 45 by 46 by 10 feet, outside measurement, and has a capacity of about 389 tons of ice. The 
 blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and saddlers are occupying temporary frame buildings. The guard-house 
 is a temporary frame building, 12 by 36 feet, and 8 feet high. It is ventilated by latticed windows 
 and warmed by a stove. The building contains one common prison, 12 by 20 by 12 feet; there are, 
 besides, two underground cells 6 by 7f by 6 feet, ventilator 9 inches square, for those undergoing 
 solitary confinement. 
 
 The building now occupied as hospital, and situated in the center of the post, is built of gray 
 sandstone, and consists of a main building 45 feet square, and one and a half stories high, with a ward 
 and wing attached ; the other ward has only the foundation laid. The main portion consists of 4 rooms, 
 each 16 feet 8 inches square, and 11 feet 11 inches high, with two halls. The ward, 25 by 34 by 11 feet 
 10 inches, accommodates 12 patients, giving 856 cubic feet of air space to each. The building has 
 large windows in opposite sides, two outside doors, half sash, with transom windows over them, 
 and nine ventilators, 20 inches in diameter, arranged four on each side and one in the center of the 
 ward, through which the stove-pipe is carried. A shaft extends from each side of the ward below 
 the floor, and opens beneath the stove. The bath-room adjoins the ward at one end ; the back build- 
 ing is divided into a dining-room, kitchen, and laundry ; a cellar extends beneath the kitchen. A 
 porch, 8 feet wide, extends from the front of the main building around the ward to the diuing-room. 
 All the doors in the hospital have transom windows, and the walls are plastered and hard-finished. 
 This building will shortly be occupied for post headquarters, as a new hospital building is now in 
 process of erection, and will be completed before the coming winter. Its location is far more 
 
FORT LYON, 
 ( 1 ()L()RAJ)0 TERRITORY 
 
 Scale: 400fLtolJn. 
 
 k 
 
 ^ 
 
 ComyWarrJioa.se QMWarthou.ic 
 
 C3 Utjd.-am'tlu 
 
 I -, I li'ltrtturiqht f: Suci/rr 
 
 cn 
 
 PLATEN? " 
 
FOUT LYOX, COLORADO TKKrMTOItY. 315 
 
 desirable, being placed on tlie northeast side of the post. The material used is green sandstone. The 
 plan is similar to that suggested by Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office, 1807, with the follow- 
 ing exceptions : The administration building is only one story high with attic ; the front wall of the 
 main building and wards is on the same line, and the back wing is on the line of one wall of the 
 main building. The roof of the main building is pitched at right angles to that of the wards, 
 adding much to the appearance of the whole. A covered porch extends around the entire building, 
 except the wing in the rear, and two doors, half sash, with transom windows over them, open from 
 the ward upon the porch. The interior of the building is 12 feet high throughout. The arrange- 
 ment and dimension of rooms, capacity, &c., are very similar to those proposed in Circular No. 4, 
 Surgeon General's Office, 1867. The wards, of which only one is being built for the present, have 
 four small rooms, two at each end, for water-closet, bath room, wardmaster-room, and linen-room, one 
 of them to be used as a dead-room when needed. The ward will contain 12 beds, giving 808 cubic 
 feet to each. The outside doors are 3 by 7 feet, and the windows are 2 feet 10 inches by 6 feet ; 
 all the doors have transom windows, 15 inches by 3 feet. The ventilation is secured by eight iulet 
 shafts under the wards opening by one large hole under the stove, and nine outlet shafts, 20 inches in 
 diameter, four on each side of the ward, and one in the center over the stove. It is to be regretted 
 that the walls of the building could not have been carried up to the height of 14 feet, but the funds 
 are limited. A large amount of the work is being done by t -ilisted men. 
 
 The post bakery is built of sandstone, 24 by 46 by 10 i et, and divided by a stone partition 
 which separates the ovens from the mixing and bread rooms. The room containing the two ovens 
 is 14 feet 5 inches by 20 feet 3 inches. When the bakery was built, sandstone was used for the floors 
 of the ovens, and adobes for the arches. The floors soon gave out and the arches lost several 
 adobes, rendering the ovens unfit for use. They have since been entirely rebuilt of burned brick, 
 and are in fine condition. 
 
 The cavalry stables are constructed of wood and designed for three troops of horses. They 
 are 189 by 177 by 11 feet, with a space between the rows of stalls, 27 feet wide. The quartermaster's 
 stable is of wood, 60 by 286 by 10 feet. It is only a temporary building, and will eventually be re- 
 moved to a site corresponding to the cavalry stables. 
 
 There is no post library. 
 
 Water is obtained from the Arkansas Itiver, and is carried in water-tanks on wagons, and 
 daily distributed. The tanks are filled by a stationary pump. The Arkansas water is very pala- 
 table at all times of the year. From the month of April to the month of August it has a great deal 
 of mineral and organic matter, in consequence of the rise in the river, and affects some persons, 
 causing diarrhoea; but during the remainder of the year the river is quite clear, and its water is 
 at all times highly appreciated by those who have been obliged to drink from streams and ponds 
 on the prairies. In the summer of 1807 there was a very clear and cold spring of water between 
 the bluff and river, in the bottom, and in the absence of ice it was very grateful, but as the river 
 went down in the fall, the spring gradually failed, showing that it was the river water, filtered 
 through a great bed of sand. In the summer of 18.i8 tlie spring entirely failed. A canal could be 
 led from the Arkansas River, and water be introduced into the post to supply it for many objects. 
 By going five or six miles above the post, there would be sufficient fall to carry the water upon the 
 bluff where the post is built. Post girdens could be cultivated by this means. The sinks could 
 be built over a branch canal, and trees made to grow wherever desired. In order to dig the ditch 
 a full garrison would be required, and the men detailed on the ditch-digging would, in all proba- 
 bility, tail to see the future benefits to be enjoyed by their successors. 
 
 There are no sewers in the post. Tiie surface drainage, as before mentioned, is excellent. 
 
 This section of the country was formerly occupied by the Cheyennes and Arapauoes, but since 
 the Sand Creek tight, in 1864, their visits are rare. The country is being settled by Americans, and 
 the number of acres of cultivated land is rapidly increasing. 
 
 Mail communication is by the stage, which runs from Kit Carson to Santa Fe", six times a week ; 
 time to department headquarters from six to seven days. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at the post are mild malarial fevers and rheumatism. Bowel affections 
 are somewhat prevalent in the summer months, the drinking water at that time containing consid- 
 erable organic matter. 
 
316 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Lyon, Colorado Ter- 
 ritory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 - .2 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 2? 
 
 
 | 
 
 s rt * 
 
 5 
 
 Years. 
 
 < 
 
 =3 
 "3 
 
 
 i 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 1 4 ' ' 1 1 
 
 e 
 d 
 
 c 'o *5 
 
 9 25 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 r i i r 
 
 IM 
 
 o 
 
 s 
 
 I 1 
 
 S 
 
 5 
 
 s 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 i a * 1 3 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 1866 212 321 
 
 1 
 
 23 
 
 136 
 
 6 
 
 12 
 
 1 22 2 20 
 
 o 
 
 1869 150. 66 23K 
 
 14 
 
 18 
 
 91 
 
 23 
 
 
 1 13 4 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT REYNOLDS, COLORADO TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON GEORGE McC. MILLER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Reynolds is situated in the southern part of Colorado Territory, in Pueblo County, on the 
 south bank of the Arkansas River, latitude 38 15' north, longitude 104 12' west from Greenwich ; 
 elevation above the level of the sea, about 4,800 feet. The reservation on which the post is situ- 
 ated has not been declared by the President, but has been announced in General Orders No. 19, 
 Headquarters Department of the Missouri, dated June 3, 1868, as including a little over 22 square 
 miles. The fort is nearly east of the town of Pueblo, and distant 18 miles from it. It is distant 
 about 80 miles from New Fort Lyon, 60 miles from Bent's Old Fort, and 4 miles from the mouth of 
 the Huerfano River, a tributary of. the Arkansas. Its distance from the nearest point of the Rocky 
 Mountains is said to be 40 miles, and from Pike's Peak, 65 miles. The fort commands a fine view 
 of the mountains. Pike's Peak is visible in the northwest ; the Snowy range, Greenhorn Mountain, 
 and Spanish Peaks in the southwest, and the main range in the west. 
 
 The post of Fort Reynolds originated in a transfer of the garrison of the previously existing 
 post of Pueblo, Colorado Territory, which was evacuated July 2, 1867. The site of Fort Reynolds, 
 previously selected by Brevet Major General R. B. Marcy, Inspector General United States Army, 
 was occupied by the garrison July 3, 1867. No movements of any consequence having taken place 
 from the post, its military history is unimportant. 
 
 The fort is built on the upland, or prairie, about 60 feet above the level of the Arkansas River. 
 For some distance the prairie slopes abruptly to the very margin of the river, while east and west 
 of this point it is separated from the river by the intervening bottom, sometimes to nearly the 
 extent of a mile, although usually the breadth of this portion of the valley is considerably less. 
 Toward the southwest the prairie extends about a mile, and then descends abruptly to the low- 
 land bordering the Huerfauo River. In a westerly and northwesterly direction the extent of the 
 prairie is indefinite, but it is intersected by occasional ravines which terminate in the valley of the 
 river. The general direction of the Arkansas River, in the vicinity of the post, is usually consid- 
 ered to be from west to east. The river is very tortuous in its course, making many very sudden 
 turns, and following any given direction for but a short distance. By this means the valley is more 
 thoroughly watered than it would be otherwise. The river has evidently changed its course very 
 frequently, many of its old beds being visible. 
 
 The soil, both of the prairie and bottom laud, is argillaceous. The clay is dark and tenacious, 
 and is of the kind known as adobe clay. The clayey stratum is of moderate thickness. At a dis- 
 tance of a few feet from the surface of the ground sand begins to preponderate, and at depths of 
 18 or 20 feet the subsoil is almost exclusively arenaceous. The principal geological formation in 
 and near the post is limestone. A kind of stone frequently met with consists of a vast number of 
 minute flinty pebbles, held together by a sort of calcareous cement. Magnesian limestone is found 
 in great abundance at a distance of eighteen miles from the fort, and in and near the fort, on the 
 slopes which descend from the upland to the bottom land, quartz and feldspar are very abundant. 
 
FORT REYNOLDS, COLORADO TERRITORY. 317 
 
 Almost all the land in the vicinity of the post is under cultivation, aud is well watered and tim- 
 bered ; the principal crops are wheat, corn, and oats. The cottonwood grows rather abundantly 
 in the river valley, and is the only tree of any size. Stunted willows are occasionally met with 
 along the river bank and near the forsaken channels of dried up streams. The sunflower (Helian- 
 thus annum) is exceedingly abundant in the bottom-lands. The great abundance of this plant, 
 taken in connection with the remarkable freedom of the valley from miasmatic diseases, might seem 
 to lend some countenance to the idea which has been entertained, that the plant is capable in some 
 way of neutralizing the miasmatic poison. A species of wild hop nourishes on the prairie slopes 
 leading downward to the river. On the margin of the river and its tributaries a species of toxi- 
 codendron grows quite abundantly. It attains a height of less than a foot ; its leaves are of a deep 
 green in the summer, and of a rich and beautiful crimson in the fall. In its appearance it closely 
 resembles the common poison ivy of the eastern portions of the country. The emanations of this 
 vegetable have produced a few cases of cutaneous disease among the soldiers, particularly erythema 
 aud a pustular affection, having the characters of eethyina. The grease-weed, as it is called, grows 
 abundantly in the bottom-land. A conspicuous feature of the upland is the soap-weed or Spanish 
 bayonet. During the summer the valley is tilled with a luxurious growth of rich green grass, but 
 the upland, being clothed only with a-sparse and stunted verdure, presents a bare and sterile aspect, 
 very different from that which meets the eye on the prairies of Northern Kansas. 
 
 The prairie or barking wolf is occasionally met with in the vicinity of the post. Other animals 
 are the common skunk, otter, beaver, and the prong-horned antelope. 
 
 The climate of this region is highly salubrious, and, leaving out of view the disagreeably vio- 
 lent winds which occasionally occur, may be even pronounced delightful. Owing to its considerable 
 elevation above the sea-level, and its proximity to the mountains, the district enjoys a coolness of 
 temperature much greater than its latitude would at first lead one to anticipate. The mean tem- 
 perature for the summer mouths is 75.97; for the autumnal months 50.60. The vicissitudes of 
 temperature are considerable here, the thermometer not uufrequently having a range of 50 between 
 the hours of 7 a. m. and 2 p. in. 
 
 The atmosphere of the post is dry. Fogs seldom prevail. The amount of rain-fall is slight ; 
 snow seldom falls during the winter mouths, and only in small quantities. The amount of snow, 
 however, seems to be relatively greater than that of rain. The prevailing winds are from the west, 
 east, and southeast. The morning winds are usually western ; the afternoon winds eastern or 
 southeastern, and the night winds western again. During the warm afternoons of summer-north 
 winds sometimes suddenly spring up and blow for several hours, cooling the atmosphere greatly 
 and rapidly. A remarkable effect of a south wind was noticed here in January, 1808. On a cer- 
 tain night the snow covered the ground to the depth of two inches. In the morning following not 
 a particle of snow was to be seen upon the ground, and the latter was quite dry. A south wind had 
 been blowing steadily during the night, aud had caused the rapid evaporation of the snow. 
 
 The prairie is a rectangle 455 by 400 feet, the long diameter being north and south. Its north- 
 ern and eastern sides, as Avell as a part of the southern side, are planted with young cottonwood 
 trees. 
 
 The barrack, on the eastern side of the parade, is an adobe structure, with shingle roof, 143 
 feet long, 28 feet 4 inches wide, 9 feet 8 inches high to the eaves, and 18 feet high to the ridge, with 
 a frame veranda in front running its whole length. This building was originally designed for one 
 company, though sometimes occupied by two. It is divided into four rooms ; the orderly sergeant's 
 room, 15 feet 6 inches by 25 feet 9 inches, the dormitories, two in number, dimensions each 50 feet 6 
 inches by 25 feet 9 inches, aud a kitchen, 24 feet by 25 feet 9 inches. The building is plastered exter- 
 nally and internally with clay having mixed with it a small proportion of lime. It is warmed by 
 large stoves, and the ventilation appears to be sufficient. The natural illumination of the building 
 is bad. In the dormitories the air space per man is about 500 cubic feet, with the present com- 
 mand of one company. Wooden double bunks arranged in tiers are used. 
 
 A frame building, situated 62 feet southeast of the barrack, is used as a combined mess-room 
 and kitchen by the company. Small frame and adobe buildings, situated in the northern part of 
 the post, are used as quarters for married soldiers and quartermasters' employe's. They are not 
 sufficiently well lighted and ventilated. 
 
318 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The officers' quarters are ranged along the southern side of the parade, and consist of three 
 separate buildings. The principal and only permanent one is an adobe structure, 55 by 33 feet, 12 
 feet to the eaves and 22 feet to the gable, being one story and a half high. The roof is shingled. 
 Dormer windows are in the upper story. The house is not plastered externally, though it is plas 
 tered, whitewashed, and generally well finished within. The building contains two sets of quarters, 
 each comprising a hall and three rooms on the first floor, and one room on the second. A frame 
 building also used as quarters, measures 17 feet front, '23 feet deep, 8 feet high to the eaves, and 
 13J feet to the ridge, and is divided into two rooms. It is shingled, well lighted and ventilated, 
 and not plastered within. 
 
 A second frame building, used as officers' quarters, measures 24 by 12 feet, 14 feet high to the 
 ridge, and 8 feet to the eaves, and contains two rooms. The walls of these frame quarters and of 
 the wooden buildings of the post generally are constructed of upright boards, battened. 
 
 The quartermaster's store-house is 80 feet 8 inches long by 28 feet wide, with a height to the 
 eaves of 9 feet, and to the gable 18 feet. The commissary store-house is of the same dimensions. 
 These buildings are built of adobes, plastered with clay outside, and have shingled roofs. A large 
 ice-house is conveniently located near the bank of the river. 
 
 The guard-house is 32 by 24 feet, 9 feet to the eaves, and 18 feet high. A small building 
 attached to the northern side of the main building i*13i feet long and 9 feet 10 inches wide. The 
 guard-room or front room of the building is, by inside measurement, 21 feet 10 inches by 12 feet 10 
 inches. Cell No. 1 is 21 feet 10 inches by 15 feet 10 inches. The height of these rooms agrees very 
 nearly with that of the exterior of the building. Cell No. 2, which is contained in the small ap- 
 pended building, is 9 feet 10 inches by 7 feet 10 inches by 7 feet 2 inches. The guard house, includ- 
 ing the appended portion, is an adobe building with shingled roof, and well floored. Its ventilation 
 and natural illumination are imperfect. It is warmed by stoves. 
 
 The main building of the hospital, a wooden structure of the shape usually characterized by 
 the epithet " salt-box," is 41 by 14 feet. Having the form just indicated, its roof has but one slope, 
 which is backwards. Its height in front is 11 feet 9 inches; the height behind is 8 feet 6 inches. 
 Its roof is of boards covered with paulins. Its walls are of upright boards, battened, and are marked 
 by numerous crevices and knot-holes, which, however, may be regarded as not particularly objec- 
 tionable in a sanitary point of view. 
 
 The building is divided into three rooms, which are used respectively as ward, store-room, and 
 dispensary. It is warmed by stoves. The ventilation is fair. The mean height of the ward is 8 
 feet. The floor, which is of common boards, is elevated somewhat above t!ie ground. The air- 
 space of the ward measures 1,708 cubic feet, which would allow nearly COO cubic feet to each of the 
 three beds which it contains. Each bed has also a superficial area of nearly 70 square feet. Thus, 
 if there should be but one patient in the ward, which is about the average occupancy, he and the 
 nurse would have an allowance of nearly 900 cubic feet of air space, and a little over 100 feet of 
 superficial area. The ward has a window in front and one behind. There is no room which is spe- 
 cially used as a lavatory and bath-room. In the rear of the main building is a hospital tent, framed 
 and floored, which is used as quarters for the hospital steward and his family. Near it is a framed 
 and floored wall tent used as laundry. 
 
 The bakery is a frame building, with adobe ovens, adequate to furnish an amount of bread 
 sufficient for a two-company post. 
 
 The horse corral is north of the hospital, and distant from it 100 feet. It is 22C feet long and 
 70 feet wide. Along the northern and southern sides is an adobe wall, 8 feet high. Its eastern and 
 western sides are closed in by a wooden fence of the same height. At the eastern end is the grain- 
 house, a frame building. The corral is furnished wirh covered stalls adequate to accommodate 80 
 horses. The mule corral is 127 feet long and 95 feet wide, and sin-rounded by a wooden fence. 
 
 The water-supply to Fort Reynolds is obtained from the Arkansas River, and has always 
 seemed to be sufficiently good and wholesome for all practical purposes. Scarcely any springs are 
 to be found in the valley or in the vicinity of the post. The very few that are found are situ- 
 ated near the river, and are derived from it, by percolation through the earth, and their water dif- 
 fers in no essential respect from that of the river, and has no advantages over it, except that of a 
 somewhat greater clearness. They are also small and inconveniently situated. The experiment of 
 
FOKT REYNOLDS, COLORADO TERRITORY. 319 
 
 digging wells has not been tried on the soutberu side of the river, at least within a distance of 
 several iniles from the post; but in one instance it has been tried, with satisfactory results, in the 
 portion of the valley on the northern side of the river. 
 
 The water of the -river is formed chiefly by the melting of the snow and ice on the mountains, 
 and during the latter part of summer and early part of autumn is more apt to be loaded with earthy 
 matters than at other times. It is usually clear, has no perceptible odor even after standing a long 
 time in a receptacle of any kind, and is free from any well-defined taste, is always cool, makes an 
 excellent lather with soap, and is, therefore, soft and adapted to washing purposes. Even when 
 turbid, if allowed to stand quietly for a few hours, its earthy ingredients, held in suspension only and 
 not dissolved, subside to the bottom of the vessel. Tbe permanganate of potash test shows this 
 water to contain an exceedingly small proportion of organic impurities. Nitrate of silver does not 
 throw down a precipitate. Alum, however, throws down a precipitate of alumina, and this is the 
 chief impurity of the water. The fort is supplied by means of water wagons. In the summer 
 season ice is furnished to the garrison, and the hospital receives a liberal supply. 
 
 No system of drainage has been inaugurated at the post, the fort being situated in a region of 
 country where rain and snow seldom fall, and only in small quantities. The clayey soil absorbs 
 and holds the small amount of water precipitated from the atmosphere, and the heat of the sun 
 readily dissipates it by evaporation. The ground upon which the fort is built, being very level, 
 would be poorly adapted for natural drainage if the amount of rain-fall was considerable and the 
 removal of surface water necessary. 
 
 The post garden, containing somewhat over an acre of ground, is cultivated by soldiers and 
 watered from a neighboring acequia. A great variety of vegetables is raised, and under favorable 
 circumstances the yield is very considerable. 
 
 Until recently ten cows were kept at the post; at present there are but two, which are personal 
 property. All domestic animals can be easily kept by officers. 
 
 The nearest quartermaster and subsistence depots to the post are at Fort Harker, Kansas, 429 
 miles distant. The route of supply is by way of Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory, open at all seasons. 
 Transportation is generally by train. Three mails from the States are received at the fort every 
 week, via Denver, Pueblo, and Booneville. Three other mails are also received weekly from New 
 Mexico, and from the military post as far east as Fort Riley. These mails are liable, in winter, to 
 frequent interruption by heavy snows occurring between Denver and Pueblo, and also between 
 Denver and Cheyenne. When there is no unusual delay, it takes a letter six or seven days to go 
 to department headquarters. 
 
 The valleys of the Arkansas and Huerfano rivers, the only portions of the country in the 
 vicinity of the post which are inhabited, are populated by white settlers from the eastern parts of 
 the United States, by emigrants from Europe, and by Mexicans. The settlers are an industrious, 
 thrifty, intelligent, and generally moral class of people. Their time and exertions are devoted to 
 the raising of stock and the culture of the soil. They water their lands by means of irrigation, 
 use scarcely any fertilizers, and raise good crops of grains and vegetables. The Mexicans, as a 
 class, are filthy and indolent, ignorant and immoral. Very few of them can read and write, and 
 their minds appear to be in the most torpid condition imaginable. Physically the Mexicans are 
 quite well developed, and the females are not deficient in comeliness. Sickness does not seem to 
 prevail much among them, and, so far as can be ascertained, venereal diseases do not appear to 
 exist largely. Such complaints of various kinds as arise are usually treated by the old women, 
 who use vegetable remedies almost exclusively. They make much account of a species of flag 
 which grows on the bank of the Huerfano River, and from which they prepare decoctions, using 
 them as a panacea. Parturient women receive an excessive amount of attention from these female 
 practitioners. During the week following delivery such patients are fed with rich food and are 
 made to drink large quantities of hot herb teas. Debility seems to be much apprehended in such 
 cases. 
 
 There are no Indians inhabiting the neighborhood. The Utes, a large and warlike but friendly 
 tribe, live in the mountains and occasionally visit the post in parties of eight or ten. 
 
 There has been a remarkably small number of cases of diarrhoea, dysentery, colic, or other 
 intestinal affections to treat at the post, and, when occurring, they have been traceable in most cases 
 
320 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 to errors in diet, either as regards its quality or quantity, and generally the latter. In no case can 
 it be perceived that the water used at the post was in fault. 
 
 Constitutional syphilis is the only disease meriting the designation of " prevalent." Diseases 
 of a local origin are cutaneous affections, sometimes in the form of eczema and sometimes of 
 ecthyma, caused by a poison-ivy growing in the valley. Malarial diseases are unknown, and pul- 
 monary and rheumatic affections are of infrequent occurrence. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Reynolds, Colorado 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 V 
 Jl . 
 
 s' 
 
 I 
 
 i , 
 
 b 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 a 
 
 S 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 "oC 
 
 75 
 U 
 
 E 
 
 C =0 
 
 d 
 5 
 
 o ^! 
 
 ^ 5 
 
 1 
 
 Typhoid fe 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 tit 
 
 1 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 
 i 
 
 S 
 
 1868 . 
 
 110.33 
 
 154 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 11 
 
 28 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 
 1869 
 
 58 83 
 
 91 
 
 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 
 7 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT GARLAND, COLORADO TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON E. McCLELLAN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Garland is located in Southern Colorado, on the lowest bench of the Sierra Blanca 
 Mountains, distant twenty miles east from the Rio Grande, and some six miles below the site of 
 old Fort Massachusetts, latitude 37 22' north, longitude 105 23' west, and stands at an elevation 
 8,365 feet above the sea. It occupies the northeastern portion of the San Luis Park, and what is 
 known as the Beaubien or Gilpin grant. This park, which has been described as the " bowl of a 
 drained primeval sea," extends from the Sierra Madre Mountains in the east to the San Juan or 
 Miembres Mountains in the west, from the Sierra Blanca in the north to the chain of mountain spurs 
 which forms the northern boundary of the Great Taos Valley of New Mexico, and contains an area 
 of 9,400 square miles. 
 
 The San Luis is the southern of the Colorado parks; through it, entering at the northwest 
 and flowing south, runs the Rio Grande del Norte, while from its mountain boundaries numerous 
 streams either empty their waters into the great river or sink and become lost upon its plains. 
 Throughout the park isolated volcanic buttes are found, resembling islands upon the surface of the 
 sea. 
 
 The location of the fort commands the mouth of the canons of the Rio de los Yutos and the 
 Rio del Sangre de Christo. The roads of travel are through these, joining, some eight miles dis- 
 tant, to cross the mountains at the Saiigre de Christo Pass, twenty -three miles northeast of the post. 
 
 Xo record can be found at this post which throws any light upon the early history of Fort Gar- 
 land; but from a rauchero living in the vicinity, who was at one time a soldier in the regiment of 
 mountain rifles, I learn that " Fort Massachusetts, which had been built in 1850, in the canon of 
 the Rio de los Yutos, was abandoned on account .of its unfavorable position, and Fort Garland was 
 established in 1857." 
 
 Fort Garland was built by the enlisted men of Company E, Regiment of Mounted Rifles, com- 
 manded by Captain (now Lieutenant Colonel) Thomas Duncan, United States Army, and Company 
 A, Third United States Infantry, commanded by Captain (the late Lieutenant Colonel) A. W. Bow- 
 man, United States Army. The post was established to afford protection to settlers in the San 
 Luis Park from the Apache and Ute Indians, and to command the Sangre de Christo Pass, at that 
 time the only practicable pass to the Arkansas Valley. 
 
FORT GARLAND, COLORADO TERRITORY. 321 
 
 In the mountain boundaries of this park precious metals have been found, and future "pros- 
 pecting" will undoubtedly develop them in abundance. The agricultural interests of the park are 
 not great, the severity of the winter and the early frosts of summer preventing large crops. Some 
 corn, wheat, and rye are raised, but full crops are never anticipated with certainty. The principal 
 crops are oats, potatoes, and some of the hardier vegetables. The majority of the inhabitants are 
 engaged in pastoral pursuits. Horses, horned cattle, and sheep are raised in great numbers. 
 
 The indigenous trees of this locality are the yellow pine, the pifion, aspen, cedar, spruce, and 
 shrub oak, upon the mountains and foot-lulls ; the cottonwood upon the streams. With the exception 
 of the pine, none of these woods are of any value for mechanical purposes, but furnish an abund- 
 ance of valuable fuel. The indigenous plants are sage, Spanish bayonet or soap plant, hops, flax, 
 wild onions, wild parsnips, lambs' quarters, strawberry, raspberry, currant, and wild cherry. 
 
 The wild animals of this vicinity are the black, cinnamon, and grizzly bears ; elk, deer, 
 antelope, panther, wild cat, gray wolf and coyote, and mountain sheep. 
 
 In the fall and early spring all varieties of wild ducks, geese, swan, and crane are to be found 
 upon the meadows of the Rio Grande, with an occasional snipe and Virginia rail. 
 
 The bald eagle, with varieties of the vulture, hawk, and owl families; and the raven and magpie, 
 are found throughout the year; robins, doves, blackbirds, woodpeckers, and the killdeer through 
 the summer. The red-backed and the broad-tailed humming bird are also found in the month of 
 July. 
 
 The streams abound in trout, beaver, otter, and mink, with a few muskrats. 
 
 The climate is dry, and most favorable to all diseases of the respiratory and digestive 
 organs. Average mean temperature is 45.50. The extremes of temperature are 90 and 20; 
 humidity, 82 and 5. The prevailing winds are the northeast and southwest. The spring seasons 
 are very short, and hard frosts occur early in the summer ; in one year as early as the month of 
 July. Spring cannot be said to occur until after the early days of the month of May ; it is, there- 
 fore, the shortest of the four seasons in this climate. There is early.frost before the 1st of Septem- 
 ber, and winter is not fully established until after the mouth of December. 
 
 The post consists of a parallelogram, inclosing a parade ground, with buildings containing 
 quarters for officers and men, arranged on its several sides. The barracks are two buildings, one 
 story high, built of adobe, with mud roofs ; each is 119 feet 6 inches by 33 feet 3 inches and 15 feet 4 
 inches to the center of the roof, which slopes toward the parade. The interior, plastered with mud 
 and whitewashed with lime, contains the company office and store-room, 20 feet 8 inches by 33 feet 3 
 inches ; three squad-rooms, 25 feet by 33 feet 3 inches, and the kitchen, 24 feet G inches by 33 feet 3 
 inches. The latter is also used as a mess-room. Each barrack is intended to accommodate one 
 company. The squad-rooms are wanned by stoves and by open fireplaces; lighted by four large 
 windows, two at either end of the room, by which ventilation is also secured. The air space per man, 
 at the present rate of occupancy, is 1,277 cubic feet. Double wooden bunks are furnished with the 
 usual bedding. As there are no wash or bath-rooms ablutions are made in the squad-room or in 
 the open air. 
 
 The sinks are wooden buildings placed over an acequia, through which a large volume of water 
 constantly flows, carrying debris into the Rio del los Yutos. A capacious kitchen and mess-room 
 for each barrack is furnished with a large cooking-stove and open fireplace, and fully meet all 
 demands. 
 
 Quarters for married soldiers are in a small building north of the post, containing small rooms, 
 which are badly ventilated and ill lighted.- 
 
 The officers' quarters extend along the north side of the parade, are seven in number, and 
 built of adobe. The rooms are ceiled with pine boards, covered with earth after the old Mexican 
 custom ; they are well lighted and ventilated ; have large open fireplaces and board flooring. On 
 the south side of the parade are two long buildings used as offices and store-rooms. In one of these 
 is the guard-house, which is badly arranged, being cramped as to space, and ill ventilated. The 
 cells in its rear are ventilated only by a small opening in the roof, no arrangements for floor venti- 
 lation existing. The guard-room is warmed by means of a large stove, and the prison-room by an 
 open fireplace ; there are no means provided for heating the cells, and in winter the occupants 
 suffer from extreme cold. 
 41 
 
322 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The hospital building is situated at a distance north of the post and to the left and rear of the 
 officers' quarters. This building was put up in 1866, and I am informed by individuals who were 
 at this post at the time, that the adobes used were not properly dried before the Avails were built. 
 The meteorological register shows the season in which the work was performed to have been unusually 
 wet and stormy. The beams used were too small and set too far apart to bear properly the weight 
 of the roof. When the walls commenced to settle, which was soon after the completion of the 
 building, and when the post was garrisoned by New Mexican volunteers, no care seems to have 
 been taken properly to repair the damage. In the wards, kitchen, and dining-room the majority of 
 the beams are broken, requiring supports to be placed under them, and in the, largest ward no less 
 than five of these supports are required. The rear wall of the plazita, which is 20 feet in height 
 and 2 feet in thickness, requires support to be placed against it from the outside. In the past year 
 such repairs to the building as were absolutely necessary have been made. On the mountains in 
 the vicinity of the post pine wood can be obtained iu abundance, from which shingle coverings for 
 all the buildings could be obtained at a small expense. Of the two wards, each containing six beds, 
 the larger has a superficial area of 9^.22 feet to each bed and an air space of 1,069.44 feet to each 
 bed ; the smaller has an area of 84.22 feet, and an air space of 926.85 feet. The dispensary is well 
 arranged and adapted to the purpose. Tliere are no bath-rooms or tubs in the hospital ; a small room 
 is used as lavatory, and here all ablutions are performed. A small wooden building standing over 
 a deep pit is the hospital water-closet; its drainage is good, and it is constantly disinfected by lime. 
 
 The post bakery is a room, 21 feet 8 inches by 29 feet 5 inches, containing two ovens built of 
 adobe, having a capacity of 100 rations at a baking. 
 
 On the west side of the post and directly in the rear of the barracks is a long building, 
 divided into ten apartments, used respectively as carpenter's shop, blacksmith's shop, store-room, 
 laundry, coal-rooms, barber's shop, and mess-room for non-commissioned officers. The chapel is an 
 apartment in the building on the south side of the post, in a line with the guard house. The 
 adjutant's office, magazine, biljiard-room, and the opera house are also in this building. 
 
 The stables are situated 126 feet due east from the post, and consist of three long corrals, built 
 of adobe, each 229J by 44| feet. These corrals contain long sheds, which are used as stables for 
 public animals, and inclosed stables for the officers' horses. The space between the sheds is raised; 
 the floors of the sheds slope from within ; out in rear of each shed is a wooden drain sunk to the 
 level of the ground, and empties upon a gravel bank east of the corral. 
 
 The post library consists of 62 volumes, of not much value. A number of new and valuable 
 books are expected from the East. 
 
 The water supply is most excellent in qualify, being obtained froin the Ute Creek by an acequia; 
 it flows around the parade, at each corner of which is a. well. The water is pure and cold, flowing 
 from the rocky sides of the Sierra Blanca, over a rocky, sandy bed directly into the post. There 
 are no means of extinguishing a fire at the post beyond that of buckets and ladders. The drainage 
 of the post is naturally perfect, being built upon a large gravel bed, which has little or no covering, 
 and through which water is reached only at a great depth. There is no artificial sewerage at the 
 post. 
 
 On the Sangre de Christo Creek very fine bathing and swimming arrangements have been 
 established. For winter bathing no arrangements have been made. 
 
 The post garden consists of about 6 acres of ground, one half of which is devoted to enlisted 
 men; the balance to officers and the hospital. They are cultivated by a detail from the garrison, 
 and all garden produce that requires but a short season can be raised here. The crop of last 
 season was totally destroyed by grasshoppers. 
 
 As no furniture can be obtained for the barracks and quarters, only such is used as can be made 
 at the post. 
 
 Government wagons or private conveyance are the only means of communication with the 
 Kansas Pacific railroad, the terminus of which is now distant from the post some 210 miles. For 
 the past year the communications have been constant; in winter and spring it is liable to interrup- 
 tions from snow on the Sangre de Christo Pass, and in summer by Indians between the Arkansas 
 River and the railroad. The Arkansas River having been bridged at several points, floods do not 
 now obstruct transportation. The receipt of official mail matter at the post has been much delayed ; 
 
FORT OAKLAND, COLOKADO TEKK1TOKY. 
 
 323 
 
 in some instances communications from department headquarters, although mailed direct, are a 
 month or six weeks in reaching this place; the same frequently occurs with communications from 
 Washington. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are Americans strong and hardy frontiermen 
 and Mexicans. The population of this park is estimated at about 5,85.'} souls. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post for the past year has been satisfactory. Tin- prevailing diseases 
 have been syphilis, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, dyspepsia, intermittent fever, catarrhs, diarrhoea, and 
 alcoholism. The causes of intermittent fever originated in Texas, where the regiment (Fifteenth In- 
 fantry) to which the troops of this garrison belong had been stationed for four years. Dyspepsia 
 and diarrhoea were caused by the use of improper articles of diet. No severe pulmonary diseases oc- 
 curred, as there was reason to apprehend from the great change of climate to which the troops had 
 been subjected, llhcumatism alone can be attributed to climatic influence; as yet no malarial dis- 
 eases have been known to originate in this country. In my experience the female is more affected 
 by the climate influences than the male resident of this country; and I am of the opinion that the 
 great altitude above the level of the sea has a most decided influence upon the uterine system. I 
 find that female residents of the San Luis Park, of Colorado, and of the territory in its immediate 
 vicinity, menstruate from two to three years later than those of the same races living upon the lower 
 ranges. It is by no means uncommon among the Mexican and Indian girls to be married before 
 they have menstruated; and one instance has come under my notice in which a female was married 
 and never menstruated until after the birth of her fourth child. 
 
 Hemorrhagic labors are common. Out of 19 cases delivered under my care since August, 1868, 
 14 were complicated by post-partem hemorrhage. In these cases, with one exception, the hemor- 
 rhage occurred on delivery of the placenta, which was entire; in none was there any uterine injury. 
 The exception was a case of retained placenta, to which I was not called until some hours had 
 elapsed from the birth of the child. Of the remaining cases, one was a partial placenta! presenta- 
 tion. The others were natural and uncomplicated. Life was lost in none. In 10 of the cases noted, 
 the females were of American, the remaining 9 of Mexican birth." Abortions, miscarriages, and 
 menorrhagic disorders are frequent. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Garland, Colorado 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 4 
 
 % 
 
 E 
 
 5 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 5 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 ^ - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 i* 
 
 tc 
 
 .- 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 SO 
 
 
 dj 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 d 
 5 
 
 [3 
 
 I ! 
 
 1 
 
 !p 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 03 
 
 6 
 
 r 
 
 _S 
 
 ^ ' 
 
 3 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 16066 
 
 253 
 
 37 
 
 56 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 41 
 
 
 1869 
 
 5933 
 
 101 
 
 3 
 
 18 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 
 28 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ludmta laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTE. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Omaha Barracks, Omaha, Nebraska. 
 Fort Kearney, Nebraska. 
 Fort McPhersou, Nebraska. 
 North Platte Station, Nebraska. 
 Fort Sodgwiek, Colorado Territory. 
 Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming Territory. 
 
 Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. 
 Fort Fetterman, Wyoming Territory. 
 Fort Sanders, Wyoming Territory. 
 Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming Territory. 
 Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory. 
 Cnnip Douglas, Utah Territory. 
 
 SPECIAL REPORT OF SURGEON J. B. BKOWN, UNITED STATES ARMY, MEDICAL DIRECTOR DEPART- 
 MENT OF THE PLATTE, DATED JULY 15, 1870. 
 
 1. Omaha Barracks. 
 '2. Fort Kearney. 
 
 3. Fort McPherson. 
 
 4. Fort Sedgwick. 
 
 5. Sidney Barracks. 
 (i. North Platte. 
 
 7. Fort D. A. Russell. 
 
 Permanent posts in the Department of the Platte. 
 
 8. Fort Fred Steele. 
 
 9. Fort Sanders. 
 
 10. Fort Bridger. 
 
 11. Camp Douglas. 
 
 12. Fort Laramie. 
 
 13. Fort Fettcrinaii. 
 
 The above are all the posts in this department which have buildings specially erected for, or 
 occupied as, post hospitals. During the summer, from May to November inclusive, the following 
 points are occupied as temporary stations for troops : 
 
 Station. 
 
 Garrison. 
 
 Medical attendant. 
 
 Ra wling's Springs, Wyoming 
 
 Cam}* on Little Blue, Nebraska 
 
 Ogallalla, Nebraska 
 
 Medicine Bow, Wyoming 
 
 Looking Glass Creek, Nebraska 
 
 Potter Station, Nebraska 
 
 Plum Creek, Nebraska 
 
 Lodge Pole, Nebraska 
 
 Chug Water, Wyoming 
 
 Hillsdale, Wyoming 
 
 Pine Bluff, Wyoming 
 
 Sherman, Wyoming 
 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 One 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry, det. of infantry . . . 
 company cavalry, det. of infantry... 
 company cavalry, det. of infantry. .. 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry 
 
 company cavalry, det. of infantry. .. 
 company cavalry 
 
 Post surgeon at Fort Steele. 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon Tower. 
 Post Surgeon at North Platte. 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon La Barde. 
 Acting Assistant Surgeon Hogg. 
 Post surgeon at Sidney Barracks. 
 Post surgeon at North Platte. 
 Post surgeon at Sidney Barracks. 
 Post surgeon at Fort Russell. 
 Post surgeon at Fort Russell. 
 Post surgeon at Fort Russell. 
 Post surgeon at Fort Russell. 
 
 These detached stations being for the most part on the railroad, their sick are sent by rail to 
 the nearest post hospital, if there are any cases requiring protracted treatment, temporary accom- 
 modations with hospital tents being provided for those least accessible, Resident medical 
 attendants are stationed at three of the above temporary posts. 
 
 Description of permanent post hospitals. Good descriptions of these hospitals have been given in 
 the sanitary reports of December 31, 1868 and 1869, but as I have visited and personally inspected 
 each hospital in this department, I can give perhaps impressions derived from a different point 
 
PERMANENT POSTS, DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTE. 325 
 
 of view, ami also the advantage of conclusions drawn from comparison with each other, or with 
 the authorized post hospital plan of Circular No. 4, of 18C7. I will therefore give a brief descrip- 
 tion of each of the post hospitals, mentioning particularly such points as seem to me to have been 
 omitted in the special reports, and such modifications and alterations as have been made by way 
 of improvement since the latest reports. 
 
 No. 1. Post hospital, Omaha Barracks. The contract for the building of this post was made by 
 the chief quartermaster of this department, and called for the completion of the buildings by 
 November 20, 1868. On the 31st December, 1868, the post surgeon reports, " the hospital is unfin- 
 ished, and will not be ready'/or occupancy for one and a half months." On the 27th January, 18C9, 
 the medical director, Lieutenant Colonel R. H. Alexander, United States Army, advised the Sur- 
 geon General that the hospital would be "ready in a few weeks." The post surgeon, in the sani- 
 tary report of July 31, 1869, makes the statement that the hospital was not sufficiently finished to 
 be occupied until the 1st of March, 1869. It is not finished even up to the present date. 1 have 
 before me a large file of copies of letters from the post surgeon to the commanding officer of the 
 post, to the assistant adjutant general of the department, and to the medical director, applying 
 for work to be done upon the hospital, which he represents to be essential to the care of the sick, 
 and necessary to complete the hospital according to the plan. Some of this work has been done, 
 and some still remains unattended to. The hospital at Omaha Barracks is built after the plan pre- 
 scribed by Circular No. 4, of 1867. The ground floor, however, by some neglect, was not "elevated 
 18 inches above the ground, with free ventilation beneath it in summer-time." 
 
 The experience of one winter proved that the wards could not be properly warmed by the 
 stove. Several expedients, and different arrangements of stoves, were tried by the post surgeon 
 without success. A ceiling of lath aud plaster for the wards, with openings for communication 
 with the ridge, was recommended by me last fall, and the recommendation having been promptly 
 carried out, no difficulty was found in warming the ward last winter. The present post surgeon 
 and commanding officer of the post have recommended that the wards be furnished with shutters 
 to exclude the sun and dust. I have not approved this recommendation for the reason that snn 
 and dust cannot be entirely excluded without excluding air, and have advised, in addition to the 
 curtains now in use, outside Venetian awnings, and appropriate measures to diminish the amount 
 of dust near the hospital. The veranda, which is not allowed in this latitude, would obviate all 
 inconvenience. 
 
 No. 2. Fort Kearney, Nebraska. The post hospital is a one-story frame building, originally 
 built and used for company quarters, the regular post hospital having been destroyed by fire. It 
 has three small wards, poorly ventilated, and is altogether badly suited for hospital use. All 
 attempts to improve the condition of this hospital have been answered by the statement that the 
 post would soon be abandoned. Since July, 1869, some repairs have been made by the post com- 
 mander which were evidently necessary for the preservation of the supplies and the shelter of the 
 sick. 
 
 At this post I found in use, and still perfect, notwithstanding extraordinarily hard usage, the 
 old-style iron bedstead. They are in complete repair, and having been newly repainted, are in 
 every respect as good as when issued fifteen years ago. 
 
 No. 3. Fort McPherson, Nebraska. The post hospital is a log building, chinked and plastered, 
 with shingle roof; has two wards with capacity for twenty-four beds ; air space, 518 cubic feet per 
 bed. The average occupation of beds is 12. This building is comparatively convenient and com- 
 fortable, and is kept in good repair. 
 
 No. 4. Fort Sedgwlck. The post hospital is an adobe building. Its size is ample. I found, 
 however, very little room available for th^ use of the sick, but one ward, having a capacity for ten 
 beds, being in use; the other was occupied by the post surgeon as quarters. Improvements have 
 been made within the past year by which the ward-room has been doubled, and most of the other 
 inconveniences removed. 
 
 No. 5. Sidney Barracks No. 6. North Platte Are posts in embryo. They have temporary ac- 
 commodations for sick, which answer for present purposes. No permanent buildings of any kind 
 have been erected at either station. Sidney has a frame building in use as hospital, wicn accom- 
 
326 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 moclatiou for 12 patients. It is thought that in time the post of Fort Sedgwick may be removed 
 to Sidnev . 
 
 No. 7. Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming Territory. This hospital is built after the plan prescribed 
 by Circular No. 4, 1867, with the following variations : The hall of main building is 6 feet instead 
 of 5 feet in width, for the shelter of men attending sick-call no veranda being authorized. A sky- 
 light was added to light the stairs and upper hall ; the space above the front hall was therefore 
 available to be inclosed and used as a closet for linen. The next variation from the plan was made 
 by the quartermaster, and was productive of much discomfort, and perhaps suffering, to the inmates 
 of the wards, which, instead of being plastered, were sheathed with flooring matched, but the im- 
 perfectly seasoned lumber soon opened at the joints, and admitted cold air, snow, and rain to such 
 an extent that the post surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel Alden, United States Army, made an official 
 report, and asked for repairs. After long delay, tarred-paper lining and ceiling to one ward was 
 finally provided, but it required the official statement of the post surgeon that for two winters tin- 
 ward had been insufficiently warmed, with cases of pneumonia and acute rheumatism under treat- 
 ment. 
 
 No. 8. Fort Sanders, Wyoming Territory. The frame-work of a two-story log building, 35 by 30 
 feet, each story 10 feet in height, with a one story attachment, 13 by 23 feet, intended for offices, 
 store-rooms, sleeping-rooms for attendants, and kitchen, was commenced and more than half fin- 
 ished in the latter part of 1868. It remains still half finished at the present date, want of lumber 
 and of mechanics having prevented any attempt at completion. The long log structure now used 
 as ward, dispensary, store-rooms, &c., is badly contrived for the purpose, and would be inadequate 
 for a larger command. The post surgeon, by persistent applications, has brought it through the 
 following progressive stages: Bechinking the cracks, patching with old canvas, and finally, by 
 lath and plastering, it has been made comfortable for the sick, and will answer a temporary pur- 
 pose till the command is increased, when the chronic correspondence will have to be reopened rel- 
 ative to the completion of the two years' half-finished administration building, which has become 
 a conspicuous landmark on the Laramie Plains. 
 
 The officers' quarters at this post have had verandas added, and have been put into most com- 
 fortable condition. General J. H. Potter, in command of the post last year, assured me that he 
 would have work immediately recommenced upon tfie hospital, but he was soon afterward assigned 
 to special duty out of this department, and the work remains untouched. 
 
 No. 9. Fort Fred Steele, Wyoming Territory. When this post was ordered built, the medical 
 director of this department, Lieutenant Colonel E. H. Alexander, United States Army, submitted 
 the plan of hospital required by Circular No. 4 to the Quartermaster's Department, recommend- 
 ing that it be built accordingly, but, for some reason not known to me, the recommendation was not 
 carried out, and the post was completed Avithout any provision for a hospital building. The post 
 surgeon, Assistant Surgeou-J. K. Corson, United States Army, in his sanitary report of December 
 31, 1868, states that the sick were treated in hospital tents on frames; these at a post when the 
 thermometer shows a range from 90 to 21, could scarcely be considered comfortable. A set of 
 unoccupied company quarters was therefore fitted up as a temporary hospital, and it is still occu- 
 pied as such. I found on a recent inspection of this post hospital, that while every other building 
 at the post had been completed, the " temporary hospital" had not even been repaired, but remains 
 in the precise condition in which it was taken for the emergency. The mud-chinking has fallen out 
 from between the logs, and the shingles were warped so that daylight could be seen in any direc- 
 tion through the crevices in the walls and roof of the ward. I have approved and urgently recom- 
 mended the proposal of the post surgeon, to have the temporary hospital transferred to another 
 set of unoccupied company quarters, more eligibly situated, and that these be altered to a plan 
 which will provide a comfortable and convenient post hospital with kitchen and mess-room attached 
 for present use. As Fort Steele, however, is to be a permanent post in this department, it would be 
 proper to have a hospital built in accordance with plan of Circular No. 4 without delay. 
 
 No. 10. Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory. The special report of the post surgeon, Assistant 
 Surgeon W. E. Waters, United States Army, dated December 31, 1868, sets forth fairly the condi- 
 tion of this hospital at that time. His repeated recommendations for increased accommodation for 
 
PERMANENT POSTS, DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTE. 327 
 
 the sick, and his reports of the shameful character of the buildings occupied by them, were disre- 
 garded. The ward was 35 by 18 feet, with a height of ceilingof only 7 feet, and with no means of ven- 
 tilation, when the doors and windows were shut, but the fireplaces, which fortunately being old 
 style, and capacious, answered to prevent suffocation in the winter, and yet one can scarcely see 
 how. The company quarters being built after the same plan, it is not surprising that ophthalmia 
 should have been frequent at this post. 
 
 Assistant Surgeon Waters submitted a plan for the remodeling of this hospital on the 20th of 
 August, 18G8. The work was not commenced till August of the following year. 
 
 No. 11. Gamp Douglas, Utah Territory. The hospital at this post is very well described in 
 the special report. 
 
 I consider the construction of this hospital eminently faulty. The wards have windows only 
 on one side, the building being divided by a longitudinal partition into two wards. The ventila- 
 tion is very imperfect, and, without an entire rearrangement of the whole inside structure of the 
 building, cannot be improved. The weather is intensely hot in the long summer at this post, and 
 I know that the inmates of the wards could be made much more comfortable. There is a front 
 veranda before the dispensary and steward's room, but none for the wards. The whole building is 
 old and infested with vermin, and should be rebuilt if the post is to be occupied. 
 
 No. 12. Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. The post hospital of Fort Laramie is now quite 
 capacious and very well appointed, and comfortable for patients. It is also in very good repair. 
 Attention is called to the following extract from the sanitary report of Assistant Surgeon Schell, 
 United States Army, dated December 31, 18G8 : " During the winter of 1806 and 1807 the hospital 
 had been so full that I was obliged to have three hospital tents pitched all winter, where ward No. 
 1 now stands. A number of soldiers were afflicted with scurvy, as were also many of the 
 employes of the quartermaster. The winter was unusually severe and stormy, and the tents, 
 though pitched on frames in the most secure manner, were repeatedly blown down, and by the 
 time spring came were torn into ribbons.'' 
 
 The winter, cold at this post, is usually intense, the mercury often falling to 20 F., and the wind 
 storms are always violent; yet in spite of these known circumstances, and the repeated remon- 
 strances of one of our most energetic and influential medical officers, then post surgeon, sick 
 men were permitted to be treated in hospital tents during the entire winter. 
 
 No. 13. Fort Fetter man, Wyoming Territory. The building of this post was commenced in July, 
 1807. The sick were treated in tents until late in December, when adobe store-houses for the 
 quartermaster and commissary stores, officers' quarters, laundresses' quarters, and company 
 quarters having been completed, a hospital was hastily thrown together from the logs remaining 
 from the old hospital of an abandoned post in the vicinity. 
 
 During the previous month, November, there had occurred 101 eases of disease and wounds, 
 and 2 deaths, out of a command of 374, mean aggregate strength of officers and men. This fact is 
 mentioned to offset the general reply to applications for hospital buildings, that the command is so 
 healthy that no emergency exists. 
 
 The hospital remained in the condition described by Assistant Surgeon Charles Mack in, I'nited 
 States Army, then post surgeon, in special report and sanitary report of December 31, 1868. The 
 ward was lighted by three windows of one sash each, the daylight visible through every crevice 
 between the logs and shingles, and the inmates suffering from cold in the winter. Part of the 
 building had no floor but the hard soil, and thus the building remained until June of the present 
 year, when I have succeeded in getting work commenced in a reconstruction of the old log frame, 
 which is to beredivi(|ed according to a plan furnished by Assistant Surgeon Monroe, United States 
 Army, post surgeon. The whole is to be lathed and plastered, and the work, which at last advices 
 was being rapidly pushed forward, will, when completed, afford for the first time since the estab- 
 lishment of the post a comfortable shelter for the sick. 
 
 It will be seen by the above that in the construction of a new post the hospital is generally 
 the last building commenced, and always the last one made habitable. In the absence of any posi- 
 tive and definite general regulations on the subject, the post commandant or assistant quartermaster, 
 intrusted with the building of the new post, is permitted to be the sole authority as to the sequence 
 
328 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of commencing the structures. Under this state of affairs, there is room at least for the operation 
 of individual personal preferences, which I need not enlarge upon, in the matter. After a care- 
 ful examination of all the correspondence available to me in connection with the building of the 
 posts in this department, I am forced to the conclusion that the personal popularity or influence 
 of the post surgeon, with one or both of the above-named officers, has, in most instances, deter- 
 mined the promptness with which the post hospital has been commenced and finished. In other 
 cases the most urgent representations of the 'post surgeon have been apparently disregarded, or 
 action upon them delayed, until a time arrived when, in their opinion, a beginning could be made. 
 At this juncture perhaps the lumber is not available, or it maybe the chief quartermaster, strongly 
 impressed with the fact that the actual cost of building the post will far exceed the original esti- 
 mates, just now orders the discharge of all mechanics except enlisted men, and further delay to the 
 unfortunate hospital arises. Then commences the correspondence, indefinite in duration, requiring 
 reference to the headquarters of the department, in which the assistant adjutant general, the chief 
 quartermaster, and the medical director participate, and sometimes a personal inspection and 
 special report are required from the assistant inspector general. In this manner is time consumed 
 in^setting right what could easily have been avoided by the operation of positive and definite 
 regulations, which should prescribe the order in which the buildings of a new post should be 
 commenced and completed. 
 
 After shelter has been provided for the subsistence of the men, and for such stores as 
 are necessary for their use as soldiers, the hospital should be made habitable, if not simul- 
 taneously with the men's quarters, at least immediately afterward, and preceding the erection 
 of quarters for officers and their families, and for camp followers. It is no doubt true that 
 in summer, and under favorable circumstances of unusual health of command, this order might 
 be disregarded, but I know of no other way of preventing the abuses which so often occur 
 than to make the regulation imperative, and not admitting of exception. Circular No. 4, of 1867, 
 though a great step out of previous chaos, is not definite in this respect ; it does not prescribe 
 any order of construction, or even require positively that all post hospitals shall be built in 
 accordance with its plan. In thjs department there are but two, of the many which have been 
 built since it was promulgated, at all in conformity with the circular, and in both of those unwar- 
 rantable alterations were made in the mode of construction therein directed, resulting, in the case 
 of the post hospital at Fort D. A. Russell, in actual discomfort, if not suffering, to the sick for two 
 severe winters before the eccentricity was corrected. The general features of the plan therein 
 given are excellent. The use of tarred paper over sheathing, to be covered by weather-boarding 
 on the outside, \vould, in my opinion, be an improvement over upright sheathing with battens, 
 which, according to my experience, invariably leaves open joints. The same tarred paper over 
 sheathing, to be covered with lath and plaster, for the inside, thus inclosing an air chamber, would 
 make the wards warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and certainly prevent that prevailing style 
 of crevices which may in some instances assist ventilation, but which, in many memorable cases, 
 have admitted cold rain and snow tipon those suffering with acute rheumatism and pneumonia. 
 The alterations made by Lieutenant Colonel Alden, United States Army, post surgeon at Fort 
 Russell, seem to be judicious and worthy of imitation. The veranda, which is only authorized in 
 the circular at posts south of latitude 38 north, should, in my opinion, be provided for all post 
 hospitals. At present all in this department are excluded from the great comfort afforded by the 
 veranda. The summer heat here and throughout the whole length of the valley of the Platte is 
 excessive, and at Camp Douglas the high temperature prevails for months. 
 
 Attention is also called to the fact that when extreme cold prevails in winter it is impossible to 
 warm the wards with the roof open to the ridge. It is difficult to define this region between parallels 
 of latitude, because a ward so constructed could more easily be warmed on Puget Sound than in New 
 York Harbor, but I would respectfully recommend that some provision be made for these cases. At 
 posts where the mercury habitually falls to zero of Fahrenheit, authority might be given to close the 
 ward above by a lath and plaster ceiling, leaving capacious openings communicating with the 
 ridge, which might, if necessary, be closed with traps. 
 
OMAHA BAREACKS, NEBRASKA. 329 
 
 OMAHA BARRACKS, NEBRASKA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON FRANK MEACHAM, UNITED STATES AEMY. 
 
 The post of Omaha Barracks is located on the Missouri River, three and one-half miles 
 west of Omaha City, Nebraska, and one and one-half miles south of the town of Florence, in lati- 
 tude 41 20' north, and longitude 9G west ; altitude, 900 feet. The post was established November 
 20, 1808. The reservation comprises 80 acres of land, 40 of which were contributed by the city of 
 Omaha ; the remainder was purchased by the United States Government. It is nearly a perfect 
 rectangle in shape ; the long axis running north and south. The western side is elevated and 
 overlooks the reservation and the city of Omaha. The country west and south is rolling, while 
 east, toward the city, it is nearly level. The soil consists of a rich black vegetable mold from two 
 to five feet in thickness, containing some sand, but entirely free from stones and gravel ; it is easily 
 plowed and very fertile. The subsoil is a yellowish clay, not impervious to water. 
 
 There are no trees on the reservation or vicinity. The shrubs are common elder, dwarf sumach, 
 American hazel, common blackberry, dewberry, summer grape, wild gooseberry, dwarf raspberry, 
 dwarf huckleberry. 
 
 The mean temperature for the year ending March 31, 1870, was 47.83 F., the extremes being 
 Of) F. and 10 F. The total rain-fall for the same period was 05.30 inches. During the warm 
 months the prevailing winds are from the south; in winter from the north. They frequently blow 
 with great violence. 
 
 Ten buildings are used for company barracks, five on the north, and five on the south sides of 
 the parade. They are wooden structures, lined with brick, each 30 by 80 feet, 12 feet high to 
 the eaves, and 24 feet to the ridge, giving a capacity of 43,200 cubic feet. Each barrack has a 
 porch in front, 10 feet wide, from each end of which a room, 10 by 10 feet, is cut off for store-room and 
 first sergeant's room. The buildings are warmed by stoves; there are no special means of ventila- 
 tion, though the rooms seem to be sufficiently open to supply all the fresh air that is necessary. Each 
 barrack is capable of accommodating 75 men, giving to each 544 cubic feet air space. Two tiers of 
 double wooden bunks are used. There are no wash or bath-rooms. There are two sinks at the 
 rear of the middle barracks ; they are frame houses, 1C by 50 feet, placed over pits, 11 feet deep. A 
 kitchen and a mess-room for each company are contained in a building placed in rear of each 
 barrack, and communicating with the latter by a covered passage way, 10 by 10 feet. The capacity 
 is ample. 
 
 The quarters for laundresses and married soldiers are two frame buildings, each 150 by 30 feet, 
 and divided into nine sets of quarters, each containing two rooms, 15 feet square. Two other build- 
 ings, each 30 by 80 feet, and divided into five sets of quarters of two rooms, are occupied by married 
 soldiers. 
 
 The officers' quarters are fourteen frame buildings, lined with brick, plain batten finish, and 
 painted a dull yellow color. They are one story high, with attic rooms. There are ten double sets 
 of quarters for line officers, each accommodating a captain and two lieutenants. They are divided 
 into two symmetrical parts, each containing a front room, 15 by 15 feet, two back rooms, each 15 by 
 10 feet, and a hall, 15 by 8J feet, on the first floor. The attics contain two rooms, each 15 by 15 
 feet, with a large closet. There are three sets of quarters for the field officers and the medical 
 officer. These quarters contain a front room, 20 by 15 feet, two back rooms, 15 by 15 feet, and a 
 hall, 15 by 10 feet, on the lower floor. In the attics are two rooms, 20 by 15 feet, with a closet, 10 
 by 10 feet, connected with each room. The commanding officer's quarters is a two-story house, 40 
 by 50 feet, with a porch, 8 feet wide, in front, and part of each side. There is a hall on the first 
 floor, 40 by 7 feet ; on the left is a room, 15 by 36 feet, with a bay-window ; on the right are two 
 rooms connected by folding doors ; the front room is 15 by 15J feet, the back room, 15 by 20 feet ; 
 to the rear of these rooms are two smaller rooms, two narrow halls, a cellar-way, and a water-closet; 
 still further back is the kitchen and laundry. On the upper floor are four rooms, 15 by 15J feet, 
 with three smaller rooms, a bath-room, and a water-closet. This set of quarters has the only 
 42 
 
330 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 cistern at the post. It is occupied by the general commanding the Department of the Platte. At 
 the rear of each set of quarters there is a kitchen and small store-room contained in a detached 
 building, 18 by 13 feet. This building is connected with the main building by a covered passage- 
 way, 15 by C feet, with latticed sides. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters are heated by coal fires, for which grates are provided. All 
 the rest are heated by wood-stoves. They are lighted by coal-oil lamps, and are ventilated by 
 means of the windows, which open from the top as well as the bottom. Wells were dug between 
 each two sets of quarters, but owing to the impurity of the water, none of them can be used. The 
 quarters are now supplied by water taken from a well at the rear of the barracks, by a wagon 
 which leaves at each kitchen daily the amount required. There is a privy 50 feet to the rear of 
 each kitchen ; they consist of small buildings placed over pits. There are no bath-rooms in any 
 of the quarters except the commanding officer's. 
 
 There are two buildings for store-houses, each 80 by 30 feet ; one used for quartermaster, the 
 other for commissary stores. 
 
 The guard-house is 43| by 48J feet, with a porch in front, 12 feet wide. The entrance is in front 
 near the center, and leads into a hall, 1C by 4 feet; on the left is a room, 16 by 16 feet, for the officer 
 of the guard; on the right, a room,-22 by 21 feet, for the guard. The front hall leads into a second, 
 32 by 4 feet, which is a continuation of the first, separated from it by a strong door; on the left of 
 this passage-way is a room, 18 by 15 feet, in which are confined prisoners of the worst class. At 
 the rear of this room are 3 cells, 7J by 4J by 12 feet high. At the rear of the guard-room is a room, 
 24 by 21 feet, in which are confined the lighter cases. All the above rooms are 12 feet high. The 
 guard-house is warmed by stoves burning wood. The prison-rooms are ventilated by three grated 
 windows, 2 feet square, placed 8 feet from the floor. These windows are kept constantly open 
 There is no ventilation in the cells. The rooms occupied by the prisoners contain 9,088 cubic feet 
 of air space, and are usually occupied by 30 men, giving each man 303 cubic feet of air. The cells 
 contain each 390 cubic feet of air. They are seldom used, and only for solitary confinement. With 
 the exception of the want of proper ventilation in these cells, the guard-house is well adapted to its 
 purpose. 
 
 The hospital is located at the south end of the garrison. It is a frame building, lined with 
 brick, batten finish, painted dull yellow. Its general arrangement is the same as given in Circular 
 No. 4, from the Surgeon General's Office, 1867, for 48 beds. It is warmed by wood-stoves, and has 
 ridge ventilators. There are 24 beds in each ward, with 990 cubic feet air space per man. The 
 bath and wash-rooms are well arranged. There are no water-closets in the building. The hospital 
 sink is 80 feet distant. There is no dead-house. The baggage of the patients is stored in one of 
 the small rooms at the end of the wards. 
 
 The post bakery is 40 by 20| feet, and contains one room in front, with an oven, 15 by 12 feet 
 by 6 feet high, in rear. 
 
 There are six stables, each 221 by 30J feet, and containing 46 double stalls. There is a well 
 with pump in each. They are ventilated by the ridge. There are two other stables, one 190 by 
 30J feet, the other 120 by 26 feet. The smaller one is used at present for a store-house. The six 
 largest are not in use during the summer, but are occupied by the cavalry companies during the 
 winter months. 
 
 The library contains 420 volumes of a miscellaneous character. 
 
 The water used at the post is taken from a well north of the north row of barracks, and left at 
 the kitchens each day by the water-wagon. 
 
 'No analysis of the water of this well has yet been made. The following is a qualitative analy- 
 sis of the water from a well on the line of officers' quarters, made by Assistant Surgeon S. M. Hor- 
 toii, United States Army, April 27, 1869 : 
 
 " The quantity of organic matter is very large, consisting chiefly of vegetable material sus- 
 pended and in solution. It is this large quantity of organic matter that gives the water its nau- 
 seous odor. A large amount of almost black powder was deposited upon adding solution of yellow 
 chloride of gold to the water while boiling. A large proportion of solution of permanganate of 
 potash was added to a definite quantity before the pink color would remain. A large quantity of 
 carbonate of lime was deposited upon [the sides of the vessels when the water was boiling. Some 
 
OMAHA BARRACKS, NEBRASKA. 331 
 
 salts of lime other than the carbonate, as the sulphate and nitrate of lime, were found upon further 
 examination. Also a small proportion of magnesia and ammonia was discovered. No free sul- 
 phuric, nitric, or nitrous acid was found. No chlorides nor sulphureted hydrogen were found, 
 although they were looked for. The great objection to this water is its nauseous odor, and to many 
 its disagreeable taste, both from the organic; matter it contains and its hardness. It is almost 
 impossible to form a lather with soap when cold and before boiling the water. The organic matter 
 found in it originates evidently from the water filtering through a peat bed most probably of great 
 age, and from four to seven or more feet thick. The sinks in rear of the officers' quarters must 
 ere long prove a further source of contamination to the water on that line, as they are not many 
 yards distant from the wells, and are above them on the hill side. It is recommended, in consid- 
 eration of the above facts, that large cisterns be constructed, with charcoal filters, so as to purify 
 this water before using it for drinking or culinary purposes." 
 
 The water now used at the post has very little of the disagreeable smell and taste referred to by 
 Dr. Horton. 
 
 There are no springs on the reservation nor in its immediate vicinity, but there is a mineral 
 spring 1 miles southeast, of which the following is an analysis: 
 
 Grains jior gallon. 
 
 Carbonate of lime 5. 86 
 
 Carbonate of magnesia 4. 91 
 
 Carbonate of soda 2 . 42 
 
 Sulphate of lime 4. 10 
 
 Sulphate of magnesia 4. 31 
 
 Sulphate of soda G. 00 
 
 Chloride of sodium 2. 63 
 
 Chloride of calcium ) 
 
 Chloride of magnesia ) 
 
 Oxide of iron 44 
 
 Organic matter 29 
 
 Total.. . 31.29 
 
 Carbonate of lime, magnesia, and oxide of iron held in solution by carbonic acid. Car- 
 bonic acid not ascertained. 
 
 As a precaution against fires there are barrels and buckets constantly filled with water in 
 each of the barracks, store-houses, and stables; also at the hospital. In addition there are one or 
 more patent fire-extinguishers in each of the above-named buildings. 
 
 The natural drainage, except at the south end of the grounds, is ample. The artificial drains 
 are simple open ditches, and are used exclusively about the south row of barracks and laundresses' 
 quarters. The drains discharge into a small stream that flows in front of the post and empties into 
 the Missouri River. Slops and excreta of the post are hauled away and deposited on the commons 
 northeast of the post. 
 
 During the summer the men bathe in the Missouri River, 1 miles distant. There are no 
 arrangements at the post for bathing in summer or winter. 
 
 About 3J acres are cultivated as gardens, half an acre being under the direction of the post sur- 
 geon, the remainder under the supervision of the post treasurer. Each company has a garden of 3 
 acres area outside the post, cultivated by details. The company gardens supply the companies with 
 vegetables during the year, except potatoes ; these can be purchased in the vicinity so cheap that 
 it is not thought necessary to raise them in large quantities. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past year have been intermittent fever, acute diarrhoea, 
 catarrh, tonsillitis, and acute rheumatism. 
 
 The intermittent fever and diarrhoea prevailed principally during the summer months, and 
 were undoubtedly influenced largely by the impurity of the water. The other diseases, catarrh, 
 tonsillitis, and acute rheumatism occurred principally during the colder months, and were probably 
 caused almost entirely by the variable climate and damp atmosphere. 
 
332 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Omaha Barracks, Ne- 
 braska, for the year 1809. 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 . 
 
 "3 
 
 S 
 9 
 
 i> 
 
 
 j? 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 1. 
 
 J 
 
 Year. 
 
 
 
 
 IS 
 
 B oo 
 
 eg 
 'cl 
 
 0) 
 
 1 a 
 
 O - 
 
 -S 
 
 T3 
 
 "3 
 
 
 X 
 
 tu 
 
 a 
 
 tn 
 
 - 00 
 
 K S 
 
 ^= c 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 J OD 
 
 
 D 
 
 
 s 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 s 
 
 * 
 
 a 
 "3 
 
 a 
 
 ~ >> 
 
 ^ "* 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 b 
 V 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 D 
 
 s 
 <v 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 c: 
 ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 1669 
 
 416 
 
 1,061 
 
 224 
 
 93 
 
 53 
 
 57 
 
 2 
 
 77 
 
 2 
 
 285 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT KEARNEY, NEBRASKA. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON W. H. BRADLEY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Kearney was established as Fort Chikls, Indian Territory, in 1848. It is situated in latitude 
 40 33' north, longitude from Greenwich 99 G' west, and about 2,360 feet above the level of the 
 sea, on the south bank of the Platte River, in the State of Nebraska. The reservation, ten miles 
 square, was declared by the President under date of January 18, 1849. The Union Pacific railroad 
 crosses the northern portion of the reservation on the north bank of the river, a distance of six 
 miles from the fort. The Platte River at this point is about nine miles wide, and filled with islands. 
 A range of hills, of sandy formation, skirt the valley on the south side; the range is from one to 
 two miles wide. South of these hills, to the Republican River, is about forty miles of table-land, 
 slightly undulating. The whole country is prairie, and is supposed to be, with little exception, 
 arable, capable of yielding good crops of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, fruit, and all kinds of vege- 
 tables that grow in the same latitude in the Eastern States. The soil of the Platte Valley is 
 principally clay, mixed with a little lime and sand and vegetable humus, washed down from the 
 adjoining bluffs. No stone or rocks are found in the vicinity of the post. A few feet beneath the 
 surface of the ground is found the quicksand, originally washed there by the Platte River. Cotton- 
 wood, elm, ash, cedar, and wild plum trees are found on the islands. The wild animals are the 
 buffalo, antelope, deer, gray wolf, coyote, swift rabbit, ground squirrel, badger, skunk, prairie cat, 
 and field mouse. Birds are represented by the eagle, turkey buzzard, several species of hawks 
 and owls, the blackbird, snowbird, wild goose, duck of all varieties, prairie chicken, plover, and 
 small species of snipes. Cattish of all sizes are caught in the Platte River. The reptiles are 
 represented by the frog, toad, rattlesnake, and several species of small grass snakes. 
 
 The average temperature from July 1 to December 31, 1808, was 52; hygrometer, 51. High 
 winds, storms, heavy rain-showers, and hurricanes are frequent during the summer and fall. Snow 
 does not remain any length of time. 
 
 Fort Kearney was, at the time of its establishment, the only intermediate station between 
 Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, a distance of 350 miles east, and Fort iiaramie, 420 miles west, on the 
 California overland route, and is about midway between the Mississippi River and the Rocky 
 Mountains. It was established for the protection of the west-bound emigrants and peaceable 
 Indians from hostile Indian tribes and outlaws infesting the country. The post is built on a level 
 plain, one and a half mile from the bank of the river. Eight miles east, beyond the limits of the 
 reservation, and two miles west, were situated, about two years ago, two flourishing towns the 
 former, Valley City ; the latter, Kearney City both now in ruins, and nearly deserted on account 
 of the Union Pacific railroad taking the place of the old overland route. 
 
 The post is laid out in a regular square, with the store-houses on the north; the officers' quar- 
 ters and one barrack, now unoccupied and used for theatrical performances, on the south; the com- 
 pany quarters and guard-house on the east, and the commanding officer's quarters and office 
 buildings on the west. These buildings surround a parade ground of four acres in extent, in the 
 center of which is erected the flagstaff. A few cotton wood trees line the sidewalks of the parade, 
 
FOET KEARNEY, NEBRASKA. 333 
 
 but afford shade only to the deserted officers' quarters. These trees have been planted inside of 
 the garrison, but have been neglected. 
 
 About 200 yards in rear of the store-houses belonging to the regular square of the post are 
 the stables and a quartermaster's store-house, on a line front, facing the parade. About 200 yards 
 in rear of the commanding officer's quarters and office buildings are the married soldiers' quarters, 
 post office, bake-house, and sutler's shop. Southwest and about 200 yards from the main square is 
 the hospital building; northeast, the magazine; and about 150 yards in rear of the company 
 quarters is the blacksmiths' shop. 
 
 The company quarters, three in number, are one-story frame buildings, divided into rooms, 
 two of which are 25 by 40 feet, for the company; two, 10 by 12 feet, one of which is used as a 
 company store-room, the other for the orderly sergeant and as office; one mess-room, 1C by .10 
 feet, and a company kitchen. These buildings are very well lighted, which is the case with all the 
 buildings in the post, but no regard to ventilation has been had in their construction, though all 
 the buildings are spacious. The dormitories have an air space of 250 cubic feet per man, and are 
 furnished with double bunks, with bedsacks filled with hay. Quarters for married soldiers are 
 in log and adobe buildings, and in a very dilapidated condition. These buildings are divided into 
 rooms, 16 by 16 feet, well lighted, though badly ventilated. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters consist of a story-and-a-half frame building, containing six 
 rooms, each 20 feet square, a hall, kitchen, and a large porch in front and rear, with several out- 
 buildings. This building is built in an old-fashioned style, and is surrounded, with the exception 
 of the front, which faces the parade ground, by the remains of a garden. The buildings are com- 
 fortable and in good repair. 
 
 The officers' quarters is a two-story-and-a-half frame building of old style, containing twelve 
 rooms, with halls and kitchens. This building is spacious and in good condition. A small one- 
 story frame building, cottage style, with three rooms, 15 by 15 feet, is situated in the line on the 
 left of the officers' quarters, and was originally designed for the use of the chaplain of the post. 
 
 The office buildings, four in number, are much of the character of the company buildings, and 
 of sizes suitable for offices. The store-houses are frame and weather-boarded, spacious, and in 
 good condition. 
 
 The guard-house is a one-story frame building, with two rooms, 20 by 20 feet, one for the guard, 
 the other for prisoners. The building is provided with a front porch, is well lighted, and built on 
 the plan of the company quarters, and is well adapted to its purpose. 
 
 The hospital building, a one-story frame structure, formerly used for company quarters, has 
 three ward-rooms, each 25 by 30 feet, one store-room, 10 by 12 feet, a dispensary, 10 by 12 feet, 
 which is used also for an office, a kitchen, 20 by 20 feet, and a laundry, 10 by 10 feet. This building 
 is well lighted, warmed by stoves, and ill ventilated, and it being old and dilapidated, is entirely 
 unadapted for the uses for which it was built. A new hospital is much needed at this post. The 
 dispensary is very much out of repair. The wards have a capacity of twenty beds, with an air 
 space of 600 cubic feet per bed. No bath-rooms are connected with the hospital. 
 
 The post bakery is an adobe building, with dirt roof, very large, with an oven constructed of 
 brick, in which sufficient bread is baked for the use of the command. 
 
 The magazine is a heavy frame, conoidal in form, covered with several feet of earth, and in 
 good condition. 
 
 About 300 yards southwest of the fort is an ice-house entirely over ground, as the nature of 
 this place does not permit it otherwise on account of the water which is found only a few feet 
 beneath the surface. It is a frame building, 20 by 40 feet, old and dilapidated. Several other 
 small buildings are scattered between those already mentioned, one used as a billiard-room, another 
 as a school-room. 
 
 The stables are of the same construction as the store-houses, but very dilapidated and in need 
 of repair. 
 
 Water for the use of the garrison is obtained from wells, 12 to 20 feet deep. The water rises 
 and falls according to the rise and fall of the Platte River. It is of a good, soft quality, with a 
 slight magnesia taste. The animals are watered in the Platte River. 
 
 There are no sewers at the post. Drainage is effected by evaporation and absorption, as the soil 
 is composed of dry alluvial deposits and sand. The offal of the post is collected by police parties 
 
334 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAET POSTS. 
 
 and carried in wagons some distance out on the prairies. The sinks are ordinary dirt latrines, 
 filled, and new ones dug as occasion requires. One room, fitted up with tubs made from barrels, is 
 used as a bath-room by the men. 
 
 There are no gardens connected with the post. All vegetables, as potatoes, onions, &c., are 
 furnished at a plentiful rate from the assistant commissary of subsistence at Omaha, Nebraska. 
 There is a daily mail from Kearney's Station, on the Union Pacific railroad. Time to department 
 headquarters, twenty-four hours. 
 
 South of the Platte Kiver, in all the scattered settlements, there are about 1,500 inhab- 
 itants. Agriculture is the general occupation of the settlers, and there is considerable trading 
 done at the towns of Kearney, Wood Iliver, and Grand Island; the last mentioned is west of Tort 
 Kearney, on the Union Pacific railroad, about 40 miles distant. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Kearney, Nebraska, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 j. 
 
 
 13 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,43 
 
 '5 
 
 B 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 cc 
 
 
 1i 
 
 p 'o 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 "3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 GO 
 
 a 
 
 j 
 
 3 
 
 8 
 13 a) 
 
 H=} CO 
 
 "c8 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 s 
 
 GO 
 
 s 
 
 it 
 
 -a 
 
 
 | 
 
 O c8 
 
 J! 
 
 C -0 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 I 
 
 O 
 
 J 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 s 
 
 Q 
 
 1 
 
 O 
 
 02 
 
 ,s 
 
 fi 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 92 83 
 
 198 
 
 61 
 
 28 
 
 9 
 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 23 
 
 
 1869 
 
 40 58 
 
 31 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT McPHERSON, NEBRASKA. 
 
 INFORMATION FUENISHED BY SURGEON P. C. DAVIS, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ASSISTANT SUR- 
 GEON A. D. WILSON, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort McPherson, Nebraska, is situated in latitude 41 3' north, longitude 100 38' west, at an 
 elevation above the sea of 2,770 feet, on the south bank of the South Platte River, eight miles 
 above its confluence with North Platte Iliver, and lies directly east fi'om North Platte City eighteen 
 miles, and five miles in a southeasterly direction from McPherson Station, Union Pacific railroad. 
 The post, including a line in rear of stables and rear of post hospital, covers an area of 38 acres. 
 There are two corrals, and both are included in the land estimate. This locality, known as Cot- 
 tonwood Springs, was used by the Overland Stage Company for a number of years, and in conse- 
 quence became the residence of from 75 to 100 citizens. Indian depredations having been commit- 
 ted near this point, troops were sent to this place September 27, 1863, and named it Cantonment 
 McKean. On the 18th of May, 1864, the name was changed to Fort Cottonwood, and on or about 
 March 11, 1866, the name was again changed to Fort McPherson. The reservation has not been 
 declared, except by a post order, dated June 24, 1866, which includes four miles square, the north- 
 west point being so located as to insure control of the bridges over the river, and also to include 
 a portion of an island of considerable size, which is used for the purpose of procuring hay. The 
 area of the reservation consists almost entirely of the bottom land along the river, but includes a 
 portion of the bluffs south of the post. The immediate location of the post is upon a plateau or table- 
 land, containing about 38 acres, situated about one-half mile south from the river, and about 30 
 feet above its level. The geological formation of this region belongs to the tertiary period. 
 
 The surrounding country is not arable; there are no trees or gardens ; the soil is sandy ; good 
 grass is found about three miles from the post. The animals of this region are those common to 
 the whole extent of the plains. The Platte River rises in April and falls in July ; is fordable about 
 seven months of the year. The climate is very dry. The estimated average monthly temperature 
 
FOKT McPHEESON, NEBEASKA. 
 
 335 
 
 for the twelve months ending June 3, 18G9, is 51 F. ; the extremes were 104 F., on the 9th of 
 July, and 3 F. on December 21, 18G9. The prevailing winds are northwest. 
 
 Fort McPherson is a five-company post, built of lumber. There are five barracks, three log and 
 two frame buildings, well plastered and ventilated. Each building contains eighteen large windows; 
 one building, 150 by 27 feet, with wing 87 by 25 feet ; two buildings, 108 by 25 feet, with wings 71 
 by 20 feet ; one, 96 by 25 feet, with wing 71 by 20 feet ; one, 132 by 30 feet, with wing 60 by 24 
 feet. The main buildings are used as orderly-rooms and sleeping-rooms, the wings as bath, dining, 
 and cooking-rooms. The average air space per man in the dormitories is 328 cubic feet. 
 
 The laundresses' quarters are five log and one frame buildings capable of accommodating four- 
 teen families ; they have shingle roofs, and are in good repair. Two of the buildings are 40 by 24 
 feet; one 30 by 15 feet; one 40 by 18 feet, with wing 24 by 15 feet; one 60 by 18 feet; one 30 by 
 15 feet, with wing 12 by 15 feet; they face the rear of the company quarters. 
 
 The officers' quarters are frame buildings, lathed and plastered, with shingle roofs; there 
 are ten in all, which face directly south to the parade ground and company quarters ; they are 
 comfortable, well built, and spacious. Six; are single buildings, 42 by 20 feet; three double, 54 by 
 20 feet; one building for the commanding officer, 65 by 24 feet. All have kitchens Attached, 24 by 
 15 feet. 
 
 The commissary store-house is a portable frame building, 100 by 24 feet ; the quartermaster's 
 warehouse, a log building, well built, 132 by 30 feet ; the forage-house, a log building, well built, 
 shingle roof, 130 by 27 feet ; the adjutant and quartermaster's office, a log building, in good condi- 
 tion, 42 by 20 feet ; and the magazine is a circular frame building, about 20 feet in diameter. 
 
 The guard-house is a log structure, with shingle roof, built in shape of the letter T ; the main 
 building is 30 by 20 feet, and has two apartments, one for the officer of the guard, and one for the 
 guard ; the wing, 15 by 24 feet, is for the confinement of prisoners, and has one large grated window. 
 
 The hospital is a log building, well chinked and plastered, with lathed and plastered ceilings 
 and shingle roof. It consists of a main building, 69 by 20 feet, 
 and a wing, 64 by 20 feet ; for the general arrangement of 
 which see Figure 42. 
 
 A, ward No. 1, 20 by 42 feet ; A, ward No. 2, 20 by 24 
 feet ; D, dispensary ; E, steward's room, 10 by 20 feet ; K, 
 kitchen, 20 by 20 feet; M, dining-room, 20 by 24 feet; O, M 
 office; S, store-room, 20 by 20 feet. 
 
 The hospital is capable of accommodating 24 patients ; 
 air space per bed 51S cubic feet. 
 
 The post bakery is a log building, 45 by 30 feet, well built, 
 shingle roof, and has a fine, large oven. 
 
 There are five cavalry stables, built of logs, with shingle 
 roofs. Three are 200 by 30 feet ; one 280 by 30 feet ; and one 
 24 by 30 feet. 
 
 There is no post library. The regimental library of the 
 Fifth United States Cavalry is kept in the adjutant's office, 
 and numbers but 30 volumes, mostly works of fiction. 
 
 The water is principally obtained from the Platte Eiver. 
 There are three wells at the post ; two of them contain but a Figure 43. Scale, 30 feet to l inch, 
 small quantity of water, and are not used ; the third is located in the post corral, and furnishes a 
 good supply of wholesome water for the stock. There are three wells in the vicinity of the post 
 owned by citizens, all of which are in good order and furnish excellent water. The average depth 
 of all the wells is 35 feet. There are no cisterns or reservoirs. The water is hauled from the 
 river in a water-wagon, and is distributed in barrels kept for the purpose around the post. The 
 quantity supplied by the water-wagon averages 3,246 gallons per diem. From the 1st of May 
 until the 1st of August the river is very full, and at such times is loaded with earthy, and also con- 
 tains about 6 parts in 1,000 of organic matter. 
 
 K 
 
336 DESCEIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The immediate location of the post is a perfect flat or level, ami, in consequence, there is no 
 natural drainage. The fall of rain and snow remains upon the surface until evaporation occurs, 
 which is rapid in this region. Very little moisture is absorbed by the soil. There is one artificial 
 sewer at the post, and that, being connected with a set of officers' quarters, is but little used. There 
 is one open ditch or drain about the commanding officer's quarters. The building being in a low 
 place, the ditch drains the ground in the vicinity of the post very perfectly. 
 
 Each of the company quarters is provided with a small room in which the soldiers are enabled 
 to perform their daily ablutions. If any of them desire to bathe they must use an ordinary tub. 
 One of these rooms in one of the quarters is provided with two bath-tubs of wood for bathing 
 purposes. The rest of the companies are destitute of these necessary articles. During the sum- 
 mer months the men are accustomed to bathe in the Platte Eiver. There never has been an order 
 issued at this post designating a time for the men to bathe in the river. The prisoners during the 
 summer months are the only persons required to do so, and they generally by order of the officer of 
 the day. The men have no facilities whatever for bathing in the winter. 
 
 Duringthe month of March, 1870, one sergeant and six men were detailed to inclose a piece of 
 land for a post garden, in a northeasterly direction from the post and adjacent to the Platte Eiver, 
 with a trench four feet deep, three feet wide at the bottom, and four feet wide at the top. The 
 earth thus excavated was thrown upon the inner side of the trench, and the external surface of the 
 mound thus formed is covered with a layer of sodding. Three gates are placed at intervals on a 
 line with the mound. The middle one is small, and the outer ones so constructed as to admit 
 teams. A rude house was constructed of logs inside the garden as a shelter for the gardeners. 
 The inclosure thus formed embraces an area of 11 acres of land. There are no hospital or officers' 
 gardens. The post garden is cultivated by six soldiers detailed for that purpose. It is watered 
 by means of pumps stationed at intervals along the edge of the Platte Eiver, which are worked by 
 horse-power. A water-wheel and pump combined has been constructed a:id placed in the river. 
 It performed its duty exceedingly well for a while, but the ever-changing quicksands of the Platte 
 has rendered it useless, for the present at least. The water is conveyed over the garden by means 
 of wooden troughs and ditches placed at appropriate intervals. The garden has yielded lettuce, 
 onions, radishes, cucumbers, beets, &c., in profusion. Many of the vegetables planted are not yet 
 matured, but are in a thriving, healthy condition. There seems to be no obstacle whatever to the 
 cultivation of fine vegetables in the bottom lauds of this region. 
 
 There is at the post commissary an ample supply of pickles, sour-krout, &c., together with an 
 estimated supply of canned fruits and preserves. 
 
