Holmes O. Paulding was an army surgeon with the Montana Column under Colonel John Gibbon in the summer of 1876. The table below shows the Returns from Military Post listings for Paulding’s time in service. His humorous, cranky, and opinionated observations on the life of frontier soldiers is one of the most interesting accounts of the 1876 campaigns against the Sioux and Cheyenne.
| Station | Month | Year | Notes |
| Fort Lincoln | May | 1875 | On duty at post since May 21, 1875. Joined post the same date per S.O. #78 par III from Hdqrs Department of Dakota current series |
| Fort Lincoln | June | 1875 | Assistant Post Surgeon [with C.C. Byone, Major; George Lord on temp duty there] |
| July | 1875 | Not found | |
| August | 1875 | Not found | |
| September | 1875 | Not found | |
| Fort Ellis | October | 1875 | Post Surgeon per S.O. #158 par II C.S. Hdqrs Fort Ellis dated Oct 27, 75 |
| Fort Ellis | November | 1875 | Post Surgeon per S.O. #158 par II C.S. Hdqrs Fort Ellis dated Oct 27, 75 |
| Fort Ellis | December | 1875 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Ellis | January | 1876 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Ellis | February | 1876 | Since Febr. 22nd 76 With expedition for relief of Fort Pease per S.O. No. 27 Hd. Qrs. Fort Ellis M.T. Febr 22, 76 |
| Fort Ellis | March | 1876 | Post Surgeon returned from D.S. March 17, 1876 [return from Pease?] |
| Fort Ellis | April | 1876 | Since April 2, 1876, on duty with Troops in the field per S.O. No. 47 c.s. Headquarters, Fort Ellis, M.T. |
| May | 1876 | Not found | |
| June | 1876 | Not found | |
| July | 1876 | Not found | |
| August | 1876 | Not found | |
| Fort Ellis | September | 1876 | Post Surgeon Returned to Post September 29th 1876 from Expedition in the Field |
| Fort Ellis | September | 1876 | Post Surgeon Returned to Post September 29th 1876 from Expedition in the Field |
| October | 1876 | Not found | |
| November | 1876 | Not found | |
| December | 1876 | Not found | |
| Fort Ellis | January | 1877 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Ellis | February | 1877 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Ellis | March | 1877 | not written on form but filed under Returns from Military Posts |
| Fort Ellis | March | 1877 | Battalion Surgeon |
| Fort Ellis | March | 1877 | With Battalion 2nd Cavalry in the field per G.O.M 14 Head Quarters, Fort Ellis M.T. March 7, 1877 |
| Fort Ellis | April | 1877 | With Battalion 2nd Cavy in the field since March 7th, 1877. |
| Fort Ellis | May | 1877 | With Battalion 2nd Cavalry in the field from March 7th to April 29th, 1877. Ordered to accompany Major James S. Brisbin to Fort Ellis M.T. per Special Order No. 54 Headquarters Yellowstone Command, Cantonment Tongue River M.T. April 29th, 1877. Rejoined Battalion 2nd Cavalry in the field May 26th, 1877 |
| Fort Ellis | June | 1877 | With Battalion 2nd Cavalry in the field since May 26th, 1877. |
| Fort Ellis | July | 1877 | Since Mar 26th 77, With Batt. 2nd Cavalry in the Field |
| Fort Ellis | August | 1877 | Since May 26, 1877 With Batt. 2nd Cavalry in the field |
| Fort Lincoln | August | 1877 | Assigned to duty at Ft. A. Lincoln per S.O. #113 4 s.c. Dept Dak. Absent on duty in the field. |
| Fort Ellis | September | 1877 | Relieved from duty at this Post and ordered to Fort Ab. Lincoln per S.O. #113 dated [illegible] Sept [illegible]aR Aug 20, 1877 |
| Fort Lincoln | September | 1877 | Assigned to duty at Ft. Lincoln, D.T. per S.O. 113 par 4 s.c. Dept Dak. Abs on duty in the field |
| Tongue River | September | 1877 | Post Surgeon since Sept 26[?], 77, S.O. 153 [illegible] Cantonment during absence of Surg. H.A. Tilton in the field |
| Fort Lincoln | October | 1877 | Assigned to duty at Ft. Lincoln, D.T. per S.O. 113 par 4 s.c. Dept Dak. Abs on duty in the field |
| Tongue River | October | 1877 | Left Post Oct. 18, 77 S.O. 173 Hd Qrs [illegible] Cantonment |
| Fort Lincoln | November | 1877 | On duty with expedition in the field |
| Fort Lincoln | November | 1877 | Joined post from detached service Dec. 10, 1877 |
| Fort Lincoln | December | 1877 | Joined post from detached service Dec. 10, 1878 |
| Fort Lincoln | January | 1878 | For one month per S.O. no. 1 par 5 c.s. Dept. Dakota. Extended three months per S.O. 76 [illegible] par 5 c.s. A.G.O. left post Jany 11, 1878 |
| Fort Lincoln | February | 1878 | For one (1) month per S.O. #1 Part 5 cs. D.D. extended 3 mos per S.O. #19 Part 5 cs A.G.O. Left Post Jan 11, 1878 |
| Fort Lincoln | March | 1878 | For one month per S.O. #1 Part 5 c.s. D.D. Extended 3 mos per S.O. #19 part 5 C.O. A.G.O. Left post Jany 11, 1878 |
| Fort Lincoln | March | 1878 | On duty at Cav. Barracks from absent with leave to D.C[?] May 2, 78 with recruits for post in Montana S.O. #52 part 2 C.O. Dept of Dakota. Rejoined Post for duty May 15, 1878 |
| Fort Lincoln | April | 1878 | For one (1) month per S.O. #1 Part 5 cs. D.D. extended 3 mos per S.O. #19 Part 5 cs A.G.O. Left Post Jan 11, 1878 |
| Fort Lincoln | May | 1878 | On duty at Cavy Barracks after absent with leave [illegible] May 2, 78 with recruits for post in Montana S.O. #52 par 2 c.o. Dept of Dakota. Rejoined post for duty May 15, 1878. |
| Fort Lincoln | June | 1878 | On duty at Cav. Barracks |
| Fort Lincoln | July | 1878 | On duty with 7 Cavalry at camp J.G. Sturgis D.T. Left Post July 4, 1878 |
