Guardhouse - Tools of the Trade

The following tools or props would be found at the guardhouse:

Hand Shackles - similar to handcuffs.

Leg Irons - a ball and chain used to keep soldiers from running off.

 

Log - a form of punishment where a soldier had to stand and hold a log on his shoulder (not shown).

Barrel - this was another form of punishment where a soldier had to stand on a barrel for an unspecified amount of time.

Sawbuck - soldiers straddled a sawbuck like they would a horse with their arms shackled behind them and their legs tied around the beam.

 

Platform Bed - a wooden platform where the guards could rest when not on patrol, but they could rest here only during the day.

Gun Rack - a place where guards rested their guns when not on patrol.

 

Leather Buckets - Used to extinguish fires. One of the duties of the guards was to watch for prairie fires and to sound the alarm in case of fire. All guards on duty would then form a bucket brigade to fight the fire.

 

Overview	Program Outline	Tools of the Trade	Regulations	Historical Background
Discipline	Desertion	Alcoholism	Cell Types	Duties
		Guardhouse

 

Virtual Resource Center