 The nearest quartermaster and subsistence depots are at Omaha, Nebraska, 286 miles distant. 
 The route of supply is from Omaha to McPherson Station by the Union Pacific railroad, seven 
 miles distant ; thence across one branch of the Platte Eiver by a temporary bridge, and over the 
 other branches by fords. In the spring the river rises, washing away the temporary bridge aud 
 making communication with the railroad station very uncertain and hazardous. The best season 
 for transportation is from July 1 to March 31. McPherson Station is distant from Fort McPher- 
 son about four miles. The eastern and western mails are delivered regularly every day. Letters 
 mailed here in the evening for department headquarters, Omaha, Nebraska, reach their destination 
 about two o'clock p. m. the next day. 
 
 There are no Indians in the vicinity of the post, and but few white settlers. There are in all 
 about 25 or 30 citizens living on the reservation, aud they are mostly employed by contractors for 
 the quartermaster's department. 
 
 There seems to be no disease that can be considered peculiar to this climate. The most of the 
 cases occur among recruits, and can probably be attributed to the change of climate and water, 
 and to excesses of diet, &c., during transportation. 
 
NORTH PLATTE STATION, NEBRASKA. 
 
 337 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort McPJierson, Nebraska, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 g J 
 d u 
 
 it 
 
 B 
 
 t> 
 
 t 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 i. 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 2 . 
 
 i 
 
 a '3 
 
 a 
 
 
 <s 
 
 3 
 '8 
 
 
 
 [3 
 
 11 
 9 , 
 
 .2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 k>i 
 
 .2 
 '^ 
 
 S 
 
 . 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 "3 e8 
 
 M *" 
 
 ^a 
 a 
 
 K 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 y -o 
 S 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 L 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 c5 
 fe 
 
 1868 
 
 331 83 
 
 690 
 
 2 
 
 124 
 
 103 
 
 40 
 
 g 
 
 3 
 
 30 
 
 
 111 
 
 
 1869 
 
 284.33 
 
 425 
 
 1 
 
 75 
 
 78 
 
 16 
 
 20 
 
 
 27 
 
 4 
 
 50 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 NORTH PLATTE STATION, NEBRASKA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON F. W. ELBREY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 North Platte Station is situated on the line of the Union Pacific railroad, 7 miles from the con- 
 fluence of the North and South Platte Rivers, and 21 miles west from Omaha, Nebraska. Latitude 
 41 6' 55" north, longitude 101 25' 44" west from Greenwich ; altitude 2,789 feet above the level of 
 the sea. 
 
 The post was established in August, 1867, for the protection of the railroad, and to serve as a 
 basis of supply for detachments of troops stationed in the vicinity. The ground occupied com- 
 prises a little over 8 acres adjoining the railroad, and is a portion of an alternate section granted 
 by the General Government to the Union Pacific railroad. The surface topography of the vicinity 
 is an unbroken prairie, extending 7 miles to the east and 16 miles west, with an average width of 
 6 miles, limited by the North and South Platte Rivers. The underlying stratum is of tertiary forma- 
 tion. The soil, being of a rich, alluvial character, is fertile if properly irrigated, irrigation being 
 necessary by reason of the insufficiency of rain-fall and the oft long-continued droughts. The 
 prairie from the South Platte River, being from 40 to 50 feet higher than the North Platte, has an 
 even descent of about 7 feet to the mile toward the latter river, rendering irrigation convenient. 
 
 The climate is healthful, and the extremes of temperature, on account of the dry and rarefied 
 atmosphere, are well borne. The rain and snow-fall are small. The prevailing winds during the 
 summer are from the southeast and in winter from the northwest. The winds are frequent, of 
 long continuance, and blow very violently. 
 
 The post grounds, inclosed by a fence, are nearly in the form of a square. The parade occupies 
 a space near the center. All the buildings are constructed of pine wood, the roofs of some being 
 the so-called " composition roof," consisting of boards covered with tarred paper secured by means of 
 batting, and of the others common shingles. The barrack building, accommodating one company, 
 is 96 by 30 feet, and one story high. It is warmed in winter by three wood-stoves, lighted and 
 ventilated by four lateral and two end windows placed in opposite sides. If the company at pres- 
 ent occupying the building had its full complement of 100 men the dormitory would give only 
 192 cubic feet of air space per man, but the company has not averaged more than 65 men for the 
 past year, one-third of whom are now on detached service. Wooden bunks are used. The wash- 
 room, 12 by 12 feet, is partitioned off from the quarters. The men's sinks are located south of the 
 stable, and are unexceptionable as to depth, cleanliness, and position. The kitchen and mess-room 
 both adjoin the barracks. Quarters of laundresses and married soldiers are contained in a build- 
 ing with two rooms, each 10 by 12 feet. Two one-story buildings are used for officers' quarters, 
 constructed of wood, plastered, covered with shingles, and finished in the plainest style possible. 
 One is divided into two sets of quarters of three rooms each, having attic chambers; the other, 
 with no attic, contains only two rooms. The first has a kitchen attached ; neither have bath-rooms. 
 43 
 
338 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 Water is supplied from a well located to the rear. The store-house, placed near the officers' quar- 
 ters 011 the west side of the parade, is 37 by 20 feet, one story high, and covered by a composition- 
 roof. The building is ample in size, and well adapted for its purpose. The guard-house, located 
 adjoining the store-house, being 20 by 13 feet in size, adequately warmed, but very imperfectly 
 ventilated, has a capacity for 6 prisoners. There is no hospital. The post bakery is 24 by 15 feet, 
 built of wood, and adjoins the rear of the company kitchen. 
 
 The stable is located to the south of the parade ground, built of wood, covered with boards ; 
 dimensions 52 by 22 feet, accommodating 8 horses. A portion of this building is used for storing 
 certain quartermaster's stores, having been partitioned off for that purpose. 
 
 The North Platte River being distant from the post only 1,741 yards, and the South Platte 
 2,300 yards, and the soil being very porous, everywhere inexhaustible wells can be dug a depth 
 not exceeding 10 feet from the surface. The supply for the post is therefore abundant ; but the 
 quality of the water is not all that could be desired on account of its organic impurities, the per- 
 manganate of potassa test showing a residuum of 19 grains to the gallon. 
 
 The natural drainage is all-sufficient, the porosity of the soil preventing the collection of stag- 
 nant water. 
 
 There are no bathing facilities at the post, excepting during the summer months, when the 
 North Platte affords excellent advantages. 
 
 The post garden covers an area of three-fourths of an acre, and is well cultivated, being made 
 productive by irrigation. Cabbage, lettuce, radishes, beets, &c., are raised. 
 
 The post being located on the line of the Union Pacific railroad, communication with Omaha, 
 Nebraska, is easy and regular. The mails are daily. 
 
 The inhabitants of North Platte town are 500 in number, composed of railroad employes, arti- 
 sans, and small traders. There have been no prevailing diseases during the past year, there being 
 an especial absence of malarial, pulmonary, and bowel diseases, and of rheumatism. 
 
 FORT SEDGWICK, COLORADO TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS F. LE BARON MONROE AND J. M. DICKSON, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Sedgwick is situated upon the right or south bank of the South Platte, which flows past 
 the post in an easterly direction ; latitude 41 north, longitude 102 30' west from Greenwich ; 
 height above the sea, 3,660 feet. The town of Sidney, on the Union Pacific railroad, is 39 miles 
 west from the post, and Fort McPherson 86 miles east, on the south bank of the Platte River. 
 The nearest town is Julesburg, Nebraska, a railroad station on the Union Pacific railroad, three 
 miles due north of the post. 
 
 Fort Sedgwick was established in the month of May, 1865, by Colonel McNally, Third United 
 States veteran volunteers, for the protection of the overland route to California, against the Indians, 
 who were troublesome at that time. 
 
 The valley of the Platte is here about three miles in width, and the fort is built about one- 
 quarter of a mile from the river. The river is fordable nearly all the year ; but from about the 
 first of June until the middle of August, it is quite. high,~the rise varying with different seasons. 
 In 1868, wagons crossed every day but one, though the water came above the bottom of the wagons 
 for two months ; the river being half a mile in width, with a channel shifting, and at times abound- 
 ing La quicksands, is the greatest obstacle to communication with the railroad. The ford is about 
 500 yards below the post, and still further below are the ruins of old Julesburg, which was destroyed 
 by Indians in 1865. The reservation contains 64 square miles. The ground rises gradually from 
 the river to the bluffs a mile distant; then comes a series of hills for about ten miles, beyond 
 which stretches the flat table-land as far as the eye can reach. The immediate vicinity of the post 
 is nearly level, having just slope enough to insure good drainage. The soil is not fertile, sand and 
 gravel predominating, and is slightly impregnated with alkali. Gardens do not succeed without 
 irrigation and great labor; and what insects do not destroy, is liable to ruin from violent hail-storms. 
 
FORT SEDGWICK, COLORADO TERRITORY. 
 
 339 
 
 The mean temperature for the year 1869 was 50 F. ; extremes, IMP F. and 16 F. Rain fall 
 during the year, 3.9 inches ; snow-fall, 10.82 inches. The atmosphere is usually dry. The prevail- 
 ing winds are from the westward. 
 
 Two adobe buildings are used as barracks, each 100 by 25 feet, and 10 feet high, and intended 
 for one company, giving from 225 to 300 cubic feet of air space per man ; the walls are two feet 
 thick, and a room , 14 by 21 feet, is partitioned off at the end for the orderly sergeant. They are warmed 
 by stoves; have no special means of ventilation, and no wash rooms. An adobe building, built in 
 the rear of each barrack, contains a commodious kitchen and mess room, with fixtures and furni- 
 ture complete. Married soldiers' quarters are constructed of boards and canvas, and are hardly suit- 
 able for occupancy. 
 
 Four small houses constitute quarters for the officers of the command ; they are one story and 
 a half high ; two are built of adobe and plastered ; the others are of portable frame, battened exte- 
 riorly. The adobe buildings contain, each, three rooms on the lower floor and two on the tipper; 
 the lower rooms measuring, respectively, 15 by 10, 11 by 10, and 11 by 14 feet; are 8 feet high, and 
 used as parlor, dining-room, and kitchen. The upper floor has two rooms, each 7 feet high; the one 
 22 by 15 feet, the other 11 by 15 feet. The frame buildings have each three rooms on the lower 
 floor, two 10 by 11 feet, and one 14 by 15 feet ; these rooms are 8 feet high. The upper story con- 
 sists of one room, 22 by 28 feet by 7 feet high. Temporary sheds are attached to the frame quar- 
 ters for kitchens. Each of the four buildings is intended to accom- 
 modate one set of company officers. They are heated by stoves, 
 and artificially lighted by lamps. Xo means for ventilation are 
 provided. There are no water-closets or bath-rooms. Water is 
 supplied from the South Platte River, and from the well in the 
 rear of the quarters. 
 
 The guard-house is situated on the north side of the parade. 
 It is a frame building, 48 feet front, by 24 feet deep, and 10 feet 
 high. It is warmed and lighted as are the other buildings, and 
 contains no cells, being divided into two rooms ; one, 20 by 24 
 feet, occupied as a guard-room, the other, 28 by 48 feet, by the 
 prisoners in common. One chimney serves for both rooms. The 
 prison-room has a roof ventilator. The building is in very bad 
 repair; the roof leaky and the walls full of holes. During three 
 months, 82 prisoners have been confined in it; the maximum num- 
 ber being 16, and the average 7. 
 
 The hospital is of adobe, and stands in a good location 200 
 yards to the rear of the parade ground, toward the bluffs. It is 
 an L-shapcd structure, consisting of one building, 28 feet front by 
 100 feet deep, with a wing, 28 feet front by 32 feet deep. For the 
 general arrangement of the hospital, see Figure 43. 
 
 A, ward, 25 by 25 feet ; D, dispensary, 10 by 13 feet ; E, stew- 
 ard's room, 13 by 15 feet; K, kitchen, 25 by 20 feet; M,diu- Figure 43.-ScaIo, 20 feet to l inch, 
 ing-room, 25 by 16 feet; S, store-room, 14 by 25 feet; Y, surgeons' quarters, 24 by 25 feet. 
 
 The height of all the rooms is 10 feet 6 inches. The hospital, in size, is sufficient for a four- 
 company post, but its construction is faulty; improvement in this particular has been sought, but 
 not yet accomplished. It is warmed by stoves, and ventilated by doors and windows, and by roof 
 ventilators. The dispensary is convenient and well arranged. The ward contains ten beds, giving 656 
 cubic feet of air space per man, if all were occupied. There is no bath or wash-room and no water- 
 closet connected with the hospital. The wing portion of the building was erected as a ward, but a.t 
 present is occupied as surgeon's quarters. The hospital is occupied chiefly by patients from the 
 sub-posts, or citizens from the Union Pacific railroad. 
 
 The post bakery, 18 by 23 feet by 12 feet high, is built of adobe, the walls being 3 feet thick. 
 The oven is 10 by 12 feet, and the supply of bread to the garrison is constant and sufficient. 
 
 The stables are two in number : one, located 300 yards east of the post, is a wooden building, 
 25 by 240 feet, 11 feet high to the ridge, and rectangular in shape ; the other, located between the 
 
 M 
 
340 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 post and the river, is about 200 yards distant from the company quarters. This is built of logs, 
 with a dirt roof, and is in a very dilapidated condition. 
 
 A library, consisting of 286 volumes of biographies, novels, and miscellaneous works, is kept 
 in the adjutant's office under the supervision of a detailed librarian. 
 
 The post is supplied with good water from the wells, sunk to an average depth of 20 feet, and 
 from the river. The wells are doubtless supplied by percolation from the river ; the quality and 
 quantity of water thus obtained are entirely satisfactory. The soil being very porous, good surface 
 drainage is insured. Offal and refuse material are conveyed some distance from the post, and thrown 
 on the prairie. 
 
 The mails are received daily and regularly. Two days are required in transmitting a letter to 
 department headquarters, and six days to Washington. There are no inhabitants in the surrounding 
 country, except a few families at the railroad station, Julesburg. 
 
 There are no prevailing diseases at the post, though there is undoubtedly a small amount of 
 malaria present, but not enough to produce intermittent or other fevers. Most of the cases in the 
 hospital are surgical. Rheumatism is obstinate and long continued, though nearly all cases of 
 that disease have been sent here from the sub-post of Sidney, which is situated in the valley of 
 Lodge Pole Creek. Diseases of the lungs are almost unknown. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of st'cfc, and principal diseases at Fort Sedgwick, Colo- 
 rado Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 |H 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 5-1 
 
 g 
 
 a 
 
 <S 
 
 I 
 
 8 " 
 
 .2 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 a | 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 o 
 
 
 ja ' 
 
 ^S 
 
 
 g 
 
 S 
 
 iS 
 
 9 2 
 
 IH 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 "3 
 
 i 
 
 S 
 
 oc 
 
 I 
 
 |8 
 
 W* 
 
 1 
 
 D 
 
 ,3 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 391. 16 
 
 2% 
 
 1 
 
 36 
 
 49 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 21 
 
 i 
 
 63 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 235 41 
 
 44 
 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT D. A. RUSSELL, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON C. H. ALDEN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort David A. Russell is situated in the southeastern part of the Territory of Wyoming, in 
 latitude 41 8' north, and longitude 104 45' west of Greenwich, at an elevation of 6,062 feet above 
 the level of the sea. It lies on the north bank of Crow Creek, a branch of the South Platte, and 
 three miles west of the town of Cheyenne, a station on the Union Pacific railroad. The base of 
 the Black Hills is about 15 miles distant; Omaha is 517 miles east; Fort Sedgwick, 146 miles east; 
 Fort Sanders, 57 miles west ; all on the Union Pacific railroad. Fort Laramie is 90 miles north, by 
 wagon road, and Denver City 107 miles south, reached by the Denver Pacific railroad. 
 
 The post is named in honor of Major David A. Russell, Eighth United States Infantry, brig- 
 adier general United States volunteers, and brevet major general United States Army, who was 
 killed at the battle of Opequan, Virginia, September 19, 1864. The ground was selected and first 
 occupied by troops in July, 1867. The object in establishing this post seems to have been to pro- 
 tect the railroad in this vicinity, and the lines of travel south to Denver, and northward to Fort 
 Laramie and the posts beyond. A large quartermaster and commissary depot was established in 
 August 1867, 1 mile east of the post, which is an important base of supplies for the military 
 stations to the northward, the old road from Fort Sedgwick to Fort Laramie being now abandoned 
 for the new and shorter one from Fort Russell. 
 
 The reservation was originally a parallelogram, extending 2 miles east and west, by 3 miles 
 north and south, and containing 3,840 acres. Additions somewhat irregular have been made, partly 
 
FOET D. A. EUSSELL, WYOMING TEEEITOBY. 341 
 
 to give increased space for the quartermaster's depot, situated in the southeastern angle. The 
 reservation is about equally divided by Crow Creek, which crosses it from northwest to southeast. 
 This is a small and tortuous but never failing stream. On either side of the creek are bluffs from 30 
 to 50 feet high, there being many small bottoms between them. Along the stream the terrace form- 
 ation can be traced in some places, particularly in the part occupied by the quartermaster's depot, 
 where there are four successive benches rising from the water to the plain. To the north of the 
 creek there is a large level plateau, about a mile wide, beyond which the country is broken. To the 
 south of the stream the country is much broken into low hills for some distance. This region lies 
 near the southern extremity of what is called by Professor Hayden " the White Eiver tertiary 
 beds," which extend from the Upper Missouri southward along the eastern slope of the Eocky 
 Mountains for several hundred miles. The stratification is easily seen for some depth on the faces 
 of the bluffs along the creek. There is first a layer of alluvium, from one to two feet thick ; next 
 below a layer of coarse gravel, several feet thick, sometimes cropping out to the surface ; and below 
 this a stratum of stiff sand, becoming harder in descending, until an irregular layer of sandstone is 
 reached. This sandstone is coarsely conglomerate in places, the boulders imbedded in it being 
 occasionally of considerable size. Fragments of tertiary mammalian fossils have been found some 
 25 miles north of Cheyenne, of which specimens have been sent to the Surgeon General's Office. 
 
 The soil on the prairies is barren, nor can the bottom lands be cultivated except by the aid of 
 irrigation. The plains and hills are covered with a low, stunted, scanty grass. Along the creek a 
 few low willows and wild currant bushes grow. In summer the desolate prairies and bottoms are 
 made brilliant for a short time by a profusion of wild flowers, rich, however, rather in number than 
 variety. The crucifera?, leguimuosa-, rosacea?, ouagracese, composite, scrophulariacea?, and the 
 borraginaceae, are the families most numerously represented. The only edible wild plants known 
 are the wild onion, (Alllumstellatum;) lambs' quarters, (Chenopodium album;) ami wild currants, (.Ri&e* 
 awreum.) The most common wild animals are the coyote, prairie dog, and striped gopher. Battle- 
 snakes are occasionally seen. The numerous crania of buffalo testify to their presence in this 
 country at no very distant period, but not probably within eight or ten years. Antelope, and 
 occasionally common deer, can be found at some distance from the post. Among the animals some- 
 times seen, but not common, may be mentioned the gray wolf, the swift fox, the white-backed 
 skunk, badger, beaver, jack rabbit, and cotton-tail rabbit. Of birds the species are numerous. 
 Among game birds are the prairie chicken, sage cock, mallard duck, green-winged teal, killdeer, 
 yellow-legged snipe, and Wilson's phalarope. 
 
 The weather is at all times subject to sudden and great changes, and the wind blows often 
 with much violence, particularly during the spring and fall. The mean temperature for the past 
 two years (1868 and 1869) has been 46.53. The highest temperature has been 100, August 5, 1869, 
 and the lowest 16, December 20, 1869. The average relative humidity has been 61.7. Average 
 annual rain-fall for the past two years, 6.25 inches ; snow, 9.45 inches. The prevailing wind is north- 
 west, blowing with most severity in February, March, April, September, October, [November, and 
 December. Spring opens about May 1, and the first frost comes in September. March is the 
 most inclement month. During all the warm months the temperature is very much lower at night 
 than by day. 
 
 The post is located a little to the left of the center of the reservation, its southernmost 
 angle reaching to the edge of the bluff, there about 50 feet above the water which flows directly 
 beneath. The buildings are entirely of wood; they are arranged around a parade of the diamond 
 form, which is 1,040 in its long, by 800 in its short axis. The long axis is on the magnetic meridian, 
 the variation being 50 30' east. The officer's quarters, fourteen in number, seven on each side, are 
 arranged like the two legs of an inverted A, vrith the commanding officer's quarters at the angle 
 between them. They form the upper or northern sides of the diamond. The men's barracks, twelve 
 in number, six on each side, form the other two limbs of the figure, the guard-house being at the 
 point of junction. In front of the guard-house is a hexagonal tower-like building, having a room 
 for the officer of the guard below, and a lookout for a sentinel above. In front of this tower is the 
 flagstaff, 100 feet high. In the spring of 1870, cottouwood and pine trees were planted around the 
 parade and in other parts of the post. The barracks do not directly face the parade, but are 
 arranged "en echelon," by which means light and air have free access to all sides of the buildings. 
 Behind the western row of officers' quarters is a "grout" or concrete building, intended for an 
 
342 DESCBIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 officers' mess-house, but now used for courts-martial aud school. The post is desigued to accom- 
 modate twelve companies, six each of cavalry and infantry. 
 
 The arrangement of the post is shown in Plate Xo. 8. 
 
 The general plan of the post was made by Brevet Brigadier General J. D. Stevenson, colonel 
 Thirtieth Infantry, some suggestions being made by the writer, Surgeon C. II. Alden, United 
 States Army. The diamond form of the parade was adopted not only for the sake of appearance, 
 but to avoid the inconvenience of the very large inclosed space, which would have resulted from 
 the ordinary rectangular or square space, owing to the great number of buildings required. There 
 are twelve company barracks; they are built of rough boards placed upright, with the cracks 
 battened; each is 80 feet long by 30 feet wide, with 11 feet walls, and shingled roof of one-third 
 pitch, and has a porch, 7 feet wide, along the front. Inside there is a lining of adobes, placed ou 
 edge, filled in between the timbers to the level of the eaves all around. Each barrack is desigued to 
 accommodate 80 men, and allows 480 cubic feet of air space per man. There is a brick chimney in 
 the center of each barrack, which is warmed by three stoves. Light has access by three windows 
 in front, two at each end, and six in rear. There are but two doors, both in front. The roof and 
 ends above the adobe lining are so open from the shrinking of the lumber that ventilation is atnply 
 sufficient. Some of the barracks have, however, special ventilation shafts. The beds, of bedsacks 
 filled with hay, are arranged in two-story wooden bunks, each story holding two men. The water- 
 closet, a small frame building placed over an ordinary sink, is situated about 75 feet in rear of each 
 barrack. At the south end of, and on a line with, the porch of each building is a rough structure 
 of logs placed upright in the earth, about 20 by 50 feet, and shingled. At the south end of 
 this is the company kitchen, about 15 by 20 feet, the remainder of the interior being the mess- 
 hall. Cooking is done by large stoves aud caldrons. Each company has delf mess furniture. A 
 wash-room is in some cases attached to the south end of the kitchen. 
 
 The quarters for the married soldiers and laundresses, some 18 in number, though somewhat 
 scattered, are mostly situated west of the post, along the creek. The buildings are not only too 
 few, but are very badly constructed. They are log huts, about 10 by 18 feet, and very roughly 
 built. Better quarters would, no doubt, have been erected long since, could the lumber be 
 obtained. 
 
 The officers' quarters are chiefly double houses, desigued to accommodate the captain of a 
 company on one side and his two lieutenants on the other. There are fourteen of these double 
 houses on the parade, and the commanding officer's quarters, a large two-story building, with four 
 large rooms on each floor, and a hall in the center. The quarters for the medical officers is a 
 double house near the hospital. The quartermaster occupies a single set, placed near his ware- 
 house. The officers' quarters, except the commander's, are one-story-aud a half houses, and are 
 all built of the same materials and in the same style externally as the men's barracks. Inside, the 
 officers' quarters are lined with boards, which are covered with tarred sheathmg-paper, and papered. 
 The kitchen and servants' room are in a detached low building in rear of each house. The quarters 
 have no special arrangements for heating, lighting, ventilation, nor supplying water. There are 
 no bath-rooms and no water-closet, except a common sink in the rear. 
 
 The adjutant's office is in the set of officers' quarters to the right of the commander's. The 
 commissary and quartermaster's offices are iu their store-houses. These latter are two long wooden 
 buildings, about 25 by 100 feet. The style is known as sectional, they having been brought up from 
 Omaha in parts, and put together here. 
 
 The guard-house is located at the southern angle of the parade. It is 40 by 40 feet, and con- 
 structed in the same manner as the other buildings. It is warmed by two stoves, and ventilated 
 and lighted by windows, of which there are two in rear, two in each end, and one in front. Two 
 doors in front give access to the interior. The building is well adapted for its purpose. 
 
 The hospital is located outside aud to the northeast of the parade, and is constructed of the 
 same materials and in the same style externally as the barracks. The plan is essentially that laid 
 down in Circular No. 4, 1867, Surgeon General's Office, but there are some modifications of and 
 deviations from that plan which require notice. In the building the front hall is widened from 5 
 feet to 6J feet. The hall being used as a waiting-room for those presenting themselves at surgeon's 
 call, and the number of these from twelve companies being sometimes large, a greater space than 
 
FONT D.AJIVSSELL , W. T. 
 
 Gen. eral Plan . 
 
 Scale: 32 O feet tolj'nch. 
 
 46o 5frQ 64o ??o 800 
 
 Carpenter STtop 
 
 ? Residence 
 Commissary Storehouse 
 
 
 PLATE, N? 8. 
 
FOET D. A. EUSSELL, WYOMING TEERITOEY. 343 
 
 allowed iu tlie plan was required. The dispensary and office are necessarily slightly diminished in 
 size, but are still sufficiently large. In order to better light the staircase and upper hall a skylight 
 was put in the roof immediately over the stairs. It was, therefore, unnecessary to leave the space 
 over the front hall open, so this was inclosed and is used as a linen-room. It was thought incon- 
 venient to use one of the upper rooms for post-mortem purposes, and a small building, 12 by 18 
 feet, was provided in the rear of the hospital. All parts of the building are lined with planed 
 boards, which, in the ward and lower part of the main building, are covered with tarred sheathing- 
 paper, and papered. The lining of boards and sheathing-paper does not make the building as 
 warm as plaster would, but it is preferable, as buildings here are so much shaken by the wind that 
 plaster is constantly liable to fall off. For this reason, (the severity of the winds,) and also the 
 low range of temperature, particularly at night, the special arrangements provided in the pre- 
 scribed plan for ventilation cannot be much used. The air channels in the floor of the ward, though 
 constructed, were never opened, and it has been impossible to allow the openings for ventilation at 
 the ridge to remain open except for two months in the year, July and August. The shafts through 
 which the stove-pipes pass are always open. To increase the facility of heating the ward the past 
 winter, a temporary ceiling of tarred paper was put up. It was considered unnecessary to con- 
 struct any ventilating shafts in the main building. The hospital is convenient, and would be com- 
 fortable were it not that the shingles on the roof have warped so that the snow blows iu to some 
 extent in winter. The battens also have warped, so that on the exposed side of the building the 
 snow finds its way through the cracks. These defects will probably be remedied this summer (1870) 
 by reshingling and putting weather-boards on the sides. The hospital is warmed by wood-stoves, 
 of which the ward has two large ones with drums, and the office, dispensary, and mess-room each 
 one. The building is lighted by hanging kerosene lamps. The dispensary is furnished with convenient 
 shelves and counter. There are two wards, each accommodating twenty-four beds. The east ward 
 (the most sheltered) is the only one occupied by patients, the other being used as a chapel. Each 
 bed has CG superficial feet, and since the ward was ceiled 1,011 cubic feet of air space. One of the 
 little rooms at the end of the ward is fitted up with a bath-tub and as a lavatory. The sink for 
 attendants and convalescents is about 85 feet in rear of the east ward. For the sick in bed two 
 night chairs are provided, usually kept in the bath-room, each deposit being covered as soon as 
 made with dry earth to disinfect and deodorize it. 
 
 The bake-house, a wooden building situated between the store-houses, has an oven with a 
 capacity of 600 rations. The stables, eight in number, are situated iu a bottom near the creek, 
 east of the post. They are long buildings of rough boards, with a row of stables on each side. 
 There is no post library. The Ninth Infantry has a regimental library, and some of the cavalry 
 companies have libraries. There is a hospital library, not medical, of about 200 volumes. 
 
 The garrison receives its water supply chiefly from Crow Creek. Attached to a saw-mill 
 situated in the bottom, west of the post, is a steam -pump which forces the water from the stream up 
 into an elevated wooden tank on the bluff. A water-wagon is filled daily from this tank, and 
 delivers the water for the officers, enlisted men, and laundresses into barrels near their quarters. 
 The water is also made to flow from this tank through a ditch around the parade, thus supplying 
 the trees there planted. There are wells behind the officers' quarters and barracks, but they are 
 not used, because they run dry in summer, and the other plan of supply is at all times more con- 
 venient. The commanding officer's residence and hospital have each a well in its inclosure, supply 
 ing their occupants with water. 
 
 The water from Crow Creek is a little turbid at times in spring when the stream is swollen by 
 heavy rains, but generally the water from both sources is colorless, tasteless, and free from odor. 
 An examination by the soap test gives the following result: 
 
 Crow Creek water, hardness (Clark's test) before boiling, 3. 5; after, 1. 75 
 Hospital well water, hardness (Clark's test) before boiling, 5. 95; after, 1. 75 
 
 An analysis has been made to determine the amount of solid matter and organic matter iu the 
 water. The amount of the former is small, and of the latter very minute, but I have not sufficient 
 confidence in the accuracy of my results to quote them, owing to the imperfect apparatus at hand. 
 
 For extinguishing fire, dependence is placed chiefly on an ample supply of buckets, kept con- 
 
344 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 stantly full, in all the barracks, store-houses, and hospitals. There is also a special water-wagoil, 
 with force-pump attached, kept filled near the tank, which can be hauled to any point when needed. 
 Each building has one or more ladders kept near it. At the quartermaster's depot there is a hand 
 fire-engine. 
 
 There being a gradual inclination of the ground on which the post is built toward the creek, 
 the natural drainage is efficient. From this cause, and the gravelly subsoil, water remains but a 
 very short time upon the surface. The kitchen slop and offal are removed daily by persons who 
 raise swine. Dry refuse collected by policing is carried to ravines a short distance below, or east 
 of the post, and burned. The cultivation of gardens has not received as much attention as is 
 desirable, but this neglect has been somewhat from causes beyond control. 
 
 This post has been since its foundation a sort of rendezvous or depot for distribution of troops. 
 The entire garrison has been changed several times, and the change of commanders is frequent. 
 While there is a large garrison in winter, in early spring, and before the planting season arrives, 
 almost the whole garrison is sent to various points along the railroad, leaving hardly enough men 
 to perform the guard duty and other necessary work for so large a post. For these causes a post 
 garden has never been planted. There is much less need of one here than at more isolated posts. 
 Potatoes and other common vegetables are brought from Colorado, Nebraska, and Salt Lake, and 
 the commissary has them on hand almost constantly at very low prices. 
 
 In the summer of 1868 a hospital garden was planted near the creek, and some early vegeta- 
 bles, such as beans, squashes, and cucumbers, were produced, but as the ground had to be watered 
 by hand, and the grasshoppers destroyed all the plants in August, the result hardly paid for the 
 labor expended, and no subsequent attempt has been made. Some few vegetables are raised in 
 hotbeds in the hospital inclosure. There was a large garden planted in 1869 at the quartermaster's 
 depot by the depot commissary, but from some cause probably insufficient irrigation it did not 
 produce much. A number of cows are kept at the garrison. The hospital has one, and also pigs 
 arid poultry. The post commissary has a large variety of subsistence stores, including, as before 
 mentioned, generally fresh vegetables. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained once a year from the purveyor at St. Louis, Missouri. 
 
 A daily mail is received at the post, it taking about four days for a letter to reach Washington. 
 
 Excepting the town of Cheyenne, three miles distant, which has a population probably of 
 about 2,000 persons, the country around is almost uninhabited. There are but very few farms or 
 ranches in the vicinity. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is very good. There are no preventable causes now 
 operating to produce disease, as far as can be discovered. In summer, from July to September, the 
 prevailing disease is acute diarrhosa, excited probably by the great difference in temperature be- 
 tween the day and night. Errors in diet cannot easily operate as a cause, as fresh fruits are not 
 easily obtained. In cold weather, from December to March, the prevailing diseases are, in order of 
 frequency, acute bronchitis, tonsillitis, acute rheumatism, and inflammation of the lungs. These 
 diseases arise from the impression of cold acting in many cases upon constitutions somewhat en- 
 feebled by excess, fatigue, or exposure. Soldiers lead such irregular lives from the nature of their 
 duty, going on guard, escorting trains, &c., and many are so incorrigibly negligent in protecting 
 themselves, that these affections will occur in spite of precautionary measures. It is believed that 
 one source is the habit of many men of secretly visiting the town of Cheyenne, between tattoo and 
 reveille. In the winter of 1867 and 1868, the command being then in tents and huts, inflammation 
 of the lungs was common, but the cases have been few since the buildings were occupied. Cases 
 Of typhoid fever occur rarely, one each summer. Intermittent fever is not uncommon, but I have 
 been unable as yet to find a case in which there had not been previous attacks, when the patient 
 was residing in some distinctly malarious part of the country. It would seem, therefore, that the 
 disease does not originate here, but is excited or redeveloped by some cause, possibly the sudden 
 alternations of temperature. 
 
 During the past winter a soldiers' theater and an officers' theater have been kept up, and have 
 afforded much entertainment to the garrison. During the winter there was a billiard table for the 
 use of the men. Since the season has permitted, outdoor sports, particularly base-ball, are very 
 popular. 
 
FORT LA HA. MI E, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 345 
 
 Mtiti-nn-Ht xhoiciixj menu xlrcityth, number of side, and principal diseases at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 f 
 
 tH 
 
 0> 
 
 13 
 
 S 
 
 > 
 
 13 
 
 a 
 
 e8 . 
 
 E? 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 .i, 
 
 c =. 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 Years. 
 
 s -5 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 =2 
 
 f 1 
 
 - 
 
 a 
 
 
 j3 
 
 X' 
 
 ^ 
 
 A 
 
 li 
 
 i 
 
 EB 
 
 S 
 
 A -3 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 -2 5L 
 
 * 
 S 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 fi 
 
 1 
 
 '% 
 
 '2 
 *- 
 
 fi 
 
 r 
 
 CJ 
 
 G 
 
 1868 589.91 
 
 907 
 
 1 
 
 76 
 
 126 
 
 123 
 
 16 
 
 79 
 
 
 215 
 
 7 
 
 1869 . i 435.08 
 
 413 
 
 1 
 
 24 
 
 65 
 
 51 
 
 11 
 
 29 
 
 1 
 
 97 
 
 2 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis*, pueunionia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT LARAMIE, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SFRflKOX H. S. SCHELL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Laratuie is situated on the west bank of Laramie River, 1 mile above its junction with 
 the Platte. Latitude 42 12' 38" north, longitude 104 31' 26" west; elevation above the sea 4,519 
 feet. The reservation, as declared by the President, includes 54 square miles. 
 
 The geology of this part of the country pertains to the most recent tertiary period. For miles 
 along the North Platte, Laramie, and its tributaries, there extend vertical bluffs of gray indurated 
 arenaceous clay, in which are intercalated, without apparent order, occasional horizontal strata of 
 a moderately hard and fine gray sandstone. The vertical thickness of this bed is at some points 
 200 feet. About a mile and a half west of the post is a bed of red qnartzite conglomerate, super, 
 imposed on the clay, striking due north and south, becoming prominent when it crosses the Lara- 
 mie and Chngwater, by forming high, bold, and massive bluffs, having a thickness at these points 
 of 50 to 100 feet. North of the Platte the same formation makes its appearance in a range of low 
 hills, which are the most prominent objects in the immediate vicinity of the garrison. At the junc- 
 tion of the Laramie and Platte Eivers are a series of rounded hills, made up entirely of the debris 
 from the bed of conglomerate. Twelve miles due west from the fort a bed of limestone makes its 
 appearance at the warm and cold springs. It is about ten feet in thickness and associated with 
 red arenaceous rocks, all of which are probably carboniferous. The same red beds form high 
 bluffs at what is known as the Warm Spring Canon of the North Platte, 20 miles above the post, 
 and attain a thickness of not less than 500 feet. Between this point and the Black Hills the 
 Jurassic beds prevail, possessing lithological characters which are very well marked, having 
 been identified by the same fossils which prevail in other localities. The thickness of the Jurassic 
 here is about 300 feet. Around the Black Hills is a bed of massive silicious rocks, containing among 
 other layers a pudding-stone, which forms occasionally projections of great boldness, and which 
 possess an appearance of having been intentionally constructed for purposes of defense or habita- 
 tion. The nucleus of the Black Hills themselves is formed of a coarse reddish, feldspathic granite, 
 which is much eroded ill-places, and gives to them at a little distance the peculiar sombre hue to 
 which they owe their name. The dense growth of pines and larches, which have found a foothold 
 in the interstices of these rocks, no doubt contributes also to this name. 
 
 The mean annual temperature is 50.6 F., having an extreme range of 123, rising in summer 
 to 102, and falling in winter to 21. The mean annual rain-fall is 19.98 inches. The climate is 
 healthy; autumn and winter mild; summer, dry and sultry ; spring, usually rainy ; high winds are 
 prevalent throughout the year. 
 
 The only aboriginal inhabitants residing at this time near the post are a few of the Ogallalla 
 
 and Brule Sioux. By the treaty which was concluded with the Indians in the spring of 1868, they 
 
 were to have reserved for them a large tract of land bordering on the Upper Missouri, and nearly 
 
 all have removed to their reservation or confine themselves to their hunting grounds north of the 
 
 44 
 
346 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 North Platte, only couiiDg to the post occasionally to beg or trade. The individuals who still 
 remain, however, belong to a large tribe which call themselves Lakotas, or, in the northern lands, 
 Dakotas. The sign by which they designate themselves is that of the cut-throat, viz., by drawing 
 the radial edge of the right hand across the throat. They occupy all the country from the North 
 Platte to the Red Buttes, and from the Yellowstone River to the Big Horn Mountains. The Brule 
 and Ogallalla Sioux are said to number from 12,000 to 16,000, bnt their strength is annually decreas- 
 ing from war and disease. Consumption and scrofula prevail among them, and many are carried 
 off by stricture of the urethra, which is supposed to be caused by the manner and extent of their 
 horseback riding. 
 
 As a people the Lakotas arc tall and muscular and well formed ; the average height of the 
 men about 5 feet 9 inches. Their skulls belong to the brachy-cephalic and orthognathons types, 
 and their most remarkable feature is their high cheek-bones. 
 
 Before the white man made a permanent habitation where Fort Laramie now stands, the whole 
 of the country on that part of the North Platte was a hunting ground and war-path for many 
 tribes of Indians. Countless herds of buffalo held the ground in fee-simple not even a red man 
 laid claim to it. In 1834 two men, named William Sublette and Robert Campbell, coming to this 
 part of the country to trap beaver, found themselves obliged to construct some sort of protection 
 against the roving bands of vagabond Crows and Pawnees, which occasionally swept along the 
 Platte, stealing where they could. Sublette and Campbell built in that year, upon the present site 
 of Fort Laramie; a square fort of pickets, 18 feet high, with little bastions at two diagonal corners 
 and a number of small houses inside for their employe's. In 1835 they sold out to Milton Sublette, 
 James Bridger, and three other trappers, who went into partnership with the American Fur Com- 
 pany, and continued the beaver-trapping business. In the same year the Fur Company sent two 
 men named Kiplin and Sabille to the Bear Butte and Northern Black Hills, to persuade the Sioux 
 Indians to come over and hunt their game and live in the vicinity of the fort, and their ernbassa- 
 dors succeeded so well that they returned with over one hundred lodges of Ogallalla Sioux, under 
 their chief, Bull Bear. This was the first appearance of the powerful Sioux nation in this part of 
 the country, which they speedily overrun, driving away Cheyennes, Pawnees, Crows, &c., from its 
 very borders. Of course the fort speedily became a trading post, where the Indians bartered a 
 buffalo robe for a knife, an awl, or a drink of fire-water. Anything the company had to trade was at 
 least of the value of one robe. An American horse brought fifty of them ; any pony was worth twenty 
 or thirty. Any old scrap of iron was of great value to the Indians, and would be by him speedily 
 converted into a knife. Fire-arms, he had none, and his arrow-heads were all made of pieces of 
 flint or massive quartz, fashioned into proper shape by laborious pecking with another stone. The 
 Sioux had then no horses, but herds of wild horses were abundant at the time of their arrival, and 
 it was not many years before they learned their use. 
 
 In 1836 the picket fort began to rot badly, and the American Fur Company rebuilt it of adobes 
 at an expense of $10,000. The people who lived inside of the fort at this time, named it "Fort 
 John," but the name could not be popularized. The fort being built on the Laramie River, not far 
 from Laramie Peak, the American Fur Company's clerks, in their city offices, had labeled it Fort 
 Laramie, and by that name it was destined to be called. It seems that Laramie was a trapper, 
 one of the first French voyageurs who ever trapped a beaver or shot a buffalo in the Rocky Mount- 
 ains. He was one day killed by a band of Arapahoes on the headwaters of the stream which has 
 ever since been called by his name. 
 
 The American Fur Company retained possession of the fort until 1849," when they sold it to the 
 United States Government for four or five thousand dollars. Bruce Husband was the last repre- 
 sentative of the company who had charge of Fort Laramie. 
 
 The first troops which arrived here came in July, 1849, under command of Major Sanderson, 
 of the mounted rifles. They were Companies C and D of that regiment ; Company G of the Sixth 
 United States Infantry arrived in August of the same year, under command of Captain Ketchum. 
 In the summer and fall of 1849 a large number of additions were made to the buildings of the post. 
 
 During the year 1850 an account was kept of all the trains, &c., crossing the Laramie River 
 below the fort on the route.to California and the West. One result was as follows : " About 
 40,000 animals of all descriptions." The book in which the account was kept was destroyed by fire 
 a year or two afterward. 
 
FORT LARAM1E, WYOMING TKUIMTORY. 347 
 
 On the 19th of August, 1854, a Mormon train was encamped about ten miles below the fort on 
 the Platte River. The Indians having killed a cow or ox belonging to the train, complaint was 
 made by the Mormons to the commanding officer, who sent Lieutenant Grattan, of the Sixth United 
 States Infantry, with thirty men of G company and two howitzers, to recover the cow and bring the 
 thieves to the garrison. They met a large number of Indians (Sioux) under a chief named Mat-to- 
 i-o-way, about eight miles from the fort, where a collision ensued, and Lieutenant Grattan's com- 
 mand, with the exception of one man, was annihilated. The survivor was hidden in the bushes by 
 a friendly Indian, and brought the same night to the fort, where he died two days afterward. The 
 bodies of the slain were buried in one grave where they fell, and a large pile of stones is all that 
 marks the spot. 
 
 A portion of the old adobe fort was standing until 1802, when it was entirely demolished and 
 the adobes used in the construction of the front portion of the magazine. 
 
 The barracks occupy the northeast and southeast sides of the square parade, and are six in 
 number, four sets of wood and two of adobe. The barrack on the northeast side contains quarters 
 for three companies. The entire length of the building is 287 feet, but a portion of each set of 
 quarters is occupied by a room for the first sergeants and a baggage-room, so that the net size of 
 each room assigned to a company is 81 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 11 feet high. These rooms are 
 ceiled with half-inch boards, but not plastered. The building is of framed timbers filled in with 
 adobes, plastered inside and weather-boarded outside. They are one story high, raised about two 
 feet above the ground, but without cellars. Each room contains twelve windows, six on a side. 
 The rooms were constructed when the companies were filled to the maximum ; they contain 26,730 
 cubic feet of air space each. 
 
 Of the two barracks on the southeast side of the parade the first contains quarters for two com- 
 panies ; the second for one company. These buildings are constructed in every respect like the 
 foregoing, except that the net size of the rooms in the first is 103 by 29 feet, having an air 
 space of 46,298 cubic feet, and that of the other building 96 by 20 feet, with an air space of 26,880 
 cubic feet. The barracks are all in good repair, heated by means of stoves, well lighted and ven- 
 tilated. The cracks in the floors are wide, and in winter the air which comes up through them 
 makes the rooms not a little uncomfortable. The barracks are all furnished with two tiers of mov- 
 able bunks, constructed of rough white pine lumber, two men occupying each bunk when the com- 
 panies are at the maximum. A few of the men have buffalo robes. The most of them are fain 
 to protect themselves against the rigor of the winter by eking out their scanty covering with their 
 overcoats. They nearly all complain of sleeping cold. Each set of barracks is provided with a 
 sink. These sinks are wells, with rough board houses built over them. They are kept in tolerably 
 good order, and lime is thrown into them once a week. In the rear of each set of quarters is a com- 
 modious kitchen and mess-room ; there are but two in rear of the barracks first described ; one is 
 divided into two portions ; the east end is used as kitchen and mess-room by the company occupy- 
 ing the quarters on the west end of the barracks, and the other is divided between the other two 
 companies. Kitchens for the other sets of quarters are similarly arranged, and all are provided 
 with cooking-stoves, tables, and benches. Most of the companies are in possession of good mess 
 furniture, consisting of delf plates, bowls, and knives and forks. 
 
 There are seventeen sets of quarters for laundresses or married soldiers, viz., twelve sets con- 
 tained in four frame buildings, and five sets contained in four adobe buildings. 
 
 Officers' quarters occupy the northwest and southwest sides of the parade. The captains' quar- 
 ters are in a one-story frame and adobe building, 65 feet 6 inches by 16 feet 6 inches, with frame 
 kitchens, 25 by 18 feet. This building is serviceable, but old and rickety. Three sets of quarters are 
 adobe huts of two rooms each, with porches in front and a shed in the rear. The huts are 34 feet 
 front and 18 feet deep. In a line with the last mentioned is a two-story frame building, erected in 
 1.S49. It has a two-story porch, front and rear, and contains four sets of captains' quarters. The 
 building has two wings, which contain the kitchens, 26 by 16 feet. An adobe lint, 70 feet front by 
 19 feet deep, with two kitchens, 15 by 15 feet each, is divided into four rooms, and has a porch in 
 front. 
 
 In addition to the officers' quarters, described as forming two sides of the parade, there is 
 near the bank of the river, and convenient to the quartermaster and commissary store-houses, a 
 low frame building, the frame filled in with adobes, having a porch along the front, which is 130 
 
348 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 feet long ; the house is 26 feet 6 inches deep, and contains fourteen rooms, which are occupied as 
 officers' quarters. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters consist of a building, 46 feet front by 36 feet deep ; porch 9 
 feet wide on three sides ; a wing, 14 by 32 feet, containing the kitchen. The house is new, and con- 
 tains four rooms. 
 
 The commissary and quartermaster's store houses are five in number, all wooden buildings, 
 rough boards and battened, excepting the clothing-room, which is frame, and in good condition. 
 Two commissary buildings are each 120 by 30 feet, and 9 feet to eaves. A similar structure is occu- 
 pied by the quartermaster as an office aud issuing store-house. The grain-house is 50 by 100 by 20 
 feet, and has a capacity of 100,000 cubic feet. In addition to the above an old frame building,, which 
 was formerly used as barracks, is now converted into a store-room for the use of the quartermaster. 
 The ice-houses for the post, two in number, will hold, together, 386 tons of ice. The carpenter's 
 shop, wheelwright shop, blacksmith's shop, saddler's shop, paint shop, coal house, &c., are located 
 at the extreme northeast portion of the post, are new, and admirably constructed for the purposes 
 for which they were intended, and are kept in good order. 
 
 The guard-house is situated in rear of the barracks on the southeast side of the garrison, and 
 near the bank of the river. It is constructed of stone, 20 by 36 feet, one story high in front, 
 and two stories in rear. The upper story contains two rooms, one for the guard and the other for 
 the officer of the guard. They are plastered and ceiled, and contain in all six windows. The larger 
 room contains a rough board bed, where all the members of the guard who are off duty may lie 
 down, a couple of chairs, and a desk. The basement room is of rough stones, whitewashed, has 
 one door and a window toward the river, and on the opposite side, at the top, two small windows 
 for ventilation. Two cells are partitioned off on the south side for refractory prisoners. The pris- 
 oners are kept in the basement room, which contains no furniture. This room is neither warmed 
 nor lighted. The situation of the guard- house is badly selected. 
 
 The hospital is a one-story building, constructed partly of adobes and partly of wood. A por- 
 tion of this building was erected in 1856, of adobes, and is still occupied as wards, if occasion 
 requires. It consists of two rooms, each 20 feet square, separated by a hall and dispensary, which 
 communicate with each ; the large rooms have an air space of 4,200 feet, and contain eight bods. 
 They are warmed by open fireplaces, and are not ceiled, the roof being of heavy logs, with a cover- 
 ing of shingles ; their walls are 20 inches thick. The rooms are well lighted by windows, which also, 
 in connection with the fireplaces, afford ample ventilation. The dispensary is 13 by 12 feet in size, 
 and is well furnished. 
 
 In 1858 a considerable addition was made to the building just described by the erection of a 
 long wing, placed at right angles to the hospital, and with it forming two sides of a square. This 
 portion of the hospital is constructed of frame-work filled in with adobes, and comprises the stew- 
 ard's room, dining-room, kitchen, store-room, and the laundry ; the cellar is to the rear of this build- 
 ing ; excavated five feet below the surface, and covered with a gable roof of shingles. 
 
 During the winter of 1866-'G7, the hospital had been so full that it was found necessary to have 
 three hospital tents pitched all winter, in addition to the hospital accommodations. A number of 
 soldiers were affected with scurvy, as were also many of the quartern) aster's employe's. The winter 
 was unusually severe aud stormy, and the tents, although pitched on frames in the most secure 
 manner, were repeatedly blown down, and by the time spring came were torn into ribbons. Ac- 
 cordingly, in the summer of 1867, the last addition to the hospital was made, comprising a large 
 ward, a bath-room, water-closet, and a hall, the latter 10 feet wide and 25 feet long, separating the 
 ward from the rest of the building and affording easy access to either the front or back porch, or 
 to the dining-room, under cover. The ward is 25 by 55 feet, and contains an air space of 13,750 
 cubic feet ; it has five windows on each side and a door opening into a hall at either end ; it con- 
 tains twenty beds ; the ceiling is lathed and plastered ; two ventilators, each 18 inches square, run 
 from the ceiling through the roof; this ward is heated by two stoves. At the further end of the 
 ward are the bath-room and the ward-master's room, separated by a hall ; the first is 10 by 10 feet, 
 furnished with a bath-tub and a tin-lined trough, with a shelf which accommodates four wash-basins. 
 The corral incloses about 2 acres of ground with an adobe wall 10 feet high and 2 feet thick ; it has 
 also strong bastions at two diagonal corners, arid would serve as a stronghold in case of an attack 
 by Indians. 
 
FOKT LAKAMIE, WYOMING TKKK1TOKY. 349 
 
 There is a post library in the adjutant's office containing about 300 old, nearly worn-out books; 
 a number of papers and periodicals are subscribed for from the post fund and kept in the library 
 room, to which the enlisted men have access. The hospital library also comprises about 300 vol- 
 umes, a majority of which are religious works. 
 
 The water supply at this post is ample. The Laramie liiver, which bounds one side of thegar- 
 risou, is a constantly running stream of an average width of thirty feet and depth of two feet. Its 
 gravelly bed is always plainly visible through the clear water except iu the time of the spring 
 freshets. The water used for culinary and household purposes in the garrison is chiefly obtained 
 from the Laramie Biver above the post, and is hauled around in a large tank on wheels and dis- 
 pensed as necessity may require. Good water maybe obtained anywhere in the valley of the Lara- 
 mie by digging eight or ten feet, but all the old wells seem to have fallen into disuse, except one 
 in the post garden, which furnishes very cold clear water iu the summer time. There is also a 
 spring iu the bank of the river in the rear of the telegraph office, which furnishes good water. 
 
 It is probable that water might be brought directly into the post by means of an acequia a mile 
 and a half long, and the question of its practicability, &c., has been frequently agitated, but as yet 
 no steps have been taken for putting it into execution. 
 
 In an imperfect analysis made of the river water collected above the post, it was observed that 
 there was no reaction before boiling, but a marked alkaline reaction after boiling. There was but 
 a trace of organ ic matter ; chlorine, about three grains to the gallon ; phosphoric acid, a trace ; nitric 
 acid, a trace ; nitrous acid in perceptible quantity ; ammonia, none ; iron, none. Twenty -four fluid 
 ounces of water deposited only a lew grains of sediment, which, upon microscopic examination, proved 
 to be composed of grains of sand and particles of clay and decaying vegetable matter, together with 
 eleven species of infusoria, and some confervoid vegetation. 
 
 In an examination of the spring water there was no reaction before boiling, but a slight alka- 
 line reaction afterward, and also a trace of organic matter. It contained from six to eight grains 
 of chlorine to the gallon ; a trace of phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and less nitrous acid than the river 
 Avater; no ammonia nor iron. There was scarcely more than a grain of sediment in twenty-four 
 fluid ounces of the water, and a microscopical examination showed it to be composed of particles of 
 sand, clay, decaying vegetable matter, confervoid vegetation, and five species of infusoria. 
 
 There is also a spring in the ravine behind the adjutant's office, which furnishes a perfectly 
 clear, sweet water. This spring runs about two gallons per minute; the first spring described runs 
 about ten gallons per minute. 
 
 The means of extinguishing fire throughout the garrison consist in an ample supply of water 
 barrels which are kept standing constantly filled at all the buildings. About four hundred gallons 
 of water are kept on hand at the hospital and fire-buckets hung in every room. Many of the build- 
 ings are also provided with fire-ladders as well as buckets. 
 
 The post is drained naturally. It stands on an elevated bench, containing about ten acres, the 
 sides of which slope in all directions, except toward the bluff's back of the hospital, where the soil 
 is gravelly and moisture sinks out of sight immediately. There is no artificial drainage at the 
 post. All refuse, slops, &c., are collected daily and thrown into the river below the post. 
 
 The men bathe freely and constantly, iu pleasant weather when off duty, in the stream above 
 the post. There are many places in the river where the water is ten to twelve feet deep, affording 
 opportunities for swimming. No bath-houses have as yet been erected, principally because their 
 need has not been felt. 
 
 The post cemetery is located about half a mile from the post. There is a post garden, contain- 
 ing about three acres, which is cultivated by enlisted men under the direction of the post chaplain. 
 There is no hospital garden, the post garden being large enough to supply the hospital and garri- 
 son with fresh vegetables. In August, 1868, a dense cloud of grasshoppers made their appearance 
 and settled down upon the post and adjacent country ; after nine days' visit they disappeared, having 
 eaten all the potato and carrot tops and much injured the corn and cabbage. September 16, of the 
 same year, a heavy frost killed all the vegetables in the garden. Peas, beans, cucumbers, corn, and 
 early cabbage thrive, but owing to the shortness of the season no late vegetables arrive at maturity. 
 Potatoes seem to run mostly to tops. 
 
 There are at the hospital constantly kept on hand two cows, about one hundred chickens, a 
 
350 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 number of pigeons, and hogs, so tli.it the sick are liberally supplied with inilk, eggs, poultry, &c. 
 Almost every officer and laundress in the garrison keeps a milch cow. 
 
 Rations are furnished by the subsistence department according to existing regulations, and 
 are sufficient and good. Fish and mutton cannot be procured here except at exorbitant prices. 
 Occasionally vegetables are brought to the post for sale by hucksters from the Cache la Poudre 
 River. The nearest quartermaster and subsistence depots are near Cheyenne, eighty-nine miles 
 distant. The route of supply is from Cheyenne, (on Union Pacific railroad,) by Government wagons, 
 throughout the year. Six months supply is usually kept on hand. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained upon requisition from the medical purveying depot at St. Louis, 
 Missouri, and are received and kept in good condition. There are two ambulances at the post 
 one in good order and the other unserviceable. 
 
 In the summer of 1849 the cholera was on the Plains, but came no nearer to the post than 
 Scott's Bluffs, 50 miles below, on the Platte River. The emigrants were the persons chiefly attacked 
 by it, and more particularly the men. Many trains passed through the post conducted only by 
 women and children, the men being dead. 
 
 In the winter of 1849 the scurvy was prevalent among the troops at the post. About one-fifth 
 of all the men were on crutches. Wild onions and water-cresses were issued in large quantities 
 by the commanding officer, Indians having been employed to gather them ; and in the following 
 spring many of the diseased soldiers were transferred to the general hospital at Leaven worth. 
 Kansas. 
 
 In May, 1859, the cholera made its appearance. Fifteen cases and three deaths are reported in 
 the hospital register for that year. 
 
 There are almost no cases of malarious disease at the post, and what few there are arise from 
 ordinary, now preventable, causes. The prevailing diseases at the post and vicinity are rheumatic 
 affections and venereal diseases, cases of the latter being quite numerous. Diarrhoea and dysentery 
 are rendered less frequent by attention to the diet of the company messes. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Laramie, Wyoming 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 18C9. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 
 OD 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 E 
 
 
 
 
 
 tf 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ,q 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 sg 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 fc 
 
 3 
 0> 
 b 
 
 5 
 
 II 
 
 = o= 
 
 a 
 
 9 
 > 
 
 Jj 
 
 o 
 
 ii 
 
 n 
 
 f 
 
 8 g 
 
 .2 
 
 '3 
 
 i 
 
 
 a 
 .2 
 
 '^ 
 
 C3 
 
 X 
 
 * 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 0) 
 
 -a 
 
 
 
 o 8 
 
 o 
 
 * 
 
 jz oo 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 c -^ 
 
 EM 
 
 
 S 
 
 -3 "a 
 
 a *> 
 
 
 
 P< 
 >> 
 H 
 
 A 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
 3 
 b 
 
 02 
 
 a 
 a> 
 
 J3 
 
 M 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 d 
 
 % 
 
 1868 
 
 460.33 
 
 507 
 
 3 
 
 16 
 
 179 
 
 25 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 25 
 
 3 
 
 124 
 
 8 
 
 1869 
 
 38658 
 
 227 
 
 
 18 ' 
 
 64 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 29 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, piieumouia, aiid pleurisy. 
 
 FORT FETTERMAN,' WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEONS C. MACKIN AND F. LE BARON MONROE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Fetterman is situated on a plateau on the south bank of the Xorth Platte River, about 
 COO feet from, and 130 feet above, the stream. Latitude 42 8' 3" north, longitude 105 7' 4" west; 
 elevation above the Gulf of Mexico about 8,500 feet. The plateau rises from the river bottom by 
 steep, almost precipitous blufis, and then, rising gradually, merges into the Black Hills, fourteen 
 miles distant. 
 
 The nearest post, and the one through which all communication with the East passes, is Fort 
 Laramie, 80 miles to the southeast. 
 
 The lowest geological formation noted near the post is one of the later portions of the carbon- 
 iferous period, containing a soft, jet black coal. Immediately above this is a very hard silicious 
 sandstone of a gray color, stained here and there with iron. This has been extensively quarried 
 
FOET FETTEEMAN, WYOMING TEREITOEY. 351 
 
 and used for building purposes at the post. No fossils have been found iu it, and it is considered 
 as a inetamorphic rock of the earlier portion of the tertiary period. The cretaceous system is 
 entirely wanting (so far as known) within 60 miles of the post, a limestone bed being found at that 
 distance on the road to Fort Laramie. 
 
 This post was established in July, 1867, and in the following month the Indians in the vicinity 
 were actively hostile. It received its name in honor of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. J. Fetterinan, 
 captain Twenty-seventh Infantry, who was killed in the Indian massacre near Fort Phil Kearney, 
 December 21. 1866. 
 
 The average temperature for the year 1869 was 43.25 P., the extremes being 111 and 20 F. 
 High winds are prevalent ; hail-storms are frequent ; and much snow falls during the winter. 
 Game is tolerably abundant in the vicinity. Buffalo are not found within 30 miles, though in 
 former times this spot was in the midst of their range. The most important animals and birds are 
 the following : Common and black-tailed deer, antelope, Eocky Mountain sheep, black and grizzly 
 bears, beaver, otter, wolves, lynx, wild cat, and cougar; prairie chicken, sage hen, mountain grouse, 
 ruffled grouse, plover, snipe, curlew, wild geese, and ducks. 
 
 The barracks and officers' quarters are on the sides of a rectangular parade, a high plank fence 
 inclosing the whole. The hospital, laundresses' quarters, and store-houses are outside the inclosure. 
 The post furnishes accommodations for three companies of infantry. The company quarters are 
 adobe buildings, each 100 by 25 feet, and 14 feet high, lighted and ventilated by ten windows and 
 two doors, and heated by wood-burning stoves. They are fitted up with double bunks in two tiers, 
 and were intended for two companies, which would have allowed about 210 cubic feet air space per 
 man. A kitchen and dining-room and a small wash-room are connected with each barrack. There 
 are six sets of married soldiers' quarters contained in an adobe building, 94 by 28 feet, and 10 feet 
 high. The officers' quarters consist of a double set built of logs, of three rooms on first floor of 
 each, besides a kitchen. Above, in the most easterly set, is a rough division of the attic into two 
 rooms. There has been heretofore no finish of any account on the inside of the building, but now 
 it is being plastered and made fit for habitation. 
 
 A large adobe building is used as quarters by unmarried officers ; it is 60 by 36 feet, and 12 
 feet high to the eaves, and is divided into six rooms, the attic being unfinished. A plank build- 
 ing lined with adobe, 36 by 44 feet, and 10 feet to the eaves, is used as lieutenants' quarters ; the 
 rooms, three in each set, are nicely plastered and finished. A block of buildings, 116 by 30 feet, built 
 of plank, lined with adobe, contains one set of major's and two sets of captains' quarters. A small 
 log building, 26 by 20 feet, and 10 feet high, is occupied temporarily as officers' quarters. 
 
 The commissary store-house, 100 by 136 feet, and 16 feet high, is built of plank lined with 
 adobe ; a tine root cellar underlies the building. The quartermaster's store-house is of adobe, two 
 stories high, 125 by 36 feet. 
 
 The guard-house is a log building, 50 by 20 feet, one story high, and divided internally into three 
 apartments. The first room, 14 by 18 feet and 13 feet high, is used for an office for the commandant 
 of the post. The guard-room measures 18 by 17 by 13 feet, and contains two windows and two 
 doors, one of the latter opening into the apartment designed for prisoners. The latter room is 
 divided by partitions into a prison, 17 by 7 by 7 feet, and four cells, each 4 by 6 feet 9 inches, and 7 
 feet 5 inches high, with doors opening from each into a hall, 17 by 3 feet, in the center. The rooms 
 are comfortably warmed by means of coal stoves. No special arrangement is provided for venti- 
 lation, excepting the windows iu the main rooms. In the prison-room and cells prisoners have 
 knocked out the plaster between the logs, so that the result is attained. 
 
 The average number of occupants in the guard-house for three months was 13 ; the maxi- 
 mum number, 17. 
 
 The hospital is a poorly constructed log building, 92 by 20 feet, with L extensions, the northern 
 being 18 by 13 feet; the southern, 36 by 16 feet. It is 9 feet high to the eaves. The building 
 was a second-hand affair, having been formerly in use at Fort Caspar, now abandoned, and brought 
 to this post in the fall of 1867. Until recently it has remained in its original condition, a mere shell, 
 with no internal lining of any kind, or ceiling, and no flooring at all in some of the rooms. Owing 
 to the wretched condition of the roof both light and snow were freely admitted, while the ventila- 
 tion was more than could be desired. During the present summer steps have been taken for the 
 
352 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 completion of the building, by ceiling and flooring the apartments and placing it in a proper con- 
 dition for the reception of the sick. 
 
 The ward, 20 by 40 feet, contains fifteen beds, with a cubic air space of 640 feet to each. There 
 is no lavatory or bath-room, nor convenient latrine ; the only structure of the latter kind is a board 
 arrangement situated about 150 feet east of the building. 
 
 There is a post bakery at Fort Fetterman, the oven of which is composed of an iron arch, sur- 
 rounded and based with adobe and sandstone. 
 
 The only stables at the post are small buildings located in the yards of the officers' quarters 
 for private horses. There are sheds around the inside of the corral for the shelter of the pub- 
 lic animals. 
 
 The post library numbers about 250 volumes, and is kept in a room assigned for the purpose. 
 The books are as good a selection as could be expected in so small a collection. 
 
 The water used for domestic purposes at this post is derived from the North Platte River, and, 
 like all other waters in this section, is impure and, to a considerable extent, alkaline. No arrange- 
 ments have as yet been made for the collection of rain water, or melting snow from the roofs of 
 the buildings thus far erected. Two imperfect analyses of the water supplied have been made, 
 one in August when the river was high, and one in December when it was frozen. Specific gravity 
 on first occasion 1004; on the second, 1002. After immersion red litmus shows a bluish tint; 
 lime tests show a very small quantity of that mineral ; but since the examinations were so imper- 
 fectly conducted, little credence can be placed in them. There is no doubt but that large amounts of 
 the sulphates are dissolved. Tests for magnesia exhibit quite a quantity of that substance 
 in the water, though the combination is undetermined. Iron is exhibited in large amount. Sul- 
 phur is shown to be present not only by tests, but also by taste and odor. The organic impurities 
 are not of much amount ; sulphate of soda, which is a very constant impurity in the waters of this 
 section, exists to an infinitesimal amount in the waters of the Platte. Of course its flavor to one 
 unaccustomed to it is disagreeable, yet the general good health of the garrison, and its exemption 
 from certain well-known diseases, prove that the water at this post is as good as could be desired 
 considering the generally bad quality of the water on the Platte. 
 
 The drainage is natural and very good; de"bris is taken from all parts of the post by a police 
 wagon every morning and buried. 
 
 The post garden is about 4 acres in extent, and cultivated by enlisted men who are paid from 
 the post fund. The yield of early vegetables, such as radishes, peas, lettuce, and onions, is abundant 
 for the use of the garrison only. There is no hospital garden. A considerable variety of vege- 
 tables, canned fruit, butter, cheese, &c., are obtained from the post commissary, the nearest supply 
 depots being at Camp Carling, near Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, about 130 miles distant. As 
 nearly every family has a cow, chickens, and pigs, the supply of eggs and milk is ample. 
 
 The barracks and quarters are well furnished. The quartermaster's department supplies more 
 articles of furniture than is usual at posts, as the nearest market is ICO miles distant. Fort Lar- 
 amie is reached by means of wagon trains, which are liable to interruption from snow and Indians. 
 The mails are received and sent once a week ; the escort from Fort Fettermau meeting the Laramie 
 party and exchanging mail-bags. It requires six days for a letter to reach department headquarters. 
 From January to June of the present year, mails were received only twice a month. There are 
 no inhabitants in the immediate vicinity of the post. The Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Crow 
 Indians occupy the country to the north. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good ; in fact, since the establishment of the post 
 there has been no death from disease. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past six months have been of the throat and the eye. In 
 many cases there is a constitutional predisposition, and doubtless a favoring cause in the dryness 
 of the air, the frequency of winds, and abundance of dust. Malarial, pulmonary, rheumatic, and 
 bowel affections are not prevalent, though an occasional sporadic case of each occurs. 
 
 The general duties of the garrison have been guard duty, escort duty for the mails, cutting 
 and hauling logs to the post, making adobe bricks, ferrying Indians across the Platte, and military 
 drill. The guard posts number from five to seven. The amusements of the soldiers consist of 
 ball playing, hunting, and general gymnastic exercises. A dramatic society has recently been 
 organized. 
 
FORT SAXDERS, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 353 
 
 Statement xlunr ing mean strenytii, number of sick, and principal diseases <tt Fort Fvtterman, Wyoming 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Epidemic catarrh. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 | 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 rt 
 3 
 
 IM 
 
 O 
 
 1 
 
 1868 ... . 
 
 295. 66 
 
 663 
 
 38 
 
 177 
 
 29 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 65 
 
 1 
 
 89 
 
 2 
 
 1869 . . 
 
 214. 08 
 
 232 
 
 8 
 
 33 
 
 7 
 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 31 
 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT SANDERS, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON J. H. FRANTZ, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Sanders lies on the Union Pacific railroad, on Laramie Plains, one and three fourths 
 miles west of Big Laramie River, and about seventeen miles south from its junction with Little 
 Laramie, where the two form the Laramie River ; latitude 41 13' 4" north, longitude 105 30' 22" west ; 
 altitude above the sea, 7,161 feet. Five miles to the eastward extends the low, dark range known 
 as the Black Hills ; and about 30 miles to the west lie the Medicine Bow Mountains. Fort D. A. 
 Russell is 56 miles due east, and Fort Fred Steele, 128 miles northwest of the post. Laramie City, 
 situated about three miles north, is the nearest town. 
 
 The post was established in July, 1866, pursuant to orders from Major General Pope, com- 
 manding the department, and named Fort John Buford. The name was changed to Fort Sanders 
 in September, 1866, in honor of Brigadier General W. P. Sanders, United States volunteers, cap- 
 tain Second United States Cavalry. The original design of the post was for the protection of the 
 Denver and Salt Lake stage, and the Lodge Pole Creek emigrant route, from the incursions of In- 
 dians, as both of these routes passed near the site selected. The Union Pacific railroad was com- 
 pleted to this point late in the spring of 1868. The reservation contains an area of 81 square miles, 
 lacking about 145 acres on the east bank of the Laramie River, north of the fort, on which is the 
 incorporated town, City of Laramie. It contains good grazing ground, watered by two streams 
 flowing from springs, and by the Big Laramie River. The surface of the reservation is gently undu- 
 lating, a rolling prairie. The site of the post is slightly elevated above the surrounding plain, and 
 slopes in three directions, aifording good natural drainage. The soil, made up of sand and gravel, 
 is quite permeable, and evaporation from it is rapid, owing to its nature and to the winds which 
 prevail almost constantly. A substratum of soft sandstone, apparently ten or fifteen feet in 
 thickness, is found from three to five feet below the surface of the earth. Limestone abounds in 
 the immediate vicinity of the post, and sandstone, easily quarried, within six miles. The latter, 
 when first taken out, is soft and readily cut, but hardens on exposure, and is a very excellent 
 building stone. 
 
 The City of Laramie, exempt from military authority, but within the reservation, is a town of 
 about 1,000 inhabitants. Pine, quaking aspen, and cottonwood are the principal indigenous trees 
 of the vicinity. Few or none flourish within the limits of the reservation. Gooseberries are found 
 in the hills in the vicinity. 
 
 The most important wild animals found within a circuit of 25 miles are the prairie wolf or 
 coyote, swift fox, badger, grizzly bear, (very rare,) black bear, (rare,) striped gopher, prairie dog, 
 beaver, (very rare,) muskrat, prairie hare, sage hare, American elk, black-tailed deer, and prong- 
 horned antelope. 
 
 The principal birds are the sparrow hawk, burrowing owl, night hawk, American raven, sage 
 hen, killdeer, curlew, coot, wild goose, mallard, green-winged teal, shoveler or spoonbill, red head, 
 and American widgeon. 
 45 
 
354 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Suckers abound in the Big Laramie River and neighboring lakes ; brook trout are found in the 
 mountain streams. Spring Creek, which runs by the post, is a living stream whose source is in 
 several springs rising in a limestone region about three miles east-southeast of the post. A reser- 
 voir was constructed by damming the stream about three-quarters of a mile from the post, and the 
 water is brought in ditches through the rear yards of the officers' quarters, the parade ground in 
 front of the barracks and hospital, and into the post gardens. The water is hard, but palatable. 
 
 A circular artificial pond, about one hundred yards in diameter, ou which are boats for the use 
 of the garrison in summer, and ou which the men are allowed to skate in winter, is kept filled with 
 fresh water from the same reservoir. About eight miles southwest of the fort are four small 
 lakes or large ponds, on which, except when icebound, are quantities of aquatic wild fowl. 
 
 The climate is dry, but subject to high winds. The temperature is very variable, the mercury 
 in the thermometer frequently rising and falling 40 F. in the course of the three regular daily ob- 
 servations, occasionally varying over 50 F. in the same time. The following table exhibits the 
 mean temperature for the year ending June 30, 1870, the mean of each month, and the extremes of 
 each month, and the rain and snow (melted) fall of each mouth, for the same time : 
 
 Temperature, &c. 
 
 July. 
 
 Aug. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Jan. 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 April. 
 
 May. 
 
 June. 
 
 Mean monthly* 
 
 o 
 G6.97 
 
 o 
 C7.7C 
 
 o 
 53.88 
 
 o 
 40.28 
 
 o 
 3690 
 
 c 
 2214 
 
 o 
 2533 
 
 o 
 29 87 
 
 o 
 2603 
 
 o 
 41 28 
 
 
 
 51 96 
 
 o 
 5967 
 
 Extreme heat 
 
 95 
 
 97 
 
 82 
 
 80 
 
 73 
 
 63 
 
 55 
 
 49 
 
 60 
 
 68 
 
 74 
 
 87 
 
 Extreme cold 
 
 51 
 
 50 
 
 24 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 29 
 
 5 
 
 13 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 35 
 
 Rain-fall, (inchest) 
 
 Ins. 
 .27 
 
 Ins. 
 1.77 
 
 Ins. 
 .44 
 
 Ins. 
 .03 
 
 Ins. 
 
 Ins. 
 
 Ins. 
 
 Ins. 
 
 Ins. 
 
 Ins. 
 1.36 
 
 Ins. 
 
 .90 
 
 Inn. 
 .67 
 
 
 
 
 .21 
 
 .35 
 
 56 
 
 03 
 
 06 
 
 65 
 
 72 
 
 227 
 
 20 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Mean of year, 43.24. t Total, 5.44 inches. 5.26 inches melted. 
 
 The relative humidity, saturation being considered 100, for July, August, September, April, 
 May, and June, calculated by Glaisher's formula, was about Gl. The prevailing winds are from a 
 westerly direction. lu spring, rain and snow are generally accompanied with northerly and easterly, 
 winds; in summer, with southerly and easterly; in autumn and winter, with northerly and westerly. 
 The warm season is short. Spring, as experienced in the same latitude on the Atlantic coast, is 
 scarcely known. Snow is not infrequent in June, and snow and ice are generally seen early in 
 September. 
 
 The post was originally built for four companies, with a parade ground, 223 by 400 feet, two 
 barracks on the north and south sides respectively, officers' quarters ou the east, and store-houses 
 on the west. The post has been enlarged so as to accommodate six companies, and the store-houses 
 on the west side of the parade have been transformed into officers' quarters, while two new barracks 
 have been erected at right angles to those on the north side of the parade, and new officers' 
 quarters have been built on the north prolongation of the old line of officers' quarters. The barracks 
 are built of logs, the interstices filled with mortar, and are unceiled. The two new barracks are 
 well lighted, sufficiently ventilated, and the flooring is raised from the ground about twelve inches, 
 affording access of air underneath ; the others are badly lighted, and the flooring is raised an 
 insufficient distance above the earth. The six buildings contain each a dormitory for the accommo- 
 dation of one company, the kitchens and mess-rooms being separate from the barracks. Three of 
 them have verandas, 6 feet wide, in front. The dimensions of the dormitories average from 60 to 
 61 feet in length by 25 feet in width, and 9 feet high. One room, however, measures 87 feet by 
 25 feet 2 inches by 9 feet 6 inches. 
 
 Each building has two ventilators on the roof, and from six to eleven windows in the sides. The 
 air space per man is about 241.5 cubic feet. As the dormitories differ somewhat in size, this calcu- 
 lation is based upon the measurements of the majority of them. There are two large stoves in each . 
 Ordinary double wooden bunks, in one and two tiers, are used. Each company has a rude wash 
 room, being a room in which is a shallow trough about 12 feet long, inclined so as to carry oft the 
 water. There are no bath-rooms. 
 
 The privies are ordinary trenches, covered with frame buildings. The different kitchens and 
 
FORT SANDERS, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 355 
 
 A 
 
 mess-rooms are not symmetrical, so only their average areas are given. The former average about 
 21 by 15 feet. They are eacli furnished with a good large cooking stove, with complete fixtures, 
 and with closets and bins for storage of rations. The mess moms average 28 by 23 feet. The laun- 
 dresses' quarters are five in number, and consist of two rooms each. Four of these are frame struc- 
 tures, poorly constructed, and barely habitable. The other, occupied by the hospital matron, is 
 .placed in rear of the hospital, built of logs, and contain two rooms, which are sadly in need of 
 repairs. 
 
 There are seven buildings used as officers' quarter*. They are one story high, built substan- 
 tially of logs, with verandas in front and on the sides. Internally, some are lathed and plastered, 
 others lined with tarred sheathing-board and papered, and a few rooms in two of the houses 
 lined with plain lumber, painted or stained. Each building, comprising two sets of quarters, con- 
 sists of a main building, with an L in rear, the latter containing kitchen and dining room. Water 
 is brought from the reservoir through ditches which run through the rear yards of each set of quar- 
 ters. During cold weather water is hauled in water-carts. These quarters are furnished with the 
 ordinary trench water-closet, placed in rear. There are no bath-rooms. The quarters are heated 
 by stoves, in which wood is used as fuel. They are well lighted, 
 and may be well ventilated by means of the windows, at the op- 
 tion of the occupants. There are two quartermaster's store houses, 
 each 100 by 30 feet, and three commissary store-houses, each 30 
 by 30 feet, and 10 feet high. They are built of logs. The bake- 
 house and magazine, each 30 by 30 feet and 10 feet high, are built 
 of stone. Three ice-houses, a smith and wheelwright shop, a saw- 
 mill, and a block-house, constitute the buildings not above enu- 
 merated. 
 
 The guard-house, erected in 18C9, is a substantial stone 
 building, admirably adapted to its purpose. It is divided into 
 guard and prison-rooms ; dimensions of the former 16 by 23J feet ; 
 of the latter 23J by 24 feet ; height to ceiling 11| feet. In the 
 prison-room, are two cells, each measuring 4g by 6 feet, occupy- 
 ing adjacent corners. The building is warmed by wood-stoves. 
 The prison room, has four windows, each 1 foot 10 inches by 2 feet 
 4 inches, and a ventilator, 14 inches square, in the ceiling, extend- 
 ing through the roof, thus affording ample light and ventilation. 
 In the guard-room are three windows, each 2 feet 4 inches by 3 
 feet 8 inches, and a ventilator, 40 inches square. The average 
 occupancy of the guard-house is 16. 
 
 The hospital building is constructed of logs, one story high, 
 for the plan of which see Figure 44. 
 
 A, ward, 22 by 52 feet; A, small ward, 13 by 22J feet; D, 
 dispensary, 14 by 15f feet; E, steward's room, 6i by 14 feet; K, 
 kitchen, 13 by 22J feet; S, store-room, 131 by 22 feet. The 
 height of the rooms is 9 feet 9 inches. A veranda, 6 feet wide, 
 extends the length of the building on the south side. The rooms 
 are lathed, plastered, and ceiled, and the whole building is in tol- 
 erable repair. 
 
 That portion of the figure marked 
 
 K 
 
 r 
 
 A 
 
 D 
 
 N , 
 
 N.K 
 
 Figure 44. Scale, 30 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 B represents the ground plan of a two-story log building, 
 35 by 36 feet, outside measurement, each story 10 feet in height, with a one-story building (N K) 
 attached, the latter measuring 13 by 23 feet, and intended for kitchen purposes. 
 
 These buildings were commenced and more than half finished, when work was suspended 
 because of the inadequacy of the garrison to the work which had to be done, and, owing to the same 
 cause, work has not since beeu resumed upon them. The wards are warmed by wood-stoves, and 
 are each supplied with ample ventilation and natural light. The larger ward has three ventilators 
 in the ceiling; one l.J by 2|> feet, and two 19 by 20 inches. In the small ward there is but one ven- 
 tilator, which measures 1 by 2| feet. Air passes to the attic, thence through two ridge ventila- 
 
356 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 tors, in dimensions 2 feet square. All the windows in the building are 2 feet 4 inches by 3 feet 8 
 inches in size. The wards have a capacity for four and twelve beds respectively, giving, in the 
 larger, 950 cubic feet, and in the smaller, 747 cubic feet, per bed. There is no lavatory or bath- 
 room. Bath-tubs are used in the wards. The sink is about 120 feet in rear of the hospital. If the 
 new buildings were properly finished, the hospital would be amply adequate to accommodate the 
 sick and wounded of the garrison under ordinary circumstances. 
 
 The post bakery is a building, 30 by 28 feet, with a patent oven attached, in which may be 
 baked 350 loaves at one time. There is no post library. 
 
 The cavalry stable is of logs, 230 by 32 feet, and 12 feet high. The corral is 200 feet square. 
 
 The water used at the post is pleasant to the taste, colorless, and free from smell. The perme- 
 ability of the soil and the infrequency of rain render the surface drainage all-sufficient. Slops, &c., 
 are hauled away from the post daily. 
 
 There are no regular arrangements for bathing. The stream affords facilities during warm 
 weather. 
 
 The post garden, under charge of the adjutant, furnishes vegetables to the staff officers and 
 hospital. Companies are furnished from their respective company gardens. About 25 acres of 
 ground are under cultivation this season. The officers in charge of the gardens report the follow- 
 ing kinds and amounts of products raised last season, viz : Potatoes, 810 bushels ; beets and tur- 
 nips, 300 bushels , cabbage, 1,200 heads; and peas, beans, luttuce, and radishes in sufficient quan- 
 tity to keep those for whom they were designed amply supplied during their respective seasons. 
 
 There being a railroad station at the post, daily mails are received and sent regularly, requir- 
 ing about thirty hours for a letter to reach department headquarters. The inhabitants are nearly 
 all in the city of Laramie. There are a few ranch men outside of the town, who engage in stock- 
 raising and agriculture. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good. The prevailing diseases during the past 
 year have been constipation, catarrh, tonsillitis, and chronic rheumatism, their relative frequency 
 being in the order of their enumeration. As a class, affections of the more external organs of the 
 respiratory system are most common. The high winds, to which the command is subjected, carry 
 with them quantities of tine particles of dust with which more or less alkali is intermingled, and by 
 their inhalation cause irritation of the air passages. The sudden changes produced in the tempera- 
 tare at the post, caused by winds as they sweep down from the ever snow-covered summits of the 
 Snowy Kange on the west, undoubtedly assist in producing this class of diseases; and it is 
 only because the pores of the cutaneous surface are constriuged by the dryness of the atmosphere 
 and consequent rapid evaporation that the more deeply-seated respiratory organs are not more fre- 
 quently affected. Of pneumonia or pleurisy there has not been a case during the year. In phthisis 
 there have been but few opportunities for observation. It is believed, however, that the irritating 
 properties of the winds and the sudden changes in temperature would prove deleterious, especially 
 in the latter stages of the disease. Chronic rheumatism occupies a prominent place among the 
 diseases of the country, and the neuroses, especially among people who lead sedentary lives, and 
 uterine diseases among females, are by no means uncommon. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Sunders, Wyoming 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T3 
 
 
 | 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 JS 
 
 -S . 
 
 ! 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 gj 
 
 > 
 
 1 
 
 IJ 
 
 
 Is 
 
 |. 
 
 
 = 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 I 
 
 K 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 3 
 'o 
 
 <X 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 ij 
 
 '-^ 
 
 o 
 
 'a 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 - 
 '3 
 
 EC 
 
 
 2 '3 
 
 c3 
 O 
 
 -d 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 * 
 
 ,4 
 
 P. 
 
 t> 
 H 
 
 "3 
 3 
 
 s -^ 
 
 3 
 
 
 1 
 
 "S 
 'S< 
 
 s 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 
 M 
 
 ^ 
 +^ 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 1863 
 
 3805 
 
 734 
 
 
 163 
 
 135 
 
 57 
 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 46 
 
 1 
 
 96 
 
 7 
 
 1869 
 
 198 
 
 239 
 
 g 
 
 12 
 
 37 
 
 12 
 
 i 
 
 7 
 
 
 32 
 
 
 31 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy 
 
FOET FEED STEELE, WYOMING TEEEITOEY. 357 
 
 FORT FRED STEELE, WYOMING TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. K. CORSON AND ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON H. A. CHKIST1AX, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Fred Steele is situated ou the west bauk of the North Fork of the Platte Kiver, at the 
 point of crossing of the Union Pacific railroad; latitude 41 48' north, longitude 107 09' west from 
 Greenwich ; elevation above the sea about 0,700 feet. The reservation, as declared by th'e Presi- 
 dent, includes 36 square miles. The blufl' on which the post is placed is about thirty-five feet high, 
 composed of ten feet of loose gravelly alluvium lying on a bed of soft clay slate. Immediately 
 below the railroad crossing, the river makes an abrupt angle to the west, running along the base 
 of the high, bare, bluffs called Eattlesnake Hills. To the south and east are ranges of low sand- 
 hills, above which can be seen Elk Mountain and the Medicine Bow Eange. St. Mary's, the nearest 
 town or settlement, is about twelve miles distant. There are coal mines at Carbon, forty-one 
 miles distant, and there appear to be numerous beds of coal of varying quality at points more 
 accessible to the post. Near Eawlings's Springs, twenty miles west of this place, coal of good 
 quality is said to exist in large amount. The rocks forming the bluffs directly opposite the post, 
 beyond the Platte, are sandstone of an excellent quality for building purposes, and easily quar- 
 ried. At some points they appear to be a silicious sand-rock, the seams stained with iron. Moss 
 and wood agates, carueliaus, and jasper are quite plenty in the vicinity. Numerous specimens of 
 fossiliferous rocks, containing numbers of marine shells, have been found in the railroad cuts, 6,000 
 feet above sea-level ; large masses of conglomerated oyster shells have been also discovered in 
 similar localities. 
 
 The soil, being alkaline, is unproductive without irrigation, except in some sheltered bottoms 
 along the river, where grass of a tolerably good kind is found, and from which the forage neces- 
 sary for the animals at the post is sometimes obtained. A garden has been attempted, but the 
 result seems to warrant the statement that the season is too short generally for garden vegetables. 
 Timber, other than cottonwood, is very scarce nearer than Elk Mountain, twenty-five miles east, 
 where pine is found in abundance. Some pine and fir exist to a small extent on the bottoms. The 
 fuel furnished this post is cottonwood, more or less decayed. 
 
 The gray wolf and the coyote abound, the latter coming close to the camp at night in search 
 of offal. Game is abundant ; immense herds of antelope and elk can be found within a few miles 
 of the fort, and black-tailed deer and mountain sheep are also plentiful. Of the smaller game 
 are found the jack rabbit and sage hen, the latter assimilating to the grouse, and living on the wild 
 sage. Very few fish are found in the North Fork. 
 
 The climate is exceedingly dry, rain during the fall and winter being almost unknown, and 
 snow very light. The hottest day was August 3, 1869, when the thermometer indicated 96 ; the 
 coldest day was December 21, 1869 mercury standing 20 below zero. The days are generally 
 uiild and bracing; the nights, from midnight until daylight, intensely cold. The river, which is 
 exceedingly rapid, has been in winter frozen in places almost to solidity. 
 
