After decades of conflicts between the military and the Indian People in the Willamette Valley, a period of peace came to Fort Walla Walla in the 1890s. The life of a soldier changed from action packed old western skirmishes into a mundane daily routine of parade drills, horse training, guard duty, kitchen duty, and base clean up. 

Sergeant F.C. Gurney can tell you exactly what it means when his superiors give the order to do yet another day of parade drills and cleaning the stables.  Those are the kinds of things soldiers do as part of the 4th Cavalry stationed at Fort Walla Walla. Go ahead and ask Sgt. Gurney what he likes to do or where he likes to go on his time off. Thanks to a few bad apples amongst the ranks, his options might be limited.

The year was 1898 and Sgt. Gurney sat by the bonfire, casting long shadows on the hillside near Fort Walla Walla, as he recounted old tales of bravery and camaraderie. With a twinkle in his eye and his warm voice carrying the weight of years of soldiering, he painted vivid portraits of his fellow 4th Cavalry soldiers, capturing the spirit of their shared experiences on the rugged frontier.

Sergeant F.C. Gurney is portrayed by Living History re-enactor and history enthusiast Delbert Draper.