FORT ABERCROMBIE, D. T.
Recreation
MUSIC-SONGS
The nation's history may be traced through several popular songs of the times, as music was written both to entertain and to record history. Music played a very important part in the life of the 19th century soldier. Fifes and drums told him when to wake up and when to go to sleep. They called him to drill and to dinner. Bands played him into battle. However, more importantly, music helped while away the long dreary house in camp. Prized were the soldier or laundress with musical talent, whether they played the banjo, bones, clarionette, Jew's harp or could just carry a good tune. Familiar and popular songs brought memories of far away loved ones close.
On the heels of the Mexican-American War and the Election of 1848 came the California Gold Rush. Gold had been discovered in California in early 1848, but it took some time for the word to travel. In late 1848, President Polk declared reports of gold in California as being valid and the gold rush began the next year. Gold fever would have been prevalent among the soldiers at Fort Abercrombie, as well as throughout the country.Many soldiers whose enlistments had expired headed to the gold fields, many whose hadn't deserted and went any way.
One of the more popular songs of the Gold Rush era is Sweet Betsy From Pike
Two more popular songs of the era that probably would have been sung at Fort Abercrombie were Old Dan Tucker and Camptown Races
Old Dan Tucker was written in 1843 by Dan Emmett. It quickly became popular and was easy to play on musical instruments that the soldiers would have had at Fort Abercrombie.
Camptown Races was written by Stephen Foster and published in 1850 under the title "Gwine to Run All Night". Horse racing was a popular sport at Fort Abercrombie so this song probably would have been popular as well.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Musical Instruments-the instruments with a star by their names were available for use at Fort Abercrombie, the others are those that were popular at the time but which we do not know if they were at the site.
- Accordion-The accordion was still a recent invention in the pioneer times. A button accordion, though small, loud and simple to play, would produce only certain notes on the squeeze and certain other notes on the draw.
Banjo-The banjo, as played by modern bluegrass musicians, sounds far different from the old-time clawhammer banjo style. Played with the backside of the right-hand fingers and with no metal finger picks, old-time banjo has a mellower, more intimate sound and plays a more basic rhythmic role in the music.
- Bones-One of the oldest instruments known to man or beast, the bones can be played with either one hand (English Style) or with a pair in both hands (American Style).
For proper bones playing, you need to have them dance in your hands to the rhythm of the music. Be sure to hold the top bone, the one between your first and middle finger rigid. The clacking is all done by the movement of the bottom bone, the one between your middle and ring finger. To get the bones to dance and keep rhythm, quickly rotate your forearm and snap your wrist in time with the music. You can get different sounds by where you hold the bones. Double clacking can be accented by holding the top bone more rigid.
Bones were either two pieces of wood or actual bones-rib bones or shin bones. Their use became popular during the minstrel shows of the 1840s.
- *Bugle-Military buglers have been communicating with troops and their families for centuries. Bugle calls told troops when to go to bed, when to wake up, when to eat, when to attack and when to retreat. There were stable
calls, water calls, drill calls, sick calls and Sunday church calls. In America, bugles were first used for signaling by the British army during the Revolutionary War. The sound of the bugle made it possible to convey commands over a great distance. The sound could usually be heard above the roar of battle.
- *Drum-The drum was used to keep rhythm during marching and battle.
begun to achieve its deserved popularity in the United States, livening up dance tunes such as "Soldier's Joy" and "The Irish Washerwoman".
*Fiddle-The fiddle was the pioneers' instrument of favor, because it was portable, fairly loud and easy to maintain. It also conveyed the gaiety of the traditional dance, and a fiddler could single-handedly accompany a whole barnful of dancers. Settlers such as Charles Ingalls of the "Little House on the Prairie" books brought fiddles west on covered wagons, but cheap guitars soon became widely available through mail-order catalogs. They were easy to play and made a good accompaniment to singing. The Harlan Orchestra which first performed "Home on the Range" in Smith County, was composed of two guitars and a fiddle. The cowboys, however, didn't carry guitars as often as the movies might suggest. Probably more common on the range were fiddles and button accordions. The latter could take quite a beating and, like a harmonica, didn't have to be tuned.