| Camp J.G. Sturgis | July | 1878 | Camp surgeon arrived at Camp July 18, 1878 with Hd. Qrts. Of Army |
| Camp J.G. Sturgis | August | 1878 | Camp Surgeon |
| Fort Lincoln | August | 1878 | On duty with 7th Cavy at Camp J.G. Sturgis D.T. |
| Camp J.G. Sturgis | September | 1878 | Camp Surgeon |
| Fort Lincoln | October | 1878 | On duty with 7th Cav. in the field |
| Fort Lincoln | November | 1878 | joined post Nov 20, 78 from service in the field with the 7th Cav. for duty. |
| Cheyenne Agency, SD | December | 1878 | Post Surgeon since Decb 14, 1878. Assigned to Post for duty per S.O. 140, c.s. Dept Dak [illegible] |
| Fort Randall SD | December | 1878 | At Post from Dec 14th to Dec 19th, 1878. Awaiting transportation to Cheyenne Agency, D.T. |
| Fort Lincoln | December | 1878 | Transferred to Cheyenne Agency, D.T. per S.O. [illegible] |
| Fort Bennett | January | 1879 | Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879. |
| Fort Bennett | February | 1879 | Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879. |
| Fort Bennett | March | 1879 | Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879. |
| Fort Bennett | April | 1879 | Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879. |
| Fort Bennett | May | 1879 | Ordered to proceed to Washington D.C. and report by letter, upon arrival to the Surgeon General per S.O. #114, c.s. A.G.O. Relieved from duty as Post Surgeon May 27th, 79, per S.O. 59 c.s. Post. Relieved from duty at Post May 25th, 79, per S.O. #60 Post. Left Post May 30, 79. |
| June | 1879 | Not found | |
| July | 1879 | Not found | |
| Fort McHenry | August | 1879 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | September | 1879 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | October | 1879 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | November | 1879 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | December | 1879 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | January | 1880 | Attending Surgeon Abs with leave Jany 10, 1880 S.O. 224 p. 29 Department East[?]—–Marriage on Jan 13 |
| Fort McHenry | February | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | March | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | April | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | May | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | June | 1880 | Attending Surgeon on Det Srv at New York City-before examining board from March[?] to [?] 80 S.O. [?] Head qrs Army |
| Fort McHenry | July | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | August | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | September | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | October | 1880 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | November | 1880 | Absent with leave 7 days since Nov 20 Orders 180 c.s. Ft M[Page covered with other note |
| Fort McHenry | December | 1880 | Attending Surgeon. Joined from leave of absence Dec. 4, 80 |
| Fort McHenry | January | 1881 | Attending Surgeon |
| Fort McHenry | February | 1881 | Attending Surgeon |
| March | 1881 | Not found | |
| April | 1881 | Not found | |
| Fort McHenry | May | 1881 | Attending Surgeon |
| June | 1881 | Not found | |
| July | 1881 | Not found | |
| August | 1881 | Not found | |
| September | 1881 | Not found | |
| October | 1881 | Not found | |
| Fort Laramie | November | 1881 | Ordered to report for duty to the Commanding Officer Fort Laramie, Wyo, per S.O. 1[illegible] |
| Fort Laramie | December | 1881 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | January | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | February | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | March | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | April | 1882 | Post Surgeon abst W.L. [with leave] from April 4 to 10 per Orders 64 c.s. Fort Laramie, Wyo |
| Fort Laramie | May | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | June | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | July | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | August | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | September | 1882 | Post Surgeon absent with leave from Sept 10 to Sept 15th, both dates inclusive [Woodson cmdg post since Aug 4] |
| Fort Laramie | October | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | December | 1882 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | January | 1883 | Post Surgeon |
| Fort Laramie | February | 1883 | Absent with leave for one month per S.O. #11 c.s. Headqrs Dept of the Platte, Left post 12 Feby 1883 |
| Fort Laramie | March | 1883 | Arrived at Post March 26, 1883 |
| Fort Laramie | March | 1883 | Absent with leave for one month per S.O. #11 c.s. Headqrs Dept of the Platte. Leave of absence extended 20 days per S.O. #23 par 2 c.s. Headqrs [illegible]. Left post[?] 12 Feb, 1883. Relieved from duty at Fort Laramie, Wyo. And transferred to Fort Sidney, Neb. per S.O. #31 par 6 c.s. Headqrs Dept of the Platte |
| Fort Sidney | April | 1883 | On Duty at Post per S.O. #31 c.s. Dept. Platte. Arrived at post Apl. 1[? illegible], 83. sick in quarters |
| Fort Laramie | April | 1883 | Departed April 1, 1883 en route to Fort Sidney, Neb |
| Fort Sidney | May | 1883 | Died May 1, 83 of Rheumatism of the heart at Ft. Sidney Neb. |