Near Pickstown in Gregory County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

All in a Day's Work

December 3, 2021

1. All in a Day's Work Marker

Inscription.

All in a Day's Work. . The daily life of soldiers on a frontier fort was often difficult and monotonous. Regimented by army routine and regulations, soldiers spent most of their time performing routine drills and duties., Enlisted men were also assigned fatigue duty, which included tasks such as chopping wood and cutting hay for the fort's horses and cattle., Captions: , A five-soldier squad with bugler and rifles, around 1890., Fort Randall troops of the 21st Infantry on maneuvers in the early 1890s. Soldiers patrolled the area and escorted settlers across the plains to minimize the chance of skirmishes., Soldiers lived by the call of the bugle and the drum. "Reveille" was played to signal the beginning of duty, and "Retreat" was played at the end of the day. "Tattoo" ordered soldiers to their quarters, and "Taps" signaled lights out., Daily schedule of bugle calls: , 4:55 am: Reveille, assembly and first roll call , 5:30 am: Mess (breakfast) , 6:00 am: Sick call , 6:30 am: Fatigue call or target practice , 7:55 am: Guard duty , 9:55 am: Drill call and band practice , 11:00 am: Recall from drill , 11:45 am: Recall from fatigue duty , 12:00 pm: Mess (noon meal) , 1:00 pm: Fatigue call , 5:30 pm: Recall from fatigue , 6:00 pm: Dress parade and roll call , 6:15 pm: Retreat , 6:30 pm: Mess (evening meal) , 9:00 pm: Tattoo, assembly, and last roll call , 9:30 pm: Taps, lights out, Book pages: , The sameness of our days was relieved by the occasional escort duty or scout patrol. We sometimes accompanied wagons to and from Sioux City, Iowa, or made a short march to settle a small Indian difficulty., Soldiers with special skills, such as carpentry or mule driving, were offered "extra duty" that entitled them to an additional 25 cents per day, in addition to the 11 dollars per month earned by privates. The additional wages given to soldiers on extra duty sometimes created hard feelings among those assigned to fatigue duty., Proceed straight to the next panel and continue your journey counterclockwise around the parade ground.

The daily life of soldiers on a frontier fort was often difficult and monotonous. Regimented by army routine and regulations, soldiers spent most of their time performing routine drills and duties.

Enlisted men were also assigned fatigue duty, which included tasks such as chopping wood and cutting hay for the fort's horses and cattle.

Captions:
A five-soldier squad with bugler and rifles, around 1890.

Fort Randall troops of the 21st Infantry on maneuvers in the early 1890s. Soldiers patrolled the area and escorted settlers across the plains to minimize the chance of skirmishes.

Soldiers lived by the call of the bugle and the drum. "Reveille" was played to signal the beginning of duty, and "Retreat" was played at the end of the day. "Tattoo" ordered soldiers to their quarters, and "Taps" signaled lights out.

Daily schedule of bugle calls:
4:55 am: Reveille, assembly and first roll call
5:30 am: Mess (breakfast)
6:00 am: Sick call
6:30 am: Fatigue call or target practice
7:55 am: Guard duty
9:55 am: Drill call & band practice
11:00 am: Recall from drill
11:45 am: Recall from fatigue duty
12:00 pm: Mess (noon meal)
1:00 pm: Fatigue call
5:30 pm: Recall from fatigue
6:00 pm: Dress parade and roll call
6:15

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pm: Retreat
6:30 pm: Mess (evening meal)
9:00 pm: Tattoo, assembly, and last roll call
9:30 pm: Taps, lights out

Book pages:
The sameness of our days was relieved by the occasional escort duty or scout patrol. We sometimes accompanied wagons to and from Sioux City, Iowa, or made a short march to settle a small Indian difficulty.

Soldiers with special skills, such as carpentry or mule driving, were offered "extra duty" that entitled them to an additional 25 cents per day, in addition to the 11 dollars per month earned by privates. The additional wages given to soldiers on extra duty sometimes created hard feelings among those assigned to fatigue duty.

Proceed straight to the next panel and continue your journey counterclockwise around the parade ground.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles.

Location. 43° 2.935′ N, 98° 33.702′ W. Marker is near Pickstown, South Dakota, in Gregory County. Marker can be reached from Stone Church Drive east of Toe Road West, on the right when traveling east. Located along the Historic Fort Randall parade ground trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Andes SD 57356, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Advantages of High Rank (here, next to this marker); Soldiers at Fort Randall

December 3, 2021

2. All in a Day's Work Marker

(a few steps from this marker); The Things They Left Behind (within shouting distance of this marker); The Dakota Boom & the End of an Era (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Randall Established (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Without a Stockade (within shouting distance of this marker); The Advancing Frontier (within shouting distance of this marker); Explore Fort Randall (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pickstown.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of markers along the Historic Fort Randall parade ground trail.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021. This page has been viewed 240 times since then and 6 times this year. Last updated on December 15, 2021. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 10, 2021. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.