Fort Laramie in Goshen County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Military Justice: Punishment Harsh and Certain

Fort Laramie National Historic Site

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

1. Military Justice: Punishment Harsh and Certain Marker

Inscription.

Military Justice: Punishment Harsh and Certain. Fort Laramie National Historic Site. As long as you behaved yourself and performed your duty as a soldier, you got along alright.Sergeant Perley S. Eaton, 3rd Cavalry. Few soldiers completed their enlistments without experiencing the military justice system. Minor infractions resulted in “company punishment,” non-regulation punishments that usually consisted of extra duty assignments, restrictions to quarters, and unpleasant fatigue details., Court martial routinely imposed fines, confinement, and hard labor sentences for crimes committed. Losing or selling government property, being absent without leave, using abusive language, and conduct “prejudice of good order and military discipline” were common offenses here., Alcohol was responsible for most breaches of discipline at Fort Laramie. Fists flew with monotonous regularity, particularly after paydays when soldiers could afford to purchase a drink. The post surgeon lamented: Paymaster Gibson arrived this morning and paid the troops in the afternoon. As a necessary consequence the number of patients in the Hospital was at once increased; with nothing, however more serious than a broken rib or two, several sprains, and bruises with a few scalp wounds . . ., Brutal, degrading, and panful punishments were regularly imposed prior to the Civil War. Prisoners could be strung up by their thumbs or force marched about the post for hours with heavy logs or weighted knapsacks on their backs. Flogging and branding were common punishments for desertion during this period., Guard Mount Morning guard mount involved much pomp and ceremony. Enlisted men detailed to guard duty were marched to the parade ground and inspected. Once satisfied, the sergeant of the guard assigned guards to supervise prisoner labor details, patrol the area around the fort, and man established guard posts beside critical buildings., Men performed guard duty as frequently as once or twice a week, relieving each other every two hours for the duration of their 24-hour shift. During relief they rested on a simple wooden “rack” with straw mattresses, fully clothed with the exception of hat, gloves, and weapon., The guardhouse in front of you was built in 1866 to hold 40 prisoners in the cells below and house the guard detachment on the upper floor. Furniture was not provided for prisoners and cells were unheated. Prisoners ate, slept, and frequently performed all necessary human functions in the guardhouse.

As long as you behaved yourself and performed your duty as a soldier, you got along alright.Sergeant Perley S. Eaton, 3rd Cavalry
Few soldiers completed their enlistments without experiencing the military justice system. Minor infractions resulted in “company punishment,” non-regulation punishments that usually consisted of extra duty assignments, restrictions to quarters, and unpleasant fatigue details.

Court martial routinely imposed fines, confinement, and hard labor sentences for crimes committed. Losing or selling government property, being absent without leave, using abusive language, and conduct “prejudice of good order and military discipline” were common offenses here.

Alcohol was responsible for most breaches of discipline at Fort Laramie. Fists flew with monotonous regularity, particularly after paydays when soldiers could afford to purchase a drink. The post surgeon lamented:
Paymaster Gibson arrived this morning and paid the troops in the afternoon. As a necessary consequence the number of patients in the Hospital was at once increased; with nothing, however more serious than a broken rib or two, several sprains, and bruises with a few scalp wounds . . .

Brutal, degrading, and panful punishments were regularly imposed

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prior to the Civil War. Prisoners could be strung up by their thumbs or force marched about the post for hours with heavy logs or weighted knapsacks on their backs. Flogging and branding were common punishments for desertion during this period.

Guard Mount
Morning guard mount involved much pomp and ceremony. Enlisted men detailed to guard duty were marched to the parade ground and inspected. Once satisfied, the sergeant of the guard assigned guards to supervise prisoner labor details, patrol the area around the fort, and man established guard posts beside critical buildings.

Men performed guard duty as frequently as once or twice a week, relieving each other every two hours for the duration of their 24-hour shift. During relief they rested on a simple wooden “rack” with straw mattresses, fully clothed with the exception of hat, gloves, and weapon.

The guardhouse in front of you was built in 1866 to hold 40 prisoners in the cells below and house the guard detachment on the upper floor. Furniture was not provided for prisoners and cells were unheated. Prisoners ate, slept, and frequently performed all necessary human functions in the guardhouse.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

2. Military Justice: Punishment Harsh and Certain Marker

42° 12.088′ N, 104° 33.434′ W. Marker is in Fort Laramie, Wyoming, in Goshen County. Marker can be reached from State Highway 160, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located at Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Laramie WY 82212, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Administration Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic (within shouting distance of this marker); Parade Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); General Sink (Latrine) (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Queens of Soap Suds Row (about 300 feet away); The “New” Guardhouse and Adjacent Barracks (about 300 feet away); Captain’s Quarters (about 300 feet away); Guardhouse (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Laramie.

More about this marker. A photograph at the lower left of the marker shows “Prisoners cut[ting] wood under guard at Fort Grant, Arizona, 1885.” At the upper right of the marker is a photograph of “The officer of the day inspect[ing] the guard mount at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, 1865.”

Also see . . . Fort Laramie National Historic Site. (Submitted on August 10, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Marker at Fort Laramie image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

3. Marker at Fort Laramie

Fort Laramie Guardhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

4. Fort Laramie Guardhouse

Prisoner Cell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

5. Prisoner Cell

Inside a Cell image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

6. Inside a Cell

Guard's Quarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

7. Guard's Quarters

Inside Guard's Quarters image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 2, 2015

8. Inside Guard's Quarters

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on August 10, 2015, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.