 The post was established in June, 1868, and was ordered to be built of such material as the region 
 afforded. Stone was at first selected, but subsequent orders having been issued to use timber, 
 parties were sent to Elk Mountain, before referred to, where large numbers of pine logs were cut, 
 and drawn to the post. Two steam saw-mills were set up near the river, about half a mile from 
 the post, and the logs prepared for building. The barracks, five in number, were commenced 
 almost simultaneously, and occupied by the men before December 1, 1868. They were built on 
 stone foundations, without cellars, of pine logs, squared on three sides, and set in substantial frames, 
 the interstices filled with mortar. Each company barrack is 80 feet long by 35 feet wide, with a 
 piazza, 10 feet in width, which extends along the entire front, with the exception of the space 
 taken up at each end by rooms 9 feet square, which are occupied by the first sergeant and quar- 
 termaster's sergeant as offices. The interior of the buildings is in one large room, warmed by two 
 stoves with drums, and well lighted by numerous windows. The chimneys are of stone. The 
 
360 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 above where the fort is now situated, and upon its removal the permanent post was located. 
 Nearly all the labor was furnished by troops, and the logs of which the post was built were hauled 
 from the foot hills of the Uintah Mountains, about twenty miles distant. The reservation, as origin- 
 ally laid out, extended 25 miles from north to south, and 20 from east to west. In November, 
 1809, it was curtailed so as to include only four square miles, and as surveyed by Brevet Colonel 
 W. E. Merrill, United States Engineers, and designated by a general order of the department 
 commander, it now extends four miles from north to south, beginning at a blufi' half a mile north 
 of the post, and one mile from east to west, beginning just beyond the eastern limits of the garri- 
 son. The present reservation takes in all the grass lands of the valley. When the reservation 
 was reduced a town site was surveyed near its eastern boundary, and a few buildings have been 
 erected, but there is nothing in the location that will build up a town. In all the valleys, and on 
 the terrace lands, extending over a wide range of country, are extensive alluvial deposits, indicat- 
 ing the existence of inland seas after the general upheaval of the great Rocky Mountain region. 
 A characteristic feature of the country is the butte formations, where the earth's crust seems to 
 have yielded to the subterranean pressure so gradually or uniformly as to allow an upheaval in 
 regular form, constituting hills perfectly flat on the surface. On the sides of these buttes or hills, 
 as well as along the terraces of the table-lands, and where streams have washed their beds in the 
 sides of bluffs, a remarkable uniformity in structure may be observed. Lowest of the strata thus 
 exposed we find a green sandstone, often of very considerable thickness ; next above it a shaly 
 formation ; above that a drift deposit of pebbles and boulders, and above all the alluvium on the 
 surface. Coal, of a bituminous character, similar to that found in many other parts of the Rocky 
 Mountain region, has been discovered in several places within a few miles, but no experiment has 
 yet been made to determine the practicability of using it as fuel at the post. Limestone abounds in 
 the vicinity, and, when calcined, makes excellent lime for building purposes. Within three miles 
 of the post is a large bed of silicious limestone, with horizontal fractures, converting it into slabs 
 of uniform thickness, so that it is easily obtained without blasting. This has been used of late in 
 erecting store-houses at the post, and makes a good building material. None of the precious or 
 useful metals have been found in the mountains of the vicinity. The soil is fertile and yields 
 abundantly of all the cultivated vegetables whose growth is not interfered with by the shortness 
 of the season. Potatoes, turnips, and nearly all the summer table vegetables have been success- 
 fully cultivated. For three years past, however, the entire crops of all the vegetables, except the 
 potato, have been destroyed by the grasshoppers. Wheat, rye, barley, and oats have been raised 
 in the vicinity, though the frequent failures of the crops rendered their cultivation since the com- 
 pletion of the railroad unprofitable. There are but few indigenous trees in the vicinity. On the 
 borders of the streams may be found a few aspen and small cottouwood trees, and a very thick 
 growth of a herbaceous variety of willow. There are but few wild animals in the immediate 
 vicinity of the post. Of these the coyote, rabbit, prairie dog, gopher, and a few beavers in the 
 streams are the principal. In the mountains to the south, and among the foot hills, they are more 
 numerous, and in greater variety. We there find the grizzly and black bear, the wild cat, lynx, 
 wolverine, badger, porcupine, fox of several varieties, and many others. There are also of wild 
 game the elk, black and white-tail deer, and antelope to be found in the same region. The sage 
 hen is very numerous. The wild goose, mallard and green-winged teal ducks are found in limited 
 numbers in the streams. 
 
 The streams abound with trout, which are caught in great numbers during the summer and 
 fall months. They weigh from six to twenty ounces, and are marked with black spots. During 
 the summer and fall months, when the streams are low, they will rise and take the fly, but the 
 grasshopper has always proved a better bait. The only other varieties of fish caught in the 
 streams of the vicinity are the common sucker, where the streams are larger and more sluggish, 
 and a peculiar variety of a slim, gray fish, pronounced by some English tourists to be identical 
 with the grayling of England and the continent of Europe. 
 
 The climate is temperate and salubrious the greater part of the year. The weather during the 
 fall months is mild and delightful, excepting a few snow-storms of short duration. No severe 
 weather occurs before the middle of December. After that time there are frequent storms, and 
 high winds prevail. Cold weather continues late in the spring, and the grass does not begin to 
 grow until May. During that month and June there is a greater rain-fall than in all the other 
 
FORT BKIDGKK, WYOMING TKKKlTOltY. 361 
 
 mouths; although the post is in the valley with streams all around and through it, the atmo- 
 sphere is comparatively dry, the reading of the wet and dry-bulb thermometers varying from ten to 
 fifteen degrees. The prevailing winds are from the west, and blow from that quarter twenty -eight 
 days in a month. The rain fall for last year amounted to 7.07 inches. In consequence of the very 
 high winds that prevail during snow-storms, and the drifting, it has been impossible to ascertain, 
 even approximately, the quantity, and measurements have not been made. The highest tempera- 
 ture of the year has been 85 F.; the lowest 19 F., and the mean 43.12. 
 
 As before intimated, the fort is located near the northwestern corner of the reservation, and all 
 that portion of it is low and level, with only sufficient slope to afford good drainage. Black's Fork, 
 a short distance above the post, divides into five branches, all of which unite again within a mile 
 below. One of the larger branches runs through the parade ground from south to north, dividing 
 it into two unequal parts. The buildings are but a few feet above the water level, but the slope 
 of the surface in and around the fort is so regular that it is well drained. 
 
 Of the eleven barrack buildings only six are used as quarters for the men. Two are occupied 
 by laundresses, one as adjutant's office, school-room, and library, another as guard-house, and the 
 third as shops for mechanics, carpenters, and wheelwrights. These buildings are in two rows on 
 each side of the parade ; are each 76 feet long, those nearest the parade being 18 feet and the others 
 22 feet wide. On the parade front are porches extending the length of the buildings. The rear 
 buildings are used in part as sleeping-rooms, and also contain the company mess-rooms, store- 
 rooms, and kitchen. The buildings are heated by large wood-stoves, and lighted by windows in 
 the sides. The bunks are arranged in two tiers. The sinks are built in rear of the quarters. 
 Vaults are used, and as they fill near the surface, are covered and new ones dug. The quarters 
 for the laundresses are similar buildings to those occupied by the men, but divided by partitions 
 into small rooms, which are heated by fireplaces, except in some instances where cooking stoves 
 have been purchased by the laundresses themselves. The officers' quarters consist of six buildings 
 of uniform size and like arrangement, about forty feet apart in a row and facing west, and of 
 other sets on the flanks opposite to and facing each other. The six buildings are of logs, one story, 
 with four large rooms, two on either side of the entrance a hall room for servants and to most 
 of them have been added frame shed summer kitchens. The quarters of the commanding officer, 
 however, have a more substantial log back building. 
 
 Of the quarters on the flanks, two sets are on the north side, built of boards and containing 
 each two rooms, a kitchen and servants' room, while on the south is a single set, consisting of a 
 log building, with frame additions, containing two large rooms and a kitchen. These buildings are 
 well plastered and many of the rooms papered, furnishing very comfortable, if not elegant quarters. 
 
 The six buildings in line have in each room a fireplace and one window. The other quarters 
 are heated by stoves. Narrow ditches, extending from the stream above the fort, rim in front, and 
 through the yards in the rear, of the quarters, furnishing an abundant supply of pure water. 
 There are neither water- closets nor bath-rooms connected with the buildings. Detached privies 
 are built in the yards. As before remarked, two of the buildings intended as barracks are now 
 used as adjutant's office and guard-house. This was rendered necessary by a department order 
 forbidding fires in or near any store-house at a military post, and the building erected for a guard- 
 house being in close proximity to the quartermaster's store-house, and the adjutant's office in the 
 same building with the commissary store-house, this change was made. If the post is continued, a 
 new adjutant's office and guard-house will be erected. ' The quartermaster's and commissary store- 
 houses are three large stone buildings in front of the parade, facing cast, and are the most substan- 
 tial, and best adapted to the purpose for which they were designed, of any at the post. 
 
 The hospital is situated about forty yards south of the last of the row of officers' quarters, and 
 consists of an L shaped building, 113 by 18 feet on the long side, running from east to west, and 
 62 by 20 feet in the addition running north and south. The whole is built of logs, and the 
 wing, or the extension to the south, is an addition made in the fall of 1869. The longer portion of 
 the building is divided respectively into a dispensary, ward No. 1, ward No. 2, bath and wash- 
 rooms, and attendants' room, and the wing into a steward's room, store-room, dining-room, and 
 kitchen. Ward No. 1 and the dispensary are plastered and hard-finished, and ward No. 2, bath- 
 room, attendants' room, steward's room, and dining rooms, are lined with felting and covered with 
 46 
 
360 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 above whore the fort is now situated, and upon its removal the permanent post was located. 
 Nearly nil the labor was furnished by troops, and the logs of which the post was built were hauled 
 from the foot hills of the Uintah Mountains, about twenty miles distant. The reservation, as origin- 
 ally laid out, extended 25 miles from north to south, and 20 from east to west. In November, 
 ISC'.l, it was fin-tailed so as to include only four square miles, and as surveyed by Brevet Colonel 
 W. E. Merrill, United States Engineers, and designated by a general order of the department 
 commander, it now extends four miles from north to south, beginning at abluft' half a mile north 
 of the post, and one mile from east to west, beginning just beyond the eastern limits of the garri- 
 son. The present reservation takes in all the grass lands of the valley. When the reservation 
 was reduced a town site was surveyed near its eastern boundary, and a few buildings have been 
 erected, but there is nothing in the location that will build up a town. In all the valleys, and on 
 the terrace lands, extending over a wide range of country, are extensive alluvial deposits, indicat- 
 ing the existence of inland seas after the general upheaval of the great Rocky Mountain region. 
 A characteristic feature of the country is the butte formations, where the earth's crust seems to 
 have yielded to the subterranean pressure so gradually or uniformly as to allow an upheaval in 
 regular form, constituting hills perfectly flat on the surface. On the sides of these buttes or hills, 
 as well as along the terraces of the table-lands, and where streams have washed their beds in the 
 sides of bluffs, a remarkable uniformity in structure may be observed. Lowest of the strata thus 
 exposed we find a green sandstone, often of very considerable thickness ; next above it a shaly 
 formation ; above that a drift deposit of pebbles and boulders, and above all the alluvium on the 
 surface. Coal, of a bituminous character, similar to that found in many other parts of the Rocky 
 Mountain region, has been discovered in several places within a few miles, but no experiment has 
 yet been made to determine the practicability of using it as fuel at the post. Limestone abounds in 
 the vicinity, and, when calcined, makes excellent lime for building purposes. Within three miles 
 of the post is a large bed of silicious limestone, with horizontal fractures, converting it into slabs 
 of uniform thickness, so that it is easily obtained without blasting. This has been used of late in 
 erecting store-houses at the post, and makes a good building material. None of the precious or 
 useful metals have been found in the mountains of the vicinity. The soil is fertile and yields 
 abundantly of all the cultivated vegetables whose growth is not interfered with by the shortness 
 of the season. Potatoes, turnips, and nearly all the summer table vegetables have been success- 
 fully cultivated. For three years past, however, the entire crops of all the vegetables, except the 
 potato, have been destroyed by the grasshoppers. Wheat, rye, barley, and oats have been raised 
 in the vicinity, though the frequent failures of the crops rendered their cultivation since the com- 
 pletion of the railroad unprofitable. There are but few indigenous trees in the vicinity. On the 
 borders of the streams may be found a few aspen and small cottouwood trees, and a very thick 
 growth of a herbaceous variety of willow. There are but few wild animals in the immediate 
 vicinity of the post. Of these the coyote, rabbit, prairie dog, gopher, and a few beavers in the 
 streams are the principal. In the mountains to the south, and among the foot hills, they are more 
 numerous, and in greater variety. We there find the grizzly and black bear, the wild cat, lynx, 
 wolverine, badger, porcupine, fox of several varieties, and many others. There are also of wild 
 game the elk, black and white-tail deer, and antelope to be found in the same region. The sage 
 hen is very numerous. The wild goose, mallard and green-winged teal ducks are found in limited 
 numbers in the streams. 
 
 The streams abound with trout, which are caught in great numbers during the summer and 
 fall months. They weigh from six to twenty ounces, and are marked with black spots. During 
 the summer and fall months, when the streams are low, they will rise and take the fly, but the 
 grasshopper has always proved a better bait. The only other varieties of fish caught in the 
 streams of the vicinity are the common sucker, where the streams are larger and more sluggish, 
 and a peculiar variety of a slim, gray fish, pronounced by some English tourists to be identical 
 with the grayling of England and the continent of Europe. 
 
 The climate is temperate and salubrious the greater part of the year. The weather during the 
 fall months is mild and delightful, excepting a few snow-storms of short duration. No severe 
 weather occurs before the middle of December. After that time there are frequent storms, and 
 high winds prevail. Cold weather continues late in the spring, and the grass does not begin to 
 grow until May. During that month and June there is a greater rain-fall than in all the other 
 
FORT BRLDGER, WYOMING TERRITORY. 361 
 
 mouths; although the post is in the valley with streams all around ami through it, the atmo- 
 sphere is comparatively dry, the reading of the wet and dry bulb thermometers varying from ten to 
 fifteen degrees. The prevailing winds are from the west, and blow from that quarter twenty -eight 
 days in a month. The rain-fall for last year amounted to 7.97 inches. In consequence of the very 
 high winds that prevail during snow-storms, and the drifting, it has been impossible to ascertain, 
 r\ en approximately, the quantity, and measurements have not been made. The highest tempera- 
 ture of the year has been 85 F.; the lowest 19 F., and the mean 43.12. 
 
 As before intimated, the fort is located near the northwestern corner of the reservation, and all 
 that portion of it is low and level, with only sufficient slope to afford good drainage. Black's Fork, 
 a short distance above the post, divides into five branches, all of which unite again within a mile 
 below. One of the larger branches runs through the parade ground from south to north, dividing 
 it into two unequal parts. The buildings are but a few feet above the water level, but the slope 
 of the surface in and around the fort is so regular that it is well drained. 
 
 Of the eleven barrack buildings only six are used as quarters for the men. Two are occupied 
 by laundresses, one as adjutant's office, school-room, and library, another as guard-house, and the 
 third as shops for mechanics, carpenters, and wheelwrights. These buildings are in two rows on 
 each side of the parade ; are each 70 feet long, those nearest the parade being 18 feet and the others 
 l'-' feet wide. On the parade front are porches extending the length of the buildings. The rear 
 buildings are used in part as sleeping- rooms, and also contain the company mess-rooms, store- 
 rooms, and kitchen. The buildings are heated by large wood-stoves, and lighted by windows in 
 the sides. The bunks are arranged in two tiers. The sinks are built in rear of the quarters. 
 Vaults are used, and as they fill near the surface, are covered and new ones dug. The quarters 
 for the laundresses are similar buildings to those occupied by the men, but divided by partitions 
 into small rooms, which are heated by fireplaces, except in some instances where cooking stoves 
 have been purchased by the laundresses themselves. The officers' quarters consist of six buildings 
 of uniform size and like arrangement, about forty feet apart in a row and facing west, and of 
 other sets on the flanks opposite to and facing each other. The six buildings are of logs, one story, 
 with four large rooms, two on either side of the entrance a hall room for servants and to most 
 of them have been added frame shed summer kitchens. The quarters of the commanding officer, 
 however, have a more substantial log back building. 
 
 Of the quarters on the flanks, two sets are on the north side, built of boards and containing 
 each two rooms, a kitchen and servants' room, while on the south is a single set, consisting of a 
 log building, with frame additions, containing two large rooms and a kitchen. These buildings are 
 well plastered and many of the rooms papered, furnishing very comfortable, if not elegant quarters. 
 
 The six buildings in line have in each room a fireplace and one window. The other quarters 
 are heated by stoves. Narrow ditches, extending from the stream above the fort, run in front, and 
 through the yards in the rear, of the quarters, furnishing an abundant supply of pure water. 
 There are neither water-closets nor bath-rooms connected with the buildings. Detached privies 
 are built in the yards. As before remarked, two of the buildings intended as barracks are now 
 used as adjutant's office and guard-house. This was rendered necessary by a department order 
 forbidding tires in or near any store-house at a military post, and the building erected for a guard- 
 house being in close proximity to the quartermaster's store-house, and the adjutant's office in the 
 same building with the commissary store-house, this change was made. If the post is continued, a 
 new adjutant's office and guard-house will be erected. The quartermaster's and commissary store- 
 houses are three large stone buildings in front of the parade, facing east, and are the most substan- 
 tial, and best adapted to the purpose for which they were designed, of any at the post. 
 
 The hospital is situated about forty yards south of the last of the row of officers' quarters, and 
 consists of an L- shaped building, 113 by 18 feet on the long side, running from east to west, and 
 62 by 20 feet in the addition running north and south. The whole is built of logs, and the 
 wing, or the extension to the south, is an addition made in the fall of 1809. The longer portion of 
 the building is divided respectively into a dispensary, ward No. 3, ward No. 2, bath and wash- 
 rooms, and attendants' room, and the wing into a steward's room, store-room, dining-room, and 
 kitchen. Ward No. 1 and the dispensary are plastered and hard finished, and ward No. 2, bath 
 room, attendants' room, steward's room, and dining-rooms, are lined with felting and covered with 
 46 
 
362 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 wall-paper. The building is badly adapted to the purpose for which it was designed. The medical 
 officer on duty at the time it was erected disclaims all responsibility for its bad design, and says 
 his opinions were ignored by the quartermaster who constructed the building. The ceilings in the 
 ward are only seven feet high, but as there is a large superficial space, and but few patients in hos- 
 pital at one time, the beds can be arranged so as to give 600 or 800 cubic feet of air space to each. 
 
 Adjoining the hospital on the east is a shed containing a medicine wagon, and used also as a 
 dead-house, and beyond, and separated only a few feet, is the sink for the hospital. The wards are 
 heated both by stoves and fireplaces, the latter being inadequate during the very cold weather. 
 The ventilation is by side windows during the summer, and by air shafts, through which the stove 
 pipes run, and the chimneys during winter. A small ditch runs the entire length of the hospital, 
 and furnishes water to the officers' quarters. 
 
 The post bakery is situated a little north of the buildings already described, is built of logs, 
 with a good stone oven, and well supplied with the necessary fixtures for a bakery. The stables 
 are frame structures, situated northeast of the garrison, over 200 yards distant. They form two 
 sides of a square, and contain stalls for two hundred animals. A stockade extends the other two 
 sides of the square, forming, with the stables, a corral. 
 
 There is but a small library belonging to the post, consisting of works of history, some of the 
 standard novels, school-books, &c. 
 
 The water supply is abundant and convenient without labor in constructing cisterns, digging 
 wells, or any artificial means of conducting it to the quarters, other than a few surface ditches 
 along the regular slope, by which it is made to run convenient to all the barracks, and an abun- 
 dant supply is thus obtained during the greater part of the year. In winter it must be carried in 
 buckets from the stream that runs through the post. The convenience of water in an unlimited 
 quantity has prevented any serious accident from fire since the establishment of the post. The 
 stream furnishing the supply has its rise in the Uintah Mountains, and is fed by never-failing 
 mountain springs, yielding water free from mineral impurities, and, running through a gravelly bed, 
 it reaches the post almost as pure as at its source. 
 
 The natural drainage being good, no artificial drains or sewers have been made. The slops 
 and offal from the kitchens of the company quarters, as well as from the officers' quarters, are col- 
 lected in barrels kept on the premises, and every morning hauled below the post and thrown into 
 the stream. 
 
 There is an old cemetery in the valley half a mile northeast of the post, but it is no longer used. 
 A new one has been started on higher ground, about a mile and a quarter distant in a southerly 
 direction. In both the graves of citizens who have died at or in the vicinity of the post largely 
 predominate. There are but four graves of soldiers in the new cemetery, which has been used for 
 more than two years. 
 
 There has been cultivated but one garden at the post, the products of which have been divided 
 proportionately among the companies, the hospital, and the officers, each paying at the end of the 
 season a pro rata of the cost of seeds and garden implements. In consequence of the devastation 
 occasioned by grasshoppers, before referred to, the yield for the last three seasons has been almost 
 entirely of potatoes, but the quantity of this one vegetable obtained has amply repaid for the 
 labor and expense of cultivating the whole. 
 
 Eggs, chickens, and fresh vegetables are scarce, and command high prices. They are brought 
 a considerable distance for sale at the post. 
 
 The officers' quarters are provided with a few of the more necessary articles of household furni- 
 ture, such as bedsteads, tables, washstands, &c., made by the quartermaster ; but aside from these 
 articles no furniture can be procured in the vicinity. It is desirable for officers going from the East 
 to purchase furniture at Omaha, and ship it by the Union Pacific railroad. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from the medical purveyor at St. Louis, on semi-annual requisi- 
 tions. There is now on hand in the store-room of the hospital a liberal supply. The troops serving 
 in Wind Eiver Valley and Sweetwater mining country are furnished from this post, and in order 
 to meet this demand the medical director has authorized the drawing of supplies in excess of the 
 usual allowance for the garrison. The post being contiguous to the Pacific railroad, communi- 
 cation with the depot whence supplies are obtained is easy and not liable to interruption. 
 
CAMP DOUGLAS, UTAH TERRITORY. 
 
 363 
 
 There is a daily mail from both East and West, and communications are received regularly and 
 promptly, being only two days in reaching the post from Omaha. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is good, and the hospital records, from its establish- 
 ment, will show a state of health that will compare favorably with other posts on the frontier. 
 Never in its history has the garrison been visited by an epidemic. Scurvy, the scourge of remote 
 and isolated posts, prevailed to a very inconsiderable extent before the days of railroad com- 
 munication, and when no vegetables were cultivated in the locality. The largest number of cases 
 appearing in the register for any one month was in April, 1859, when eight cases were reported. 
 At no time, during the last four years, has a soldier been excused from duty because of this affection, 
 though some slight scorbutic derangement has been occasionally observed. Though the post is 
 situated in an elevated region, with no marshes, or extensive vegetable decomposition going on in 
 the vicinity, it has never been entirely free from malarial fever during the summer and fall months. 
 That the cause exists in the locality is proved by the prevalence of a periodical form of fever known 
 as " mountain fever " among the " mountaineers" who have long resided here. This fever has all 
 the characteristics of remittent fever of known malarious districts, and promptly yields, in its early- 
 stages, to the same remedies. If no treatment is adopted, however, and every sanitary measure 
 disregarded, as was often the case with emigrants traveling with wagon trains over the country, 
 the patient rapidly sinks into a typhoid state and dies. During the past winter, and indeed every 
 winter, rheumatism and catarrhal affections have been the prevailing diseases of the locality. The 
 latter class of diseases, however, has consisted of only the milder affections of the respiratory 
 organs, seldom extending to pneumonia. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Bridger, Wyoming 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 ,d 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 T) 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 G 
 
 
 
 
 g & 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 a * 
 
 9 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 90 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 a ' S 
 a 
 
 &s- 
 
 o a 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 o 
 
 tc 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1868 
 
 275.5 
 
 453 
 
 55 
 
 111 
 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 
 95 
 
 1 
 
 127 
 
 l 
 
 1869 
 
 182 25 
 
 461 
 
 89 
 
 60 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 33 
 
 2 
 
 137 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Inclnde laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, anil plenrisy. 
 
 CAMP DOUGLAS, UTAH TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON W. C. SPENCER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Douglas, Utah Territory, is situated on a plateau at the base of the Wahsatch Mount- 
 ains, two and a half miles east of the business portion of Salt Lake City, at an altitude of 730 
 feet above it, and of 5,030 feet above the sea; latitude 40 46' 2" north, longitude 111 53' 30" 
 west from Greenwich. It is placed in the center of a reservation two miles square. The land, 
 which slopes gently toward the city, is arable, consisting of a light, sandy soil, and well irrigated 
 by perennial streams from the adjacent mountains. The scenery is extremely fine. Behind and at 
 the right and left is the Wahsatch Range, the loftiest peaks of which, " The Twins," are 11,400 feet 
 in height and covered with perpetual snow. Directly in front and in full view lies the city, nine 
 miles beyond Great Salt Lake, with its mountainous islands ; at the southwest, twenty miles distant, 
 are the Oquirrh Mountains ; while between the two ranges there is a fertile and beautiful valley, 
 through which flows the river Jordan. 
 
 The post was established October 26, 1862, by Colonel P. E. Connor, Third regiment California 
 volunteer infantry, who had been ordered to command the district of Utah, comprising the Terri- 
 tories of Utah and Nevada, with headquarters at or near Salt Lake City. 
 
3G4 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, and iron have already been discovered in the vicin- 
 ity, although until very recently mining has been neglected on account of the opposition of the 
 Mormon authorities. Sandstone, limestone, and granite are found in abundance. There is but 
 little timber near the post, but in some of the canons, at a distance of from eighteen to twenty-five 
 miles, white pine and cottonwood are procured. The ground in the neighborhood of the camp is 
 covered in great part with sage brush and scrub oak, but the grass is sufficient to afford good graz- 
 ing. Mallard and teal ducks, wild geese, snipe, grouse, prairie chickens, sage hens, and rabbits are 
 occasionally found in considerable numbers at no great distance. Black and brown bears exist in 
 the mountains. The streams of the cafions furnish excellent trout. 
 
 The supply of water is derived principally from a creek which eiuerges from Eed Butte Canon, 
 immediately in rear of the post. The minor streams into which this creek is divided are distributed 
 through the camp and serve to sustain shade trees and fruit trees, to irrigate the gardens, and to 
 drain the post through the ravines at each flank, which constitute a natural and effectual system 
 of sewerage. Near the month of the canon an artificial pond has been formed, from which is 
 obtained all the ice needed by the garrison. Water is also brought in wagons from a spring one 
 mile distant. The water from both sources is clear, cold, and pleasant to the taste. It contains 
 a considerable percentage of chloride of sodium, sulphate of lime, and of the carbonates of soda 
 and magnesia. 
 
 The camp faces and commands the city on the west. The parade is 375 feet long, 275 feet 
 broad, and has a stream of water upon three sides. Seven one-story double cottages at the head 
 of the parade are set apart for officers' quarters. They are built of hewn logs, whitewashed, are 
 lathed and plastered inside, and have shingled roofs. Each building, comprising quarters for two 
 officers, is 46 feet 6 inches long, 2G feet 6 inches wide, and 9 feet high in the clear; contains eight 
 rooms, including two kitchens, and has a veranda, 7 feet wide, in front. In a line with these houses, 
 at their right, is a large, one-story-and a-half adobe building, containing twenty rooms. At each 
 side of the hospital there is a one-story cottage, containing six rooms. All these quarters are com- 
 fortable and in good repair. 
 
 The barracks, ten in number, are built of hewn pine and cottonwood, and are floored and 
 shingled. Thedimensions of each building are length, 85 feet 5 inches ; breadth, 28 feet 8 inches ; 
 height of side walls, 10 feet 9 inches; of peak, 16 feet 2 inches. Capacity per man, with average 
 number of occupants, 500 cubic feet. They are all provided with open fireplaces and with ridge 
 
 I 1 ventilation. In front of each extends a veranda, CO feet long and 9 feet broad. 
 
 One of the barracks is used as a chapel. These structures are so much dilapi- 
 dated as to be unfitted for their purpose. It is probable that new ones will be 
 erected during the present year. 
 
 The laundresses' quarters consist of five one-story-and-a-half double frame 
 buildings, battened and lined with adobe, and of three smaller ones, all built 
 in the fall of 1869. They are situated at the rear and left of the camp. 
 
 The hospital, situated 160 yards in rear of the parade, was erected in Octo- 
 ber, 1863. It is built of roughly-hewn white pine timber, resting on a sandstone 
 foundation, and is shingled. The interior is lathed and plastered throughout. 
 It is a rectangular edifice, 88 feet long, 3G feet wide, and 27 feet high to the 
 peak of the roof, with a veranda in front, 8 feet 5 inches wide. The arrange- 
 ment is shown in Figure 46. 
 
 A, wards; B, bath-room; C, clothes-room; II, hall; I, dispensary; K, 
 kitchen ; M, mess-room ; N, shed ; O, office ; P, porch. 
 
 The second floor is divided into two comfortable bed-rooms and three store- 
 rooms. Each ward is 51 feet 3 inches long, 16 feet 9 inches wide, and 10 feet 
 high ; is well lighted, and has an open grate at each end. Two ventilating 
 shafts extend from the ceiling to the roof. There are ten beds in each ward; 
 area per bed, 85.82 square feet; air space per man, 858.20 cubic feet. Although 
 the building is faulty in design in several essential particulars, it is in good 
 Figure 46 Scale, 32 feet repair and comfortable. Its site, which is considerably more elevated than that 
 to i inch. o f the barracks and nearer the mountains, is well chosen. 
 
CAMP DOUGLAS, UTAH TERRITOEY. 
 
 365 
 
 The hospital garden, comprising an area of two and a quarter acres, is directly beliind the 
 building. Extensive company gardens have been made in front of the post. By means of irri- 
 gation all the ordinary varieties of vegetables are raised in abundance. The surrounding country 
 supplies cereals, fruits, vegetables, and poultry of excellent quality at moderate prices. The crops, 
 however, are subject to the visitations of grasshoppers, which frequently inflict great damage. Salt 
 Lake City, with a population of about 16,000, contains well-stocked stores, and affords a good 
 market. 
 
 At the western face of the parade are three adobe buildings, occupied respectively as an ord- 
 nance store-house, magazine, and guard-house. The latter is 60 feet long, 18 feet broad, and 18 feet 
 high to the peak of the roof. It contains a sergeant's room, guard-room, general prison-room, store- 
 room, and a corridor with cells. The cells, three in number, are each 6 feet in length, 5 feet in 
 breadth, and 7 feet in height. There are no means of warming the cells or the general prison- 
 room. 
 
 The store-houses, located at the left of the camp, consist of seven large wooden buildings. 
 Two large stables are placed in line with them. A short distance behind the store-houses, and par- 
 allel with them, are four frame structures which arc used as shops by the mechanics of the post. 
 
 The cemetery, three-fourths of a mile southeast of the post, has an area of nearly an acre. It 
 is surrounded by a substantial stone wall. An unfailing rivulet runs through the inclosure. 
 
 The general health of the post is most excellent. Very few diseases are encountered which 
 arc not the result either of errors of diet or of exposure to cold. 
 
 The climate from April to December is delightful. During the winter it is very variable, but 
 ordinarily without a great range of temperature. The following table may be of interest : 
 
 Summary of meteorological observations at Camp Douglas, Utah Territory, from June, 1869, to 
 
 June, 1870. 
 
 Temperature, &c. 
 
 1869. 
 
 Jnue, July, Au- 
 gust. 
 
 1869. 
 
 September, Oc- 
 tober, Novem- 
 ber. 
 
 1869-70. 
 
 December, Jan- 
 uary, Febru- 
 ary. 
 
 1870. 
 
 March, April, 
 May. 
 
 Highest temperature 
 
 97 
 
 85 
 
 58 
 
 85 
 
 Lowest temperature . 
 
 55 
 
 28 
 
 17 
 
 3 
 
 Average temperature 
 
 72 .34 
 
 53 C .35 
 
 32.62 
 
 46.62 
 
 Greatest difference between dry and wet bulbs ... 
 Least difference between dry and wet bulbs 
 
 29 
 3 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 1 
 
 18 
 1 
 
 Average difference between dry and wet bulbs 
 Average height of barometer ... 
 
 9.53 
 
 9.35 
 25221 iu. 
 
 5.14 
 
 4.22 
 
 Snow 
 
 
 
 7.85 in.* 
 
 
 Total rain-fall, including melted snow 
 
 1 52 in. 
 
 4 60 iu. 
 
 3.98 in. 
 
 10.07 in. 
 
 Prevailing wind .. 
 
 East. 
 
 East. 
 
 East. 
 
 East. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Including March. 
 
 Total rain-fall, including melted snow. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Inches. 
 
 1863 . . 
 
 7.47 
 
 1867 
 
 24.60 
 
 1864 
 
 14.92 
 
 1868 
 
 17.55 
 
 1865 . 
 
 17.56 
 
 1869 
 
 23.32 
 
 1866 
 
 24.89 
 
 1870, (January 1 to June 1)-. 
 
 12.76 
 
 
 
 
 
 The annual rain-fall has greatly increased for the past seven years. As a consequence the level 
 of Great Salt Lake has steadily risen, while the water has decreased in density. During the spring, 
 summer, and autumn a fresh, cool breeze from the canons arises in the evening, and in warm 
 weather contributes very materially to the comfort of the garrison. 
 
366 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 There are no hostile Indians near the post. The tribes in the vicinity are the Utes, Pi-Utes, 
 Bannocks, and the Shoshones or Snakes. Their friendship is the result of their defeat by General 
 Connor at Bear River, Washington Territory, January 29, 1863, and at Spanish Fork, Utah Terri- 
 tory, April 5, 1863, by Colonel G. S. Evans. 
 
 The remaining residents of the neighboring country constitute two classes the Gentiles and 
 the Mormons. The former include individuals who are sometimes known as " Jack Mormons,' 7 
 from their subserviency to the saints. The number of Gentiles in the city has diminished of late, 
 the effect of the injury to their business resulting from the efforts of " Zion's Cooperative Mer- 
 cantile Institution." The development of the mineral resources of the Territory, however, will 
 undoubtedly cause a large immigration. 
 
 The Mormons are divided into four sects the Brighamites, the Morrisites, the Josephites, and 
 the Godbyites. The Morrisites are believers in the doctrine of the transmigration of the soul, but 
 unite with the other schismatics in opposing the despotic rule of Brigham Young, and in uphold- 
 ing the theory and practice of polygamy. Several hundred Morrisites. expelled from Salt Lake 
 City by religious persecution, lived in " dug-outs" in the ravine at the left of Camp Douglas, and 
 were gratuitously fed by the United States from the autumn of 1863 until the spring of 1867, when 
 nearly all went to their old homes at the East, leaving behind them, however, many victims of the 
 bloody policy of the Mormon Church. The followers of the prophet, Joseph Smith, or the "Joseph- 
 ites," are inimical to polygamy, and their influence in this portion of the country is increasing. 
 The Godbyites, or members of the Church of Zion, constitute the liberal party of the church, and 
 are denounced as apostates by the adherents of Young. 
 
 The president of the " Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," and almost all the mem- 
 bers of his hierarchy, are Americans, but the great body of the people are English, Welsh, and 
 Scandanavians of the lower classes, imbued, like their leaders, with hatred of the Government of 
 the United States. 
 
 The health of the Mormon people is generally good. In the city, however, the mortality among 
 children is quite large, arising less from the frequency and intensity of epidemics than from neglect, 
 insufficient food, and the practice of the " laying on of hands " by the dignitaries of the church to 
 the exclusion of remedial measures. Prostitution, in its usual form, and the diseases incident to 
 it, are almost unknown. 
 
 It is estimated that the actual polygamists do not number more than one-tenth of the popula- 
 tion of the Territory, although the ratio is greater in the large towns. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Douglas, Utah 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 & . 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 *& 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 e 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 fc 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 8 
 
 % 
 
 S r* 
 11 
 
 || 
 
 A -t* 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 TJ 
 'o 
 
 -a 
 
 
 
 Malarial feve 
 
 Diarrhtea and 
 entery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Epidemic cats 
 
 Venereal clise. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal af 
 tions. * 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 238.33 
 
 231 
 
 2 
 
 28 
 
 43 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 g 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 
 1869 
 
 243. 66 
 
 395 
 
 1 
 
 117 
 
 50 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 51 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Fort Snelling, Minnesota. 
 Fort Ripley, Minnesota. 
 Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Wadsworth, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Ransom, Dakota Territory^. 
 FortTotten, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Randall, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Sully, Dakota Territory. 
 
 Fort Rice, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Stevenson, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Buford, Dakota Territory. 
 Fort Benton, Montana Territory. 
 Fort Ellis, Montana Territory. 
 Camp Baker, Montana Territory. 
 Fort Shaw, Montana Territory. 
 
 FORT SMELLING, MINNESOTA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEONS R. H. ALEXANDER AND A. HEGER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Snelliug is situated on a higli bluff between the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, near 
 their junction. Latitude 44 52' 40" north, longitude 93 4' 54" west; altitude above the river 300 
 feet, above the sea 840 feet. St. Paul, Minnesota, is distant 6 miles. 
 
 In 1805 Lieutenant Z. M. Pike, commanding an exploring expedition, held a conference with 
 the Sioux on the island at the mouth of the Minnesota River, which now bears his name. By this 
 conference a tract of land was obtained for military purposes extending from the junction of the 
 Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers to the Falls of St. Anthony, and nine miles on each side of the 
 Mississippi. In 1819 Lieutenant Colonel Henry Leavenworth, of the Fifth United States Infantry, 
 arrived with his regiment to locate a post upon the reserve selected by Lieutenant Pike. The first 
 monthly report was rendered for September, 1819. Owing to scurvy among the troops work was 
 not commenced until the spring of 1820. In May, 1820, Lieutenant Colonel Leavenworth moved 
 his regiment across the Minnesota to the west bank of the Mississippi, and encamped near a spring 
 half a mile above Fort Suelliug. The site then chosen for the post was the present military ceme- 
 tery, and preparations were made to commence the work, but Colonel Josiah Snelling, Fifth United 
 States Infantry, arrived in August, assumed command, and selected the location where the fort 
 now stands. The work was actually commenced September 10, 1820, and steadily prosecuted un- 
 til October, 1822, when the post was first occupied. During this time Colonel Snelliug was in com- 
 mand, and his regiment engaged in the work. Upon the recommendation of Colonel Snelliug the 
 fort was called Fort St. Anthony, and was so known until 1824, when it was visited by General 
 Scott, at whose suggestion, complimentary to Colonel Suelling, the name was then changed to Fort 
 Snelliug. 
 
 The defenses and some of the store-houses and shops were built of stone, but the quarters were 
 generally single log huts until after t he Mexican war, when the post was garrisoned by the Sixth 
 United States Infantry, and the iuterior assumed the present appearance. During the year 1856 
 it was abandoned by the Government, but was reoccupied in 1861. The post has never been 
 attacked or threatened. 
 
 The reservation is not yet declared. From six to seven thousand acres are held reserved. On 
 the Mississippi side the bluff upon which the fort is situated descends abruptly to the water, the 
 river running there almost in a canon. On the Minnesota side the slope is more gradual, and ends 
 in low marshy flats, which extend from one-third to one-half mile on both sides of the river, and are 
 frequently submerged during high water. A stone wall about nine feet high incloses the fort, and 
 rests on the east side nearly on the edge of the bluff. 
 
 From observations made in the last six months, the highest temperature was July 16th, when 
 
DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the mercury stood at 98 F. ; the lowest was December llth, when it stood at 19 F. ; aver- 
 age for the six months, 50 F. ; rain fall, 17.75 inches ; first frost September 17th ; first snow Sep- 
 tember 24th. Mississippi and Minnesota Elvers frozen over December 9th. 
 
 The fort is an irregularly shaped bastioned redoubt. Immediately inside the wall, and run- 
 ning almost entirely about the fort, is a roadway, from which stairs lead at various points to the 
 parade. 
 
 The parade at the gorge is eight feet above the roadway, but the latter, by a gradual ascent 
 along the flanks, arrives on the same level at the shoulder angles. It is 100 feet above the ordi- 
 nary height of the rivers, and forms nearly a rhombus, inclosed principally by five buildings on 
 its outer edges. 
 
 The arrangement of the post is shown in Figure 47. 
 
 Figure 47. Scale, 200 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 A, stables; B, gun-shed; C, bakery; D, prison ; E, carpenter shop ; F, ice-house; H, church; 
 I, quartermaster's store-house ; K K, offices ; L, magazine ; M, old commissary store-house ; 1ST, 
 engine house; O, company quarters ; P, commanding officer's quarters; E, officers' quarters ; S, 
 store-house; T, towers; U, sutler's store; V, guard-house; W, hospital; X, cistern; Y, band 
 quarters ; x x, sinks. 
 
 The buildings represented shaded are of stone. All other buildings are frame. 
 
 The quarters for officers and men are built of stone. The dimensions of the company quarters 
 are, for basement rooms 21 feet wide and 8 feet high; for sleeping rooms, each 31 by 21 by 9 feet. 
 The usual number of occupants is 12 men to one room. Behind the magazine are some frame 
 buildings comparatively new, used as store-house and offices by the quartermaster. A frame build- 
 ing in the vicinity, the exterior side of which was in part formed by the wall of the left face of the 
 fort, used as a store-house by the commissary, was burned in December last. By the same fire 
 was also destroyed the roof and interior of the tower at the salient angle. 
 
 The hospital is a stone building, two stories high, separated from the offices which front on the 
 parade by the road previously described. On the lower floor the building has doors and windows 
 on the north side only. The dimensions of the ward on this floor are 31 by 18 by 8| feet. It con- 
 tains five beds, giving 948 cubic feet air space to each. The second floor is surrounded by a 
 wooden porch, 5 feet wide. The dimensions of the wards here are 31 by 14J by 9 feet. Each con- 
 tains five beds. 
 
 On the right of the parade is the present guard-house, its outer wall being part of the wal} 
 
FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA. 
 
 369 
 
 which surrounds the fort. It consists of a rectangular stone inclosure, with wooden floor, and roof 
 sloping from the outer to the inner wall, divided by a wooden fence into two rooms, one for the 
 prisoners and one for the guard. It has windows and doors only to the north. The ventilation of 
 the above buildings is entirely natural, and, from the construction, must necessarily be defective. 
 No bad results have been observed recently, as the quarters have not been crowded. The large 
 number of cases of pneumonia in the spring of 1807 seems to have been due to want of ventilation. 
 The second floor of the hospital can be thoroughly ventilated by its doors and windows. The fort 
 having been built over forty years ago, with a view of protecting a small garrison from hostile In- 
 dians, when it was the aim to place the largest number of soldiers into the least possible space 
 without any regard to the demands of hygiene, an opinion as to the merits of the construction of 
 buildings is entirely out of the question. 
 
 The stable, workshops, ice-house, and other necessary buildings are outside the wall on the 
 bank of the Mississippi, in front of the salient angle of the fort. During the rebellion a number of 
 wooden barracks, store-houses, and stables were erected a short distance above the post, which still 
 remain. 
 
 The post was until recently supplied with water from the spring half a mile above by means 
 of water-wagons. This being a great expense to the Government, it was deemed best to supply the 
 post with water from the Minnesota River. This was done in August last. The water is forced 
 by a steam-engine through an inch pipe to a reservoir on the edge of the parade between the chapel 
 and the sutler's store ; from the reservoir pipes conduct the water to the quarters, barracks, hos- 
 pital, stables, &c. Owing to this water being largely impregnated with decaying vegetable matter 
 from the marshes along the Minnesota River, it is only used for washing purposes, and it is found 
 necessary to still supply the post with drinking water from the spring by means of a water- wagon- 
 
 The means for extinguishing fire are now good, hose having been recently supplied, and reach, 
 ing to any building in the fort. 
 
 The post is drained by ditches leading into the Mississippi, for the most part good. In the 
 early spring, when the snow thaws rapidly, there is some little inconvenience, but not sufficient to 
 interfere with the health of the garrison. 
 
 The post garden supplies sufficient fresh vegetables during the summer, and potatoes for the 
 winter. 
 
 The nearest quartermaster and subsistence depots are at St. Paul, Minnesota, the main depots 
 being at St. Louis, Missouri, distant 631 miles by railroad, and 791 miles by the river. The route 
 of supply is by the Mississippi River. Supplies are transported by steamboat from the month of 
 May until navigation is closed by ice. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 js 
 a j 
 
 e 
 
 01 
 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 5 '3 
 
 a 
 
 i! 
 
 1 
 
 iarrhcea 
 dysente 
 
 EJ 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 tieumatiai 
 
 n 
 
 '3 
 
 1 
 
 ^tarrhal 
 tions.' 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 M 
 
 
 O 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 81 91 
 
 112 
 
 6 
 
 17 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 
 16 
 
 i 
 
 1869 
 
 164. 58 
 
 279 
 
 49 
 
 70 
 
 14 
 
 24 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 40 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 47 
 
370 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT RIPLEY, MINNESOTA. 
 
 REPORTS OF SURGEON J. F. HEAD AND ASSISTANT SURGEON C. K. WINNE, UNITED STATES ARMY 
 
 lu the year 1848, the removal of the Winnebago Indians to their reservation west of the Mis- 
 sissippi River having commenced, a post was ordered to be established near the junction of the 
 Crow Wing and Mississippi, in the New Winnebago country. The post thus established was called 
 Fort Gaines, and was intended for two companies. In 1850 the name of this post was changed to 
 Fort Ripley. The following description of the post and vicinity by Surgeon J. F. Head, United 
 States Army, published in Medical Statistics United States Army, 1839 to 1855, is referred to by 
 Dr. Whine, as giving a good account of its present condition : 
 
 Fort Ripley is situated in latitude 46 10' 30" north, longitude 94 18' 45" west, upon the west bank of the Missis- 
 sippi, elevated 5JO feet above that river, and probably about 1,100 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. The little river Nokay 
 empties into the Mississippi from the east, at about 300 yards north of this point. The post is built upon a sandy 
 plateau, partially drained by shallow ravines at its northern and southern extremities, gradually sloping toward a nar- 
 row swamp about half a mile in rear of the fort. Beyond this is a range of thickly-wooded hills, rising to a height of 
 100 or 150 feet, which slightly shelter the post from the northwest winds of winter. To the westward of these hills 
 again is a belt of broken surface thickly covered with woods and swauips. ' * * Above and below the fort the river 
 is skirted by a narow belt of swampy land, usually partially inundated in spring, supporting a growth of linden or bass- 
 wood, elms, maple, and birch, which, with pine and poplar on the higher grounds, and a luxuriant undergrowth of 
 hazel and other shrubs, constitute the sylva of this immediate neighborhood. 
 
 On the east side of the Mississippi (here about 180 yards wide) a gently undulating, sandy, and barren prairie, from 
 a few hundred yards to three miles wide, extends from the mouth of the Nokay to the southward, bordered by a growth 
 of oaks and pines along the river, and by a range of low hills, partially covered with oaks, on the west. Opposite to 
 the post is a strip of land less sterile than the rest, which has been for several years under cultivation, and part of 
 which is liable to overflow in the spring. 
 
 The soil generally is a sandy alluvium. No rock has been found within many miles, except, scattered boulders ot 
 granite, from which was obtained the little stone necessary for building the post. The land, at least when first culti- 
 vated, is more productive than might be supposed, being what farmers term warm, and adapted to the short summers. 
 
 The climate Is subject to great variations. * * * The extremes of temperature observed are 96, in August 
 1849, and 39, January 18, !">'. The latest killing frost in spring was on June 17, 1849, and the earliest on August 14, 
 1851. A variation of temperature of 30 or 40 in a few hours is not uncommon. Fires are necessary to comfort during 
 a part of every month in the year, except occasionally July and August, and cattle must be foraged from seven to nine 
 months. From about the last third of August till the ground is covered with snow, which usually occurs in November, 
 the weather is generally clear and delightful, with a dry, bracing atmosphere, and equable temperature. After the first 
 considerable fall of snow, the earth's surface remains constantly covered for about five months. The average depth of 
 snow, as roughly estimated from the three winters since the occupation of the post, is from 2 to 3^ feet. An idea of the 
 severity of the winter may he formed from the fact that more than double the Government monthly allowance of fuel 
 is required to warm the quarters, though used in large stoves. 
 
 The Winnebago Indians have ceased to exist as a tribal organization in Minnesota, and the 
 principal reservation of the Chippewa Indians is now at Leech Lake, eighty-three miles north. 
 Since the foregoing report was written, many small settlements have sprung up on the east bank 
 of the river, on the post road between Crow Wing and Sank Rapids, the present terminus of^the 
 St. Paul and Pacific railway. The nearest of these to the post are Belle Prairie, on the east, and 
 Green Prairie, on the west bank of the river, seven miles south. 
 
 The military reservation at this post consists of two tracts of land. One, about ten miles long 
 and four miles wide, on the east bank of the Mississippi, opposite the post, requires no description, 
 as it was laid off simply " to prevent the near approach to the post, as well as to the Indians, of a 
 class of population whose vicinity has always proved so pernicious to both."* On the other, or 
 second tract, which is one mile square, on the west bank of the river, the fort is erected in the center 
 of the river front of the reserve. The buildings are placed within an area once inclosed by a 
 stockade on three sides, each side 450 feet long, (the fourth or south side being open to the river,) 
 defended by two block-houses on the diagonal of a square. The buildings form three sides of a 
 hollow square, with open angles, facing in to the parade as follows : The barracks occupy the whole 
 
 * Letter from Adjutant General of the Army to General Brooke, July 24, 1848. 
 
FOHT Kll'LKY, MINNESOTA. 371 
 
 of the northwest side of the parade, while on the remaining two sides are located the hospital, 
 (Impel, ottiees, quartermaster and commissary store-houses and officers' quarters; four sets of the 
 latter on each side nearest the river. The permanent buildings (with the exception of the granite 
 maga/ine) are frame buildings, clapboardcd; the officers' quarters, barracks, and hospital filled in 
 with brick, one story and an attic in height, with porticos, from 7 to 8 feet wide, extending the 
 entire width of the several fronts. The officers' quarters are well constructed, ample in extent, 
 and conveniently arranged with necessary cellars, offices, &c. The various offices and store-houses 
 are commodious. The barrack, intended for two companies, is 263 feet long by L'2 feet wide, with 
 rear additions or wings on the flunks and center. The building is divided into two sections, each 
 section comprising two sets of quarters for married soldiers, orderly-sergeant's room, company 
 store room or office, two dormitories, 20 by 32 by 11 feet, mess-room, and kitchen. These rooms 
 are entered from small ante-chambers, opening upon the front portico. Although its general 
 arrangement is fair, yet its ventilation is fatally defective. One small opening in the ceiling of 
 each dormitory communicates with the attic, the air of which was expected to be renewed by 
 two corresponding openings in the ceiling of the portico ; but as there is but one small shaft of 
 outlet the anticipated result is not attained. " Besides producing down-draughts, openings of this 
 kind, communicating with one reservoir of foul stagnant air, common to a number of rooms, may, 
 by the irregular action of the fires, supply the rooms with each other's foul air."* The ventilation 
 is consequently entirely by the natural method, through open doors and windows, which, as the 
 latter are on opposite sides, might be sufficient if they could be left open for a greater part of the 
 time. The season, however, during which this is practicable, is so short that the ventilation in 
 reality amounts to nothing, as during the long and rigorous winter the men must remain a greater 
 part of their time in their barracks, when the windows are closed, and the air, heated by box-stoves 
 and vitiated by exhalation, can neither pass out nor be removed except by draughts at irregular 
 intervals. 
 
 Additional provision should be made for bathing. The present bath rooms consist of two small 
 temporary log additions, in rear of the squad-rooms, without sashes or means of being warmed in 
 winter, so that the men are compelled to use the dormitories for such purposes; a serious evil which 
 could be remedied at small expense. One important defect connected with the barrack is, 
 that the number of men occupying each dormitory is governed solely by the strength of the com- 
 mand present, at one time giving the men ample space, and at another crowding them fearfully. 
 To quote the apt words of the commission previously referred to, "the only way to meet the 
 evil effectually is to settle how many men are required at a particular station, and to provide proper 
 room for them. Having done so, on no account to permit more men. to enter the barracks than the 
 regulation number, and to provide at the camps all the additional temporary accommodation neces- 
 sary to meet the emergencies of troops returning from abroad or otherwise.'' 
 
 Until this is done and ordered by authority from which there can be no appeal, the system of 
 over-crowding, which exists to day in the American Army, will remain as an opprobrium to the ser- 
 vice, and an injury to the men. 
 
 The guard-house, near where was once the first sally-port, should be condemned as decidedly 
 unfit for its destined purpose. The entrance corridor opens into the guard-room, a gloomy, ill 
 ventilated, and badly arranged place, and consequently not adapted for its necessarily constant 
 occupancy. The lock-up or prison room, with only one small grated aperture for light or venti- 
 lation, near the ceiling, opens into the guard-room, as does also the cell, 7 by 11 feet. The latter 
 being without light, air, or warmth, has very properly been abandoned as a place of confinement 
 since the post has been garrisoned by the present command. In all guard-houses particular atten- 
 tion should not only be paid to ventilation and other points which affect the health or comfort of 
 those on duty, but in addition the cells and lock-ups should be so constructed as, while affording 
 every precaution against escape, they would not be, under any circumstances, converted into tor- 
 ture-chambers for the prisoners. 
 
 The hospital, under the same roof with the chapel and offices, is divided into three sections; 
 one for administrative purposes, flanked by halls extending the entire depth of the building, 
 
 * Report of Commission on Improving Condition of Barracks and Hospitals. London : 1861, page 39. 
 
372 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and communicating with one ward in the end sections; kitchen and mess-room in the rear wing. 
 Its location in such close proximity to the barrack and other buildings is objectionable, but 
 this may have been due to a paramount military necessity. No provision has been made for ven- 
 tilation except by the windows. With the exception of the administrative part, which is conve- 
 niently divided into dispensary, surgeon's office, medical store-room, and linen-room, the plan of 
 the hospital abounds in radical errors which demand especial mention. The first, a medical ward, 
 30 by 20 by 11 feet, cannot accommodate, at the lowest amount of air space, more than six men 
 properly. The windows are unfortunately in the ends of the room, thus materially retarding cur- 
 rents, and producing more or less stagnation of air; and as the wood-house, latrines, &c., are 
 placed at a distance of only twenty feet in rear of the windows, this* defect is aggravated, as the out- 
 buildings virtually form, with the angle of the wing, a dead court. The second, or surgical ward, 
 as originally designed, had the same dimensions, &c., as the medical ward, with several additional 
 errors peculiar to itself; it was lighted by windows in one side and end respectively, and communicated 
 in rear directly with the mess-room, thus effectually precluding proper ventilation, and affording 
 every facility for permeation of odors from the neighboring kitchen. But as no quarters were pro- 
 vided in the hospital for the steward, where it is essential for obvious reasons that this non-com- 
 missioned officer should remain, the ward was at some unknown period divided by temporary par- 
 titions into two rooms ; one still used as a ward, though small and inconvenient, while the other, 
 with the addition of the former mess-room, serves to accommodate the hospital steward and matron; 
 the mess-room also being used as laundry, as in this climate all work of this kind must for a greater 
 part of the year be done under cover. The other prominent defects of the hospital are, briefly? 
 that it is without bath or wash-rooms, water-closet, or dead-house. No separate room is provided 
 for the attendants, who are therefore compelled to sleep in the ward.* 
 
 The natural drainage of the post, aided by several surface drains on the bank of the river, is 
 sufficient to carry off the snow and rain-fall. No artificial drainage has been attempted, and no 
 system of the kind is at all practicable here ; the sewerage, &c., is therefore necessarily collected in 
 barrels, and regularly removed. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Ripley, Minnesota, 
 
 . for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 ja 
 
 & 
 
 a 
 
 2 
 
 |j 
 
 S3 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 | 
 
 =2 
 
 . 
 
 .2 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 X 
 
 's 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 '3 
 
 [3 
 
 p3 E 
 
 | ; 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 ll 
 
 tl 
 
 
 1 
 
 "S "a 
 
 I 
 
 3 
 
 T? 
 
 X 
 
 g 
 
 ^ 
 
 P 
 
 Q 
 
 I 
 
 o 
 
 
 * 
 
 1 * 
 
 
 S 
 
 Q 
 
 1 
 
 [2 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 62 
 
 67 
 
 
 l 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 14 
 
 11 
 
 
 1869 
 
 67 16 
 
 97 
 
 l 
 
 21 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 g 
 
 
 19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT ABERCROMBIE, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OK ASSISTANT SURGEON W. H. GARDNER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Abercrombie is situated on the west bank of the Red River of the North, twelve miles 
 north of the confluence of its two branches, the Bois de Sioux and the Otter Tail; latitude 46 27' 
 north, longitude 96 28' west. 
 
 This post was established by act of Congress, approved March 3, 1857, agreeable to the provi- 
 sions of which the following order was issued: 
 
 Since this description was written the hospital has been burned. 
 
GEXEHAI, ORDERS, 
 
 8.) 
 
 No. 15. 5 
 
 FOET ABEBCEOMBIE, DAKOTA TEEEITOEY. 373 
 
 HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, June 24, 1857. 
 
 By direction of the Secretary of War, under the act approved March 3, 1857, a military post, to Vie known as Fort 
 Abercrombie, will be established on the most eligible site near the head of navigation of the Red River of the North, at 
 
 or in the vicinity of a place known as Graham's Point, Minnesota. 
 
 **#****<******* 
 
 The post will be built for four companies, and as ultimately one of these is to be a company of cavalry, the neces- 
 sary provision for such a garrison will enter into the plan of the work. 
 
 In obedience to this order Lieutenant Colonel J. J. Abercrombie arrived here with troops, and 
 went into camp in a protected bend of the river, about two hundred yards from the present site of 
 the fort, on the 28th day of August, 1858. The heat was intense, and the mosquitoes and buffalo 
 flies intolerable, but the troops worked vigorously and soon had log quarters erected, which were 
 sufficient to keep them comfortable during the winter. On the 23th of July, 1850, the post was 
 abandoned, but after remaining entirely deserted until July, 1800, was reoccupied and the building 
 resumed. In 18(52 the post was besieged by about three hundred Indians of the Sisseton and 
 Yancton bands of Sioux. They drove away the cattle, mnles, and horses belonging to the post, 
 and those of the citizens near by. The Indians made two assaults on the post one on September 
 3d, the other September Gth but neither were in large force, and were easily repulsed. There is no 
 doubt but that the post was in imminent peril for many days, having no stockade, but fortunately 
 many of the citizens were able and willing to assist in the defense, and a train loaded with goods 
 for the Red Lake Indians being present, containing among other things sixty double-barreled 
 shot-guns, the teamsters and other citizens were armed with them and formed a militia company, 
 which rendered effective and valuable service. 
 
 In February, 18G3, the stockade and block-houses were finished, and the post made defensible 
 against almost any number of Indians. 
 
 The reservation, although not yet declared, was surveyed in 1867, and contains an area of 22 
 square miles, embracing both sides of the river. 
 
 The valley of the lied River of the North at Fort Abercrombie is about 1,700 feet above the 
 level of the sea, and forms a perfectly flat prairie, broken only by the streams which drain it. It 
 commences about tifty miles south of the post at the divide w Inch separates the waters of Lake 
 Traverse, one source of the Red River, from the waters of Big Stone Lake, the source of the Min- 
 nesota or St. Peter's River, and extends eastward into Minnesota to a high range of hills sixty miles 
 distant, called Leaf Mountain ; westward in Dakota to the Ooteau des Prairies, fifty miles distant, 
 and northward to the debouche of the river in Lake Winnipeg, only contracted at its western side 
 by Pembina Mountain, which is probably the northern abutment of the Coteau des Prairies, once 
 the western shore of the great water that filled this broad Red River Valley. The formation 
 is alluvial ; the surface a black, loose soil, deep and fertile, lying upon a horizontal stratum of stiff, 
 grayish or bluish clay, with occasional small circumscribed beds of coarse sand and small gravel, 
 while scattered over the prairie, along the banks and in the bed of the stream, are granitic quart zose, 
 and occasionally limestone boulders of various sizes, from ten pounds to several tons in weight. 
 
 The river at its usual stage is about 150 feet broad at Fort Abercrombie, and from two to ten 
 feet in depth, having a swift current, with probably a descent of four inches per mile.. Shortly 
 after the junction of its two branches, about twenty miles above, it passes through banks of drift 
 eighty feet high, and over boulders, forming rapids. A mile or two lower down (according to Pro- 
 fessor Owen) a ledge of magnesian limestone, containing fossils allied to the lower silnrian system, 
 outcrops at the edge of the banks. From a point three miles above Fort Abercrombie, to Pem- 
 bina, near the British line, the banks of the stream are heavily wooded, chiefly with oak, ash, and 
 elm, which come almost down to the water'sedge to join the red willow and wild rice (Zuzania aquatica) 
 growing there. Since the Red River flows northward into a colder climate, the snow and ice which 
 form in the water melton its sources before its outlet is free from ice, and from this cause overflows 
 of its banks frequently take place. The tortuous course of the river also causes in the spring, 
 when the ice breaks up, frequent gorges of ice, and then the country behind the gorge is rapidly 
 flooded, the current seeking new channels and bearing along with crushing force immense fields of 
 ice that sweep away trees, houses, and everything in its path. Georgetown and Pembina, lower 
 down the river, have frequently suffered from these causes, and it is recorded that the waters of 
 
374 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the river at one of these spring floods came up into the parade ground of the fort, at least forty 
 feet above the usual level of the water. 
 
 Frequent mention has been made of the presence of coal near this locality, and an 'Indian scout 
 once reported that the ground near which he had passed about thirty miles from here was on fire 
 and had been burning for several days. As far as can be ascertained these reports are entirely 
 without foundation, though the story of the Indian scout, if true, is readily explained by suppos- 
 ing that possibly a peat bog had been ignited by the burning prairie. 
 
 All the cereals and vegetables grow well and abundantly in the valley. The country is excel- 
 lent for stock-raising, all kinds of prairie grass being plentiful. Timber is found only along the 
 river bank. 
 
 In May, as soon as the ice on the streams breaks up, a large species of fish, called by the In- 
 dians and halt-breeds " buffalo fish," can be seen in large numbers in the streams, evidently coming 
 from Lake Winnipeg to deposit their spawn. They are not found after June about here. They 
 frequently are caught weighing twenty-five or thirty pounds. Another fish common in the river 
 is the " sheep-head." It is very similar, in general appearance, to the sheep-head caught in Chesa- 
 peake Bay, (Xparis ovis,) except that the teeth are like the teeth of perch. They are frequently 
 caught weighing twenty-five or thirty pounds, and in taste somewhat resemble their marine name- 
 sake. These fish are said to make a grunting or drumming noise. at night, and from this cause 
 they are sometimes called drum fish. Lake trout are sometimes seen ; also a beautiful perch, with 
 white silvery scales, small, and a very delicate pan fish. 
 
 Insect life in the summer fills the wood and the prairie, and, though the varieties are few, the 
 numbers of each are incalculable. Cockroaches have not yet reached this outpost of civilization, 
 but the valley of the lied River is infested with frequent visitations of locusts, that come in count- 
 less swarms, and before they leave destroy every green thing. They usually arrive in July, not in 
 installments, but the whole army at once. Their flight is high and vigorous, though the direction 
 of their migration is usually determined by the wind. They commence their ravages as soon as 
 they arrive, and by the time they are ready to deposit their eggs, in September, the crop, with the 
 exception of potatoes and other tubers, is entirely destroyed. The eggs deposited the previous 
 year hatch usually in the latter part of May or early in June, and the young commence at once the 
 destruction of the young crop. It would seem that the vitality of their eggs is not destroyed by 
 freezing, since it is impossible from the length of the ovipositor of the female that the eggs can be 
 placed in the earth at a greater depth than one inch; (I have frequently dug them up, and never 
 from a greater depth than this;) but even supposing that they were placed in the ground three 
 inches below the surface, it would still not place them beyond the reach of frost, for during the 
 winter the earth is frequently frozen to a depth of two feet, and even to a greater depth when the 
 first heavy snow is delayed until late in December. Last year the Red River Valley, about Fort 
 Abercrombie, was free from them, but sixty miles west of here their ravages have caused destitu- 
 tion and famine. Some idea may be obtained of their numbers when it is known that about Fort 
 Gerry, Red River Settlement. British America, in many places where the wind had blown them, 
 their dead bodies are piled three feet deep, arid their putrefaction caused such a stench that many 
 people had to desert their homes until the nuisance had abated. It is supposed by some that the 
 spread of agriculture in this country by diminishing prairie fires (one great cause of their destruc- 
 tion) will tend to make the locusts more numerous, but it is more probable that prairie fires which 
 destroy many locusts destroy also a great many of their enemies and competitors, and thus give 
 the locusts the advantage in the struggle for existence. The introduction and spread of agricul- 
 ture would not only prevent prairie fires, and the consequent destruction of birds and other 
 enemies of locusts, but would also bring into the question many new enemies, such as domesticated 
 poultry, now very uncommon here, and would also introduce not a few competitors, all of which 
 would tend directly or indirectly to keep them down. 
 
 The climate is very cold during four or five months of the year, frequently being 40 below 
 zero, and in the summer rising to 100 in the shade. Between these extremes the mean annual 
 temperature is 39. 
 
 Fort Abercrombie is a rectangle, 075 by G25 feet, inclosed by a stockade of logs projecting 
 above the ground from 8 to 12 feet, surmounted at the northeast, southeast, and southwest by block 
 
FOET ABEECEOMBIE, DAKOTA TEBEITOEY. 375 
 
 houses oi'hewu logs, which are pierced with loopholes for small arms, and embrasures on the outer 
 side for artillery. The surface inclosed is almost level down to the immediate crest of the bank of 
 the river, and is easily drained by two main drains (uncovered) on the eastern and western sides. 
 The level of the parade ground is about thirty feet above the usual level of the river. t 
 
 The company quarters are three buildings, each one story high, boarded outside, and lathed 
 and plastered within, divided into bake room, store-room, kitchen, dining-room, orderly-room, and 
 two squad-rooms, each 33 by 25 feet, and 9 feet high; each squad-room being intended to accom- 
 modate thirty-two men, giving 232 cubic feet of air space per man. Fortunately these rooms are 
 not very close, for the only ventilation is an air shaft consisting of a stove pipe put up alongside 
 the chimney, and opening into it above, nor are they usually occupied by their full complement of 
 men. Deducting those who sleep out of the quarters perhaps not even twenty men ever sleep in 
 one squad-room at one time even this, however, will give but 371 cubic feet of air per man. It 
 requires but little knowledge of the necessities of air-breathing animals to know that the. largest 
 estimate allowed per man in any of these squad-rooms is not over one-third of what each man 
 should have, and undoubtedly this deprivation of fresh, pure air for a great part of the day is a 
 permanent and enduring source of disease even in this healthy climate. Moreover, even this small 
 allowance of air is additionally vitiated by the large cast-iron stove which heats it, and the lamp 
 which burns during part of the night. The latrines, ten or twelve feet deep, are close to the line of 
 the stockade. These are disinfected at short intervals, and as far as can be ascertained have been 
 no cause of disease. 
 
 A small isolated frame building is used as quarters by the commanding officer ; it contains 
 three small rooms and a kitchen down stairs. North from this building is a set of captains' quarters, 
 containing three good-sized rooms down stairs, including the kitchen, and two low attic rooms up 
 stairs. Next beyond this building is a row of log buildings, 17 by 142 feet, used as quarters by 
 the ordnance sergeant, hospital steward, hospital matron, and containing the post school-room, 
 lieutenants' mess-room, and quartermaster's store-room. There is a large frame building containing 
 five rooms and a kitchen on the lower floor, and two upper attic rooms. It is used for offices by the 
 commanding officer and the adjutant, and contains the quarters of the post surgeon. Adjoining 
 this building is a small frame building containing two rooms, attached to the next set of quarters, 
 which is a frame building lathed and plastered inside. It contains three rooms, including kitchen, 
 on the lower floor, and up stairs three low attic rooms. Next on the north is another small building but 
 one story high. Adjoining this little building, on the north, is a long one-story frame building, 
 clapboarded, lathed and plastered, and divided into six rooms for lieutenants' quarters; in the 
 rear of which, and ten feet distant, is a building, unfinished at present, the same length as those 
 quarters, divided into rooms for kitchens for each set of quarters. Opposite the north end of this 
 building is a granary or store-house, 20 by 83 feet, running east and west. 
 
 Between two of the company quarters is a small building fronting the parade ground, 20 by 16 
 feet, built of hewn logs, which is the guard -hou <e. The interior is divided into one large, and two 
 small rooms or cells, about 7 feet square. These are secured by small barred windows, and 
 holes have been made through the logs for ventilation. The average number of prisoners in the 
 guard house during the past six mouths is a fraction less than five. The number of guard has been 
 very variable, ranging between eight and eighteen. The hospital is a two-story frame building, 
 38 feet square, lathed and plastered within, the interval between the clapboards and plas- 
 tering being filled in with brick. The lower floor is elevated from two to three feet above the 
 ground; the height of lower rooms is 10 feet, the upper 9$. The lower floor is divided into an office, 
 a dispensary, a kitchen, and a dining-room. A hall separates the rooms, and also contains the 
 stairs. Between the kitchen and the dining-room is a pantry, 10 feet long and 4 feet broad. The 
 upper floor is divided by a hall, 8 feet wide, on one side of which is a large room or ward, 14 by 28 feet, and 
 adjoining this room a small one, 14 feet square. Across the hall there are three rooms, two 14 feet 
 square, with a small room, 14 by 10 feet, between them. All the rooms in the hospital are heated 
 with cast-iron stoves, and, except the large ward, have no means of ventilation but the windows 
 and doors. The large ward is ventilated by a shaft passing up by the side of the chimney ; it con- 
 tains five beds, allowing about 800 cubic feet of air space to each man. This, though hardly half enough 
 in a southeru latitude, answers very well here, for the difference between the temperature of internal 
 and external air is so great that diffusion and currents of air occur through the smallest crevices ' 
 
376 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 besides which, all of the beds in this room are seldom filled. Under the kitchen is a cellar, 10 feet 
 square and feet deep, which so far has kept vegetables from being frozen. The post bakery is a 
 iiewly erected frame building, l(i by 30 feet. The ice-house is a pit, 40 by 20 feet, lined with rough 
 logs, covered with thatch, and well banked around with earth. This ice-house is capable of con- 
 taining over three hundred tons of ice, this supply usually being ample for three companies during 
 the summer. 
 
 The garrison is supplied with water for all purposes from the river. The water is tasteless, 
 inodorous, and colorless, except in summer and when swollen by the spring floods. Two gallons 
 of the water, carefully filtered and evaporated to dryness, left a yellowish residuum, which, when 
 thoroughly dried, weighed twenty-six grains. This residuum effervesces freely with nitric or sul- 
 phuric acids, and under the blowpipe loses weight and degrades into a whitish friable mass that 
 shows the usual reactions of lime. This residuum does not color the flame of the spirit-lamp either 
 bluish or yellowish. Tins water is hard and requires quite a large quantity of soap to produce a 
 good and permanent froth. It acts freely upon lead. A piece of lead pipe measuring four- 
 square inches was allowed to stand in four fluid ounces of the water twenty-four hours, and on 
 passing a current of sulphureted hydrogen gas through the fluid, after the lead was taken out, a 
 copious black precipitate was immediately obtained. It contains oxidizable organic matter. One 
 hundred cubic centimeters of the water was colored to a perceptible pinkish tinge by the addition 
 of one cubic centimeter of the standard solution of permanganate of potassa, which color was 
 entirely destroyed in thirty-five minutes. One and a half cubic centimeters of the perman- 
 ganate solution additional to the same amount of water, (100 cubic centimeters,) was destroyed in a 
 few mimutes less than an hour, while the deep pink tinge communicated to 100 cubic centimeters of 
 the water, by the addition of two cubic centimeters of the permanganate solution, was not entirely 
 destroyed until after the lapse of two hours. With a solution of nitrate of silver, the river water 
 gives a tolerably copious white precipitate, which is redissolved upon the addition of a few drops 
 of nitric, acid. Fro.u all of which reactions it is shown that this water is a tolerably healthy drink- 
 ing water, but that, like most river waters, it is hard; that its hardness chiefly depends on the car- 
 bonate of lime; that it contains oxidizable organic matter, but not in any marked degree; that it 
 contains some chloride of sodium, and that it contains no sulphates or sulphuric acid. As good 
 water as this, and as easily attainable, will probably prevent any experiments in well-digging about 
 the river banks, at least for some years, but cisterns might be constructed with but little labor and 
 expense, which would collect the rain-water from the immense roof surface here exposed, and 
 would be better in many respects for the purpose of the lavatory and the laundry, not to mention 
 the great advantage which might accrue in case of fire. 
 
 The nearest quartermaster and subsistence depots are at St. Paul, Minnesota, 245 miles distant, 
 the route of supply being by rail to St. Cloud, thence by wagons in the summer, and by sleds in 
 the winter. During November, and after severe storms, the roads are frequently impassable for 
 either wagons or sleds, and during the latter part of April, and nearly all of May, the streams rise, 
 making the roads impassable for loaded wagons. July, August, and September are the best months 
 for transporting supplies. A tri-weekly line of stages connects with the railroad at St. Cloud, the 
 time being three days. 
 
 From the establishment of the post up to the present time it has possessed a remarkable im- 
 munity from disease. Scurvy has prevailed to some extent, owing to a want of care in providing 
 the troops here with sufficient vegetable diet. However, the causes acting on the troops temporarily, 
 and supposed to cause scurvy, act on the aboriginal inhabitants almost continually, and yet we 
 never hear of, and certainly never see, an Indian suffering from scurvy. The Indians about here 
 n-e in their diet a tuber like the artichoke, called Indian turnip, wild plums, and also cranberries 
 and gooseberries, in the seasons when they are ripe, but these fruits are inconstant, and make but a 
 small portion of their diet. 
 
 Phthisis pulmonalis, pneumonia, and most other lung diseases are rare. The only diseases 
 which seem of endemic origin, are a peculiar pharyngitis and tonsillitis, and asthma, which are 
 usually made worse when already existing, and sometimes brought on when not before known to exist. 
 Both of these diseases may have their origin in the fungus of the wild grasses of the prairie sur- 
 rounding the post, though 1 have made no experiments which make this statement anything more 
 than a rational hypothesis. 
 
FOKT WADSWORTH, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 377 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 18G9. 
 
 
 . 
 
 I , 
 
 t 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 a -S 
 
 > 
 
 3 fc- 
 
 
 
 % 
 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 'i. 
 
 Years. 
 
 ft 
 
 1 
 
 48 2 
 
 I 1 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 li- 
 ft 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Epidemic c 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 I 
 
 Rheuiuatis 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 
 c 
 
 s 
 
 6 
 
 1868 
 
 165.83 
 
 228 
 
 3 
 
 38 
 
 2 
 
 54 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 27 
 
 
 1869 
 
 90.16 
 
 148 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 
 15 
 
 
 17 
 
 29 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Im-lude laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT WADSWORTH, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 KEPOET OF ASSISTANT SURGEON B. KNICKERBOCKER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Wadsworth is situated near the head of the Goteau des Prairies, in the eastern part of 
 Dakota Territory, latitude 45 43' 30" north, longitude 97 30" west; height above the sea about 
 2,000 feet. The country consists of high rolling prairie, in the hollows of which are many 
 lakes standing at levels of from forty to eighty feet below the site of the post. A tract of 9 by 15 
 miles is held reserved, but the reservation has nofyet been declared. The borders of the lakes are 
 sparsely timbered with oak, water elm, lynn, and cottonwood. 
 
 The Coteau des Prairies is an extensive deposit of drift on a Silurian base, rising about twenty 
 miles north of the post from the bed of an ancient lake, and extending thence about two hundred 
 miles to the southeast. This drift has remained apparently unmodified, except by disintegration 
 from atmospheric causes, since its deposit in the glacial period. Granite, syenite, sandstone, lime, 
 stone, feldspar, and clays are mingled with gravel and sand, the more deeply imbedded fragments 
 varying much in size, and having angular projections. A rich vegetable mold, with a slight ad- 
 mixture of sand and clay, light and friable, from one to five feet in depth, forms the surface. A 
 well sunk to the depth of 60 feet revealed, after 40 feet, nothing but sand and coarse gravel, with 
 boulders. Water was not obtained, and nothing like hard pan has been found. 
 
 The soil is fertile and well suited to cereals and vegetables. Hay made from the Indian and 
 herd grasses is of excellent quality. The yellow and red varieties of the Prunus americana are 
 found everywhere in profusion, and the gooseberry, raspberry, red and black currants, and grapes 
 also flourish. The extension of the larger trees is prevented by the fires which sweep over the 
 prairie every spring and fall. The waters of the lakes are rendered alkaline from surface drainage 
 of an ash-covered soil ; in the larger lakes not so much so as to be unpalatable, but in the smaller 
 it becomes offensive, and in the warm months putrefaction is rapidly set up in their alkaline waters, 
 holding in suspension a large amount of vegetable matter. 
 
 The principal wild animals, birds, &c., found in the vicinity are as follows : Buffalo, antelope, 
 elk, deer, prairie wolf, large gray wolf, red fox, black bear, badger, otter, marten, beaver, bald eagle, 
 black hawk, kestrel, kite, goshawk, snowy owl, screech owl, blackbird, red-winged blackbird, robin, 
 thrush, American lark, meadow lark, prairie hen, water hen, wild-rock pigeon, crane, curlew, snipe, 
 woodcock, wild goose, summer duck, teal, grebe, coot, pintail, goosander, spirit duck, loon, gull, 
 pelican, and swan. 
 
 The fish are pike, perch, mullet, and bullhead. 
 
 The climate is mild and dry. Average temperature 44.05 F. ; extreme daily means 78.33 F. 
 and 11.66 F. There are no dews. There are no streams in the vicinity. 
 
 The location of the fort with reference to other points is as follows : Fort Eice, Dakota Ter- 
 ritory, is west-northwest 170 miles ; Fort Ransom, Dakota Territory, north-northwest 65 miles ; 
 Fort Abercrombie, northeast 76 miles; Missouri Eiver, west 150 miles; James Eiver, west 38 
 48 
 
378 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 E 
 
 B 
 
 B 
 
 C 
 
 miles; Sank Center, Minnesota, east 136 miles; nearest railroad, now nearly completed to Breck- 
 inridge, Minnesota, northeast 73 miles. 
 
 Fort Wadsworth was established as a military post in July, 1864, in consequence of the out- 
 break of Indian hostilities on the northwest frontier. The fort is five hundred feet from and fifty 
 feet above the surface of Eose Lake, which furnishes the water supply. It incloses about nine and 
 a half acres, has sod-reveted breastworks, and is surrounded by a ditch. The barracks on the 
 east of the parade are two stone buildings, each 200 by 45 feet and one story high, and have a 
 capacity for four companies. The general arrangement is shown in Figure 48. 
 
 A A, orderly rooms ; B B, squad rooms ; C C, kitchens ; D D, mess-rooms : E 
 E, wash-rooms. They are inconveniently arranged. The flooring is bad, and the 
 ventilation and lighting imperfect. Wood-stoves are used for heating. The dormi- 
 tories of each company measure 73 feet 8 inches by 14 feet 8 inches by 10 feet, 
 furnishing a cubic capacity of 10,816 feet, or an air space of 169 feet per man, 
 allowing 64 men to sleep in quarters. Single wooden bunks are used, furnished 
 with the usual bedding. The sinks, 60 feet distant from the barracks, are pits 30 
 feet long and 3 feet wide, sheltered by frame work. The kitchens, 23J by 19 feet, 
 and the mess-rooms are contiguous to the squad-rooms aud dormitories, communi- 
 cating by a door and window. The laundresses and married soldiers' quarters are 
 nine log houses, gable roofed, one story in height, and containing from one to four 
 small rooms, with low ceilings, and small doors and windows. They were con- 
 structed by the volunteers in 1864, but now afford inadequate shelter during the 
 winter months from want of repair. As the Government regards these structures of 
 no value, they are not reported as quartermaster's property. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters is a two-story brick building, of that peculiar 
 color resulting from absence of iron from the clay, 38 by 47 feet, containing four rooms, 
 20 by 18 by 9 feet, on each floor, and four attics under a gable roof. The rooms 
 are divided into pairs by halls, and contain each a fireplace and three windows, 
 Figure 48 Scale wfl i cu afford the only means of ventilation. The four sets of officers' quarters are 
 60 feet to i inch, constructed of brick, 38 by 95 feet, height to eaves 11 feet, to ridge 25 feet, with 
 a Mansard roof. Attached in rear are two back buildings for kitchens and wood-houses, to 
 which on the same line are smaller double salients of brick for water-closets, all under gable roofs. 
 Half stories in the former secure servants' rooms. The two middle quarters have a large hall in com- 
 mon, with which the two lower rooms of each set of quarters communicate. From this hall stairs 
 ascend to a like hall, with two attics on either side with similar communication. The lower rooms, 
 20 by 17 feet, are connected by folding doors. Attics, 20 by 10 feet, have each a dormer window. 
 The end quarters are the same as the middle, except in the possession of a private hall. From all 
 the halls stairs descend to cellars, with dry, gravelly bottoms, under the back rooms. 
 
 The adjutant's office is a three-roomed stone building, 19 by 25 by 12 feet, situated on the south 
 side of the parade. Immediately in its rear is the magazine, also a stone structure, 13 by 25 by 8 
 feet in dimensions, arched with stone aud roofed, with small openings for ventilation. 
 
 The hospital, a brick structure fronting the parade, is 60 by 32 feet, 12 feet to the eaves, and 
 25 feet to the ridge. A hall, 6 feet wide, extends through the center of the building, and contains 
 a staircase leading to the upper floor. The plan of the building is shown in Figure 49. 
 
 A, office, 10 by 10 feet ; B, dispensary, 15 by 15 feet ; C, ward, 24 by 18 feet ; 
 C, ward, 24 by 12 feet ; D, kitchen, 15 by 15 feet ; E, wash-room. 
 
 All the rooms are 10 feet high, plastered and ceiled; warmed by radiating stoves, 
 and artificially lighted by kerosene oil. 
 
 The wards, dispensary, and kitchen have each a wooden tube three inches square 
 entering at the eaves ; in both wards it passes through the ceiling at the center and 
 descends one foot. In the dispensary and kitchen the tubes pass through the ceil- 
 ing at one side and terminate a few inches below. These are intended for the ad- 
 mission of fresh air. 
 
 The two wards have a capacity of twelve beds, with an air space of 600 cubic 
 
 Figure 49. Scale, ,, i. mi. -i i 
 
 40 feet to i inch i 66 * to each. The larger only is used for patients. 
 
 E 
 
 C 
 
 :B 
 
FORT WADS WORTH, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 379 
 
 A large store room is ou the second floor, occupying the space over the wards below. Here 
 the baggage of patients is stored. Two rooms, each 7 by 22 feet, are on the opposite side of 
 the hall, and are occupied as dormitories for attendants. The rooms on this floor have sloping 
 sides, corresponding to the pitch of the roof, to within two feet of the floors, from which to 
 the level ceiling is eight feet. The wash-room contains a bath-tub, basins, and other necessary 
 appendages for cleanliness. The hospital was very much slighted in its building, especially about 
 the doors and windows, through the openings of which a great quantity of snow was blown into 
 the building, above the ceilings, into the wards, dispensary, office, kitchen, and all the other rooms. 
 The hospital was most wretchedly plastered; in the dispensary the plastering has entirely fallen 
 from the ceiling, through which the wind has free access. The roof, ill-constructed, freely admits 
 wind and snow. Considerable portions of plastering have also fallen from the ceilings of the wards 
 and other rooms of the building, with the same unpleasant results. 
 
 Two buildings are appropriated for quartermaster's and commissary's storage ; one a stone struc- 
 ture, 200 by 45 feet, originally designed for company quarters; the other, a log building, 145 by 24 
 feet. The latter is used by the quartermaster, and has a cellar one-third of its extent. The four 
 block -houses, one at each corner of the post, are two stories in height, except the one at the south- 
 east corner, and are now occupied as store-houses. 
 
 The guard-house is a one-story brick building, 20 by 50 by 13 feet. It contains two rooms and 
 two cells ; the latter, 4 by 8 feet, are damp and dark, with no ventilation except by a small half cir- 
 cular opening, three inches in diameter, at the top of each cell door. The rooms are warmed by 
 wood-stoves ; have no ventilation, and bad floors. The building has a capacity for about twenty 
 men. 
 
 The post bakery is a log building, ill ventilated and lighted, having two'ovens with a combined 
 capacity for 470 rations of bread. 
 
 The stable, situated outside the fort and finely constructed of stone, is 240 by 36 by 15 feet, 
 and contains 78 stalls. 
 
 The post library comprises 94 volumes of a miscellaneous character. 
 
 There is an abundant supply of water, but unfortunately of poor quality. The heat of sum- 
 mer producing great evaporation, causes extreme shallowness, and the water is filled with animal 
 and vegetable life, in addition to alkaline and earthy ingredients. The water of melted ice is used 
 almost exclusively in summer by a great number of the command in consequence of the unpalata- 
 bleness of the warm lake water. 
 
 The drainage is good. There is no system of sewerage. Water from rain and melted snow finds 
 an outlet through excavations made in the embankments, and owing to the sloping nature of the 
 interior of the garrison it is generally dry and in good condition. 
 
 Bathing is freely indulged in during summer, but during the cold season there are no special 
 arrangements for that purpose. 
 
 The gardens are three in number, and distant over a half mile from the post. That belonging 
 to the hospital contains a little over seven acres, which was under cultivation last season. The 
 officers' garden is located east from the post, and embraces about two acres. The company garden 
 yielded last year 350 bushels of potatoes. 
 
 The commissariat is well supplied. The nearest depot of supplies is at St. Cloud, Minnesota, 
 197 miles distant. Twelve months' supply is usually kept on hand. No eggs or chickens are pro- 
 curable in the vicinity. 
 
 A stage nominally makes one trip a week to Sauk Center with the mails. It is, however, very 
 irregular, being liable to interruption from snow and floods. The shortest mail time to St. Paul, 
 department headquarters, is five days ; the longest about thirty days. 
 
 From fifteen to thirty miles east of the post are small settlements. The nearest Indians are 
 the Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Sioux. About 1,200 are settled on Lake Traverse reservation, 
 within 70 miles of the fort. They are chiefly occupied in agricultural pursuits. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post is excellent. Intermittent fever, however, undoubt- 
 edly exists, produced in part, if not wholly, in the dark and stony quarters of the troops, the open 
 floors permitting the passage of putrescible matter. The guard-house is in a much worse condi- 
 tion, from the same cause. At present the general health of the garrison is good. The prevailing 
 
380 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 diseases during the past year were miasmatic and inflammatory. Bowel complaints are compara- 
 tively infrequent. The respiratory, nervous, and muscular organs are more frequently affected. 
 
