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June 2013
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Sgt. Major’s Desk
Some might note that the SgtMajor can’t cipher
correctly, but the word from the Historic Stockyards people in Fort Worth is that we handled
2500 students and 250 teachers ( plus whoever
else was in the area ) on Friday, May 10 at the
Frontier Forts Day. This obviously puts to
shame the figure of 1500 I kept quoting. Our
thanks to the many people and programs and
forts who attended the May 10-11 weekend.
Great weather and the always-wonderful hospitality of our hosts at the Stockyards Stations
made this a very pleasant event. Next year will
probably be Friday & Saturday, May 9-10, so
mark it on the calendars. Fort Concho wishes to
thank the San Angelo Convention Center and
“ Always carry of flagon of whiskey
Visitors Bureau who sponsored our trip and we
In case of snakebite
commend our partners at the Texas Forts Trail
And furthermore
( Margaret Hoogstra ) and Texas Lakes Trail
( Jill Campbell ) for their assistance.
Always carry a small snake.
Drop by our Barracks I Visitor Center at 630
South
Oakes as we have a new display on the
W C Fields
story of Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker,
probably two of the most famous folks of the
mid-nineteenth century Captured by the Comanche's at a raid on Fort Parker in East Texas
June 7-9//FolkLife Festival
in 1836, Cynthia Ann spent twenty-five years
San Antonio
living with the tribe; she married a Comanche
June 27-30//150th Gettysburg Re-enactment and gave birth to several children, with the most
famous being the chief Quanah Parker. Cynthia
July 3// Pops Concert
was re-captured in 1861 and returned to Anglo
San Angelo Riverstage
civilization, but she never fully abandonded her
July 4//Artillery Salutes on the hour
Comanche life. Quanah led the Comanche's in
Fort Concho
their transition in the late 19th century to reserJuly 27//National Cowboy Day
vation life after their surrender to the US GovFort Concho
ernment. The display is free, available seven
days//weeks( continued on page 2 )
Upcoming Events
( continued from page 1 ) and runs until June 26. The end of June will find our Fort Concho Artillery crew enroute to Gettysburg to take part in the 150th Anniversary Battle Reenactment. “ Scheduled to appear “( as they always say at the Academy Awards ) are Chris Morgan, who will be leading
the expedition and commanding a two-gun section, plus Sandy Morgan, Henry Crawford, Ron Hartman, Jim Kerbow, David Johnson, Michael Bitner, Tony Castro, Dan Walker, King Walker and
Bruce Johnstone. Our thanks to the Fort Concho Foundation for covering the major expenses of
this epic adventure. And our thanks to these eleven who will representing us at this
once in a lifetime “ event. We are told that this may rank as among the largest battle reenactments
and we are proud that our people will be participating.
Gettysburg Bound This June 2830, Fort Concho is sending a gun
crew to Gettysburg to participate in
the 150th re-enactment of that epic
battle. Combining forces with the
Arkansas Light Artillery, gun and
crew will join with Longstreet’s
Division and wear the gray uniforms of the Confederacy. Combined guns and crews will form a
4-gun battery that includes the
forts’ 3-inch Ordnance Rifle, a
Blakley gun and a brace of 6pounders. A rebel yell goes out to
Jim Kerbow, Ron Hartman, Dave
Johnson, Mike Bitner, Tony Castro, King Walker, Dan Walker, Bruce Johnstone, Henry Crawford,
Sandy Morgan and Staffer Chris Morgan. Meeting us there will be former Fort Concho Living History Volunteer Mike McCoy.
Pudding Cake
2 tbls melted Butter
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
2/3 cup sifted Flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Cocoa
1 tsp Baking Powder
3/4 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup quick cook Oatmeal
1 2/3 cups boiling Water
In a bowl combine butter, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla. Sift together
flour, 1/4 cup cocoa, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add with
milk to sugar mixture. Blend well. Stir in oats. In an 8-inch square
cake pan, combine the remaining half cup sugar, remaining 1/4 cup
cocoa and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in the boiling water. Drop
oat mixture by tablespoons onto cocoa mixture in pan.
