Not just a Jail

Even though Fort Phil Kearny, like most frontier posts, had plenty of use for a jail, this was not the main function of the Guardhouse. The 50 by 32 foot, shingled building with a brick chimney, was used primarily for guard-mount. Guard-mount was the duty of protecting the post. Soldiers would be detached from their companies to this building on a repeated schedule for guard duty. From this building an individual soldier would be assigned to a guard-stand where he would guard the post on intervals of 2-hours-on, 4-hours-off for 24 hours. This was not an easy duty. During the harsh winter months the interval could drop to as a little as 20 minutes to prevent injury or death to the guard. Francis Grummond recounts a story in My Army Life of Indians sneaking up and shooting guards off the stand. One had to be vigilant.For soldiers convicted of serious crimes the building did serve as a jail. In August 1866 records indicate that 24 prisoners were being held under guard in tents awaiting the completion of this building. Their crime was desertion. Lessor crimes might be punished by extra duty, wearing a ball and chain, wearing a barrel with a sign stating your offense, or even flogging.

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Show me all markers in:  Banner, WY  |  Johnson County  |  82832  |  Wyoming  |  United States of America

Site of Fort Phil Kearny
The Post Headquarters:
The Civilians:
The Sutler's Store:
The Cavalryman's Quarters:
The Band:
The Hospital
Laundress Row:
Lesson Learned
Post Commander's Quarters:

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