 Thermoinetrical and hygrometrical changes, together with the unpleasant emanations from the 
 eastern extremity of Hampson's Lake, immediately south of the post, and the shallow pond on the 
 west, between the post and cemetery, from the latter of which it receives the drainage, and the 
 unpleasant emanations from the ground underlying the quarters of the troops, are believed to be 
 the principal if not the only disturbing causes. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Wadsworfh, Dakota 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 1 
 
 1 -3 
 
 a -3 
 a 
 
 & s 
 
 3 3 
 f 
 
 Typhoid fever. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Ehenmatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 207. 25 
 
 326 
 
 
 27 
 
 34 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 40 
 
 4 
 
 1869 
 
 103. 16 
 
 86 
 
 1 
 
 21 
 
 1 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 19 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT RANSOM, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON C. E. MUNN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Ransom is situated on the Cheyenne River, about seventy-five miles above its junction 
 with the Red River of the North. Bear's Den Hillock, an exceptional elevation to the surrounding 
 prairie country, at the foot of which the post is built, is differently located on three maps published 
 by authority of the War Department. The mean of the position given by these maps is nearest 
 latitude 46 35' north, longitude 97 47' west from Greenwich. 
 
 The surrounding country to the south and east is gently rolling prairie. To the north and 
 west, immediately behind the post, the land rises abruptly into a chain of sand-hills, the highest of 
 which has given the name to this locality. The Cheyenne River winds through a beautiful valley 
 within half a mile of the fort, rendering the scenery remarkable by contrasting a broad belt of well- 
 wooded bottom laud with boldly sloping banks of treeless prairie. The stream approaches the 
 post from the north, and at its nearest point makes a sudden bend to the east, which general direc- 
 tion it then pursues through the reservation. Its average depth is eighteen inches, though frequently 
 it is found to be five or six feet deep above obstructed points. Near the fort it is from eighteen to thirty 
 feet in width, and flows with a moderate current. To the west and north, between the post and 
 the hillock, is a ravine which divides the hills from the prairie. Near the head of this ravine are 
 numerous springs, the more important of which have been improved for the use of the garrison. 
 About three miles south from the post a depression from the ordinary prairie level occurs, which 
 receives the waters from the melting snows, forming a small lake in the spring. On this low land 
 abundance of hay may be cut to supply all prospective wants of the Government animals. The 
 soil of the post is a light porous alluvium, with a stratum of cobble stones at a depth of from one 
 to two feet beneath; they are bedded in and underlaid by fine gravel. This insures a rapid 
 absorption of the rain-fall, and practical experience in the company gardens has demonstrated 
 their susceptibility for successful cultivation. Limestone and clay are found, which will prove 
 useful for building purposes. Lime has been made at the post already, in considerable quantity. 
 
 There are in the vicinity of the post numerous mounds, which appear to be of ancient and 
 artificial origin ; none of them have yet been opened for examination. 
 
 The soil of the vicinity is good, and most garden plants of the isothermal of 45 can be sue- 
 
FORT RANSOM, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 381 
 
 cessfully cultivated. The river valley has a fair growth of timber, mostly scrub oak and elm. 
 Maple, ash, iron wood, wild cherry, plum, and willows are also found. 
 
 Among the wild animals found in the vicinity of Fort Ransom are the black bear, grizzly bear, 
 common otter, little black mink, common mink, little ermiue, white weasel, common badger, gray, 
 red, black, and silver foxes, gray wolf, beaver, niuskrat, rabbit, deer, antelope, and buffalo. The 
 principal game birds are wild pigeons, plover, snipe, wood duck, brant, and wild geese. 
 
 The average temperature for the year 1869 was 38.36. Extremes 103 F. and 27 F. Feb- 
 ruary 19th, 1870, the thermometer fell to 32. Total rain and snow-fall, 15.77 inches. 
 
 Ten miles square is held reserved. June 17, 1867, a battalion of the Tenth United States 
 Infantry, consisting of Companies G and H, commanded by Brevet Major George H. Crosman, 
 Captain Tenth United States Infantry, arrived at Bear's Den Hillock from Fort Wadsworth, and 
 encamped near the present site of the post. Some days previously General Terry, commanding the 
 Department of Dakota, had arrived and selected a, location for a new post. In special field orders 
 No. 2, dated June 18, 1867, he commanded Major Crosman to construct temporary quarters and 
 other necessary buildings for his men and animals, assigning to him the command and directing 
 the post to be named Fort Ransom. In accordance with instructions, work on an inclosing breast- 
 work was first commenced and finished in August. Abundance of oak timber being found near the 
 post, logs were exclusively used for the walls of all the structures. These buildings are arranged 
 in a hollow square within an earth breastwork, 350 by 400 feet, and, with the exception of two, arc 
 of one story. The quarters of the men are under one roof on the north side of the square, and are 
 divided into four large and two small rooms, the latter being used as quarters for first sergeants. 
 The squad-rooms are 29 by 23 by 8 feet, and are ventilated naturally, and by a small trap 
 in each ceiling. There is no ventilation under the floor. The quarters are warmed by box-stoves, 
 and each squad-room has three windows. The kitchens are attached, and are uniformly clean and 
 wholesome. 
 
 The other buildings at the post in different stages of completion are store-houses for quarter- 
 master and commissary, quarters for married men, granary, bakery, office for commandant and 
 adjutant, stables for public stock, and the magazine. All these are inside the earthwork, and are 
 kept well policed. Quarters for the Indian scouts are outside the inclosure, and consist of two 
 small temporary structures. The commanding officer occupies a two-story house of hewn logs, with 
 four rooms on the ground floor, and two chambers. The quarters for the captain commanding the 
 second company are essentially the same, but at present are not so near completion ; while those 
 for the other officers are under one roof, in a building 150 feet long and 35 feet wide, divided by 
 partitions and spaces into five sets of quarters, three single and two double sets, each set contain- 
 ing two rooms about 16 feet square and 8 feet high. The double sets have four similar rooms, 
 divided by a space, 5 feet wide, which serves for an entry. Each room is well lighted by two win- 
 dows, and most of them are lathed and plastered. But two sets of the lieutenants' quarters are yet 
 painted. There are two serious detects in these otherwise pleasant and roomy quarters, viz., absence 
 of ventilation beneath the floor, and the position of privies, these last having been placed imme- 
 diately in the rear of the quarters against the building. 
 
 The guard-house is 30 by 20 by 10 feet, and is divided into a main room and two cells. 
 One of these cells, 10 feet square, is seldom used. It is constructed solely with a view to severe 
 punishment, and, when the door is tightly closed, is absolutely without light or ventilation. The 
 guard-room is warmed by a stove, and lighted by one window. The building has always been well 
 policed. 
 
 The hospital building is still unfinished. It consists of a main building, 37 by 32 feet, and an 
 addition, 20 by 18 by 8 feet; a dispensary, 18 by 12 by 8 feet, kitchen, dining-room, and nurses' 
 room. One ward, 24 by 18 by 9 feet, lathed and plastered, contains six beds, with an air 
 space of 648 cubic feet per man; no ventilation, except by doors and windows; no bath-room, 
 wash-room, nor water-closet. An ordinary privy is situated 20 yards distant from the building. 
 The addition is neatly fitted up with shelves for use as a store-room, and may be used also as 
 a ward for contagious diseases. This store-room is the only finished room in the building^ 
 the others being unceiled. In its unfinished state, the hospital building is totally unfit for the ac- 
 eommodation'of the sick in the colder season, at which time the thermometer frequently indicates 
 
382 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the freezing poiut when suspended in the ward a few feet from a good fire. By an order discharg 
 ing citizen employe's its erection was stopped, and the post commander, though fully conscious of 
 the importance and urgent necessity of the work, expressed his entire inability to furnish skilled 
 men, by reason of the depleted condition of the companies. The magazine is built of stone, the 
 only structure of this material at the post. The post bakery has an oven capacity for 240 loaves. 
 It is a model of cleanliness and order, and produces bread of an excellent quality. The stable at 
 the post measures 174 by 31 feet, and is 10 feet high. 
 
 The water supply is from a line spring 600 yards from the post. A partial examination showed 
 it clear, without odor and tasteless, containing total solids, 14 grains per gallon ; volatile solids, 4 
 grains per gallon, chlorine 2.5, organic matter in an extremely small, and lime in large amount. 
 The gradual slope of the ground from the post makes thorough drainage comparatively easy, though 
 this advantage is as yet unimproved. In summer the enlisted men frequently bathe in the river. 
 There are no arrangements for bathing in winter. Situated outside the breastworks, and aboiit 75 
 yards distant from the men's quarters, is the men's sink. There are 8 acres of land at this post 
 appropriated for garden purposes, each company cultivating about three acres, and the remainder 
 giving gardens to the hospital and officers. The soil is fertile and susceptible of high cultivation. 
 Some potatoes have been raised, but the main crop of vegetables has been destroyed by grasshop- 
 pers, which come in clouds from the northwest, and in a few hours destroy the entire garden. 
 There are no cows at the post. One has usually been kept for the hospital, but was lost on the 
 prairie in October, 1868. The character of food procured from the post commissary is of good qual- 
 ity, sufficient in quantity, and of fair variety. The nearest point to purchase furniture is at St. 
 Cloud, Minnesota. A certain amount of rude furniture for barracks and quarters has been made 
 at the post. 
 
 The medical and hospital supplies are received from St. Louis, Missouri. Owing probably to 
 s6 long and difficult transportation these supplies are seldom received in other than a damaged 
 condition. Communication is had by quartermaster teams to Port Abercrombie, Dakota Territory, 
 and by tri-weekly coach thence to St. Cloud, Minnesota. In winter the route from here to Aber- 
 crombie is especially daugerous from storms, and in spring communication is often stopped by 
 floods ou the Wild Itice River. The weekly mail, on horseback, via Abercrombie, is often inter- 
 rupted, as above, and requires about eight days to reach St. Paul, Minnesota. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are principally Sioux Indians, thoiigh but few 
 lodges winter here. A few Dakotas, mostly Sisseton and Wahpetons, remain about the post- 
 Their disposition seems friendly, and some are willing to work; the majority, however, hunt and 
 trap. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at the post and vicinity are principally catarrhal. One-fourth of the 
 sickness reported has been from slight accidents, until the new command, coming from Louisiana, 
 brought with them a great number of cases of intermittent fever. Cases of phthisis pulmonalis are 
 frequent among the resident Dakotas. 
 
 Statement shotting mean xtrenyth, number of sick, and principal disease* at Fort Ransom, Dakota Ter- 
 ritory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 -= 
 
 1 
 
 
 us 
 
 . 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 oc 
 
 Vi-:irs. 
 
 it 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 C 
 
 1 
 a 
 
 ;f 
 
 g c 
 1 8 
 
 gl- 
 
 nsillitis. 
 
 idemic cat 
 
 1 
 
 E 
 
 j 
 
 CS 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 * 
 
 a a 
 |1 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 v 
 
 Jt 
 
 e8 
 
 O 
 
 
 < 
 
 * 
 
 s 
 
 a 
 
 H 
 
 H 
 
 
 K 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 1868 
 
 99 1C 
 
 119 
 
 /* 
 
 14 
 
 a 
 
 
 4 
 
 7 
 
 28 
 
 
 1869 
 
 73 66 
 
 104 
 
 11 
 
 24 
 
 
 I 
 
 14 
 
 11 
 
 61 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, anil pleurisy. 
 
FORT TOTTEN, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 383 
 
 FORT TOTTEN, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPOKT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON J. F. BOUGHTER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Totteii is situated on the south side of LcikeMinnewaken, (commonly called Devil's Lake,) 
 about 900 yards from the lake shore. Latitude 47 59' 6" north, longitude 98 54' west, and 1,480 
 feet above the sea. Cheyenne River, the only stream in the vicinity, is six miles south. Turtle 
 Mountain, an isolated group of hills covered with timber, said to be a resort of tribes of hostile 
 Indians, lies about 70 miles northwest of the post near the British frontier. Fort Stevenson is 
 distant 126 miles south of west and Fort Abercrombie 165 miles southeast. The nearest towns are 
 St. Joseph and Pembina, the former 100 miles distant by road, the latter about 180 miles. About 
 ten miles square is held reserved. The country in the vicinity of the post is rolling and well 
 wooded, oak, ash, elm, poplar and maple being the principal trees. The soil is loam, on a bed of 
 sand and gravel, superimposed on clay, and is suited for cultivation. Many granite boulders, some 
 of great size, are scattered over the neighboring hills and valleys. 
 
 Devil's Lake is about forty-five or fifty miles in length, and from five to fifteen miles in width, 
 dotted with a great number of islands, several of which are more than two miles long, all well 
 timbered. No streams enter or leave the lake, hence the inference that it is fed by springs. Its 
 waters, though salt, are much less so than those of the ocean. Its principal salts appear to be 
 chloride of sodium, and sulphate and carbonate of soda, with lime and magnesium salts. The specific 
 gravity is about 1004. 
 
 The principal wild animals <>l the vicinity are the wild cat, wolf, red fox, kit fox, white weasel, 
 mink, otter, badger, black bear, squirrels, beavers, muskrats, and rabbits. The moose, caribou or 
 reindeer, and American elk, are rapidly disappearing from this vicinity. Antelope and buffalo, as 
 late as 1865, were numerous, but now have almost entirely disappeared. 
 
 Of birds the following are the most important: Turkey buzzard, duck hawk or peregrine falcon, 
 sparrow hawk, red-tailed hawk, American fish-hawk or osprey, great-horned owl, mottled or 
 screech owl, snowy or white owl, wild pigeon, sharp-tailed grouse, sand-hill crane, great blue 
 heron, bittern or stake driver, killdeer, western plover, black-bellied plover, long-billed curlew, 
 mud hen, common rail hen, American swan, trumpeter swan, snow goose, Canada or wild goose, 
 brant goose, mallard duck, black duck, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, shoveler or spoonbill, 
 summer or wood duck, red-head duck, butter-ball or clipper duck, and it is said that the canvas- 
 back duck has been seen on Devil's Lake. 
 
 Of fish the common pickerel (Esox retioulatus) is the. only species ol>scr\rd in Lake Miniie- 
 wakeu. 
 
 The climate is very dry. Sudden changes of temperature are common, (a difference of 35 to 
 40 ill twenty-four hours is not unusual,) but do not appear to affect the health as in climates where 
 the atmosphere, is more humid. The air is pure and bracing. The contrasts of the seasons are well 
 marked, L e., the range of temperature between the extremes is very considerable, viz., 132F. The 
 mean temperature (from August 1, 1869, to April 30, 1870) is 37.80 F.; extremes 94 F., August 8, 
 1869, and 38 F., February 19, 1870. The average dew-point for the month of August, 1869, was 
 54.51 F.; September, 1869, 43.74 F.; October, 1869, 27.24 F. ; November, 1869, 19.42 F.; and 0*' 
 April, 1870, 34.06 F. The rain-fall during the same period (i. e., nine months) was 3.80 inches ; 
 quantity of snow 1.84 inch. Owing to the difficulty in collecting the snow, on account of the 
 high winds during the winter, the above quantity (1.84 inch) perhaps represents a little less than 
 the actual quantity. 
 
 The prevailing winds during the cold season, and for a greater portion of the year, are from the 
 north and west; south and southwesterly winds prevail during the warm season. Northwest winds 
 in winter bring snow-storms and very cold weather; in summer, sometimes rain and cool weather. 
 The winds at all seasons of the year blow with considerable force. "Winter is the longest of the 
 seasons, and may be regarded as commencing November 1, and ending March 31, although light 
 falls of snow occur in both October and April. Vegetation first appears in April, and is killed by 
 the heavy frosts of October. 
 
384 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The site was first occupied as a military post in July, 1867. The original fort was designed to 
 be temporary, the buildings being constructed of rough logs, to be occupied only until suitable 
 .structures could be erected for a permanent post. The present fort is still in process of completion 
 and is situated on a comparatively level tract of prairie, about 800 yards south of the old tempo- 
 rary post established by General Terry. Owing to the unfinished state of many of the buildings, the 
 old fort is still occupied in part. It stands on a small hill close to, and about 50 feet above, the 
 level of the lake. It is 200 yards long, by 100 yards wide, and is surrounded by a stockade, 18 feet 
 in height. The buildings forming the garrison having been originally intended only for winter 
 quarters, and hastily erected, are necessarily very defective in some respects, are in a very bad 
 state of repair, and unfit to live in. 
 
 The new post, when completed, will comprise twenty buildings, forming a parallelogram, and 
 so arranged that the post is defensible without a heavy stockade, which tends to obstruct ventila- 
 tion and demoralize the troops. The arrangement is shown in Figure 50. 
 
 A B C D S T, officers' quarters ; 
 
 J_l . E, hospital ; F and M, magazines ; H, 
 
 quartermaster's store-house; I J J 
 K, company quarters; L, commissary 
 store-house ; N, workshops ; O, offices ; 
 P, school and court-martial room ; E, 
 company offices. 
 
 The foundations of the buildings 
 ] are of boulders, rocks, &c., found on 
 the lake shore ; the brick were made 
 at the post. The exterior walls have 
 an air-chamber of 2 inches in the 
 clear, making the walls 15 inches 
 thick. The interior and gable walls 
 are 9 inches thick. This description 
 of the masonry and brick-work is ap- 
 plicable to all the buildings. The 
 company quarters are alike in dimen- 
 sions, finish, &c. The buildings are 
 M feet long by 32 feet wide, two 
 .stories high, the first story 11 feet, 
 The entrance is from the outside 
 
 D 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 \ 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 E 
 
 Figure 50. Scale. 144 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 and the second story 10 feet in the clear from fioor to ceiling, 
 into a hall, and thence to the rooms of the men. Two flights of stairs in each hall conduct to the 
 upper hall leading into the rooms as below. The ventilation of the buildings is as follows : To pro- 
 vide for fresh air there is an air-duct under the floor of each compartment leading through the walls 
 to the outside of the building, with an iron register fitted into the center of the floor and commu- 
 nicating therewith ; these ducts are 8 by 10 inches in dimensions, and the outside openings are cov- 
 ered with wire screens. The smoke flues (two in number) for the second stories are continued to the 
 first story, and have openings in the wall near the ceiling fitted with a register communicating with 
 each flue, and fitted with registers placed in the walls of the second story one near the floor, the 
 other near the ceiling. These quarters are heated by stoves and well lighted by large windows. 
 The compartments on the lower floor, each 30 by 30 feet, have each a capacity of 6,600 cubic feet ; 
 those of the upper'story, 30 by 20 feet, have 6,000 cubic feet ; giving a total capacity in each build- 
 ing of 50,400 cubic feet. The bunks are of wood, painted ; each accommodates two men. One sink 
 for each company is situated fifty yards in rear of the barracks, and consists of a deep ditch, sheltered 
 by log buildings. Each company has a kitchen and mess-room in a large log building in the rear 
 of the barracks. At present, but one of these buildings is occupied by the enlisted men, the others 
 being used as quarters for officers, adjutant, commissary, and quartermaster's offices, hospital, and 
 dispensary. The log houses at the old fort, formerly quarters for officers of the command, are now 
 occupied by laundresses and married soldiers. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters is a two-story brick building, 41 feet front by 32 feet deep, 
 
FORT TOTTEK, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 385 
 
 with a one-story wing to the rear. To the left of these quarters is one set of quarters for two 
 captains and two lieutenants. These two buildings are finished and occupied. The main portion 
 of the commanding officer's quarters contains two large rooms on the first floor, and four rooms on 
 the second floor, divided on both floors by halls running from front to rear. The wing contains the 
 kitchen and dining-room, a cellar beneath, with a place for a cistern. The floors in this building 
 are laid double, of one-inch boards, and the principal rooms and halls on the first floor have two 
 coats of mortar and hard-finish. The captains' and lieutenants' quarters, referred to above, consist 
 of a building 90 feet long by 32 feet wide, and two stories high. Each set of quarters consists of 
 two rooms on the first floor, and two on the second floor, with a small hall-room or pantry. The 
 rear wings of this building have each a dining-room and a kitchen, with a cellar beneath. A 
 cistern is to be placed under the dining-room. The water-closets are attached to the wings; they 
 are separated from the cellar under the kitchen only by a wall, 18 inches thick, constructed of stone 
 and lime. The close proximity of the privy to a wall that in time may become permeable 
 appears to be objectionable, as it may at some future day prove a source of annoyance; it is un- 
 derstood, however, that it is the intention to have the privies drained. The rear wings of the 
 center building are built under one roof; those of the outer quarters are separate wings. These 
 buildings are heated by means of stoves, and are well lighted by windows. Their ventilation is 
 effected as described for the company quarters. The quartermaster's and commissary's store- 
 houses are finished and occupied. Each is 100 by 30 feet, and divided into three rooms, with a fire- 
 proof wall between each room, to be entered from the outside only; one room in each building has 
 a cellar underneath. These buildings can be driven around and through, and have lofts for storing 
 light and dry articles. A small log building, located on the south flank of the post, is used as a 
 temporary guard-house; it consists of a room for the guard, 12 by 14 feet, and one for prisoners, 
 II by 16 feet; each room, 10 feet from floor to roof. The ventilation, warming, and lighting of the 
 guard-house are good. A new guard-house has been ordered to be built, for the plan of which see 
 Figure 51. 
 
 1, section of end. A B, ground 
 line. 2, ground floor. C, prison-room, 
 34 by 15 feet; D, hall, 5 feet wide; E, 
 cells, 8 by 6 feet ; F, guard-room, 30 
 by 20 feet; H H, cold-air box for venti- 
 lation; the rooms are 10 feet high. 
 
 The new hospital, it was thought, 
 would be completed during the season 
 (1869) just past. The foundation walls 
 and a portion of the brick walls had 
 been finished, but the lateness of the 
 season, inclemency of the weather, 
 together with a partial destruction of 
 the already built walls during severe 
 high winds, combined to prevent its 
 completion. It is the first building to 
 be finished the coming season, and it 
 is probable may be ready for occu- 
 
 2. l. 
 
 Figure 51. Scale, 24 feet to l inch, 
 paiicy by June. The plan is in accordance with that from the Surgeon General's Office, Cir- 
 cular No. 4, dated April 27, 1867. The dormitories in one of the completed barracks are tem- 
 porarily occupied as a hospital ; the apartment used as ward is on the second floor, and has a 
 capacity of 6,000 cubic feet, giving each bed a superficial area of 75 feet, and air space of 750 
 cubic feet. 
 
 There is a post library, containing 200 volumes. 
 
 The command is at present using water brought from a spring about a quarter of a mile from 
 
 the old fort. This water is clear and of agreeable taste; it is hard, and contains lime, chloride of 
 
 sodium, carbonates of soda and magnesia, and organic matter in very small amount. There are 
 
 numerous springs in the vicinity, but the water from them is very hard. Cisterns have been built 
 
 49 
 
386 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 uuder the center compartment of the quartermaster and commissary store-houses, having a capacity 
 of 400 barrels each ; also under the ends of one of the finished company barracks. It is designed 
 to place similar cisterns under each of the barracks to be erected. The drainage of the new fort 
 will be effected by means of grading, the ground gently sloping from the outside, on the north, 
 cast, and south sides; on the west side, or in the rear of the officers' quarters, the ground is more 
 level. A post garden was attempted last year, but the grasshoppers destroyed the crop. 
 
 The nearest supply depots are at St. Paul, Minnesota, 395 miles distant. The route of supply 
 is, at present, by the Missouri Eiver to Fort Stevenson, thence by wagon road. The overland route 
 is considered the best. The river route, though not so certain and expeditious, is cheaper, although 
 but very little not enough to pay the risk of loss on the river, together with damage and wastage, 
 which are great. Twelve months' supply is usually kept on hand at the post. The means of com- 
 munication are by wagons to Fort Abercrombie, and thence by stage. There is a weekly mail. 
 Time to department headquarters, eight to ten days. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity comprise half-breeds and Indians of the former about sixty. 
 They are Cree and Chippewa half-breeds. In winter they cut wood for the contractors, and during 
 the summer they hunt far to the west; they are very quiet and peaceable, giving no trouble; gen- 
 erally very poor, and suffer during the winter for the want of food. The Indians number five- 
 hundred and twenty on the reservation; they are Sissotons generally, with the exception of 
 eighteen or twenty Wahpetous, (Sioux;) they are quiet, and well behaved and industrious; last 
 season cultivating thirty-five acres of land, using axes and hoes made of roots and elk-horns. 
 They suffered severely last winter for the want of food. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Totteii, Dakota Terri- 
 tory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 ,d 
 
 1 . 
 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 bo 
 
 = 
 
 t 
 
 > 
 
 2 s 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 C8 
 
 
 
 Yeare. 
 
 
 i 
 
 9 
 M 
 Q 
 
 Whole n 
 taken s 
 
 Typhoid fc 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal d 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 03 
 
 Rheuruatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhnl 
 tions. 
 
 | 
 
 1868 
 
 277 83 
 
 688 
 
 2 
 
 22 
 
 91 
 
 18 
 
 H 
 
 
 Cft 
 
 
 
 
 1869 
 
 136 25 
 
 230 
 
 
 7 
 
 42 
 
 4 
 
 20 
 
 4 
 
 
 i 
 
 e-l 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT RANDALL, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS G. T. HACKENBERG AND A. I. COMFORT, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Eandall is situated on the right bank of the Missouri Biver, latitude 43 1' north, longi- 
 tude 98 12' west; altitude, above the river, 50 feet; above the sea, 1,245 feet. The post was 
 established by General Harney in 1856, and was named after Surgeon B. Eandall, United States 
 Army, now retired. From the river bottom the land rises by successive plateaux for about two 
 miles, when it becomes hilly. Beyond the hills it spreads out into prairie. Masses of a soft, 
 impure carbonate of lime rise like walls from the borders of the first terrace. The stone is easily 
 cut, but is unfit for building purposes. Limestone fit for the kiln is found within three miles. The 
 soil of the bottom lands is a stratified alluvium, generally fertile. The prairie is dry and unpro- 
 ductive. The climate is dry, uniformly cold in winter, with frequent snow-storms. The average 
 temperature for the year ending June 30, 1870, was 47.33 F. ; the extremes were 104 F. and 17 
 F. The amount of rain and snow-fall for the period above mentioned was 18.42 inches. The winds 
 are strong and continuous. The plateau on which the post is built is about a quarter of a mile 
 from the river, which, at this point, is about the same distance wide. 
 
POET RANDALL, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 38? 
 
 Five buildings are used as barracks. Four of these are of hewn logs of the style known as 
 " billet " or French log houses. These were brought from Fort Lookout in 1857. They stand on rot- 
 ten piles, and the joists and sills are much decayed. The fifth set is of unhewn logs. These build- 
 ings measure 93 by 22 feet, and 10 feet to the eaves. Each set of quarters is intended for fifty 
 men, giving 261 cubic feet air space per man. The officers' quarters are nine one-story buildings, 
 three frame, and six log. The log quarters are lined and ceiled with boards. The commissary and 
 quartermaster's store-houses are conveniently located, and are appropriate for the several uses to 
 which they are assigned. The guard-house is 50 by 20 feet, and 10 feet high, divided into guard- 
 room, prison-room, and three cells. 
 
 The hospital is a substantial building of hewn logs, constructed in 1857. It consists of a main 
 building, 100 by 21 feet, which is divided into five rooms, 19 by 19 feet, and 9 feet high, the three cen- 
 tral being used as wards, and the end rooms as steward's quarters and dispensary ; and two wings, 
 each 19 by 19 feet, one used as a store-room, the other as dining-room and kitchen. A piazza, 10 
 feet wide, runs along the front and rear of the building. 
 
 The post library contains nearly 300 volumes. It is patronized liberally by the enlisted men. 
 The authors most read are Dickens, Charles Reade, Muhlbach, Marryatt, Wilkie Collins, and 
 Cooper. There are no works on science. Appleton's Encyclopedia has scarcely been referred to. 
 Prescott's works, the only ones on history, have been read by one man. Works of travel and geog- 
 raphy are read to some extent. The works of Lewis and Clark, and of Collins and Schoolcraft, are 
 much needed in the library of every frontier post in the Indian Territory. 
 
 There are no arrangements for bathing at the post. 
 
 During the summer months there is irregular communication by steamboat with Tanctou, 
 Sioux City, and other points. There is communication by stage during the entire year with the 
 above-named places, occasionally interrupted by snow storms and swollen streams. Letters from 
 this post reach department headquarters in seven or eight days. 
 
 Opposite the post, and three miles above, are 210 lodges of Indians. They are peaceable and 
 well disposed, so long as subsisted on their annuities. 
 
 The diseases most common in this vicinity are of the bowels in summer, and of the lungs in 
 winter. The prevalence of pneumonia at Fort Randall during the winter of 1869-'70 may be 
 attributable to the following causes : First. The over-crowding of uuacclimated troops into ill 
 ventilated quarters, with insufficient air space, (130 cubic feet per man.) Second. Want of uni- 
 formity of temperature of the apartments which, by day, sometimes reaches 90 F., and by night 
 falls below the freezing point. Third. Insufficient clothing worn about the chest, often only a 
 flannel blouse (unbuttoned) and a coarse merino shirt. Fourth. Decomposition of the logs of 
 which the barracks are built. Several cases of phthisis have been developed under my observa- 
 tion about the months of February and March. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sicJc, and principal diseases at Fort Randall, Dakota 
 
 Territory, for the years 1808 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 = ^ 
 
 * 
 
 S 
 
 9 
 
 d 
 
 a . 
 
 
 9 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 i 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 5 i. 
 
 
 t 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 e 
 
 
 
 jQ 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 B 
 
 ^ 
 
 a 
 
 C3 
 
 3 
 
 Whole ni 
 taken si 
 
 Typhoid fe 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 tlysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 02 
 
 Rheumatisi 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.* 
 
 I 
 
 1868 
 
 104. 25 
 
 4:n 
 
 1 
 
 26 
 
 74 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 34 
 
 
 115 
 
 
 1869 
 
 100. 25 
 
 169 
 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 72 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
388 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT SULLY, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORTS OF SURGEON C. C. GRAY AND SURGEON J. P. WRIGHT, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Sully is situated on the east bank of the Missouri River, twenty miles below the mouth 
 of Cheyenne River; latitude 44 30' north, longitude 100 50' west, at an elevation above the sea 
 of about 2,000 feet. The nearest town is Yancton, 300 miles below by river. The nearest posts are 
 Fort Randall, 200 miles below, and Fort Rice, about the same distance above. The post is about half 
 way between the head of navigation (Fort Benton) and the mouth of the Missouri, and is 1,480 
 miles above St. Louis. It is built on the "third terrace," a level plateau, 160 feet above low-water 
 mark, and about the same distance below the summit level proper. On the south the surface slopes 
 rapidly into a deep ravine, dry, except in early spring. On the west the descent is abrupt to the second 
 ten - ace, a strip one hundred yards wide, on which are the stables, granary, saw-mill, smithy, inter- 
 preter's house, tavern, &c. Still further below is the river bottom, of varying width, frequently 
 subject to overflow, moderately well timbered and very fertile. Here the company and hospital 
 gardens are situated. 
 
 The construction of the present post was begun in August, 1806. The original post of the 
 same name was established by General Alfred Sully in the fall of 1863, and was situated on the 
 same side of the river, thirty miles below. It was abandoned because of the unhealthy character 
 of the site. During the winter succeeding the arrival of the troops at the present site, their labors 
 were severe, and the only quarters were such as could be constructed of slabs and shelter tents. 
 The barracks for the men were completed early in 1867, and soon after the post hospital and store- 
 houses were occupied. The officers' quarters were not completed until 1868. 
 
 The reservation includes about 27,000 acres. The geological formation belongs to the creta- 
 ceous period, which is that of the entire region of the Upper Missouri. It is overlaid from the mouth 
 of the Yellowstone by a layer of modified drift, containing boulders of large size, principally of 
 granite and syenite. The soil is fertile, but the extreme drought of mid-summer and the intense 
 heat suspend vegetable growth to a great extent. During the spring and early summer the graz- 
 ing is excellent, and during the winter cattle graze on the dried grass with evident relish and 
 advantage. A few of the more common trees are the cottonwood, buttonwood, white and scrub 
 oaks, ash, red cedar, willows, yellow and red plums, the hackberry, chokeberry, Juneberry, and 
 wild cherry. Among shrubs, vines, herbs, &c., are found wild roses, wild currants, the bull or buf- 
 falo berry, elder, frost grape, poison oak, honeysuckle, pea vine, pomme blanche, tower and hedge 
 mustard, artichokes, winder and water cresses, horse and spear mint, catnip, Turk's cap, and Cana- 
 dian garlic. Some of the more important animals are the buffalo, elk, antelope, common and black- 
 tail deer, Rocky Mountain sheep, grizzly and brown bears, the American lion or cougar, white, 
 gray, and prairie wolves, beaver, common and white weasels, foxes, the otter, mink, badger, rab- 
 bit, hare, lynx, Canada porcupine, prairie dog, and small marmot. Some of the birds are the swan, 
 wild goose, brant, mallard, teal, and wood duck, the pelican, gull, colored and whit cranes, green- 
 legged and killdeer plover, the sand piper, snipe, curlew, grouse, passenger pigeon, sparrow hawk, 
 buzzard, snow and common owls, the swallow, cedar bird, sand martin, and the bald eagle. Among 
 reptiles are the rattlesnake, moccasin, black snake, frog, and common and tree toads. 
 
 The cottonwood greatly outnumbers all other trees in this vicinity, and is of prime importance 
 to both native and sojourner. It is the sole reliance of this country for fuel and lumber, serving in 
 the latter case, however, but an indifferent purpose. Red cedar, though scarce, isobrained in sufficient 
 quantity for special purposes. The wild plum and grape, the service berry, and berries of the spe- 
 cies ribes, are abundant in their season. The fruit styled "buffalo or bull berry" is abundant in 
 autumn ; and an esculent root called "pomme blanche" is much used in early spring, and highly 
 esteemed by the natives. No cultivated fruit grows here. There are no trees nor shrubs in the 
 immediate vicinity of the post. 
 
 Of the carnivorous mammalia, the small wild cat and several of the varieties of wolf and fox 
 are quite numerous. The cougar and grizzly bear, though very rare, may be claimed for this 
 
FORT SULLY, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 389 
 
 country. Of the ruminants, antelope and common deer abound. Immense herds of buffalo have 
 been seen here within eight years. Since the post has been established only an occasional stray 
 bull has been observed in the vicinity. Beaver are numerous. Of the birds, those most interest- 
 ing to the sportsman, and which are sufficiently numerous, are the pinnated grouse, wild goose, 
 duck, plover, snipe, and curlew. (The varieties of duck are very numerous.) Of the venomous 
 reptiles the rattlesnake and moccasin are the most frequently met with. No cases of snake-bite 
 have occurred. 
 
 The range of temperature is great, from 106 F. to 40 F., the average for the year being 
 about 45 F. 
 
 The post is intended for four companies. The men's quarters consist of two buildings, each 
 350 feet long by 17 feet wide, placed end to end, with an interval of 15 feet, which forms the sally- 
 port. They are built of cottonwood logs, covered with pine siding, are lathed and plastered, the 
 ceilings being 12 feet high. Transverse partitions divide the buildings into dormitories, mess-rooms, 
 kitchens, &c. The squad-rooms measure 20 by 17 feet, are intended for 16 men each, allowing 
 about 255 cubic feet air space per man. The experiment was tried for one company of removing 
 the partitions and throwing the small rooms into one, but it was thought that this weakened the 
 building too much. There are no wash or bath-rooms. Ablution must be performed out of doors. 
 It is in contemplation to build a piazza for each building. The dormitories are fitted with rough 
 wooden double bunks in two tiers. The privies, ordinary earth latrines, are 75 yards distant. The 
 ventilation, of the barracks is very defective. There are three sets of laundresses' quarters, in a 
 large one-story house similar to the officers' quarters. 
 
 For officers' quarters there are nine detached frame buildings, built of pine, on brick founda- 
 tions, with cellars underneath. Each set has a back building of one story, as a kitchen. All the 
 rooms are lathed and plastered. Three of the houses are one and a half stories high, and contain each 
 four rooms, a hall, store-room, and pantry. Two cottages are of one story, while two others, of 
 one and a half stories, are divided each into two sets of quarters of four rooms. None of these 
 quarters have bath-rooms. The guard and prison-rooms are in the ends of the barrack building 
 next the sally-port. The prisoners' room is 15 by 15 feet. The quartermaster's store-houses, two 
 in number, measure 230 by 22 feet and 120 by 24 feet. The commissary's store-houses, also two 
 in number, measure 228 by 17 feet and 50 by 22 feet. 
 
 The hospital is located near the brink of the ravine, to the south of the post. The dimensions 
 and general arrangement are shown in Figure 52. 
 
 A, ward ; B, bath-room, 8 by 15 feet ; D, dispensary, 15 by 16 T 9 ^ feet ; E, steward's room, 15 by 
 15J feet ; K, kitchen, 14 by 15 feet ; M, mess-room, 
 14 by 15 feet ; O, office, 15 by 15J feet ; P, piazza, 8 
 feet wide; S, store-room, 15 by 20J feet. The ward is 
 intended for twelve beds, allowing 810 cubic feet air 
 space to each. The dispensary is dark, and the general 
 arrangement is bad. Although there is a bath-room, 
 water cannot be obtained for bathing. 
 
 There is a good library of about 800 volumes at 
 the post. 
 
 The labor of supplying the post with water is great. 
 There are no springs, wells, or cisterns, and two eight- 
 mule teams are constantly employed in hauling water 
 from the river, the nearest available point for this pur- 
 pose being one mile distant. The hospital has been 
 restricted to the amount absolutely required for cook- Figure 52. Scale, 29| feet to l inch, 
 
 ing and for the laundry, with the smallest possible amount for ablution. It seems impracticable to 
 procure water from wells, and even if thus obtained, it would be unfit for use, because of impregna- 
 tion with saline matters. The cost of establishing a permanent and sufficient water supply has 
 been officially estimated at $13,500, not including cost of transportation of materials. The natural 
 drainage of the post is excellent, and requires little artificial aid. The garden includes about 
 nine acres. Owing to drought and insects, especially grasshoppers, the crop cannot be depended 
 
 K 
 
 M 
 
 J 
 
 F 
 
 D 
 
 
 
390 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 upon, although sometimes the yield is fair. The supply of ice is ample, being obtained from the 
 river, and stored in blocks 18 inches thick. Officers generally keep their own cows and poultry. 
 
 Mail wagous run from Sioux City to this point during the entire year, leaving Sioux City on 
 Friday and reaching the post the following Thursday. This means of communication is regular, but 
 liable to interruption in winter from snow. It is almost impracticable for passenger travel, the 
 wagons being open, and there being no stopping places at night. The river is navigable from April 
 till October. Time from Sioux City by boat is from 8 to 16 days. There are no inhabitants in the 
 vicinity, except Indians. Some of these have turned to cultivating the soil, and have raised good 
 crops of corn. 
 
 The sanitary condition of the post is fair, no diseases occurring that can be fairly charged to 
 locality. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sicTc, and principal diseases at Fort Sully, Dakota Terri- 
 tory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 
 13 
 
 g 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 "So 
 
 a 
 
 V 
 
 > 
 
 & 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 m 
 
 fi 00 
 
 
 |1 
 
 i 
 
 If 
 
 r^3 & 1 
 
 CO 
 
 3 
 3 
 
 H 
 
 -d 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 a 
 g 
 
 13 i 
 s - 
 
 1 
 
 "S 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 M 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 J 
 
 
 co 
 
 ^ 
 
 K 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 & 
 
 1868 
 
 264.5 
 
 118 
 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 
 1869 
 
 173 91 
 
 272 
 
 
 72 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 
 15 
 
 64 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Iiichulo laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT RICE, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON WASHINGTON MATTHEWS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Rice is located in latitude 46 40' north, longitude from Greenwich 100 30' west, on the 
 right bank of the Missouri River. Owing to the inconstancy of the channel of the river, and 
 other causes, the distances between different places on its banks are with difficulty estimated; 
 hence the position of Fort Rice, with regard to other points on the river, is not well ascertained, 
 and is laid down variously by different authorities. The distance from St. Louis, as given in the 
 report of Colonel D. B. Sackett, in 1866, is 1,810 miles, but navigators on the river reckon it as 
 high as 1,846 and 1,850 miles. To Sioux City, the nearest railway terminus, it is about 836 miles; 
 to the mouth of the Cannonball, the nearest affluent of size below, it is about 10 miles; and to the 
 Hart River, the next good-sized stream above, the distance is estimated at 50 miles. Fort Sully, 
 the neighboring military post, down the river, is supposed to be from 250 to 275 miles distant; and 
 Fort Stevenson, the nearest garrison above, is perhaps 150 miles. The last two mentioned places 
 are on the opposite side of the river. The ruins of old Fort Clarke, and of the village formerly 
 occupied by the Gros Ventres and Maudans, is 120 miles above, on this side of the river. The 
 military reservation at Fort Rice is taken from the lands of the Oukpapas, one of the tribes of the 
 Sioux Nation. It has not yet been declared by the President, and there is no record at the post of 
 the amount of land held reserved. The land is generally sterile, and sparsely timbered and watered. 
 No crops have been raised, and it is doubtful if any can be. Various attempts at gardening have 
 been made at the post by different commands, but never with any great degree of success. Drought 
 is one of the chief difficulties, but not the only one for what the drought spares, the grasshoppers 
 are apt to devour. Some years there is a pretty fair rain-fall, and a scarcity of grasshoppers, but 
 even the best years are not encouraging. In the bottom lands of the Missouri, where they are 
 covered with timber and underwood, the soil is rich and rendered tolerably moist by percolation 
 from the river, and because the melted snow and rain and water of overflows are retained long on 
 the surface in consequence of the flatness and peculiar composition of the soil; and on these 
 
FORT RICE, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 391 
 
 bottoms, not many miles from the post, the Indians have cultivated for many years with fair success, 
 and without irrigation, such plants as "squaw corn" and squash, which it seems the grasshoppers 
 cannot easily destroy. 
 
 The timber of the country consists of cottonwood, elm, ash, and oak in limited quantities. 
 
 The principal wild animals of the vicinity are the elk, buffalo, black-tailed deer, long-tailed 
 deer, mule-deer, antelope, beaver, panther, black bear, cinnamon bear, otter, large gray wolf, coyote, 
 red fox, gray or silver fox, crossed fox, wild cat, badger, common mink, small black mink, and 
 white-tailed weasel. 
 
 Of birds the following are the most important: Great horned owl, great snowy owl, bald eagle, 
 gray eagle, war eagle, prairie hen, sand-hill crane, blue heron, meadow lark, wild pigeon, jack 
 snipe, land snipe, curlew, robin red-breast, pelican, common wild duck, swan, and wild goose. 
 
 The climate is generally dry. The summers are short and hot; thermometer, 90 to 110 F. 
 The winters are long and intensely cold; thermometer sometimes 40 F. below zero. The average 
 temperature for the year is about 42 F. The amount of rain-fall was 6.28 inches; of snow, 2.29 
 inches, during the year 1869. 
 
 Fort Rice was established in 1804. The buildings of the post were erected by the Thirtieth 
 regiment Wisconsin infantry, and consisted of rude huts of cottonwood logs, with roofs of p oles 
 and slabs covered with earth. During the year 1868 the fort was rebuilt, the old quarters demol- 
 ished, and new buildings erected on the same sites. But one building of the old fort remains; this 
 is occupied temporarily as officers' quarters. It is 60 feet long by 24 feet wide, and one and a half 
 stories high, containing four sets of quarters. Exclusive of the kitchens, there are four rooms in 
 each set, two on the first floor and two on the second floor. 
 
 Fort Rice is about 300 yards from the margin of the river, and at an elevation of 35 feet above 
 low-water mark. It has the form of a quadrangle, 544 by 868 feet, inclosed by a stockade, 10 feet 
 high, made of two inch oak planks secured to a strong frame. There are two sally ports, and two 
 projecting bastions, two stories high, built of squared and dove-tailed logs. The upper story is 
 placed in such a manner on the lower that the corners of the former correspond to, and project 
 over, the sides of the latter. On top is a platform and an octagonal sentry-box. Each story of the 
 bastions is 20 feet 4 inches square and 7 feet high ; the lower story projects 13 feet 3 inches beyond 
 the walls of the fort. The new buildings within the stockade are as follows, viz : Five store-houses, 
 four company quarters, seven sets of officers' quarters, a hospital, guard-house, bakery, offices, &c. 
 These buildings surround the parade ground; each is parallel to the contiguous wall of the fort. 
 The barrack on the extreme north approaches within 22 feet of the north Avail of the fort; the 
 most southerly of the four is 58 feet from the south wall, the post bakery standing between the one 
 and the other. Between the contiguous ends of each pair of the barracks is an alley of 10 feet in 
 width, which is considered sufficient to admit light to the windows that open upon it, and to retard 
 the progress of a fire. These barracks, one story high, have balloon frames of good pine lumber ; 
 all the rest of the wood- work, except the finishing, is of coftonwood, sawed at the post. The 
 frames are sheeted and weather-boarded outside, and well shingled ; some of the apartments are 
 ceiled with half-inch boards ; the walls are lined between the studding with adobe. The buildings 
 are laid upon good stone foundations or piers, which are banked with clay, to prevent the wind 
 from entering through the floors. Each barrack consists of a main building and two L's or wings, 
 extending at right-angles toward the stockade, within 15 feet of which they terminate. The build- 
 ing thus incloses on three sides a yard 60 by 50 feet. The main building is 90 feet long by 30 
 feet wide, and is occupied by a dormitory, office, and store-room. Each wing is 20 by 60 feet, 
 and all apartments are 10 feet from floor to ceiling. One wing is divided into kitchen and mess- 
 room; the other wing contains four rooms occupied as laundresses' quarters, company schools* 
 &c. The barracks are well lighted by doors and windows, and warmed, in the colder seasons, by 
 stoves. There is no special arrangement for ventilation. Each dormitory Ifas an area of 30 by 
 74 feet, and an average air space of 480 cubic feet per man. The bunks are two tiers high and 
 sufficient in number to accommodate fifty men in each dormitory. The sinks are outside the stock- 
 ade. The barrack kitchens are sufficiently commodious. The mess-rooms are each about 44 by 22 
 feet. There are three new buildings, containing five sets of officers' quarters, completed, and four 
 more, containing also five sets, erected but not completed ; these are good balloon frame buildings 
 
302 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 The first three mentioned are neatly finished, and contain two double sets of quarters with garrets, 
 and one single set without garret ; a space of ten feet separates the buildings from each other. All 
 of these quarters stand on good foundations of hewn rock, and have cellars under the kitchens. 
 The occupied rooms are finished inside with lath and plaster, while the company quarters are not 
 covered inside, and the partitions and ceilings are of cottonwood ; in the former the floors are of 
 planed and matched pine flooring; in the latter, of unplaned cottonwood; in the single set of 
 officers' quarters, burned brick, a fair quality, made at the post, is used between the studding of 
 the outside wall instead of adobe. The same article of brick is used in the chimneys. Each set of 
 double quarters consists of a body and rear addition or wing. The body has an area of 46 by 30 
 feet; each half of it contains a hall, 7 by 30 feet; a sitting room, 15 by 15 feet, and a bed-room 
 behind the sitting-room, 12 by 15 feet, all communicating with each other. There are also three 
 closets, one under the staircase in the hall, and two included in the walls that separate the rooms. 
 The extension in the rear is 26 by 30 feet ; each half of this is divided into a dining-room, 13 by 15 
 feet, and a kitchen, 15 by 15 feet, and here again another staircase, with closet under it, leads to 
 the garret. 
 
 In the single set of officers' quarters, the main building is 30 by 27 feet on the ground floor ; 
 the rear extension or wing, 18 by 30 feet; the former contains a tall, 6 by 20 feet, two front rooms, 
 15 feet square, and two rooms behind, 9 by 15 feet, with four closets arranged in the walls. The 
 latter is partitioned off into a dining-room, 14 by 18 feet, a kitchen, 10 by 16 feet, a pantry, 4 by 8 
 feet, and a servants' room, 8 by 11 feet. The building for the headquarters of the post is frame, 
 finished inside with lath and plaster, and painted outside. The five store-houses mentioned are 
 substantial frame buildings, sheathed, sided and well roofed with cottonwood shingles. They are 
 not yet ceiled or lined inside. Pour of them are 20 by 90 feet, and 10 feet from floor to eaves. One 
 of these, used as a commissary store-house and issuing room, is built over an excellent cellar which 
 extends the whole length of the building. This cellar has stone walls 22 inches thick, is 7 feet 
 deep, has a graded floor, and is continued 2 feet above ground, where it is lighted by four small 
 windows. This cellar is used for storing potatoes and other subsistence stores which would be 
 injured by exposure to extremes of temperature. The more westerly of the store-houses is built 
 upon stout logs, about 12 inches in diameter, set perpendicularly in the ground and rising 2 feet 
 above the surface, leaving thus a large air space between the ground and the floor of the building ; 
 each one of these supporting logs is surmounted by an inverted iron pan, rendering the building 
 rat-proof. 
 
 The magazine is a substantial stone building, 24 by 33 feet on the outside, and 4 feet from the 
 ground to the eaves. The roof is covered with sods, and from its summit projects a wooden ven- 
 tilator, with over-lapping boards ; in the walls also are two ventilating holes, about a foot above 
 the ground, protected by curved iron spouts. The floor is nearly 2 feet below the level of the 
 ground outside. The walls are 2 feet thick at the bottom, tapering up to 18 inches. 
 
 In the ravine, at a distance of less than an eighth of a mile from the fort, is a small steam saw- 
 mill. At this mill was cut almost all the lumber used in the rebuilding of the post. A shingle- 
 machine, lath, and cord-wood saw, have been attached to steam-power. All the shingles used in 
 the rebuilding were sawed here. 
 
 The guard-house, situated within the stockade, is a temporary frame building, 20 by 40 feet, 
 lined inside with cottonwood planks, lighted by seven windows, and entered by two doors in the 
 south sides, one entering the guard-room, the other the sergeant's room. It is divided into a 
 guard-room, 18 by 20 feet; a prison room, 14 by 18 feet ; three strong cells, each 3 by 4 feet, opening 
 into it, and inclosed in the walls that divide it from the guard-room, and a room for the sergeant. 
 The guard-house is warmed by stoves, and ventilated by doors and windows ; the cells above 
 described are dark and small ; this guard-house is considered sufficient for the need of the post. 
 
 The post hospital is constructed on a nearly similar plan to that of the company quarters, but 
 the dimensions are somewhat different, the body of the building being 90 by 24 feet, and the L's, 
 20 by 40 feet. It is built on a good rock foundation, which rises 2 feet above the surface of the 
 ground, and is banked all around with clay. It is constructed of .similar materials to those used 
 in the barracks, except that the ward, dispensary, steward's-room, office, linen-room, and bath- 
 room are floored with dressed pine, the other apartments with cottonwood. The dispensary, ward, 
 
FORT KICB, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 393 
 
 kitchen, steward's room, and mess-room are ceiled with half-inch cotton wood boards; the other 
 apartments are as yet unceiled. It is designed to finish the hospital with lath and plaster as soon 
 as practicable. The apartments are all 10 feet from the floor to the top of the wall. The dispensary 
 is 13 by 14 feet. The ward is 63 by 24 feet, contains thirteen beds, and an air space of nearly 
 1,100 cubic feet to each. The wash-room adjoining the ward is supplied with a bath-tub, mirror, 
 towels, basin, and other necessary articles. There are no water-closets for the special use of the 
 hospital. The hospital is warmed by stoves, well lighted and ventilated. 
 
 The post bakery is a good frame house on a solid foundation, lined with adobe and ceiled with 
 plank. Its dimensions are 45 feet 8 inches by 20 feet 5 inches, and 10 feet from floor to ceiling. 
 The oven has the capacity for baking 1,500 rations of bread in twenty-four hours; but 300 rations 
 per day is about the average product. 
 
 The corral, situated outside of the fort, is a somewhat irregular inclosure, about 325 feet square, 
 having buildings arranged around in such a manner that their exterior sides form part of the walls 
 of the iuclosure; the remainder of the walls being of long poles or logs set upright. A fine frame 
 store-house, 18 by 130 feet, laid on a very substantial foundation, and used as a granary, is the only 
 new building in the inclosure. Except this house, all parts of the corral building and palisades 
 are to be torn down, and their places supplied with new structures. 
 
 There are two ice-houses built of logs ; one 18 feet square, the other 28 by 30 feet. The capa- 
 city of these two houses is estimated at one hundred and fifty tons; here, throughout the entire 
 summer, ice is kept in excellent condition. 
 
 The only drinking water used at the post is obtained from the Missouri River, and is the best 
 to be procured in the country; it is brought around daily by the water-wagon, and allowed to stand 
 in barrels until it settles, when it is tolerably clear and quite pleasant to drink. Many believe the 
 water to be injurious. A large amount of foreign constituents are no doubt held in solution or 
 suspension, as no water can possibly be more turbid, particularly in the spring; but they are nearly 
 all mineral, and entirely, or almost entirely, innocuous. Owing to the barren character of the 
 country through which the Missouri flows, to the rapidity of its current, to the absence of sloughs 
 and lagoons along its course, and to the sparsity of the population upon its banks, the amount of 
 decayed organic matter contained in its waters must be comparatively small. Much stress is laid 
 by some upon the number of so-called "alkali springs" and "alkali creeks" that flow into the 
 Upper Missouri; but the evil nature of these is usually overrated, and, besides, they form but an 
 infinitesimal portion of the waters of the river, the chief source of supply being doubtless the 
 snows and rains of the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills. The small and inconstant water-courses 
 that rise in the plains can add but little. It may be remarked that among those Indians who have 
 dwelt for generations in permanent villages on the Upper Missouri, drinking almost exclusively of 
 its waters, bronchocele is very common ; while among those who roam at large over the steppes, it is 
 not noticed. We read of similar facts being observed of permanent dwellers on the Saskatchewan, 
 whose head-waters rise near those of the Missouri. 
 
 As the fort is at a good elevation above the river, and as the soil is dry, no great amount of 
 artificial drainage is required. From the east wall to the edge of the bluff that overhangs the 
 river, a drain about three feet deep is cut, which carries off any excess of water from melted snow, 
 &c. ; as all the slops and other refuse of the fort are removed daily, drains or sewers for other pur- 
 poses are unnecessary. Three hundred yards west of the fort, on a gently sloping hill, is the post 
 cemetery, a quadrangular inclosure, 95 by 101 yards, with a board fence around it. It contains 
 about one hundred and forty graves. 
 
 The nearest supply depots are at Sioux City, Iowa, about 750 miles distant. The route of 
 supply is by the Missouri River, which is closed from the 1st of November to the loth of 
 April in each year. Twelve months' supply is usually kept on hand at the post. 
 
 The means of communication between the post and the nearest town, Yaucton, C25 miles dis- 
 tant, is by steamboat on the Missouri River, and by wagon road. A sworn agent of the Post Office 
 Department was appointed at the post in I860, but the carrying and distributing of the mail con- 
 tinued, and still remains, entirely in the hands of the military. A regular weekly mail communi- 
 cation with the East, in winter as well as in summer, was not successfully in operation until the 
 winter of 1867-'G8. A regular semi-monthly mail between Forts Rice and Stevenson was established 
 50 
 
394 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 tbe same winter. In 1806 a route was opened to Fort Wadsworth, which was the most jdirect way 
 of communication with department headquarters; but owing to the numerous impediments to travel 
 by this route in winter and spring, and to the difficulty of obtaining men able and willing to perform 
 the journey, it was fouud necessary to abandon it. At present a party of mounted Indian scouts start 
 every Monday morning (with the easternmail) for the Indian reserve at Grand River; here they meet 
 another party from Fort Sully, and, exchanging mail matter, return on the following Friday. Every 
 second Monday, a mounted party (with mail for the up-river posts) start for a half-way station 
 between this post and Fort Stevenson, and return on the following Wednesday. 
 
 The post is surrounded by lands of the Sioux nation, from which the reservation is taken. 
 The Sioux, who more frequently visit the post, are tall, muscular, enduring, and healthy, but are 
 becoming deteriorated. There are comparatively few of these Indians in the surrounding country 
 at present, they having gone to the reserve at Grand River. There are no settlements. in the 
 vicinity of the post. 
 
 In summer dysentery, diarrhoaa, and other diseases of the alimentary canal prevail; in winter, 
 catarrhal affections to a slight extent. There are no diseases of a local origin to be particularly 
 ascribed to any peculiarity of climate or position. Intermittents often recur, but probably never 
 originate here. During the first years of occupancy, scurvy was a formidable malady, destroying 
 many lives, and otherwise seriously reducing the efficiency of the garrison; but since the commis- 
 sary has been better supplied, the disease has almost entirely disappeared. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 ja 
 
 0) 
 
 = ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 b 
 
 
 8 
 
 00 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 B 
 
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 Years. 
 
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 a 
 
 
 
 
 
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 .3 
 
 Ji 
 
 X 
 
 33 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 _cc 
 
 j 
 
 s 
 
 2 
 jH 
 
 ~H tO 
 
 S B 
 
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 1 
 
 *M 
 
 
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 3 
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 # 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 B 
 
 1 
 
 D 
 
 a 
 
 
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 03 
 
 
 
 2 
 M 
 
 3 
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 Is 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 249. 33 
 
 384 
 
 28 
 
 108 
 
 4 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 31 
 
 3 
 
 59 
 
 
 1869 
 
 186. 91 
 
 296 
 
 9 
 
 60 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 
 83 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT STEVENSON, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON WASHINGTON MATTHEWS, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Stevenson is situated in the northwestern part of Dakota Territory, about eighty-six 
 miles south of the international boundary line, on the left (north) bank of the Missouri, about a 
 quarter of a mile from the river, and half a mile west of the nearest landing place for a steamer. 
 Latitude 47 34' north, longitude 101 18' west. It is 40 yards from the bluff which bounds the 
 bottom lands, 36 feet above low-water mark of the river, and 12 feet above the flood mark of 1866. 
 To Fort Rice, the nearest garrison below on the river, is 150 miles by water, 95 miles by land. To 
 Fort Bnford, the nearest post up the river, is 250 miles by water, 150 iniles by land. Fort Totten, 
 the nearest post to the east, is 130 miles distant. To Yancton, the nearest town of importance on 
 the river, it is 800 miles by water, 560 by laud. To Sioux City, Iowa, the nearest railway terminus 
 on the Missouri, is 950 miles by water, COO by land. To Fort Sully is 420 miles ; to Fort Abercrom- 
 bie, 350 miles. The two posts last named are the nearest points to which regular post roads 
 extend, and from these to Fort Stevenson the mail is carried at the expense of the Quartermaster's 
 department. The history of this post, including that of Fort Berthold, is as follows : 
 
 Fort Clarke, around which once lay the villages of theRee, Gros Ventres, audMandan Indians, 
 stood on the right bank of the Missouri, some thirty-five miles below the present site of Fort Ste- 
 
FORT STEVENSON, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 395 
 
 vensoii. In 1845 the Gros Ventres, and part or all of the Maudans, moved up the river, and built 
 their village on the promontory where it now stands, and in the same year the American Fur 
 Company commenced the building of a stockade on the extreme point of the bluff "overlooking the 
 Missouri. This was named Fort Berthohl, in honor of a Mr. Berthold, of St. Louis. In 1859 an 
 opposition trading company erected another stockade about two hundred yards south of the former 
 building. This was called Fort Atkinson. It being found unadvisable to maintain trading estab- 
 lishments so close together as Forts Clark and Berthold, the former was broken up in the spring 
 of 1860. In the winter of 18GO-'G1, the Itees dwelt on a timbered point about eight miles above the 
 site of Fort Stevenson. In the winter of 18G1- '02 they had temporary quarters above Fort Ber- 
 thold, and in March, 1802, they commenced the erection of a permanent village whose ruins may 
 now be seen on the prairie nearly opposite Fort Berthold. Ilere on the 3d of August, 1862, 
 before their village was finished, or their first corn crop had ripened, they had a severe battle with 
 the Sioux, and on the next day they abandoned their village and moved across the river; they then 
 built their lodges around Fort Berthold, and joined once more with the Gros Ventres and Mandans. 
 In the fall of 1802, the two trading companies having been consolidated, the old fort erected in 
 1845 was abandoned, and the stores and employes of the American Fur Company were moved into 
 Fort Atkinson, to which the name of Fort Berthold was transferred. This fortification stands and 
 retains the name of Berthold. On Christmas Eve of 1862, while most of the friendly Indians were 
 absent at their winter quarters, the post was attacked by a large party of Sioux, who reduced the 
 old fort and the greater part of the village to ashes, and nearly succeeded in capturing the inhab- 
 ited stockade. The citizen garrison, however, defended itself bravely, and aided by the timely 
 arrival of some Indians from winter quarters, succeeded in driving off the Sioux with great loss to 
 the latter. 
 
 In the spring of 1803 the Isantee Sioux, who had been driven out of Minnesota after the mas- 
 sacre of the previous year, came to Berthold to form an alliance with the Berthold Indians against 
 the whites. The two parties met at a ravine about three miles from the post, when, instead of 
 advancing to shake hands, a Ree brave suddenly fired upon the Sioux, and a battle ensued, in which 
 two Gros Veutres and nine Isantees were killed. Other difficulties with the enemy quickly followed, 
 and the condition of the post becoming dangerous, an application for military assistance was made. 
 General Alfred Sully, on the return march of his second northwestern Indian expedition, arrived 
 at Berthold on the 29th of August, 1804, and detached from his expedition a company as garrison 
 for the post. On the 3d of September the company moved into the stockade, and then, for the first 
 time, troops were quartered at Fort Berthold. Owing, however, to some disagreement with the 
 agent of the Fur Company, log buildings were erected outside of the fort, and the troops moved 
 into them in April, 1865. The health of the command was good. It was a season of plenty while 
 they remained, there being an abundance of buffalo constantly around the fort; and although the 
 commissary was poorly supplied, and there were no vegetables to be obtained, they did not have a 
 single case of scurvy. 
 
 General Sully's third northwestern Indian expedition arrived, on its return march, at Berthold , 
 August 8, 1805, and here General Sully issued an order directing the evacuation of Fort Union at 
 the mouth of the Yellowstone. The evacuation was completed on the 31st of August, and from 
 this time until the establishment of Fort Buford, in 1860, Berthold was the most extreme garrison 
 in the valley of the Upper Missouri. 
 
 The troops consequently suffered from scurvy. No death from disease is known to have ever 
 occurred among any troops at Berthold. On the 14th of June, 1807, the troops moved from Fort 
 Berthold to a point 17 miles further east, where a post at that time, designated as ''New Fort Ber- 
 thold," was about to be established. Fort Berthold was never owned by the Government, nor, as 
 far as I am able to learn, was any rent ever paid for it. The use of it was given by the agent of the 
 Northwest Fur Company, who erected offices, quarters, and warehouses for himself outside of the 
 fort, which he occupied as long as the military remained. 
 
 It was considered necessary to retain a garrison somewhere in the neighborhood of Fort Ber- 
 thold for the following reasons : First, as an intermediate post on the Missouri between the distant 
 forts of Rice and Buford; second, as a link in the chain of posts along the proposed "Northern 
 emigrant route," from Minnesota to the gold mines ; third, as a base of supplies to the post then 
 
396 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAET POSTS. 
 
 about to be built at Devil's Lake, (now Fort Totten ;) and fourth, perhaps as affording military pro- 
 tection to the village of friendly Indians, and whites at Fort Berthold. But it was also considered 
 imperative that the garrison should be removed from Fort Berthold, as no suitable military reserve 
 could be made which would not include the buildings or cornfields of the friendly Indians, and it 
 was not considered just or politic to interfere with their improvement. As a base of supplies to 
 Fort Totteu it was deemed advisable to put the post at the point where the Missouri quits its east- 
 erly course and bends to the south, (a point some seven miles east of Stevenson ;) but as there was 
 not sufficient timber at that place, it had to be built elsewhere in the vicinity. A better steamboat 
 lauding and a closer proximity to good timber might have been found about three miles west of 
 here, but the contiguity of two small streams and of some springs of (rather impure) water, proba- 
 bly influenced the selection of this particular site. 
 
 During the summer of 1807 the Sioux 'made three raids on the camp in force, and one attack 
 in a small party. The troops were compelled to labor very hard after the building of the post was 
 commenced, and as their food was deficient in variety, and being lodged in tents during the 
 severest weather, they suffered greatly in health. Acute dysentery was the first prevailing disease. 
 This reached its height in September, 1867, when there were some fifty five cases on the report, 
 besides a number of mild attacks not recorded. After thisscurvy prevailed. This reached its height 
 in April, 1868, during which mouth there were sixty-one cases reported among the enlisted men 
 alone, besides some forty or fifty able to perform light or partial duty, whose names were not taken 
 upon the sick-list. The scorbutic taint was, however, even more widespread than these numbers 
 would seem to indicate. The men were prone to contract diseases, slow to recover, and little able to 
 bear their hard labors and the rigors of the climate ; frost-bites were common. The troops were 
 uot completely housed until January 3, 1868. 
 
 The. military reservation of Fort Stevenson has not yet been surveyed or determined. It is 
 believed, however, that it will be laid off in a rectangular form, extending about nine miles east, 
 seven miles west, one mile north, and two miles south of the flag-staff. 
 
 The bottoms of the Missouri have in this neighborhood an average width of about a mile and 
 a half. The most elevated parts are about fifteen feet above low- water mark, but three times within 
 the last twenty years they have been entirely overflowed ; from side to side in these bottom lands 
 the Missouri winds cutting, at each bend, almost or entirely through the first bench, and sometimes 
 through this to the second bench. In the latter case we find the stream bounded on one side by a 
 high and precipitous bank. This rapid winding of the Missouri divides the bottom lands into 
 sections, called here " points," somewhat semicircular in form, and situated alternately upon op- 
 posite sides of the river. A typical "point" on the Missouri may be described as follows : At its 
 upper extremity, which is always at, or immediately below, the convexity of a bend, the river 
 rushes against the bank with great force; the channel is deep, the bank steep, and the laud is being 
 constantly worn away. At the lower half of the point, which is at, or immediately below, the con- 
 cavity of a bench, the river is slower and more shallow ; the shore slopes down gradually to the 
 water, and the laud is increasing. The sloping shore here referred to is always a long, barren bar 
 of sand and mud, partly covered with drift-wood. Behind this bar, as the ground becomes grad- 
 ually more elevated, we find willows in all stages of growth ; further up there are young forest trees 
 and on still higher ground we find the mature forest of cottonwood, elm, ash, and box elder. This 
 forest is, however, usually but a narrow belt, and behind it on the older deposits of the bottom 
 there is sparse timber or great treeless spaces, covered sometimes with good grass, but more 
 frequently with bull-berry shrubs, and rose and coral-berry bushes. Almost the only arable land 
 in the country is to be found on the "points," and but little timber grows beyond their limits. 
 There are five of these points in the neighborhood of Fort Stevenson, which will be entirely or 
 partly included in the reservation. As a result of this action of the Missouri, in tearing down the 
 land in one place to build it up in another, we have a slow movement of the points down the 
 stream. 
 
 The first bench or terrace rises abruptly from the bottoms to a height of from ten to twenty 
 feet, and extends backward (becoming gradually more elevated) to the bluffs which form the edge 
 of the second bench. It is a treeless, arid prairie. The strip of this bench upon which Fort 
 Stevenson is built extends some nine miles up the river and about seven miles down, and it has an 
 
FORT STEVENSON, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 397 
 
 average width of about one mile. The second bench is at its edge from two hundred to three hun- 
 dred feet above the Missouri; it is au elevated plain, producing only stunted and scanty herbage; 
 it stretches far to the northwest and southeast, and rises gradually into the elevated table-land 
 known as the " Coteau du Missouri," whose eastern limit is forty miles east of Fort Stevenson. 
 To the south, on the opposite side of the river, it is bounded by a higher plain, whose seamed and 
 barren edge is known as the " Mauvaises Terres" or " Bad Lands." 
 
 The term " bad lands" is often of very general application. Portions of the lower plain or 
 " secoiul bench," when furrowed by deep ravines, and presenting a series of barren buttes and deep 
 gullies, are frequently called bad lauds, but it is a proper name when applied to the locality referred 
 to in the last paragraph. Deep ravines in some places stretch from the Missouri up into the prairie. 
 There are five of these in the neighborhood of Fort Stevenson; two hcive water-courses which run 
 all the year except in very dry seasons. 
 
 The deposits along this portion of the Missouri Valley belong to the cretaceous, tertiary, and 
 post-tertiary periods. The cretaceous rocks rise in some places to a considerable height, and show 
 themselves along the river bluffs, but in the neighborhood of Fort Stevenson the tertiary rocks 
 predominate. These rocks consist chiefly of hardened mud, (too soft to merit the name of rock 
 except in a geological sense,) in layers of different colors. These layers are interspersed with seams 
 of lignite, varying in width from three or four inches to as many feet. Again there are irregular 
 and interrupted deposits of sandstone. As these resist erosion much better than the indurated mud 
 that surrounds and underlies them, in some cases large flags of the harder rocks are supported 
 on long slender pillars of the softer. Silicified wood is very commonly found in this neighborhood, 
 in pieces from one to three feet in diameter, and imprints of the leaves and branches of various 
 exogenous plants are abundant. Some of the sandstone will do well for building purposes. The 
 lignite mined near Fort Stevenson makes good fuel, but it burns away very rapidly and disinte- 
 grates on exposure to the air. 
 
 Limonile and pumice are found in the neighborhood of the lignite seams. Above these tertiary 
 beds is a great drift deposit containing boulders of every description, some of immense size. The 
 foundations of all the buildings at Fort Stevenson are made of trimmed boulders, (mostly granite.) 
 There are many good-sized fragments of marble and dolomite in the drift, and at some posts in 
 the department these have been collected and burned into excellent lime. 
 
 As before intimated, the general surface is not fertile. The deeper ravines and bottom lauds 
 produce grass sufficiently long to be made into hay, but on the higher ground the grass is too short 
 to be cut. Even on the better soil the second crop of hay is not as abundant as the first. At the 
 present time a wide extent of country must be searched to obtain sufficient hay for the post, and 
 some time hence it will probably be much scarcer. For agricultural purposes only the lower lands 
 seem to be available, but without irrigation none but the hardier vegetables will thrive. In most 
 seasons, and when grasshoppers are not as abundant as usual, careful husbandry may be rewarded 
 by fair produce. At Fort Berthold, and other points in this neighborhood, the Indians have raised 
 on the bottoms of the river, without irrigation, corn, squashes, and beans, with varying success for 
 probably more than a century. 
 
 Among the wild animals of the vicinity may be mentioned buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, wolf, 
 gray and red fox, coyote, wild cat, lynx, skunk, mink, beaver, otter, gopher, prairie dog, and mice. 
 Birds: prairie chicken, duck, plover, snipe, geese, brant, snowbird, crow, gull, sage hen, crane, 
 pelican, and magpie. 
 
 In the Missouri River may be found catfish, perch, shovelnose, and sturgeon. 
 
 The average temperature is about 43 F. Extremes 105 F. and 30 F. The atmosphere is 
 frequently saturated with moisture. The rainy season commences in April and ends in October. 
 
 The post is built in the form of a parallelogram, the sides of which are occupied by neat adobe 
 buildings, one story in height, set up in cottouwood frames, on rock foundations. The parade is 
 220 feet square, and the general arrangement of the buildings is shown in Figure 53. 
 
 Two buildings are used as barracks, one to each company. Their walls are 11 feet from founda- 
 tion to eaves; are plastered outside with a brown cement, and marked to imitate cut stone. On 
 the inside the walls are roughly plastered, and very uneven; they will average 12 to 13 inches in 
 thickness, but when finished they will be about 14 inches thick. The chimneys are of brick, brought 
 
398 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 from the States ; they pierce the roof about half way between eave and ridge pole, and are built 
 upon the tie beams; the stove-pipes consequently enter the chimneys above the level of the walls 
 
 and close to the roof. There are no special means for 
 ventilation. Each of these buildings incloses three 
 sides of a yard, 60 by 68 feet, and may be described 
 as consisting of a body 100 by 22 feet, and two wings 
 or L's, each measuring 68/2 by 20 feet. The body of 
 the building is occupied entirely by the dormitory, 
 "] which is 97-jTj by 19 T S ^ feet, lighted by six windows, 
 entered by four doors, and warmed by three coal stoves. 
 The west wing is divided into a dining-room, 42 T 2 ^ by 
 17 T _ feet, and a kitchen, 24J by 17^ feet. The east 
 wing is divided into an orderly room, 12 T \ by 17 T s f 
 feet; a company store-room, 14 by 17 T S ^ feet; a com- 
 pany laundry, 13 T 9 by 17 T R Tjfect; a room for laundresses' 
 quarters, 13 T 3 5 by 17^ feet ; and a wash-room, 14 T 2 ^ by 
 feet. 
 
 M 
 
 Figure 53. Scale, 180 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 T 8 -j 
 
 A B, temporary log houses; C, Company F barracks; D, hospital; E, sally-port; F, officers' 
 quarters; H, Company C barracks; I, quartermaster's store-house; J, temporary log house; K 
 L M, officers' quarters. 
 
 The air space is 240 cubic feet per mau in each dormitory. This does not include the space 
 contained between the roof and the horizontal joists or tie-beams which rest on the walls, for the 
 room may yet be ceiled. 
 
 There are in each dormitory ten new, neatly finished, two-tier double bunks, capable of accom- 
 modating eight men each, or eighty in all. 
 
 The wash-room is supplied with a heating stove, a trough for the basins, a water barrel, and a 
 slop barrel. There are also wash-tubs for those who wish to bathe themselves ; beside these there 
 are no arrangements for bathing in winter, but in summer the men go to the river. 
 
 Three buildings are now used as officers' quarters. All the floors are of tougued and grooved 
 pine, the chimneys built from the ground, the partitions of lath and plaster, the apartments 
 ceiled, and all the walls plastered on the inside. On the outside the adobes are uncovered, but 
 it is intended either to plaster and mark them after the manner of the barracks, or to cover with 
 weather-boards. The walls are fourteen inches thick. 
 
 The guard-house, situated in the center of the side opposite the commanding officer's quarters, 
 is 60 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a passage, 10 feet wide, across the center, surmounted by a 
 tower, 10 feet square, from which the flagstaff rises. 
 
 The hospital, like the barracks, incloses three sides of a 
 rectangular yard. The plan is shown in Figure 54. 
 
 A, ward, running between the main buildings, and used as 
 bath and wash-room; A, ward, 17 T ^ by 44 1 8 5 feet; D, dispen- 
 sary, 15-Jf by 17 T \ feet; E, steward's room, 12-^ by 12 T 2 T feet; F, 
 post bakery, 17^ by 30 T % feet ; K, kitchen, 14 by 17^ feet ; 
 L, laundresses' quarters, 16 by 17 T 8 j feet; M, messroom, 17 T "j 
 by 20} feet; S, store-room, 13 by 12 T 2 ^ feet ; height of rooms, 
 11 feet. 
 
 The yard inclosed is 70 by 38 feet. The outer walls 
 of the hospital form the southeast corner of the fort. They 
 are built of the same material as the barracks, adobe on rock 
 foundation, one story high. There are as yet only cotton- 
 wood floors, but it is designed to lay down some matched 
 pine flooring on the ward and dispensary in the spring. All 
 the rooms are ceiled and plastered inside, with the exception 
 of the laundry and wash-room, and with one exception the 
 partitions are all about 6 inches thick, of lath and plaster. The description of the roof and win- 
 dows of the barracks applies to the hospital ; the walls are cemented and marked outside. 
 
 M 
 
 A 
 
 A, 
 
 IT" 
 
 
 K 
 
 L 
 
 s t 
 
 D 
 
 F 
 
 Figure 54. 
 
FOKT STEVENSON, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 399 
 
 The post library occupies a room, furnished with stove, chairs, tables, and book-cases. It is 
 designed as a reading-room for the men, as well as a library, and contains 850 well-selected vol- 
 umes, including standard works on the physical sciences, travels, history, biography, and the better 
 class of fiction and poetry. 
 
 All the water used at this post is brought from the Missouri River by water-wagon. There are 
 streams and springs in the neighborhood, but their water is impregnated with salts, rendering it 
 unpalatable. The Missouri water is the best in the country. It is sweet, and although very muddy, 
 particularly in the spring time, it becomes clear when allowed to settle. There are no cisterns or 
 reservoirs. The fort is built on sloping ground, and the subsoil consists mostly of gravel. The 
 natural drainage is perfectly efficient, hence there are no artificial drains, and none needed. In 
 winter there is no arrangement for bathing, except the tubs in the wash-rooms already described. 
 In summer the men bathe in the Missouri, and in a stream named Douglas Creek, which flows 
 close by. 
 
 On the bottoms near the mouth of Douglas Creek, about three-quarters of a mile from the post, 
 an irregularly shaped piece of ground, containing between four and five acres, was cultivated as a 
 post garden. Irrigation by hand was practiced during the dry season. Peas, beans, and lettuce 
 grew well ; cabbages and potatoes, being later in season, were eaten up by the grasshoppers before 
 maturity. There are no hospital nor officers' gardens. 
 
 During six mouths of the year there is communication with the States for commercial purposes, 
 by means of the Missouri River. During the remaining six months there is no communica- 
 tion except by mail. Heretofore St. Louis, Missouri, and Leavenworth have been the chief markets, 
 but Sioux City, Iowa, the nearest railroad point on the river, is now taking a large share of the 
 trade, on account of its greater proximity. Steamers from St. Louis take from twenty-five to sixty 
 days to reach this point. We have two mail routes from here to the States. The first is via Forts 
 Totten and Abercrombie, to St. Paul, Minnesota, it requires probably from three to six weeks for 
 a letter to go to department headquarters. In 1808 the Indians caused considerable trouble on the 
 road between here and Fort Totten. They captured the mail twice and killed five mail carriers, 
 three of whom were soldiers, and two citizens, but last summer they gave no trouble. The second 
 route is via Forts Rice, Sully, and other posts on the river below us, to Sioux City, Iowa. On this 
 the mail is carried, when practicable, every second week. 
 
 The only inhabitants of the vicinity are the Indians and whites at Fort Berthold, some seven- 
 teen miles distant. The village contains some 2,500 Indians, of the tribes of Arickarees or Rees, 
 Gros Venires, and Maudaus, who eke out a meager subsistence by agriculture, hunting, and the 
 annuities received from the Government. 
 
 The present sanitary condition of the post is excellent. Venereal diseases of various forms 
 are the most prevalent throughout the year. In summer we have many cases of acute diarrhoea, 
 and acute dysentery of mild types. Slight scorbutic symptoms have again manifested themselves 
 this winter, but they are readily dispelled. I do not believe that true malarial disease ever origin, 
 ated here, but it may recur to those who have formerly suffered. Pulmonary disease is almost 
 unknown ; we have had, since the post was established, two or three cases of phthisis, supervening 
 on scurvy, or contracted by the patient before he came into the country. The records of this post 
 and Fort Berthold, since June 1, 1865, (nearly five years, show but two cases of pneumonia, and 
 these cases were so slight that the diagnosis was made with difficulty. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Stevenson, Dakota 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 a 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 S * 
 
 n 
 
 d 
 
 V 
 
 al fevers. 
 
 B 
 
 C5 
 
 b 
 
 s 
 
 cs a 
 8 1 
 
 tc 
 
 a 
 
 al disease 
 
 
 Uj 
 
 1 
 
 09 * 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 * -S 
 |* 
 
 F 
 
 1 
 
 g ^ 
 
 B 'O 
 
 S 
 
 'x 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 > 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 g * 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 % 
 O 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 245 83 
 
 382 
 
 6 
 
 66 
 
 5 
 
 45 
 
 79 
 
 g 
 
 56 
 
 3 
 
 1869.... 
 
 142 5 
 
 157 
 
 6 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 22 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
400 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT BUFORD, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. P. KIMBALL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Buford, located in latitude 48 north, longitude from Greenwich 104 west, is on the north 
 bank of the Missouri River, near the mouth of the Yellowstone. 
 
 The reservation has not been declared. Thirty miles square is held reserved, as described 
 and announced in General Orders No. 21, Headquarters Department of Dakota, dated July 1C, 1808. 
 
 The Missouri River averages in this vicinity about one-half mile in width in its usual channel- 
 It has a flood plain which is from forty rods to several miles wide, and which is covered with water 
 in the occasional great floods that occur once in several years. This flood plain or bottom land is 
 generally well timbered, and covered with a dense undergrowth of willows and shrubs. Above 
 this is a grassy plain from one to four or five miles in width, extending back to the hills or " bad 
 lauds," and abounding in sage-brush and cactus. The structure of this plain, as observed in dig- 
 ging wells, consists, for the first eleven feet from the surface, of a porous clay; then, for about three 
 feet, a fine gravel ; next is white sand for fifteen feet, and black sand for two feet, below which is a 
 stratum, about twenty-two or twenty -three feet in thickness, of a very tough, grayish-blue clay. As 
 soon as this layer of clay is perforated water in large quantity rises through the opening and 
 affords an unfailing supply. The average depth of the three wells at the post is 52 feet. The sur- 
 face of the ground in which they are located is 38 feet above the river at the ordinary stage of water. 
 Through this plain, at distances of one-half to two or three miles apart, are ravines, or " coolies," 
 as they are called here, running from the hills to the bottom lands of the river, constituting 
 an excellent system of drainage. But few of them contain water, however, except in very wet sea- 
 sons. The water of the few small streams that do run through them is intensely alkaline, contain- 
 ing sulphate of soda in large quantity. These coolies are generally of sufficient depth to conceal 
 from observation a party of horsemen until the observer approaches to within a few yards of them, 
 and are invaluable to the Indian for purposes of secret approach and ambuscade. 
 
 The striking feature of this vicinity lies in the " mauvaises terres," or "bad lands," which con- 
 sist of a succession of barren hills, or " buttes," averaging from two to three hundred feet in height- 
 These buttes are chiefly composed of compact clay, very tough and elastic, considered to be a ter- 
 tiary deposit. They bear abundant evidences of erosion by water, some having been molded into a 
 conical form, while others have assumed a pyramidal shape, and others again have been worn away 
 on one or more sides until they present a perpendicular face hundreds of feet in height. At this 
 point these lands extend back from the plain for five or six miles, beyond which is a rolling prairie. 
 Their general course here is from west to east along the Missouri River, which approaches them 
 closely at some points. Near the bases of these buttes there not unfrequently crops out a seam of 
 lignite, averaging from four or five inches to aa many feet in thickness. It is of fair quality for 
 fuel, and the indications are that the deposit is sufficiently extensive to render it of great value for 
 local uses should the population of the country ever be sufficient to require it. It is, however, so 
 prone to crumble to a fine powder upon exposure to the air, that it would probably be impractica- 
 ble to transport it a long distance to market. 
 
 The only stratified rock that has been observed in the vicinity is a calcareous sandstone ter- 
 tiary, free from fossils, which crops out abundantly among the clay hills. This stone is valuable 
 for building purposes, hardening by exposure to the weather. It contains too much carbonate of 
 lime to be used in the construction of ovens, since it crumbles after long-continued exposure to 
 heat. Metamorphic rock occurs only in the granite and mica schist of boulders, which have been 
 brought to their present places in the drift. 
 
 Deserving of notice are the numerous and beautiful specimens of petrified wood, entire logs 
 and stumps of which, supposed to be chiefly cedar, are frequently found in the hills of a pearly 
 white color, finely tinted with various shades of red and crimson. 
 
 The country around the post is not arable. The plain just described would produce crops if 
 it could be irrigated. The country is badly watered. Occasionally along the river strips of land are 
 
FORT BUFORD, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 401 
 
 found capable of producing corn and vegetables. Some of the more common representatives of the 
 vegetable kingdom are the ash-leaved maple or rose elder, (Negundo accroides,) sparsely scattered 
 along the river banks ; the red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) is plentiful in the same locality. 
 The kinnikiunik, which the Indians sinoke, is the inner bark of this shrub scraped off and dried. 
 They call it "Chah-shah-shah." The green ash is found in varying quantities on the wooded river 
 bottoms. Red cedar is sparingly found on the hills and in the rocky ravines, usually of a small 
 stunted character. A species of the willow family finds a place in the low moist grounds. It is a 
 shrub from 5 to 8 feet high, and is probably the low bush willow, (Salix humilis.) The cottonwood 
 (Populus monilifera) constitutes the bulk of the forest in this vicinity, and is the only wood availa- 
 ble in any quantity for fuel or building purposes. The low bottom lands along the Missouri and 
 Yellowstone Rivers are for the most part covered with cottonwood forests. The wild yellow or red 
 plum (Prunus Americanus) is found in the ravines and on the prairie side of points of timber located 
 on the river lands. It is edible, and of good flavor, being the best fruit the vicinity affords. The 
 number of trees, however, are limited, and the supply consequently scanty. The choke cherry 
 (Prunus Virginiana) is found in much the same places and quantities. A variety of service berry 
 (AmelancMer Canadensis) is abundant along the streams as a shrub. The smooth, wild gooseberry 
 (Ribes hirtellum) is sparingly found in ravines. The Missouri currant (Ribesia aureum) is more com- 
 mon in the same locality. The buffalo, or bull berry, (ShepJierdia argentea,) an edible, acid, red fruit, 
 ripening late in the season, occurs abundantly, usually in the bottom lauds. It is very valuable 
 to the Indians, who often subsist on it almost entirely for several weeks during the fall, at times 
 when there happens to be great scarcity of game. The poinrne blanche, or Indian turnip, (Psoralea 
 esculenta,) is abundant in the high grounds and sandy soil. It is much used as food by the abo- 
 rigines. The prickly pear (Opuntia Missouriensis) is extremely abundant in the prairie, and by its 
 sharp, stiff spines is rendered a very annoying obstacle to the traveler, whether mounted or on 
 foot. Lambs' quarters ( Chenopodium album) grows plentifully in the low moist bottoms, and is 
 highly prized and much used during the spring and early summer for greens. The wild onion 
 (Attium stellatum] is common upon the hill-sides and steep banks. A species of wild mint finds a 
 place on the moist banks of streams in the vicinity. 
 
 Some of the more important animals are the American bison or buffalo, mountain sheep, white 
 and black-tailed deer, elk, antelope, Canada lynx, wild cat, American gray wolf, coyote, common 
 red fox, swift fox, prairie fox, silver gray fox, Indian dog, grizzly bear, black bear, long- tailed 
 ermine, mink, badger, common skunk, American otter, fisher, American sable, Canada porcupine, 
 jack hare, gray rabbit, beaver, gopher, and niuskrat. 
 
 The climate is one of extremes, being excessively hot in summer and extremely cold in winter. 
 The extreme heat of summer is of short duration, and the nights are always cool. Winter sets in 
 early in December, and lasts until near the 1st of April. The cold is continuous and severe. 
 Wind and snow storms are of common occurrence. Snow sometimes falls to a depth of two feet, 
 which is the greatest depth ever known here. The atmosphere is dry, and the variations in tem- 
 perature are not as observed as in more humid climates. The fall of rain is very small, the annual 
 average for two years being about nine and a quarter inches. 
 
