The Republican 5-3-1889

Connecting with History

The Bugle Notes from the Fort column was written by soldiers living at Fort Niobrara along what is now the Niobrara National Scenic River in the 1880's and 1890's in "The Republican" newspaper published in Valentine, Nebraska. Fort Niobrara became a National Wildlife Refuge in 1912 when troops were moved elsewhere in the United States. Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge protects and conserves the wildlife, plants, and habitats of the Nebraska Sandhills and Niobrara River Valley. Visitors can explore the land that the soldiers trod many years ago now protected as the Niobrara National Scenic River and the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.

Microfilm 1 of 2 of The Republican 5-3-1889, Bugle Notes from the Fort Column.

City of Valentine, Public Library.

The Republican 5-3-1889
Valentine, NE

Bugle Notes from the Fort
Editor The Republican

The family of Post Chaplin Lewis moved to Omaha Tuesday.

Three school teachers and four quartermaster’s men were relieved this week.

A Catholic clergyman conducted the service of mass in the post hall on Monday morning.

The troops were mustered on Tuesday and the paymaster is expected at the beginning of next week.

We understand that Lieut. Hyde is going away for a few months, and that Lieut. Richardson will perform the duties of adjutant until his return.

The Washington Centennial was observed here by making Tuesday a holiday, and at 12 o’clock noon Lt. Pettit fired the national salute in honor of the day.

Private Brooks a notorious 9^th Calvary man was dishonorably discharged on Wednesday. Private H. Miller of G Co. will also be discharged, having enlisted fraudulently.

Microfilm 2 of 2 of The Republican 5-3-1889, Bugle Notes from the Fort Column.

City of Valentine, Public Library.

Some time ago we expected our Sunday parade to be abolished almost immediately, but it seems now that hoped for change is not near at hand as we anticipated. To use the words of a certain eccentric individual, “It is only visible in the distance ‘like the ‘eyes of a frog perched on the topmost branch of a barren poplar in an impenetrable fog.’”

We had a fine concert in the post hall on Wednesday evening. The building was comparatively filled, said the audience listened attentively while Mr. Hergman caused to a single cornet to sound like the harmonious blending of two or three instruments. They insisted on an encore from Mr. Martin, whose rendering of Yankee Doodle on the flute saved the entertainment from being too sentimental. The mournful strains of the violin solo were also well received, and Mr. Nilsen was encored. Mr. Seibentritt played the piano accompaniments, and everybody went away with a high opinion of the musicians.

Private Cavanaugh of H company was brutally assaulted while on his way home from town Sunday night. It appears that Cavanaugh and two others of his own company had been spending the day in Valentine and left there late in the afternoon, expecting to reach the fort in time for retreat. Being a little elevated at the time they decided that a bottle of inspiration would be glorious company on the way home. Their progress was accordingly slow and their happy indifference increased with every visit to the bottle. As Burns has it, “Inspiring bold John Barleycorn what dangers thou canst make us scorn.” Retreat became a secondary consideration. The terrors of the guardhouse faded into insignificance, and they son discovered that the prairie was far superior to the best soldier bunk in Fort Niobrara. Private Gallacher of Co. G and Bugler Storms of Co. B then came up and tried to pick a quarrel with the happy trio. Knowing Cavanaugh to be of an inoffensive nature, and taking advantage of their helpless condition, Gallacher sought to pay some old grudge by attacking Cavanaugh with his feet, cowardly kicking him in the left eye and jumping on his victim’s body twisting the left leg and spraining the ankle. Being assisted in his pleasantries by the Stormy bugler, Gallacher marched to the post in triumph and made a second display of his propensities in H Co. kitchen. He soon found himself in the guardhouse. If punishment is the cure for such inhuman conduct we think nothing could be too severe for a man who has so much of the brute in him as to treat a human being in the manner described. Cavanaugh is in the hospital and will take some time to recover.

TAM O’SHANTER

Textual Note:

"Bugle Notes from the Fort" articles were transcribed to reflect the original text in grammar, spelling, and formatting. Errors are true to the original text and reflect the historic context of their authorship.