Old Fort Garland
Page 2
Tactics_ and thebook of _Army Regulations_. Somehow or other I got promoted to sergeant.
John Garland]
Major General E. R. S. Canby]
October 20, 1861. Most of F and H Companies have left for Fort Craig tojoin Major Canby. Re-enforcements, in the form of volunteers, areexpected soon. The old soldiers left here don’t think much of the ideaof fighting with a bunch of recruits, but Governor Gilpin is lookingunder every stone for troops. Most of Colorado’s too busy looking forgold to worry about the war.
Bugle]
December 29, 1861. Captain (T. R.) Dodd and Captain (J. H.) Ford arrivedwith troops this month. Dodd’s company left Canon City on December 7thand marched to Fort Garland by way of the Sangre de Cristo Pass. Hiscompany was provisionally designated Company A of the Second ColoradoInfantry. Ford’s group came struggling into camp on December 21st,having also marched from Canon City. This latter unit was provisionallydesignated Company B of the Second Colorado Infantry. Captain Dodd andhis “foot Volunteers” didn’t stay long, moving on to Santa Fe,eventually bound for Fort Craig. Rumor has come north that a Major (H.H.) Sibley, late of the United States Army, has come out to New Mexicoto win that territory for the South. He’s got quite a crew assembled atFort Bliss; the last report listed “Sibley’s Brigade” at over 3000strong. There’s not that many fighting men in the whole ColoradoTerritory!
The volunteers are roosting around this fort like chickens. And sadbirds they are too. There’s not a complete uniform in the whole lot andnot a man knows his right foot from his left. But they don’tcomplain—and that’s something for soldiers, citizen or old army. Theother evening Company A had their men on guard duty around the buildingsand in one cold and windy spot the guard had on an old grey overcoat.The overcoat was the only one the company had and every night it wasgiven to the guard at this post. The company commander was making hisrounds as usual when he spotted the familiar coat. He turned to hisorderly and said, “Sergeant Ford, is the same man in that same d—— coatalways on guard here?” “No, be jabers,” said Pat Ford, “but the samecoat kivers the whole company now.”[2]
March 17, 1862. Word received here that Garland is to be destroyed if itis menaced by the enemy. Fort Union is to be defended at all cost.Another detachment moves out of here tomorrow. I have asked to go. Thebig battle seems to be shaping up in the south. Canby has been made acolonel.
Kit Carson Painting by Waldo Love.]
Ronald S. Mackenzie]
La Glorieta Pass, New Mexico, March 27, 1862. Arrived here about timeshooting was over. The Rebs have been turned back, some 280 killed intwo battles here. Our side was luckier. The heroes of this battle aremany, but Major (J. M.) Chivington and the Colorado Volunteers deserve abig chunk of the credit. I guess we start the long march back, now thatSibley’s on the run.
Cavalry standard]
Fort Garland, October 5, 1862. Was sent with a small detachment back toGarland. Fort about the same. Commander now is Colonel Sam Tappan.Pretty good man. More people coming into the San Luis Valley every day.Either they’re looking for gold or they’re getting away from thewar—maybe both.
September 2, 1863. Been some nasty killings going on around here and notby Indians either. Two brothers, Felie Nerio and Vivian Espinosa, fromSan Rafael, a little town at the edge of the mountains, have sworn tokill every American they meet. Been doing a pretty good job too, so far.Seems they even tried to kill Governor (John) Evans when he was downthis way. Didn’t kill the Governor but killed two others. The Governorhad offered a reward for these two and they didn’t like the thought ofhaving their heads turned in for gold, I guess. Like to collect thatreward myself. Reports are that the Espinosas have killed near thirtypeople in the valley during the past few months.
September 11, 1863. Tom Tobin did it. I guess Tobin had heard enoughabout the Espinosas, so when Colonel Tappan asked him if he’d head aparty to go find the murderers and bring them in, he accepted. Tobin andLieutenant Baldwin and fifteen soldiers from the fort set out onSeptember 7th. Tobin trailed Espinosa like he’d trail a deer or anIndian and after several days found him along La Veta Creek. Espinosawas with his cousin and fellow maniac in thick brush when Tobin came onthem. Tobin fired and wounded one, while three soldiers fired at onceand brought down the other. Tobin then beheaded the two and took theheads to Colonel Tappan. He rolled the heads from the sack and said,“Here Colonel, I have accomplished what you wished. This head isEspinosa’s. This other is his companion’s head and there’s no mistakemade.”[3] Since the other Espinosa brother was killed some weeks ago, Iguess that ends that little fracas. Tobin didn’t even know about thereward, he says. Some of the local citizens are thinking of giving Tom aHawkins rifle, like he’s wanted for a long time now, in appreciation forwhat he’s done.
