My Day at Fort Atkinson
by Benedict
Yesterday we went to
Fort Atkinson State Historic Park in Fort Calhoun, NE. Established
in 1819, it was the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri
River. We all had a lot of fun learning things about the fort. My
brother, sister, and my friends from our history co-op did a cannon
drill. Then we went into each room in the fort and people dressed as
soldiers, blacksmiths, and laundresses, etc. talked about the things
in the room. We even got to try many activities including making and
drinking homemade apple cider. We went on a hike to Council Bluff
where Lewis and Clark met with the Oto and Missouri Indians. Finally,
I enlisted in the army. It was a fun day.
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| The Apple Cider Press |
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| Ephrem enjoying the cider |
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| The blacksmith making a nail |
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| Broom Making |
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| Making Lace |
In a cannon drill
there are 6 people who man the cannon. First, Man 2 worms the hole
for leftover shells. Then Man 1 cleans the hole with a sponge. Man 3
holds his thumb over the lighting hole. Then Man 2 dries the hole
with a dry sponge. Man 6 gives a cannon ball to Man 2 who puts it in
the cannon. Then Man 1 rams it down with a rammer. Man 5 puts in the
wick. Finally, Man 4 fires the cannon.
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| Cleaning the cannon |
In 1820, to enlist
you had to be at least 10 years old. You had to swear an oath to the
U.S. Military. In the oath an enlistee promised to obey orders and
protect the United States. To enlist a commander and the enlistee
must sign their names onto the contract, which was usually for 5
years. Then for enlisting a soldier get a $6 bonus.
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| Me with my 5 year contract. I've enlisted! |
My favorite room
was the 6th infantry barracks and kitchen. In the barracks the
soldiers had bunk beds and 2 soldiers shared each bunk. The bunks
were smaller than my twin sized bed! Each soldier had one peg to hang
his stuff. The kitchen had a table, a cupboard, a fireplace, and a
wood stock. They would cook food in closed pots and pans. Soldiers
always carried a musket, a blanket, a knapsack, a canteen, a
haversack, a cartridge box, and a bayonet.
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| Inside the 6th Infantry barracks kitchen |
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| A typical barracks kitchen |
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| Heading down the bluff to the site of Council Bluff |
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