- *Fife-The fife has been used throughout history by the military personnel and folk musicians as well. Preserved graphics from the 16th century show the fife and drum as accompanimental instruments for dances and social gatherings. Throughout all of military history, the fife has been documented in records of the French, British and American troops. Along with the drum, the fife provided musical signals and commands for every occasion of the soldier's life.
- *Harmonica-The harmonica as we know it today was invented in 1821 by a 16-year old German clockmaker. The instrument was spread by American peddlers, soldiers and immigrants. In the mid-1800s, cowboys played their harmonicas to calm
restless herds, soothe their horses and to keep themselves company on the long trails west. By the time of the Civil War, a great many soldiers-North and South-had a harmonica in their pocket.
- *Jawharp- Also known as the mouth harp or the jews harp. The jaw harp, a folk instrument of uncertain age and origin, was already well known during the European
Middle Ages. The note it produces depends entirely upon the dimensions of the vibrating tongue, although the timbre of the note may be affected by the characteristics of the frame. The player can produce interesting effects with the note by regulating the breath.
MUSIC AND DANCING
Dancing was a popular form of entertainment among both the officers and the enlisted men. At Fort Shaw, Montana in 1878, the commander and his wife enjoyed a dinner or card parties almost every day as guests. Several luncheons and suppers were "quite elegant, formal affairs, beautifully served with dainty china and handsome silver." This delightful series of parties celebrated the end of summer campaigns and included not only feasting but dancing as well.
Actually, the combination of food and tripping the light fantastic proved almost standard procedure. "Hops," as the old army referred to these gatherings, demonstrated as much ingenuity as the preparation of meals. Alice Baldwin, an officer's wife, mentioned that after one wedding, a ball given in honor of the bride and groom "was unique and original, considering much that was necessary to beautify and adom" could not be found for hundreds of miles. Four of the local ladies converted a half completed stone building by using tent-flies and canvas for the roof and floors and hung army blankets in the paneless windows. Although the whole place was draughty, "two large box stoves, piled full of wood by the soldiers, together with the activities of dancing, kept everyone warm enough to be comfortable."
Numerous other more elaborate examples of guidon draped barracks illuminated with candles and enlivened by bright brass buttons on dark blue dress coats fill narratives of the period. Suffice it to say, these dances ran the gamut from the elegant to very basic, just as dinners did. Unlike culinary efforts, however, which chiefly involved the officer class (save on special holidays) the entire garrison could participate in a hop. This fact prompted one dragoon sergeant of the 1850s to contend that "even the roughest seemed to rise a little higher and to think better of themselves," when they attended a formal ball opened to all personnel.
Less extravagant affairs sometimes produced a very different response as noted by an officer of the 10th Infantry in 1858. Some of the privates of the regiment put on a dance which turned into a drinking spree. Fighting broke out and the provost marshal had to intervene, but not before several of the men were injured. Probably few, if any, women were present at this function, since attendance by the fairer sex usually insured a higher standard of conduct.
Even when ladies were in short supply, the men took things in stride. Sometimes they had to dance with male partners which one officer at a remote pre Civil War post admitted was "rather dull" but claimed it was better than being a wall flower.
Improvisation likewise extended to the musical accompaniment for dances. On many occasions, a guitar, banjo, fiddle or some other locally available instruments had to be pressed into service as an impromptu orchestra. On the other hand, most larger garrisons boasted regimental bands. While these organizations regularly fell victim to government neglect and parsimony, several enterprising commanders went to great lengths to recruit, train and equip groups of martial music makers.