 Fort Buford was first established as a one-company post in 1866, and increased to five compa- 
 nies in 1867, since which time the work of building the fort has been in progress. It is built upon 
 a rectangular plot of ground, 333 yards in length by 200 in breadth. This plot is inclosed on three 
 sides by a wooden stockade, 12 feet in height. The south side, facing toward the river, is not stock- 
 aded. The parade ground, 460 by 350 feet, is bounded on the north side by the officers' quarters, 
 on the east by the commissary store-room and office, quartermaster's store-room and office, and 
 one company barrack ; on the south by four company barracks, and on the west by the hospital, 
 post library, adjutant's office, and guard-house. East of the buildings forming the eastern bound- 
 ary of the parade ground, and separated from them by a street twenty feet in width, are the grana- 
 ries, stables, corral, butcher shop, blacksmith shop, bakery, and magazine. 
 
 The barracks, five in number, are rectangular adobe buildings, each 124 feet in length, by 24 
 
 feet wide, and 10 feet high to the eaves, not ceiled. Walls 17 inches thick. Roofs of boards and 
 
 slabs, covered with dirt. Each barrack is divided into a first sergeant's room, 12 by 24 feet; men's 
 
 quarters, 70 by 24 feet ; mess-room, 30 by 24 feet, and kitchen, 12 by 24 feet. The natural illumina- 
 
 51 
 
402 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 tion of the quarters is insufficient. Iii the dormitory there are but three windows, each 2 feet 6 
 inches wide, by 4 feet 8 inches high, not affording sufficient light to read by except in their immediate 
 vicinity. The quarters are at all times dark and gloomy, the exact reverse of what they should be 
 were the health and comfort of the occupants considered. The ventilation of the quarters by means 
 of flues immediately beneath the eaves, and the large open fireplaces, is sufficient in this climate, if 
 the rooms are not overcrowded. The air space in the men's quarters is 18,480 cubic feet, and the 
 average occupancy sixty men, allowing, therefore, but 308 cubic feet of air to each man. The 
 quarters are well warmed by fireplaces and stoves. A serious fault in these buildings is the entire 
 absence of a room for bathing purposes; the only facilities the men now have for washing being a 
 basin of water out of doors, and the Missouri River, which last is so rapid and dangerous at this 
 point that but few avail themselves of the opportunity it gives during a few months in the summer. 
 The bunks are badly arranged in three tiers one above the other, each bunk holding two men. The 
 company sinks, two in number, are situated 110 feet distant from the fort, each consisting of a ditch, 
 30 feet in length by 8 feet wide and 12 feet in depth, with a building erected over it. 
 
 The kitchens are of ample size, but their location is objectionable, as, being in the same building 
 and in close proximity to the men's quarters and communicating with them, much of the steam 
 and effluvia pass in, frequently rendering the quarters very disagreeable. The same objection of 
 locality might be raised against the mess-rooms. The fact that there is no store or lumber-room 
 connected with the barracks is made evident by the accumulation of sundry articles in the kitchens, 
 mess-rooms, and sleeping-rooms, to the great detriment of the good order and neatness of the 
 quarters. 
 
 The laundresses occupy an adobe building, 20 by 100 feet, which is divided into five rooms, 
 each 20 feet square. On a line with this building are the quarters of the citizen employe's, an 
 adobe building, 20 by 50 feet, divided into three rooms, ach 16 by 20 feet. In rear of the laun- 
 dresses' quarters is an adobe building, 12 by 20 feet, now occupied by the interpreter. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of three adobe buildings and two wooden ones. The adobe build- 
 ings are each 45 by 48 feet, and 10 feet high to the eaves, and divided by a hall through the 
 center into two sets of quarters of three rooms each, each room 14 by 13J feet. The wooden build- 
 ings were built in I860, when the fort was first established. One building is 45 by 22 feet, the 
 other 36 by 20 feet. Each one is divided into three rooms and a hall. The officers' quarters are 
 all well warmed, lighted, and ventilated. 
 
 The adjutant's office and the post library are in an adobe building formerly used as a hospital, 54 
 by 22 feet, divided into three rooms of equal size, one of which is vacant. 
 
 The commissary store-rooms and office are contained in one adobe building, 24 feet wide by 
 200 feet long, and 10 feet high to the eaves. These rooms are well warmed and ventilated, and are 
 kept in admirable order and police. Extending in a line with the commissary building is the 
 quartermaster's store-room and office, contained in an adobe building, 24 by 124 feet, and 10 feet 
 high to the eaves. 
 
 The guard-house, 40 by 22 feet, and 10 feet high, consists of two rooms, each 20 by 22 feet ; one 
 built of adobe used as the guard-room, and one built of logs for the prisoner's quarters. The 
 building is well warmed by stoves. The illumination, both natural and artificial, is bad. Ventila- 
 tion very bad. The present guard house is intended to be used only temporarily until a good one 
 can be built. 
 
 The hospital was originally erected in the summer of 1867, for a company barrack, and was 
 used as such until June, 1868. Its dimensions and structure are similar to those of the barracks 
 already described. It is divided into a dispensary, 12 by 24 feet, store-room, 16 by 12 feet, ward, 
 68 by 24 feet, bath-room, 10 by 8 feet, mess-room, 16 by 24 feet, and kitchen, 12 by 24 feet. The 
 ward is furnished with twelve beds, giving to each 136 square feet of superficial area, and 1,496 
 cubic feet air space. The ventilation of the ward is excellent. It is effected by numerous small 
 openings in the walls immediately.beneath the eaves, and by two large open fireplaces. The room is 
 well warmed by these fireplaces and two wood-stoves. The natural illumination of the ward 
 by means of four windows, each 2 feet 6 inches wide, 4 feet 8 inches high, is insufficient. The 
 kitchen, of sufficient size and accommodations, is badly located in too close proximity to the ward 
 The hospital sink is built twenty feet from the hospital. 
 
FOET BUFORD, DAKOTA TERRITORY. 403 
 
 The post bakery is an adobe building, 30 by 45 feet, with walls 2 feet thick. It contains two 
 ovens, each 13 by 12 feet, well constructed. 
 
 The stables are two wooden buildings, one 32 by 250 feet, and one 17 by 218 feet. They are 
 well constructed and adapted to the purpose for which they were built. The corral is 250 feet 
 square, including a shed, 16 by 250 feet, built for the cattle. At the east side of the corral, and near 
 the center of the east side of the fort, is the butcher's shop, a wooden building, 20 by 24 feet. 
 Near the corral and stables are three temporary wooden buildings, two of them roofed with tar- 
 paulins. One is 30 by 85 feet, and used as an additional commissary store-room ; one 30 by 80 feet, 
 and one 30 by 260 feet, both filled with grain. 
 
 The library consists of 73 volumes. 
 
 The post is chiefly supplied with water from the Missouri River. There are, however, three 
 wells within the fort, one of which was dug in the winter of 1866 and 1867, at a time when the gar- 
 rison was surrounded and besieged by hostile Indians. The other two were sunk in the fall of 1867, 
 near the corral, for the supply of the cattle and horses, and to serve in case of emergency. The 
 water from these wells is hard, clear, and transparent, and has a slightly saline taste. It contains 
 a small amount of lime and chlorine. A small amount of organic matter is present. The water 
 from these, wells is now used only for the cattle and horses, the entire supply for the command 
 being daily brought in carts from the river, 750 yards distant. The river water contains a large 
 amount of suspended matter, principally clay and sand. A careful measurement in the month of 
 September, at a season when the water of the river is comparatively clear, gave eighty-four grains 
 of suspended matter in one gallon of the water. In the spring and during the early part of the sum- 
 mer, when the river is high, the amount of suspended matter is at least doubled. The addition of 
 six grains of alum to the gallon of water renders it perfectly clear and transparent after standing 
 twelve hours. Cleared of the suspended matter, it is excellent water, much superior to that 
 of the wells. During the winter of 1866-'67, when the well water was used exclusively by the gar- 
 rison, the records show that diarrhoea was the prevalent disease. In the fall of 1867 a sudden increase 
 in the number of cases of diarrhoea was charged to the use of the water from the well, which was 
 used on account of being colder than the river water. The well was closed, and the epidemic imme- 
 diately abated. During the summer and fall of 1868 the river water was used exclusively. The 
 daily amount of water furnished the troops averages about eight gallons per head. 
 
 The natural drainage of the post is excellent. In front the ground slopes gently to the river, 
 and on both the east and west ends it desceiids gradually to shallow ravines running parallel 
 with, and emptying into, the river. Gardens are cultivated, producing lettuce, radishes, cucum- 
 bers, and green corn in sufficient amount to furnish a fair supply to the entire garrison dur- 
 ing the season ; also a limited amount of green peas, cabbages, turnips, and beets. Tomatoes have 
 not done well, the season being too short. Potatoes have proved a failure during the last two 
 years, producing nothing but tops. The corn raised is a variety cultivated by the Ree Indians, 
 which comes quickly to maturity. 
 
 Rations, procurable from the commissary, are of good qualityand sufficient in quantity. Dur- 
 ing the fall of 1868 and the winter of 1868-'69, after the supply of vegetables from the garden was 
 exhausted, the following articles of food, in addition to the regular ration issued from the commis- 
 sary department, in the quantities stated, were found effectual in preventing scurvy and maintain- 
 ing the command in excellent health, viz : Per 100 rations, ten pounds of dried fruit and five gallons 
 of krout or curried cabbage twice a week; one gallon of molasses, twenty-five pounds of corn meal, 
 and two and one-half gallons of pickles once a week. 
 
 The nearest supply depots are at St. Louis, Missouri, 2,233 miles distant. The route of supply 
 is by the river, which closes for navigation early in the fall. Supplies should be sent early in the 
 spring, as many articles spoil later in the season. Fresh vegetables are always needed, and some 
 means should be devised to supply potatoes at least. Communication between the post and nearest 
 town is by the Missouri River. There is no public land conveyance. Mail communication is very irreg- 
 ular and uncertain. The post has twice been nearly three months without receiving a mail. Dur- 
 ing the past year a mail has been received about once a month. It is carried on horseback, via 
 Forts Stevenson and Totteu, Dakota Territory, 490 miles, to Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory, 
 
404 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 the nearest mail station. The length of time required for a letter to go to department head- 
 quarters is about thirty days. 
 
 The territory on the north side of the Missouri River is claimed by the Assiniboine Indians, from 
 White Earth River, 65 miles east of the post, to Milk River, about 170 miles west of it. The Assin- 
 iboines were originally a part of the Yanctou tribe of the great Dakota or Sioux Nation, and, accord- 
 ing to tradition, split off from that tribe and became a separate people through some difficulty that 
 arose about a woman. They call themselves Hokes, and claim to be Dakotas. The name "Assin- 
 iboine," meaning stone-boilers, was given to them by the Crees, their neighbors on the north, on 
 account of a singular method practiced by them of boiling meat by holding in the water heated 
 stones. Catlin states that in 1832 the Assiniboines numbered 7.000. At present they do not exceed 
 2,000. Small-pox and war have been their destroyers. The Assiniboiues are athletic, well-formed, 
 fine-looking Indians, and since the establishment of this post have been uniformly friendly to the whites, 
 and have frequently rendered valuable services to the Government. During the winters of 1866-'67 
 and 1867-'68, they kept the command apprised of the movements of the hostile Sioux, and during the 
 past season, (1868,) after the capture of the Government herd of beef cattle from this post by the 
 Sioux, they sent a courier between 60 and 70 miles to give information of the direction in which 
 some of the cattle had strayed, and afterward drove in to the fort several head which they had 
 found upon the prairie nearly one hundred miles distant. The Assiniboines are very anxious to 
 have an agency established among them, similar to those among the Indians lower down the river. 
 They are poor in horses and few in number, and consequently unable to pursue the buffalo, their 
 chief source of subsistence, to any great distance from home, and their hunting grounds are con- 
 stantly encroached upon by other tribes, the Crows on the west, the Crees and British half-breeds 
 on the north, the Yanctonais, Gros Ventres, Rees, and Mandans on the east, and the Tetons 
 (Sioux) on the south. Owing to the inroads of these tribes on the lands of the Assiniboines, game 
 is becoming scarce, and they are at times almost in a state of starvation. During the spring of 
 1868, a camp of 30 or 40 lodges near the fort chiefly subsisted themselves for several weeks upon 
 the offal from the butcher's shop and corn picked out of dung heaps. They are keenly alive to the 
 fact of the increasing scarcity of game, and are anxious to learn to cultivate the soil before they 
 shall be overtaken by starvation. Their poverty in horses arises principally from their traffic with 
 the British half-breeds from the Red River of the North, who make frequent trading expeditions 
 into their country with powder and whisky. The Assiniboines are now mostly encamped on the 
 Missouri River, from 60 to 100 miles west of the post. In the immediate vicinity are the Gros 
 Ventres, Mandans, and Yanctonais on their winter hunt. All these Indians are friendly. 
 
 On the opposite or south side of the Missouri is the country of the Teton Sioux, who, since 
 the establishment of the post, have proved as uniformly hostile as the Assiniboines have friendly. 
 The band of the Sioux that most infest this vicinity is the Oukpapas, although in some of their 
 raids other bands have been recognized. Since the establishment of this fort in 1866, they have 
 killed at the post, or in its immediate vicinity, eleven men five soldiers and six citizens. Six of 
 these men have been killed since May, 1868. On the 20th of August, 1868, they made an attack in 
 force upon the Government herd of beef cattle at this post, and captured over 200 of them. In this 
 fight two men were killed and four wounded, one mortally. In addition to their relentless war 
 upon the whites, the Sioux are constantly harassing the Assiniboines, killing men, women, and 
 children because of their friendship for the whites. 
 
 The health of the locality is excellent, and there are no prevailing diseases. The most common 
 diseases are venereal and acute rheumatism. The fatigue duty performed by the troops has been 
 hitherto extremely onerous, but with the exception of the exposure of the workmen in the adobe 
 yard during a few excessively hot days in the summer of 1868, from which several cases of disease 
 resulted, and once or twice the moral depression produced by being hard driven, I have seen no 
 injurious effect produced upon the men of the command, but on the contrary I consider a reasonable 
 amount of fatigue duty performed in the open air during pleasant weather as beneficial to them. 
 Especially is this the case during the winter, when the labor of getting fuel in good weather not 
 only gives needed and healthful exercise, but furnishes an agreeable relief to the monotony of sit- 
 ting and standing around a fire in crowded quarters, and, by occupying the mind and attention, does 
 much to prevent that ennui and nostalgia which frontier garrison life is apt to generate. Amuse- 
 
FORT BENTON, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 405 
 
 ments of the soldier consist of base ball, cricket playing, and hunting. A theatrical performance 
 is given once a week by a troupe composed of men in the command. Situated on the west side of 
 the parade ground is a wooden building, 75 by 30 feet, originally erected for a store-room, now used 
 as a theater. 
 
 Statement showing mean xtrength, number of sick, and principal disease* at Fort Buford, Dakota 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 Years. 
 
 t 
 
 g 
 
 it 
 H 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 "3 
 
 * 
 
 'C' 
 
 * * 
 
 
 
 rh 
 
 al diseases. 
 
 
 1 
 "S 
 
 X 
 
 V 
 
 i 
 
 A 
 
 J I 
 
 deaths. 
 
 
 g 
 
 1 ~ 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 
 3 >. 
 
 a 13 
 
 a 
 
 E 
 
 o 
 a 
 
 C 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 ^ -t- 
 
 4H 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 
 1 
 
 & 
 
 s 
 
 S 
 
 o 
 
 ^ 
 
 1868 
 
 401. 58 
 
 444 
 
 i 
 
 13 
 
 57 
 
 1 
 
 80 
 
 33 
 
 25 
 
 J 
 
 80 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 195 
 
 322 
 
 
 7 
 
 40 
 
 18 
 
 34 
 
 
 30 
 
 1 
 
 61 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT BENTON, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON A. B. CAMPBELL, UNITED STATES ARMY, DATED JULY 13, 1870. 
 
 Fort Beuton, Montana Territory, is located on the Missouri River, at the head of navigation, 
 in latitude 48 north, longitude 110 40' west ; altitude about 6,500 feet above sea-level. It is about 
 5,000 miles from the Gulf of Mexico; 64 miles east, by water, of Port Shaw; nearly due north 
 of Fort Ellis, distant about 245 miles by circuitous road, and 144 miles east of Helena. The post 
 adjoins the town called Benton City on the east. It is about 25 miles east of the Bell range of the 
 Rocky Mountains, and 45 miles south of the Bear Paw Mountains. It was originally built for an 
 Indian trading post by the American Fur Company, in 1846; was sold in 1864 to the Northwest 
 Fur Company, and was occupied by United States troops in October, 1869, to receive and forward 
 the freight for Forts Shaw and Ellis. The reservation is one mile wide and three miles long. Ex- 
 cept the depression through which the river runs, it is a prairie. There are no springs or ponds 
 on the reservation. There is a small alkaline pond 28 miles on the road to Fort Shaw, and a small 
 spring 8 miles from there on the same road. The wells in town differ; some have cold and delight- 
 ful water; others adjoining are warmer, alkaline, and offensive to the taste. The highest tempera- 
 ture observed in the shade was 104 F. ; in the sun, 139 F. ; the lowest, 30 F., and the mean about 
 47 F., which I think below the truth ; it is nearer to 50. The rain-fall is 4.24 inches, and the snow, 
 melted, 2.25 inches. Snow seldom lies deeper than 8 to 10 inches. There was quite a snow-storm 
 on the 31st of May and 1st of June, 1870, the minimum thermometer on the 1st of June showing 
 29, and on June 3 going, in the sun, above 130. Winds prevail from the east and south, fre- 
 quently blow with great violence, and change in a short time. The winter, in the main, is mild 
 and genial, but interspersed with sudden falls of temperature, the cold lasting but a few days at 
 a time, but being then excessively severe. 
 
 The fort, built of adobe, is located 40 yards from the river, 12 feet above low water. Its 
 capacity is sufficient for one superintendent and about 20 employes, but not for a company of sol- 
 diers. One adobe building, two stones high, is used as barracks, the first story containing orderly 
 room, kitchen, and mess-room ; the second the dormitory. The building is 85 by 18 feet inside, and 
 14 feet to the eaves, being 7 feet for each story. The quarters are warmed by stoves, and lighted 
 and ventilated by the door and small windows. The air space per man, with the present force, is 
 252 cubic feet. When the company is filled up there will be 91 cubic feet per man. The bunks are 
 double, and two-storied. The wash-room is in a tent ; there is no bath-room. The water-closets 
 are ordinary privies outside the inclosure. 
 
406 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The laundresses occupy tents outside the walls. 
 
 Parts of three buildings are used as officers' quarters ; they are built of adobe, finished with 
 whitewash over the bricks and canvas over the beds to keep dirt and dust from falling; heated by 
 stoves, and lighted and ventilated by windows and doors. There are no water-closets or bath- 
 rooms. 
 
 The quartermaster's store-house and commanding officer's office is a building of hewn logs with 
 shingle roof. 
 
 The guard-house, formerly the stable, is 31 by 18 feet inside, warmed by a stove and ventilated 
 by a door and window ; its capacity is sufficient, but it is insecure. 
 
 There is no hospital ; one hospital tent, containing four beds, is used as a ward ; it is warmed 
 by a stove. 
 
 The general water supply is from the Missouri River ; it is brought in buckets as needed, and 
 is impure from the oftal from the town. 
 
 The natural drainage is sufficient ; one wooden-box drain leads from the middle of the yard to 
 the river. 
 
 There are no gardens at the post. Abundant food, good and of sufficient variety, is procura- 
 ble from the post commissary. There is also plenty in the town, but very high-priced. Milk is 60 
 cents per gallon, butter $1 per pound, eggs $1 50 to $2 per dozen, chickens $2 each. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained once a year from St. Louis, by steamboat ; the amount on hand 
 is large, and is stored in a loft over the magazine, not well protected from the weather. 
 
 The means of communication are by telegraph and stage ; the latter is regular, but sometimes 
 interrupted by snow. Mail is received three times a week. The length of time required for a let- 
 ter to reach department headquarters is from fourteen to sixteen days. 
 
 There are four Indian trading or outfitting houses in the vicinity of the post ; one brewery, 
 one bakery, two blacksmith, one carpenter, one tailor, one butcher, and one shoemaker shops, and 
 about a dozen drinking and gambling shops. It has also a court-house, a school, and a small jail. 
 It is said to have 180 inhabitants. 
 
 No malarial or pulmonary diseases occur here unless imported. Rheumatism is rare, but very 
 severe when it is encountered. Bowel diseases are at present prevailing, probably owing to the 
 combined influences of impure water and excessive heat. 
 
 FORT ELLIS, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON P. C. DAVIS AND ASSISTANT SURGEON CLARENCE EWEN, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The post of Fort Ellis is situated in the southern portion of Montana Territory, in latitude 46 
 30' north, longitude 112 west, 30 miles from Gallatin City, on the headwaters of the Missouri, and 
 three miles from Bozeman City. Elevation above the level of the sea about 6,000 feet. The post 
 is on the south bank of the Gallatin River, and at the upper end of the Gallatin Valley, situated 
 on the north side of an elevated prairie, which is surrounded on the north, east, and south by high 
 mountains. The post was established August 27, 1867, by order of Brevet Major General Terry, 
 commanding the Department of Dakota. In November, 1867, the commissary and quartermaster 
 store-houses aud stables were completed. The company quarters, three buildings for officers' quar- 
 ters, and the post bakery, were completed in December of the same year, and in January, 1868, the 
 hospital, headquarter building, guard-house, and blacksmith shop. In February, 1868, an ice-house 
 was built, and in October and November of the same year two more sets of officers' quarters were 
 finished, aud the stockade completed at the same time. 
 
 The climate at the post is dry and pure, but snow-storms and severe frosts are not uufrequent, 
 even in summer. The ground upon which the post stands, owing to its greater elevation, and being 
 somewhat sheltered from the sun's rays by the adjacent mountains, is colder than the neighboring 
 valley. 
 
 Cultivation is confined to the river bottoms, as the small amount of rain renders irrigation 
 
FORT ELLIS, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 407 
 
 necessary. The soil is very fertile, and large crops of wheat, rye, oats, aud barley are raised, and 
 all the more hardy vegetables, such as potatoes, turnips, beets, carrots, &c. The river bottoms are 
 covered with groves of cottonwood and aspen, and thickets of willow. The passes to the Yellow- 
 stone River and the country to the south of it open into the valley a few miles from the fort. The 
 valley of the Yellowstone is described as being as fertile as the Gallatin Valley, but is unsettled. 
 
 The neighboring mountains are very broken and precipitous, with huge cliffs of sandstone and 
 limestone, clothed to their summits with vast forests of white pine, red fir, and cedar, and contain 
 immense beds of bituminous coal of good quality. Gold is found in the immediate vicinity of the 
 post, aud at Emigrant Gulch, about thirty miles distant, gold mining is carried on extensively. The 
 rivers and mountain streams are well stocked with trout, and the forests and plains abound in 
 game elk, black-tailed deer, antelope, mountain sheep, grizzly and black bear, wolf, mink, ermine, 
 and beaver. 
 
 There has been but little communication with the Indian tribes of the vicinity. The Crows 
 occupy the country south of the Yellowstone. They number about 250 lodges. Although small-pox 
 and syphilis have made great ravages among them, they are said to be increasing in number. 
 
 The ground upon which the fort is built slopes gently from the south to the river. The soil is 
 argillaceous, with a subsoil of gravel. The buildings of the post are of unhewn pine logs, the 
 interstices are plastered with mortar, and the floors are of pine. The buildings inclose the parade 
 ground, and are surrounded by a stockade, 390 by 458 feet, and 10 feet high. The plan of the post 
 is shown in Figure 55. 
 
 A, headquarters building ; B E K, barracks ; C, hospital ; D, carpenter shop and bakery ; F 
 H, commissary store-houses; I, officers' 
 quarters; J, quartermaster's storehouse; 
 L, post library ; M, parade ground ; O, 
 bastion ; P, guard-house. 
 
 There are three sets of company quar- 
 ters at the post, of the following dimen- 
 sions each : 123 feet long, 22 feet wide, 10 
 feet high on the sides, and 13 feet in the 
 center, with two wings at the rear 22 feet 
 long aud 20 feet wide. They contain each 
 a kitchen and mess-room, 40 feet long and 
 20 feet wide, and a dormitory, 102 feet Ion g 
 and 22 feet wide. These rooms are not 
 ceiled. The dormitories contain a double 
 tier of bunks, are lighted by five small 
 windows, and are occupied, each by one 
 company. They are warmed by stoves. 
 The only means of ventilation are the win- Figure 55. Scale, 151J feet to l incli. 
 
 dows and the holes cut for the stove-pipes. The mess-rooms and kitchens of these barracks are 
 provided with large cellars. The allotment of air space to each man is about 600 cubic feet. The 
 sinks for the men are placed outside of the stockade, about 150 feet distant. 
 
 There are four buildiugs used for officers' quarters, containing two sets of quarters each; four 
 rooms to each set in three of the buildings, and three to each set in the other. The rooms are not 
 ceiled. The building containing the headquarter offices is 42 feet long and 30 feet wide. It con- 
 tains the post commander's, adjutant's, quartermaster's, and commissary's offices, and the sergeant 
 major's quarters. 
 
 The commissary's and quartermaster's store-houses are each 62 feet long and 22 feet wide, with 
 two wings at the rear 22 feet long by 20 feet wide. 
 
 The guard-house at the fort is in one of the bastions; the lower story used as a guard-room, 
 the upper story as quarters for the prisoners ; it is 20 feet square; ceiling, 10 feet high ; lighted by 
 two small windows, warmed by an open fireplace, and ventilated by a ventilator in the ceiling. 
 
 The hospital, located on the northeast corner of the post, is built of rough pine logs, and 
 roofed with boards. It is 42 by 30 feet, and contains a ward, 28 by 18 by 8 feet, which occupies the 
 
408 
 
 DI'SCKIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 central portion of the building, the dispensary and steward's room communicating on the one 
 side, the kitchen and store-room on the other. The ward contains seven beds, with 612 cubic feet 
 of air space to each. It is warmed by a stove, and lighted by two windows, one at each end. Ven- 
 tilation is secured by ventilators in the ceiling. There is no bath or wash room. The sink is 
 located outside of the stockade. The hospital building is small and ill adapted to its present use. 
 A new hospital is in course of erection, consisting of a main building with L attached. The main 
 portion has an attic. The ground floor is divided into six rooms, each 15 by 16 by 9 feet, designed 
 for dispensary, office, steward's room, kitchen, and laundry. The office and dispensary are in front, 
 being divided by a partition, and communicate with a hall, 6 by 32 feet, which extends across the 
 building to the L containing the ward. At the other end of the hall, and attached to the main build- 
 ing, is the dead-house, 12 by 12 feet. A stairway ascends to the attic, which is designed for a 
 store-room. The ward is 40 by 24 feet, and 12 feet high ; two small rooms are partitioned off at the 
 further end for wash-room and water-closet. The ward is well lighted by eight windows placed 
 in opposite sides, and two at the free end ; the latter looking out from the small rooms before men- 
 tioned. No special provision is made for ventilation. 
 
 The quartermaster's stables are located 100 yards west of the post. They are built of logs, 
 and roofed and floored with earth. Their lighting and ventilation are deficient. At a distance of 100 
 yards southwest of the post are the cavalry stables, consisting of four log buildings, each 150 by 
 30 feet, with board roofs. 
 
 The library contains 210 volumes, principally histories and standard works of fiction. 
 
 The East Gallatin River, about 200 yards from, and above the post, supplies the command with 
 water, which is brought to the post in tanks. The quality of the water is excellent, and the quan- 
 tity sufficient for the necessities of the garrison. 
 
 The natural drainage of the post is good, the ground sloping to the river. 
 
 There are no arrangements for bathing in winter; in summer the men frequently bathe in the 
 river. 
 
 The farmers in the vicinity bring in a plentiful supply of potatoes and other vegetables. 
 Game, such as deer, elk, mountain sheep, and antelopes, is procured by hunters, and sells at ten 
 cents per pound. 
 
 The mail is received regularly once a week. A letter requires fourteen days to reach depart- 
 ment headquarters or Washington. 
 
 The prevailing diseases during the past year were, bronchitis, rheumatism , neuralgia, tonsillitis, 
 and diarrhoea. The diseases of the respiratory organs are doubtless owing to the overheated and 
 ill ventilated quarters in cold weather. 
 
 The population of Gallatin County is 1,200. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of side, and principal diseases at Fort Ellis, Montana Terri- 
 tory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 1 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 ft 
 W 
 
 CD 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 9 
 
 | 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 204. 08 
 
 522 
 
 2 
 
 126 
 
 25 
 
 42 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 55 
 
 
 27 
 
 
 1869 
 
 191.66 
 
 322 
 
 4 
 
 61 
 
 19 
 
 42 
 
 36 
 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, lironchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
FORT SHAW, MONTANA TERRITORY. 4Q9 
 
 CAMP BAKEK, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON CLARENCE EWEN, UNITED STATES ABMV, JULY 18, 1870. 
 
 Cam]) Baker, Montana Territory, is situated in latitude 47 north, longitude 111 west, at an 
 elevation above the sea of about 7,000 feet. It is on Smith's River, or Deep Creek, which empties 
 into the Missouri about fifty miles below. The nearest post is Fort Shaw, situated about seventy 
 miles northwest in a direct line, and 200 miles by the road. Fort Ellis is 120 miles south. The 
 nearest town is Diamond City, 25 miles southwest. 
 
 The post was established in November, 1SG9, to protect Diamond City and other mining camps 
 of the vicinity from Indian depredations, this being considered one of the most dangerous locali- 
 ties in the Territory. 
 
 A reservation has been selected about twelve miles south of here, and a new post will be built. 
 
 The rocks of the vicinity are granite, syenite, and limestone. The trees are red and yellow pine 
 and cedar, growing on the hills, aud cottonwood, aspen, and willow, on the river bottom. 
 
 Game is abundant; deer, elk, antelope, mountain sheep, and black and cinnamon bears, are 
 the principal wild animals. The streams contain trout and grayling. 
 
 The post is on the west bank of Smith's River, about 150 yards from and 80 feet above it. The 
 buildings are of pine logs, and consist of seven small huts, each 16 by 25 feet, roofed with pine 
 slabs covered with earth, lighted by a small window in the door, and warmed by open fireplaces; 
 three are used for officers' quarters, and have board floors; the one used for headquarter offices, and 
 the three remaining, occupied by the enlisted men, have dirt floors ; the other buildings are the 
 stables, 116 by 26 feet, the post bakery, 16 by 15 feet, and the commissary store-house and com- 
 pany cook-house in the same building, 42 by 15 feet. 
 
 The hospital and guard-house are in tents. 
 
 The water is obtained from Smith's River, and brought to the quarters in barrels. It is warm. 
 and muddy, some of its tributaries being used for mining purposes. There is no post garden. 
 Fresh beef of good quality, potatoes, and a good variety of canned fruits aud vegetables, can be 
 procured from the post commissary. Game of all kinds can be procured iu the vicinity, and milk 
 and butter from the neighboring ranchmen. 
 
 The medical supplies have been limited to a pannier, and a tew articles procured from Fort 
 Ellis. A portion of the stores of the post have been received, and when all arrive the supply will be 
 ample. They are procured from St. Louis, Missouri, and are either shipped up the Missouri to 
 Benton, Montana Territory, by steamer, or by the Union Pacific railroad to Corinne, and from 
 thence by wagons to this post. 
 
 A mail is received twice a week. It takes about fourteen days for a letter to reach Washington . 
 and about the same time to reach department headquarters. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity are engaged iu gold mining or grazing. 
 
 The general sanitary condition of the post has been very good. All oft'al is carted away some 
 distance and burned. The prevalent diseases are neuralgia and rheumatism. 
 
 FORT SHAW, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF SURGEON F. L. TOWN, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Shaw, Montana Territory, is located on Suu River, about twenty miles above its mouth, 
 iu latitude 47 30' north, longitude 111 4' west. The elevation above the sea-level is probably not 
 less than 5,000 feet. The valley of Suu River is about fifty miles in length, with a variable width 
 of two to five miles, and its general direction is nearly due east and west. Fort Shaw, as a military 
 post, may be said to date from June 30, 18G7, when four companies, under command of Major 
 William Clinton, Thirteenth Infantry, moved on to the selected site and went iuto camp. The new 
 52 
 
410 DESCRIPTIONS OF MIL1TAKY POSTS. 
 
 post was iiiiinetl Camp Reynolds. The object of a military post on Sim River is to protect arid 
 keep open the route from Helena to Fort Benton, on the Missouri, and prevent as far as possible 
 the incursions of Indians into the settlements to the south. The Thirteenth Infantry had moved 
 up the Missouri Eiver during the summer of I860, and the first battalion, under Major Clinton, 
 took post that fall and built Camp Cooke, Montana Territory, (since abandoned,) near the mouth of 
 the Judith River. August 1, 1867, the name of the new post was changed to Fort Shaw, pursuant 
 to department orders, dated July 4, 1867, in remembrance of the services of the late Colonel 
 Robert G. Shaw, Fifty-fourth Massachusetts volunteers, (colored,) who lost his life at the assault on 
 Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. In August, 1867, all were in tents and very little had been accom- 
 plished towards building a post or sheltering the troops during the ensuing winter. By hard labor 
 the command erected that fall (1867) one-half of each set of company quarters, a small part of the 
 post hospital, a temporary wooden store-house, and three sets of officers' quarters. The troops did 
 not get into barracks until late in the fall and after the weather became quite cold. The officers 
 were somewhat later in getting into their quarters. None of the buildings occupied were completed 
 further than to afford habitable shelter. The winter of 1867-'68 was not of great severity, and 
 though officers and men were necessarily greatly crowded, no one suffered. Early in the spring 
 of 1868 the building of the post was resumed, and during the season the walls of the remaining 
 buildings at the post were put up and roofed. The following season (1869) was occupied exclu- 
 sively in finishing the quarters already erected and rendering them comfortable. At present all 
 labor is suspended. 
 
 The military reservation of Fort Shaw occupies the whole valley for ten miles at least. The 
 valley basin is simply an extensive depression in the elevated plains of the country, and presents 
 iu the main a prairie bottom from two to three miles wide, with a higher prairie surface of moderate 
 width extending along the foot-hills on either side. The bluff's are therefore merely the steep 
 ascents to higher levels beyond. Their elevation on the north is abrupt and in the vicinity of 250 
 to 300 feet ; on the south the elevation is generally less. All the steeper slopes are covered with a 
 thin soil, hence the valley has not that exposm-e of the bare sandstone strata and desolate aspect 
 so universal in the valley of the Upper Missouri. 
 
 In the vicinity of the post and on the south are three isolated buttes of considerable height, 
 the central and longer of which encroaches somewhat upon the valley. From the base of this 
 butte a nearly level plateau of some extent slopes with a gentle incline to the river, and ends in an 
 abrupt bank. This plateau is two or three miles iu width, and considerably higher than the prairie 
 bottom, which it trenches upon very considerably. At the extremity of this bench, immediately on 
 the southern bank of Sun River, is the site of the post. The elevation above the river is some forty 
 feet. The post commands an extended view of the valley toward the west, and of the Rocky Mount- 
 ains in the background. 
 
 Sun River is a stream of moderate size during the greater part of the year, and runs in a suc- 
 cession of short curves iu a shallow channel. It is a clear stream, gliding over a bed of rounded 
 stones and gravel; the descent is considerable and current strong. It is scarcely more than twenty 
 yards wide, and is fordable anywhere except toward its mouth. The river forks several times 
 near the head of the valley. These forks are said to be of considerable length, and drain the 
 eastern slopes of the extensive belt of mountainous country to the west and north. During the 
 spring and early summer the snow melting in the mountains, and the rains which prevail at this 
 season, swell the river to many times its usual volume. At this time it is an exceedingly rapid and 
 somewhat dangerous stream. The river is only moderately well supplied with fish, and usually 
 affords but indifferent sport to the angler. Trout are found, but other and less desirable varieties 
 are more common. 
 
 The valley is almost destitute of wood for fuel. A growth of bushes, and a few scattering 
 trees, fringe the river along the reservation, and afford in summer a ribbon of green foliage. 
 Elsewhere upon the grassy country there is not even a shrub visible. The tree is a species of 
 willow, with a very thick rough bark, resembling cottouwood. Extensive sparsely wooded tracts 
 of clumpy pines cling to the steep slopes of the mountain sides, degenerating into the scrubbiest of 
 saplings toward the summits. Pine wood is delivered at the post by contract at about $10 per 
 cord, and is now obtained not less than eighteen or twenty miles distant. In a few years the cost 
 
FORT 8 II AW, MONTANA TERRITORY. 411 
 
 of wood at the post will probably be much increased. Lignite beds of considerable extent arc 
 found on the Dearborn River, not more than thirty miles distant. A small quantity of this 
 coal was delivered at the post for trial. It appears to burn freely, with the strong odor incident to 
 lignite, and left unconsumecf only a small percentage of earthy residuum. It is scarcely probable 
 that lignite deposits will be found in the valley. These lignite beds, if properly worked, should 
 afford an abundance of fuel at reasonable rates. Below the reservation a few ranches have been 
 taken up in the valley by settlers. Several other ranches are located in the hills to the south. These 
 settlers raise quite a supply of vegetables, which they bring to the post and retail to officers and 
 men at high prices. The larger valleys of the Territory, viz., those of the Gallatiu, Deer Lodge, 
 Bitter Root, and other rivers, have extensive areas under cultivation. All of them contain much 
 more arable land than Sun River Valley. These valleys produce already large quantities of oats, 
 barley, and wheat, as well as vegetables of nearly all kinds. Grain for the use of public animals is 
 therefore obtained exclusively in the Territory. Vegetables are likewise purchased each fall by 
 the commissary department in reasonable amounts. The wheat grown in the Territory looks 
 bright and plump enough, but for some cause the flour is altogether of inferior quality compared 
 with that brought from the States, and the bread made of it has a dark color and is generally 
 heavy. Even the best brand of Montana flour is entirely unreliable. The variety known as spring 
 wheat is alone raised, because the winters are open and withal windy. Ranchmen say that the 
 winds in winter are liable not only to blow away the surface soil of their winter wheat fields, but 
 the sown grain also with it. The lack of winter wheat, and perhaps of first-class mills, may account 
 for the comparatively poor grade of mountain flour. Corn will not ripen well in the valley, neither 
 will tomatoes mature. Frosts are liable to occur late in the spring and early in the fall. 
 
 The valley as a whole is not very well adapted to agricultural purposes. The nature of the 
 subsoil is extremely unfavorable, since whatever moisture the soil absorbs is almost immediately, 
 drained off 1 into the underlying beds of coarse gravel and pebbles. A constant supply of water is 
 necessary, as the soil is unable to retain its moisture. The natural result of this condition is, that 
 as soon as the spring rains cease the soil and country rapidly become almost as dry as an ash heap. 
 Wherever a different subsoil of fine sand or sand and clay is found above the gravel beds, the set- 
 tler can plant with a reasonable assurance of a crop. Irrigation is always resorted to, and for vege- 
 tables especially is probably indispensably necessary. Owing to the absence of springs along the 
 foot-hills, water for irrigation must be obtained from the river. This entails great labor in dig- 
 ging and maintaining a long ditch to convey the water. Hence, only selected portions of the prairie 
 bottom are eligible for cultivation, although it is not altogether impracticable to convey water 
 for irrigation on the higher levels. The valley bottom is well carpeted each spring with a fine 
 expanse of grass, but as the season advances and the moisture fails a partial arrest of growth takes 
 place, and the mature grass is rarely sufficiently abundant for mowing. The hay used at the post 
 is therefore furnished by contract from the valley of the Missouri. 
 
 The country is well adapted to grazing. The short and dry upland grass is even more nutri- 
 tious than the more succulent herbage of the prairie bottom, and animals, if left to their own choice 
 will seek the higher prairies. Cattle will live and thrive on this dried grass throughout the entire 
 winter, hence ranchmen usually allow their animals to graze on the prairie without shelter the 
 year round. There are thousands of working cattle employed in freighting across the country, and 
 always on the approach of winter they also are driven into the valleys, or localities where no great 
 depth of snow falls, and required to forage for themselves. Some of these cattle are annually win- 
 tered in this way in Sun River Valley, although in latitude 47 30' north; they are reduced by 
 hard usage and constant labor, yet are driven up recruited and active in the spring. 
 
 The ordinary surface rock of the country is sandstone. Occasionally the high plateau to the 
 north terminates abruptly in a vertical escarpment of 50 to 100 feet elevation facing the valley, 
 and giving a view of the successive layers. Superiorly the sandstone is friable and of a light, 
 color; lower down the rock is somewhat harder, and darker shades prevail. A broad band of a 
 noticeable dark color is suggestive of lignite beds. Exceptionally and from local causes, though 
 not in this immediate vicinity, the beds are more or less tilted. The strata on both sides of the 
 valley yet maintain a very nearly horizontal position. Hence the valley is unquestionably the 
 result of extensive denudation and excavation, and not of upheaval. Generally along the course 
 
412 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAUY POSTS. 
 
 of the valley the whole thickness of the sandstone deposit has been cut through mid removed, 
 exposing an underlying strata of shale or shaly limestone, where it is not buried beneath the drift 
 or other later post-tertiary deposits. The question as to the mechanical means by which such vast 
 excavations of rock strata have been effected might find an ample solution solely in the wonderful 
 but well-recognized erosive power of running streams in the formation of valleys or river courses. 
 In this case the eroding and degrading action of the water would be much facilitated by the com- 
 paratively soft nature of the rock, and the very considerable slope of the land. The present pitch 
 of the valley is some 10 feet or 15 feet to the mile. During the earlier post-tertiary period, how- 
 ever, glaciers, fed from the adjacent mountain range, very likely crept down the elevated plateaux 
 spread at their base, and effectually wrought with the streams, grooving out the valleys, planing 
 down the surface, and molding it into something of its present conformation of high rolling prairie 
 and valley interval. The sandstone found in the valley is probably a conglomerate. In it are seen 
 abundant concretions of a spheroidal shape, as well as flattened concretionary layers. These con- 
 cretions are apparently developed only after exposure to atmospheric agencies, and are, therefore, 
 not seen in the unaltered rock. As decomposition progresses they often become very numerous; 
 so much so that the whole exposed ledge appears as if made up of rounded, or, more commonly, 
 flattened concretions, with crumbling rock between. The concretions are frequently more or less 
 calcareous, especially those of an ovoidal shape, and in some localities contain fossil remains. 
 Along the slope of the sandstone strata on the north side of the valley, opposite the post, numer- 
 ous concretions are seen in the rock, which are filled with fossil shells. They are of considerable 
 size, fissured and shaly, and readily break to pieces with a slight blow, leaving the casts of shells 
 exposed. These casts themselves are generally fragile and quite imperfect. Higher up the valley, 
 on the south side, round boulder-like concretions, of various sizes, are freely met with. Being much 
 harder than those containing rock, they are gradually set free by its slow wear and disintegration. 
 After their release they lie on the crumbling surface or roll down the incline and repose along the 
 foot-hills. In places these rounded, boulder-like developments must have progressed in the sand- 
 stone with unusual energy, for they are exceedingly abundant over the slopes and foot-hills. 
 About eight miles above the post are several acres so thickly strewn with them as almost to cover 
 the ground. These boulders are regularly oval in shape, some of them weighing several tons each, 
 and are themselves apparently very slowly acted on by the frost and atmosphere. They are un- 
 doubtedly calcareous. The disintegration of the sandstone formation has produced other curious 
 results in some localities. The rock has crumbled away, leaving a small, spherical concretion sup- 
 ported on a short column ; or a flattened concretion rests on a low pedestal not unlike a table. 
 Sometimes these capped columns stand in a row, and at a distance appear much like a file of men 
 marching up the bluff's. The shaly limestone, as seeu undisturbed in the beds, has a moderately 
 compact laminated structure, apparently easily worked and an excellent stone for buildings. It 
 comes out truly without difficulty in fine rectangular slabs, some of which are of a blue color, hard 
 and almost crystalline; others, however, are softer, and have a black slaty look calculated to 
 awaken suspicion. In fact, the stone is almost worthless for any use whatever. Soon after being 
 quarried it begins to fissure, and, readily separating into thin lamina, crumbles rapidly. An 
 exposure of a few mouths only will reduce any but fragments of the harder layers to a shapeless 
 mass. The harder layers are decidedly calcareous and react freely with any acid. It was inferred 
 by some, therefore, that portions of the rock might be successfully burned into lime. The experi- 
 ment with the stone in this direction likewise signally failed. After driving oft' the carbonic acid 
 gas a very little lime, much sand, and some clay remained. 
 
 In the vicinity of the post and standing just on the borders of the valley are three distinct 
 bluff's or buttes, separated by an interval of a inile or more, and rising even to a greater height 
 than the opposing country to the north. These buttes present a somewhat novel and interesting 
 feature; they are topped out with a layer of dark igneous rock overlying the sandstone. The.more 
 easterly of these is widely known throughout the country as the " Crown Butte." It is a large oval- 
 shaped hill, entirely isolated, and rising abruptly to a height, I should judge, of 500 or 600 feet 
 above the valley bottom. The overlying stratum of trap exhibits a perpendicular ledge, of from 
 50 to 100 feet in thickness, encircling the top of the mountain. This vertical ledge of dark igneous 
 rock gives the butte a very bold aspect, and appears not unlike a crown resting on its summit. 
 
TOUT SEIAVT, MONTANA TKIMMTORV. 413 
 
 The biitte to the west is also a -'crown butte;" and though of lesser circumference i strikingly 
 similar in form and appearance. The intervening buttc is longer and more irregular in ontline, 
 with dark ridges of igneous origin breaking the uniformity of its slopes. 
 
 The summit of the "Crown Unite," which is somewhat higher than tlic others, is a compara- 
 tively level, oval-shaped area, about one and one-half miles across on its longer by one mile on its 
 shorter, or conjugate diameter. The peculiar formation of I he "Crown Bnttc" is such that except 
 for two or three partial breaks in the trap ledge it would be nearly impossible to climb to its sum- 
 mit. As it is the ascent is somewhat difficult. Standing on the buttes their outspread prairie 
 summits look to be, as they undoubtedly once were, simply a continuation of the high prairie level 
 to the north, the continuity of surface having been evidently only severed by the valley excava- 
 tion. The ledges which surmount the buttes are evidently, as before stated, true igneous rocks, 
 which have been ejected in a molten state up through fissures in the earth's crust. It is a coarse 
 rock, and in the ledges very compact ; in other situations it is not so compact, and consists of 
 feldspar and hornblende or augite, the latter in small elongated prisms. The rock belongs, there- 
 fore, to the augitic series, and is properly a variety of dolerite. It has a high specific gravity and 
 a dark color, ordinarily a dark gray or greenish black. ^Vherever found it is more or less jointed 
 or basaltic, and in the ledges presents often a beautiful compact columnar appearance. A dike- 
 wall intersects Sun lliver Valley about one and one-half miles above the post. In the river bottom 
 it has, however, been mostly swept away and buried beneath the alluvium. It comes out of the 
 sandstone strata on the north side of the valley as a well jointed wall, and looks not unlike the 
 remains of an ancient race. To the south, on the opposite side of the butte, one can see this same 
 dike-wall cutting across the adjacent valley into the mountains beyond. Isolated comb-like ledges 
 are sometimes unexpectedly met with. The most interesting illustrations of these is the bird-tail 
 rock, fifteen miles to the south. This is a thin fan-shaped ledge projecting straight up in air 100 
 feet or more, through a sandstone hill on which it is perched. The apex of the ledge is probably 
 200 and 300 feet above the surface level below. Among the fossil remains found in the valley the 
 mollusks are apparently in the ascendant. So far as I am able to form an opinion they seem to 
 bear a cleser resemblance to the species of the cretaceous period than to those of tertiary beds. 
 One specimen especially, jointed and of some length, and which is probably the Baculites compressttx 
 (Say) of the Upper Missouri, is very abundant. Ammonites (probably) of a very large size are also 
 seen, as well as members of the oyster family, and many other species. On the other hand, the 
 strata would seem to be of the same formation in which lignite beds occur, and which are generally 
 considered brackish water deposits of the early tertiary period. A lignite bed is found in the valley of 
 the Dearborn Eiver, thirty miles distant, and the strata occupying the intervening country appear on 
 the whole to be very little disturbed, though in places the surface is broken by ridges and hills of 
 igneous rock. The lignite deposit itself, however, is considerably tilted to the west. Hence the 
 bed might possibly be an earlier formation than the strata of Sun River Valley, especially as 
 the latter are possibly tertiary also, and not deposits in cretaceous seas. 
 
 Various kinds of large game abound in the country, though not so plentiful in the immediate 
 vicinity of the post. The while tail deer frequents the brush along the river; black-tail deer 
 are found on the higher prairies, and antelopes are quite numerous everywhere. Bands of elk 
 graze along the mountain slopes, and the mountain sheep ("big-horns") inhabit the bolder inclines. 
 Hunting these animals atfords plenty of sport for those who have much patience and scorn fatigue. 
 The buffalo seldom advances west of the Marias Eiver ; beyond they are in great numbers. The 
 smaller kinds of game are not very abundant. A few wild duck of various species frequent the 
 rivers and sloughs ; likewise wild geese, brant, &c. A few sage hens and prairie chickens are 
 found; the latter are on the increase. Beaver make their home in the streams, and the otter and 
 mnskrat are met with. Wolves, coyotes, foxes, hares, rabbits, pole-cats, prairie dogs, and gophers 
 inhabit the prairies, while grizzly and cinnamon bears, the panther, and lynx are less numerous, 
 and generally confine themselves to the vicinity of mountains. 
 
 The valley is almost destitute of water, aside from the river. A few small springs flow out of 
 the foot-hills along the valley, but generally their feeble rills scarcely more than moisten a few 
 .yards or rods of the prairie bottom, in which they are speedily lost. A large spring or springs 
 comes up in the prairie bottom opposite to and about one and a half miles distant from the post. 
 
414 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and forms an extensive slough. This slough remains the year round, and is a favorite resort of 
 various species of wild ducks. 
 
 The climate of the Territory is exceedingly dry all the year round. The aggregate fall of rain 
 and snow (melted) for the year 1868 was 10.14 inches, arid for 1869, 7.46 inches. At other seasons 
 than the spring and early summer, the showers seem scarcely at all to moisten the exsiccated soil 
 beneath the surface. Snow rarely lies on the ground long after a storm. High westerly winds 
 prevail and drive much of it into drifts; at the same time the current of dry atmosphere moving- 
 over the surface melts the snow, and bears away the moisture quite as fast as melted. It is inter- 
 esting to watch the snow banks thus mysteriously dwindle away and disappear, perhaps altogether, 
 without leaving the customary puddles of mud and water behind. Snow on the mountains is usu- 
 ally abundant and of great depth. The roads in winter are, as a rule, in fine condition, and the 
 wheeling good. The want of humidity in the atmosphere is to be ascribed partially, perhaps, to the 
 altitude, but is also largely due, probably, to the obstructions of high mountain chains to the west. 
 The Cascade Range is a formidable obstacle to the passing inland of clouds gathered over the areas 
 of the Pacific. The intervening mountains receive contributions in rains, as the vapors climb to 
 the higher plains and cooler atmosphere beyond, and the main divide of the Rocky Mountains 
 offers the final barrier to the arrival of moisture to the great plains on their eastern slopes. The 
 extremes of mean temperature, although considerable, are not so great, perhaps, between the sum- 
 mer and winter months as one might anticipate, considering the high latitude. The mean temper- 
 ature for the year 1808 was 45.25 F., and that of 18G9, 47.35 F. In 18G8, total increase of mean 
 temperature from January to July is 59.41 F., and the corresponding decrease from July to Decem- 
 ber, 44.51 F. The diurnal oscillations of temperature, however, are usually quite marked at all 
 seasons of the year. The variations in the daily observations, which are registered at 7 o'clock a. 
 m. and 2 o'clock and 9 o'clock p. m., respectively, are frequently from 20 to 30 F. Hence it fol- 
 lows that the nights are generally cool in summer, although the temperature may be high at mid- 
 day. The heat of summer is quite inconstant ; a high temperature rarely obtains for more than 
 three or four days iu succession. In winter, likewise, the periods of intense cold are infrequent, 
 and scarcely continue for more than a week at a time. Winds are exceedingly prevalent at all 
 seasons of the year, though they relax somewhat during the summer months. The fact that they 
 attain a monthly mean force of three and four, (which is the equivalent of a constant and uniform 
 velocity of 10 to 20 miles an hour,) through three-fourths of the months in a year sufficiently indi- 
 cates this. Their usual direction is down the valley from the west. The location of the post is, 
 however, very favorable to catch the full force of winds. The valley is narrowed slightly here by an 
 encroachment of the bluffs on the south. The air currents are consequently driven by the post at 
 a somewhat higher velocity than elsewhere. 
 
 The post is built around a square of 400 feet side, and very nearly in accordance with plans 
 designed by General Reeve in 18G7. The adobe brick was used exclusively iu constructing the 
 walls of the buildings. The dimensions of the brick used are 6 inches by 12 inches, with a 
 a thickness of 4 inches. All outside walls of buildings are 18 inches in thickness, and the inside 
 walls, likewise of adobes, are one foot iu thickness. The officers' quarters, especially, are well fin- 
 ished inside throughout ; the walls are plastered, the doors and windows cased and painted white. 
 The arrangement of the post is shown in Plate No. 9. 
 
 The company quarters are four barracks, each 102 feet front, and built alike. Each contains 
 orderly sergeant's quarters, 15 by 15 feet; company store-room, 15 by 14 feet; four dormitories, each 
 20 by 30 feet, and 9 feet high 5,400 cubic feet air space, or together, 21,600 cubic feet of air space; 
 mess-room, 18 by 40 feet; kitchen, 18 by 18 feet; laundresses' quarters, each room, 15 by 15 feet. 
 The 21,600 cubic feet air space to a company gives 313 cubic feet per man, when the company is at 
 the minimum organization of G9 men, or about 190 cubic feet to a man when the company has a 
 maximum of 119. Each dormitory is well lighted by four windows, 12 square feet of glass to a 
 window, or 48 square feet of glass to a dormitory. 
 
 Commissary of subsistence and quartermaster's store-houses, 90 feet front ; office of commis- 
 sary of subsistence, 16 by 14 feet; clerk's room, 13 by 14 feet; issuing room, 30 by 15 feet; store- 
 rooms, each 27 by 30 feet ; cellar for subsistence stores, full size of back store-room ; quartermas- 
 ter's issuing room, 27 by 30 feet; store-rooms, each 27 by 30 feet. Yard 30 by GO feet, inclosed at 
 
30 100 HO 200 350 3OO 350 400 4.50 JOO .WO 
 
 I' I. AN OF 
 
 SCALK: 150 feet totincli. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 A Mens Quarters 1 
 
 H . . 0rM. r & C^y S Storehouses M Ma(/(f'*i'rtr 
 
 l?Al?T CUATAr f D i <- -v u' / , 
 
 P I I \\ I 1 1 1 ^ V\A aojidtfuarlayk biwrt/iotise iN trattT lOnet 
 
 D (pMT& C,aftf. Storehouse Corral, temporary, 
 
 Montana TerritOTy . '&-&Kaf 1 KrerietS'?(F! f m Sinks & Oulhoiisej 
 
 ~ - Post- Hospital "p ttmporeijy jin Jcs. 
 
 H - Offifers - Quarters 
 I Uiapfl_,Library&Cowtrnc[rtia.lftotmi 
 Frencli.IanfranilcOgilvie.Lith.WisU^ K OrttnanrtRomn, School kHillard Room 
 
 PLATE N? 9. 
 
FOKT SHAW, MONTANA TERRITORY. 
 
 415 
 
 the rear by a high wall and gate. Band quarters and guard-house, 68 feet front ; all rooms 9 feet 
 high in the clear. Band dormitory, 19 by 30 feet 5,130 cubic feet air space. An occupancy of 16 
 gives 320 cubic feet air space per man. Sergeant and drum-major's rooms, front room, 15 by 15: 
 back room, 15 by 14 feet. Band mess-room, 15 by 15 feet; band kitchen, 15 by 15 feet. Laun- 
 dresses' quarters, 15 by 15 feet ; guard-room, 17 by .'50 feet; officer of guard's room, 10 by 15 feet ; 
 sergeant of guard's room, 10 by 14 feet; general prison, 18 by 1-s feet, and 9 feet high 2,916 cubic 
 feet air space. Separate cells, each 34. by 64 feet, and without windows. These arc of stone, and 
 partially built. One could scarcely credit the construction of windowless stone dens only 3 feet 6 
 inches wide, and 6 feet 6 inches long, to the end of imprisoning men in them. 
 
 The building temporarily occupied by the quartermaster and commissary as a store-house is a 
 wooden structure, designed to be replaced by one of adobe, and of the same model as the store- 
 house marked B. 
 
 District and post headquarters, 68 feet front. OHii-es, district headquarters, front rooms, 14 
 by 15 feet ; rear rooms, 14 by 14 feet ; offices, post headquarters, front rooms, 1.'5 by 15 feet ; rear 
 rooms, 13 by 14 feet; non-commissioned staff quarters, 
 each 15 by 15 feet; hall, 7 feet wide, with stairway. 
 
 The hospital is 82 feet front. Its arrangement is 
 shown in Figure 56. 
 
 A, ward, 24 by 44 feet ; B, bath room, Si by 1 1 
 feet; G, dead-room, 84 by 11 feet; C, office, 12 by 18 
 feet; D, dispensary, 12 by 16 feet; II, main hall; K, 
 kitchen, 12 by 16 feet; L, steward's room, 12 by 15 
 feet; M, small ward or dining-room, 18 by 30 feet; 
 X, attendants' room. 12 by IS feet; V, matron's room. 
 12 by 15 feet. All rooms except the wards are 9 feet 
 high in the clear. The small ward is designed for six 
 beds ; mean height, 12 feet ; 6,480 cubic feet air space, 
 or 1,080 cubic feet per bed ; habitually used as a din- 
 ing room. Main ward, capacity sixteen beds, 24 by 44 
 feet; mean height, 14 feet; 14,784 cubic feet air space, 
 or 924 cubic feet air space per bed. The main hall isS 
 feet wide, with stairway side halls, each 4 feet wide; 
 rear hall, 6 feet wide. Shaft ventilation alone is used 
 
 Kignn- 5r,. Sx-aic. 30 c.-.-t t<> i inch. 
 in the wards, because of winds and the high latitude. A commodious store-room is finished off 
 under the roof over the surgery, dispensary, &c. The hospital grounds are limited and without 
 shade trees, as the soil is a bed of coarse gravel and pebbles. 
 
 The commanding officer's quarters contain a hall, 7 feet wide, with stairway; rooms, each 15 
 by 15 feet; kitchen, 15 by 12 feet, with pantry and small cellar underneath; sen ants' room, 15 
 by 10 feet, and two garret rooms. The officers' quarters are a double set, under the same roof; 
 hall, 7 feet wide, with stairway : front-room, 15 by 15 feet : hack-room. l.'J by 15 fe.-t : small mess- 
 room cut off from hall, 9 by 15 feet; kitchen, 15 by 12 feet, with a pantry and small cellar 
 underneath ; servants' room, 15 by 10 feet. Each set of quarters has also a garret-room. All the 
 officers' quarters, the store house, the offices, and hospital have permanent shingled roofs; other 
 buildings have roofs similarly constructed, but boarded temporarily. Chapel and library not 
 erected; ordnance-room and post school not erected; post bakery, a temporary wooden building; 
 magazine, a temporary excavation covered with earth. Water tanks, with wooden pipes, (not 
 serviceable ;) out-houses and sinks, built of adobes, except those used by the men toward the bank 
 of the river, which are wood, and temporary. 
 
 The supply of water is obtained at present exclusively from the river, and is distributed to the 
 post by means of a water-cart. The water is comparatively wholesome, except perhaps during 
 rains or the melting of snow, when water which has percolated through the alkaline soil of the 
 valley finds its way into the river. This gives the water a saline taste, and renders it liable to 
 disturb the bowels somewhat. Water may be reached in wells by digging a little below the level 
 of the bed of the river, but it is not suitable for use, for the reason above indicated. The com- 
 
416 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MIL1TAKY POSTS. 
 
 manding officer has uudertakeu to bring a running stream of water on the parade ground from the 
 river. A ditch receives the water about six miles above the post, and its entire length is some 
 eight miles. The river at that point is sixty feet or more above the level of the parade. This is 
 an enterprise of great labor and not a little difficulty. The stream has yet to be brought about 
 one-third of the distance. Surface drainage only is employed ; the slope towards the river is very 
 gentle ; water, however, seldom stands on the surface in this dry climate. 
 
 The cemetery is located about half a mile west of the post. 
 
 The post and company gardens are at present of limited size. They are situated in the prairie 
 bottom, about a mile below the post. A suitable irrigating ditch, upon which considerable labor 
 has been expended, conveys water out of the river, just below the post, on to the ground. Either 
 because the gardeners were scarcely adepts at irrigating, (as is most probable,) or from other 
 causes, the gardens have afforded as yet no adequate supply of any vegetables, except per- 
 haps lettuce and radishes. It is in contemplation, however, to add largely to the gardens with 
 a view to raising an abundance of vegetables at the post. The grasshoppers which annually swarm 
 in myriads in many localities, and are so destructive to vegetation, seldom invade the valley in 
 numbers sufficient to inflict great injury. In 1807 they were quite numerous, and where they pre- 
 vailed the crops of the settlers suffered. 
 
 The prevailing diseases of the post and vicinity are epidemic catarrhs during the fall and 
 winter, and catarrhal inflammations of all mucous membranes; acute diarrhoea, frequently dysen- 
 teric, has been especially prevalent at the post ; at the same time many cases of febricula occur. 
 Attacks of acute rheumatism are very common notwithstanding the dryuess of the climate; prob- 
 ably the sudden transition from a dry to a moist atmosphere, when storms occur, which are often 
 attended with considerable fluctuations of temperature, favors the development of this disease. 
 Eemittent and typho-inalarial, and probably enteric fevers are not infrequent in the spring and 
 fall, especially among miners and hunters, or persons who are generally without shelter; these in 
 the parlance of the country are termed " mountain fevers" indiscriminately. Three cases of typho- 
 malarial fever have occurred at the post, two of citizens and one a soldier, and with a fatal termi- 
 nation in each instance. I have known of no cases of intermittent fever that have with certainty 
 originated in the country; neither is phthisis pulmonalis incident to the climate, so far as I have 
 observed ; incipient phthisis is frequently apparently arrested in this climate, though but imper- 
 fectly if tuberculous exudation has taken place to any extent. Small-pox, when it occurs, makes 
 dreadful ravages among the Indian tribes. A Catholic father, who is laboring with the Blackfeet 
 Indians, gave me the following statement of deaths from small-pox in the Blackfeet nation alone, 
 from December 2, 18G9, to May 1, 1870: Men, 081 ; women, 37S ; and of children, 341 ; this gives a 
 total of 1,400 deaths from small-pox in a population of perhaps 7,000 or 8,000 souls. The younger 
 members of the tribes suffered most, since many of the older members had previously had the 
 disease. A famine fever (relapsing fever probably) also prevailed in connection with small-pox, 
 and increased the mortality. The white population has also suffered from small-pox to some extent 
 the past year. 
 
 There is a post office at Fort Shaw, and a mail route from Corinne, on the Central Pacific rail- 
 road, via Helena, to Fort Benton, Montana Territory. Coaches pass regularly over the road, and 
 bring the mail three times a week. The distance from the post to Corinne is about 500 miles. A 
 telegraph wire extends along the same route, with an office at Fort Shaw. 
 
 Statement showing mean xtrengtlt, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort 8 ha IT, Montana Terri- 
 tory, for the years 18G8 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 "3 
 
 a 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 - /4 
 
 t 
 
 53 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 | 
 
 1C 
 
 
 SD 
 
 
 
 
 t/ 
 
 
 % 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 \ 
 
 = 
 3 
 <-. 
 
 a x 
 
 ll 
 
 o 
 
 'o 
 
 "E, 
 
 
 Malarial IV 
 
 Diarrlia'ii 
 ilysente 
 
 X 
 
 +3 
 
 '3 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 Rhoumatisi 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 258.58 
 
 365 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 78 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 32 
 
 
 
 
 1869 
 
 185.83 
 
 215 
 
 
 30 
 
 
 16 
 
 
 14 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, nnd pleurisy. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE COLUMBIA. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Fort Cnlville. Washington Territory. 
 
 Fort Cape Disappointment, Washington Territory. 
 
 Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory. 
 
 Fort Lupwai, Idaho Territory. 
 
 Fort lioUiS, Idaho Territory. 
 
 Camp Tliree Forks Owyhee, Idaho Territory. 
 Fort Stevens, Oregon. 
 Fort Klamath, Oregon. 
 Camp Warner, Oregon. 
 Camp Ilaruey, Oregon. 
 
 FORT COLVILLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON E. Y. CHASE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Colville is situated in Washington Territory, in latitude 48 41' north, longitude 117 55' 
 west ; altitude above the sea, 2,800 feet. It is about 35 miles south of the dividing line between 
 the United States and British Columbia, and 14 miles east of the Columbia River. The Cascade 
 Range of mountains is about 150 miles west. Old fort Colville, a Hudson Bay trading post, is 
 located on the Columbia River, 14 miles west. Forty miles north of Colville, also on the Columbia 
 River, is another Hudson Bay post, Fort Shepard, which has but one employe, and is not of much 
 importance. Fort Lapwai is the nearest United States military post. The Jesuits have a mission 
 in the immediate vicinity of the post, and a church on the Columbia River, at the Kettle Falls, 16 
 miles distant. 
 
 The post was established June 30, 1859, to guard against the Indians who were very hostile, 
 having defeated Colonel Steptoe near the Spokane River the previous year, in June. The Govern- 
 ment reserve consists of about one square mile of land of a very irregular form. On the north side it 
 is bounded by a small stream of water, which runs the Government saw-mill ; on the east and west 
 sides by hills ranging in height from 200 feet on the east side to 800 or 900 feet on the west. On 
 the south side the reserve is an open valley. The town of Colville is north of the post about one- 
 half mile. It contains a post office, three stores, one saloon, one blacksmith shop, and one carpen- 
 ter shop, a boarding-house, about twenty buildings, and 50 inhabitants. 
 
 The soil of the valley is very fertile, producing in abundance all the cereals, except Indian corn, 
 for which the nights of the summer are too cold. Much of the land in the vicinity is too dry for 
 any farming purposes, except where it can be irrigated, when any of it will produce fine crops of 
 wheat and oats. 
 
 The geological formation is limestone, interspersed with granite, quartz, and slate. Of mineral 
 productions, gold in minute quantities is found in the sands of all the mountain streams. Galena 
 is also occasionally found in small quantities. Iron is generally diffused. But a small portion of the 
 soil upon the reservation is tillable. It is mostly an elevated terrace, composed of gravel, but on the 
 north side, near the creek, the soil is a rich loam, containing considerable alkali ; and this is the 
 location of the post garden. Clay of good quality for making brick is found in abundance in the 
 vicinity. Pine and fir grow in great abundance, suitable for rough building and agricultural pur- 
 poses, especially valuable for fire-wood; also white cedar, tamarack, cotton wood, wild cherry, vine 
 maple, thorn, hazel, and willow. 
 
 White and black-tailed deer are seldom seen in this vicinity; black and brown bears are in 
 abundance; cougar, lynx, coyote, red fox, wolverine, beaver, otter, marten, mink, fisher, and badger 
 are found. Of birds, there are rufl'ed grouse, wood or blue grouse, caper kelzie or cock of the mount- 
 ain, prairie grouse, curlew, pigeon, dove, ducks and geese, and other varieties of water-fowl in 
 great abundance. Of fishes, there are the salmon and salmon trout, in the Columbia River and 
 all its large tributaries not too much obstructed by falls. Trout are in great abundance in all streams. 
 53 
 
418 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Tbe mean annual temperature for ten years was 48.54 P. ; hygrometer, 44.30. The coldest 
 days were the IGth, 17th, and 18th of .January, 1802, being 32; greatest heat, August 11, 18(50, 
 and July 20, 1870, being 00 F. in the shade. Average yearly fall of rain 25.75 inches. Snow 
 sometimes falls during the first week in November, and in rare instances as early as the middle of 
 October, but in these instances melts soon, and begins to fall steadily about Christmas, when it 
 lies on the ground until the 1st of March. The cold is extreme, the atmosphere dry, crisp, and 
 bracing. 
 
 The fort is located very near the center of the reservation npon an elevated and level gravelly 
 plain, containing about 150 acres of ground. It is distant from the creek, bounding the reserve on 
 the north side, about 500 yards, and elevated above it about GO feet. The post is built of hewn 
 logs, the buildings being arranged on four sides of a parallelogram. At the post are four buildings 
 originally intended and once occupied as barracks for soldiers, 88 by 28J feet and 10 feet high to 
 the ceiling; they are built of logs, not hewn, but filled between with mortar. Only one of these 
 buildings is used as quarters at present. It is well ceiled with rough boards, and against its north 
 end is built a frame building, 15 by 10 feet, and 9 feet high, used as first sergeant's room. Each of 
 the barrack buildings is intended to accommodate a full company. Of the other three buildings, 
 the middle one is used as a theater, with a room, 20 feet wide, partitioned oft' for ablution room ; one 
 as a drill-room during wet or inclement weather; the fourth has never been finished, and at pres- 
 ent is the quartermaster's store-house. The barracks are warmed by two immense fireplaces, one 
 at each end of the room, and lighted by two windows in front and four in the rear, and ventilated 
 by a large opening in the ceiling, in the middle of the room, communicating with openings at the 
 ridge of the roof, protected by boxes perforated for exit of the air. The fireplaces also are very 
 efficient ventilators. When the quarters are full the air space per man is 572 cubic feet, bxit as it 
 is never completely full the real space per man is much greater. The room contains 25 wooden 
 bunks, 3i feet wide, each occupied by two men. The only wash and bath-room for the soldiers is 
 the room before mentioned, as a portion of the middle barrack building; it has a large fireplace, 
 and sinks, but no bath-tub. Each barrack building has its kitchen and mess-room in a long build- 
 ing with one large room, situated GO feet back, with its long diameter perpendicular to the barrack ; 
 it is CO by 20 feet, and 10| feet high. The one now in use has two windows on each long side ; one 
 door in front and two in the rear. Three small rooms are partitioned off the rear end of the room 
 for a pantry, wash-room, and wood storage; it has a large fireplace and fine range. There are 
 eleven sets of laundresses' quarters, built of logs. Four bnildiugs are used as officers' quarters ; 
 three more were built for that purpose, one now used as adjutant's office and post library rooms ; 
 two have never been finished. All are built of hewn logs, and well finished in a plain, substantial 
 manner; are lathed and plastered, and well painted inside. Two of them have been hung with 
 paper, at the expense of officers living in them. They are one and a half stories high, the rooms 
 above having never been finished. Each set contains four rooms with hall between, in the building 
 proper, and kitchen and pantries in the rear. In the set of quarters occupied by the commanding 
 officer, (middle set in the row,) the main building contains four rooms, with a hall, 7 feet wide, run- 
 ning between from front to rear; the rooms are 16 by 1C by 9 feet, the upper half-story not having 
 been finished. In the rear are the pantry, 9 by 9 by 8 feet, and the kitchen, 14 by 14 J by 8 feet ; 
 then a porch, feet wide, running back 51 feet, and in front of the wood-shed and kitchen ; the 
 wood-shed is next to the kitchen, and is 25 feet long; in the rear of the wood-shed is the privy. 
 The two sets of quarters, which are on the east and west sides of the commanding officers' quarters, 
 were originally intended as double quarters, but in dividing the rooms for that purpose they were 
 made entirely too small for comfort, the largest room in the building having been only 12 by 13J 
 feet in size ; the fault was remedied by removing the partition between one of the halls, closing one 
 front door, thus giving a large parlor, 12 by 21 feet in size ; the height of the ceilings in both build- 
 ings is 9 feet ; they have a porch. G feet wide and 47 feet long ; a hall, 7 feet wide, runs from front 
 to rear, the depth of the front rooms. At the end of the hall is a small room, 9 by 12 feet ; on the 
 left of this room is a bed-room, 9 by 12 feet, and in front, left side, is a room, 12 by 13 feet. All 
 the buildings are heated by open fireplaces ; supplied with water by an iron pipe which runs through 
 the kitchens from the reservoir, and have no bath-rooms. 
 
 The commissary store-house is a building, 101 by 30 by 13 feet ; it has a cellar, 7 feet deep, under 
 
FORT COLVILLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 419 
 
 its whole length. The quartermaster's store-house is an old set of barracks, the old kitchen in its 
 rear being used as a granary for oats. 
 
 The guard-house is a building of hewn logs, 40 by 30J feet; it has two large rooms front, 1GJ 
 by 15SJ feet, div ided by a hall, 6 feet wide, and four rooms back, of various dimensions, for cells. It 
 is warmed by two large fireplaces, and has no special arrangement for ventilation. It is abundantly 
 large, and sufficiently secure and gloomy ; it has but one window, and that is in the guard-room. 
 
 The hospital is built of hewn logs, well lathed and plastered, and is whitewashed within and 
 without; it is 42 by 30 feet, the part forming the kitchen, mess-room, and linen-room joining the 
 main building at right angles ; this portion is 45 by 18 feet, and has an uncovered porch, 6 
 feet wide, running its whole length. The plan is similar to that of the quartermaster's office; four 
 rooms, with hall, 7 feet wide, between ; the room on the left of the front door is 14 by 1C feet ; the 
 surgery, in the rear of this room, 14 by 16 feet. The room on the right of the front door is 13 by 
 15 feet; the room back of that, 15 by 16J feet. A porch, C feet wide, runs the whole length of the 
 building on the west side or front. Behind the surgery, and in the addition, is the linen-rooin, 10 
 by 12 feet, with shelving all around, and a small room, 7 by 12 feet, used as a sleeping-room for the 
 steward. Back of these rooms is the mess-room, 1G by 10 feet, and back of that the kitchen, 10 by 
 18 feet. A small addition, back of the kitchen, made of rough boards, is used as a wood-shed. 
 The height of the ceilings, in the main buildings, is 9 feet; of the mess-room and kitchen. 8 feet. 
 The main building is lighted by six windows. There is no arrangement for ventilation, except by 
 letting down the top sash a few inches. Three rooms are used as wards ; each has three beds; the 
 air space per man is from 585 to 720 cubic feet. No bath nor wash-room ; patients wash out of 
 doors when able, otherwise in the wards. The privy is a small building, 75 feet to the rear of the 
 hospital. 
 
 The Government stable is 117 by 31J feet ; it is built of unhewn logs ; is 9 feet high from floor 
 to loft, and divided in the middle into two portions, by a passage, 13 feet 4 inches wide, running 
 from side to side. On each side of each division are rows of stalls against the walls. The whole 
 building has but one window, and that in the east end ; is rough, dark, and poorly ventilated. 
 
 The library contains about 50 volumes. 
 
 The post is supplied with water from the creek ; it is raised about 50 feet, by means of a water- 
 ram, furnishing 1,080 gallons per day. The water is received in a reservoir of 50 barrels capacity, 
 and is distributed throughout the garrison by means of iron pipes; the supply being insufficient, 
 daily use of the water-cart is necessary. The water contains a small quantity of lime, and is of 
 excellent quality. The natural drainage is excellent. There is no bath-house. For bathing the 
 men go to the creek. 
 
 The post garden is situated in a bend of the creek, and contains about eight acres of ground. 
 All the ordinary vegetables do well here, excepting melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, beans, and 
 squashes, for which the nights are too cold in summer, and the frosts too early and hard for them 
 to mature. There are no hospital nor officers' gardens. 
 
 The mail is received once a week, is regular in summer, but not in winter. It requires ten days 
 for a letter to reach department headquarters at Portland, and one month to Washington. 
 
 Attached to the Colville agency are about 3,600 Indians, in various localities, and of the fol- 
 lowing tribes, viz.: Colvilles, Spokanes, Pend d'Orielles, Okanagaus, Cceur d'Aleues, Sanpoils, Lakes, 
 Isle de Pierres, and Melhows. 
 
 The general health of this post and vicinity is unusually good ; there was no prevailing disease 
 during the past year. Malarial diseases are entirely unknown in the country. Not one case of 
 phthisis originated at this place ; but two or three cases, which were imported, rapidly improved 
 under treatment ; phthisis, however, is very prevalent and very fatal among the Indians. But two 
 deaths of adult whites have occurred in this vicinity during the past two years. One died of old 
 age, and the other, a soldier, shot himself. Two or three children among the white settlers died 
 during the same period ; one from croup, the other from infantile diarrhoea. 
 
420 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement slioicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Colville, Washington 
 
 Territory, for the yearn 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 4 
 M 
 
 1 -3 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 1 . 
 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 
 1 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 G 
 
 e 
 
 3 
 
 X 
 
 la 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 
 CP 
 
 1 3 
 
 Malarial 
 
 1 I 
 
 |r 
 
 Tonsilliti 
 
 Venereal 
 
 Rheumat 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrha 
 
 tion 
 
 1 
 
 O 
 
 1868 
 
 57.91 
 
 32 
 
 g 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 1869 
 
 69 25 
 
 G9 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 G 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Inrluile l;u\\ n^itU, bronchitis, pneumonia, ami pleurisy. 
 
 FORT CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS W. E. WHITEHEAD AND RICHARp POWELL, 
 
 UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Cape Disappointment is situated on the north side of the mouth of the Columbia River, 
 latitude 40 10' 32" north, longitude 124 3' 13" west. The reservation contains about one square 
 mile. The surface is rocky and in part densely wooded. 
 
 The barrack for enlisted men is a two-story frame building, 80 by 30 feet, by 28 feet high. It is 
 situated about 30 feet from, and 4 feet above, high-water mark. The dormitories afford about 650 
 cubic feet air space per man. They have ridge ventilation, and are well lighted. They are fitted 
 up with bunks in two tiers. The officers' quarters consist of three small frame cottages, each con- 
 taining three rooms, a kitchen and two attic rooms. They are on a narrow sand-bank between 
 linker's Bay and the Pacific Ocean, and are about 50 feet above tide-water. Each has a small 
 cellar and cistern. 
 
 The guard-house is built on piles over the water. The lower story is built of hewn logs, and is 
 divided into fourteen cells, four of which are dark. The upper story is of plank, and is occupied 
 by the guard. 
 
 The hospital is a one-story building, frame, plastered inside. It contains two wards, 15 by 18 
 by 14J feet each, and intended for eight beds. The wards are well lighted and ventilated. There 
 is an office and dispensary in one room, a bath-room, and a store-room. 
 
 The water supply is derived from a spring, the water being conveyed by wooden pipes through 
 a filter box, and thence to the barrack and hospital. The drainage of the post is good. 
 
 The post is a healthy one, and there are no endemic or local diseases. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Cape Disappointment, 
 
 Washington Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 3 
 
 M 
 
 jo 
 
 m 
 
 a 
 
 
 f t- 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 o 
 
 ^ 
 
 >> 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 S 
 
 C3 
 
 J3 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean stren 
 
 Whole n 
 taken si 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrluva 
 tlysente 
 
 cc 
 
 '53 
 1 
 
 Epidemic e 
 
 Venereal di 
 
 Rhevmintis 
 
 Catarrlial 
 
 tions. 
 
 a 
 > 
 
 ^6 
 
 1868 
 
 66 41 
 
 186 
 
 2 
 
 32 
 
 9 
 
 52 
 
 14 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 
 1869 
 
 76 18 
 
 142 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 38 
 
 8 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 

 
FORT VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 421 
 
 FORT VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON GENERAL J. K. BARNES AND SURGEON J. H. BILL, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Vancouver is situated on the north bank of the Columbia River, 120 miles from its mouth 
 and live miles west of the confluence of the Willamette River, latitude 45 40' north, longitude 125 
 30' west. Although the military reservation extends from the river bank, the garrison proper ia 
 located upon high ground which rises gradually from a delta varying in width from a half to two 
 miles, and which is subject to overflow. The selection of this site in 1849 was doubtless owing to 
 its being the extreme western point of a high plateau which extends northeastwardly to the foot- 
 hills of the Cascade range of mountains. North of the garrison proper, and directly between it and 
 the river, are the extensive stockade and trading houses of the Hudson Bay Company, near to 
 which was a village of half-breeds, Kanakas, and other employes. The town of Vancouver has 
 sprung up along the Hue of the western boundary of the reservation. The bottom lauds between 
 the garrison and river, as well as those east and west, are subject to overflow, and it has been not 
 unusual to have all communication with the Hudson Bay fort cut off" except by bateaux and rafts. 
 Immediately in rear (north) of the line of officers' quarters, the red fir forest commences, which con- 
 tinues (with several intervals of prairie, varying in size from one to four or six miles across) to the 
 foot-hills. These prairies, called by the settlers plains, were cultivated by the Hudson Bay Com- 
 pany, and since the extinguishment of their claim, have been occupied by small farmers. The 
 strip of land lying between the Columbia and Willamette Elvers, south of Fort Vancouver, and 
 through which the road to Portland, Oregon, passes, is thickly timbered bottom land with occa- 
 sional swale, and many streams, and is not infrequently overflowed from river to river. The 
 average temperature is 55 F. ; the extremes being 25 F., in January, and 70 F., in July. Yearly rain- 
 fall 45 inches ; little snow falls here. The east and west winds are the most prevalent, and of about 
 equal frequency, the former bringing rain. Hoses bloom in December, and frost may occur in June. 
 The summers are dry, but little rain falling between April and October. The winters are mild and 
 wet, the usual rule in the rainy season being seven rainy days in a week. The first fall rains 
 restore vegetation, and the first winter snows fall upon a most beautiful and luxuriant herbage. 
 Colored snow, blue and red, was observed twice during the past winter. In the last instance 
 patches of deep red or purple snow twenty yards square were seen, and on close examination this 
 was found to contain immense numbers of the Podura nimlis. These insects collected in the water 
 barrels, and are considered to have been a cause of diarrhoea in some instances. 
 
 The post was intended for six companies, and occupies about 1,100 yards square. The general 
 arrangement of the post is shown in Plate No. 10. 
 
 The barracks now occupied are two frame buildings, on the east and west sides of the parade. 
 The east barrack, 80 by 30 feet, is two stories high,-has windows on opposite sides, and is intended 
 to accommodate 140 men. It is furnished with double bunks. The other building, 75 bySOfeetby 
 10 feet high, is one story, and intended for 70 men, each having a separate bed. In neither build- 
 ing is there any provision for ventilation. Average air space per man, 700 cubic feet. A kitchen 
 and mess-room are in the basement of the larger and rear of the smaller barracks. Sheds in rear 
 of the barracks are used as lavatories; the latrines are simple earth pits. The quarters for married 
 soldiers are much decayed, damp, and leaky. Six buildings are used as officers' quarters, three log 
 huts, and three frame cottages. The log huts were built of carefully selected logs of red fir, well 
 underpinned, and are of the pattern known. as "four pens and a passage," giving four rooms and 
 two attics, with kitchen and servants' room in rear, with the crevices chinked and plastered, and 
 the walls and ceilings lined with dressed lumber. They are well suited to the locality and climate. 
 
 The hospital is a large building on the eastern line of the parade ground facing west. It has 
 three capacious wards, a surgery, store-room, and steward's room, and two large attic rooms, with 
 high ceilings and large windows for convalescents in the main building. 
 
 The arrangement is shown in Figure 57. 
 
 A, wards, 25 feet 6 inches by 18 feet 6 inches ; B, wash-room, 6 feet 6 inches by 12 feet ; D, 
 
422 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 K 
 
 M 
 
 A 
 
 D 
 
 
 H 
 
 dispensary, 14 feet 3 inches by 18 feet 6 inches ; E, steward's room, 10 feet 11 inches by 11 feet 3 
 inches; G, dead-house, 10 feet C inches by 8 feet ; H, hall; K, kitchen, 17 by 14 feet; M, mess- 
 room, 17 by 14 feet; P, piazza in front of hospital, CL feet 10 
 inches by 9 feet 3 inches; P, piazza running by kitchen and 
 mess-room, 34 by 7 feet 10 inches ; P, piazza running in rear of 
 ward, 32 feet 10 inches by 8 feet 4 inches ; S, store-room, 10 feet 
 11 inches by 6 feet 10 inches ; height of rooms. 13 feet. The 
 foundations are of brick, the frame of red fir, weather-boarding 
 and shingles of cedar, and the entire interior lathed and plastered 
 throughout. As wood is the only fuel obtainable, the wards were 
 each provided with roomy fireplaces. Before the erection of this 
 hospital in 1858, the sick of the command had been very poorly 
 provided for in one of the outbuildings of the Hudson Bay Com- 
 pany, or in a set of one-story quarters, which the reduction of 
 force made available. Earth-closets have been sent to this hos- 
 pital. 
 
 The guard-house is a two-story frame building, having on the 
 lower floor a prisoner's room, 18J by 30J by 10 feet, and nine 
 cells, each CJ by 4J by 10 feet. The guard-room is in the second 
 story. 
 
 The water supply of the post has always been bad. It has 
 J ' I received the attention of several commandants, and various 
 
 Figure 57. Scale, 30 feet to l inch, plans have been proposed as remedies. For a long time the 
 water was hauled in water-wagons from the river, and stored in casks and barrels in the rear of 
 the quarters. A company has brought water from a brook six miles off to the town of Vancouver, 
 by pipes which run across the reserve. The supply is sufficient for 10,000 people, and the water is 
 pure, cool, and well aerated. Since January 1, 1870, the use of water from this main has been 
 allowed as a favor. It is distributed by a water-wagon as before. For the officers' quarters and 
 hospital, the water barrels are placed over the sink just behind the latrines. The arrangement is 
 very objectionable; the supply for the men is often scanty; the contents of the casks freeze in win- 
 ter and are very apt to become offensive in summer. The quarters of the ordnance officer, not being 
 under the control of the quartermaster's department, are supplied, as all the rest should be, by 
 pipes communicating with the main. Cisterns holding 1,000 gallons are attached to each set of 
 quarters and to the hospital. 
 
 The natural drainage at the post is excellent. Water is soaked by the gravel or runs off down 
 the steep declivity, rendering artificial drainage unnecessary. 
 
 There is plenty of good ground that could be used as a post garden. The hospital garden was 
 most excellent and productive when properly cultivated, though for the want of efficient gardeners 
 the result now hardly pays for the trouble. All the most esteemed vegetables of the middle States 
 can be raised. Potatoes, beets, turnips, &c., are a certain crop. Corn, tomatoes, egg-plant, melons, 
 &c., sometimes fail in maturing, owing to the coolness of the season. 
 
 Portland, Oregon, the nearest city, can be reached by a row-boat and by wagon in about two 
 hours ; by the Columbia and Willamette Rivers on steamboat in 2J hours. The latter course is 
 not liable to interruption, unless the rivers freeze. It takes from 10 days to 4 weeks for a letter to 
 go to Washington. 
 
 There have been no prevailing diseases at the post. A few men in the summer of 18C9 had 
 diarrhoea, the result of drinking the bad water ; but this was the only disease directly traceable to 
 bad sanitary provisions. Observation does not show that the climate is particularly prejudicial to 
 pulmonary complaints, unless they are tubercular. Rheumatism is rare. Myalgia is common 
 enough, but the climate has nothing to do with it. 
 
FORT LAPWAI, IDAHO TERRITORY. 
 
