It was a Hard Life at Fort King

It was a Hard Life at Fort King. Fort King National Historic Landmark. Life at Fort King would not have been easy for soldiers accustomed to a northern climate and more civilized setting. They would have experienced extreme heat and encountered insects and animals they were unfamiliar with. The soldiers' uniforms were made of wool and therefore not ideal for Florida's tropical climate., Most of the soldiers that died at Fort King died from disease or climate related illness. Livestock and soldiers would have often been sharing spaces; and living conditions would have been unsanitary by any standard. Food rations would have been scarce and alcohol use would have been wide spread and excessive., A letter excerpt from Samuel Forry, Surgeon, U.S. Army to LT. J.W. Phillips on September 26, 1837 summed up the situation related to daily life at the fort:, “Nearly the whole garrison is, at this moment, drunk. The Catalonia has, of course, arrived, and a large supply of kindred drinks by the wagon train. This post has become quite unhealthy. There are now forty cases on the sick-list, mostly intermittent fever.” , Food Rations While there would have been a set food ration for each soldier at Fort King, food supplies were dependent on shipments coming by wagons on roads frequently raided. Food would also have been sourced locally but this would end up also being unreliable. Soldiers received what they could get and supplemented what they did not get from the local sutler, or by trading with civilians or the Seminole., In 1820 the soldier rations were as fellows: , . ¾ pounds of pork Or 1 ¼ pounds of Fresh or Salted beef Or 12 ounces of Bacon, . 18 ounces of Bread or Flour Or 12 ounces of hard bread Or 1 ¼ pounds of Corn Meal, . 1 Gill of Whiskey, . To every 100 rations: 4 pounds of soap, 1 ¼ pounds of candles, 2 quarts of salt, 4 quarts of vinegar and 12 quarts of Peas or Beans., In 1825 the ration was slightly adjusted; instead of 12 quarts of peas or beans to 100 rations, it was 8 quarts. , In 1832, the whiskey portion of the ration was stopped due to drunkenness, although spirits sold by the Sutler as an extra allowance was still allowed., In 1834, the President substituted coffee and sugar for whiskey., In 1838, an act of Congress increased the ration to six pounds of coffee and twelve pounds of sugar per 100 rations. , The diet was not a healthy one. The only fresh foods or vegetables would have been grown on site or traded with Native Americans or settlers. , Those who died while stationed at Fort King , Soldiers Name; Cause of Death; Date of Death . , Austin, Calvin Pvt.; Dysentery; 7/23/1841 . Cannon, Walter Pvt.; Chronic diarrhea; 2/29/1836 . Cassidy, James Pvt.; Dysentery; 8/12/1840 . Christian, John Pvt.; Congestive fever; 8/9/1841 . Clarke, Cyrus Pvt.; Disease incident to climate and severe service; 11/25/1840 . Desbrough, Aaron Corp.; Dysentery; 8/11/1840 . Fullington, Richard Pvt.; Bilious fever; 8/9/1841 . Gaines, James Corp.; Disease unknown; 10/1/1840 . Grace, Richard Pvt.; Wounds received in battle with Captain Rains; 5/9/1840; . Herring, Charles Pvt.; Killed by Indians; 4/14/1840 . Jones, William Pvt.; Disease unknown; 6/24/1837 . Kelly, Hugh Pvt.; Killed by Indians; 4/14/1840 . Kelly, James Pvt.; Congestive fever; 5/14/1841; . Kelly, Joshua Pvt.; Disease incident to climate and severe service; 6/20/1841 . McCellan, Thomas Corp.; Congestive fever; 2/11/1841 . McMahon, Thomas Corp.; Consumption; 6/4/1840 . McMillen, James Pvt.; Dysentery; 12/12/1841 . McNamara, Patrick Pvt.; Disease incident to climate and severe service; 12/29/1840 . Maxwell, George L. Pvt.; Bilious fever; 2/16/1841 . Meir, Frederick Pvt.; Killed in action with Captain Raines; 4/28/1840 . Mellor, James Pvt.; Disease incident to climate and severe service; 11/21/1840 . Melvin, John Pvt.; Killed by accidental discharge of comrade’s musket; 11/15/1840 . Mure, Robert Pvt.; Chronic dysentery; 2/6/1842 . Murphy, D Pvt.; Dysentery; 8/9/1840 . O’Donaghey, Peter W. Pvt.; Disease unknown; 10/9/1835 . Peter, Charles Pvt.; Disease unknown; 6/29/1842 . Prater, John Pvt.; Disease unknown; 9/27/1837 . Reeder, John Pvt.; Yellow fever; 8/12/1841 . Smith, George H. 1st SGT.; Killed in action with Capt. Raines; 4/28/1840 . Smyth, Constantine 1st Lt.; Killed in Osceola’s raid; 12/28/1835 . Theis, George W. Pvt.; Killed; 3/24/1840 . Thomson, Walter Pvt.; Killed by Indians; 4/4/1841 . Viars, George Musician; Disease unknown; 11/23/1835 . Warren, Chandler M. Pvt.; Congestive fever; 8/5/1838 , Does not include civilian dead , In the 1800’s, Florida was a Hostile and Difficult environment..