Cavalry Barracks:
The cavalry barracks. This substantial structure was built in part in 1874, with the veranda being added in 1883. The top floor consists of two equally large bays, each housing a company of troopers. The bottom floor consisted of a kitchen, messroom, cook’s room, storage room, washroom, armory, orderly room, and housing for the NCOs. Those who may have been in the Army up even into the 1980s would recognize this type of housing.

The cavalry barracks today is the home to numerous bats, whose byproducts are slowly destroying the structure.

Figure 3: Barracks front
Figure 1: Barracks back

Figure 2: This photographs depicts the interior of the
barracks, note the bunks and gear, including the
covers for the dress helmets.

Figure 3: Another view of the cavalry bunks,
photo by Darcie Holscher.

Figure 5: Another view of the Cavalry
mess hall, note the coffee cups with the
emblem of the 2d Cavalry Regiment,
photo by Darcie Holscher.

Captain's Quarters

The Captain's Quarters were originally constructed as the Commanding Officer’s Quarters. However, the structure was converted at some point into a duplex by a CO with an eye towards efficiency, if not beauty, by building a divider right down the middle of the structure. New officers could take this house at their pleasure, if they outranked the occupants of the house. Strangely, the structure was replaced as the commanding officer’s quarters, which was ultimately moved to one of the newly built officers’ quarters of 1881.

Figure 6: Captain's Quarters.

Figure 7: Back of Captain's Quarters

Figure 8: A child's room inside of the Captain's Quarters,
photo by Darcie Holscher.

Old Bedlam

Old Bedlam is probably the most famous structure on the post, and it is the oldest military building in Wyoming. The building was originally constructed to be Bachelor Officers' Quarters, although Lt. Col. Collins, CO from 1863-1864, used the structure as the post Headquarters as well as his residence. As originally constructed in 1849 the building contained sixteen rooms.

The name for the building is somewhat obscure, although the parties thrown by the bachelor officers may have given rise to the name. The most famous moment to occur at the building happened during just such a party when "Portugee" Philips, Ft. Phil Kearney’s scout, arrived at midnight on Christmas, 1866 after riding 235 miles. Philips brought the news that Ft. Phil Kearney might be overrun, and that some eighty men under the command of Cpt. Fetterman had been killed. The festivities were halted, but the relief column would not reach Ft. Phil Kearney until mid-January.

Figure 9: Old Bedlam, as it faces the parade ground
When this photo was taken, June, 2000, the building
was undergoing repairs.

Figure 10: The back of a series of officers' quarters,
including Old Bedlam, the prominent white building in the center. To the right of Old Bedlam are the ruins of the officers' quarters built in 1881. To the left is a magazine dating from 1850. In front of the magazine is another officers' quarters structure.

Figure 11: An example of officer's quarters within Old Bedlam. Note how tight the quarters are. An 1839 pattern Forage Cap is resting
on the bedpost. This part of Old Bedlam has been restored to its 1850s condition.

Officer’s Quarters

These three ruins were built in 1881, but were actually major additions to existing 1855 buildings. They consisted of two duplexes and the Commanding Officer’s Quarters. They are amongst those structures at the fort constructed out of lime concrete.

Figure 12: These three lime-concrete buildings were
constructed in 1881. They were built as additions to
existing structures, built in 1855. One of the buildings
was a duplex, and another served as the commanding
officers' quarters.

Figure 13: Another view of the officers' quarters.