 423 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Vancouver, Wash- 
 ington Territory, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 
 ai, 
 
 
 
 ( 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 E 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 1 
 
 CO 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 " g 
 
 d 
 
 <y> 
 
 'S - 
 
 O - 
 
 5 
 
 "s 
 
 .2 
 
 "S 
 
 GO 
 
 * 
 
 1 5 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 r +- 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 'G rt 
 
 3 
 
 i- ^>-- 
 
 8 
 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 e3 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 Q 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 _a 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 188. 66 
 
 307 
 
 39 
 
 55 
 
 18 
 
 27 
 
 22 
 
 i 
 
 42 
 
 
 1809 
 
 164. 75 
 
 313 
 
 24 
 
 56 
 
 21 
 
 19 
 
 15 
 
 i 
 
 56 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleuriny. 
 
 FORT LAPWAT, IDAHO TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON C. R. GREENLEAF, AND ACTING ASSISTANT SUR- 
 GEON EDWARD STORROR, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 I 
 
 The post of Fort Lapwai is situated on the left bank of a stream of the same name, 3 miles 
 from its mouth ; latitude 46 32' north, longitude 40 west from Washington. The Lapwai is a 
 small tributary of the Cleanvater, itself a tributary of the Snake River. The Blue Mountain range, 
 about twenty-five miles to the west of the post, are the nearest mountains. Lewiston, a city of 
 about three hundred inhabitants, is 12 miles northwest of the post, and located on a sand spit at 
 the junction of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers. The nearest occupied post is Fort Colville, some 
 three hundred miles north of this post, and near the line of British America. 
 
 The post was first established in November, 1863, and its construction completed in the fall of 
 1804. It was intended to accommodate one company of cavalry and one of infantry, and quarters 
 for the men and stabling for the horses were erected. In July, 1867, the post was abandoned, and 
 remained unoccupied until the following November. The reason for stationing troops at this point 
 was to protect the settlers from the Indians. The military reserve embraces a square mile, within 
 which is an inclosed space of 10 acres occupied by the post. 
 
 The country is of volcanic formation, with terraces of basaltic trap cropping out. Patches of 
 land in the neighborhood are impregnated with orthocluse. 
 
 The soil in the Lapwai Valley is admirably fitted for the growth of vegetation. The cereals 
 and tubers of the temperate zone yield abundantly and mature well. 
 
 The trees and plants indigenous to the soil are the cottonwood, willow, birch, cedar, and pine 
 trees ; the sumach, elder, wild cherry, with strawberry and huckleberry in the mountains. A 
 bulbous root, called by the Indians "camas," and a favorite article of food with them, grows quite 
 luxuriantly on the prairies south of us. It resembles somewhat the common onion, and is gath- 
 ered in the month of August, at which time nearly the whole tribe (Nez Perces) move to the ca- 
 mas prairie, dig and prepare the root for winter use, by first drying and then powdering it between 
 stones. 
 
 Of wild animals there are the grizzly, cinnamon, and black bears, cougar, gray and black wolf, 
 coyote, red and gray fox, moose, common red and black-tailed deer. 
 
 Of birds there are bald and gray eagles, falcons, owls, prairie chickens, grouse, and ducks, (teal 
 and mallard.) 
 
 Offish there are the brook and salmon trout, and the salmon. 
 
 The nearest river, Clearwater, is a mountain stream, navigable for steamboats about four 
 mouths in the year, when raised by the melting of the snow in the spring of the year. Its waters 
 are beautifully clear, and of great purity. The Lapwai has a pebbly bottom, with cottonwood trees 
 and willows fringing its banks. The tributaries of this stream rise in Craig's Mountains, 14 miles 
 southeast of the post. 
 
424 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 The climate of this region is pleasant, and while there are wide ranges in the temperature they 
 do not appear to have any detrimental eft'ect upon the health of the inhabitants. In a period em- 
 bracing 20 months the mean temperature was 50.95 ; the extreme heat was 103 in the shade in 
 August; extreme cold 4 in January. The rain-fall averagesl.il inches per month; of snow, 
 but 15 days in '20 months. The prevailing winds are from the north, and are mild in the winter 
 and spring, but in the summer and fall blow occasionally with great violence. A wind, called by the 
 natives " chiuook," is prevalent in this region at all times of the year. It comes suddenly with 
 great A T iolence, and is always attended witli a very great rise in the temperature. In winter one 
 of these winds has been known to commence blowing in the evening at a time when there were 
 three or four inches of snow on the ground, and by morning not a trace of snow could be seen. In 
 summer the heat attending them is like that from a furnace, and vegetation wilts and withers 
 before the hot blast. 
 
 The buildings of the post occupy the several sides, of a square, inclosing a parade ground. 
 The barracks are two frame buildings, battened upon the outside and board lined within, each 91 
 by 30 by 10 feet, and erected upon stone foundations raised about two and a half feet from the 
 ground. A porch, 8 feet wide, runs along the western face of the buildings. The ceiling is of boards, 
 not tightly laid. Between the roof and ceiling is an unoccupied garret, lighted by two windows at 
 each end. The quarters are warmed by air-tight stoves, wood being the fuel used. Each building 
 has four windows, 2 feet 10 inches by 4 feet, upon its western face, and three upon its eastern. 
 Three doors open upon its western face and two upon its eastern. In the center of each building, 
 dividing it into two equal portions, is the orderly room. This, therefore, gives two rooms for dormi- 
 tories in each barrack, measuring 40 feet G inches by 30 by 10 feet. These rooms are amply ven- 
 tilated by windows and cracks, and each contain seven bunks for the accommodation of 28 men. 
 The air space per man is 212 cubic feet. There are neither wash nor bath rooms, the men perform- 
 ing their ablutions at the well and creek. Latrines have been built some distance in rear of the 
 company quarters and on the edge of the Lapwai. They are filled with earth, and the sheds over 
 them moved as occasion requires. 
 
 The laundresses' quarters are rooms measuring 16 by 14 feet, and 10 feet to the eaves. The 
 buildings are framed, constructed of slabs, the interstices filled with mortar, and board-lined within. 
 Each room has an open fireplace, and a well-constructed shed attached. 
 
 The quarters devoted to the use of officers are two double frame buildings one story and a half 
 high, lathed and plastered throughout, each 4G by 54 feet, and containing eight rooms upon the 
 ground floor, with two garret rooms. The front rooms measure 14 by 14 feet 9 inches by 12 feet ; 
 rear rooms, 11 by 14 feet 9 inches ; the mess-room, 13 by 11 by 9 feet, and the kitchens, 18 by 12 
 feet. A hall, 7 feet wide, extends from front to rear, dividing the buildings into two sets of quar- 
 ters each. 
 
 The commissary store building and adjutant's office are situated on the south side of the 
 parade. 
 
 The guard-house is built of squared logs, one story high, with a front of 40 feet, and 30 feet 
 deep, 8 feet to the eaves, without ceiling, but open to the ridge, and situated upon the north side 
 of the parade ground. The guard-room, occupying the whole front of the building, with a porch 
 is 17 feet deep, heated by an open fireplace and lighted by two windows. In rear of this room are 
 the double and single cells, the former 11 by 11 feet, the latter 8 by 5 feet, which are ventilated by 
 grated openings in the doors and sides of the building. 
 
 The hospital is located upon a natural slope, which terminates in the Lapwai. The building, 
 is a frame one, one story and a half high, with porch in front, facing east, and erected upon a stone 
 foundation which has 3 feet elevation in front, decreasing in the rear to a level with the ground, 
 and is in good repair. The general plan of the hospital is objectionable. It is 41 feet front, with 
 an L extending in rear, is lathed and plastered throughout, and contains four rooms upon the 
 ground floor, with bath-room and wood-shed adjoining. A hall, 6 by 15 feet, divides the main 
 building into two rooms, used as ward and dispensary, with a small store-room in rear of the latter. 
 The ward, 20 by 15 by 12 feet, contains six beds, giving to each a cubic air space of GOO feet. The 
 dispensary is 15 by 15 feet. The mess-room and kitchen,. both in rear of the ward, are each 12 by 
 12 by 10 feet. The bath-room is 12 feet long and G feet wide. Above the ward and dispensary are 
 
FOET BOIStf, IDAHO TERRITORY. 
 
 425 
 
 two garret rooms, lathed and plastered, with two windows to each, and occupied by the attache's 
 of the hospital. Beneath the dispensary is a cellar, 8 feet square, with neither artificial walls nor 
 floor, nor natural light. The hospital is warmed by stoves, and ventilated only by doors and win- 
 dows. The privy is located 30 feet distant from the building. The library consists of 150 bound 
 books, besides a large number of unbound volumes of a miscellaneous character, novels predominat- 
 ing. A number of periodicals and newspapers are also taken. 
 
 An abundant supply of excellent water is obtained from two wells, one midway between the 
 company quarters, and the other between the officers' quarters. Water for washing and police 
 purposes is procured from the Lapwai. Buckets are kept constantly filled for use in case of fire, 
 and in addition there is a hand force-pump at the post, with sufficient hose to throw water upon 
 the hospital. 
 
 There is no artificial drainage at the post. The natural drainage is good. 
 
 The post garden contains about twenty acres. A great variety of vegetables and fruits are 
 cultivated, and yield abundantly. Potatoes, cabbage, squash, onions, egg-plant, com, beans, peas, 
 oyster-plant, cauliflower, tomatoes, beets, turnips, okra, lettuce, radishes, watermelon and musk- 
 melon, cucumbers, parsnips, carrots, raspberries, and strawberries comprise the list, and are fur- 
 nished with great regularity to the men in their season. 
 
 The nearest large city is Portland, Oregon, which is reached by steamboat in the summer 
 months from Lewistou, and during the fall and spring by stage to Wallula, 32 miles from Walla- 
 Walla, on the Columbia River, where a steamer starts for Portland ; and in the winter by stage 
 to the Dalles on the Columbia River, where steamer is taken. The only serious interruption to 
 travel occurs during the winter from snow on the Blue Mountains, but the weekly mails are seldom 
 detained. A letter going to department headquarters requires seven days. 
 
 There is no prevailing disease at this post. Among the citizens this past summer typhoid 
 fever prevailed to some extent, and, so far as can be learned, this was the first time this disease 
 had appeared in this region of country. The disease may be attributed to the high temperature 
 and the filthy habitations of the persons affected. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of aid; and principal diseases at Fort Lapwai, Idaho Terri- 
 tory, for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 v 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ~ 
 
 .a . 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 s2* 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 SB 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 Whole mini 
 taken sick 
 
 Malarial feve 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysentery 
 
 Tousillitis. 
 
 Venereal disc 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Catarrhal ai 
 tions.* 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 IM 
 
 o 
 
 1868 
 
 74.41 
 
 62 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 11 
 
 
 1869 .... 
 
 46.5 
 
 46 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT BOISE, IDAHO TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEONS GEORGE B. JAQUETT AND PETER MOFFATT, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Bois6 is located in the Boise Valley, about half a mile from Boise" City ; latitude 43 37' 
 north, longitude 116 28' west from Greenwich, with an elevation above the sea-level of 2,880 feet. 
 The Bois6 Range of mountains bound the post on the north and east, while on the south and west 
 flows the Boise River. The nearest military posts are Camp Three Forks, Owyhee, about 95 miles to 
 the southwest, Camp Harney, 255 miles to the west, and Fort Lapwai, 352 miles to the north. 
 Old Fort Boise, the site of an old Hudson Bay station, is situated about 50 miles to the west, 
 54 
 
426 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 ou Suake River. Bois6 City, the territorial capital, with a population of about 2,000, adjoins the 
 military reservation on the west. 
 
 Fort Boise was first occupied in July, 1863, for the protection of emigrant trains, en route to 
 Oregon and Washington Territories, from the Shoshone Indians of Snake River. The increasing 
 interest excited by the reputed discovery of the precious metals in this region in 18G2 also indi- 
 cated the necessity of establishing a military post at some favorable point intermediate between 
 Walla- Walla and the settlements in the vicinity of Salt Lake and Fort Hall. Boise Valley, being 
 the rendezvous of great numbers of Indians, and in the line of the emigrant roads passing down 
 Snake River, and being moreover a locality that promised to become an agricultural settlement, 
 and at the same time centrally situated in relation to the recently discovered mines, was fixed 
 upon as the most suitable point to effect the desired object. The first houses in Boise" City were 
 erected, subsequent to the location of the military reservation, by camp followers. 
 
 The reservation, rectangular in shape, is one mile in width by two in length. In rear of 
 the garrison the ground is of a rugged, broken surface, while the ground occupied by the post and 
 the space extending between it and the Boise River is level. The valley from a few miles above 
 this place, to the confluence of the Boise" with the Snake River, 50 miles below, is of irregular 
 width and varied surface, and bounded on each side by arid table-lands of sage brush, or broken 
 and ban-en mountains. The soil for some miles above and below the fort is arable, and by aid of 
 irrigation produces in perfection all the cereals and vegetables appropriate to this latitude. Wheat 
 to the amount of 40,000 bushels, and of superior quality, was raised in this section last season- 
 The most formidable foes of the agriculturist in this region is the cricket or grasshopper, or both, 
 in countless numbers, during the mouths of May or June. Their track, when in full force, is marked 
 by the utter destruction of all verdure. The soil is a sandy loam, inclining more to a mixture of 
 clay and decayed organic matter in the lower portions, which are on the margins of the streams. 
 The stone used for building material in the construction of the post is procured in the neighbor- 
 hood. It is a very soft, coarse, and rather light sandstone, doubtless of aqueous origin. Gold 
 and silver arefonud; the former, on most of the streams in this section, in the form of placer 
 diggings; the latter chiefly in the surrounding mountainous regions, and in the form of ledges. 
 Silver City, about 60 miles to the south and west of this point, is surrounded by mountains con- 
 taining immense deposits of silver ore. The number of trees indigenous to this region is not large. 
 Among them are several species of the conifers, e. (/., pine, fir, and mountain juniper, generally 
 occupying the mountain summits. The only species of hard wood to be found is a stunted tree, 
 which grows in isolated mountain spots, and known as mountain mahogany. The cottonwood and 
 willow grow on the margin of the rivers. The abundance of the cottonwood and its large size 
 first suggested to the French Canadian agents of the Hudson Bay Company, who penetrated the 
 country in early years, the name of Boise" wood, by which that river is known. 
 
 Bears, wolves, coyotes, foxes, beaver, otter, mink, and martens are found ; also mountain 
 sheep, antelope, deer, rabbits, and smaller game. Wild geese, ducks, sage hens, prairie chickens, 
 pigeons, and many species of smaller and less known birds are met with. Salmon, salmon-trout, 
 mountain trout, and other fish of less importance exist in the streams. Very excellent salmon 
 are taken from those tributaries of the Snake River which have not been rendered turbid by mining. 
 
 There are two seasons, the wet and the dry; the former beginning in November, and con- 
 tinuing until May, and the latter during the intervening period. The extreme temperature in 
 summer is 109 F., and in winter 4 F. 
 
 The present post buildings for the most part were erected in 1864. The post is of rectangular 
 form ; the quarters, guard-house, and store-houses forming its respective sides. The buildings are 
 principally of stone. 
 
 The company quarters are two stone buildings, each 90 by 30 feet, with side walls 10 feet high; 
 only one is at present occupied. There is a fireplace at each end of the building ; windows on 
 either side, and one tier of double bunks. Ventilation is secured by the windows and doors. The 
 dormitory consists of one large room, and is occupied by one company, giving an air space of about 
 800 cubic feet to each man. There are no bath or washrooms; ablutions are performed in the 
 barrack-room. A stone building, 22 by 50 feet, and about 20 feet to the rear of the company quar- 
 ters, contains the kitchen and dining room. 
 
FOKT BOISE, IDAHO TERRITOKY. 427 
 
 Quarters for married soldiers are seven log houses, containing one room each. 
 
 The quarters for officers are three stone buildings, one, story high, with attic rooms above. They 
 are finished with lath and plaster, have each three rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor, 
 with a hall running from front to rear, and opening into a yard surrounding the house. The 
 one occupied by the commanding officer has an extension in rear, of 45 by 15 feet, which is 
 separated into dining-room, kitchen, wood-shed, and water-closet. The main building contains 
 four rooms, each about 15 by 15 by 9 feet, with fireplaces looking into each. The remaining build- 
 ings have a dining-room, kitchen, wood-shed, and water-closet appended in rear of each lateral half, 
 thus completing two separate and independent sets of quarters under one roof. These quarters 
 contain no bath-rooms. 
 
 The quartermaster's and commissary store-houses are also of stone, 100 by 30 feet each, and 
 divided into offices and store-rooms, ample for the storage of all supplies. The commissary build- 
 ing has a cellar for vegetables and other articles. 
 
 The guard house, situated on the north side of the parade ground, is a stone structure, 40 by 
 30 feet, and open to the roof. The front room, extending the entire length of the building, is used 
 for the guard, and has a fireplace and two windows. One large room in rear of this is used for 
 general prisoners, and is lighted and ventilated by small openings along the top of the wall. The 
 cell is without light, except that which is admitted through the ventilator. The average occupancy 
 of the guard-house is about four men. 
 
 The hospital is a stone building, 5G by 32 feet, with a wing in rear, 40 by 18 feet. The front 
 half of the building, containing three wards, a dispensary, and store-room, is the only part of the 
 hospital finished. Only one ward is used as such, containing six beds, with an air space of about 
 800 cubic feet to each. It is warmed by open fireplaces, and ventilated by doors, wiudows, and 
 fireplaces. An unfinished ward is used as wash and bath room. The office and dispensary are in 
 one room. The wing contains a dining-room, kitchen, and steward's room. 
 
 The stables are two large frame buildings situated at the southwest corner of the garrison, 
 and amply isolated. 
 
 The library, comprising about 1,000 volumes, has recently been purchased by the company sta- 
 tioned here, at an expense of $1,200. The selection embraces the standard literary works in the 
 English language, histories, biographies, romances, and miscellaneous works. 
 
 The supply of water for the use of the post is taken from the mountain stream which flows 
 through the reservation. Xo reservoir, cistern, or system of water-works are in use, with the 
 exception of a well, sunk upon the margin of the creek, from which the supply may be obtained 
 when the stream is low, or the water turbid. A water-wagon delivers a supply to each quarters 
 daily. The quality of the water is good, and the quantity abundant. 
 
 Communication is had by a daily stage and mail to and from the Pacific railroad at Kelton, 
 Utah. The time occupied is from two to three days, according to the season ; thence to Washing- 
 ton, from five to seven days. Occasional delays are experienced during the winter from heavy 
 falls of snow, both on the railroad and stage route. Communication with department head- 
 quarters at Portland, Oregon, is by stage to Umatilla, on the Columbia River, and thence by water 
 and railway to Portland. Considerable delay in mail communication is frequently experienced on 
 this route, owing to the closing of the Columbia by ice, or to snow or mud on the stage road, 
 particularly in crossing the Blue Mountains in Oregon. 
 
 Immediately around for a few miles, Boisd Valley is occupied by agriculturists ; while the 
 sources of Boist 5 River and its tributaries, and the neighboring streams, afford employment to gold 
 and silver miners. Here and there throughout the country a solitary ranch-man has located in 
 some of the more promising spots, and is occupied in stock-raising and the cultivation of a small 
 domain where water is available. 
 
 The post is generally very healthy, there being no diseases of a specific or contagious character ; 
 only a few cases of the common varieties of disease occur, such as acute diarrhoea and rheumatism, 
 with an occasional case of fever, either remittent or intermittent, commonly called in this country 
 mountain or typho-malarial fever. This prevails more especially among the citizens who are occu- 
 pied in mining or on the farms in the valley along the river. 
 
428 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement shotting mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Boise, Idaho Territory } 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 J 
 
 S 
 
 5 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 "So 
 a 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 D 
 
 'hole num 
 taken sick 
 
 <j> 
 
 1 
 
 jjj 
 
 _a 
 "3 
 
 inrrlupa 
 dysentery 
 
 Misillitis. 
 
 enereal (Use 
 
 lieiimatism. 
 
 * 
 
 X 
 
 cj a 
 1 
 
 o. of deaths 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 O 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 ft 
 
 1668 
 
 89 41 
 
 35 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 \ 
 
 5 
 
 
 1869 
 
 73 91 
 
 47 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, ami pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP THREE FORKS, OWYHEE, IDAHO TERRITORY. 
 
 KEPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON E. COLMACHE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Three Forks, Owyhee, was established in its present location September 26, 1866, in 
 latitude 42 51' north, longitude 116 547 west, on the southwestern boundary line of Idaho Territory, 
 and at the south base of a range of mountains known as the Owyhee Mountains. It is distant 35 
 miles south from Silver City, Idaho Territory, the nearest post office, and 16 miles north from the 
 Three Forks of the Owyhee Eiver. Its elevation is about five thousand feet. From Silver City to 
 Elko, Nevada, on the Central Pacific railroad, distant 225 miles, there is communication by stage 
 daily; time 48 hours. It requires about six days to send a letter to department headquarters, via 
 Boise City. The nearest settler lives in Jordan Valley, 16 miles distant. 
 
 The camp is built on a small piece of table-land, gradually declining toward the south, and is 
 closed on the east and south sides by a ravine through which flows a creek, which supplies the 
 water used by the camp, and which carries off the drainage. The camp, built to furnish accom- 
 modations for two companies of infantry, consists of seven buildings arranged in the form of a 
 liollow square, the parade ground inclosed by them measuring 400 feet each way. These buildings 
 are all one story high, built of rough unhewn logs. The walls are chinked and daubed with mud. 
 The roofs are covered with shingles, insufficient in number and badly put on, allowing rain and 
 snow to penetrate into the interior of the buildings. The floors are of undressed lumber, and are 
 barely raised from the ground, the sleepers lying directly on the surface. The warming of 
 every room in each building is by large open fireplaces, built of granite. The windows are of the 
 " dormer-window" pattern, and, with the doors, all open toward the square. Being thus all placed 
 on one side of the buildings, they allow of no cross draughts ; and were it not for the chance 
 openings found in the roofs and w<ills, and the wide chimneys, the buildings would be uninhabitable 
 for the want of proper ventilation. Each room has one window and one door opening directly 
 on the parade ground. 
 
 The north side of the camp is formed by a building, 65 by 20 feet, divided into three rooms, 
 one at each end of the building, 16 by 18 feet, and one in the middle, 28 by 18 feet. Each room is 
 assigned as separate quarters for officers. A lean-to. 10 feet wide and half the length of the build- 
 ing, affords room for one kitchen, one officers' mess-room, and one room used as a sleeping-room by 
 the servants; a small two-roomed house, 32 by 16 feet, having no conveniences, forms the 
 only quarters suitable, in any way, to married officers. A small lean-to at the back forms a 
 kitchen, and 15 yards in the rear is the sink belonging to the building. The west side of the square 
 is formed by a building, 65 by 20 feet, which is divided into one room, 20 by 18 feet, used as quar- 
 termaster's harness-room and saddler-shop ; one room, 10 by 18 feet, used as quarters for post 
 surgeon ; one room, 10 by 18 feet, used as an office by the post adjutant, and one room, 20 by 18 
 feet, used as a guard-room. A building, 65 by 18 feet, is used as quartermaster's and commissary's 
 store-house. There are no windows nor fireplaces in this building. 
 
CAMP THREE FORKS, OWYHEE, IDAHO TERRITORY. 429 
 
 The south side is formed by a building 260 by 20 feet, divided in the center by ;i strong log 
 partition, and furnishing in each half one room, 88 by 18 feet, used as day room and dormitory for 
 one company; and in the wing one room, 40 by 18 feet, serving as company-kitchen and mess-room. 
 Each of the company rooms is warmed by two very large open fireplaces, and has, let in at equal 
 distances along the ridge of the roof, three common square box ventilators, each having a superfi- 
 cial opening of 144 square inches. These rooms were originally lighted only by two windows, and 
 the inlet and outlet to them were gained through two single doors, all facing toward the parade ; 
 but the quarters were found to be so dark that panes of glass were let in among the shingles of 
 the roof. Two windows and a door have been cut through the rear wall of the west quarters, mak- 
 ing them comparatively light a.nd cheerful. The same improvement has been carried out in all the 
 buildings. The wash and bath-house has a fireplace for heating water, and a supply of bathing 
 tubs. A well, giving an abundant supply of water, is close to the wash-house. (In the summer 
 parties of the officers and men often repair for a day or two at a time to some very large warm 
 springs, situated in the caiion of the Owyhee Eiver, 17 miles distant.) A large sink, 20 feet long, 
 is situated 15 yards in the rear of the center of this building. The east side is formed by a build- 
 ing, 65 by 18 feet, equally divided into six rooms, 10 by 18 feet, which are used as laundresses' 
 quarters; and a building, G5 by 20 feet, divided as follows : In the northern end, a room 10 by 18 
 feet, used as dispensary; a room, 27 by 18 feet, used as a ward, to contain eight beds. Between 
 these two rooms a space 3 feet wide is partitioned off. It is divided into two equal parts by the 
 stone chimney, and forms a store-room, 3 by 7 feet, and a hall of the same dimensions. The ward 
 is lighted by two windows facing the parade ground. Next to the ward is the hospital kitchen 
 and mess-room in one, 10 by 18 feet, having no fireplace, but using a cooking stove. These three 
 rooms constitute the post hospital. The hospital has no quarters for a hospital steward, no dead- 
 house, bath-room, or lavatory ; all of which are needed. In the south end of the same building is 
 situated the post bakery, 10 by 18 feet. 
 
 In the ravine southeast of the post are situated the post trader's store and dwelling-house, 
 post blacksmith and carpenter shop, and a house serving as quarters for the Indian scouts 
 attached to the command. 
 
 Further west, and lower down on the creek, are the Government stables, granary, and hay- 
 shed. These are built of logs, split in half and planted upright in the ground, and roofed over 
 with rough boards and battens. Behind are the corrals. 
 
 The water used by the camp is entirely supplied by the creek above mentioned, which has its 
 source among granite rocks in the mountains about eight miles north. The stream, from its 
 source down, is well protected from the sun by an abundant growth of willow bushes and some 
 cottonwood trees. Great care has been taken to preserve these uninjured. The water is remark- 
 ably pure, always cool, and very pleasant to the taste. It flows in sufficient quantity for the use of 
 the camp during every season of the year. It is brought to the camp by hand, and stored in bar- 
 rels, which are refilled every day. 
 
 The soil on which the camp is built consisting principally of broken-down quartz rock and 
 crushed lava, is very dry, and does not allow water to percolate through it. There is no stagnant 
 water to be found near the camp. 
 
 There are no Indians resident in the immediate vicinity of the post. A few scattered Pi-Utes 
 roam between the south side of the Owyhee River and the Humboldt chain of mountains. 
 
 The climate is very variable, and sudden changes of temperature are of frequent occurrence. 
 The thermometer ranged during the year 18G8 from 9 below zero to 101 F. Yearly mean of ther- 
 mometer 45.53 F. The amount of rain and snow that fell during the year measured 10.65 inches. 
 The yearly mean of the hygrometer was 42.04. 
 
 The situation, as far as the records show, is very healthy. Since the camp was established 
 there have been only three cases of serious sickness ; all of the typho-malarial type, no doubt con- 
 tracted by the patients while away from the camp on scouts through flat and marshy districts, and 
 resulting in one death. 
 
430 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Three Forks, 
 Oipyhcc, Idaho Territory, for the years 18G8 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrha'a and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Epidemic catarrh. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 
 | 
 
 C3 
 
 <u 
 O 
 
 *M 
 
 o 
 
 d 
 fe 
 
 1868 . .. 
 
 131. 58 
 
 121 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 25 
 
 
 1869 . . . 
 
 101. 58 
 
 130 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT STEVENS, OREGON. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS J. E. SEMPLE AND A. W. WIGGIN, UNITED STATES 
 
 ARMY. 
 
 Fort Stevens is located in latitude 46 30' north, longitude 124 1' west from Greenwich ; 
 altitude, twelve feet above high water. It is near the extremity of Point Adams, a low sandy spit 
 of laud which forms the south side of the mouth of the Columbia, and guards the south channel of 
 that river; Fort Cape Disappointment, distant about ten miles from this post, guarding the north 
 channel. The two channels are separated by a sandy island, nearly covered at high water. East 
 of Fort Stevens, and on the same side of the river, eight miles distant by water, but accessible by 
 land, is the town of Astoria. This is the oldest American settlement on this coast, a trading post 
 having been established there by John Jacob Astor in 1811, and now numbers some six or seven 
 hundred inhabitants. A creek and swamp nearly divide the strip of sea-coast land, at the northern 
 extremity of which are Point Adams and Fort Stevens, from Astoria and the main portion of the 
 State of Oregon. This strip of land, called Clatsop Plains, is low, sandy, with poor soil, in most 
 parts densely covered with spruce and hemlock trees, and sparsely inhabited by farmers and fisher- 
 men, some of whom have occupied their lands for thirty or forty years, raising extensive families 
 of half-breeds, and waiting to get rich by a rise in the value of their real estate. Some ten or 
 twelve families living near Skipanon Landing, on a creek of the same name, constitute the town of 
 Lexington, distant six miles from the post. 
 
 This post was first occupied April L'.~>, 1805, the fort having been built under the supervision of 
 the engineers during the two years preceding. 
 
 The military reservation contains one square mile. The land is undulating and sandy, having 
 evidently been formed by the action of the waves on the one side, and by alluvium brought down 
 by the Columbia River on the other. A shallow soil exists, capable of supporting evergreen trees, 
 ferns, grasses, &c., but, as its bottom is sand, crops are very uncertain, except in a wet summer. 
 
 The following animals exist in this part of the country, viz. : Elk, deer, wolf, black bear, cougar, 
 rabbit, otter, mink, squirrel, and beaver. The birds are chiefly the wild goose, woodpecker, bluejay, 
 swan, duck, pelican, crow, eagle, gull, swallow, crane, robin, and pigeon. The fish are the salmon, 
 which is abundant and an important article of export, salmon-trout, smelt, sole, sturgeon, flounder, 
 perch, sucker, porgy, craw-fish, clams of an immense size, and oysters, which are small and inferior 
 in quality. 
 
 The climate is equable, much cooler in summer and warmer in winter than on the same 
 isothermal line of the Atlantic coast. The total annual rain-fall is excessive, amounting during 
 the year 1869 to 6 feet 8.16 inches, which, judging by the meteorological register kept since Jan- 
 uary, 1867, is not more than an average; 20.66 inches of rain fell during the mouth of November, 
 1869. At the same time there is usually so little rain during the months of July, August, and 
 September as to necessitate irrigation for many crops. The records do not show that any snow 
 
FORT STEVENS, OREGON. 431 
 
 lias fallen here since the occupation of the post. The mean temperature for the year 18C9 was 
 53.51; the average hygrometrical indications, 51.38} highest temperature, 80, lowest, 32; 
 highest indication of hygrometer, 70, lowest, 32. The prevailing winds are southeast and south- 
 west during the rainy season; northwest during the dry season. 
 
 The fort itself is an earthwork ; it has been rebuilt anil is surrounded by a moat. The build- 
 ings composing the garrison quarters are placed on a bluff some, distance from the. river, with a low 
 beach between it and the water. At present the beach below the post buildings is increasing by 
 the fresh daily deposit of sand from the river; but the changes at thi.s point being so uncertain 
 and various, at some future time the waters may encroach upon and remove the whole of it. A 
 fine wharf has been constructed on this beach, at which small steamers land the supplies for the 
 post. 
 
 For the first year of its occupation the only houses for officers or meu were the temporary 
 shanties of rough boards which had been erected for the engineer workmen while constructing the 
 fort. None of these structures now remain. All the buildings now at the post are substantially 
 built of wood. The soldiers' barrack, erected in 18GC, is a one-story building, 98 feet 5 inches by 
 30 feet 4 inclies, with porch in front. It contains two dormitories, one at each end, with offices 
 between them. Each dormitory measures 37 feet 11 inches by 29 feet; height, 13 feet 10 inches. 
 They are lighted and ventilated by four windows of ordinary size. J!ox stoves are used for heating. 
 The number of bunks occupying the dormitories is kept down to those actually in use ; and the 
 air space per man, of the number now occupying each dormitory, is, respectively 1,057 and 841 
 cubic feet. The bunks are wooden, in two tiers. A building 70 yards northwest of the soldiers' 
 quarters contains the company mess-room and kitchen. Quarters for married soldiers and laun- 
 dresses consist of two buildings, one and a half stories high, accommodating two families each. 
 Four houses are used as quarters for officers, three of them constructed on the same plan, the 
 fourth slightly but not materially different. They are built of wood, and consist of a main building 
 one and a half stories high, and an L, one story high. Each house has four large rooms on the ground 
 floor, with a cellar underneath the kitchen ; a hall, and ample room for closets, pantries, &c. In 
 the upper story are two large bed-rooms, two small rooms, and two lofts. The rooms on the ground 
 floor in the main house are 10J feet high, plastered with hard finish, and well painted. There is 
 a privy in the L, connected with the main building by a covered porch. Fireplaces are in two 
 rooms of each house, the other rooms havingopenings for stove-pipes. A cistern affords rain-water 
 for washing purposes ; drinking water is supplied by a well, and brought around daily in carts. 
 Good gardens are attached to these quarters. 
 
 There are three store-houses at this post, one ordnance store-house, one commissary and 
 quartermaster's store-house, and one engineer store-house. The first is a one-story building, 81 feet 
 2 inches by 22 feet 3 inches, and contains two store-rooms. The quartermaster and commissary's 
 stores occupy a building one and a half stories high, having a porch along the entire front. The 
 building is 112 feet 4 inches by 30 feet 4 inches in dimensions. The commissary stores are kept 
 down stairs, and the upper story occupied by quartermaster's property. Two offices and a sleep- 
 ing-room are also on the first floor. The engineer store-house is an old, rough building, filled with 
 engineer tools, and kept closed up. One end of it is used as a carriage room. 
 
 The guard-house is located on the edge of the parade ground, and constructed of solid plank- 
 ing throughout. The foundation is of brick; the floors are double, the intervening space 
 being inlaid with cement. The building is T-shaped ; the extreme length of the cross part is 67 
 feet 8 inches ; the width 32 feet 10 inches. The length of the other portion is 28 feet, and its width 
 24 feet 3 inches. Its height is 10 feet in the clear. The transverse section of the building con- 
 tains the cells, ranged on either side of a hall 12 feet 2 inches wide. The cells are 7 by 12 feet, and 
 open by a door into cell halls, 9 by 12 fee*, which communicate by grated doors with the transverse 
 hall. The cells are 9 feet 5 inches high. The apertures for ventilation are near the ceiling ; four 
 are 12 by 16 inches, the rest 8 by 12 inches each. The guard-room, in the main portion of the 
 building, is 15 by 24 feet. The main building has a stove in each end, the pipes going into chim- 
 neys built from the attic. The window at the extreme end of the transverse hall is two feet square, 
 glazed and grated. The main hall has a window at each end, ."> feet 1 1 inches by 2 feet, also glazed 
 and grated. A sky-light, 2 feet square, opening through the roof, is placed directly over the point 
 
432 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of crossing of the halls. The cell doors are all solid, without any opening iu them, while those 
 shutting off the cell halls from the main hall have 'grated openings 5 feet by 8 inches. Arrange- 
 ments exist for putting up six bunks in each cell, in tiers of three each, but in point of fact seldom 
 more than two prisoners occupy the same cell never more than three, and then only while a part 
 of the building is being scrubbed, the custom being to wet-scrub one-half the guard-house once a 
 week, leaving the other half dry for occupancy. If the cells were occupied to their fullest capacity 
 there would be but 140 cubic feet of air space to each occupant obviously insufficient, even with 
 the ventilators open and communication with the hall afforded by means of the grated doors. The 
 average number of prisoners for the past two years has been 6.14 less than one man to each cell. 
 
 The hospital building stands on a knoll of sand fronting toward the river, and has a porch 
 along the whole front. The main portion of the building, by outside measurement, is 25 feet 6 
 inches by 46 feet 10 inches; the back building is 22 feet 5 inches by 24 feet 2 inches. The rear 
 door of the dispensary opens on a hall leading to the wards, one on the right hand and one on the left. 
 Between the two wards in the rear portion is the steward's room. In rear of this main building, 
 and connected with it, is the kitchen, and partitioned off from the back end of the kitchen are a 
 bath-room and pantry. The wards, of which there are two, one on each outside end of the main 
 building, with dispensary and steward's room between them, are each 24 feet 11 inches by 15 feet 
 8 inches, with a ridge opening, 9 feet long by 12 inches wide, for ventilation. The air space in 
 each ward is 1,234 cubic feet per bed. There are five windows in each ward, and a movable tran- 
 som over each door. Capacity of hospital, ten beds. Stoves are used for warming the rooms. The 
 bath-room is 7 feet 10 inches by 7 feet C inches, and contains a bath-tub and water-sink. The 
 water-closet contains movable sinks and a urinal. 
 
 The post bakery is 35 by 12 feet, containing a sleeping room, kneading room, and an oven 
 capable of baking bread daily for 200 men. 
 
 The stable for public animals contains stalls for 15 animals, is well lighted, and has an open- 
 ing into the external air in each stall in front of each animal's face. The building is 40 by 30 feet. 
 
 The post being garrisoned by a single company there is no post library. The library of the 
 company now stationed here consists of 232 volumes, principally history and novels. They are 
 kept in the office of the company, and are well read. 
 
 The water supply of the post is dependent upon that furnished by the wells which have been 
 dug. Of these there is one in each cellar of three of the officers' houses, one near the stables, one 
 at the mess-room, one inside of the fort, one in the parade ground, and one near the hospital. 
 During the winter season the supply of water seems to be sufficient and of good quality. The 
 water supplied to the different portions of the garrison is hauled on carts in water-barrels and dis- 
 tributed fresh daily. Although apparently sufficient for ordinary purposes during the winter when 
 the rains are abundant, the supply of water becomes very small in summer, while its quality dete- 
 riorates to such a degree as to make its use, to say the least, unpleasant. During the later months 
 of the summer of 1868 this was painfully apparent, the water from the different wells in use hav- 
 ing a peculiarly disagreeable taste and odor, as well as an uninviting appearance. It was also very 
 limited in quantity, at a time, too, when the forests in this vicinity were constantly burning, the 
 material of the quarters and other public buildings very dry and liable to catch fire from the fall- 
 ing sparks carried about by wind through the dense, smoky atmosphere. In view of these facts, 
 cisterns calculated to hold a sufficient quantity of water, caught and stored during the rainy sea- 
 son, are called for, both in view of the health and comfort of this command, as well as the preser- 
 vation of public property at the post. 
 
 The drainage of the post, from its natural location, is in general good, and water is either 
 absorbed quickly or carried to the beach below. The present drainage from the officers' quarters, 
 hospital, kitchen, and laundresses' quarters is rather defective, and might be improved. 
 
 Ample facilities for bathing are afforded in the summer time by the river, but in the cooler 
 weather, which, in this climate may be considered as three-fourths of the year, no facilities are 
 provided except in the hospital. 
 
 A small garden at the post produces potatoes and cabbages, but not nearly euough for the 
 winter's use. A few potatoes are raised in the vicinity of the hospital, but a hospital garden, 
 properly speaking, does not exist. There is ample room about the quarters of each officer for gar- 
 
FORT KLAMATH, OREGON. 
 
 433 
 
 dening purposes, but sucb is the uncertainty of rain in the summer months and the difficulty of 
 watering, that it seems to be generally preferred to rely upon the neighboring country, vegetables 
 being readily procured at reasonable rates. 
 
 A small steamboat chartered by the government plies between this post, Fort Cape Disap- 
 pointment, and Astoria three times a week for Portland, connecting with stages for the East by 
 way of Kelton, on the Central Pacific railroad. A steamship leaves Astoria three times a month 
 for San Francisco. A letter requires from one to three days to go to department headquarters, and 
 from eleven to eighteen days to go to Washington. 
 
 The inhabitants of this vicinity are generally emigrants from Missouri and other western 
 States, who hold large tracts of land. The Indians consist of the remains of the Clatsop tribe, 
 now numbering about 15 individuals, and are fast disappearing. 
 
 There seem to be no prevailing diseases whose cause is due to the location of the post. Mala- 
 rial diseases exist along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, but this particular locality is appar- 
 ently exempt from them. The moisture of the atmosphere predisposes somewhat to rheumatism, 
 but not to pulmonary or bowel affections. 
 
 Statement shoiring mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Stevens. Oregon, for 
 
 Hie years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 X 
 
 "5 
 
 1 
 
 Catnrrhnl affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 j 
 
 s 
 
 1668 
 
 65.08 
 
 105 
 
 5 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 i 
 
 34 
 
 
 1869 
 
 67 
 
 
 12 
 
 19 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 27 
 
 
 62 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 FORT KLAMATH, OREGON. 
 
 REPORTS OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS L. E. HOLMES AND C. B. BRIERLY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Fort Klamath occupies a site on the margin of a low prairie or meadow, extending south and 
 west to the Klamath lakes, a distance of eight or ten miles. Its latitude is 42 41' 34" north, lon- 
 gitude 44 40' west ; altitude 4,200 feet above the level of the sea. The fort was built in 1863, and 
 designed for a two-company post. The land occupied and immediately surrounding rises slightly 
 from the prairie, and is naturally well drained. The pine forests on the north and east approach- 
 ing to the buildings of the post, and partly surrounding them, are heavy and have but a slight 
 undergrowth. A large creek runs within five or six rods of the buildings on the north and east. 
 
 The principal buildings of the post are twelve in number, constructed of hard pine lumber. 
 The parade is fenced. Its south side is clear, and opens on the prairie. 
 
 The barracks, 120 by 30 by 10 feet, are divided into large square or oblong rooms, and warmed 
 by means of fireplaces and stoves. Air space per man, 500 cubic feet. Twelve windows are placed 
 opposite each other, affording ample ventilation, with the doors and fireplaces. Double wooden 
 bunks in two tiers are used. Quarters for married soldiers are four in number, each 30 by 15 by 
 10 feet, with two windows and one door. The officers' quarters are five separate buildings, each 
 40 feet square and 10 feet high. The store-houses, one story high, built of hewn timber, are ample 
 and well policed. 
 
 The guard-house, also made of hewn timber, is 30 feet square by 10 feet high. The prison- 
 room is 14 by 12 feet. 
 55 
 
434 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The hospital building is of the same size and construction as the quarters for officers, 40 by 
 40 by 10 feet. Though small and not specially designed for the purpose, it answers very well for 
 a one-company post, where sickness of a grave nature is almost unknown. The building is warmed 
 by stoves. The windows and doors are the only means of ventilation. The office and dispensary 
 are adjoining rooms, each 12 feet square and 10 feet high. The ward, 30 by 15 by 10 feet, has four 
 windows and two doors, contains four beds, giving to each 1,125 cubic feet. There are no lava- 
 tories or bath-rooms. 
 
 The stables, at a little distance from the men's quarters and near the border of the creek, are 
 large, well ventilated, and made with a view to warmth, dryness, and durability. 
 
 The Indian camp lies to the southeast on William's Kiver, a distance of 12 miles. Nine hun- 
 dred are of the Klamath, 500 of the Modock, and 200 Snake Indians. 
 
 The prevailing diseases are venereal. Diseases of the respiratory organs appear to be the 
 only diseases having local origin. 
 
 Statement showing menu strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Klamath, Oregon, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 fU 
 
 
 & 
 
 
 1 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 a o= 
 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 OP 
 
 Jl 
 
 .S 
 
 3 
 
 "3 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 ^H yi 
 
 c8 
 
 " .2 
 
 S 
 
 IM 
 
 
 
 
 3 "a 
 
 3 
 
 & T- 1 * 
 
 '8 
 
 v 
 
 P 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 (S 
 
 o 
 
 
 9 
 
 > 
 
 s 
 
 s 
 
 H 
 
 ^ 
 
 M 
 
 O 
 
 fc 
 
 1868 (11 months) . ... 
 
 72. 63 
 
 115 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 25 
 
 
 1869 
 
 60 
 
 155 
 
 8 
 
 46 
 
 2 
 
 16 
 
 23 
 
 23 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ' Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP WARNER, OREGON. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON RICHARD POWELL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Warner, Oregon, was located in 1866, about twenty miles east of Warner Lake. In 
 September, 1867, it was changed to its present situation, which is about 42 50' north latitude, 
 120 west longitude, 15 miles west of Warner Lake, and 35 miles from the Califoinia and Oregon 
 line. Its altitude is presumed to be between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. It is almost surrounded by hills, 
 and to the south and west is a forest, principally of pines, which extends four or five miles. 
 
 There is fine trout fishing within ten miles of the post. 
 
 Grizzly and black bears are found in the vicinity; also antelope, deer, grouse, prairie chicken, 
 and ducks. 
 
 The soil is not fertile, being sandy and alkaline. 
 
 The mean temperature is 50 F. ; hottest, 19th of August at 2 o'clock p. m., 89 F. in the shade ; 
 coldest, the 6tb of December at 7 o'clock a. m., 10 F. There is not much rain, but the fall of snow 
 is very heavy, lying on the ground from December until May or June. 
 
 The post is located on the slope of a hill, the incline facing the north. The buildings form 
 three sides of a square of 200 feet side. The company quarters are three log buildings, each 103 
 by 25 feet, with board gables, shingle roofs, and porches in front. Each contains two dormitories, 
 measuring 34 by 30 by 10 feet, occupied by one company, warmed by fireplaces, lighted by ten win- 
 dows which, with five doors and the chimney flues, afford ample ventilation. Air space per man, 
 324 cubic feet. The bunks are double, in two tiers. The latrines for the men are about two hun- 
 dred yards in rear of their quarters. 
 
CAMP WAENER, OREGON. 435 
 
 Temporary buildings are occupied as kitcbeus and mess-rooms. The kitchens measure 18 by 
 28 feet, the mess-rooms 37 by 28 feet. 
 
 Married soldiers' quarters are three houses recently erected, and four others which were pre- 
 viously devoted to other uses. The houses are built of logs, and contain two rooms each, with a 
 chimney in the center. 
 
 The officers' quarters are six log buildings, each 30 by 40 by 10J feet, with an addition, 16 by 
 21 by 10J feet, for kitchen and dining-room. One house is occupied by the commanding officer. 
 Each of the others is designed for one captain and one lieutenant. Their construction is similar 
 to the barracks. The partitions are of boards, and the walls and ceilings of nearly all the rooms 
 are covered with cloth and wall paper. They are heated by means of fireplaces and stoves. 
 
 The commissary's building measures 30 by 100 feet. The quartermaster's buildings, two in 
 number, are each GO by 30 feet. 
 
 The guard-house, a temporary building, is 30 by 40 by 10J feet, divided into a guard-room, 
 24 by 30 feet ; a prison-room, 1C by 15 feet, and four cells, each 4 by 8 feet. It is warmed by stoves, 
 lighted by windows, two in front and rear, which, by aid of one door in the center of the building, 
 afford the only means of ventilation. The average occupancy is five. 
 
 The hospital is built of logs, with board gables and shingled roof, and when completed will 
 be well adapted to the wants of the post. The ground plan is essentially the same as recom- 
 mended in Circular No. 4, Surgeon General's Office. The main building is 33 by 34 feet, contains four 
 rooms, surgery, steward's room, and bath-room, each 15 by 14 feet, and dining-room, 19 by 14 feet. 
 These rooms open into a common hall, which is also connected with the ward, a wing, 44 by 24 
 feet. The kitchen, 16 by 21 feet, is attached to the rear end of the main building. The second 
 floor of the main building is an attic with four windows, and is used for attendants' quarters and 
 store-rooms. Warming is effected by means of stoves, though it is proposed to have the ward 
 warmed by a fireplace. Lighting and ventilation are secured by windows and doors, aided by the 
 cracks unavoidably existing in a building so rudely constructed. It is proposed also to have the 
 walls more carefully lined, and, if deemed necessary, more suitable means of ventilation provided. 
 The ward contains !)G8 cubic feet of air space per bed, with a capacity for twelve patients. The 
 bath-room is provided with basins and bath-tubs. The sink is 60 yards distant in rear of the hos- 
 pital. 
 
 The bakery recently erected contains an oven measuring 9 by 10 feet, and is well adapted. 
 
 About one hundred yards in rear of the men's barracks are the cavalry stables, blacksmith 
 and wheelwright shops; and on the same line, but across a creek, are the quartermaster's corral 
 and stable. The dimensions of the cavalry stable are 30 by 200 feet; quartermaster's stable, 96 by 
 30 feet. The two corrals are each 180 by 300 feet. 
 
 Two little streams come down from the mountain south of the post; one runs between the 
 officers' quarters and the adjutant's office; the other runs to the left of the hospital, the officers' 
 and men's quarters, and separates the quartermaster stables and corrals from the stables and work- 
 shops. There has been a deep drain dug about one hundred yards in rear of the officers' quarters 
 between those streams, so that the drainage of the post is very good. The water is excellent in 
 quality and the supply is plentiful, being obtained from springs which have their source in the 
 mountain. 
 
 The gardens, one for each company and one for the hospital, are located 16 miles north from 
 the post, in the valley of Lake Warner, and cultivated by enlisted men. Potatoes, cabbage, tur- 
 nips, onions, &c., are raised. 
 
 Camp Warner commands a large section of country Avhich, until very recently, was held by 
 the most hostile Indians in the department, and its position will be important for some years to 
 come. Some two miles north from the post, 150 Indians of the Pi-Ute tribe make their winter 
 resort. 
 
 As might be presumed from the altitude of the post, we are singularly free from malarial or 
 any other form of zymotic disease. I have yet to see the first case of malarial disease originating 
 here. There have been some cases of intermittents, but it has been among those who suffered 
 from malarial or typho-malarial disease in Virginia. In the winter months sore throats, catarrhs, 
 and diarrhoeas from exposure to cold and wet feet, yield to the simplest medicines, or, what is 
 
436 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OP MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 much preferable, to the warmth of a hospital ward and proper dietetic measures, in a few days. In 
 summer constipation is common, which is ascribed to the altitude of the post. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Warner, Oregon, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 a! 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 S. 
 
 S . 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 S x 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 a 
 
 ". 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 a S 
 a 
 
 A! 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 it 
 
 s "* 
 
 ousillitis. 
 
 enereal di 
 
 | 
 
 lieumatis 
 
 atarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 lM 
 
 O 
 
 6 
 
 
 S 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 02 
 
 M 
 
 Q 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 231. 91 
 
 541 
 
 85 
 
 113 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 11 
 
 25 
 
 96 
 
 
 1869 
 
 167. 25 
 
 324 
 
 13 
 
 73 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 
 18 
 
 42 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP HARNEY, OREGON. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS CHARLES STYER AND C. B. BYRNE, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Harney is situated at the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek, in a canon of the same name 
 opening into Harney Lake Valley, in Grant County, Oregon. Latitude 43 30' north ; longitude 
 118 30' west, and about 4,200 feet above the level of the sea. 
 
 The canon is about a mile long, -with precipitous walls of dark volcanic rock from four to six 
 hundred feet in height. Its breadth at the post is about three hundred yards. The reservation is 
 6 miles square, and, extending into Harney Valley, includes about 15 square miles of level and 
 serviceable land. 
 
 Haniey Lake Valley, formerly known as "Big Meadows," is about 50 miles long by 30 wide, 
 and contains two lakes of considerable size, known as Malhenr and Harney Lakes, which have no 
 outlets, the water of each being somewhat brackish. 
 
 Rattlesnake Creek, from which the post derives its supply of water, rises about ten miles 
 north of this place in the mountains. The water is of good quality, clear, sparkling, and perennial. 
 In summer the stream is maintained by springs, and the water remains cold throughout, except 
 during the heat of the day. 
 
 The character of the country to the north, east, and west of this place is broken, rugged, and 
 mountainous. Just at this point, where the mountains lower down and give place to the valley or 
 flat, all vestige of timber disappears; and to the south, southeast, and southwest nothing but sage 
 and a few stunted junipers are to be found. In the opposite direction, however, as the mountains 
 recede from this point, they become wooded with juniper, fir, and pine. The geological formation 
 of this section of country is singular. The flat already alluded to, adjacent to us on the south, is 
 composed of alluvium, and in places the soil is impregnated with saline matter. The hills immedi- 
 ately bounding the valley present in many places bold, continuous cliffs, of probably five hundred 
 feet in height, resembling a line of coast rocks. The face of the rocks near the creek, where not 
 crumbled away or concealed by ddbris, has well-defined marks of having at some time formed the 
 limit to a body of water, being washed and worn as is usual in such situations. The face of the 
 rock furthermore presents evidence of its aqueous origin, exhibiting well-marked strata. These 
 remarks apply only to the comparatively low range of hills immediately circumscribing the valley. 
 The " rim rock," as it is termed, from which, as the hills recede, they become irregular and more 
 and more elevated till high altitudes are obtained, and the character of the formation changes 
 apparently to igneous and volcanic, the surface at the same time becoming wooded. At the 
 
CAMP HARNEY, OREGON. 437 
 
 oot-hills below the cliffs are large detached rocks of volcanic origin, in many of which are im- 
 bedded specimens of petrified pine. Xo mineral products of value have been discovered in the 
 vicinity. 
 
 Elk, deer, and bear are found in the vicinity, and immense flocks of wild geese and ducks 
 remain in the low marshy lands of the valley during the spring and summer. On the side-hills are 
 found thesage hen and prairie chicken. 
 
 During the year 1SC9 the mean temperature at the post was 4~>.!P F. ; extremes 5 F. and 86 
 F. Rain fell 32 days, and snow 16, the combined fall being 7.51 inches. The dry ness of the air 
 renders the heat of summer very tolerable, and the nights are always cool. Frost sufficient to 
 injure vegetation occurred in every mouth during the summer of 1868, greatly to the prejudice 
 of the post garden. All winds at the post are either north or south, owing to its location in the 
 cafion. 
 
 The post was first located in August, 1867, as a base of operations against the Indians occu- 
 pying the Malheur and Stein's Mountain section of country in the south and east of Oregon. It 
 was first known as Camp on Rattlesnake Creek, then, as Camp Steele, then Camp Crook. 
 
 The buildings at this post are all constructed of logs, chinked and plastered with mud, and 
 well roofed with shingles. There are three sets of barracks, each 30 by 100 feet, intended for one 
 company. They are not lined or ceiled. They are warmed by fireplaces and stoves, lighted by 
 large windows, eight to each set of quarters, and have no special means of ventilation. The air 
 space per man as now occupied is 804 cubic feet ; when companies are filled to maximum strength, 
 511 feet. There is as yet but one bath and wash-house, a scarcity of lumber preventing the build- 
 ing of others. The privies are situated 150 yards in rear of the camp and beyond the stream. 
 The mess-rooms and kitchens are 40 feet in rear of the barracks. 
 
 Laundresses and married soldiers occupy quarters at the south extremity of the camp. Four 
 sets originally intended for such occupancy, built of logs, are comfortable and of ample siz e, 16 by 24 
 feet. The light and ventilation are sufficient. Below these, and on the same line, are two build- 
 ings, originally intended as shelter for packers and other civilian employe's. These have been con- 
 verted into double sets of quarters, and are occupied by two families each. They are built of the 
 same material as the others, though larger, their dimensions being 20 by 29 feet. 
 
 The officers' quarters, except the one occupied by the commanding officer, are built for two 
 families each, making one single and three double sets. They are built of logs, cabin style, with 
 piazza extending along the whole front. Each set is divided into two rooms on the ground floor; 
 size of front rooms, 14 by 15 feet; back rooms, 9 by 15 feet. These rooms are neatly finished, and 
 in most instances are papered. The buildings are one story high, with unfinished attics. Water 
 is furnished by teams from a perpetual spring of excellent water. Adjoining the quarters are 
 kitchens, one to each set, 18 by 30 feet. 
 
 The headquarters and quartermaster's office are under one roof, the building being a double 
 one, with two halls running across it. A piazza extends along the southern front. Size of build- 
 ing 32 by 43 feet. 
 
 The commissary store-house, notwithstanding that it is a large building, viz., 40 by 80 feet, is 
 entirely inadequate to meet the demands for storage made upon it. It is built of logs, and in the 
 same manner as the other buildings. 
 
 The guard-house is 32 by 42 feet. Inside, 29 by 40 feet. Large cells, 14 by 29 feet. Small 
 cells, each 7 feet 10 inches by 3 feet 6 inches. Height of ceiling 11 feet. It is warmed by a stove 
 placed in the center of the guard-room, and is ventilated by doors and windows. The average 
 occupancy during the past year has been five. 
 
 All timber used in the building of the post was procured from the timbered hills to the north, 
 a distance of three miles. In a canon beyond is situated the saw-mill. All the buildings were 
 built of green lumber, and the consequent contraction, owing to its drying out, gives ample venti- 
 ation, without exposing the health of the inmates. 
 
 On a gentle rise to the northwest extremity of the camp is situated the hospital building, built 
 of the same material as the others. It is warmed by stoves and fireplaces, one to each. room. 
 Large windows and doors give the requisite light and ventilation. One large ward, containing 
 
438 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 eight beds, gives to each inau 682 cubic feet of air. The wash-room adjoins the rear of the large 
 ward. It contains a trough running the width of it, with a waste pipe leading to a subterranean 
 drain. It is used also as a bath-room, and contains two bath-tubs. The privy is 50 feet in rear 
 of the hospital. There is no dead-house. The baggage of patients is stored in a closet under- 
 neath the stairs leading to the attic. 
 
 There is no post bakery, laundry, chapel, nor school-house. 
 
 The stables are two in number, 150 feet apart, built of boards and divided into single stalls, 
 with a capacity for 75 horses each. 
 
 Water is obtained from Rattlesnake Creek, a small stream running through camp from a spring 
 half a mile above camp, and from wells in rear of each set of barracks. The quantity is unlimited, 
 and by proper police being enforced the quality is excellent. 
 
 The soil being very porous, moderate amounts of rain and snow are rapidly absorbed. This, 
 during the greater part of the year, is all that is needed for proper drainage. 
 
 There are as yet no general arrangements made for bathing. 
 
 Owing to the occurrence of severe frosts during each month of the year, together with im- 
 mense swarms of crickets and grasshoppers, it has been found impossible to cultivate a garden 
 with any surety of success. For two seasons the attempt was made, and the result proved but a 
 total loss. 
 
 The price of butter is $1 per pound; milk 20 cents per quart; eggs $1 per dozen, and fresh 
 vegetables ranging according to variety from 5 to 25 cents per pound. The above prices are in coin. 
 
 Medical supplies are obtained from Fort Vancouver by annual requisition. 
 
 Private conveyance is the only means of communication with the nearest railroad station, 
 Winuemucca, Nevada, distant 280 miles. Portland, Oregon, the nearest city of any magnitude, is 
 reached from Canon City by a weekly line of stages to the Dalles, thence by steamboat and rail- 
 road down the Columbia River. The only obstacle to travel during the year is occasioned by snow, 
 which usually falls to such a depth in winter as to preclude the possibility of passage from camp 
 except on snow shoes. This causes in the season mentioned great irregularity in the transmission 
 of mail matter. When there is no interruption the usual time occupied in the transit of mails to 
 department headquarters is from ten to fourteen days, and to Washington one month. 
 
 The only inhabitants at the post or in its vicinity are roving bands of Pi-Utes or Snake Indians. 
 
 Since the establishment of the post the general sanitary condition of the garrison has been 
 remarkable as regards the general good health and the small number of deaths. Of adults but 
 two have died, one from phthisis pulmonalis, appearing before the patient arrived here, and one 
 from suicide. There have been occasionally cases of intermittent fever, though of a mild type. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Harney, Oregon, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1860. 
 
 
 
 N 
 
 
 
 >a 
 
 J 
 
 GO 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 in strength 
 
 8 
 
 II 
 
 a 
 
 "3 CS 
 
 1 
 d 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 a 
 
 -1 
 
 8 
 
 ! 
 
 leiuic catarr 
 
 GO 
 
 -3 
 13 
 
 
 B 
 
 ^ 
 
 nmatism. 
 
 rH 00 
 
 1 1 
 
 i 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 t> 
 
 03 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 197 16 
 
 493 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 87 
 
 35 
 
 11 
 
 19 
 
 33 
 
 77 
 
 
 1869 
 
 143 75 
 
 211 
 
 
 6 
 
 27 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 20 
 
 Ifi 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
DEPARTMENT OE CALIFORNIA. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 .Vloatraz Island, California. 
 
 Camp Reynolds, Angel Island, California. 
 
 Point San Jos<5, California. 
 
 The Presidio of San Francisco, California. 
 
 Yerba Buena Island, California. 
 
 Camp Gaston, California. 
 Camp Independence, California. 
 Camp Wright, California. 
 Camp Halleck, Nevada. 
 Camp McDermitt, Nevada. 
 
 Camp Bidwell, California. ! Camp Winfield Scott, Nevada. 
 
 ALCATRAZ ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON LORENZO HUBBARD, UNITED STATES 
 
 ARMY. 
 
 Alcatraz Islaud, iu latitude 37 49' 27" north, and 122 24' 19" west longitude, is situated in 
 the Bay of San Francisco, three and a half miles distant from Fort and Lime Points, which guard 
 the harbor mouth, and one and a half from Point San Jose and the water front of the city. It is 
 rocky and precipitous on all sides, and rises to a height of 135 feet above tide-water. Its shape is 
 an irregular oblong, and its area about twelve acres. A Government steamer calls twice daily 
 from San Francisco. There is no water supply on the island. The island is composed of a fine- 
 grained sandstone, and is almost destitute of vegetation. The temperature is mild and equable. 
 Mean annual temperature 58.20, with the wet-bulb indicating 55.56 F. From the conformation 
 of the island and its rocky character the drainage is naturally perfect. 
 
 The buildings consist of a citadel, two barrack buildings for troops, and three prison buildings 
 on the summit of the island, and laundresses' quarters, blacksmith and carpenter's workshop, two 
 boat-houses, coal and wood house, and bowling alley and theater for the men, most of which are 
 situated on the eastern face of the cliff. 
 
 The citadel, of brick, is 200 by 100 feet, and is two stories high above the basement, with bas- 
 tion fronts facing to the northwest and southeast. It is well ventilated by the main hall passages 
 and windows. It is used as officers' quarters, hospital, and quartermaster and subsistence offices 
 and store-rooms. The set for each officer consists of two large and comfortable rooms, with kitchen 
 and dining-room attached, and water-closets and bath-rooms. The rooms set apart for hospital 
 use comprise a dispensary, and two wards, a kitchen, and adjoining mess-room, a store-room, bath- 
 room, and water closet. The wards are each 35 by 26 by 17 feet, well floored and ceiled, and are 
 furnished each with ten beds and bedside tables, chairs, dumb-waiter, closet, and washstaud. 
 They are warmed by coal grates, lighted and ventilated by side windows. Air space per bed, 
 1,547 cubic feet ; area, 91 feet. 
 
 The other buildings at the post are of wood, well floored, ceiled, plastered, and whitewashed. 
 The dormitories occupied by the men are, one 82 by 39 by 12J feet, giving 740 cubic feet per man 
 to its average occupation ; having the beds disposed in four rows, with two passage-ways between ; 
 and a second, 50 by 20| by 13J feet, which has twenty single iron bedsteads in two rows, with an 
 aisle between, and overhead a gallery with twelve beds, giving 507 cubic feet per bed. 
 
 The prison-rooms are three buildings, ventilated by sky-lights and warmed by stoves in the 
 main hall. They have the cells arranged in two tiers, (in one three,) with galleries for the upper 
 tiers. Ventilators are placed over the door of each cell, and air tubes in the walls. One building 
 contains fourteen single and two double cells ; the second has forty-five cells, and the third forty- 
 eight single and four double cells. The average size is 8| by 6 by 3J feet, giving an air space to 
 
440 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAKY POSTS. 
 
 each of 161 cubic feet. Adjoining these buildings are the kitchens and mess rooms for the troops 
 and prisoners, and the bakery for the post. 
 
 There are five double cottages, of which four are on the eastern, the other on the western 
 declivity. They are occupied by married soldiers and their families. Each is 30 by 22 feet. The 
 sewers all discharge into the bay, into which, also, all refuse collected by the police parties is cast- 
 
 A bowling alley, gymnasium, and theater are at the disposal of the men for recreation and 
 amusement. 
 
 A garden of twelve acres is cultivated on Angel Island by a detail of four men. Communica- 
 tion is kept up daily by steamer. This furnishes a good supply of fresh vegetables m their season. 
 
 The prevailing diseases are rheumatic and bronchial affections, owing to climatic influences. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Alcairaz Island, Cali- 
 fornia, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 
 g 
 
 ^ 
 a 
 a . 
 
 
 
 00 
 
 S 
 
 03 
 
 ci 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 = ^ 
 
 =3 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 v 
 
 & 
 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 if 
 
 3D 
 
 1 
 
 Whole n 
 taken si 
 
 Typhoid fe 
 
 Malarial fe 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria 
 
 Venereal d 
 
 Rheumatis 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 1868 
 
 243. 25 
 
 414 
 
 2 
 
 78 
 
 69 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 32 
 
 3 
 
 63 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 222 25 
 
 254 
 
 1 
 
 56 
 
 12 
 
 c 
 
 
 32 
 
 13 
 
 
 32 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP REYNOLDS, ANGEL ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHKD BY ASSISTANT SURGEON ALEXANDER H. HOFF, UNITED STATES AK.MV. 
 
 The post known as Camp Keynolds is situated in latitude 37 48' north, and 122 26' west 
 longitude, on Angel Island, 5 miles north of the City of San Francisco, California. The island is 
 one mile square, and consists of a series of hills rising from a height of 300 feet near the shore to 
 820 feet at its central part. The only level ground is a small portion of the eastern extremity near 
 Point Blunt. At this point there is a quarry of soft sandstone, used for building purposes. 
 The soil is in parts fertile; the climate mild and pleasant. Mean annual temperature 61, with 
 extremes of 40 and 82 F. The prevailing winds are westerly, but the Seacoast Eange of moun- 
 tains, which run north and about five miles westward, protect the island in a degree from their 
 violence, as well as from the fogs which are of such frequent occurrence on this coast. A 
 Government steamer calls every alternate day for communication with San Francisco and the 
 transportation of supplies. The drainage is naturally good from the irregularity of surface. The 
 water is supplied from springs on the hillsides, conducted by pipes to the post, is of good quality, 
 but insufficient in quantity. The camp is situated on the western extremity of the island, in a tri- 
 angular depression between three hills, which leaves it exposed to the westward fronting the 
 entrance of the harbor, the base being a pretty sand beach of about 1,000 feet in length. 
 
 The barracks for the men are two sets of wooden quarters, built in 1864, well ventilated, and 
 well warmed by large stoves, but imperfectly lighted. They are not lathed and plastered nor 
 ceiled, a very great mistake in this windy climate, and detrimental to the health of the men. They 
 are furnished with double bunks, two tiers high, and give about 500 cubic feet air space per man 
 of average occupancy. The sinks connect with sewers, which open into the bay. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of one set for the commanding officer, and six sets of two rooms, 
 with kitchen to each, in three houses. 
 
 The married soldiers' quarters are two double cottages with two rooms and attic in each set. 
 They are comfortable, but insufficient for the number frequently at the post. 
 
GAMP REYNOLDS, ANGEL ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 441 
 
 The guard-house is of wood, 18 by 2G feet. It has four cells cut off from the main building, 
 and is well ventilated. 
 
 The quartermaster's store-houses, 25 by l>0 feet, built of wood, one story, are located near the 
 wharf. 
 
 The stables, built of wood, are situated on the eastern slope of the triangle, opposite the hos- 
 pital, some distance above, and in the rear of the officers' quarters. 
 
 The hospital is situated on the western slope of the triangle, 100 feet above the level of the 
 sea, in a flue, airy position. It has been recently erected in accordance with the plan in Cir- 
 cular No. 4. It has one ward for twelve beds, with bath-room and water-closets attached. The 
 grounds r.rouud it are at present being graded, and, when completed, will make one of the most 
 beautiful spots on the island. 
 
 The old hospital is at present used as a chapel, and the surgeon's quarters are assigned to the 
 chaplain. It is about three-quarters of a mile from the post, and should be moved over to the 
 camp to be used for school, library, chapel, &c., there being no suitable buildings at the post for 
 such purposes. The grounds near it are cultivated as a hospital garden. 
 
 The post is a depot for recruits, the average number of which is about 250. 
 
 There are three gardens cultivated, one for the detachment, one for the recruits, and one for 
 the hospital. The supply of vegetables is abundant. 
 
 There is no prevailing disease. 
 
 Angel Island is the largest of the group of islands in the harbor of San Fraucisco. It is the 
 first one approached after entering the Golden Gate, and from its secluded position and nearness to 
 the entrance to the harbor, it was a great resort for smugglers, and to prevent this was granted 
 in 1839, by Governor Michael Torino, to Antonio Osio, by order of the supreme government of 
 Mexico, and used as a sheep and cattle ranch. The United States troops took possession of it on 
 the 12th day of September, 1863, and estabjished the present post. The climate is much milder 
 than that of San Francisco, and from its position the post enjoys an immunity from the disagreeable 
 summer winds which prevail in the city. There are two or three mounds ou the island, the soil 
 covering them being mixed with shells, supposed to have been sites selected by the Indians for their 
 camps. The one near the new hospital, in making the necessary grades, is being leveled. Several 
 skeletons have been exhumed, together with stone mortars and some trinkets, showing that they 
 were burial places for the Indians, and that the island was originally inhabited by them. Some 
 mining has been done on the island; silver ore taken out yielding about fourteen dollars to the 
 ton, and gold is said to have been discovered. 
 
 Statement slwicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Reynolds, Angel 
 
 Island, California, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 . 
 
 s 
 
 
 E 
 
 1 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 a .M 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 = 
 
 
 * * 
 
 f 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 W 
 
 a B 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 'a 
 
 11 
 
 O <D 
 
 X 
 
 !B 
 
 3 
 
 "3 
 
 a 
 3| 
 
 a 
 
 E 
 
 il 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 3 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 ^3 x 
 
 y^ 
 
 (5 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 c 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 
 i 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 <*- 
 
 I 
 
 1868 
 
 246. 83 
 
 379 
 
 
 63 
 
 63 
 
 1 
 
 53 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 45 
 
 2 
 
 1869 
 
 265 
 
 291 
 
 i 
 
 62 
 
 43 
 
 1 
 
 70 
 
 5 
 
 
 30 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchtis, pneumouia, and pleurisy. 
 
442 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 POINT SAN JOSfi, SAN FRANCISCO HARBOR, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS W. A. BRADLEY, E. J. MARSH, AND EDWIN 
 
 BENTLEY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is built upon the point of that name, or, as it is more commonly called, " Black Point." 
 It is in latitude 37 48'' north, longitude 122 23' 20" west. It is on the southern margin of the 
 Bay of San Francisco, and lies on the outside, and distant to the northwest half a mile from the 
 city wharves. To the westward, about a mile, along the curvature of the shore, is the Presidio of 
 San Francisco, and beyond that, at the harbor mouth, the fortification of Fort Point; over against 
 it, in the center of the harbor channel, is the island of Alcatraz. The post is three-quarters of a 
 mile distant from the terminus of the nearest street cars. 
 
 San Jose" is a rocky point which, with an elevation of 80 feet, projects into the bay northward. 
 It is steep and bare on its western face, less so on its eastern or sheltered face ; and on both sides 
 it falls away into low sand mounds. Back from the bay it is continuous with the sand-hills, on 
 which the western portion of the city is built. 
 
 The climate is similar to that of the Presidio ; but on account of the sand-hills which lie between 
 the point and that post, and the prevailing direction of the wind, it is much more exposed to sand 
 storms during the summer and autumn. Its elevation is insufficient to prevent it from being 
 wrapped up in the fog-banks that creep in from the ocean. 
 
 There is very little vegetation in the neighborhood, as all the ledges that otherwise would afford 
 a footing to vegetable growth are buried in the shifting sands. On the brow of the less exposed 
 eastern face a small space around the officers' quarters, under cultivation, yields a large show of 
 flowers during the greater portion of the year. Immediately on the landward side of the post 
 buildings is a deep excavation in the rock which is sheltered from sand-drift, and always contains 
 more or less stagnant water, but no evil effects on the health of the post can be traced to its pres- 
 ence. With this exception the ground requires no artificial drainage. 
 
 In the small cove on the sheltered side of the point a wharf has been built, at which a Govern- 
 ment steamer calls twice daily for communication with the city ; but the post supplies are generally 
 brought out by wagons, as, with the exception of a quarter of a mile of sand-hill, the road to the 
 paved streets of the city is good. 
 
 The battery is placed on the western face of the point, and well on the brow of the hill ; above 
 it are built two sets of company quarters, of which one only at the present time is occupied. They 
 are each of wood, 90 by 30 by 13 feet. Thirteen feet of this length is partitioned off at one end, 
 and divided into two rooms one an office, the other a company store-room. The barrack is fur- 
 nished with a double row of bunks, two tiers high, and affords 470 cubic feet per man of its average 
 occupancy. It is heated by one stove in the center of the building, lighted by seven windows, 
 and ventilated by the ridge. Two tables and four benches complete its furniture. The kitchens 
 and mess-rooms of both barrack buildiugs are in rear, 60 by 20 feet, as is also the bakery, 38 by 16 
 feet. The married soldiers' quarters are in rear, or on the landward side of the company barracks, 
 and consist of two frame buildings, 32 by 24 feet, each divided into two sets of quarters, and a third 
 building, 25 by 16 feet, forming another set. Three families are at present at the post. Near 
 these are the stables for the few quartermaster's horses and mules and officers' stock at the post. 
 
 Between these buildings on the western brow and the officers' quarters on the east, the crown 
 of the point is occupied by a small parade ground facing the bay, and backed by certain of the 
 other buildings of the post. The guard-house is a frame building, 34 feet 9 inches by 18 by 6 feet, 
 divided into a guard-room, 17 by 16 feet, with a stove and three windows, a prison-room, 17 by 14 
 feet, with two windows and 4 cells, each 7 by 4 feet, with a small window or ventilator. Average 
 number of guard, five; of prisoners, six. The hospital is a small frame building, 36 by 32 feet, 
 divided into a dispensary and two wards. The former is well fitted up with desk, shelving, 
 drawers, &c., and has a closet by way of store-room. The latter are furnished with five iron bed- 
 steads for patients and attendant, and give an area per bed of 75 feet, and an air space of 900 cubic 
 
THE PRESIDIO OF SAX FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 443 
 
 feet; average occupation, four. There is no kitchen, mess-room, or other out-housea. Serious cases 
 of sickness are not treated here. When such occur at the post they are sent for treatment to the 
 hospital at the Presidio. There is a large building for quartermaster and subsistence, and two 
 smaller for ordnance stores. 
 
 The officers' quarters are five frame cottages of different size and plan, but all are comfortable 
 and pleasantly situated on the sheltered brow, with a luxuriant flower garden around them. They 
 were cottages of citizens before the point was taken up as a Government post. 
 
 The sinks of the men are open trenches, which are closed over with earth when filled. The 
 water-closets of officers' quarters discharge into the bay, into which, also, all post refuse is thrown. 
 
 The water supply is unlimited, and of good quality. It is furnished by the water company 
 free of charge, as the works are situated on the Government reservation. 
 
 Along the back of the officers' quarters, separating them from the parade ground, is a high 
 sheltered fence or lattice wall of laths, as a protection against the violent winds and sand-drift. 
 The western limit of the post is similarly protected. The area thus sheltered includes the sites of 
 the buildings above mentioned, and measures about five acres. 
 
 There are no special means of recreation at the post, except a company library of 125 
 volumes, but the city is so near that they are unnecessary. 
 
 Potatoes and other vegetables had, for a long time, to be purchased in the San Francisco 
 markets, or canned fruits and such like supplies from the commissary ; but of late five acres of 
 ground, which were assigned from the reservation at Fort Point as a garden for this company, 
 have been successfully cultivated. Parsnips, carrots, turnips, and onions have been the produce 
 raised in greatest quantity. 
 
 The prevailing diseases have been rheumatism, bronchitis, and venereal diseases. Scarlet 
 fever and small-pox prevailed in town, but the post remained unaffected. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Point San Jose, California, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 u 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 a ,g 
 
 e 
 
 9 
 
 i 
 
 in 
 
 
 CO 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 
 | 
 
 03 
 
 j 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 1 
 
 fl OD 
 
 1 
 |3 
 
 - 1 
 1 ? 
 
 13 
 
 'S 
 
 a 
 
 "3 
 
 I 
 
 ij 
 
 " a 
 = c 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 1 s 
 
 C3 
 
 |l 
 
 "cO 
 
 E 
 3 
 
 B 
 
 o 
 
 i 
 
 r. "" 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 ja 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 * 
 
 ^ 
 
 S 
 
 H 
 
 t* 
 
 H 
 
 S 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 104. 75 
 
 186 
 
 6 
 
 30 
 
 11 
 
 13 
 
 25 
 
 
 43 
 
 
 1869 
 
 91.5 
 
 115 
 
 9 
 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 24 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON J. C. BAILY, ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, AND 
 ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON L. H. PATTY, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 The Presidio of San Francisco, California, is situated in the northwest suburbs of the town, 
 on a gravelly slope which ascends gradually from the sands and salt-water marshes on the southern 
 margin of the harbor of San Francisco. It overlooks the bay, and has ia view the posts of Fort 
 Point, a mile to the northwest, near the harbor mouth, that of Alcatraz Island to the north and 
 eastward, and that of Point San Jose" to the east. 
 
 The reservation contains about 1,540 acres, and has a frontage on the bay of about a mile and 
 a half. Back from the post the ground rises more rapidly into grass-covered hills. There are no 
 shade trees in the vicinity. The climate is varied and variable; oftentimes mild and pleasant 
 during the early part of the day, and chilly and damp toward its close. Strong winds frequently 
 
444 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 prevail toward the end of summer and autumn, while in winter there is much moisture in the 
 atmosphere, either falling as a heavy rain or enveloping the post in a thick penetrating mist, which 
 creeps in from the ocean and spreads itself over the lower-lying portions of the harbor boundaries. 
 Mean annual temperature, 52.50 F. 
 
 The site of the post is well drained naturally, by a fall of one foot in twenty, but this is aided by 
 shallow ditches around the various buildings, so that even immediately after heavy rains, there are no 
 standing pools. The parade ground is grassy during the whole year. 
 
 The post is built on three sides of a parallelogram, 550 by 150 yards, which is open to the bay 
 or northeast side. The general arrangement is shown in Plate No. 11. 
 
 Thirty-six feet in front of the row of officers' buildings, and extending along their whole length, 
 is a wind-fence or lattice screen of lath, 12 feet high, with branches extending at right angles from 
 it to the buildings. This has recently been built to shelter these quarters from the strong winds 
 that sometimes blow from the ocean. Tree:?, pine and acacias, have been planted at 18 feet intervals 
 between the main fence and the buildings. All the buildings, with the exceptions noted below, are 
 of wood, and well lighted and ventilated by the windows and ridge. 
 
 The men's quarters consist of one building, 80 by 18 feet, one 95 by 18 feet, and four, each 51 
 by 18 feet, each one story and accommodating one company, with kitchens and mess-rooms ad- 
 joining; kitchens furnished with monitor ranges; one building, 117 by 25 feet, two story, for two 
 companies, with kitchen and mess-room in an adjoining building, 117 by 1G feet; four buildings, 120 
 by 30 feet, each for two companies, with kitchens and mess-rooms in basements. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of one building, 114 by 32 feet, three story, with a wing, 40 by 30 
 feet, thirty-nine rooms, for bachelor officers' quarters ; twelve one and a half story cottages, 31 
 by 18 feet, with water-closets and bath-rooms attached; comfortable and neat, for married officers. 
 
 The laundresses' quarters consist of one building, 90 by 28 feet, one story, twelve rooms ; one, 
 45 by 37 feet, two story, twelve rooms ; eight, 60 by 27 feet, one story, eight rooms each ; one, 1GO by 
 29 feet, with eighteen rooms ; one 87 by 55 feet, with fourteen rooms ; one, 45 by 26 feet, with three 
 rooms; one, 60 by 23 feet, with three rooms one story, adobe, occupied by seven families. 
 
 The post buildings consist of one building, 36 by 30 feet, one story, four rooms, adjutant's 
 office; one, 40 by 30 feet, two stories, with porch in front; upper story a guard-room; lower, 
 divided into a main prison-room, 35 by 20 by 12 feet, and cells, each 10 by 5 by 12 feet; chapel, 45 
 by 30 feet ; school-house, 30 by 18 feet; bake-house, 42 by 18 feet oven turns out a batch of 412 
 rations ; hospital, 80 by 40 feet. 
 
 The workshops consist of a wheelwright shop, 80 by 30 feet ; blacksmith shop, 50 by 20 feet. 
 
 The store-houses consist of a magazine, 28 by 23 feet ; quartermaster's and subsistence store- 
 house, 110 by 30 feet, one story, brick foundation ; store-house for hay and grain, 66 by 24 feet; 
 store-house for hard-wood lumber, 51 by 18 feet; gnnsheds, 175 by 30 feet, with ordnance stores 
 in loft. 
 
 The stables consist of two buildings for battery horses, 215 by 30 feet, with eighty-seven stalls 
 each, well ventilated ; forage loft overhead ; mule shed, 430 by 16 feet. 
 
 The hospital at the eastern angle of the parade ground, in line with the officers' quarters, is a 
 two-story building, 80 by 40 feet, with a wing, 35 by 22 feet, on brick basement, with porch in front, 
 and small inclosure behind. It is arranged for fifty beds, to each of which it gives an area of 76 
 feet, or 1,025 cubic feet. Its average occupancy is seventeen. It is divided into four wards, 40 by 
 22 by 14 feet, a smaller ward for prisoners, 20 by 10 by 13 feet, and an attendants' room, 20 by 18 
 by 13 feet; each is furnished with water-pipes and marble basin, wardrobe, bedside tables, and 
 chairs. They are well-warmed by grated fireplaces for coal, and lighted and ventilated by the 
 windows. In addition to these, there is a dispensary, furnished with hot and cold water and the 
 necessary fixtures; a library containing a large and very good selection of books; a post-mortem 
 room with table, and two well-fitted up bath-rooms. The kitchen is likewise furnished with hot 
 and cold water, has a good range, and an adjoining pantry and store-room. The mess-room, 30 by 
 20 by 10J feet, is fitted up with the necessary tables and benches, and cupboards for crockery. In 
 the basement, besides the kitchen and pantries, are two store-rooms for medical supplies, and a 
 coal cellar. On the upper floor are two water-closets, which empty through the main sink in the 
 inclosure into the sewer. 
 
PRESIDIO, 
 SAK FRANCIS CO, 
 
 CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Officers Quarters, n.. MrfsrmTm HfUehen 
 b. JfospiJtcU,. 0. 
 
 POffux, 
 
 .. _._ i.Com. Staff 
 ftiUn .\hop 
 t. Wnaon Shop s. 
 
 a fia&P- Storehouse p. 
 
 PL ATE, N<? 11. 
 
YEEBA BUENA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 445 
 
 The regimental library of the Second Artillery is kept at this post, aud contains about 1,478 
 volumes. The hospital library contains 500 volumes, comprising travels, biography, history, fiction, 
 and books of a religious character. 
 
 The water supply of this post is derived from the flume of the Spring Valley Water Company. 
 It is forced by a windmill and mule-power into a reservoir at the southei'u or higher end of the post, 
 whence it is supplied by pipes to the different buildings. The supply is abundant, aud the quality 
 excellent. The waste-water pipes and latrines empty into a large covered sewer, which runs on 
 either side of the post, and discharges into tide-water. 
 
 A cow is kept for hospital use. A small garden yields all the vegetables necessary for the hos- 
 pital, and is cultivated by one of the attendants. 
 
 About ten acres are cultivated as post garden, producing potatoes, cabbage, turnips, onions, &c. 
 
 The post is arranged for sixteen companies, but during the greater portion of the past year 
 its garrison consisted only of the field, staff, band, and Battery M of the Second Artillery, giving a 
 mean strength of 8 officers and 170 men. The quarters occupied by these troops are fitted up with 
 iron bedsteads, and 1,225 cubic feet of air space is allowed per bed. Transient troops have fre- 
 quently gone into quarters in some of the other buildings. Their diet has been of good quality and 
 variety. A large company garden, well cultivated, renders the post almost independent of other 
 sources of vegetable supplies. The sick list has been mostly composed of venereal diseases con- 
 tracted in San Francisco, and rheumatic affections, to which the winds aud dampness give origin. 
 The daily per cent, of sick to command has been 19. Percentage of mortality to cases treated, .53. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at the Presidio of San Fran- 
 cisco, California, for the years 18G8 and 18G9. 
 
 
 
 fa 
 
 
 <d 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 So 
 
 S M 
 
 CO 
 U 
 
 > 
 
 i ^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 
 i. 
 
 a 
 
 A 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 a '3 
 a 
 
 g 
 
 11 
 
 .2 
 
 
 
 "3 
 
 X 
 
 1 
 
 j 
 
 i! 
 
 g 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 - y 
 
 
 ^3 <C 
 
 
 S 
 
 a 
 
 .2 
 
 t +* 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 1 - 
 
 J 
 
 i ^ 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 
 B 
 
 O 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 310 
 
 491 
 
 52 
 
 36 
 
 4 
 
 99 
 
 43 
 
 5 
 
 61 
 
 5 
 
 1869 
 
 319. 5 
 
 663 
 
 122 
 
 53 
 
 10 
 
 141 
 
 50 
 
 5 
 
 107 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 YERBA BUENA ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON DAVID WALKER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This island, in latitude 37 48' north, and longitude 122 26' west, is situated in the Bay of San 
 Francisco, California, some 2 miles northeast of the city, with an altitude from 35 to 75 feet above 
 sea-level. It is of irregular shape, hilly outline, and contains 11G acres. The only part of its 
 surface fitted for a camp is the small plateau on which the post is located, which is flanked northeast 
 and southwest by hills, and open to the southeast and northwest. The climate is mild but moist, 
 complete saturation frequently occurring at night ; the temperature ranges from 40 to 90 F., the 
 yearly mean being 56 F. The prevailing winds are westerly from the ocean ; the yearly rain-fall 
 is about 5J inches. 
 
 The surface drainage of the island is satisfactory. Its water supply is of excellent quality and 
 is derived from a well and a tank, filled by exudation from seams in the rock. 
 
 The post was established in 1868, and is still in an unfinished condition. The barracks are 
 built of rough boards, set upright and battened, and consist of two buildings, 95 by 30 by 16 feet, 
 ventilated by the ridge, each lighted by ten windows, and warmed by coal-stoves. They are fur- 
 
446 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 nished with iron bedsteads, and give 750 cubic feet air space per man of average occupancy. A 
 first sergeant's room and wash-room are partitioned off from each, and adjacent are two kitchens, 
 mess-rooms, and a bakery. One mess-room, 34 by 30 feet, and one kitchen, 24 by 18 feet, furnished 
 with range and cooking-stove, are made use of by the company. The other set is used by the 
 quartermaster's department for storage purposes. The sinks are conveniently placed on a small 
 wharf over the water of the bay. The married soldiers' quarters consist of one building, 44 by 18 
 feet, with a wing 18 by 12 feet, two story, clapboarded and ceiled. 
 
