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Our trail of discovery has led us now to the section of the fort occupied by the fort's officers or as it was more commonly called, "Officer's Row."
A United States Army Officer received their commission either as a graduate of the West Point Military Academy or by field appointment. Fort Abercrombie's officers were typical of army officers at frontier military posts. They wore distinctive uniforms, lived in separate quarters, rarely socialized with the enlisted men, liked pomp and ceremony, were trained to lead, and lived by the army's axiom that all inferiors must strictly obey the orders of superiors. They were guided by tradition and firmly believed in duty and service to their country.
In the 1860's and 70's the monthly pay for army officers was $116 for a Second Lieutenant, $125 for a First Lieutenant, $150 for a Captain, $208 for a Major, and $291 for a Colonel. Free living quarters were provided for each officer. They were eligible to buy food at reduced prices at the post commissary and clothing from the post quartermaster also at reduced prices. Free forage and stabling was provided for two horses.
Military duty was a hardship for the families of married officers. Some of the hardships were poor transportation, inadequate quarters, and loneliness. Spouses and children of army officers, however, followed along and coped with these challenges. When officers changed posts, they usually sent their families and furnishings ahead. The officers, however, had to travel with their men. Sometimes an officer's spouse and family arrived at a new post long before the officer.
The officer's quarters in this area of Fort Abercrombie was a complex of four buildings. Fort Abercrombie had a total of six officers quarters, including the Commanding Officer's home. All of the buildings in this area were of similar construction and appearance. They were probably log or slab lumber in the earliest days, but by the 1870's, at least one set of officer's quarters was an attractive brick dwelling.
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