Off-duty Diversions

Off-duty Diversions. . Between retreat and lights out, soldiers had a few hours of free time. They usually spent their time in the barracks or at the post trader's store, talking, smoking, playing music, singing, or drinking and gambling. Officers often joined fraternal organizations, such as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Good Templars., John B.S. Todd, brother-in-law of President Abraham Lincoln, was the post trader, also called sutler, at Fort Randall from the mid-1850s to the mid-1860s., [Book pages] , The sutler built a roomy store at Fort Randall and stocked it with goods for both soldiers and Indians. He kept ale on draught, which he was allowed to sell to the soldiers by the glass with some restrictions. I didn't have much to do and spent a great part of my spare time swimming, fishing, and visiting the Indian camp., During winter, life at the post was monotonous. Mail from the "States" arrived but twice a month. Some soldiers read papers and magazines, but the favorite pastime was playing checkers and cards. We played euchre, seven-up, forty-five, and poker. The stakes were dried beans instead of money.