 The officers' quarters are three houses, hard-finished, each having two rooms, 18 by 20 feet, with 
 a wing in rear, 21 by 18 feet, and attics. In the rear are temporary water-closets. The bath-room is 
 contained in the L of the building. 
 
 The guard-house is 28 by 28 feet, with two windows on each side, and heated by a coal-stove 
 Interior unfinished. Average number of prisoners, two. 
 
 The hospital is situated on the edge of the plateau, and 42 feet above the level of the sea. It 
 is built of wood, heated by stoves, lighted by candles, and ventilated under the eaves. The ward 
 contains five beds, with an air space of 945 cubic feet per man. A bath and wash room is in course 
 of completion ; it is 12 by 6 feet, and contained in the quadrangle of the L, and opposite the water- 
 closet. 
 
 The post garden comprises five acres of land, which is cultivated by enlisted men ; potatoes 
 turnips, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, peas, &c., are raised. A steamer, in charge of the quarter- 
 master's department, communicates with San Francisco every second day, running two trips. 
 
 The command has consisted of Company D, battalion engineers, with an average strength of 
 116 men. They have been occupied in building quarters, engineer duties, drills, and police. Base- 
 ball and other open-air exercises, with occasional visits to the city, have constituted their amuse- 
 ments. The diet has been of regulation quantity and variety, and the articles of good quality. 
 Extras are purchased in the San Francisco markets and from the commissary by the funds of the 
 company, and vegetables are furnished in their season by the garden. Eight per cent, of the com- 
 mand have been daily sick, with no deaths. The sick-list has been composed of venereal cases, 
 rheumatic affections, and cases of poisoning from a species of rhus. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Yerba Buena Island, Cali- 
 fornia, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 
 -a 
 
 
 j3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 1 % 
 
 
 a 
 t? 
 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 j 
 
 
 i i. 
 
 J 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "S 
 
 Years. 
 
 5 
 
 a 
 
 VH 
 
 cS a 
 
 8 S 
 
 
 _0 
 
 a 
 
 | 
 
 j 
 
 "3 
 
 g 
 
 
 eo 
 
 o 
 
 
 J3 m 
 
 a 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 00 
 
 "H '^ 
 
 <w 
 
 
 s 
 
 S -fl 
 
 1 
 
 & n3 
 
 
 
 . T3 
 
 O 
 
 
 5 
 
 C3 
 
 O 
 
 
 1 
 
 P 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 Bl 
 
 
 
 ja 
 M 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 K 
 
 
 108.88 
 
 278 
 
 6 
 
 92 
 
 5 
 
 9 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 i 
 
 20 
 
 
 1869 
 
 99.25 
 
 370 
 
 27 
 
 73 
 
 13 
 
 5 
 
 46 
 
 59 
 
 
 45 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP BIDWELL, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS D. G. CALDWELL AND CHARLES SMART, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Bidwell is situated in Surprise Valley, on the eastern slope of the Warner Mountains, eight 
 miles from the southern boundary of Oregon, and the same distance from Nevada; latitude 42 10' 
 north, longitude 120 15' west from Greenwich ; elevation above the sea-level, 4,680 feet. The post 
 was established in August, 1865. The reservation is three miles long, by one and three-eighths 
 mile in width, and ascends gradually from Willow Creek on the east for about one-half mile, after 
 which the ascent is abrupt to the summit of the mountain. The Warner Mountains, like the great 
 
CAMP BIDWELL, CALIFOBNIA. 
 
 447 
 
 Sierra Nevadas, of which they are really a portion, have a slate base, and superimposed are strata 
 of quartz. Sandstone also abounds near the surface, and forms the greater portion of the lower 
 range of hills. Gold, silver, and copper are found in various portions of these mountains. The 
 ravines traversing their surface contain vast forests of pine and cedar. 
 
 Surprise Valley, sixty miles long, and six miles wide, although destitute of timber, is very 
 fertile and well adapted for grazing and agriculture. It contains three lakes of about equal size, 
 their combined area being about one hundred square miles. The lakes have no outlet, and are 
 strongly saline. 
 
 The mean temperature during 18C9 was 49.64 F. ; extremes 18 and 97 F. ; the yearly rain- 
 fall 9.9 inches; snow-fall 12.16 inches. 
 
 The post is situated near the northeast corner of the reservation. All the buildings are con- 
 structed of pine logs, one story high, with shingle roofs. They are warmed by open fireplaces, 
 well lighted, and with apertures for ventilation at the eaves. 
 
 The men's barracks, two in number, measure 110 by 26 feet each, and are divided into three squad 
 rooms, and a hall in the center, by log partitions. The buildings are not lined, and the space formed 
 by the angle of the roof is so extensive that the rooms cannot be properly heated in cold weather. 
 The mess-rooms and kitchens are two log buildings, containing two rooms each, furnished with 
 cooking-stoves and dining tables. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of four buildings, each 31 by 42 feet, lined and floored with rough 
 boards. Two of the buildings have bath-rooms. 
 
 The guard-house, a similar building to those described, is 24 by 35 feet, containing a cell and 
 guard-room. The cell is lighted and ventilated by two small openings in the wall ; there is no 
 means of heating the cell ; the guard-room is warmed by an open fireplace. 
 
 The hospital, 59 by 23 feet, contains three rooms, designated as dispensary, ward, and 
 kitchen. The rooms are not lined and are uncomfortably cold during the winter. The ward is 22 
 by 29 feet; contains twelve beds, with 1,200 cubic feet air space to each. There is no bath-room. 
 
 The corral is 138 by 229 feet, a portion being roofed for stable purposes. The sinks for the 
 enlisted men consist of wooden buildings placed over a small stream in rear of the barracks. Those 
 used by officers are small buildings placed over pits dug in rear of the quarters. 
 
 There are two company gardens, each containing four acres. The estimate of their product for 
 1869 is : Potatoes, 25,000 pounds ; cabbage, 800 pounds ; onions, 600 pounds ; peas, 300 pounds ; 
 beets, 400 pounds ; tomatoes, 400 pounds. 
 
 There are four hundred settlers in the valley, engaged in agriculture and stock-raising. 
 
 Communication is by weekly stage to Keuo, on the Central Pacific railroad, liable to interrup- 
 tion by snow during the winter. Time from the post to San Francisco, seven days. 
 
 The average sick-report for 1869 was 5 per cent, and no deaths ; the prevailing disease being 
 intermittent fever, though few of the cases originated at the post. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Bidicell, Cali- 
 fornia, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 ,g 
 
 ^ . 
 
 2 
 
 3 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 rf 
 
 
 H 
 
 s o 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 S 
 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 Years. 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 'S 
 
 |J 
 
 25 
 
 alarial fe 
 
 iarrhoea 
 dysente 
 
 jnsillitis. 
 
 enereal d 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 d| 
 
 "S 
 
 i 
 
 jg 
 
 atarrhal 
 tions. 
 
 1 
 "S 
 
 
 S 
 
 ' 
 
 S 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 > 
 
 H 
 
 fe 
 
 O 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 102 25 
 
 190 
 
 40 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 24 
 
 
 32 
 
 
 1869 
 
 120 41 
 
 178 
 
 23 
 
 39 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 11 
 
 2 
 
 26 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
448 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 CAMP GASTON, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON THOMAS F. AZPELL, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Gaston is situated in Hoopa Valley, Klamath County, California, in latitude 41 3' 56" 
 north, longitude 123 15' west; altitude 397 feet above the level of the sea. 
 
 The camp is located on the west bank of the Trinity River, 14 miles above its junction with 
 the Klamath, and between the Trinity and Redwood chains of mountains, which belong to the 
 Coast Range of the Sierra Nevadas. Distant from the village of Arcata 40 miles ; from the town 
 of Eureka, 53 miles; from the town of Orleans, 33 miles south by trail across the Trinity Range; 
 from Camp Wright 105 miles north by trail and wagon road. 
 
 Fort Gaston, as it was formerly called, was established in December, 1858, by Captain E. 
 Underwood, Fourth United States Infantry, in consequence of Indian depredations in the vicinity, 
 and was named in memory of Second Lieutenant William Gaston, First United States Dragoons, 
 who was killed in an engagement with Indians in Washington Territory, on the 17th of May, 1858. 
 The military reservation is an irregular square, containing 451.5 acres. Hoopa Indian Reserva- 
 tion, near the center of which the camp is located, is about ten miles square. Hoopa Valley is 
 about seven miles in length by an average of two in breadth, with the Trinity River winding from 
 south to north midway between the two mountain ranges. 
 
 The geological formation of Hoopa Valley is for the most part alluvial, with large deposits of 
 auriferous and micaceous sand along the bed and banks of the river, thickly covered in many 
 places with medium-sized boulders of azoic rock, worn smooth by the action of the water. About 
 two-thirds of the ground occupied by the military reservation is a thick bed of broken shale. This 
 forms excellent paths and roads when beaten hard by usage. The bed-rock of the valley, to judge 
 by its outcroppings, is principally an upheaval of slate, with the lamina? now lying at various 
 angles with the plane of the river, generally about 45 degrees. Placer mining is carried on to some 
 extent both above and below Hoopa reservation. 
 
 The soil of the military reservation is principally barren and unproductive, and covered with 
 patches of poison oak, lupine, and stunted grass. About 20 acres, however, along the river bank 
 can be advantageously cultivated, the most fertile portion of which is now used as the post garden. 
 Indigenous forest trees and ornamental plants are in great variety. 
 
 Wild animals and game of every description are rapidly disappearing from the immediate 
 vicinity of the post. A few deer and an occasional black bear are still to be found within the 
 limits of the Indian reservation, and are yet numerous in the mountains beyond. The same may 
 be said of the wild cat, and the large panther called " the California lion." Cinnamon and grizzly 
 bears are still to be found, it is said, in the mountain ranges in sight of the camp, but they are rarely 
 hunted, as the Indians are afraid to attack them. A peculiar ruffled grouse is plentiful, and much 
 hunted ; quail also abound in season ; wild ducks appear in numbers on the Klamath. A few 
 snipe and pheasants are occasionally found, and the migratory pigeon arrives in the fall in large 
 numbers. 
 
 The fish of the Trinity and Klamath Rivers are of few varieties, but in considerable numbers. 
 They seem only to comprise salmon, sturgeon, and eels; a few brook-trout are caught in the neigh- 
 boring streams. 
 
 The water supply of the camp is obtained from the lower creek, and at a distance of about a 
 mile and a half from the flagstaff. The water is of good quality ; it is conducted in ditches along 
 the side of the western hills, and thence distributed throughout the camp. The quantity is ample, 
 and the numerous small divergent streams are rapid and well filled through the whole of the dry 
 season. For purity and convenience of distribution the water supply of the garrison is hardly to 
 be surpassed. 
 
 The climate is for the most part pleasant, though subject to rapid changes of temperature, and 
 excessive heat in the summer, as, for instance, on the 3d of August, 1870, at 7 a. m., the ther- 
 mometer stood at 78 F. ; at 3 p. m. it had risen to 116 F., and during the night fell to 75 F. 
 
CAMP GASTON, CALIFORNIA. 449 
 
 The low temperature, though seldom below 22 F., is severely felt, on account of the keen and 
 damp winds prevailing in the winter. The following is a summary of meteorological observations 
 for the year ending August 31, 1870 : The yearly mean temperature, dry bulb, 57.09 ; the lowest 
 L'2 F. ; highest, 116 F. During the first six days of August the heat was almost unbearable 
 during the day, but the temperature invariably became reduced during the night to between 70 
 mid 80 F., and permitted a refreshing sleep. The amount of rain-fall during the year was 44.79 
 inches. 
 
 The camp is not fortified, and consists mainly of a parade ground about 600 feet square, 
 bounded on the four sides by barracks, officers' quarters, &c., the buildings being of logs, sawn 
 timber, and adobes. The present capacity of the camp is for two companies of infantry. 
 
 The barracks consist of two sets of buildings, built principally of logs. One consists of a 
 single dormitory, 30 by 70 by 12 feet, containing thirty-eight double bunks, in two tiers. The other 
 contains three dormitories, the largest 26 by 48 feet, containing twenty double bunks ; the second, 
 26 by 27 feet, containing twelve double bunks ; and the third, 26 by 31 feet, with accommodation 
 for thirty-two men ; containing in all forty-eight double bunks in two tiers, with accommodation 
 for ninety-six men. These barracks are badly arranged and ventilated, and, if anything like the 
 number of men mentioned was placed in them, they would undoubtedly suffer for want of air 
 space, there being no ridge ventilation, and but imperfect side ventilation. No bath or wash 
 rooms are attached to these barracks. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of seven buildings. Four single sets, and one in process of erec- 
 tion occupy the officers' row ; and one single set, and one double, are detached ; they are chiefly 
 built of logs and sawn lumber. These quarters are of one story, with the exception of one, which 
 is two stories high and occupied as a double set. The dining-rooms are of logs, whitewashed. 
 The quarters are heated by open fireplaces and wood-stoves. An open water course runs at the 
 rear of each building. There are no bath-rooms or water-closets. 
 
 The guard-house is 50 by 22 feet, with a guard-room, 17 by 20 feet, and the balance in cells, 
 5 by 8 feet. It has a capacity for eighteen prisoners and thirty guards. It is built very strongly 
 of logs, and is well adapted to the purpose. 
 
 The hospital consists of a ward, 24 by 27 feet, built of logs, and an addition, 31 by 35 feet, built 
 of rough boards, battened, which is used as a dispensary, &c. A steam bath-room for rheumatic 
 cases, and a store-room adjoin the ward, and in the rear a detached building, 12 by 24 feet, is used 
 as kitchen and main store-room. The plan of the hospital is a very poor one, there being neither 
 ridge nor side ventilation, and although there are seventeen beds reported in the post hospital, 
 still if this number of patients was admitted they would have to be put in tents, as the wards and 
 sick-call-rooin combined would be over crowded with that number. The light in the rooms is also 
 insufficient, and the building in bad repair. 
 
 The stables and granaries consist of four rough buildings of various sizes, and have stalls for 
 seventeen animals, and shed room in the corral for thirty animals ; also room under cover for 
 160,000 pounds of hay, 100,000 pounds of oats, and 20,000 pounds of straw. 
 
 The library occupies the north end of a building formerly fitted as a theater, the stage being 
 partitioned off for that purpose. The auditorium is used as a quartermaster's store-room. There 
 are 201 volumes at present, principally of light literature. 
 
 There are no arrangements for bathing at the post, an idea being prevalent that the water of 
 the Trinity River is productive of rheumatism, and several cases seem to be traceable to this cause, 
 though it is probably owing to the individual taking subsequent cold through imprudence or the 
 chilliness of the nights. 
 
 The post garden, containing about 8 acres, is the only one under cultivation. 
 
 The only means of communication between the camp and the neighboring towns is by mule 
 trail over the mountains. This at present is pretty regular, except during the winter season, when 
 the snows are sometimes so heavy and the streams so swollen as to interrupt transit for two or 
 three weeks, or even longer if the season is unusually severe. 
 
 The mails for nine mouths of the year are regularly received and transmitted twice a week. 
 The length of time required for a letter to reach San Francisco is from five to ten days. 
 
 The inhabitants of the vicinity are chiefly Indians ; a very few whites, as miners and traders, 
 being located on the Trinity and lower Klamath Rivers. 
 57 
 
450 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The Indians collected on the reservation adjoining the post are principally of the Hoopa tribe, 
 or "Noh-tin-oahs," as they call themselves, and are separated into small villages called "ranches" 
 iu the common designation of the country. These Hoopa villages, although speaking the same 
 language, are constantly hostile to each other, and also to certain ranches of their neighbors 
 beyond, uniting with or against each other in their constant feuds, both for offense and defense, 
 which disunited condition is, perhaps, the principal safeguard of the white population. Two other 
 tribes or nations inhabit the vicinity of Hoopa Valley, speaking totally different languages from 
 each other and from the Hoopas. These are the Klamath Indians or " Sa-ag-its," and the Orleans 
 bar or ''Pe-noin o-ni " Indians. 
 
 The prevalent diseases of Camp Gaston are venereal, rheumatic, pulmonary, dysenteric, and 
 malarial. 
 
 Statement shoving mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Gaston, California, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 t 
 
 1 , 
 
 3 "8 
 
 S: 
 
 6 
 
 1 . 
 
 b 
 
 
 I 
 
 8 
 
 i 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 B 'S 
 
 a 
 S3 
 2 3 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 "3 
 
 iarrhoea 
 ilysente 
 
 msilliiis. 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 
 icumatis 
 
 3 a 
 
 -= 
 
 r 
 
 C8 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 S 
 
 f 
 
 S 
 
 Q 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 O 
 
 * 
 
 1868 
 
 173 83 
 
 329 
 
 30 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 42 
 
 42 
 
 67 
 
 
 1869 
 
 149 41 
 
 259 
 
 13 
 
 32 
 
 2 
 
 40 
 
 50 
 
 34 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP INDEPENDENCE. CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS T. McMILLEN AND CHARLES SMART, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Independence is situated in Owen's River Valley, on the eastern slope of the Sierra 
 Nevada, three miles west of Owen's Lake, and at an elevation above the sea of 4,958 feet. 
 
 Owen's Valley at this point is about 12 miles wide, having the Sierra Nevada on the west, and 
 the Inyo or Monache range on the east. The highest peaks of the Sierra in this region reach an 
 altitude of 15,000 feet, and are snow-covered during the entire year. The Inyo range is about 
 8,000 feet high. The bottom lands on either side of the river are very fertile, but the higher 
 grounds of the valley are dry, and bear only patches of bunch grass, artemisia, and valueless 
 shrubs. Pine timber is abundant in the Sierras. 
 
 The climate is dry; little rain or snow falling, except on the mountains, so that for cultivation 
 irrigation is necessary. During the year 1869 the rain-fall at the post was 1.13 inches. Snow-fall, 
 (melted,) .16 inches. Extremes of temperature, July 5, 101; December 22, 10. Prevailing winds 
 north and southeast. 
 
 The town of Independence, the county seat of Inyo County, is two miles south of the post. The 
 nearest railway station is Reno, on the Central Pacific railroad, 271 miles distant, to which point 
 there is a weekly stage. The post was first occupied in March, 1862, to protect some quartz mills 
 and miners from Indian depredations, was abandoned in 1864, and reoccupied in March, 1865, on 
 account of renewed hostilities on the part of the savages. 
 
 The post is located on Oak Creek, a large and constant tributary from the Sierra to Owen's 
 River. The reservation is three-fourths of a mile long by one-fourth of a mile wide, with a fall of 
 one foot in thirty from west to east. The soil is light and sandy. In addition there is a wood 
 reservation of two miles square in the Sierra, four miles west of the post, and a grazing reserve 
 three miles square one mile east of the post. A short distance above the post a dam has been 
 
CAMP WEIGHT, CALIFOKNIA. 
 
 451 
 
 constructed on the creek, and the water led in three streams through the camp. One supplies the 
 quarters of the men and officers; a second, the hospital, and the third the quarters of the married 
 soldiers. After passing through the post these streams irrigate the post garden. The drainage is 
 excellent. 
 
 The great desideratum at the post is shade during the summer months, as there are few shade 
 trees, and no verandas around the buildings. A large number of trees have been set out, but as 
 yet have not attained sufficient size to be of use. 
 
 The buildings are all constructed of adobe, plastered and whitewashed outside and in, shingled, 
 and, with the exception of the store-house, floored. They are sufficiently large, comfortable, and 
 well arranged. 
 
 The company barrack, 96 by 28 feet, has no special means of ventilation. The average air space 
 per man is 400 cubic feet. 
 
 There are four sets of officers' quarters. The hospital measures 41 by 34 feet, and is fitted up 
 for six beds. 
 
 The post is a very healthy one; the duties of the troops being light, the air pure, and the food 
 excellent. The post garden has furnished more vegetables than could be consumed. 
 
 No diseases can be said to prevail. Lead colic occurs among the neighboring miners from 
 smelting ores of argentiferous galena. 
 
 The population in the vicinity is about 2,500, four-fifths being Americans, the rest Mexicans. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Independence, Cali- 
 fornia, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 i* 
 
 
 
 
 ,4 
 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 8 
 
 ,0 . 
 1| 
 
 S 
 g 
 
 . 
 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 d 
 
 
 i 
 
 * 
 
 | 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 ,1 
 
 8 
 
 -a 
 
 J3 S 
 
 .2 
 
 Q 
 | 
 
 9 
 \ 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 CO 
 
 'GO 
 
 1-i 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 * 
 
 J3 
 
 6 <? 
 
 X 
 
 C 
 
 -d 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 ia 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9 
 
 
 .d 
 
 s 
 
 o 
 
 
 ( 
 
 p 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 H 
 
 W 
 
 > 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 S5 
 
 1868 
 
 74.66 
 
 85 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 61.83 
 
 96 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP WRIGHT, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON E. J. MARSH, UNITED STATES ARMY, AND ACT- 
 ING ASSISTANT SURGEON J. McNAER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Wright is situated in Mendocino County, California, at an elevation above the sea of about 
 1,800 feet. Round Valley, in which the post is placed, is in the Coast Kauge of mountains, by the high 
 ridges of which it is surrounded, and is about eight miles in diameter. No roads enter it, but there 
 are several trails. The nearest town o!' any note is Ukiah, distant 65 miles. Capto, in Long Valley, 
 25 miles south, is the nearest post office, from which a tri-weekly mail is brought to the post. 
 Owing to the steepness of the trails all supplies are packed into the valley on mules. 
 
 An Indian reservation, upon which about 2,000 Indians of various tribes have been gathered, 
 is established two and a half miles from the post, and about thirty American families are settled in 
 the vicinity. The soil is fertile, producing large crops of cereals and all kinds of vegetables. 
 Bound Valley was first occupied by troops in the latter part of 1858, was abandoned in 1861, and 
 reoccupied in December, 1862, when the present post was established, and named in honor of the 
 department commander. The military reservation is one mile square. 
 
 The post is situated about one-half mile from the dividing ridge, on the western side of the 
 valley, on a slightly undulating gravelly bottom, which in summer becomes parched. 
 
 The supply of water is deficient in the vicinity of the post during the dry season. Two wells 
 supply the garrison during winter and spring, but from July to October these become nearly dry, 
 and water is hauled from a creek about two miles distant. Eel River nearly surrounds the valley, 
 is fordable in summer, but in winter swells to a rapid and dangerous stream. 
 
452 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 The mean temperature during the year 18G9 was 66.86, the extremes being 20 in December, 
 and 101 in August. The climate is very dry, except during the rainy season, and there is scarcely 
 any dew. The rainy season varies greatly, from November to July, or from January to May. Little 
 or no snow falls here. Bain-fall for 18G9 was 36.84 inches. The drainage is good, and all the 
 quarters are shaded by fine oak trees. 
 
 The company barrack is an adobe building, 200 by 30 feet, and 12 feet high to the eaves, giving 
 853 cubic feet per man. It has no special means of ventilation. The men's bunks are double, and 
 in two tiers. 
 
 The officers' quarters consist of three buildings, one brick and two frame; each containing 
 three or four rooms and a kitchen. 
 
 The hospital is a coarsely built, one-story frame building, 44 by 18 feet, neither lathed nor 
 plastered. The ward, 24 by 18 feet, contains seven beds, giving 600 cubic feet per bed, but the 
 average number of occupants is only two. All sinks at this post are open trenches, filled in with 
 earth as required. 
 
 The principal diseases at the post are intermittents and rheumatism. Venereal diseases, con- 
 tracted from the Indians, are frequent. The supply of food is good, and vegetables are abundant. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Wright, California, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 i 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Diphtheria. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 . 
 
 103. 58 
 
 263 
 
 16 
 
 29 
 
 1 
 
 
 40 
 
 44 
 
 1 
 
 38 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 81 41 
 
 146 
 
 9 
 
 26 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 27 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP HALLECK, NEVADA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON B. F. POPE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Halleck is situated at the foot of the eastern slope of the Humboldt Mountains, 15 miles 
 east of the North Fork of the Humboldt ; latitude 40 35' north, longitude 115 50' west ; altitude, 
 about 6,000 feet, 
 
 Halleck station, on the Central Pacific railroad, is 12 miles distant. The post was established 
 in July, 1867. The reservation contains about nine square miles, including some good grass land, 
 and abundance of timber. The soil is fertile, and yields well if properly irrigated. The air is dry 
 and bracing, and the temperature varies from 22 to 94 F. The winter snows are very heavy. 
 
 The barracks consist of two buildings, each GO by 25 feet; one built of logs, stockade fashion, 
 Ihe other of adobe. They are well ventilated, badly lighted, and fitted up with double bunks in 
 two. tiers. Air space per man 374 cubic feet. There are no wash or bath-rooms. Married soldiers 
 are quartered in a frame building, 84 by 24 feet, and 9 feet high, divided into seven sets of two 
 rooms each. 
 
 There are four houses for officers' quarters, each of one story, 30 feet square, and built of 
 adobe. The walls are plastered with mud, the ceilings are of wood, and a piazza extends along the 
 front of each house. 
 
 The commissary store-house is a log stockade, 80 by 20 feet. 
 
 The guard-house is a log stockade, chinked with mud, 30 by 40 feet. The guard-room is 15 by 
 20 feet, and the prison-room 13 by 15 feet. There are three cells, badly ventilated. 
 
 The hospital is an adobe building, 40 by 30 feet. The ward is 18 by 22 feet, and contains six 
 beds, giving 600 cubic feet of air space to each. There is no wash or bath-room. The hospital is 
 
CAMP McDERMITT, NEVADA. 
 
 453 
 
 warmed by fireplaces, and is well ventilated. Authority has been given for the erection of a new 
 hospital. 
 
 The water supply of the post is from a stream which rises in the mountains on the south. It 
 is distributed by detailed men or by prisoners. The drainage of the post is good. 
 
 Company gardens are cultivated, and yield well. 
 
 The prevailing diseases at the post are those of the mucous membranes. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp HaUeck, Nevada, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 A 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 Whole number 
 taken sick. 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 . . . 
 
 74 
 
 64 
 
 4 
 
 15 
 
 11 
 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 
 1869 
 
 138. 08 
 
 97 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP McDERMITT, NEVADA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS GEORGE GWYTHEK AND WILLIAM H. 
 
 CORBUSIER, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp McDermitt is situated in Humboldt County, Nevada, latitude 42 58' north, longitude 
 117 40' west; altitude 4,700 feet. Camp Winfleld Scott is 3fi miles south; Camp Three Forks 
 75 miles northeast, and Wiuuemucca, the nearest town, is 80 miles south by west, on the Union 
 Pacific railroad. 
 
 The post was established in 1865, and named after Lieutenant Colonel C. McDermitt, Second 
 California Cavalry. In 1866-'67 the post was built. It is near the mouth of a canon, formed by a 
 break in the Santa Eosa Mountains, through which runs a very clear and pure stream known as 
 the east branch of Quinn's Itiver. Wood is very scarce. A few antelope, deer, and mountain 
 sheep are found in the vicinity. Prairie and sage chickens and ducks are plentiful. The streams 
 abound in mountain and salmon-trout. The post is built around a parade 660 by 225 feet. The 
 men's quarters are two stone buildings, each 104 by 24 feet. The dormitory gives at present 700 
 cubic feet air space per man. The bunks are double in two tiers. There are no wash or bath rooms. 
 There are three sets of officers' quarters, two only of which are used as such. One is built of adobe, 
 the other of stone. 
 
 The guard-house is a stone building, 23 by 23 feet, with no flooring or ceiling. 
 
 The hospital is a stone building, 40 by 28 feet, divided in half, one part of which is a ward, 24 by 
 17 by 8 feet ; the other half is subdivided, and used as dispensary and kitchen. The ward is well 
 heated, lighted, and ventilated, and contains four beds, giving to each 918 cubic feet of air space 
 There is no wash-room or dead-house. The surgery and kitchen require ceiling. There is no 
 kitchen proper. This is much needed, and the small compartment in rear of the dispensary, now 
 used as a kitchen, is requisite for store-room and sleeping-room for the steward. There are two 
 stables ; one of stone, 184 by 28 feet ; the other frame, 147 by 32 feet. The store-house is a stone 
 building, 75 by 34 feet, partitioned off into three rooms. 
 
 All the water used at the post is obtained from the river. It is very good until the snow on the 
 mountains is melted. When the river becomes low and filled with vegetable matter, casks are 
 sunk near the river so that the water may filter through the gravel into them. There are neither 
 sewers nor drains ; slops, offal, &c., are carted half a mile below the post, and there thrown out. 
 
 A post garden has been created within one mile of the post, in which a good variety of vege- 
 tables were raised, but nearly all of its products were consumed by the grasshoppers last summer; 
 vegetables for the hospital and troops were bought from citizens at a distance. 
 
454 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 The only communication with "Winnemucca, the nearest railroad station, is by stage running 
 from Camp Scott to the railroad. There are bi weekly mails from Camp Scott, carried across the 
 trail by men detailed for that purpose ; it takes a letter from ten to twelve days to reach here 
 from Washington, and from five to six days from San Francisco, California. The country is 
 sparsely settled, there being but four settlers within eight miles of the post. Attached to the post, 
 under protection of the military, and living on the, opposite bank of the creek close by, are a 
 number of Pah-Ute Indians, about one hundred and fifty persons. They are fed and protected by 
 the post, and some of them are found useful as herders of stock, being competent and trustworthy. 
 
 The register of sick since the establishment of the post in 1865 shows conclusively the healthi- 
 ness of the locality. No epidemic and but little endemic disease has presented itself. No sick- 
 ness has been observed among the Indians. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp McDermitt, Nevada, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 E 
 
 1 
 
 
 .1 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 Yean. 
 
 1 
 
 |1 
 
 B 
 
 4 
 > 
 
 J 
 
 ~~ 
 
 '+3 
 
 '3 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 'i 
 
 S , 
 
 d 
 
 11 Q 
 
 2 
 
 (C 
 
 1 
 
 
 ^3 
 
 
 
 
 "E 
 
 ffl 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 p '** 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 "o =* 
 
 
 
 -- **j 
 
 "3 
 
 B 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 O 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 a 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 3 
 
 & 
 
 1868 (ten months) 
 
 87.1 
 
 71 
 
 11 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 ! 
 
 17 
 
 i 
 
 1869 
 
 50.41 
 
 80 
 
 18 
 
 15 
 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 11 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP WINFIELD SCOTT, NEVADA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS J. C. WATKINS AND F. DENICKE, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is in the northwestern corner of Paradise Valley, about forty miles from the Hum- 
 boldt River, latitude 41 34' north, longitude 117 30' west. The soil is fertile; timber is almost 
 entirely wanting. 
 
 The barrack is an adobe building, 120 by 30 feet, containing two dormitories, allowing 423 cubic 
 feet air space per man. There are no wash or bath rooms. The officers' quarters are two adobe 
 buildings, each containing four rooms. The commanding officer occupies a small stone hut. 
 
 The store-houses are two sod buildings, thatched, each 80 by 20 feet. The guard house is of 
 stone. 
 
 The hospital is a sod building, thatched, 40 by 24 feet. The ward is 15 by 20 feet, and 9 feet 
 high, and intended for six patients, giving 450 cubic feet air space to each. The building is totally 
 unfit for a hospital. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Winfield Scott, 
 
 Nevada, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 5 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1-g 
 
 B 
 
 z 
 
 1 
 
 . 
 
 
 Is 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 
 1 
 
 09 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 c 
 
 '3 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 1 S 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 1 
 
 o 
 
 .2 
 1 
 
 22 
 '3 
 
 II 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 j| ^ 
 
 a 
 A 
 
 rs 
 
 
 B 
 
 73 
 
 B 
 
 c 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 O 
 
 
 s 
 
 P 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 K 
 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 ! 
 
 1868 
 
 44.66 
 
 108 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 31 
 
 2 
 
 
 l 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 
 1869, (six months) 
 
 46.23 
 
 48 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Inclade laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF ARIZONA. 
 
 POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Camp Whipple, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp McDowell, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Lowell, Tucson, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Grant, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Mojave, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Verde, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Colorado, Arizona Territory. 
 
 Camp Bowie, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Crittendeu, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Date Creek, Arizona Territory. 
 Camp Cady, California. 
 Fort Vuma, California. 
 Drum Barracks, California. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM SPECIAL REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 *#****#* 
 
 The posts in Arizona at present in existence have, with the exception of Fort Yuuia, been 
 established during or since the war of the rebellion. Most of those in the sotith were intended 
 mainly for the protection of agricultural settlements, and to guard the main roads running through 
 the Territory; those in the north as points from which to carry on operations against the hostile 
 Indians. With few exceptions they are built of adobe, the buildings being arranged along the 
 sides of a square parade ground. Soldiers' labor has mostly been employed in their construction. 
 The site having been selected, the men commence work by digging a large hole or adobe pit in the 
 ground near by. The earth thus obtained is broken down, and sifted to free it from coarse gravel ; 
 the resulting mixture of flue gravel, sand, and clay has some chopped straw or grass added to it, 
 and is then formed into a thick paste, with water, which is packed into molds, allowed to set for a 
 few minutes, and then turned out to dry in the sun. Two or three weeks' exposure usually suffices. 
 The bricks are generally 16 by 12 by 4 inches. By the time that a sufficient number of adobes 
 have been formed for the erection of the proposed buildings, those first made are dry enough for 
 building purposes. The walls are then raised, adobe mud being used to cement the layers of 
 bricks. The height varies from 10 to 12 feet, but one wall is raised a few inches higher than the 
 other, that the flat roof which is to cover them may have inclination to carry oft' the rain-fall. 
 Eidge roofs are generally avoided, as they are apt to leak at the ridge, and much slope impairs 
 durability by permitting the rapid washing away of the mud covering. Cottouwood timbers are 
 then laid across from the front to the rear wall, and upon them is packed a layer of willow branches, 
 or square ribs; some coarse grass is then laid in adobe mud over these, and the whole plastered 
 thickly over with successive coatings of the adobe mud, and a finish of sand or lime mixture. The 
 roof is made to project a foot beyond the face of the wall to carry the rain clear of the building 
 and prevent its influx through the interval left between the top of the wall and the under sur- 
 face of the roof. This interval of 6 to 8 inches, depending on the thickness of the cottonwood 
 beams, extends along both sides of the building. It is closed in by bricks, if the house is to receive 
 a finish of adobe plaster and whitewash on the inside, but in most instances it is left open, and 
 answers the purpose of ventilation admirably. Pine timber has to be used for the door and window- 
 frames, as the cottonwood, though much more easily obtained, is so lax in its tissue and saturated 
 with moisture that its warping in drying unfits it for such use. Indeed, it is employed for roof 
 beams 6nly on account of the difficulty of obtaining other timber. Frequently the beams in 
 progress of time curve upward at the ends, converting what was originally a flat roof into a 
 shallow reservoir, from which the rain finds its way by many apertures into the interior of the 
 building. The ground forming the floor of the house is then cleared out and firmly stamped. 
 
456 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Most of the buildings are long, and divided into rooms by transverse adobe partitions. They are 
 generally insufficiently lighted, and this remark more specially applies to the barrack buildings or 
 men's quarters. The cause of this is probably the fear of weakening the wall by the insertion of 
 many windows. In such as have the interval between the wall and roof closed up, and no other 
 special means of ventilation provided, the ventilation is very inefficient. The bunks are built of 
 cottonwood saplings, with slats of old packing boxes or stout willow branches. With few exceptions 
 they are arranged in two tiers, like the berths of a ship. On account of the superficial incapacity of 
 the barrack, none of the company buildings are large enough for the accommodation of the com- 
 mand, if of full strength, and many have by tar insufficent cubic space for the number of men 
 actually quartered in them. But the great objection found by the troops to quarters of this kind is 
 the character of the roof. None are free from leaks. At one post during a continued rain such 
 men as could procure shelter tents pitched them over their bunks iu order to keep themselves 
 dry, at least during the hours of their sleep. Tent flies and wagon covers were made use of to 
 protect the worst points in the roof, but notwithstanding all that could be done the earthen floor 
 of the room became a mud-puddle, and, for want of sufficient sunlight and ventilation, remained 
 damp for many weeks afterward, while the sick-list was crowded with bronchial attacks and 
 rheumatic affections, attributable to the condition of the quarters. Nor was the hospital at this 
 time in better condition. Beds occupied by dysenteric patients almost in articulo mortis had to be 
 moved from one position to another to avoid the muddy water flowing through the leaks in the 
 roof, until at last no dry spot could be found, when they had to be protected by rubber blankets 
 and gutta-percha bed-covers. The roofs continue water-proof much longer at some posts than at 
 others, which may in part be accounted for by differences in the percentage of clay in the adobe 
 mud; but as the roofs at the same post vary much in their power of withstanding the weather, the 
 fault in bad cases is chiefly due to Avaut of care in construction. However, with shingled roofs, 
 ample air space, and sufficient lighting and ventilation, the adobe house can be made a most com- 
 fortable resting place for the soldier after the exposures and fatigues he is frequently called upon 
 to endure on service in this Territory. * 
 
 The ration of the soldier in this Territory is deficient in nothing except vegetables. A large 
 cattle herd is usually guarded at each post, and the beef killed as required. It is destitute of fat, 
 and usually tough, as the cattle before reaching the post have to undergo a most fatiguing march, 
 and on their arrival may find very indifferent grazing grounds, or none whatever. On account of 
 the poor quality of the fresh meat its ration was at one time increased to one and three-quarter 
 pounds. The full ration of flour baked into bread has often been issued by commanding officers, 
 when hard service was or had been exacted of the men. The bread is usually of good quality. 
 A common complaint against that made from Sonora flour is its grittiuess. This arises from the 
 softness of the stone used in the Sonora flouriug-mills. The want of vegetables is not so severely 
 felt now that the subsistence department has on hand at each post a supply of canned fruits 
 and vegetables for sale to officers and men. This, with the produce of post gardens and purchases 
 from farm settlements and traders by company funds, enables the troops to pass the winter and 
 spring free, except in individual cases, from any symptoms of scurvy. It may be said that with 
 few exceptions post gardens in Arizona have proved a failure. This is partly owing to want of 
 knowledge and attention on the part of the men detailed for duty in the garden, partly to want of 
 interest in some cases on the part of commanding officers, but chiefly to the nature of the garden 
 produce, Green corn, radishes, melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, and beets can be raised with facility, 
 but their season lasts only for a few Aveeks. . In some places cabbage heads well, but no post has been 
 successful in raising a supply of potatoes and onions. In cases of necessity for vegetable food, as in 
 scurA-y, occurring on scouting expeditious, the mescal plant can be had recourse to, and a chenopo- 
 dium and portulaca, which are frequently boiled and used Avith vinegar by the Mexicans as greens. 
 Several species of lepidias grow along the rivers. Grapes are found in many places, currants and 
 gooseberries at Date Creek, and the cuniga and mulberries at Skull Valley and a few other points. 
 Although the soldier is often called upon to bear with deprivation of vegetable food and the con- 
 tinuance of a salt ration, all such deprivation increases the company fuud, and permits of larger 
 purchases for the improvement of his diet on his return. Yet when, as in this country, the pound 
 of potatoes sells for 25 cents, great results cannot be expected from company funds. 
 
CAMP WHIPPLE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 457 
 
 The ration usually carried on the mountain scouts consists of pork, flour, cofi'ee and sugar. 
 The flour is eaten as flapjacks fried in pork fat. Very seldom are the men enabled to improve their 
 diet by the killing of deer, antelope, or turkeys, on account of the scarcity of large game and the 
 want of time and opportunity for hunting while engaged on these expeditions. On one occasion 
 pinole, sugar, and dried beef were the only provisions carried on a six days' scout. The pinole was 
 prepared from a mixture of wheat and corn, by roasting, and then grinding it coarsely; the beef 
 by being cut into thin strips and hung up in the sun to dry. The smoke or light of the soldiers' 
 cooking fires have frequently discovered their presence to the Indians, and led to the failure of the 
 expedition; as no fire was required in the preparation of the pinole ration, it was considered pecu- 
 liarly adapted to scouting service. It dispensed also with the necessity for a pack train. Each man 
 carried behind him on his saddle his six days' rations and a quart tin cup. On arriving in camp a 
 handful of the pinole and sugar was placed in the cup, water added, and the thick paste eaten as 
 supper. Breakfast was a repetition of this. The dried beef was generally chewed ou the march to 
 stave off hunger until camping time. Colics were common as a result of this diet. Great satisfac- 
 tion was felt by all at a return to pork, flapjacks, and warm coffee at the end of the six, days. The 
 experiment was not repeated. *# 
 
 CAMP WHIPPLE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS P. MIDDLETON AND CHARLES SMART, UNITED 
 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is on the left bank of Granite Creek, one of the radicles of the Rio Verde, half a mile 
 above the town of Prescott, Arizona Territory. The valley of this creek is one of the many to 
 be found around the base of Granite Mountain, the northern extremity of the Sierra Prieta. Its 
 whole extent is covered with pine timber, and as the small plateau on which the post and town are 
 built is. receded from, the ground, still timbered, becomes much broken by ravines, and finally rises 
 to the bare mountain peaks of grayish granite. But on the northwest, beyond the immediately 
 surrounding hills, the country is open and rolling, covered with bunch grass and dotted with 
 spreading juniper, until the Bill Williams and San Francisco Mountains break through and inter, 
 rupt its undulations. Prescott, formerly the capital of the Territory, is a small town, the center 
 and supply depot of a large but sparsely settled mining and agricultural district. The numerous 
 valleys within a radius. of 30 miles have rich but limited bottom lands, many of which are culti- 
 vated, and yield all the produce of temperate climates ; the mountains are rich in free gold aud 
 gold sulphnrets. It is reached from San Francisco by way of Los Angeles to Fort Mojare and 
 Willow Grove, which lies west from it about 100 miles, or along the southern road from Los Angeles 
 and San Bernardino, by way of La Paz, on the Colorado River. There is no direct eastern route from 
 Prescott, communication being effected by way of Camp Date Creek, 60 miles southwest to Man- 
 copa Wells, and thence eastward, by way of Tucson, to the Rio Grande. Letters travel to San 
 Francisco in about fifteen days ; to Washington in twenty-five to thirty days. The mails are fre- 
 quently attacked by hostile Indians. 
 
 The climate of this district is mild during the spring and summer months, there being none of 
 the long continued and scorching heats which, in the southern portion of the Territory, kill all veg- 
 etation except that on the margin of the streams. Frequent rains fall in the autumn, and during 
 the winter the mountains are covered with snow, which, in severe seasons, may lie even in the 
 valleys for two or three weeks at a time. 
 
 The post was established in 1864 as the then headquarters of the District of Arizona. The site 
 selected was on a small plateau, half a mile above the town, and 70 feet above the level of the 
 creek, to which it inclines, yielding a good natural drainage. The plan of the post is shown in 
 Plate No. 12. It originally consisted of a rectangular stockade, the wall of which formed the outer 
 wall of the various buildings inclosed in it. It was built of strong undressed pine logs, the crevices 
 being filled in with mud, and the roofs of all the buildings shingled. Ventilation was imperfectly 
 effected, as most of the doors and windows opened on the inclosed parade ground. The men's 
 quarters, kitchen, and bakery occupied one side, with the officers' quarters opposite. The store- 
 rooms another, with the guard-house, adjutant's office, and laundresses' quarters opposite. 
 58 
 
458 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 One company of infantry at the p>esent time occupies this stockade. The dormitory is 80 by 
 20 feet, giving scarcely 300 cubic feet air space to each man of its average occupancy. The cavalry 
 quarters, which were erected in 1807 for temporary shelters to the scouting troops, are about 100 
 .yards lower down, and nearer the creek. They are log huts, each 53 by 19 feet, giving 400 cubic 
 feet air space per man, of an occupancy of twenty men. For a long time they were without floors, 
 windows, or bunks, but recently have undergone repairs and improvements which will contribute 
 much to the preservation of the health of the men. All are heated by open fireplaces. Kitchens 
 and mess-rooms for these troops are about to be constructed. The officers' quarters are similar in 
 construction to those of the men, and in very poor condition. The guard-room is 1C by 20 feet, 
 with three grated windows and no fireplace, and affords scarcely 300 cubic feet air space per man. 
 
 The corrals are stockades near the cavalry quarters. The water is of excellent quality and 
 supplied from wells by means of a force-pump. The building used as a hospital was originally 
 erected in 18G4, as the quarters of the commanding officer, District of Arizona. It is a strong 
 structure of hewn pine, floored, ceiled, and plastered, well lighted, with ridge ventilation, and 
 warmed by open fireplaces and stoves. It can accommodate twenty four patients, giving each 800 
 cubic feet of air space, but its average occupation is but fourteen. It has a kitchen, 12 by 12 feet, a 
 mess-room, 12 by 1C feet, a dispensary, 1C by 16 feet, and store-room, 12 by 12 feet, with furnishings 
 complete, and in excellent condition. The bath and washroom has the water supplied from tanks, 
 and the waste water carried off by lead pipes. It is situated on an elevated ridge, about midway 
 between the post and the town, with some shade trees around it. The drainage is natural, toward 
 the bed of the creek. A garden of three acres adjoins the building, and is cultivated by the conva- 
 lescents. 
 
 One great objection to this hospital is its distance from the post, and, among other things, the 
 consequent labor required to keep the tanks supplied by the water-wagons. There is no ambulance 
 at the post. One wheeled litter and Army wagons are the only transportation for the sick. Sup- 
 plies are obtained yearly from the Assistant Medical Purveyor in San Francisco. 
 
 The ration issued is generally of good quality, and of the regulation allowance and variety. 
 There are no company or post gardens, so that the vegetables obtained by the men are very limited 
 in quantity, and mostly by personal purchases, as the company savings amount to little or nothing- 
 
 The market price of vegetables is 20 cents per pound. Milk, butter, eggs, and chickens are 
 very rare articles of diet in this, as in other parts of the Territory, and are sold at high prices. It 
 is expected that some of the land on the reservation will be laid out during the coming season as 
 company gardens, so that scurvy, which has frequently appeared among the men, may be prevented 
 in future. The cavalry companies have suffered considerably from sickness on account of the lack 
 of fresh vegetables, their frequent absences from the post, placing them on a poorer ration, the 
 hard riding, want of sleep, and exposure on scouts, and the poor quarters to which, until recently, 
 they have had to return for rest. In addition to scurvy, and its frequent accompaniment, diarrhrea, 
 intermittent and remittent fevers are the only diseases prevalent at the post and its vicinity. 
 
 The hostile Indians are tribes of Apaches on the east, and the Hualapais on the west. They 
 are very active in their hostility, attacks upon settlements in the neighborhood or on travelers on 
 the roads being of constant occurrence. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Whipple, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 j 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 8 . 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 5* 
 
 9 
 
 V 
 
 >s 
 
 
 ij 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 
 cc 
 
 s c? 
 
 
 3J 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 Q 
 
 
 s 
 
 A 
 
 Years. 
 
 | 
 
 a 
 
 <8 
 
 C3 "S 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 '-C 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 g 
 
 I 1 
 
 3 
 a 
 
 II 
 
 "3 
 
 
 E" 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 & "*^ 
 
 8 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 d 
 
 o 
 H 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 e 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 o 
 
 6 
 K 
 
 1868 ... 
 
 183 
 
 353 
 
 87 
 
 fin 
 
 i 
 
 on 
 
 31 
 
 OQ 
 
 
 .in 
 
 
 1869 
 
 206.25 
 
 188 
 
 33 
 
 36 
 
 2 
 
 18 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
CAMP MCDOWELL, ARIZONA TEREITOEY. 459 
 
 CAMP MCDOWELL, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEONS CHARI.KS SMART AND C. DEWITT, UNITED STATES 
 
 ARMY. 
 
 This post is situated cm tlie west bank of the Verde, about eight miles above its junction with 
 the Salt River, in latitude 33 40' north, and longitude 111 40' west, at an elevation of 1,800 feet 
 above the sea-level. It is 45 miles north of the Maricopa and Pimo villages, and the same distance 
 southwest of Camp Reno. It is reached by steamer from San Francisco to San Diego, California, 
 thence by mail stage via Yuma to Maricopa Wells, from which place a weekly mail is carried north to 
 the post. The Indians have seldom interfered with this mail route, but the rising of the Colorado in 
 Southern California frequently delays the transmission of the mails, and the floods of the Gila and 
 Salt River have cut the post oft' from communication with the outside world for three and four 
 weeks at a time. Letters usually reach San Francisco in fifteen days, and Washington, by 
 the eastern route in twenty-five. This part of the Rio Verde basin is surrounded by mountains; 
 the high line of the Mazatsal peaks on the east, 20 miles distant ; a lower range, to which no name 
 lias been applied, 15 miles distant on the west; the numerous low peaks from which the river 
 issues on the north, and the grotesquely abrupt mountains of the Salt River country on the south. 
 On both sides of the Verde, near the post, the mesa rises almost from the water's edge, becoming 
 more and more broken by deep and narrow ravines, until it blends with the foot-hills of the mountain 
 ranges on the east and west. The river is thus well confined, and its bottom lands free from 
 marshes. The strip of easily irrigated bottom land is very narrow, yet much good soil could be 
 reclaimed by irrigation from large acequias. Cottonwood, willow, and elder grow along its banks, 
 tangled frequently by grape-vines, which yield a small acid fruit. Mesquite, ironwood. palo-verde, 
 artemisia, and species of opiintia and cereus cover the mesa, in some parts even rendering it impass- 
 able ; the more open parts furnish indifferent grazing. Scnib and live-oak, and pine o'f large growth 
 are found on the Mazatsal, but the building timber is almost all in inaccessible situations. Quail 
 and rabbits are abundant on the mesa, and deer are found in the mountains, but less frequently 
 than in the more northern portion of the Territory. Coyotes, rattlesnakes, scorpions, lizards, cen- 
 tipedes, and tarantulas, are tor be met with here as in other parts. The soil is dry and porous, and 
 well drained by its decided slope toward the ravines. 
 
 Some remains of Aztec civilization are found in this part of the country. The ruins of a large 
 and complex structure existed on the site selected for the post, but it is now almost destroyed, as 
 its stones were used by the troops in constructing temporary shelters and laying foundations for 
 some of the post buildings. It was built of washed stones from the river bed, and although the 
 highest portion of its ruined wall did not exceed three feet, the ground plan was perfectly preserved. 
 Another such is situated on a knoll at the southern border of the reservation. Again, where the 
 road to Maricopa Wells crosses the Salt River some large acequias are to be seen, which at a former 
 period must have irrigated many miles of adjacent country. Another system of acequias which, in 
 former times, irrigated the country near the mouth of this river, has recently been cleared out in 
 part, and a thriving settlement, named Phenix, established by American and Mexican settlers. 
 Stone hammers and hatchets, and washed rocks, with rude pictorial and hieroglyphic etchings, are 
 sometimes discovered near these ruins. Fragments of painted pottery are very common. 
 
 The post was established in 1865, by five companies of California volunteers, as a point from 
 which to operate against, or treat with, the Indians of the neighboring mountains. The reservation 
 taken up measured, from the center of the parade ground, three miles north and south and two 
 miles east and Avest. This included the greater part of the arable land in the immediate neighbor- 
 hood. Building was immediately commenced and continued until early in 1866, when the essential 
 part of the post was finished. One hundred and fifty acres of the bottom land were then cleared for 
 cultivation, water being brought to it by an acequia from a point four miles up the river. This 
 labor was performed by the garrison, then consisting of three companies of the Fourteenth Infantry, 
 who had been sent to relieve the California troops, but the subsequent working of this "Govern- 
 ment farm " was by employes of the Quartermaster Department. After this it was leased to certain 
 
460 DESCEIPTIOXS OF MILITAET POSTS. 
 
 citizens, under contract to produce grain for the quartermaster and cavalry animals, and furnish 
 the same to Government at a given figure. This system is still in operation. Of the grounds 
 ten acres were reserved by the troops as a post garden. Corn, sorghum, beans, tomatoes, beets, 
 radishes, and melons grew well, but potatoes and onions did not thrive. Grape cuttings from Los 
 Angeles were placed in the soil, but proved a failure, possibly from imperfect preservation during 
 their journey. 
 
 After the construction of the buildings and preparation of the grounds for farming, the military 
 history of the post consists of a record of scouting expeditions against the Indians, occasional par- 
 leys concerning cessation of hostilities, and the escort, fatigue, and guard details necessary at an 
 exposed frontier post. Some portions of the command, chiefly F, Fourteenth, and A, Thirty-second 
 Infantry, were employed during the winter of 1867-'C8 iu building a wagon-road through a pass in the 
 Mazatsal range to a point on Tonto Creek, where an outpost, Camp lleno, was established and held. 
 Tbis creek is also tributary to the Salt Eiver, which it joins at the southeastern base of the Mazat- 
 sal. The valley is very fertile and affords good grazing, but no settlers have yet ventured into it. 
 Many old ruins are found in it, and remains of acequias, marking its former cultivation. 
 
 The climate is warm and dry. Although the thermometer iu the day-time in summer may show 
 a high degree of heat, the nights are commonly not oppressive. Thunder clouds from the moun- 
 tains drop a heavy passing shower once or twice a month. In winter the rains are lighter, though 
 of much longer duration. Snow falls on the mountains, but not on the inesa. For the year ending 
 June 30, 1869, the average temperature was 09.46 F., the extremes being 25 and 114. Differ- 
 ence between wet and dry bulbs, 7.68. The winds are variable and light, except when immediately 
 preceding a thunder storm. 
 
 The post as planned and built in 1865 consisted of a parade ground, 525 by 435 feet, with its 
 center one-third of a mile from the margin of the river, and 50 feet higher than its level. This 
 height, attained by gradual rise of the ground, gives, with the aid of some shallow trenching, a very 
 efficient surface drainage. The buildings were arranged along the sides of the parade ground as 
 follows : On the west and furthest from the river the quarters of the commanding officer, a com- 
 paratively latge square building, with a hall and two rooms on either side. The house is shaded 
 by brush awnings, and has in rear, fenced in, a small yard as a site for the necessary outbuildings. 
 On the south a line of quarters for officers ; four houses facing the parade, each divided into four 
 rather small rooms. A kitchen was afterward attached to the rear of each of these buildings. 
 Two adjoining rooms in this line are used as a post adjutant's office. On the north, immediately 
 opposite the officers' quarters, four sets of company barracks, with their gables toward the parade. 
 Each is 187 by 24 feet, and is divided by transverse partitions into two dormitories and four smaller 
 rooms, for use respectively as kitchen, mess-hall, office, and store-room for company property. The 
 hospital was placed on the west, and the quartermaster's store, bakery, and sutler's store on the 
 east of this column of barrack buildings, and separated from them by broad streets. On the east 
 the guard-house, ordnance store-house, and house for the preservation of fresh meat for issue. 
 Outside of these lines of buildings were the corrals, of high, close-set upright posts, on the southeast, 
 and the laundresses' quarters, of primitive looking adobe huts on the north. The sinks, still further 
 north, were deep trenches, inclosed by a thick wall of willow and cottouwood branches. Dry earth 
 is used as a deodorant. At its establishment this post was intended to be the largest and most 
 solidly built in the Territory. For ornaments and future shade a line of cotton wood saplings Avere 
 planted at short intervals along the sides of the parade ground, and were watered assiduously for 
 two years, during which time they flourished and promised well, but after this they showed signs 
 of decline, in spite of the attention paid to them, and so came to be neglected. All the buildings 
 were of adobe, with earthen floors, mud roofs, and open fireplaces. The roofs were flat, and had 
 mud, sand, and lime cement laid over seguara ribs, which in turn were supported by cottouwood 
 timbers. These timbers, or viyas, raised the roof from 8 to 10 inches above the wall, and so left 
 ample space for ventilation. But, however carefully built by the California troops, the buildings 
 proved unequal to the heavy washing showers of the summer, and the penetrating rains of the 
 winter months. The roofs leaked almost from their first exposure, and the walls cracked and 
 washed away in place after place, until, in spite of constant repairs, many of the houses became 
 almost untenable. Three of the barrack buildings are now abandoned. The fourth is still occupied, 
 
CAMP MCDOWELL, ARIZONA TEEKITOEY. 461 
 
 but much labor is required after every heavy or continued rain to keep it in repair. The other 
 companies are in shelter-tents; brush shades have been erected over the tents, each of which is 
 occupied by two men, and furnished with raised bunks. The kitchen and mess-room, in rear of 
 each company camp, are built of brushwood and canvas. Cooking is done over open fireplaces. 
 In addition to the buildings already indicated, there is a recently-built house, for some time ocen 
 pied as headquarters District of Ari/.ona, situated half way between the post and the river, and 
 nearly in line with the north side of the parade ground. It is built after the plan of the command- 
 ing officer's quarters, and is now used as qua Hers by officers. 
 
 The guard-house consists of a guard and prison-room, the former Hi byl'S feet, the latter .">o by 
 by 28 feet, affording ample space for the occupancy ; ventilation good. 
 
 The magazine, 16 by 15 feet, is the only building at the post where the roof fits tigbtly down 
 into the wall. 
 
 The quartermaster's and commissary store-house is 131) by 1'.'! feet, and is divided into four 
 rooms. It is in bad repair. 
 
 The bakery, 34 by 20 feet, is furnished with two ovens, and can turn out over five hundred 
 rations in a batch. 
 
 A number of Americans and Mexicans connected with the Government farm have built adobe 
 and brush huts between the river and the post. 
 
 The hospital is 120 by 23 by 12 feet, and is divided by transverse partitions into a kitchen. 15 
 feet, a mess-room 18 feet, two store-rooms, one 7, the other 19 feet, a ward 35 feet, and a dispensary 
 19 feet long. The ward is furnished with eleven iron bedsteads, to each of which it affords an air 
 space of 750 cubic feet. It is heated by au open fireplace, lighted by four windows, and well ven 
 tilated by these and the interval between the wall and roof. The mess-room is separated from the 
 ward by the store-rooms, so that, to reach it, patients have to go out and pass along the front nf 
 the building. The kitchen is well furnished. 
 
 The cemetery is distant about a quarter of a mile northwest from the buildings. It measures 
 75 by GO feet, is surrounded by a temporary fence, and contains the graves of twenty-six soldiers 
 and seven citizens. 
 
 The medical history of the post shows the prevalence of scurvy among the troops while occu- 
 pied in building during the winter of 18G5-'GG, and its tendency to reappear as the end of winter 
 or beginning of each succeeding spring approached. But careful cultivation of the post garden 
 and the preparation of pickles for winter use, with the occasional purchase of potatoes and onions 
 from Souora, (25 cents per pound,) and the canned supplies on hand in the subsistence department, 
 are deemed sufficient to keep the garrison free from scorbutic taint. The regular ration of the 
 camp is fresh beef three times a week ; but frequent absences from the post on scouting duty, by 
 placing men on a salt ration and depriving them of vegetables, may produce slight cases of the disease 
 at any season. The summer of 18GG, during which the men were engaged in digging the ditch for 
 irrigation and clearing the ground for cultivation, was characterized by an outbreak of dysentery 
 and dysenteric diarrhoea. In the following years this disease did not reappear. 
 
 The water supply has been wagoned in barrels from the Kio Verde since the post was estab- 
 lished. It is of excellent quality. Au attempt was made to sink a well on the parade ground, but 
 no water was struck. Cases of malarial disease did not occur among the troops until scouting was 
 commenced, and the command exposed in malarious districts. 
 
 Although the Kio Verde contains an abundance of fish, the troops seldom have i-ecour.se to 
 fishing as a pastime, the produce being soft and flavorless. 
 
 The post library, containing 200 volumes, and that of Company Ci, Twenty-first Infantry, of 100 
 volumes, mostly novels, are in much demand. Two papers only are received, although others have 
 been written for by the post treasurer. A billiard table for the use of the officers is kept by the 
 trader. 
 
 The inhabitants of the surrounding country are roving bands of hostile Apaches, dwelling 
 in the mountains on the north and east. On the Gila River, south of the post, are the villages 
 of the Pimos and Maricopas, two friendly tribes, who farm on the reservation assigned to them. 
 Many of them have been enlisted as scouts for service with the expeditions from the post, and the 
 tribes often send out war parties of their own against the Apaches, with whom they have been at 
 war from time immemorial. 
 
462 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp McDowell, 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Arizona, 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 3 
 
 
 /: 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 1-3 
 
 1 
 
 , 
 
 i" 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 2 
 
 U 
 X 
 
 a <*> 
 
 =2 
 
 3 
 
 - -S 
 - P 
 
 S 
 
 in 
 
 , 
 
 SB 
 
 'i 
 s 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 
 I 
 
 1 * 
 
 "5 
 
 i * 
 
 V 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 9 
 
 ,4 
 
 S * 
 1 
 
 . 
 
 
 . s 
 
 P 
 
 s 
 
 p 
 
 H 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 S 
 
 
 * 
 
 1868 . . 
 
 181.5 
 
 545 
 
 62 
 
 133 
 
 5 
 
 30 
 
 22 
 
 42 
 
 89 
 
 l 
 
 1869 
 
 220 
 
 492 
 
 177 
 
 101 
 
 4 
 
 14 
 
 1 
 
 28 
 
 62 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Incluile laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, ami pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP LOWELL, TUCSON, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This post is -situated ou the eastern outskirt of the old Mexican town of Tucson, Arizona Terri- 
 tory, at a height above the sea-level of about 2,000 feet. At a distance of a mile from camp, and 
 separated from it by the town, the Santa Cruz River flows northward from the Santa Rita Mount- 
 ains towards the Gila. To the west of the river is a long, low range of hills, which terminates 
 abruptly 16 miles northwest of the post. North of the post, and 13 miles distant, is the south point 
 of the Sierra Catariua, which range extends north and eastward until it becomes blended with the 
 mountains on the San Pedro River, 30 miles distant on the east. The post is reached from San 
 Francisco, California, by steamer to San Diego, in Southern California, and thence by mail stage 
 by way of Yunia to Tucson. Mails run east and west twice a week, usually with great regularity, 
 but liable to occasional interruption from Indian attacks and flooding of rivers. A letter will go 
 to department headquarters at San Francisco, in from ten to fifteen days; to Washington, by the 
 eastern route, in from fifteen to twenty days. 
 
 Tucson first became a military post during the late war, when the volunteer column from Cal- 
 ifornia advanced through Arizona Territory. On account of its situation it was made a depot for 
 the supply of the posts in Southern Arizona, and on the relief of the volunteers by the regular 
 troops in February, 1866, it was continued as such, a company of cavalry being stationed in the 
 camp to guard the stores of the depot quartermaster and escort his trains to the various posts. 
 Shortly afterward, however, as cavalry was required for scouting duty in the neighborhood of 
 Tnbac, on the Sonora line, this company was replaced by one of infantry. 
 
 The camp is placed upon a hard gravelly inesa or table-land, about 40 feet higher than the 
 level of the water of the Santa Cruz River. This mesa is a part of the vast extent of rolling ground 
 which extends from the Rio Grande westward beyond the Colorado into Southern California. Its soil 
 is dry, and subsists only stunted specimens of mesquite, sage-brush, two or three species of acacia 
 and various cacti. It is interrupted at long intervals by abrupt and very rugged sierras, and at 
 intervals scarcely less long, by small water-courses, often dry during the greater part of the year, 
 but in the rainy season overflowing their banks, and flooding the various strips of bottom laud 
 through which they travel, and which, in consequence of the annual overflow, bear a luxuriant 
 vegetation during the remainder of the year. The Santa Cruz, one of these streams, runs north- 
 ward from the Sonora line past the west side of the town and post, and continues its course to 
 a point about four miles below, where its waters cease to run above ground, on account of the 
 porous character of the soil. The dry bed of the river, however, can be traced for 100 miles 
 further to its junction with the Gila below the Maricopa villages. For a distance of about three 
 miles north and south, and on both banks of the river to the west of the town, are the fields which 
 are cultivated by the Mexicans, producing yearly two crops, one of small grain, such as barley or 
 wheat, sown in November and harvested in May, the other of corn, planted in June and harvested 
 in October. As cultivation can only be carried ou successfully by irrigation, it follows that more 
 or less of the fields are constantly under water, which, combined with the heavy rains in July and 
 
CAMP LOWELL, TUCSON, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 463 
 
 August, the tropical vegetation and its rapid decay, favors the development of the malarial poison, 
 and accounts for the cases of remittent and intermittent fevers and diseases of the liver which 
 prevail among the Mexican inhabitants during the months of August. September, and October. 
 The camp, however, being separated from these fields by the town, and being on a somewhat higher 
 level, is almost exempt from these malarial visitations. 
 
 The n servation has been well cleared of all the mesquite and sage-brush which at one time 
 covered it. The ground is firm and smooth, so that it can be kept neat and dean with the expend- 
 iture of but little labor, and would be almost a dead level but for the shallow arroyos which drain 
 off the heavy autumn rains. Other than the mesquite, so valuable as a fuel, the mesa presents no 
 plant of any importance, but the river bottom furnishes a number of useful anti-scorbutics in species 
 of portulaca and cheiiopodium, while the hills on the west are covered with the columnar seguara, 
 the fruit of which during the months of June and July is collected by the Indians, and either eaten 
 in its fresh state, preserved as a honey, or fermented into an intoxicating liquor. Silver and copper 
 are found in the mountains to the west and south. 
 
 The water of the post and toAvii is obtained from wells, which vary in depth from 12 to 35 feet; 
 the well in camp is of the latter depth, and furnishes a supply of much purer water than any in 
 Tucson, at least in its freedom from organic matter. Although it contains a large proportion of 
 lime, (with some magnesia and the alkalies in combination with carbonic, hydrochloric, and sul- 
 phuric acids,) it exercises no evil effect on the health, even of those who have been unaccustomed 
 to its use. 
 
 The year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The spring rains occurring in February 
 fetch up the first or small grain crop of the farmers. After this rain is a rarity until July, when 
 the heaviest falls of the year take place. Even during this month, however, the rain-fall seldom 
 exceeds two inches in Tucson, although on the surrounding mountains it may be such as to flood 
 all the valleys leading down from them. Snow is occasionally seen during the winter months in 
 the crevices on the northern slopes of the Santa Rita and San Pedro Mountains, but it seldom falls 
 on the mesa. The winds are generally light and variable. The mean temperature for the year 
 ending June 30, 18G9, was 67.25 F., the hygrometric column being for the same time G2.07 , while the 
 highest observed temperature was 111 F., at 2 p. in. June 15, and the lowest 22 F., at 7 a. m. of 
 January 1C, 1809. 
 
 The camp consists of two lines of A tents, with a street between them. These are the quarters 
 for the men. They are shaded, like all the rest of the canvas shelters, with a brushwood awning. 
 The tents each accommodate two men, and are furnished with roughly-built bunks, raised from 1J 
 to 2 feet from the ground. On the south side of the line of tents is the parade ground, and wall 
 tents of the officers of the command, while on the north side is the well, and beyond it the kitchen, 
 bakery, and mess-tents, and the tents of the company laundresses, two in number. The kitchen 
 is an old adobe building, with crumbling walls and leaky roof. The food is cooked over an open 
 fireplace. The mess-room consists of two hospital tents, roughly fitted up, with tables and benches. 
 The bakery is small, but possesses a very good oven of burned bricks. The guard-house, until the 
 summer of 18G9, consisted of a frail structure of logs and brushwood, ventilated by its imperfect 
 construction. In June of that year a new guard-house was built on the west side of the quarters 
 of the men. It is a strong adobe building, consisting of a guard-room, prison-room, and five cells. 
 The guard-room is ventilated by the windows and open fireplace. The prison-room, 22 by 15 by 12 
 feet, with an average occupancy of five men, thus affording an air space of 790 cubic feet per man, 
 was originally ventilated by six loop-holes, but these proving insufficient, it was found necessary 
 to add two iron-barred windows, each two feet square. The only other adobe building on the 
 reservation is a solidly-built magazine and ordnance store-room, situated at the southwest corner, 
 about 400 yards from the men's quarters. This apparently detached position was elected that the 
 building might be tn place should a permanent adobe barrack be erected. The sinks are built of 
 brushwood, and are at a distance of 100 yards from the nearest quarters. There are no store- 
 houses on the reservation, the garrison drawing all supplies direct from the depot at Tucson. The 
 depot quartermaster rents from the citizens of the town a sufficient number of houses and corrals 
 for the storage and shelter of his supplies and transportation. 
 
 The hospital is an old adobe building on the main street of the town, at a distance of about 
 1,000 yards from the camp. Even were this building in good condition, its position in the center 
 
464 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 of the town, its proximity to the irrigated fields in the river bottom, its distance from camp, and the 
 sinallness of its rooms, render it undesirable as a hospital ; but when, in addition to this, its leaky 
 roof, worn-out floor, and rain-washed walls are taken into consideration, and the series of old sinks 
 that are covered up in its inclosure, it is found to be totally unfitted for such a use. These facts 
 have been appreciated by the post commander and medical officer, and application, accompanied 
 with plan and estimate, was made for permission to build an adobe hospital of twelve beds on the 
 reservation. The application was not favorably considered on account of the probable temporary 
 character of the camp. There is no well attached to the buiMirig; all the water used in the hos- 
 pital has to be carried from a well about 400 yards distant. Water could readily be found in the 
 hospital inclosure, but the presence of the sinks forbids the sinking of a well in this place. Medical 
 supplies are obtained from the Assistant Medical Purveyor in San Francisco, a year's supply being 
 required for at one time. 
 
 The mean strength of the garrison for the year ending June 30, 1869, was four officers and 
 ninety men. These troops were employed in scouting the neighboring mountains for hostile Indians, 
 escorting trains through the country, holding the picket posts of the Cienega delas Pimas and the 
 Tres Alamos, guarding the depot of the assistant quartermaster at Tucson, and performing the 
 necessary guard, fatigue, and extra duties of camp. The constant active service required of the 
 men did not admit of opportunity for drilling. 
 
 The picket post of Cienega de las Pimas, 30 miles east of Camp Lowell, was established in 
 October, 1868, on account of repeated attacks made by hostile Apaches on trains and travelers 
 near that point of the road leading from Tucson to the Rio Grande. The position selected was the 
 highest point of the broken country in the vicinity of the cienega or marsh ; this for reasons mili- 
 tary as well as hygienic. A rude but commodious and weather-proof hut was built of cottouwood 
 timbers, roofed with wagon covers, and furnished with raised bunks. The picket, consisting of a 
 non-commissioned officer and ten men, was relieved every thirty days. The ration here could be 
 supplemented by hunting, as quail, duck, and rabbits were plentiful in the neighborhood, and ante- 
 lope were occasionally to be found on the mesa. 
 
 The picket post at the Tres Alamos was established in 1867 for the protection of agricultural 
 interests on the San Pedro River, fifty miles east-northeast of Tucson. The valley of the Tres 
 Alamos is settled by four American and several Mexican farmers, who raise corn, beans, and melons 
 on the bottom lands, irrigating by means of acequias. The picket, consisting of a non-commissioned 
 officer and ten men, was stationed on a rising ground at a little distance from the irrigated fields 
 in an adobe hut, which was rather small and imperfectly ventilated. This party was also relieved 
 once a mouth, and during their stay could improve their ration not only by hunting, but, at certain 
 seasons, by farm produce. At both of these posts the water supply was good from a running stream. 
 The suffering from iutermittents was much less than one would imagine from viewing the char- 
 acter of the surrounding country. 
 
 The parties engaged in scouting after hostile Indians have had but little opportunity of 
 improving on their salt ration, and scorbutic symptoms have been a not infrequent accompaniment 
 of a return from a trip into the mountains, the more especially as even on their return to Camp 
 Lowell fresh vegetables were found to be a rarity. The commissary recently has had a supply of 
 canned vegetables, fruits, and jellies, which are sold to the men on the approval of the post com- 
 mander. In town the nominal price of butter is $1 50 to $2 per pound : eggs, $1 per dozen ; chick- 
 ens, $1 apiece ; and all vegetables 25 cents per pound; yet very great difficulty was found in obtain- 
 ing these articles at any price. 
 
 Fever first showed itself in most of the men while out on scouting duty in unhealthy parts 
 of the country, or on escort duty to some of the more sickly posts. Cases originating at Camp 
 Lowell were rare. Cases of diarrhoea and occasionally dysentery occurred. Venereal diseases 
 have been very rarely seen, although the dance-houses of the town are the chief resorts of soldiers 
 on pass. 
 
 Connected with the post is a detachment of twenty tame Apache Indians, who have been 
 enlisted as scouts. Two or three of them are sent out with every expedition from the posts in the 
 southern district of Arizona. These men, when not on duty, live in the village of their own people, 
 half a mile south of the reservation. They appear to be very liable to attacks of pulmonary 
 disease on exposure during the winter. 
 
CAMP GRANT, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 465 
 
 In addition to the American and Mexican inhabitants of Tucson, about 2,000 in number, and 
 the village of about 30 tame Apache families, Papagoe Indians are frequently found in the neigh- 
 borhood of the post. They are friendly to the whites and peaceable in character, occupying them- 
 selves in raising corn and melons. Their nearest settlement is on the Santa Cruz, 10 miles south of 
 Tucson, at the old Jesuit mission of San Xavier del Bac. No hostile Indians live in the vicinity 
 of the post; the Apaches who murder and plunder on the roads radiating from Tucson dwell in the 
 more northern mountain ranges. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Lowell, Arizona Ter- 
 ritory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 B 
 
 S ^ 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 ? 
 
 B 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 OJ 
 
 5 -s 
 | 
 
 S 
 
 "3 
 1 
 
 eS "^ 
 "" 
 
 2 1 
 
 a ^ 
 
 i 
 ^ 
 
 'x 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 L 
 
 t3 
 1 
 S 
 g 
 
 CC 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 * 
 
 a a 
 S .2 
 
 H <i 
 
 of deat 
 
 
 s 
 
 * 
 
 S3 
 
 3 
 
 | 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 J3 
 f>* 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 1868 
 
 127 66 
 
 324 
 
 213 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 g 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 2 
 
 
 g 
 
 1869 
 
 103.25 
 
 227 
 
 144 
 
 27 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 
 5 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, ineumouia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP GRANT, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Grant is situated at the junction of the Aravipa with the San Pedro River. Its eleva- 
 tion above the sea is about 2,500 feet. It is distant east from Maricopa Wells 100 miles, north from 
 Tucson 56 miles, and west from Camp Goodwin 60 miles. The mail route from San Francisco is 
 by way of San Diego, Yuma, Maricopa Wells, and Tucson, whence a weekly mail is dispatched 
 north to the post. But well-escorted trains and travelers may proceed from Maricopa Wells di- 
 rect, without circling southward by Tucson, as there is a good road along the Gila River between 
 the two places. On both roads Indian attacks are of frequent occurrence. Letters reach San Fran- 
 cisco in twenty, and Washington in twenty-five days, when there are no delays. 
 
 The post was established by the California volunteers with the view of restraining the Indians, 
 and protecting the southern line of travel between California and the eastern States from the rav- 
 ages of the Apache tribes living north of the Gila. It was originally built immediately on the 
 bank of the San Pedro River, but in 1866 twenty out of twenty-six adobe buildings, composing the 
 post, were swept away by the flooding of the stream. A new site was then chosen on a flattened 
 knoll in the angle formed by the junction of the two streams. From this position, looking toward 
 the southeast, the basin of the San Pedro is seen to stretch until it becomes almost lost on the 
 horizon, with a range of abrupt and rugged mountains on the west, and a series of high rolling 
 hills on the east. Toward the northwest are the mountain ridges and peaks among which the 
 stream courses on its way to the Gila, twenty miles below, and beyond them the still higher ranges 
 on the north of that river. The knoll is situated close to the base of the steep western mountain 
 ridge, from which it is separated by the San Pedro. 
 
 The valley of the San Pedro varies in width from one-half to four miles. Many parts of the 
 valley can be cultivated by irrigation. Several attempts have been made to reclaim the ground 
 in the immediate neighborhood of the camp, but without success. 
 
 The Aravipa, which issues from a deep and narrow canon on the northeast, sinks in traversing 
 the San Pedro Valley, except during rains, when its shallow, sandy bed frequently overflows, and 
 becomes uufordable. 
 
 The prevailing winds are from the southeast down along the course of the San Pedro, carrying 
 with them the malaria from the marshes along its banks, and exposing the troops stationed on the 
 knoll to its deleterious influence. The mean temperature of the year was 67 F. 
 59 
 
466 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 The camp is composed of adobe, stockade, and reed buildings, supplemented by tents. All 
 the roofs are liable to leak in rainy weather. There are three sets of soldiers' quarters; one is 
 adobe, 120 by 24 feet, with the usual mud roof, earthen floor, and open fireplaces, ventilated by 
 the doors and windows, and affording to its average occupation 400 cubic feet per man ; two are 
 rather open stockades, thatched with cane and reeds, and freely ventilated by the interstices in 
 the walls. They are 103 by 20, and 140 by 22 feet, and give 470 and 450 cubic feet air space re- 
 spectively. The bunks are rudely constructed, but single and well-raised from the ground. The 
 mess-rooms and kitchens in rear of these are each about 50 by 18 feet ; one is of adobe, a second 
 stockaded, and the third a framework of reeds. 
 
 The bakery is furnished with a good oven, large enough for the supply of the three companies. 
 The married soldiers are accommodated in wall tents. 
 
 The officers' quarters, adobe, consist of four sets of two rooms, each room 15 by 18 feet. There 
 were six officers at the post during the year, two of whom had their families with them. 
 
 The store-houses are one adobe, the other a stockade, each about 70 by 25 feet, with the corrals 
 in the rear. 
 
 The guard-house is of adobe, lighted and ventilated by the fireplace, doors, and windows. It 
 is 34 by 17 feet, and affords 400 cubic feet to each man of its average occupancy. 
 
 The hospital at first consisted of a building 30 by 10J feet, which is the ward ; but recently 
 a wing was added to it, 18 by 18 feet, as a dispensary, store-house, and surgeon's office. The 
 ward is furnished with eight iron bedsteads, and has an average occupation of eight, giving per 
 man 650 feet. When, as is often the case, a larger number of patients require admission into hos- 
 pital than this ward can accommodate, hospital tents are pitched adjoining, and furnished with 
 iron bedsteads. There is a kitchen, 10 by 16 feet, of adobe, but no mess-room. 
 
 Vegetables are obtained from the subsistence department preserved in cans, but the main 
 supply is from the company gardens in the river bottom. Onions and potatoes are sometimes 
 brought up from Sonora, via Tucson, at 25 cents per pound. Chickens and eggs are scarce, having 
 to be brought from Tucson or Maricopa Wells, while butter is almost unknown. The water of the 
 San Pedro River is used only by the quartermaster animals and for washing. It is pleasant enough 
 to the taste, and turbid only during heavy rains, but coming, as it does, through swampy country 
 above the post, may be impregnated with malaria. A supply of excellent water is obtained from a 
 well, 90 feet deep, sunk in the parade ground, worked by a wheel and axle, and well protected from 
 surface drainage. 
 
 The diseases are all malarial, and prevail to such an extent during the autumn and winter 
 mouths as to unfit the garrison for any active service. In 1868 intermittents were so general that 
 the affected troops had to be moved from the post to a temporary convalescent camp, 28 miles 
 south, on the road to Tucson. This was the nearest place which could be found at the same time 
 supplied with water, accessible to wagons, and thoroughly free from any miasmatic influences. 
 
 A tribe of Apache Indians, the Aravipas, dwell in the mountains near the post. At one time, 
 lor a short period, they were friendly, at least in their professions, and received rations from the 
 subsistence department. As many as 700 of this and neighboring tribes or families have been in 
 at one time. But it is some distance from the post, north of the Gila Eiver, that the greater por- 
 tion of the hostile Apaches that infest Southern Arizona have their more permanent rancherios. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Grant, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 A 
 
 3 
 
 \i 
 
 QC 
 
 
 * 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 i. 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 R x 
 
 o 
 
 "^ 
 
 2 "S 
 
 1 
 
 R9 
 
 E5 
 
 
 X 
 
 d 
 
 GO 
 
 i SO 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 a 
 
 1 5 
 
 I 
 
 S > 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 g 
 
 13 
 
 1 
 
 'S 
 
 
 a 
 
 P 
 
 i 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 ffl 
 
 M 
 
 .S 
 
 cS 
 
 1 
 
 1868 
 
 214 83 
 
 2 096 
 
 1 735 
 
 266 
 
 i 
 
 5 
 
 97 
 
 
 
 
 
 1869 
 
 151 5 
 
 643 
 
 ruii 
 
 
 
 J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
CAMP MOJAVE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 467 
 
 CAMP MOJAVE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SUKfiEON F. S. fcTIKU.NC, 1XITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This camp is situated ou a gravel bluff' on the east bank of the Colorado River, near the head 
 of Mojave Valley ; latitude 35 fi' north, longitude 114 31' west; altitude, 600 feet, above sea- 
 level, and 75 feet above the river. It was established in 1858 for the protection of emigration over 
 the Southern Overland Route to California, the Mojave and other Indian tribes being then hostile, 
 and having in the summer of 1S57 committed depredations ou parties of emigrants. The Indians 
 remained hostile until severely defeated by the troops under Major Armistead, who encountered 
 them in the valley below the fort and drove them back with great loss. They then sued for peace. 
 The post was abandoned in May, 1801, and regarrisoned in May, 1803, by two companies of the 
 Fourth regiment of infantry, California volunteers. 
 
 The plateau extends north and south about 40 miles, with an average width of 10 or 12 miles. 
 There are two reservations, each three miles square. The camp is built on the upper one. The 
 lower reservation is on the low bottom land, about six miles south of the post. Part of it is sub- 
 ject to overflow ; the soil is fertile, and is covered with coarse grass, cottonwood, and mesquite trees, 
 with a dense undergrowth of willows and arrow- weed. With this exception the country is a waste. 
 The elevated plains are covered sparsely with a growth of greasewood bush, interspersed with 
 varieties of the cactus family. 
 
 The mineral resources of this portion of the Territory are vast, though but partially explored. 
 Immense mines of copper are found in the Sacramento district, 25 miles northeast of this camp. 
 The ore is a red oxide, combined with a carbonate. Large deposits of argentiferous galena, assay- 
 ing 60 per cent., are found in the same district, while in the Black Mountains, 10 miles in an east- 
 erly direction from here, rich lodes of gold and silver-bearing quartz are found. Several mills have 
 been erected, and will, by their production of the precious metals, soon fill up the country with per- 
 sons who will develop to the utmost the resources of Northern Arizona. 
 
 Rabbits and quail are found in large numbers ; ducks and geese abound in the sloughs, and the 
 river affords an abundance of fish of the salmon species. Deer, mountain sheep, and antelope are 
 found hi the hills. The mountains, ou either side of the river, are barren and destitute of timber. 
 But few springs of water are found in the adjacent mountains, and the country may be described 
 as a sterile plain, broken by arroyos or dry gulches. 
 
 The climate is healthy, the winters pleasant, but the summers extremely hot. The extremes of 
 temperature are 35 and 118 F. There is no rainy season, though thunder showers are frequent 
 in July and August. The annual rise of the Colorado takes place in June. The prevailing winds 
 in the summer are from the south, and, passing over the arid plains, the air is so heated that it 
 scorches like that from an oven. The nights are so hot that no one can sleep in the house, and 
 the whole garrison lie on the open plain, endeavoring to catch the faintest breeze. 
 
 The troops now occupy the new adobe barrack, erected during the past year, though the build- 
 ings are not entirely finished; the old stockade buildings formerly used as soldiers' quarters are 
 being demolished for building material. The quarters afford an abundant air space to the men, are 
 furnished with fireplaces, well lighted and ventilated by windows. Single bunks are used. Con- 
 tiguous to the barracks are adobe buildings, erected and formerly occupied by citizens, now used 
 as quarters for married soldiers. 
 
 The officers' quarters are two stockade buildings, containing four rooms each, much dilapidated. 
 The new quarters are unfinished. Those now used have one window in each room, and a mess-room 
 in rear. The adobe building now in process of erection is 40 by 50 feet, and intended for two 
 officers. 
 
 The store-house for the commissary and quartermaster department is a new adobe structure, too 
 small for the purpose. 
 
 The guard-house is an old stockade building, insecure and dilapidated, and entirely unsiu'ted 
 for the purpose for which it is used. It contains two rooms, poorly ventilated, and lighted only by 
 
408 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 doors. Heating is effected by means of a fireplace. The average occupancy of the guard-house 
 is six prisoners. 
 
 The hospital is an old, dilapidated stockade building, not worth repairs, with dirt roof and 
 floor. A new building is much needed, and will be commenced as soon as possible, the work to be 
 done by the troops. The present hospital is warmed by means of fireplaces, and lighted by win- 
 dows. The ventilation is deficient. The ward, 28 by 25 by 10 feet, generally contains six beds, 
 giving to each a cubical air space of 1,166 feet. There are no bath or wash rooms; a bathing-tub 
 is used in the ward. 
 
 The supply of water is afforded by water-carts filled at the river, and that used for drinking 
 purposes is cooled in "overs," or earthen jars covered with matting. The water of the Colorado, 
 although muddy, does not produce diarrhoea or other unpleasant effects. Natural drainage is good. 
 All refuse, dirt, and litter are removed from the vicinity and carried off by the river. 
 
 Subsistence and other stores are received by light-draught steamboats on the river. Vegeta- 
 bles are scarce, and are with difficulty obtained from California. Several cases of incipient scurvy 
 have occurred, but yield at once to vegetable diet. A large supply of canned fruit and vegetables 
 for the use of the enlisted men is a great necessity here, as no post garden can be cultivated. 
 Such articles can be obtained from the commissary department at low prices. Potatoes and onions 
 are brought 250 miles from California. Milk costs $1 50 per gallon; butter, $1 per pound; eggs, 
 $1 per dozen; potatoes, 12 to 15 cents per pound; and onions, 20 to 25 cents per pound. 
 
 The only means of communication is by wagon and horseback, with occasionally a steamer 
 from Fort Yurna, California. Mails are received each week from the west, via La Paz, and from 
 the east via Salt Lake City; the mail is carried on horseback, requiring sixteen days to department 
 headquarters. 
 
 The Indian tribes on the river are peaceable; they cultivate corn, wheat, beans, and squashes, 
 planting after the annual overflow. During the winter mouths, when their stores of provisions are 
 low, they are furnished with small supplies of flour from the post. "No depredations have been com- 
 mitted in the valley, and many of the hostile Hualhapais have surrendered and come in. 
 
 Statement sJioicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Mojave, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 , 
 l| 
 
 05 
 
 1 ' 
 
 -d 
 
 5 
 t>> 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 o 
 
 i. 
 
