Swett, Morris
Fort Sill A History
Sheridan named Fort Sill after General Sill, a classmate of his at West Point and who also commanded one of his a divisions during the Civil War, and was killed in action.
Contains Sheridan’s report on the Winter Campaign of 1868 with detailed accounts of Custer and the Washita fight, along with Colonel Moore’s account of Custer’s actions against the Cheyennes (Little Robe’s band) to rescue prisoners (Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. White) and their efforts to return the Indians to their reservations. A witness who examined the Washita battlefield noted stolen items taken from raiding parties found laying around, and remarks of Indians raping captives sometimes 40 or 50 times and using objects and even a sword.
There is a section on Geronimo and the Apache prisoners housed at Fort Sill. The Indians would leave the reservation during the summer, raiding and causing problems and then would return in the winter when their food supply and grass for their horses were exhausted. The Apaches raided into Mexico and the government placed a bounty on scalps, ($100 for men, $50 for women and $25 for children.)
The second half of the book contains the history of the fort and of the Artillery School. A lengthy account of student life at the school is given along with information on the size of classes and length and types of instruction and training given.
An easy read. Sheridan’s reports and accounts of the military and Indian activity were of special interest, but the section on Artillery life at the school was unexpectedly interesting.