DO NOT STIR. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about
45 minutes. Serve warm, spooning chocolate sauce from pan over
each portion. Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or Cool
Whip. Makes 6 servings.
Presidential Trivia: William Henry Harrison ,
the 9th US president was born on February 9, 1773 in
Berkeley, Virginia, the youngest of 7 children of Benjamin
Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett. He was the last president born under British colonial rule. His father was a
delegate to the Continental Congress and signer of the
Declaration of Independence. In 1787, at the age of 14,
Harrison entered the Presbyterian Hampden-Sydney College and attended until 1790 becoming well versed in
Latin and French. Harrison entered the University of
Pennsylvania in 1790 and studied medicine under Dr
Benjamin Rush. After the death of his father, which left
him without funds for school, Harrison joined the army
after some coaxing by Governor Henry Lee, a friend of
Harrison’s father, and was commissioned as an ensign with
the 11th Regt of Infantry at the age of 18. In 1795, Harrison met Anna Symmes of North Bend, Ohio. After her
father refused to let his daughter wed Harrison, they
eloped and married on November 25, 1795. They had 10 children together. Nine lived to adulthood
and produced 48 grandchildren and 106 great-grandchildren, one of which became the 23rd president ( Benjamin Harrison). Harrison left the regular army in 1797 and campaigned to be the governor of the Indiana Territory. During the War of 1812, Harrison with the rank of Major-General was
in command of the forces in Indiana and won several battles and defeated the British at the Battle of
the Thames and recaptured Detroit. Harrison settled down to his farm in 1829 and cultivated corn,
distilled whiskey and lived in relative retirement. Harrison was elected president on March 4, 1841
and gave a 2 hour speech on a cold and rainy day. The longest on record to date. He wore no coat
or hat and rode a horse instead of a carriage. On March 26, Harrison became ill with a cold and it
developed into pneumonia and pleurisy. Harrison’s doctors tried cures, applying opium, castor oil,
leeches and Virginia snakeweed. But they only made Harrison sicker. He died at 12.30 am on April,
4, 1841 of pneumonia, jaundice and overwhelming septicemia. He was the first president to die in
office and had the shortest term of office at 30 days, 12 hours and 30 minutes. Harrison was the oldest man at 68 to be elected president until Ronald Reagan in 1981. He is buried in North Bend,
Ohio. The nickname” Old Tippecanoe “ was given to him after a battle with the Shawnee near a
river called Tippecanoe. The campaign slogan of “ Tippecanoe and Tyler Too “ came from this
nickname and his running mate-John Tyler. Harrison was the first president to have his photograph
taken on his Inauguration day.
Scamper Says: Life could be wonderful if people
would leave you alone.
Fort Chadbourne 2013
The month in History: June 1, 1495– First written record of Scotch Whiskey appears in
Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Friar John Cor is the distiller. June 2, 1896-Guglielmo Marconi patents the radio. June 3, 1851-First baseball uniforms worn , New York Kinickerbockers wear straw
hat, white shirt and long blue trousers. June 4, 1794-Congress passes Neutrality Act which bans
Americans from serving in the armed forces of foreign powers. June 5, 1933-Gold standard abolished. June 6, 1664-New Amsterdam renamed New York. June 7, 1775-United Colonies change
name to United States. June 8, 1824-Washing machine patented by Noah Cushing of Quebec. June
9, 1869-Charles Elmer Hires sells his first root beer in Philadelphia. June 10, 1915-Girl Scouts
founded. June 11, 1859-Comstock silver lode discovered near Virginia City, Nevada. June 12, 1812,
Napoleon invades Russia. June 13, 1922-Longest attack of hiccups begins for Charles Osborne, 98,
who hiccupped over 435 million times before it stops. He dies 11 months after it stops. June 14,
1881-Player-piano patented by John McTammany Jr of Cambridge, Mass. June 15, 1877-Henry O
Flipper becomes the first black graduate from West Point. June 16, 1903-Pepsi-Cola company
forms. June 17, 1885-Statue of Liberty arrives in New York City. June 18, 1873-Susan B Anthony
fined $100 for attempting to vote for president. June 19, 1862-Slavery abolished in US territories.