 1 
 
 Years. 
 
 s 
 
 -g 
 
 g -3 
 g 
 
 <2 
 13 
 
 a 
 8 "~ 
 
 . x 
 
 *-*s 
 
 S 
 "3 
 
 
 .2 
 
 '43 
 
 C3 
 
 00 
 
 ^ 1C 
 
 cs a 
 
 ^4 
 
 i 
 
 d 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 s 
 
 2 * 
 Ji * 
 p 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 -= ic 
 fc >-. 
 
 i 
 
 Q 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 a 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 .a 
 
 2 
 
 40 
 
 
 
 I 1 
 | 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 6 
 
 1868 
 
 84 08 
 
 263 
 
 26 
 
 35 
 
 2 
 
 61 
 
 
 16 
 
 3 
 
 25 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 78.83 
 
 122 
 
 21 
 
 29 
 
 
 21 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP VERDE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART AND ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON 
 
 W. H. SMITH, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Verde, formerly known as Camp Lincoln, is situated on the east bank of the Eio Verde, 
 about 50 miles east of Prescott, the nearest town, and by way of which it receives all its supplies 
 and mails, and 90 miles north of Camp McDowell by trail along the Eio Verde. The Verde 
 Valley, during the greater portion of its course from north to south, is extremely narrow, being 
 little other than a canon with rugged and barren hills on either side, but in this locality it is about 
 seven miles wide, with a rich alluvial bottom, which, to some extent, has been farmed by settlers. 
 When irrigated it is very fertile and yields fine crops of corn, which is the staple product. The 
 
CAMP VERDE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 469 
 
 Black Mountains bound it on the west and the Mogollon range on the east. On the tongue of land 
 formed by the junction of Beaver Creek with the Verde, three-quarters of a mile below the post, 
 there is a considerable tract of low bottom, on which a rank vegetation springs up after the spring 
 and autumn rains. This appears to be the chief source of the malarial diseases which affect the 
 garrison, more especially at the latter season. The water of both these streams is of excellent 
 quality, free from any marked amount of organic or inorganic impurities, and turbid only during 
 floods. Cool water, even in the hot summer season, can be obtained from a small spring on Beaver 
 Creek. There are rich grazing and fine timber in the vicinity of the camp, and game in abundance. 
 
 The spring rains occur during March, and, with the snow on the mountains, usually occasion 
 floods, which inundate many of the bottom lauds; similar floods are an accompaniment of the 
 July rains ; but the rapid current of the river, the sandy soil of the inundated lands, and the high 
 winds which are prevalent during these stormy months, speedily drain and dry off all surface 
 water. 
 
 The mean annual temperature for the year ending June 30, 1869, was 60.75 F. ; the extremes 
 being on September 2, 107 F., and December 15, 24 F. 
 
 The post was originally established by two companies of Arizona volunteers, mostly Mexicans 
 who were in service during the late war. It was an outpost from Fort Whipple, and intended to 
 protect the Prescott country and admit of its settlement. The shelters built by these troops were 
 of the most primitive character ; and even on the advent of the regular troops in 1866 they were 
 but little improved, consisting of excavations on a hill-side, completed with logs and shelter tents. 
 The hospital was a small log house, 15 by 13 feet, containing three beds. Its site was an elevated piece 
 of ground one-quarter mile from the Verde, with excellent surface drainage and a porous gravelly 
 soil. Better and more permanent quarters were commenced on the same site in 1868, but two sets 
 of company barracks are the only buildings as yet completed. One set is unoccupied by troops, 
 but is used in part as a quartermaster and subsistence store-room. Each building is 100 by 26 by 
 10 feet, with adobe walls, shingled roof, and earthen floor, and is partitioned off into two dormitories, 
 40 feet long, by an office in the center, 20 by 26 feet, which communicates with the former. Each 
 dormitory has an open fireplace, four windows, a door opening on the parade, and another com- 
 municating with the office. But as these were found to be insufficient for satisfactory ventilation, 
 a ventilator was opened in the wall of each room near the roof. The only fixtures or furniture is 
 a double line of bunks, two tiers high, each 4 feet wide, and accommodating four men. But little 
 over 300 cubic feet of air space is permitted to each man, of average occupation. All the other 
 buildings of the post are irregular, being for the most part the remains of the old camp. There 
 is no mess-room, the men eating their rations in quarters. 
 
 The officers' quarters are miserable hovels, that of the commanding officer being formed of 
 rough boards, with gaping seams. Its size is 12 by 13 feet. 
 
 The guard-house is a small stockade, with canvas roof, lighted by the door and roof, and 
 sufficiently ventilated by the crevices between the posts forming the walls. 
 
 After the log hospital of three beds mentioned above was disused, the sick were placed in a 
 ward of hospital tents, with an adobe fireplace and chimney built at one end. Average occupation 
 of this, seven men. Since the recent completion of the second set of company quarters the sick 
 have been moved into one of its dormitories for treatment until such time as a hospital is built. 
 
 The post garden, situated six miles below the post where Clear Creek joins the river, is 
 nominally cultivated by from three to five men detailed for that duty; but the supply is not such 
 as the extent and fertility of the soil at command would yield with careful cultivation. It has 
 produced, however, a small cart-load of onions, beets, corn, cabbage, melons, and cucumbers twice 
 a week for four or five weeks during the season, and provided the garrison with sauerkraut during 
 the winter ; chickens, eggs, and butter are hardly to be obtained, but deer are sometimes shot in 
 the mountain gorges. In this vicinity there are three or four small ranches farmed by German and 
 American settlers. 
 
 The diseases which prevail are chiefly malarial, consisting of iutermittents, hepatic affections, 
 and diarrhrea. During the dryer seasons of the year most of this class of cases come from the 
 men on duty at the post gardens and other low localities. 
 
 In addition to the few settlements on Clear Creek, there are some ranches on the Agua Fria, 
 
470 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 about midway between the post and Camp Whipple. In the Agua Fria district there are also 
 many auriferous ledges, mostly of free gold. 
 
 The hostile Indians, Tonto Apaches, occupy the mountains south of the post through which 
 the Verde canons its way toward Camp McDowell, and to the eastward the difficult country in the 
 neighborhood of the Mogollon ridge. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal (Hscawft t ('<t>i> Verde, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the year 1809. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 d 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 Mean strength. 
 
 1 
 
 5 z 
 a 
 
 G 
 
 - -^ 
 
 I S 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea an 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal diseasf 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Catarrhal afFec 
 tions. * 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1869 
 
 69.91 
 
 146 
 
 51 
 
 21 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 
 5 
 
 81 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP COLORADO, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, AND ACTING ASSISTANT SUR- 
 GEON WASHINGTON WEST, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 This camp is on the east bank of the Colorado River, on the Mojave Indian reservation, 322 
 miles from the mouth of the river, and 440 feet above the sea-level. La Paz is the nearest post 
 office, and is 40 miles distant along the river. Letters require ten or fifteen days to reach San 
 Francisco ; twenty-five or thirty to Washington. 
 
 The camp was established in the latter part of 1868, in anticipation of trouble from the river 
 Indians. It is placed immediately on the river bank, above overflow, on the low level bottom, 
 which is about 250 yards wide at this point. Beyond this bottom to the eastward, a mesa or table- 
 laud rises with a gradual ascent to a height of 40 or 50 feet, and extends to the distant mountain 
 ranges. It is almost destitute of vegetation. The country on the opposite bank is similar in char- 
 acter. Some of the fertile bottom lauds along the river are cultivated by the Indians. Cotton- 
 wood, mesquite, ironwood, willow, and arrow- wood grow along its banks. The climate is similar to 
 that of Fort Yuma, California. 
 
 The camp is a temporary one, consisting of brush huts, which afford some protection from the 
 rays of the sun, but none from the rains and violent sand-storms prevailing during the winter and 
 early spring mouths. Their only furnishings are rudely-built bunks, raised a foot or more from the 
 ground. The rations are cooked and eaten in the open air. There are no married soldiers in camp. 
 The officers live in wall tents pitched underneath a brush shade at one end of the line of huts for 
 the men. The bakery, of stoue and adobe, is the only building of comparatively permanent mate- 
 rials. The hospital, ward, dispensary, and store-room is a hospital tent. 
 
 No post garden has been cultivated, but vegetables in their season can be obtained from the 
 Indian settlements. Canned stores are also on hand in the subsistence department for purchase. 
 
 There have been no deaths at the post. Venereal diseases, contracted among the Mojave In- 
 dians on the reservation, constitute the majority of the cases on the sick report. 
 
 The Indians in the vicinity are large, muscular, and well formed, but without any tendency to 
 civilization, their only object of existence being to satisfy the cravings of appetite and the animal 
 passions. 
 
CAMP BOWIE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 471 
 
 Statement allowing mean strength, number of sick, and principal disease* at Camp Colorado, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the year 180!). 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 -i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 f 
 
 00 
 
 || 
 a 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 8 , 
 
 if 
 
 
 
 '5 
 
 X 
 
 M 
 
 S 
 * . 
 
 j 60 
 
 a s 
 
 = = 
 
 I 
 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 r 
 
 cl 
 
 "3 
 
 |I 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 1 
 
 s 
 
 0) 
 
 S 
 
 1 
 
 "o 
 
 1869 
 
 73.41 
 
 191 
 
 37 
 
 30 
 
 26 
 
 6 
 
 13 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Incliuli' laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP BOWIE, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION DERIVED FROM REPORTS OF ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART, UNITED STATES 
 ARMY, AND ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON W. H. SMITH, UNITED STATES ARMY, 1870. 
 
 Camp Bowie is situated in a pass in the Chiricahua Mountains, known as Apache Pass, through 
 which the road from Tucson to Mesilla penetrates, about 100 miles east of the former town. It is 
 in latitude 32 40' north, longitude 109 30' west, and elevated about 4,826 feet above the sea- 
 The post was established under the name of Fort Bowie, in August, 1862, by Company G, Fifth 
 California volunteer infantry, as a protection to the road at this dangerous point, and as a guard to 
 the important springs found here. It was placed on the summit of a hill overlooking the water 
 supply, having high mountains on the north and south, and the broken rocky country constituting 
 the pass on the east and west, beyond which, in these directions, the view becomes more open, and 
 the scrub oak growth of the highlands gives place to grass. 
 
 Up to 1868 the post was a most irregular one, the houses, or rather huts, being built on and 
 under the ridges of land on the hill summit and slope, but at that time a new post was commenced 
 on an adjoining hill which afforded a better site. 
 
 The reservation includes about one square mile, and is in every part well drained by the irregu- 
 larity of the surface. A ledge of gold-bearing quartz has been discovered within one-fourth of a 
 mile of the reservation, and a ten-stamp mill erected, but so far its working has been unprofitable, 
 and it now stands idle. It is generally supposed that a good mill erected at Bear Spring, about 
 three quarters of a mile from the post, where a sufficient supply of water can be had, backed by suf- 
 ficient capital, could be profitably employed in grinding ore from the Harris mine, the one spoken 
 of. Large game, as turkeys, deer, and bear, is found in the mountain country. 
 
 The company barracks, an adobe building with mud roof, is 120 by 22 feet, and has a kitchen 
 attached, 15 by 15 feet. It is warmed by open fireplaces, and ventilated by apertures in the wall 
 near the roof; its air space to its average occupation is 400 cubic feet per man; it has no other 
 furniture than the rough bunks constructed of poles, cut in the ravines near the post. Since the 
 above description was obtained two new barracks have been erected, one on the east side of the 
 parade ground, 156 by 30J feet, containing two squad-rooms, one store-room, one office, and one 
 library ; the building is roofed with mud, its walls being of adobe ; attached to it is a mess-room 
 and kitchen, 56 by 16 feet, built in a like manner. The other set is on the north side of the parade 
 ground, built of the same material, 118 by 24 feet, containing two squad-rooms, store-room, and 
 office, with a mess-room and kitchen, 66 by 16 feet, attached to it. The sinks are open, on the 
 edge of a ravine, from which deposits are swept away by the rains. 
 
 There are two sets of officers' quarters, each consisting of two rooms, 15 by 15 feet, with kitchen 
 and mess-room adjoining. As, including the medieal officer, there are six officers at the post, three 
 of whom are married, some of the old buildings are made use of to supplement these quarters. 
 The quartermaster's store-house, 88 by 22 feet, has two rooms for officers in one end, and an ord- 
 nance store-room in the other. A new hospital has been built, occupied, and vacated as inadequate, 
 
472 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 and is now occupied by three bachelor officers ; it has four apartments, with a kitchen and dining- 
 room adjoining. 
 
 A new building lias been erected containing the offices and store-rooms of the acting assistant 
 quartermaster and acting commissary of subsistence. The building occupied as guard-house, adju- 
 tant's office, and quartermaster's store-house, is now the post hospital. The vacated commissary 
 store-room, after having been used as a barrack room, is now a granary. A new guard-house, 36 
 by 16 feet, with two rooms, has been built in the rear of the present hospital. 
 
 A bakehouse has been erected on the east side of the parade ground ; also, on the north side 
 of the parade ground, a corral, with carpenter shop and blacksmith shop attached to it. 
 
 Vegetables are always scar-ce at this station, as none can be raised and few purchased any- 
 where in the neighborhood. The supply of canned fruits from the subsistence department was 
 useful but inadequate, in view of the scarcity of fresh vegetables. As may be inferred, a scorbu- 
 tic taint has at times affected the men, debilitating them, and rendering them prone to diarrhoea. 
 Attacks of intermittent occur only in those who have received the germs of the disease away from 
 the post. 
 
 The only settlers in this part of the country are the few men at work at the quartz mine. Fre- 
 quently, however, emigrants from Texas to California, most of whom are in very destitute circum- 
 stances, call upon the post medical officer for assistance and supplies for their sick and wounded. 
 Bands of hostile Indians, Apaches, are constantly in the neighborhood, watching for favorable 
 opportunities to interrupt the traffic on the road. 
 
 Communication from San Francisco is effected by means of the mail route from San Diego, 
 California, via Fort Yuma and Tucson. The mail coach arrives from the east on Thursdays, and 
 from the west on Tuesdays of every week, but arrives very irregularly. Trains and mails are fre- 
 quently attacked by Indians in this vicinity. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Bowie, Arizona Ter- 
 ritory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 Years. 
 
 I 
 
 g 
 
 1 
 
 L 
 
 s 
 
 G <*> 
 
 <B jj( 
 "o * 
 
 Malarial fevers. 
 
 Diarrhoea and 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal diseases. 
 
 3 
 D 
 
 03 
 
 Rhenmatism. 
 
 PutUisis. 
 
 Catarrhal affec- 
 tions." 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 1868 
 
 80.75 
 
 131 
 
 48 
 
 27 
 
 1 
 
 
 5 
 
 15 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 1869 
 
 115. 16 
 
 255 
 
 106 
 
 70 
 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 13 
 
 
 15 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP CRITTENDEN, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART AND ACTING ASSISTANT SUR- 
 GEON B. SEMIG, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Crittenden is distant from Tucson south-southeast 56 miles, from Camp Wallen west- 
 northwest 20 miles, and about 12 miles directly east of the peak of the Santa Rita Mountain. It 
 is reached from San Francisco via Fort Yuma and Tucson. Letters eastward and westward, to 
 Washington, and San Francisco, California, require about twenty days to reach their destination. 
 Both routes are liable to interruptions from Indians and delay from floods. The mail is usually 
 served weekly at the post. 
 
 The garrison of this place, on entering the Territory in 1866, were stationed at Fort Mason, a 
 post established at Calabasas, on the Santa Cruz River, 13 miles south of Tubac; but as malarious 
 fever, diarrhosa, and dysentery prostrated the greater part of the command, it was soon after- 
 wards removed to a location which presented fewer of the causes engendering the paludal poison. 
 
CAMP CRITTENDEN, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 473 
 
 The new post, Camp Cameron, was situated on the northwestern base of the Santa Rita Mount- 
 ain, 16 miles northeast of Tubac, and 45 miles south and a little east of Tucson. It was on a dry, 
 rocky mesa, on the north bank of a clear mountain stream which sank at a little distance below 
 the post. The men were quartered in A tents, the officers in huts, which were a conglomerate of 
 stone, rawhide, planks, canvas, and logs. From this the troops were moved to Tubac, on account 
 of Indian outrages committed there. A church and a number of adobe buildings were turned over 
 by the citizens for their accommodation. In February, 18G8, they were ordered to the position which 
 they now occupy, for the purpose of promoting the settlement of the Sonoita Valley and continu- 
 ing their protection of the Sonora frontier. The site selected was a high ground, surrounded by 
 deep ravines, half a mile northeast of the remains of old Fort Buchanan, a military post which was 
 abandoned at the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. 
 
 The surrounding country is rolling and affords excellent grazing. It is sparsely timbered with 
 live-oak trees of small growth, but which become more luxuriant as the mountains are approached. 
 Pine timber is plentiful in the gorges of the Santa Rita. 
 
 The soil is a reddish yellow clay intimately mixed with a large proportion of coarse gravel, a 
 compound which retains surface water in situations where there is no natural drainage. The camp, 
 however, is well drained naturally by its slope, and this is aided by some superficial drains tending 
 toward the ravines. One of the ravines on the southern aspect of the camp shallows out into a 
 marsh, for the drainage of which no work has yet been attempted. 
 
 Southeast of the post, and a quarter of a mile distant, is the source of the Sonoita River, 
 which, after a west-southwest course, empties into the Santa Cruz near Calabasas. Cottonwood, 
 willow, sycamore, elder, and walnut are found along its banks. The valley widens out in many 
 places into valuable agricultural lands, which can be irrigated with little labor. Each company of 
 the garrison cultivates a garden about four miles below the post, near the now deserted settlement 
 of Casa Blanca. 
 
 Southwest from camp, and one and a half miles distant, is a warm spring, the water of which 
 is clear, inodorous, and tasteless, and of a temperature of 81 F. A mile beyond this, in the same 
 direction, are the Monkey Springs, which cover all surrounding objects with deposits of travertin. 
 A well in the center of camp furnishes water for drinking and cooking, which is clear, cool, and 
 agreeable to the taste. That from the source of the Sonoita is employed for washing and bathing. 
 Game is abundant in the surrounding country. The mean temperature for the year ending June 
 30, 1S69, was 58.59 F., the extremes being, on July 1, at 2 p. in., 105, and on December 14, 1863, 
 at 7 a. m., 25 F. Rain-fall 15.6 inches. Snow falls occasionally, but lies only for a short time. 
 The prevailing winds are south and westerly. 
 
 During the first year the three companies, which for the most part of the time formed the gar- 
 rison, lived in A tents, and made use of such of the old buildings of Fort Buchanan as could be 
 made serviceable. One by one, as the buildings of the new post were finished, they were occupied. 
 At the present time two sets of company quarters are completed, a guard-house, hospital, commis- 
 sary store-house, corrals, and siuks. No officers' quarters have yet been built, but three mess- 
 rooms, with kitchens adjoining, are used as quarters for the time being. Of the old buildings 
 which have been repaired for temporary use, one is the quartermasters' store-house, another that 
 of the post trader, while three are used by quartermasters' employes, and one by the only soldier's 
 family at the post. These are all in poor condition, and leak badly during rains. No mess-rooms 
 for the men have been built yet. 
 
 The new buildings are all of adobe, and furnished with mud roofs, except the guard house, 
 which is shingled ; this exceptional roof was found during the past season to be the only one 
 which was weather-proof. As shingles can be cut by soldier labor in the Santa Rita Mountains, 
 it has been suggested that all the roofs be so constructed. 
 
 The two sets of company quarters are built each in the form of the letter E, and consist of a 
 main building, 117 by 18 by 11 feet, two wings, each 18 by 18 by 11 feet, one of which is the first 
 sergeants' room, and a kitchen, 20 by 16 feet, and bakery, 20 by 14 feet. These quarters afford to 
 the men occupying them an air space per man of 600 cubic feet; but that this may be so, a detach- 
 ment of one of the companies is obliged to live in tents near by. They are warmed by four fire- 
 places, lighted and ventilated by nine windows, two doors, and a number of loopholes, six inches 
 60 
 
474 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 square, near the roof. The buuks are well raised and solidly built, each accommodating two men ; 
 the only fixtures are wooden arm-racks and benches. 
 
 The guard-house consists of a guard-room, and prison-room communicating with it ; the former 
 is 17 by 20 by 9 feet, giving to an average occupancy of twelve meu 2G6 cubic feet of air space; 
 the latter, 17$ by 15J by 9 feet, furnishes each of its eight occupants with 310 cubic feet. Each 
 of the rooms has a fireplace, and as ventilators, in lieu of windows, the prison-room has apertures 
 in the wall near the roof. 
 
 The commissary building is 100 by 21 by 9 feet, and has the corrals near by it, surrounded by 
 an adobe wall, 132 by 100 feet. Refuse from the corral and camp is wagoned to a ravine 350 yards 
 distant, where, when dry, it is burned. 
 
 The hospital has been built on the lowest portion of the site of the camp, and is the building 
 nearest the marsh above mentioned, receiving from it, with the prevailing winds, the full influence 
 of its exhalations. The roof is in such poor condition that during a late storm the floor became 
 flooded, and the patients had to be removed from the ward. It has since been repaired, and 
 covered with a layer of lime and fine sand. The building is divided into a ward, 55 by 17J by 11 
 feet, and a dispensary, 14J by 17J by 11 feet. The ward contains twelve beds, to each of which it 
 affords a superficies of 80 feet, and an air space of 880 cubic feet. Average occupation, four. Tents 
 are made use of as kitchen, mess-room, and bath-room. As yet there is no store-room other than 
 the dispensary. 
 
 The cavalry of this command has been almost constantly employed in scouting and escort 
 duty, while the infantry have performed most of the camp duties, including the building of the 
 greater portion of the post. Their recreations comprised base ball, and exercise on the horizontal 
 and parallel bars. 
 
 The full regular ration has been issued to the men, and, with the exception of the beef, its 
 component parts have been of good quality. Corn, cabbage, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas 
 are obtained from the company gardens, in part also by purchase with company funds, and by 
 personal purchases of the soldiers. Vegetables from the Sonoita and Santa Cruz Valleys are 
 worth 20 to 25 cents per pound. Eggs from Sonora are $1 a dozen. Butter is seldom seen, and is 
 received only from San Bernardino, in Southern California, by way of Tucson, scarcely any being 
 produced in the adjacent country. 
 
 Scurvy was to some extent present in the command during the winter months ; but in May, 
 when the produce of the company gardens became available, the disease disappeared. Intermit- 
 tent fever is the prevailing disease. 
 
 A few settlers, farming parts of the Souoita Valley, are the only inhabitants in the vicinity of 
 the post ; but Apache raiding parties frequently pass in the neighborhood. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Crittenclen, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 A 
 
 1 . 
 
 j 
 
 Ij 
 
 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 = ^i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 E 
 d 
 
 1 
 
 .2 
 
 q M 
 
 ,| 
 5 5 
 
 Typhoid fe\ 
 
 Malarial fev 
 
 Diarrhoea 
 dysenteri 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal disc 
 
 In 
 
 Rheumatism 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrlial a 
 
 tidllH." 
 
 No. of deaths 
 
 1868, (9 months) 
 
 207 88 
 
 716 
 
 1 
 
 nfi.l 
 
 
 
 
 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 137 83 
 
 663 
 
 
 487 
 
 fi9 
 
 (5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *Incln<lo laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
CAMP DATE GREEK, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 475 
 
 CAMP DATE CREEK, ARIZONA TERRITORY. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT 
 
 SURGEONS R. M. O'REILLY AND CHARLES SMART, UNITED 
 STATES ARMY. 
 
 K 
 
 Camp Date Creek, until recently known as Camp McPhersou, is on the left or south bank of the 
 creek, about 700 yards distant from it and 100 feet above its level. Communication with San 
 Francisco, California, is effected by way of Camp Whipple and Prescott, which is GO miles distant 
 by the road, although but little more than half that distance in a direct line northeast, and with 
 Washington by way of Maricopa Wells and Tucson. The road from La Paz, on the Colorado River, 
 east to the mining town of Wickeyburg, passes the post, intersecting the northern road to Prescott. 
 The upland valley in which the camp is placed is surrounded by high lands. Three miles distant 
 on the east is the divide between the waters of the Hassyampa, tributary to the Gila, and the 
 William's Fork of the Colorado, of which Date Creek is one of the headwaters. The soil of the 
 valley is gravelly and well covered with gramma and gayeta grasses, except where the underlying 
 metam orphic rocks crop out into broad belts of cactus and yucca-covered malpais. Half a mile 
 down stream, to the west of the post, the creek flows through a canon 150 feet wide and from 50 to 
 200 feet deep, below which there are some strips of fertile bottom land, on which farms have been 
 located by a few settlers. Mesqnite, cottonwco 1, and willow grow along the creek. 
 
 The climate of this part of the country is hot and dry, with a rainy season occurring in autumn. 
 The mean temperature for the year ending June 30, 1869, was 63.04 F., with the wet-bulb indicating 
 54.75. The extremes of temperature were 21 and 108 F. Prevailing wind, southerly. 
 
 The Date Creek Camp was originally established in 1864, by California volunteers. In 1866 the 
 troops were moved 25 miles north on the road to Prescott for the protection of settlers in Skull 
 Valley. In 1867 the command returned to Date Creek, and went into 
 quarters close to the bank. This position was found to be very unhealthy, 
 the greater portion of the men being prostrated during the fever season 
 commencing with the July rains. Hence in 1868 they were moved to the 
 higher ground further from the creek the present location. In this the 
 drainage is good, both from the gravelly character of the soil and the 
 incline toward the bed of the stream. 
 
 The buildings are arranged so as to inclose a quadrangular parade 
 ground the men's quarters, kitchens, and post bake-house on the north, 
 those of the officers on the south, the guard-house on the east, and hos- 
 pital on the west. The soldiers' quarters are two adobe buildings, each 
 76 by 20 by 13 feet, with shingled roof and earthen floor. Ventilation is 
 effected in each by eight windows, two doors, a series of apertures, 9 by 
 4 inches, just above the ground level, and an air space between the 
 roof and walls. These are aided by an open fireplace at each end and a 
 wood-stove in the center. Air space per man of average occupation, 350 
 cubic feet. The bunks are framed, and, with the arm-racks, form the only 
 fixtm \ B of these dormitories. 
 
 Ti hospital is a shingled adobe building, wanned and ventilated in 
 the sain manner as the quarters of the men. 
 
 The arrangement of the building is shown in Figure 58. A, ward, 30 
 by 18 feet ; C, surgery, 14 by 12 feet ; D, dispensary, 14 by 14 feet ; E, 
 store-room, 14 by 8 feet ; K, kitchen, 14 by 14 feet ; M, mess-room, 14 by 
 12 feet. Height of rooms, 14 feet. 
 
 The ward is furnished with twelve beds, to each of which it affords 
 630 cubic feet of air space. Its average occupation is six patients. Its 
 supplies are obtained from San Francisco, California, and are required 
 for yearly. No ambulance at the post. 
 
 M 
 
 D 
 
 Figure 58. Scale 20 feetto 
 1 inch. 
 
476 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITAEY POSTS. 
 
 The first sergeant's room and company store room, each 16 by 14 feet, and the kitchens (two in 
 number) and bake-house, each 23 by 14 feet, are of the same kind of materials as the barracks. No 
 mess-rooms have, yet been built. The officers' quarters are four mud-roofed adobe buildings, each 
 containing a single room, 26 by 13 feet. The guard-house, at present, is represented by wall tents 
 for the ten members of the guard and average of three prisoners. The quartermaster and subsist- 
 ence store-house is outside the line of buildings around the parade. It is 100 by 22 feet, built of 
 stone and roofed with shingles. The sinks, properly in rear, are open trenches with willow shades. 
 
 The water supply is carted from the creek in barrels and run through charcoal niters. It is 
 largely impregnated with organic matter. In the unhealthy autumn season permanganate of 
 potash was likewise made use of. A well is being sunk. 
 
 The diseases prevalent are all of malarial origin. It is expected that the removal of the camp 
 from the immediate neighborhood of the creek, and success attending the attempt to sink the well, 
 will materially decrease the sick rate of this post. 
 
 The Indian tribes in the vicinity are hostile ; Yavapais and Apache Mojaves. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Date Creelc, Arizona 
 
 Territory, for the year 18G9. 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 
 e 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 ,y 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 W 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 s -g 
 
 6 
 
 !> 
 
 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 Year. 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 S -Z 
 S x 
 
 .a -3 
 P 
 
 Malarial fe\ 
 
 Diarrheea 
 dysenter 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal dia 
 
 Scurvy. 
 
 Rheumatisi 
 
 Catarrhal 
 tions. * 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 6 
 
 1869 
 
 103 16 
 
 364 
 
 132 
 
 79 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 16 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
 CAMP CADY, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY ASSISTANT SURGEON CHARLES SMART AND ACTING ASSISTANT SUR- 
 GEON F. A. ROMATKA, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Camp Cady is situated in San Bernardino County, on the road leading from Wilmington, on 
 the coast, into Northern Arizona. The road to Salt Lake City branches off a few miles west of the 
 post. The town of San Bernardino lies west about 130 miles; Hardy ville, on the Colorado River, 
 about the same distance east. Communication with San Francisco, California, is effected by means 
 of steamer to Wilmington, whence the road leads eastward by San Bernardino. Letters reach San 
 Francisco in eight days; Washington in eighteen. 
 
 The post, as it now exists, was established in the autumn of 1868, about half a mile distant 
 from the point formerly occupied. This situation was originally garrisoned, about fourteen years 
 ago, to protect the sparsely settled districts of Southern California, and the line of travel between 
 them and Utah from the inroads of Pi-Utes and Mojave Indians. The post is placed about 300 
 yards from the north bank of the Mojave River, on a small plateau 30 feet higher than the bed of 
 the stream, but a little lower than the level of the surrounding country. This point is in part 
 sheltered by a few low hills, against the western base of which is impacted much of the sand which 
 would otherwise sweep over the camp with the prevailing winds. The neighboring country is part 
 of the Colorado desert or plateau, a level sauu waste, which, from this point of view, is encircled 
 by bare and grotesquely eroded mountain ranges, which rise from 1,000 to 4,000 feet above the 
 desert level. These are from 20 to 60 miles distant from the post, and are said to be rich in silver 
 aud lead. The plateau bears little other than the wild sage, and in many parts is destitute even of 
 this, bearing, instead of vegetation, a white, glistening efflorescence of soda salts. A few scattered 
 bunches of grass grow along the river, aud stunted specimens of cottonwood, mesquite, and willow, 
 tangled witli wiul vines. Attempts have been made to cultivate a post garden, but the alkalinity 
 of tae soil has rendered them all fruitless. Antelope and mountain sheep are sometimes seen on 
 
CAMP CADY, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 477 
 
 the mountain ridges, but it is chiefly along the river that game is discovered, consisting of rabbits, 
 quail, ducks, and geese. A small water turtle is found, and some mountain trout. The coyote, 
 lizards, snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, centipedes, and all the other inhabitants of the American 
 desert are plentiful here. 
 
 The soil is sandy, with an admixture of clay, which, when sun-dried after rain, gives its surface 
 a firm coating, as if covered with a layer of adobe plastering. 
 
 This part of the country has its dry and wet season, but the latter is usually abortive, the 
 quantity of rain being small. The temperature of the year has been 03.18 F., the wet bulb show- 
 ing for the same time a mean of 62.69. The extremes were 116 and 22 F. The prevailing winds 
 are from the west, frequently blowing strong and continuously, constituting sand-storms, in which 
 the air is so clouded with fine-particles that objects within a few yards are only visible. The mirage 
 is of frequent appearance. 
 
 . The post has a parade ground 300 yards square, and has the buildings arranged along three of 
 its sides. The buildings are of adobe, floored, and shingle-rcofed, plastered outside and plastered 
 and whitewashed inside. The officers' quarters is the only building ceiled. The hospital and laun- 
 dresses' quarters have not been built. For temporary use as such the buildings of the old camp are 
 retained. Cases requiring hospital treatment are few. 
 
 The barrack building is 86 by 26 by 12 feet, but has the northwest and southeast corners par- 
 titioned off as temporary dispensary and saddler's shop respectively. It is heated by stoves when 
 necessary, lighted and ventilated by twelve windows and three doors, and has furnished, to the 
 average occupation of the past year, 650 cubic feet of air space per man. The bunks are temporary 
 structures made by the men. In rear of this building is one, 48 by 18 feet, partitioned into a kitchen 
 and mess-room. 
 
 The officers' quarters is one building, 36 by 18 feet, divided by a hall into two rooms. There is 
 a wing in rear, 14 by 12 feet, and a small out-house as kitchen. 
 
 The building constructed as a guard-house is 26 by 18 feet, and divided into two rooms, which, 
 for the time being, are occupied as quarters by the post surgeon and his family, a hospital tent being 
 used meanwhile as guard house. 
 
 The store-house, 76 by 24 by 14 feet, is divided into a room for quartermasters stores, one for 
 subsistence, and an office. The corrals and sinks are near the river, sufficiently distant from the 
 quarters. 
 
 The water supply is at present obtained from springs in the bank of the river, at the site of 
 the old post, half a mile distant. Some half a dozen wells have been dug, and water invariably 
 found at from 3 to 5 feet, but it has proved unfit for use from its alkalinity. 
 
 The ration issued has been of good quality, but the commissary department has been almost 
 the only source of vegetable supplies. A good stock of canned vegetables has been on hand for 
 purchase. Potatoes and onions are occasionally brought from San Bernardino. There have been 
 no diseases at the post, except trivial cases. Care has been taken to secure all the vegetables pos- 
 sible as preventive of scurvy. 
 
 The hospital is kept well supplied with medicines and stores by yearly requisitions on the medi- 
 cal purveyor at San Francisco, California. 
 
 There are no inhabitants in the vicinity. Occasionally a baud of hostile Indians, supposed to 
 be Pi-Utes, cross the road on their way to or from the Colorado River. 
 
 Statement shoicing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Camp Cady, California, for 
 
 the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 J . 
 
 1 
 
 a 
 a . 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 
 tfl 
 
 
 5 
 
 * 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 , 
 
 f. 
 
 Years. 
 
 
 
 3 3 
 
 a 
 
 fi 
 3 
 
 si 
 
 a u 
 
 (E 
 
 s 
 
 -a 
 3 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 5 
 
 r: C 
 ^= 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 o a 
 
 o 
 
 rt 
 
 a 5 
 
 *X 
 
 
 
 OJ 
 
 P 
 
 i 
 
 fc - 
 
 V. 
 
 o 
 
 
 j 
 
 A "*- 
 
 *c3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 | 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
 a 
 
 ^> 
 
 H 
 
 
 to 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 1868 
 
 51 16 
 
 101 
 
 21 
 
 24 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 1-2 
 
 9 
 
 
 1859 . .. 
 
 26 33 
 
 46 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
478 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 FORT YUMA, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON J. V. LAUDERDALE, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 After receiving the Gila at a point 160 miles from its mouth, the Colorado Kiver turns suddenly 
 westward and forces its way through a rocky defile, 70 feet high, 350 yards long, and 200 yards 
 wide, thus cutting oft' a narrow rocky bluff aud leaving it as an isolated eminence on the California 
 side of the river. On this rocky eminence, which has been shifted not. many ages since from the 
 Arizona to the California side of the ever-varying stream, (and during high water it is hard to tell 
 which side it is on, as the water flows freely all around it,) stands Fort Yuma, (latitude 32 32' 
 north, longitude 114 36' 9" west,) rising gray and somber above the broad sea of green as it is 
 approached on the emigrant road from Pilot Knob. At this point the bottom lands adjacent to the 
 river average seven miles in width, and are covered with a dense growth of cottonwood and mes- 
 quite. Chains of low serrated hills and mountains limit the view on nearly every side, all bare and 
 gray save when painted by the sun with delicate tints of blue and purple. 
 
 History says that in the year 1540 the Viceroy of Spain sent Fernando Alarchon to explore the 
 Gulf of California, and he discovered the mouth of the Colorado, which he describes as " a very 
 mighty river which runs with so great a fury of stream that we could hardly sail against it." The 
 difficulty of ascending this river is due to the tidal wave flowing from the ocean through the Gulf 
 of California, and to a greater or less distance (depending on the height of the annual overtiow) 
 up the river, renders it unsafe for any but light-draught boats to make the attempt. All freight from 
 San Francisco must be reshipped at the mouth of the river, and the boats are able to run up as far 
 as Fort Yuma, where the average depth is 4 feet. During the mouths of June and July the flood 
 from the hills meets the tidal waves from the Gulf and causes an overflow or setting back of the 
 waters over the California desert, filling up the basins and that long bayou known as New River, 
 from which, during the summer, it gradually recedes or is evaporated by the burning sun. The 
 course of the river from the gorge at Fort Yuma is remarkably straight as far as Pilot Knob, a dis- 
 tance of 10 miles ; the banks are regular, and the current so rapid that bodies set afloat at the fort 
 will be carried nearly to the Knob. 
 
 Before reaching the fort the road leads the traveler through a long avenue, shaded by young 
 cottonwoods and inesquite, with an impenetrable growth of arrow-busk aud cane ; at length he 
 arrives at the bend of the river, aud the water no longer bears the Colorado or ruddy tint which 
 gives it its name, but appears of a muddy color, the red being due to reflected light. What ap- 
 peared in the distance to be a heavy fortification resolves itself into a collection of substantial 
 adobe houses, inclosed by deep verandas with Venetian blinds, which shut out every direct ray of 
 sunlight and exhibits an air of privacy unsurpassed by the surroundings of a Mormon harem. 
 Shade trees are an impossibility, and "grassed surfaces" unknown. Paragraphs 42 and 43, Re- 
 vised Regulations, do not apply to Fort Yuma. 
 
 Leaving the flat land along the river, we ascend the rocky hill toward the fort, aud, by an easy 
 winding roadway, cut out of the side of the bluff, reach the hollow square called the parade. Not 
 one single blade of grass, or viue, or tree, worthy of the name, is seen ; all is rock and the debris 
 of rock, and in many places the abraded faces of the crumbling feldspathic granite forms the sub- 
 stantial but gritty pathway. 
 
 All the buildings at the post are of sun-dried brick, and neatly plastered within and without. 
 They are constructed one story high, with lofty ceilings, large rooms, with double sash doors 
 extending from floors nearly to ceiling, and affording the freest ventilation. The roofs are made 
 double like the walls, inclosing an air chamber, and over all a metal sheeting. Each house is sur- 
 rounded on all sides by a veranda, and adjacent houses have their verandas meet so that an inmate 
 may pass from house to house without exposing himself to the sun. 
 
 That which entitles Yuma to the designation of fort are certain unpretentious intrenchincnts 
 scattered along the slopes of the bluff, which command the river and the bottom-lands adja- 
 cent ; they are not visible from the river, and the spectator is not aware of their existence until he 
 
FOET TUMA, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 479 
 
 steps to the edge of the bluff and looks down upon their gabion revetments. They were constructed 
 for barbette guns, bnt are now dismantled. 
 
 This not being a point for offensive operations, the garrison is small and chiefly engaged in 
 guard duty at the large quartermaster's depot across the river, and in escorting supply trains to 
 the interior of Arizona. 
 
 The parade we find a stony lawn ; the rocky hill roughly dressed and made smooth by filling in 
 with fine grit, and inclosing a square 200 by 600 feet in extent, with a gentle slope toward the river. 
 The arrangement of the post is shown in Figure 59. 
 
 i) 
 
 CJ 
 s 
 
 cm 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 J 
 B 
 
 B 
 
 !ni ll~ 1 
 
 m 
 
 [Hi 
 
 
 ...I 
 B 
 
 MB 
 
 L 
 
 Figure 59 Scale, 160 feet to 1 inch. 
 
 A, commanding officer's quarters; B, company quarters; C, quartermaster and adjutant's 
 offices ; E, store-houses ; F, flag-staff ; G, guard-house ; H, hospital ; K, kitchen ; L, ordnance 
 office; MN, corral ; O, officers' quarters ; OD, dining-room ; OK, kitchen: P, shops; E, reservoir; 
 S, sinks; T, sutler's store; V, bastions; W, bakery. 
 
 This post is well selected as a defense against Indians ; it is very healthy, but it is impossible 
 to find a more uninviting spot for a residence than this small promontory of decomposing trachyte. 
 The earth and rock are of that light ash-gray color so trying to the eyes that it is a relief to stand 
 near the flag-staff at the brow of the hill and look out upon the green vegetation that everywhere 
 covers the bottom lauds. 
 
 Being near an extensive desert the air is very dry, and evaporation is rapid. Rain seldom 
 falls; the annual quantity does not exceed five inches. During the months of April, May, and 
 June no rain falls ; then, with the thermometer at 105, the perspiration is scarcely seen upon the 
 skin, and it becomes dry and harsh, and the hair crispy. Furniture put together at the North and 
 brought here falls to pieces; traveling chests gap at their seams, and a sole-leather trunk contracts 
 so that with difficulty the tray can be lifted. Furniture to hold together must be made of the very 
 driest timber. The extreme dryness of the atmosphere is observed in the ink that dries so rapidly 
 upon the pen that it requires washing off every few minutes. A No. 2 " Faber " leaves no more 
 
480 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS. 
 
 trace on paper than a piece of anthracite, and it is necessary to keep one immersed in water while 
 using one that has been standing in water some time. Newspapers require to be unfolded with 
 care ; if rudely handled they break. I was called to inspect some commissary stores a short time 
 ago, and the loss they had sustained was remarkable. Twelve-pound boxes of soap weighed ten 
 pounds. Hams had lost 12 per cent, and rice 2 per cent of their original weight. Eggs that 
 have been on hand for a few weeks lose their watery contents by evaporation ; the remainder is 
 thick and tongh ; this has probably led to the story that our hens lay hard-boiled eggs. 
 
 The mercury gained the highest point last summer, on the 2d day of July, when, for two hours, 
 it stood at 113 in the shade. All metallic bodies were hot to the touch ; my watch felt like a hot 
 boiled egg in my pocket ; the cords of my grass hammock were like heated wires. At snch times, 
 if the wind is from the south, the air is like that from the mouth of a furnace, hot and ovenish. 
 
 The effort to cool one's self with an ordinary fan would be vain, because the surrounding 
 atmosphere is of a higher temperature than the body. The earth under foot is dry and powdery, 
 and hot as flour just ground, while the rocks are so hot that the hands cannot be borne upon them. 
 The parade is always hot at midday, and the story told of the dog that ran on three legs across it, 
 barking with pain at every step, may be correct, though I have never seen it tried. 
 
 This post, although not the most southerly, is the hottest military post in the United States ; 
 the mean annual temperature is 76.86. The highest temperature recorded in our books since 1850, 
 when the post was established, is 119, observed at 2.25 p. m., June 16, 1859. The monthly mean 
 for July, 1868, was 93, and for nineteen days the mercury at 2 p. m. stood above 100. A tem- 
 perature of 100 may exist at Fort Yuma for weeks in succession, and there will be no additional 
 cases of sickness in consequence. 
 
 The dress must be of the lightest, suitable to the temperature. The lightest woolen fabrics 
 that are made should be worn next to the skin, or, if woolen is not borne well, cotton. The dress 
 of the natives is very simple. The heavily fringed kilt, made of the bark of the cottonwood, or 
 woolen yarn, in two divisions which hardly come together at the hips, and worn about the loins, is 
 the fashion which obtains among the Yuma women, while the men of this tribe encumber them- 
 selves with about two yards of muslin, and a belt or strap. 
 
 Ice is never seen, not even on the coldest day in winter. I do not think it would be desirable 
 to have the article in summer if it could be furnished. The water we drink is relatively cool at 60 
 to 75, and is very refreshing. 
 
 We have none of the malarial diseases incident to the cities of the Gulf of Mexico, or along 
 the eastern seaboard. The heat depresses the already debilitated, and we miss the tonic effect of 
 cold weather; but those who come here in good health, and observe the ordinary rules for preserv- 
 ing it, will have nothing to fear from the high temperature. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of sick, and principal diseases at Fort Yuma, California, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1869. 
 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 J . 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 -a 
 
 3 
 
 o> 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 g 
 
 
 a 
 
 ^ 
 
 Years. 
 
 E 
 -* 
 
 a a 
 
 a 
 
 s 
 
 T3 
 
 1 
 
 "n 
 
 il 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 
 I 
 
 ri 
 
 II 
 
 eg 
 1 
 
 
 CO 
 
 ^ 
 
 O 
 
 
 rJU 03 
 
 
 p* 
 
 2 
 
 .3 
 
 H -K 
 
 **+ 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 13 
 
 4 
 &, 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 "3 
 
 i 
 
 e r- 
 
 S 
 
 
 
 1 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 "3 
 u 
 
 & 
 
 1868 
 
 97.5 
 
 135 
 
 
 17 
 
 29 
 
 20 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 
 11 
 
 3 
 
 1869 
 
 128 5 
 
 111 
 
 1 
 
 16 
 
 20 
 
 17 
 
 
 9 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 * Include laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pleurisy. 
 
DRUM BARRACKS, WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA. 481 
 
 DRUM BARRACKS, WILMINGTON, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 INFORMATION FURNISHED BY SURGEON W. F. EDGAR, UNITED STATES AK.MY. AND ASSISTANT 8UR- 
 
 6EOM CHARLES SMART, UNITED STATES ARMY. 
 
 Drum Barracks is situated in Los Angeles County, California, one mile from and .'55 feet above 
 tide-water in the Bay of San Pedro, in latitude 33 42' north, and 118 17' S" west longitude. The 
 town of Los Angeles is 20 miles distant north. The seaport of Wilmington lies between it and the 
 bay. On all other sides it is surrounded by a plain which reaches inland to the spurs of the mount- 
 ain range of California. The soil is a light, sandy loam, barren of shade trees and bearing but 
 little grass, although it produces well when irrigated; but there is little cultivated land in the 
 neighborhood on account of the want of water. The climate is mild, temperature 03 F. ; extremes, 
 102 and 32 F. Usually a light breeze from the southeast blows during the forenoon, hut is 
 replaced after midday by one stronger from the northwest. Occasionally sand-storms occur. 
 
 The post was established during the late war as a depot for the supply of the column of troops 
 which passed onward into Arizona. It was built for five companies, and to supply it with water a 
 ditch and flume from the San Gabriel River were constructed at great expense. The post is now 
 in poor repair and the Hume valueless, the water supply being carted daily from the wells at Wil- 
 mington. The buildings are seldom occupied, and troops passing in transit to or from Arizona usually 
 go into camp somewhere in the vicinity. Sick men from these passing commands are frequently 
 left for treatment at the post, and the hospital for this reason has been kept in 1 tetter repair. 
 There are no quartermaster or subsistence store-houses at the post; these are at a depot near the 
 wharf in Wilmington. Communication with San Francisco, California, is by steamer every Thurs- 
 day, arriving on Saturday. 
 
 The permanent garrison consists of a detachment of infantry, L'O strong, which is employed in 
 guard and fatigue duties, but is too weak to be able to keep the post in good repair. No gardens 
 are cultivated, but fresh vegetables, grown inland, can be purchased during their season. 
 
 The post is built on the four sides of a square of eight acres, and is arranged as follows : On 
 the east the men's quarters, with the laundresses' quarters and bakery in rear; on the west, officers' 
 quarters; on the north, commanding officer's quarters and adjutant's ollice, with the hospital in the 
 northeast angle; on the south the guard-house, magazine, and ordnance store-room. 
 
 The men's quarters are five sets of frame buildings; each set 80 by 30 feet, one story, with 
 ten windows, two doors, and a ventilating flue, 3 by 3 feet, in the center of the roof; each set is fur- 
 nished with wooden bunks, and would give about 400 c"ubic feet air space per man of the average 
 strength of an infantry company. Each building has a veranda in front and a large wing in rear, 
 formerly used as kitchen and mess-hall. 
 
 The officers' quarters on the west side are two large two-story -wooden buildings, with 
 veranda in front. Each contains four rooms on each floor, 20 by 18 feet, with two one-story wings 
 in rear intended as dining-rooms and kitchens. In the inclosnre in rear are also sinks, private 
 stables, and fuel houses. 
 
 The set of quarters on the north side are in better repair. The building is 40 by 35 feet, cot- 
 tage-built, with two rooms, 20 by 15 feet, and three 11 by 12 feet, dining-room and kitchen attached. 
 The hospital is a two-story frame building, with veranda in front. It is 80 by 40 feet, and has two 
 wings, 30 by 15 feet, and is divided into two wards, 39 by 40 feet ; two 15 by 19 feet, and one 40 by 
 15 feet, an office, 15 by 19 feet, a surgery, 15 by 19 feet, and a steward's room, 15 by 15 feet, a store- 
 room, 15 by 15 feet, a kitchen, 15 by 20 feet, a dining-room, 15 by 40 feet, and a bath-room, 15 by 10 
 feet. Sinks are 100 feet in rear. The wards can accommodate forty-two patients, to each of which 
 is allowed 1,200 cubic feet of air space. 
 
 The cases of disease left for treatment by troops in passing are usually rheumatic or bron- 
 chial affections, or diarrhoea. There are no ambulances or other transportation at the post; but 
 such as may be necessary can be obtained of the quartermaster's department at Wilmington. 
 61 
 
482 
 
 DESCRIPTIONS OF MIL1TAKY POSTS. 
 
 Statement showing mean strength, number of siclt, and principal diseases at Drum Barracks, California, 
 
 for the years 1868 and 1809. 
 
 
 
 b 
 
 
 
 nj 
 
 
 00 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 Q 
 
 
 Years. 
 
 Mean streugtl 
 
 Whole uum 
 taken sick. 
 
 Typhoid fever 
 
 Malarial fever 
 
 Diarrhoea a 
 dysentery. 
 
 Tonsillitis. 
 
 Venereal disea 
 
 Rheumatism. 
 
 Phthisis. 
 
 Catarrhal aff 
 tions.* 
 
 No. of deaths. 
 
 186H, (4 ninnlh.s) 
 
 80 
 
 46 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 10 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 . 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 172 
 
 
 27 
 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 20 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 Include laryngitis bronchitis, pneumonia, ajul pleurisy. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 REPORTS ON EXAMINATION OF AIR IN BARRACK ROOMS. 
 
 1. Report of Assistant Surgeon V. B. Ilubbartl, United States Army. 
 
 2. Report of Acting- Assistant Surgeon B. F. Craig, United States Army. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 REPORT OF ASSISTANT SURGEON V. 1$. HUHBARD, UNITED STATES ARMV, WI>T POINT. NEW YORK. 
 
 For the estimation of the ctn-l>/tii- nciil, the process followed was that given in Frezenios's 
 u Quantitative Analysis." 
 
 For the estimation of the organic mat to; the profess followed was t hat gis en in "I'arkc's Manual 
 of Practical Hygiene." 
 
 For the determination of the amount of carbonic acid, solutions of both calcium and barium 
 hydrates were used ; the proportion of CO 2 was determined by a standard solution of oxalic acid. 
 
 The first analysis was made of the air contained in the artillery barrack. 
 
 Date and hour of examination : July 22, 1870, 1.30 o'clock a. in. 
 
 Room on the ground floor. 
 
 Contents of the room, in cubic feet, 13,OIG.L>5. 
 
 Superficial area of windows and door open at the time of examination, in feet, 131. 7.1. 
 
 The air examined was taken at an elevation of 2 feet 6 inches from the Hoor. 
 
 Temperature of the room at the time of examination, 81 F. 
 
 Xo perceptible breeze moving at the time. 
 
 Sleeping in the room at the time of examination, 19 men ; unoccupied bunks, 3. 
 
 Estimation of CO 2 . 
 
 The volume of air examined was 3,700 cubic centimeters. 
 
 The solution of calcium hydrate indicated the presence of 6.2~> milligrams of CO 2 in the volume 
 of air examined. 
 
 The solution of barium hydrate indicated the presence of fl.50 milligrams of CO- in the same 
 volume of air. 
 
 Taking the mean of these as the correct amount, and reducing the volume of air examined at 
 81 F., to what it would be at 02 F., we find 9.58 volumes of CO 2 in 10,000 volumes of air. 
 
 Estimation of organic matter. 
 
 Three thousand four hundred and nine cubic centimeters of air were passed through one 
 liter of pure water, and the amount of organic matter taken up by the water, estimated by mean* 
 of a standard solution of potassium permanganate. The air was found to contain .00440 grams of 
 oxidizable animal organic matter per 1,000 cubic centimeters of air. 
 
 The second analysis was made of the air contained in the cavalry barrack. 
 
 Date and hour of examination : July 22, 1870, 3 o'clock a. m. 
 
 Room on the second floor. 
 
 Contents of the room, in cubic feet, 16,803.36. 
 
 Superficial area of windows and door open at the time of examination, in feet, 111. 
 
 The air examined was taken at an elevation of 2 feet 6 inches from the floor. 
 
 The temperature of the room at the time of examination was 78 F. 
 
 A slight breeze moving from the southwest at the time of examination. 
 
 Sleeping in the room at the time of examination, 16 men ; unoccupied bunks, 17. 
 
 Estimation of CO 2 . 
 
 The volume of air examined was 4,340 cubic centimeters. 
 
 The solution of calcium hydrate indicated the presence of 7.37 milligrams of CO 2 in the air 
 examined. 
 
486 I.XAMIXATION OF AIR IN BARRACKS. 
 
 The barium hydrate indicated the presence of 7.25 milligrams of CO 2 in the same volume of air. 
 Proceeding as before, we find 9.30 volumes of CO 2 to 10,000 volumes of air. 
 
 Estimation of organic matter. 
 
 Three thousand four hundred and nine cubic centimeters of air were passed through one liter 
 of pure water, and the amount of organic matter taken np by the water estimated by means of a 
 standard solution of potassium permanganate. The air was found to contain .OOU92 grains of 
 oxidi/.able animal organic matter per 1,000 cubic centimeters of air. 
 
 The third analysis was made of the air contained in the engineer barrack. 
 
 Date and hour of examination, July 26, 1870, 2 o'clock a. m. 
 
 Room on the second floor. 
 
 Contents of the room, in cubic feet, 6,296.4.0. 
 
 Superficial area of windows and door open at the time of examination, in feet, G3. 
 
 The air examined was taken at an elevation of 2 feet G inches from the floor. 
 
 The temperature of the room at the time of examination was 85 F. 
 
 A fresh breeze blowing from the west. Circulation of air in the room good. 
 
 Sleeping in the room, at the time of examination, 9 men ; unoccupied bunks, 2. 
 
 Estimation of CO*. 
 
 Proceeding as in the cases of the first and second analyses, 10,000 volumes of air were found to 
 contain 0.37 volumes of CO 2 . 
 
 Estimation of organic matter. 
 
 Proceeding as in the above analyses, the air was found to contain .003430 grams of oxidizable 
 animal organic matter per 1,000 cubic centimeters of air. 
 
 The fourth analysis was made of the air contained in the cadet hospital. 
 
 Date and hour of examination, July 2S, .1870, 2 o'clock a. m. 
 
 Ward on the tirst floor. 
 
 Contents of the ward, in cubic feet, 4,480. 
 
 Superficial area of windows and door open at the time of examination, in feet, 73.35. 
 
 The air examined was taken at an elevation of 2 feet and G inches from the floor. 
 
 The temperature of the ward at the time of the examination was 77 F. 
 
 A slight breeze blowing from the south-southeast. Circulation of air in the ward good. 
 
 Sleeping in the ward, at the time of examination, four patients, (cadets.) 
 
 Estimation of CO' 1 . 
 
 Proceeding as in the above analyses, 10,000 volumes of the air were found to contain 5.G8 
 volumes of CO 2 ; but, owing to a suspected error in manipulation, the test was repeated on the 
 following morning, (July 29,) at the same hour, under similar circumstances, and 10,000 volumes of 
 air were found to contain 5.52 volumes of CO 2 . The thermometer in this examination indicated 76 
 F. A brisk breeze was blowing from the north-northeast. Rain, with thunder and lightning, from 
 10 p. m. to 10.30 p. m., 28th instant. 
 
 Estimation of organic matter. 
 
 Proceeding as in the above analyses, the air was found to contain .001875 grams of oxidizable 
 animal organic matter per 1,000 cubic centimeters of air. 
 
 To account for a portion of the discrepancy in the results obtained from the calcium and barium 
 tests for CO 2 in the artillery and cavalry barracks, it should perhaps be stated that in the artillery 
 barrack the calcium test was used first, and immediately after entering the room. 
 
 The barium test was used afterwards; and seven men, in addition to those sleeping in the 
 room, were introduced to conduct and assist in the experiments; while in the cavalry barracks 
 the barium test was used first under similar circumstances. 
 
 It is but right that I should mention that these analyses were made chiefly by Captain Lorenzo 
 Lorain, Third United States Artillery, for the past eight years assistant professor of chemistry in 
 the United States Military Academy, assisted by Lieutenant John Pitman, United States Ordnance 
 Corps, instructor in chemistry. 
 
APPENDIX. 487 
 
 Sl'KCIAI, KEPOUT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEON I!. F. CKAKJ, l.-.MTF.I) STATKS AK'MY. 
 
 GENERAL: I luivc the honor to submit the following report on the ventilation of the soldiers' 
 quarters at certain posts which I visited, in accordance with your instructions : 
 
 There are two radically different methods by which the amount of ventilation of a room ma\ 
 be ascertained. One of these is to measure; mechanically the quantity of air that enters or leaves 
 it, a measurement which may be made with tolerable accuracy by small anemometers, in those cases 
 where all. the air enters or leaves through one or more ventilating shafts or other air passages so 
 placed as to be accessible, for purposes of experiment. This condition of things is to be found in 
 buildings in whose, construction certain plans of ventilation have been provided for, but is not met 
 with in the quarters usually occupied by United States troops. The other method of measuring 
 ventilation is to determine the amount of vitiation of the air of an apartment occupied by a given 
 number of persons. 
 
 In an occupied room the air undergoes various alterations, which, for the most part, are the 
 results of the passage of portions of it through the lungs of the occupants. The most noticeable of 
 these alterations are those of temperature, of moisture, of the amount of organic matter of various 
 kinds, and of the amount of carbonic acid ; and by measuring the extent of any of these changes a 
 basis may be obtained for some sort of calculation as to the rapidity with which the air in the room 
 is renewed. They are very far, however, from giving equally satisfactory means of calculation. 
 
 The change of temperature is well marked in a very crowded room in cold weather when there are 
 no artificial sources of heat present, but as a general thing the difference of temperature between 
 the external and the internal air is either too slight or too much dependent upon causes incapable 
 of exact estimation to be made of practical use for determining the amount of ventilation. 
 
 The augmentation of the moisture of the air would seem, at first sight, to be of more value as 
 an indicator, as in passing through the lungs the vapor of water in the air is increased, in some 
 cases, as much as seventeen times, or from one to seventeen grains in a cubic foot ; and if the 
 methods for the ready estimation of the moisture of the air were sufficiently exact in their results, 
 they could, in dry cold weather, be advantageously employed in this connection; but, as it is, their 
 accuracy is not great enough for this particular purpose. 
 
 The perception by the sense of smell of the presence of organic matter is the usual and the 
 standard test of the fact of insufficient ventilation. For the simple fact of good or bad ventilation. 
 the accuracy of this test is greatly influenced by the temperature, and it is sufficiently delicate 
 only in a tolerably warm room. 
 
 When we attempt to determine the amount of organic emanations from the body present in a 
 given space, we find that they are so small in actual mass, and of so complex and so indefinite a 
 character, that they evade to a certain extent the powers of chemical titration. 
 
 The measurement of the carbonic acid which is added to the air by animal respiration is much 
 (Veer from the difficulties above alluded to. The quantity given oft' is more considerable, as air, in 
 passing through the lungs, has its carbonic acid increased about one hundred times, or from about 
 four parts in ten thousand to four parts in one hundred. Moreover, the chemical affinities of car- 
 bonic acid, although comparatively feeble, are well defined, and it is capable of tolerably exact 
 chemical estimation. 
 
 In examining the air of soldiers' sleeping apartments, I noted its condition as to organic mat- 
 ter, as far as indicated by its odor, and measured its moisture by means of the improved hygrom- 
 eter of the Medical Department, but the most important part of the examination was the determin- 
 ation of the carbonic acid. 
 
 This was made by the well-known process of Fettenkofer, which depends upon the power of 
 solutions of lime and of baryta to absorb carbonic acid from the air, and to precipitate it in an 
 insoluble form. The determination was made both for the external and for the internal air, and it was 
 then assumed, in accordance with the experiments of Mr. Edward Smith, that a sleeping man pro- 
 duces about four-tenths of a cubic foot of carbonic acid per hour, and will therefore increase (lie amount 
 of it in one thousand cubic feet of air, to the extent of four parts in ten thousand, and in two 
 thousand feet, to the extent of two parts in ten thousand, v.Ve.. so that from the percentage of 
 carbonic acid we may infer, by computation, the number of cubic feet of fresh air received per 
 
488 KXAMINATION OF AIR IN BAKRACKS. 
 
 hour for each man. Of course an allowance is to be made for the amount of air originally con- 
 tained in the room, and this is determined on obvious principles, by considering the size of tlie 
 room, the number of its occupants, and the length of time during which it had been occupied by 
 them when the air was collected. 
 
 As soldiers are supposed to enter their quarters at a certain hour in the evening, and to remain 
 in them through the uight, without materially altering their ventilation, this allowance can be made 
 with some approximation to accuracy, in a way which will be shown further on. 
 
 A solution of baryta, of carefully measured strength, was employed for the absorption of the 
 carbonic acid, but iu some cases circumstances led to the substitution for it of a solution of lime- 
 
 The chief modifications of Fettenkofer's original process were these : Dilute hydrochloric acid, 
 of such strength that one cubic centimeter was equivalent to one milligram of carbonic acid, was 
 used instead of the oxalic acid solution of Pettcukofer, as being less liable to alter by keeping, and 
 the solution of baryta, after having been spread over the sides of the jar, and exposed for several 
 hours to the action of the contained air, was taken up by a long pipette and transferred to one of 
 the small flasks known as Schuster's alkalimeters. In this it was allowed to settle and to deposit 
 the suspended carbonate. The clear liquid was then carefully poured off, drop by drop, into a 
 measured quantity of standard acid, contained in a porcelain capsule, in which it had been mixed 
 with a few drops of tincture of litmus, until the color was Brought to the tint which the same 
 litmus tincture gave to distilled water. The quantity required for the neutralization of the acid 
 was determined by weighing the flask both before and after the titration. AVheu the baryta solution 
 was first transferred from the jar, the beak of the flask was sealed by tallow or simple cerate, to 
 prevent access of air, and when the final testing was to be made, a hole was pricked through with 
 a needle, to allow of its being poured out. When lime water is used for absorbing the carbonic 
 acid, a much longer exposure is required to give accurate results, and it should remain in the jar 
 for at least twenty-four hours. The solution of baryta, which absorbs,carbonic acid from the air 
 very rapidly, was kept in small and well-stopped bottles, one of which was opened whenever a 
 determination was to be made, and what was not used at the time thrown away, so that the baryta 
 water was never taken from bottles which had beeu kept on hand after being partially emptied. 
 This precaution was not found necessary with the lime water. 
 
 The barracks were generally visited, for the purpose of collecting the air, about three hours 
 after the men had gone to bed ; but in two or three instances the visit was made shortly before 
 reveille, or after the room had been occupied for about eight hours. In most cases fires were iu 
 use in the quarters ; and the question may be raised whether the accumulation of carbonic acid 
 may not have beeu increased by the products of combustion of the fuel. This question, I think, 
 can be answered in the negative, as in all cases the stoves were burning with a very good draught, 
 and the current of air from the tire up the stove-pipe was too quick and steady to leave it at all 
 probable that a diffusion of gases took place backward into the room. 
 
 The first post visited was Fort Adams, in Newport Harbor. The troops there arc lodged in 
 casemates 54 feet long by 18 wide, giving 972 square feet floor space, and with cubic contents of 
 about 10,700 feet. The ceiling and walls, or rather the furring of the walls, are built inside of the 
 original masonry of the casemate, and in the ceiling are two large circular openings which communi- 
 cate with a hollow space under the stone arch. Immediately under the coping of the scarp wall are 
 openings which are probably the termination of ventilating flues ascending from the roof of the 
 casemate arch. In this way a communication exists between the interior of the casemates and the 
 external air through the openings in the ceilings, and whenever these openings were examined a 
 slight current of air was found moving through them downward into the room. Each casemate 
 is provided with two chimneys, and has windows opening in front on the parade ground, and in 
 the rear through loop-holes into the ditch. The ventilation of these casemates depends in summer 
 chiefly on doors and windows being left open', and in winter on the draught up the chimneys, and 
 the compensating inward flow through the openings in the ceilings, and through accidental 
 crevices. One of the chimneys is always closed by a fire-board through which the stove-pipe 
 passes, and the other is generally open and provided with a grate. A good deal of the outward 
 draught of air takes place around the stove-pipe, if it passes loosely through the fire-board, and that 
 opening might in all cases advantageously be enlarged to allow of the freer access of air into the 
 chimney, which the presence of the stove-pipe converts into an efficient ventilating shaft. 
 
APPENDIX. 489 
 
 At Fort Adams tbe wind blows constantly for the greater part of the year, and by connecting 
 the ventilating flues in the masonry with cowls turning toward the wind, or with some equivalent 
 arrangement, their ventilating action could be made much more considerable. In connection with 
 such a device a shaft could be carried down from one of the apertures in the ceiling, and be made 
 to introduce fresh air under the stove ; or sheets of wire-gauze could be placed immediately below 
 the apertures to warm and diffuse the entering air. The openings which can be made into case- 
 mates are so limited that the forcing through them of currents of wind, in connection with measures 
 for increasing the efficiency of the chimneys as upcast shafts, is the only practicable method of 
 securing a very large ventilation. The amount of ventilation which at present exists may be seen 
 by the following experiments: 
 
 Visited at 12.30 night of October 4-5, casemate on western half of southeast front. Number 
 of men in it fifteen, giving to each a floor space of 65 feet, and cubic space of 713 ieet. There was 
 a fire in the stove, and the temperature of the room was 09 F., six degrees above that of the ex- 
 ternal air. The wind was from the southward, blowing obliquely into the mouths of the ventilat- 
 ing openings on the scarp wall. The air of the room being driven through a jar for a few minutes, 
 25 cubic centimeters of standard lime-water were put in and the stopper inserted. After a sufficient 
 lapse of time to make the action of the lime-water effectual, the absorption of carbonic acid was de- 
 termined, and, corrections being made for temperature, &c., was found to amount to 9.G7 parts in 
 10,000. The external air received into a jar at the same time yielded 4.08 parts in 10,000. This 
 leaves 5.59 parts in 10,000 for vitiation of air. As on the supposition that each man produces 0.4 
 cubic feet of carbonic acid per hour, an accumulation of 4.00 per 10,000 would correspond to a ven- 
 tilation of 1,000 feet per man per hour, 5.59 corresponds to a ventilation of 712 feet per man per 
 hour. As the room, however, had been occupied for about three hours, one-third of the cubic con- 
 tents per man is to be subtracted from this apparent ventilation, which will leave 474 cubic feet per 
 man, or 15x474=7,110 cubic feet of air passing through the casemate every hour. 
 
 On the 6th of October air was taken from the same casemate before reveille, and found to con- 
 tain 10.07 parts per 10,000. The determination of carbonic acid in the external air was reudered uncer- 
 tain by an accident, but as it may be assumed to be substantially the same as on the preceding night, 
 the excess of carbonic acid in the air of the quarters would be 5.99 per 10,000, corresponding to a 
 ventilation of 667 feet per man per hour. From this subtract one-eighth of the cubic space per 
 man, and we have a ventilation of 578 feet per hour, and as a mean of the results of examinations 
 at the different hours of midnight and of day-break, 528 feet per man, or 7,890 feet for the whole room 
 
 The quarters were several times visited, and air collected during the month of September; but 
 from the lameness of my hand at that time interfering with the proper performances of the manip- 
 ulations, I have not perfect confidence in the accuracy of the results. Moreover, at that season 
 the windows were always found more or less open, so that the condition of things may be regarded 
 as coming under the head of summer ventilation. The amounts of carbonic acid found during this 
 warmer season indicated a ventilation of from 1,000 to 3,900 feet per man per hour. 
 
 The largest amount of ventilation was found in the quarters of the band, on the northern front. 
 These were of different arrangement from the other quarters, and the original flues for carrying off 
 the smoke from the guns opened directly into the apartment, and acted efficiently as upcast shafts, 
 while on the opposite side of the room a brisk wind was blowing against the partially opened win- 
 dows. In winter, when the windows are closed, the ventilating flues would probably cease to draw 
 so well. 
 
 At some distance from the fort are sets of quarters for married soldiers, to which I did not 
 make any night visits. Each set consists of a small room used as a kitchen, eating-room, and 
 company laundry, and an attic chamber above, of 954 cubic feet capacity. The greatest number of 
 persons sleeping in one of these rooms is seven, viz., a soldier, his wife, and five children. The 
 ventilation is by a staircase into the room below and a window, which can hardly be kept open in 
 cold weather. 
 
 I proceeded to Boston Harbor from Newport, and visited there Forts Independence and War- 
 ren, at each of which a company of artillery is stationed. 
 
 At Fort Independence quarters for the men have been made in the rear or inner portions of 
 the casemates, which are separated from the gun-gallery by large doors. The gun-gallery is ex- 
 
 62 
 
490 EXAMINATION OF AIK IN BAKBACKS. 
 
 ceediugly damp; and when a board is removed from the floor of the quarters, the stones beneath 
 are' seen to be wet. The quarters have each a floor space of 21 by 17, or 357 square feet, and a 
 cubic capacity of 3,927 feet. In the middle of the ceiling is a place for a register ventilator, which, 
 however, has never been put in, excepting in the quarters of the non-commissioned officers. 
 
 On the night of the 13th-14th of October one of the rooms was visited. There were nine men in 
 it, giving 436 cubic feet to each man. One window was open at top to the extent of 150 square 
 inches. At the other end of the room was a stove with a fire in it, the stove-pipe going through a 
 brick wall into the chimney. Around the stove-pipe was an irregular opening, through which a 
 rapid current of air was passing. The temperature of the air was 70, and its moisture 4.62 grains 
 in a cubic foot. The carbonic acid, as determined by a solution of baryta, was 7.18 in 10,000. 
 The external air had the temperature of 57, and contained 3.50 grains of water in a cubic foot. 
 Its carbonic acid was 3.68 in 10,000. This gives an excess of 3.5 per 10,000 for the internal air. 
 Making allowance for the capacity of the room, this indicates a ventilation of 997 feet per man, or 
 S.973 cubic feet per hour for the room. 
 
 At Fort Warren the quarters were of a much better character than at Independence. They were 
 cast-mates of 540 feet floor space, and 8,100 feet capacity. In front were two windows opening on 
 the parade, and in rear three windows opening through loop-holes into the ditch. In the ceiling 
 were two openings of apparently about 12 by 14 inches each, and near the floor eight apertures of 
 8 by 6 inches, closed by registers. On looking at the top of the scarp from the outside, a number 
 of small openings could be seen in a stone- work revetment of the slope of the parapet, which prob- 
 ably were connected through passages in the masonry with the above-mentioned ventilating open- 
 ings. When one of the registers near the floor was opened, a current of air entered the room 
 through it ; there also seemed to be an inward current through the openings in the ceiling. There 
 were two chimneys in each casemate, both of them, however, having their fire-places closed up by 
 brick-work, and through one of these brick fire-boards the pipe of the stove was passed. 
 
 Two casemates were visited ou the night of the 14th-15th October. In the first of them there 
 were eleven men. A fire was burning in the stove ; the pipe passed through the brick -work screen 
 with a loose fit, and around the pipe there was a strong draught into the chimney. One of the 
 foot-board registers was open, the others closed. Two of the windows in the rear were partly- 
 open, and one window in front was down a little at top. The temperature of the air was 70. and 
 its moisture 4.29 grains to the cubic foot. The carbonic acid was 6.26 in 10,000, an excess of only 
 0.77 over the external air. This corresponds to a ventilation of 54^450 for the room, or 4,950 for 
 each man. 
 
 The second casemate contained ten men. It had two windows open in rear, one pane of 
 glass broken in front, and one foot-board register open. The condition of things difl'ered from that 
 in the first casemate only in this, that the stove-pipe passed through a closely-fitting hole, and thus 
 the ventilation into the chimney was cut off. The temperature was 72, and the moisture 4.76 
 grains in a cubic foot. The carbonic acid was 8.37 in 10,000, and the computed ventilation for the 
 room 12,000 cubic feet per hour, or 1,200 feet per hour for each man. The great difference in the 
 ventilation of the two casemates is evidently due to the want of an opening into the chimney of the 
 one last examined. The external air had a temperature of 52.5, 3.41 grains of moisture to the 
 cubic foot, and 5.49 parts carbonic acid per 10,000 a notably larger proportion than any previously 
 found out of doors. It may be mentioned that OH tin's night there was seen from the post a bril- 
 liant and remarkable aurora. 
 
 In New York Harbor I visited Forts Wood, Wadsworth, and Hamilton, and the post at Wil- 
 let's Point. 
 
 At Fort Wood the men were quartered in frame barracks outside of the fortification, the rooms 
 being about 1,320 feet floor space, and 15,860 feet cubic capacity. There are twelve windows on each 
 side, and three ventilators in the roof. The first room which I visited contained fourteen men. There 
 was a fire in one stove, the stove-pipe passing up through a ventilating shaft, and many of the win- 
 dows were down at the top. The temperature of the room near to where the jar was filled was 
 59.5, its moisture 3.75 grains in a cubic foot, and the carbonic acid 5.12 parts in 10,000. 
 
 Another barrack was occupied temporarily by troops that had just arrived at the fort. 
 There were forty men in it. The stoves were not yet ready for use. Many of the windows were 
 open at top, but rather less freely so than in the first barrack. The temperature was 58, the 
 
APPENDIX. 491 
 
 moisture 4.02 grains in a foot, and the carbonic acid 9.13 in 10,000. The external air was of the tem- 
 perature of 47.5, 3.2'. grains of nioistiirc to the foot, and 4.62 carbonic acid. The calculated 
 ventilation for the first room was IOii.700 cubic feet per hour, and for the second, 30,700. This 
 large difference between barracks of the same si/.e and character is to be attributed to the influence 
 of the fire in the stove of the one first visited. 
 
 At Fort Wadsworth the men had been removed from the casemates, and quartered in frame 
 barracks. The one in which I collected air was a ceiled room, 81 by 27 feet floor space, and 10 
 feet high, it contained fifteen men, giving io each the ample allowance of 1,458 feet of cubic 
 space. Along the middle line of the room were three chimneys, belonging originally to other 
 buildings which had stood on the same ground. Into two of these chimneys were inserted the 
 pipes of two stoves, in which fires were burning, and in the sides of all three chimneys were round 
 holes a few inches in diameter. Five of these holes were open, beside others which were occupied 
 by tho stove-pipes, or closed by obstructions, and through the five open holes most of the ventila- 
 tion of the room seemed to take place, the current of air into them being very rapid. In the ceil- 
 ing of the room were three openings of about 20 inches square, leading into the space between the 
 roof and the ceiling. The effect of these as ventilators was less apparent. There was no wind 
 blowing at the time ; but if a window was raised on either side or at either end of the building, a 
 current of air rushed in, showing that the three chimneys acted vigorously in exhausting the air 
 from the room, and that free openings for the entrance of air was the only thing needed to make 
 abundant ventilation. At one end of the room a pane of glass was broken out, and through this 
 the air was passing in rapidly. All other access of air to the room was through accidental crevices. 
 The temperature of the air was 70, the, moisture 4.07, and the carbonic acid 6.24. The thermome- 
 ter out of doors stood at 47, the moisture was 2.60, and the carbonic acid 4.23. From these data 
 we are to infer a ventilation of 22,710 feet per hour for the room, or 1,514 feet to each man. 
 
 At Fort Hamilton I found a large, garrison quartered in casemates of an inferior kind. Those 
 in which the greater part of the men were lodged are 44 feet by 14, with an offset some 4 feet deep 
 in the thickness of the wall, the total cubic space being about 7,700 feet. The rooms are ceiled and 
 furred, and along the arch of the ceiling is a broad slit guarded by lattice-work, while along the 
 foot-board are numerous narrow slits covered by wire nettings. What communication, if any the 
 space between the furring and the masonry has with the external air could not be made out either 
 at the fort or from an examination of the plans and drawings at the Engineer Bureau in Washington. 
 
 In a casemate which I visited at midnight there were eighteen men sleeping, and the carbonic 
 acid in the air amounted to 14.06 per 10,000. The external air contained 4.22 per 10,000, and the 
 ventilation, therefore, would be only 260 feet per man. or 4,080 for the whole room. 
 
 I also visited the guard-rooms or prisons at Fort Hamilton, which are low and damp casemates. 
 In the one from which I collected air there were twelve prisoners; a fire was burning in the stove, 
 the pipe passing up through a tine. Two embrasures and four loop-holes, closed only by gratings, 
 allowed a pretty free entrance of air. The amount of carbonic acid found was 5.76 per 10,000. 
 Just over the bunks where the prisoners slept the accumulation was no doubt greater. 
 
 Between the fort and the post hospital are quarters for married soldiers of the same insufficient 
 size and ventilation as those noticed at Fort Adams. 
 
 The last post visited was Willet's Point, which is occupied by the engineer battalion. The men 
 were quartered in old frame barracks, the new barracks in course of erection not being yet com- 
 pleted. Air was collected from a barrack room occupied by twenty-eight men, which had a floor 
 space of 58 feet, and a cubic capacity of 780 cubic feet per man. The room was not ceiled, and the 
 height to the ridge-pole was 15 feet. Above the ridge were small turrets with windows on all sides, 
 intended to serve as ridge ventilators. These turret windows were closed at the time of my visit, 
 but along the eaves fifteen or twenty small ventilators were standing open. Fires were burning 
 in two stoves, the pipes of which passed out through narrow sleeves or tubes of earthenware or 
 metal, which extended downward for a short distance from the ridge, inclosing the pipes. These 
 acted as good ventilators, as far as their insufficient size permitted. The carbonic acid from the 
 air taken at midnight was found to be 4.96 per J0,000, an excess of 1.90 over that of the external 
 air. With a capacity of room of 780 cubic feet per man, as above stated, this gives a ventilation 
 of 1 ,845 feet per man. 
 
492 EXAMINATION OF AIE IN BAEKACKS. 
 
 Another jar was tilled iu tbe quarters of the band, a somewhat smaller apartment, in a barrack 
 from which the turret ventilators had been removed, on account of their seeming to endanger the 
 security of the building. There were eleven men in the room, and about 1,500 cubic feet of space 
 for e.ich. No stoves were up, and no windows or other ventilating apertures were open, all the air 
 which entered or left the room passing through crevices of the wood-work. The amount of carbonic 
 acid found was 10.07, and upon calculation the ventilation indicated is reduced to 25 cubic feet per 
 man per hour, or 275 feet per hour for the whole room, showing that where the ventilation depends 
 entirely on the action of the wind in blowing through crevices, it may, at times, even in a frame 
 building, be practically suppressed. 
 
 With regard to the general results of the above detailed examinations, it may be remarked that 
 the amount of air which writers on hygiene have held to be the minimum supply consistent with 
 perfect healthfulness, viz., 2,000 cubic feet per man per hour, was, at the posts which I visited, 
 attained only in exceptional instances; but that in most cases an extension and slight modification 
 of the existing systems of ventilation would probably give a sufficient circulation of air. 
 
 The efficient agent or motive power in winter ventilation is the heat of the fire, and more par- 
 ticularly that portion of the heat which is communicated by the stove-pipe to the air of the shaft 
 or chimney through which it passes out. 
 
 In our military hospitals the stove pipe passes out through a large shaft which opens freely 
 into the room, but in quarters provision for the access of air to the chimney is apt to be deficient 
 or altogether disregarded. 
 
 The upcast ventilation set in motion by the heat of the stove is, moreover, often held in check 
 by the want of openings for the entrance of the external air, and this difficulty must inevitably 
 increase as the winter advances and the entrances for cold air are closed up by those sleeping 
 near them. 
 
 Ventilation should not be nv.ulu to depLMid upon the endurance by men of unpleasant and dan- 
 gerous currents of cold air; and where the inhabitants of a room cannot so choose their sleeping 
 places as to be out of draughts, the cold air on entering should have, as far as possible, the general 
 temperature of the room immediately imparted to it. There are two general methods of doing this, 
 one of them that of Franklin, who connected with the stove a shaft which brought in the outer air a 
 plan which requires the stove to be placed as far distant as possible from the ventilating chimney 5 
 and the other is represented by a contrivance shown me at the rooms of the Board of Health in New 
 York, of a large metal box intended to be placed in a window-sash from which a pane of glass had 
 been removed. This acts both by imparting the warmth of the metal to the entering air, and by 
 causing it to mix more thoroughly with the air of the room. 
 
 In buildings erected for quarters there is no doubt but that proper ventilation can be secured by 
 a little intelligently-directed labor and expense, but in casemates which were put up for a different 
 purpose, and in which even small .alterations are costly, the question is different. Certain case- 
 mates, as those of Fort Independence and of Fort Hamilton, are evidently not suitable for habita- 
 tions. Casemates of a more modern character of construction, like those of Fort Warren, are greatly 
 superior to those first-named in all sanitary aspects ; but as there are limits to their possible ven- 
 tilation which do not exist elsewhere, the cubic space per man should be greater than that afforded 
 in barracks; and casemates must always be regarded as quarters in which men are particularly 
 liable to suffer from the evils of overcrowding. 
 
 Very respectfully, yonr obedient servant, 
 
 B. F. CBAIG, 
 Actfg Asst. Surgeon United /States Army. 
 
INDEX OF TOSTS DESCRIBKD. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Abercrombie, Fort 372 
 
 Adiitns, Fort 18 
 
 Alcatraz Island, California 439 
 
 Angel Island, California 440 
 
 Atlanta, Georgia 145 
 
 Austin, Texas 177 
 
 Baker, Camp 4U9 
 
 Bairancas, Fort 156 
 
 Bascom, Fort 253 
 
 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 173 
 
 Bayard, Fort 240 
 
 Brtiton, Fort 405 
 
 Bidwell, Camp 446 
 
 Bliss, Fort 232 
 
 Boise, Fort 425 
 
 Bowie, Camp 471 
 
 Brady, Fort 124 
 
 Bridger, Fort 359 
 
 Browu, Fort 206 
 
 Buford, Fort 400 
 
 Cady, Camp 476 
 
 Cape Disappointment, Fort 420 
 
 Carlisle Barracks 59 
 
 Charleston, South Carolina -.. 141 
 
 Clark, Fort 218 
 
 Columbus, Fort 24 
 
 Colorado, Camp 470 
 
 Colville, Fort 417 
 
 Coucho, Fort 198 
 
 Craig, Fort 244 
 
 Crittenden, Camp 472 
 
 Cummings, Fort 238 
 
 Date Creek, Camp 475 
 
 Davis, Fort 227 
 
 Delaware, Fort 55 
 
 Dodge, Fort 301 
 
 Douglas, Camp 363 
 
 Dium Barracks, California 481 
 
 Duncan, Fort 217 
 
 Ellis, Fort 406 
 
 Fetterman, Fort '. 3,~>0 
 
 Foote, Fort 68 
 
 Garland, Fort 320 
 
 Gaston, Camp 448 
 
 Gibson, Fort , 267 
 
 Grant, Camp 465 
 
 Gratiot, Fort 120 
 
 Griffin, Fort 194 
 
 Halleck, Camp 452 
 
 Hamilton, Fort 
 
 Ha.ker, Fort 290 
 
 Harney, Camp 436 
 
 Hays, Fort 304 
 
 Independence, Camp, California 
 
 Independence, Fort, Massachusetts 
 
 .Iack.*ou Hal racks 
 
 Jackson and St. Philip, Forts 
 
 JefTrson, Texas 
 
 Jefferson, Fort, Florida 
 
 Jefferson Barracks, Missouri 
 
 Johnson, Fort 
 
 Kearney, Fort 
 
 Key West, Florida 
 
 Klamath, Fort 
 
 Lapwai, Fort 
 
 Lara mie, Fort 
 
 Larned, Fort 
 
 Leavenwortb, Fort 
 
 Little Rock, Arkansas 
 
 Lowell, Camp 
 
 Lyon, Fort 
 
 Mackinac, Fort 
 
 Macon, Fort 
 
 Madison Barracks 
 
 McDermitt, Camp 
 
 McDowell, Camp 
 
 McHenry, Fort 
 
 Mclntosh, Fort 
 
 McKavett, Fort 
 
 McPherson, Fort, Nebraska 
 
 McPherson Barracks, Georgia 
 
 McRae, Fort 
 
 Mobile, Alabama 
 
 Mojave, Camp 
 
 Monroe, Fort 
 
 Newport Barracks 
 
 Niagara, Fort 
 
 North Platte Station, Nebraska 
 
 Oglethorpe Barracks 
 
 Omaha Barracks 
 
 Outai io, Fort 
 
 Pike, Fort 
 
 Plattsburg Barracks 
 
 Point San Jose, California 
 
 Porter, Fort 
 
 Preble, Fort 
 
 Presidio of San Francisco, California. 
 
 Pulaski, Fort 
 
 Quitman, Fort 
 
 Raleigh, North Carolina , 
 
 Randall, Fort 
 
 Ransom, Fort 
 
 Reynolds, Camp, California 
 
 Reynolds, Fort, Colorado Territory... 
 
 Rice, Fort 
 
 Richardson, Fort 
 
 9 
 
 162 
 Iftj 
 
 275 
 
 92 
 332 
 152 
 433 
 423 
 3)5 
 299 
 384 
 273 
 462 
 313 
 132 
 
 83 
 
 97 
 453 
 459 
 
 63 
 215 
 203 
 334 
 145 
 242 
 159 
 467 
 
 72 
 134 
 109 
 337 
 142 
 329 
 103 
 166 
 
 53 
 
 442 
 
 112 
 
 5 
 
 443 
 148 
 230 
 
 94 
 386 
 380 
 440 
 316 
 390 
 184 
 
494 
 
 INDEX OF POSTS DESCRIBED. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Kiley, Fort 287 
 
 Ritigguld Barracks 213 
 
 Ripley. Fort 370 
 
 Russell, D. A., Fort 340 
 
 San Antonio, Texas 181 
 
 Sunders, Fort 353 
 
 Santa 1'6, New Mexico 255 
 
 Savannah, Georgia 142 
 
 Schuyier, Fort 41 
 
 Scott, Winfield, Camp 454 
 
 Sedgwick, Fort 338 
 
 Selden, Fort 237 
 
 Slmw, Fort 409 
 
 Shrevpport, Louisiana 174 
 
 Sill, Fort 263 
 
 Smiih, Fort 271 
 
 Snelliug, Fort 367 
 
 Stanton, Fort 248 
 
 Steele, Fred , Fort 357 
 
 Stevens, Fort 430 
 
 Stevenson, Fort 394 
 
 Stockton, Fort 223 
 
 Sullivan, Fort 3 
 
 Sully, Fort 388 
 
 Page. 
 
 Supply, Camp 261 
 
 Taylor Uarracks ]38 
 
 Three Foiks, Owyhee, Camp 428 
 
 Totten, Fort 33 
 
 Trumbull, Fort 22 
 
 Union, Fort 259 
 
 Vancouver, Fort 421 
 
 Verde, Camp 468 
 
 Wadsworth, Fort, Dakota Territory 377 
 
 Wadsworth, Fort, New York Harbor 31 
 
 Wallace, Fort 309 
 
 Warner, Camp 434 
 
 Warren, Fort 6 
 
 Washington, Fort 69 
 
 Wayne, Fort 11-1 
 
 West Point, New York 47 
 
 Whipple, Camp, Arizona Territory 457 
 
 Whipple, Fort, Virginia 67 
 
 Wil let's Point, New York 43 
 
 Wiugate, Foil 250 
 
 Wood, Foil 3 
 
 Wright, Camp 451 
 
 Yerba Bueua Island, California 445 
 
 Yiima, Fort 478 
 
USV