Rome in Oneida County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Junior Officers’ Quarters
Fort Stanwix National Monument
In contrast to the European military, where officer’s commissions were usually bought, in the Continental army it was possible to earn battlefield promotions. In this way even enlisted men could become junior ranking officers (e.g. ensign, lieutenant). Their responsibility would be to assist the company commanders in training and leading regiments.
These quarters could have housed two or three junior officers, who might have seen a military career as an opportunity for great adventure.
“I was sometimes astonished when American baggage fell into our hands . . . to see how every wretched knapsack . . . would be filled with such military works as ‘The Instructions of the King of Prussia to his Generals’ . . . This was a true indication that the officers of this army studied the art of war while in camp . . . the opponents . . . [baggage] . . . were rather filled with bags of hair powder, boxes of sweet-smelling pomatum, cards (instead of maps) . . . on top of all, novels or stage plays.”
Johan Ewald, Hessian soldier, 1778
Erected by National Park Service .
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical year for this entry is 1778.
Location. 43° 12.639′ N, 75° 27.305′ W. Marker is in Rome, New York, in Oneida County. Marker can be reached from Black River Blvd. (New York State Route 26), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located inside Fort Stanwix. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 E Park Street, Rome NY 13440, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Soldiers’ Quarters: Barracks Building (here, next to this marker); Family Quarters (here, next to this marker); Artillerymen (a few steps from this marker); Commandant’s Quarters (a few steps from this marker); Visiting Officers’ Lodging (a few steps from this marker); Orderly Room (a few steps from this marker); Suttler (a few steps from this marker); Surgeon’s Day Room (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rome.
More about this marker. A picture on the marker shows a junior officer writing in a book in his quarters at Fort Stanwix.
Also see . . . Fort Stanwix National Monument. National Park Service website. (Submitted on August 6, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 311 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 6, 2014, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.