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.

Click to purchase

StationMonthYearNotes
Fort LincolnMay1875On 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 LincolnJune1875Assistant Post Surgeon [with C.C. Byone, Major; George Lord on temp duty there]
 July1875Not found
 August1875Not found
 September1875Not found
Fort EllisOctober1875Post Surgeon per S.O. #158 par II C.S. Hdqrs Fort Ellis dated Oct 27, 75
Fort EllisNovember1875Post Surgeon per S.O. #158 par II C.S. Hdqrs Fort Ellis dated Oct 27, 75
Fort EllisDecember1875Post Surgeon
Fort EllisJanuary1876Post Surgeon
Fort EllisFebruary1876Since 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 EllisMarch1876Post Surgeon returned from D.S. March 17, 1876 [return from Pease?]
Fort EllisApril1876Since April 2, 1876, on duty with Troops in the field per S.O. No. 47 c.s. Headquarters, Fort Ellis, M.T.
 May1876Not found
 June1876Not found
 July1876Not found
 August1876Not found
Fort EllisSeptember1876Post Surgeon Returned to Post September 29th 1876 from Expedition in the Field
Fort EllisSeptember1876Post Surgeon Returned to Post September 29th 1876 from Expedition in the Field
 October1876Not found
 November1876Not found
 December1876Not found
Fort EllisJanuary1877Post Surgeon
Fort EllisFebruary1877Post Surgeon
Fort EllisMarch1877not written on form but filed under Returns from Military Posts
Fort EllisMarch1877Battalion Surgeon
Fort EllisMarch1877With Battalion 2nd Cavalry in the field per G.O.M 14 Head Quarters, Fort Ellis M.T. March 7, 1877
Fort EllisApril1877With Battalion 2nd Cavy in the field since March 7th, 1877.
Fort EllisMay1877With 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 EllisJune1877With Battalion 2nd Cavalry in the field since May 26th, 1877.
Fort EllisJuly1877Since Mar 26th 77, With Batt. 2nd Cavalry in the Field
Fort EllisAugust1877Since May 26, 1877 With Batt. 2nd Cavalry in the field
Fort LincolnAugust1877Assigned to duty at Ft. A. Lincoln per S.O. #113 4 s.c. Dept Dak. Absent on duty in the field.
Fort EllisSeptember1877Relieved from duty at this Post and ordered to Fort Ab. Lincoln per S.O. #113 dated [illegible] Sept [illegible]aR Aug 20, 1877
Fort LincolnSeptember1877Assigned to duty at Ft. Lincoln, D.T. per S.O. 113 par 4 s.c. Dept Dak. Abs on duty in the field
Tongue RiverSeptember1877Post Surgeon since Sept 26[?], 77, S.O. 153 [illegible] Cantonment during absence of Surg. H.A. Tilton in the field
Fort LincolnOctober1877Assigned to duty at Ft. Lincoln, D.T. per S.O. 113 par 4 s.c. Dept Dak. Abs on duty in the field
Tongue RiverOctober1877Left Post Oct. 18, 77 S.O. 173 Hd Qrs [illegible] Cantonment
Fort LincolnNovember1877On duty with expedition in the field
Fort LincolnNovember1877Joined post from detached service Dec. 10, 1877
Fort LincolnDecember1877Joined post from detached service Dec. 10, 1878
Fort LincolnJanuary1878For 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 LincolnFebruary1878For 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 LincolnMarch1878For 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 LincolnMarch1878On 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 LincolnApril1878For 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 LincolnMay1878On 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 LincolnJune1878On duty at Cav. Barracks
Fort LincolnJuly1878On duty with 7 Cavalry at camp J.G. Sturgis D.T. Left Post July 4, 1878
Camp J.G. SturgisJuly1878Camp surgeon arrived at Camp July 18, 1878 with Hd. Qrts. Of Army
Camp J.G. SturgisAugust1878Camp Surgeon
Fort LincolnAugust1878On duty with 7th Cavy at Camp J.G. Sturgis D.T.
Camp J.G. SturgisSeptember1878Camp Surgeon
Fort LincolnOctober1878On duty with 7th Cav. in the field
Fort LincolnNovember1878joined post Nov 20, 78 from service in the field with the 7th Cav. for duty.
Cheyenne Agency, SDDecember1878Post Surgeon since Decb 14, 1878. Assigned to Post for duty per S.O. 140, c.s. Dept Dak [illegible]
Fort Randall SDDecember1878At Post from Dec 14th to Dec 19th, 1878. Awaiting transportation to Cheyenne Agency, D.T.
Fort LincolnDecember1878Transferred to Cheyenne Agency, D.T. per S.O. [illegible]
Fort BennettJanuary1879Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879.
Fort BennettFebruary1879Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879.
Fort BennettMarch1879Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879.
Fort BennettApril1879Post Surgeon. Member of a Genl C.M since Jan’y 15, 1879.
Fort BennettMay1879Ordered 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.
 June1879Not found
 July1879Not found
Fort McHenryAugust1879Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenrySeptember1879Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryOctober1879Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryNovember1879Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryDecember1879Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryJanuary1880Attending Surgeon Abs with leave Jany 10, 1880 S.O. 224 p. 29 Department East[?]—–Marriage on Jan 13
Fort McHenryFebruary1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryMarch1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryApril1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryMay1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryJune1880Attending Surgeon on Det Srv at New York City-before examining board from March[?] to [?] 80 S.O. [?] Head qrs Army
Fort McHenryJuly1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryAugust1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenrySeptember1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryOctober1880Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryNovember1880Absent with leave 7 days since Nov 20 Orders 180 c.s. Ft M[Page covered with other note
Fort McHenryDecember1880Attending Surgeon. Joined from leave of absence Dec. 4, 80
Fort McHenryJanuary1881Attending Surgeon
Fort McHenryFebruary1881Attending Surgeon
 March1881Not found
 April1881Not found
Fort McHenryMay1881Attending Surgeon
 June1881Not found
 July1881Not found
 August1881Not found
 September1881Not found
 October1881Not found
Fort LaramieNovember1881Ordered to report for duty to the Commanding Officer Fort Laramie, Wyo, per S.O. 1[illegible]
Fort LaramieDecember1881Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieJanuary1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieFebruary1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieMarch1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieApril1882Post Surgeon abst W.L. [with leave] from April 4 to 10 per Orders 64 c.s. Fort Laramie, Wyo
Fort LaramieMay1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieJune1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieJuly1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieAugust1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieSeptember1882Post Surgeon absent with leave from Sept 10 to Sept 15th, both dates inclusive [Woodson cmdg post since Aug 4]
Fort LaramieOctober1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieDecember1882Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieJanuary1883Post Surgeon
Fort LaramieFebruary1883Absent with leave for one month per S.O. #11 c.s. Headqrs Dept of the Platte, Left post 12 Feby 1883
Fort LaramieMarch1883Arrived at Post March 26, 1883
Fort LaramieMarch1883Absent 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 SidneyApril1883On Duty at Post per S.O. #31 c.s. Dept. Platte. Arrived at post Apl. 1[? illegible], 83. sick in quarters
Fort LaramieApril1883Departed April 1, 1883 en route to Fort Sidney, Neb
Fort SidneyMay1883Died May 1, 83 of Rheumatism of the heart at Ft. Sidney Neb.

Pin It on Pinterest