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FORT KEOGH, M. T.
the flag, saluted by the "morning gun," is run up. After this they have breakfast, the stables are attended to, the sick go to the hospital and the fatigue parties are sent out. At 8:30 A. M. guard-mounting is sounded, the band playing upon the parade ground marches on the details from the different companies for guard duty. This is one of the most imposing of the ceremonies of the military day; after this ceremony the new guard is marched to the guard-house to relieve the old guard. A new day now begins, the prisoners are under a new guard, the military stores, the garrison and the working parties are under the direction of a new Officer of the Day; the Commanding Officer and the Adjutant repair to the Adjutant's office, the office duty begins and the orders for the day are now given. After guard-mounting, drill call is sounded, this being varied every other-day by target practice. At sun-down retreat is sounded, by about fourteen trumpeters, when the men once more fall in to answer "present." The flag is lowered by two members of the guard, while a salute of one gun is fired—the "evening gun." The guards for the night are then posted and the countersign delivered by the officer of the day to the guard. At half past nine o'clock P. M., tattoo, the last roll call for the day is sounded, a half hour later taps is sounded, when all the lights in the barracks must be extinguished and the soldiers are to "roll in."
On Sunday the drills and work are, of course, dispensed with. Just before guard mounting takes place, the men turn out in full dress and under arms. They and the quarters are thoroughly inspected by the company commander. After guard-mounting is sounded, the band generally playing on this day, sacred music, church call is sounded and nothing further is imposed upon the men during the remainder of the day, save to answer at the roll calls.A
very good post library for the use of soldiers and officers, in which is a collection of some nine hundred volumes, having also on file the leading periodicals and newspapers, is open each day till tattoo. The soldiers have a dramatic society, glee clubs, dancing clubs; and also a base ball club, in good trim, which has had several spirited contests with soldiers of Fort Custer, coming out "second best," somehow. There is a post school taught by an enlisted man, in which the little masses are taught to shoot—ideas. Open air concerts are given on the parade ground every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening by the regimental band. Friday evening after the concert an informal "hop" is given at the officer's theater.
The quartermaster at a western post is a person to be courted; having charge of the government animals and conveyances, he is an element in all proposed enjoyments, and thanks to his kindness, picnics, rides to town and hunts are made possible. If you don't "stand in" with the Q.M. you had better give up.
The officers here have a great deal to do, their time being largely occupied by drills, target practice, Officer of the Day, board of survey and court martial duty, with occasional detached service. They also, however, find employment for all the time they have off duty. They are as a rule, quite studious, putting their time upon specialties. The historic army three cent ante and drinking, of which we hear so much in civil life, is a thing of the past. Officers from this have gone to investing their "little all" in the growing western towns. The officers here are especially interested in Miles City, a growing town situated three miles from the Fort. The officer's club room is entirely deserted. To those who fear the army, I defy them to find in the same number of men in any town a more sober lot