Old Fort Garland

A soldier’s journal carries us into the dusty heat of Colorado’s frontier, where Company F of the 10th Infantry trudges to the newly built Old Fort Garland in 1860. Through the eyes of a literate private turned clerk, listeners hear the clatter of adobe walls, the routine of early‑morning drills, and the uneasy peace with the surrounding Ute and Navajo peoples. The narrative blends meticulous research with vivid, imagined moments, giving a sense of daily life—mess halls, fire‑lit squad rooms, and the occasional promotion that brightens a weary week.

As the months pass, the fort settles into a rough‑shod home for soldiers and a few daring families, its simple structures contrasting with the rugged landscape beyond the parade ground. The journal’s entries capture the camaraderie, the harsh weather, and the slow grind of frontier duty, while subtly hinting at the larger conflicts that will shape the region’s future. Listeners will feel the weight of history and the personal stories that animate it, all framed by an honest, down‑to‑earth voice from a bygone era.