West Barracks & Guard House

Soldiers assigned to guard duty would've reported here for a 24 hour work shift.

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

West Barracks
Originally built to be a duplicate of the East barracks, today this building houses a visitor contact station and one living history space – the guardhouse.                

Guard House
The original guardhouse was a freestanding building in the empty space behind you. Similar in appearance to the storehouse (public restroom building), it served as temporary quarters for the company on guard duty and might have also contained rooms for holding those awaiting punishment. Along with being assigned to guard posts around the fort (marked with sentry boxes), guards also patrolled the area and stood watch over groups of soldiers on work detail outside of the fort walls.

From the Orderly Book of the1st NY Regiment:
Fort Schuyler 15th November 1779
...The officer of the Guard will Pay the Strictest Attention to their Guards and suffer no Rum to be carried into the Guard House they will Also give the N. Commifsioned Off,rs of the Guard the Strictest orders not to Suffer any Spirituous Liquors to be brought into the Prisoners on any Pretence Whatever if any of the N. Commifsioned officers of the Guard are found Neglectfull in this Part of duty they may rely on Punish,t___ any Person also Who Shall be known to cary any Spirituous Liquors into the Guard Room unlesfs by Liberty of the Command.g officer of the Guard may Depend to have no Liberty Shown him but rely on the Sevarest Punishmt__ by order of

                                             John Graham Maj.r