Chief Ouray Painting by Robert Lindneux]
May 4, 1864. Transferred last month to the 1st Colorado Cavalry, whichmeans I’ll be hitting the dust trail for summer encampment in a fewdays. Well, it’ll beat pushing a pen around in that stuffy orderly roomor being stable nurse to a bunch of horses.
May 6, 1864. Bunch of the boys went over to Posthoff’s last evening fora last blow before leaving the post for the summer. The sutler’s storemay have about all a soldier needs in the way of underwear, boots,saddle soap, and the rest, but it stocks no whiskey. Posthoff’s store,being off the reservation proper, takes care of this shortage for us.Posthoff stocks about everything needed in these parts by the civilianstoo, of course. But last night we tried to drink old Posthoff out ofliquor—and almost did. About every man in the 1st Cavalry was there,with pretty Mexican and Indian girls bringing in food and filling ourcups. All day long a company of horse soldiers have been sorry they keptsuch late hours. The smell of dust and saddle leather has done a lot forour thirst, but little for our appetites. It’s days like this that makeme wonder if the $17 a sergeant gets each month is worth it.
Sunday Morning Barrack’s Inspection.]
In Camp, June 2, 1864. Spending a little time now camped in AntelopePark. Camp life isn’t bad; just as many bugles blown during the day asat the fort and just as much work, but a tent’s easier to keep cleanthan a barrack. Indians here about seem restless. Patrols sent outregularly to keep a check on them.
Cavalry Troops Preparing for March.]
A Scouting Detail Returning to the Fort.]
Fort Garland, November 21, 1864. Back at the fort life goes on about asbefore. Nights are getting cold. We sit inside evenings now next tofires of piñon logs. Some spend the hours playing cards, others read orstudy, and some form small groups and sing. The inside of the quarterslook good after months in the open. The white walls and blue furnitureand woodwork have come to mean home to me. The wooden beds, designed tosleep two, may be covered only with a straw tick, but it’s a lot softerthan the ground. The food is better at the fort than in the field, ofcourse. The hardtack and provisions carried on march leave something tobe desired. The hardtack we’re getting must have been made by the Rebs.Even the hot coffee won’t soften it. Corporal White said the other nightthat once he found something soft inside a hardtack biscuit and when helooked to see what it was, he found that it was an old rifle ball.“Looked like the kind used during the War of 1812,” cracked White.
Horseman with cavalry standard.]
December 5, 1864. Just heard the news of Colonel Chivington wiping out awhole tribe of Indians at Sand Creek. If word gets back to any friendsof those poor devils I’m thinking we’d better all start cleaning ourcarbines and looking for a hole to crawl into.
News from the East is that Lincoln has been re-elected. War seems aboutwon by the Union forces. Things been going bad for Lee since Gettysburg.
May 4, 1865. Lee gives up at a place called Appomattox. Even the Texanshave decided to quit. The boys here are
looking to be sent home, sincemost are volunteers. Only a handfull of regulars like myself have beenat the fort during these war years. Might take a leave myself or justgive up being a soldier.
April 2, 1866. Back from leave. Brought a wife with me. Never thought ofgetting married, but while in Denver last winter I met Molly and firstthing I knew she had me. We moved into the married quarters for non-comsover northeast of the general inclosure. Molly don’t seem to mind lifeat the fort, in spite of the fact that she, like all the other non-comwives, has to spend considerable time every week washing shirts andsocks in the post laundry.
Being married throws a new light on life in the fort. People gettogether for parties and talk. The wives are more ambitious for the menthan the men are for themselves. “When are _you_ going to be promoted?”they all ask their husbands. What’s the difference if you’re making $13as a private or $17 as a sergeant?
Ground Plan of Fort Garland.Copy of the ground plan of Fort Garland, Colo., by 1st. Lt. J. W. Bean, 15th. Infantry, A.A.GM.,