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This cache can be gotten as you walk around the Parade Ground, looking at the original 19th-Century buildings. But be sure to use stealth on this one - be sure to look around before removing and putting back - there's usually a good number of muggle visitors on the grounds too. Even if it seems quiet - be careful!
Well Pards, now on ta hard marchin, ever day - wid a blankit an 10 days rations...in da Regular Army, Oh...!
So, By Jove, ya tink ‘twas all glamorous an John Wayne n sich, huh? Well, dis here fort, like all t’others, was laid out by the ociffcers and bilt by the Boys of ’55- an other years too – an hard labor 'twas. Same for all the roads – all them stagecoach roads &c - all bilt by sojers, usually da Infantry, wich is whut I been in, so I knows well. On campane ‘twas hard marchin ever day, an ye’d be lucky ta git any more rations then hardtack an coffee – yep, each meal – hardtack an coffee – only break bein when you an yer messmates figurs ta use a onion for da one an some sugar fer ta’other - skillygalley we calls it.
21st Century for this paragraph - so Billy Bonney aka Billy the Kid was a prisoner here - in that building there with the arches - the Adjutant's Quarters (or Headquarters). Opposite it, in the small house in the middle, just east on the sidewalk from here, that's the Commanding Officer's Quarters, on Officers Row. The tan building across from here, the 1941 Nurses' Quarters when this was a TB Hospital, and and the spaces on either side, are where 2 enlisted barracks once were (and are now part of the mound the Nurses' Quarters sit on). The Museum and building kitty-corner to it the only enlisted barracks left. Be sure to visit our reconstructed barracks from the year 1858 - our garrison project, which continues, was/is building that barracks from scratch. This building is Senior Officers or Married Officers Quarters in the military years and family housing in the TB years.
Well, back to the hard labor - this 1873 drinkin' song tells it perty gud (if'n ya sees me, Sgt Bilbo, I'll hum ya da tune):
Verse
Three years ago this very day we went to Governors Isle,
Fer ta stand forninst the cannons in true military style.
13 American dollars each month we surely git,
Ta carry a gun wid bagnet to da regimental step.
We was given a choice of goin' to da Army or ta Jail,
or it’s up da Hudson Ribber wid a Copper take a sail.
So we puckered up our courage, wid bravery we did go,
an cursed da day we marched away wid da Regular Army, Oh!
Chorus:
There was Sergeant John McCafferty an Corpral Donohue,
They made us march and toe the mark in gallant company Q.
The drums would roll upon my soul,
Fer that’s the style we’d go,
40 miles and day on beans and hay
(or 30 miles away we’ll march all day),
In the Regular Army, Oh!
Verse
I’ve got corns upon me feet me Boys,
An bunions on me toes.
An luggin a gun in the red hot sun puts freckles on me nose.
England has its Grenadiers, an France its Zoo Zoos,
But the USA never changes they say and continually wears the Blues.
So when ya go out on parade yu’ll have yer musket bright,
Or it’s off you go to da guardhouse to while away the night.
An when ya want a furlough, to the Captain you do go.
He says-------
“Go to bed...
An wait ‘til yer dead...
In the Regular Army - O!”
Chorus
Come to Fort Stanton Live 2nd week in July, or the 3rd Saturday each month for our Ft. Stanton Garrison living history program, and I'll teach you this and other great period songs.
YMOS, Sgt Bilbo, Co. K, 8th Regt, U.S. Infantry, Ft. Stanton, NM Territory
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