HUNTING
Hunting was especially popular among the officers of the frontier army, many of whom hunted from horseback. Speed was the order of the day, especially when it came to this diversion - hunting. Horses were handy for seeking out game. They also could be used when chasing such large prey as bison. Numerous accounts from the Central Plains and as far south as New Mexico indicated the popularity of buffalo hunts from the 1840s through the decades after the Civil War.
Sometimes, smaller game would be sought in a western version of the English gentry's passion-the hunt. Rather than trail a fine fox , the group settled for a lowly coyote or even a jack rabbit. They also replaced the "Big-eared foxhounds of the East with sleek greyhounds on many occasions. In 1850, Captain Thomas Rhett hunted with these fast
dogs while George Custer's pack included fox and stag hounds. Stephen Watts Kearney, George McCall, and numerous other officers shared this affinity for hunting dogs as well as other smaller creatures which came to be family pets. Whether galloping after a buffalo from horseback or stalking elk, deer, prairie hen, duck, grouse, wild turkey, possum or any other wildlife found on the frontier, many hours could be passed in hunting.
Fishing proved popular, too, in those locations where water permitted. In 1857, an officer on the Utah expedition found that all he needed was a grasshopper for bait. Within a half hour he had landed six fish, each weighing a half pound, Decades later, Captain Biddle periodically provided a breakfast of trout for his family which he brought back to his quarters for preparation. Conversely, Alice Baldwin recalled that even though there was no butter available, bacon grease in a skillet over an open fire was ample to prepare the fish caught at Agua Azula Springs. As a matter of fact, her observation underscored one side benefit of hunting and fishing. In addition to providing exercise as well as honing skills with weapons and on horseback, the meager fare available from the Quartermaster could be supplemented with a more varied source of foodstuff.
For instance, Maria Kimball noted that after successful hunts, the menu included antelope chops for breakfast, Missouri River catfish along with prairie chicken and roast buffalo for lunch and a supper of elk steak at night. While appetizing as a change of pace, the constant dependence on game as a source of meat made one officer's lady lament the absence of fresh beef from the diet.
The preceding information was taken from Soldiers at Play.
In the years before Kansas became a state, the scenery and the plentiful game must have been spectacular! Second Lieutenant David A. Russell, stationed at Fort Abercrombie in December 1845, summed it up in a letter to his brother in Ohio: "The opportunities for fishing and hunting cannot be surpassed at any other post in the army,…."
Fort Abercrombie was ideally suited to be surrounded by an endless variety of wildlife. The fort was built in a biological "edge" area with thousands of acres of virgin prairies, natural lakes, and densely wooded streams nearby. The prairie grasses burned often, choking any small trees trying to sprout. Moisture and dense vegetation near waterways provided an impenetrable barrier against the raging fires. One officer described the Garden of Eden-like variety of wildlife to be found in the vicinity of Fort Abercrombie. In season, "we have the deer, turkey, grouse, partridge, woodcock, snipe, plover, of half a dozen or more species; and on the lakes near the river, swans, geese, of two or three species; and ducks without number; pelicans, sand-hill cranes, &c. It is a glorious country for the sportsman."
The garrison at Fort Abercrombie usually consisted of eight officers and 150 enlisted men. Most officers came from well-to-do families and were educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, while the men they commanded were often illiterate. Soldiers under the rank of lieutenant were not of the proper social station and did not enjoy the opportunities for pleasure hunting like their commanders. During their non-duty hours, the officers donned buckskin hunting outfits and blasted at migrating ducks by the thousand with black powder guns or searched for coyotes and deer with packs of dogs. The lone authorized civilian on post, the sutler, provided hunting supplies the officers could not receive or buy from the government. In September 1864, Fort Abercrombie officers purchased from the sutler such items as a box of percussion caps for 12 1/2 cents, 3 pounds of shot for 25 cents, a powder flask for $1.50, and a pound of black powder for $.50.
