While we’re all spending a lot more time at home these days, keeping busy is important. This was also true of the soldiers stationed at Fort Walla Walla in the mid-to-late 1800s. In between all the duties, drills, shooting practice, and inspections, there were various activities to keep the men occupied. Some of this information is documented in the historical record, recorded from oral histories passed down, or uncovered through archaeological excavations undertaken around the old fort.
In the early days of the fort, a civilian sutler had a store near the barracks to offer soldiers goods not supplied by the army. Archaeological investigations near this store produced a circa-1860 artifact assemblage dominated by fragmentary alcohol bottles. To reduce onsite access to alcohol, the fort later established a military-run canteen.
In addition to allowing a private sutler to run a business at the post, soldiers were sometimes given space for on-the-side businesses. We know that soldier-run businesses included cobblers, for making and repairing footwear, and photographers. One of these photographers, Sergeant Crawford of the 4th Cavalry Band, had a photo gallery in 1892. The following year, a soldier named McConaghy was taking photos in the Canteen. We at the Museum have not yet come across any existing photographs with these marks.
While we’re all doing our part by social distancing today, socialization between officers’ families and community leaders, especially shared meals and dances, was common practice. The fort usually had a regimental band stationed here, and they frequently played concerts and participated in parades downtown.
Detail of a trench wall where a trash pit was discovered by museum archaeologists monitoring an excavation for a utility line at the non-commissioned officer’s quarters. Among the debris, including animal bones, bottle bases, and architectural elements like nails and brick fragments, a porcelain doll’s head can be seen. Other doll parts, a toy tea cup, and marbles indicate children playing on this site.
Some soldiers, primarily officers and non-commissioned officers, had families living at the fort. The diary of a young boy growing up at the fort in 1870 wrote of off-site adventures and picnics. Artifacts recovered during excavations at the fort show that toys such as porcelain dolls and marbles were common. During another excavation, a small lead cup from a doll’s tea set was also discovered.
Picture of the 14th cavalry Fort Walla Walla baseball team taken about 1898. On the far right is Charles (Biddy) States. They are sitting on the steps of the army barracks. FWWM Archives.
While baseball started in Walla Walla in 1867, the sport became a staple at the fort with the return of the First Cavalry in 1873. Records indicate that multiple ball fields were built and maintained on fort grounds over the years, and the military teams were strong competitors with the local leagues.
Being a cavalry post, the men were well-trained equestrians. In the 1890s the fort’s newspaper, The Eye-Glass, reported that the polo team thought they were rather good; however, lacking true teamwork, they were soundly defeated when they traveled to California to play a seasoned team.
From bands to baseball to cobbling to photography, the soldiers at Fort Walla Walla had a varied existence during their stay. Thanks to the information passed down through the years, either from old family histories, uncovered fort publications, or digging under the ground where these soldiers lived and worked, we can see the lives of local troopers in multiple dimensions.