Citizens Military Training Camp - Full Pack Yearbook (Fort Leavenworth, KS)

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-24-'NIU LLQ AFICKOQQ H isiory of F ort Leavenworth As the results of the efforts of Senator Benton of Missouri, the United States decided to open a trade route to the Southwest. To protect this trade the government was induced to establish a military post at some point along the western boundary of Missouri. Colonel Leavenworth, 3rd U. S. Infantry, who was stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., was assigned to the duty of selecting a suitable site for this post. Under orders of March 7, 1827, he proceeded up the Missouri River and selected the spot which now bears his name. , The posts relation to this new trade, its selection as the capital of the new territory, its position in the Civil War, and the fact that the General Service School is now conducted here, have given it a commanding position as a military post second to none in the country: In 1846 the army of the west for operation against lVIexico was organized at Fort Leavenworth under General S. W. Kearney. The exodus of the lVIormons to Utah in 1847 and the excitement of the Gold Rush of ,4Q, gave Fort Leaven- worth an importance which exceeded the dreams of the founder. In 1854 the Territory of Kansas was organized and the post was designated as the temporary capital. Three years later Colonel A. S. Johnston proceeded to Utah with an expedition which was organized here for the purpose of punishing the lVIormons who had refused to obey the laws of the United States. In January, 1858, eight companies of the Sixth Infantry assembled here for a march to the Paciic Coast. They left here in March and arrived at a point within twenty miles of San Francisco in November of the same year. During the Civil War this was one of the most important posts of the west, and after the war it was made headquarters for the country's largest Geographical Military Department. In 1881 the Infantry and Cavalry Schools were established here. What was further done in the advance- ment of military science at this post is known to all and needs no recounting. In 1923 the Citizen Military Training Camp was held here and all the cadets say, I-Iats off to the Leaven- worth of the past, and to the still more wonderful Leavenworth of the present. FT. LEAVENWORTH FROM THE AIR Page One Hundred Five

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-ZGQIULIQMQIDJQ H099 J Between us Soldiers ,. fe ' A In l A X ll . sl I , g g 5, 'CGENERAIF' CONANT STERLING WRITES CITIZENS, MILITARY TRAINING CAMP Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas August 4th, I923 Dear Folks: - I , I received your letter and was glad to get it and also received Dr. Spearin's letter and it will save me from being shot three times at once, and I sure like my Captain and lieutenants, altho mysergeant is hard boiled and isnit any commissioned oHicer either, but that is always the way, and Company MI is made up of all Kansas men. I get to see all the boys every day and some of the Dodge City boys are here, also the boys from Ingalls too. We sure are getting treated fine and plenty to eat, the best I ever saw, and if the army is all like this, which it is, I am going to join and I never get home sick, and none of the rest are that I know of. We have gotten all our equipment just like the regulars and all sure Ht snug and good. I guess we will go to K. C. on parade the last of the month and then we will return home but I sure hate to come home because it is so cool a place to stay in, where you have plenty of tomatoes and ice cream to eat. I Write and tell me all the news and please don't tell me anything about the president because we heard it before you did, and it sure makes us drill hard because of his death, with lots of noise from the cannons every half hour in his memory, and you can imagine all the rest. Well will close but will tell you my rank. I have charge of one tent with six bunks and am a corporal of the second platoon, first squad and Bob Downtain is in it. A corporal is no private by no means, if you think so try it and when I get home I'll be the highest man from' Cimarron and you will have to salute me.All my squad does it. Iftheydon'tthey get on K. P. and I don't guess I will not have to serve K. P. because of my rank, and I ball them all out if they aren't in tin top shape at the call. I don't guess you know what I have to do, but it is a plenty. ' f Conant Sterling. Page One Hundred Sixi