Several officers viewed hunting as a welcome diversion to the isolation, monotony, and rigors of military life on the frontier. One officer at a frontier post said "Duck-shooting and wolf chasing are the only things that at all reconcile him to the place." Another officer's wife, was a vivacious busybody, conscious of her proper role in society. Her keen sense of humor helped her cope with life at the edge of civilization. In a letter to a friend at another post she declared: "I hunt with my husband and in the hall stands my bow and arrow ready strung for the first unfortunate Buffalo that makes his appearance at this post"
Hunting was a part of life on the frontier. Hunting not only provided spirited adventure and recreation, it put food on the table. Wild turkey or veal, along with vegetables from the post gardens, were certainly welcome additions to the dining room table. With modern conservation and the use of regulations, licensing, and habitat preservation, we all can enjoy a day afield as much as Military Officers did a century and a half ago.
Westward movement, the Civil War, railroads, homesteading, farming and industrial development shattered the world they knew. Today we are likely to see barbed wire and tractors rather than the panoramic scenes many army officers described. However, we can enjoy reading their descriptions and, I think, we can relate to their sentiments after a hard day in the field. An unidentified officer wrote: "On reaching my quarters, I found a turkey just ready to be dished; and by the time dinner was on the table, I had made my ablutions, dressed, and was ready to sit down to it, with a hunter's appetite, which is next in degree, and only inferior to that of a soldier's after a hard day's march."
LITERARY TALENTS
Almost every regiment had its library, consisting of a few books and magazines. These were available to the men, but officers and their families also took advantage of the reading materials. Usually a man from the company or regiment was in charge of checking out the books. When the library was kept in the Adjutant's Office, this usually was the orderly sergeant. Reading material from the post library where books and periodicals (including some foreign language newspapers) might be available suited some including bibliophile Ethan Allen Hitchcock, an officer whose personal collection sold for thousands of dollars when he disposed of it in the 1850s in San Francisco.
Writing and receiving letters brought similar pleasures to the literate, and had the additional benefit of providing future generations with a clearer picture of frontier military life. Singing societies, various types of organizations and clubs along with religious activities filled hours too. Visiting, sing-alongs at officers' quarters when a piano or organ was available and looking through picture albums or stereo views were also inexpensive means of amusement. Finally, if all else failed, leave could be taken to seek entertainment and relaxation in a more populated area.
Amateur theatricals also held a certain appeal. Soldier-actors could always draw audiences from their comrades and members of the garrison. On occasion, nearby civilians attended, anxious to escape their workaday lives just as the troopers were. In turn, traveling troops or local little theater presentations at neighboring settlements attracted military personnel, as did other novelties including steam calliopes and possibly even circuses.
SPORTS AND GAMES
Sports provided one avenue to maintain Victorian mores in addition to relieving boredom and providing a means to keep fit. Shooting competition and field events fell into this category as did baseball and football, when these games grew to be popular in American society. In fact, baseball was a passion with Andrew Burt ever since his first post commander at Fort Bridger, [Wyoming, 1866] recognized its value as a morale builder. foxhounds equipment offered rewards while tennis and croquet suited the more genteel members of a post. Fort Union, New Mexico opened a bowling alley a few years after the Civil War while the Presidio of San Francisco followed suit toward the end of the 19th century. The Bay Area also gave avid sailors the chance to test their boating skills. Although not as dramatic as the Golden Gate, troops at Fort Grant, Arizona, built a pond which they dubbed "Lake Constance" after Anson Mill's daughter. A small rowboat could navigate this miniature body of water, providing the illusion ' that the post was not a landlocked, isolated, desert outpost'
Nearby lakes and streams also afforded ice-skating rinks in cold weather or picnic sites in warmer seasons. Scenic spots, Indian ruins and other elements of the landscape offered sightseeing outings. Visits to Indian camps for ceremonies also passed time. Camping likewise appealed to some families who wanted to "rough it" with the soldiers.
James V. Acker, Pres.