June 20, 1782-Congress approves Great Seal of US and Eagle as it symbol. June 21, 1898-Guam
becomes a territory of the US. June 22, 1772-Slavery abolished in Britain. June 23, 1865-At Fort
Towson, General Stand Watie surrenders last sizable Confederate Army. June 24, 1841-Fordham
University, then St John’s College opens in the Bronx. June 25, 1798-US passes “ Alien Act “ which
allows the president to deport dangerous aliens. June 26, 1284-Pied Piper lures 130 children of
Hamelin away ( actually happened ) June 27, 1893-New York Stock Exchange crashes. June 28,
1820-Tomato is proven to be non-poisonous. June 29, 1767-Britain passes Townshend Revenue
Act levying taxes on America. June 30, 1988– Brooklyn dedicates a bus depot honoring Jackie
Gleason.
Memorial Day 2013
Photos courtesy of Mike Erb
Fort Worth 2013
Snider-Enfield
The British .577 Snider-Enfield was a breech loading rifle. The firearm action was invented by the
American Jacob Snider and the Snider-Enfield was one of the most widely used of the Snider varieties. It was adopted by the British Army as a conversion system for its ubiquitous Pattern 1853 Enfield muzzle-loading rifles. It was introduced in 1866 and was used by the British Army until it was
superseded by the Martini-Henry rifle in 1871. The Snider-Enfield was used by the British Indian
Army almost to the end of the 19th century. In trials the snider Pattern 1853 conversions proved
both more accurate than original Pattern 1853s and much faster firing; a trained soldier could fire
ten aimed rounds per minute with the breech-loader, compared with only three rounds per minute
with the muzzle-loading weapon. From 1866 onwards, the Enfield rifles were converted in large
numbers at the Royal Arms Factory ( RSAF ) Enfield beginning with the initial pattern, the Mark I.
The converted rifles received a new breechblock/receiver assembly, but retained the original iron
barrel, furniture, lock and hammer. The Mark II rifles were newly made, with steel barrels which
were so
marked,
flat nosed
hammers
and featured a
latchlocking
breech
block
instead of
the simple integral block
lifting
tang. The
SniderEnfield
used a
new type
of metal cased cartridge called a Boxer cartridge after its designer. The breech block housed a diagonally downward sloping firing pin struck with a front-action lock mounted hammer. To operate the
weapon, the rifleman cocked the hammer, flipped the block out of the receiver to the right by grasping the left mounted breech block lever and then pulled the block back to extract the spent case.
There was no ejector, so the case was lifted out by hand or more usually, the rifle was turned upside
down to allow the case to drop out. The Snider first saw action with the British/Indian Army at the
battle of Aroghee in Ethiopia on April 10, 1868, against the forces of Tewodros II of Ethiopia; during which 10,200 rounds were fired by the 4th R O Regiment .
Fort Concho Museum
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
San Angelo, Texas
Permit No. 60
National Historic Landmark
630 South Oakes
San Angelo, Texas 76903
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Questions and comments can be directed to the above personnel by calling Fort Concho at —
325-657-4443 or 325-657-4444.
E-mail—[email protected]//WEB:: www.fortconcho.com
The Fort Concho Dispatch may also be viewed on our website.
Look for us Facebook.
Sic Semper Tyrannis
Robert Bluthardt……….….Sgt.Major//Site Manager
Christopher Morgan….…Ordnance//Quartermaster//Education
Paul Cook……………………..…Staff Liaison//Buffalo Soldiers//Stable Sgt.
Cory Robinson…………….…Staff Liaison//Cavalry//Baseball
Gregg Hector…………….......Bugler//Artillery
Cynthia Bishop……………...Staff Liaison//Schoolmarm//Laundress
Jim Kerbow…..….….…..…... 1stSgt//Company F, 16th
Rick Brown…………….….….. 1stSgt//Company A, 10th
Ron Perry………...………..….…1st Sgt//Company D, 4th