“School of the Soldier: Basic 1830s Drills” living history program

The Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold living history programs in September. They will be held on September 12–13 and 19–21 from 10:00 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Fort Gibson Historic Site staff will center the programs on the theme of “School of the Soldier: Basic 1830s Drills.”

Soldiers needed to drill several hours daily, 5 to 6 days a week, to prepare for duty. This was not only part of their exercise regimen but also necessary to maintain skills at maneuvering as a unit with fellow soldiers and ensure safety in handling weaponry. Soldiers also received basic military education, including classroom sessions on military command structure, advanced drill lessons, and study of military tactics.

Utilizing Brevet Lieutenant General Winfield Scott’s Infantry Tactics Manual (1830), staff will walk visitors through the various aspects of Army education and the basic duties of enlisted men. These include the very first lessons on basic commands raw recruits would receive. After learning basic instructions, recruits began to learn musket handling with wooden training muskets and learned the process of loading, firing, and cleaning muskets from an instructor. They would also learn to march in formation with their training muskets without hitting one another.

During the military outpost’s September programs, visitors can expect to see and participate in various drills, learn the techniques and importance of proper weapons maintenance, including cleaning, and more.

The programs will be held in Fort Gibson Historic Site’s stockade, located at 110 N. Ash St., and are included in the price of admission.

AMB/TIN no. 2984 [P&P] (Liljenquist Family collection, Library of Congress).