Soldiers' Quarters, Bleeker & DeWitt

The rooms inside the fort hold many interesting objects and stories.

National Park Service/M. Colangelo

Soldiers’ Quarters (Dewitt and Bleecker)
The names by the doors denote the company commander's name. As with everywhere else, barracks space was limited, and soldiers cooked, ate, and slept in their assigned barracks. A common barracks would have held soldiers ranking from private to sergeant, as well as drummers and fifers. The bunk beds held 4 men each, 2 up and 2 down to conserve space. Working from sunup to sundown, the main duties of a soldier consisted of guard duty, fatigue work (manual labor), and drill. In return for their service, the Continental soldier was to receive food, clothing, and a monthly wage, all of which were often in short supply. 

G: O:                                      Fort Schuyler 18  March 1780
Officer of the Day to morrow Captn Ransilear for guard Lieut Snow Details as Usual           The Commanding offr is sorroy to see so much Drunkennefs & Irregularities amongst the men for which reason he is Necefsiated to prohibit the Setler from selling any liquor to the noncomifd offrs or Soldiers in the garrison untill further…The Serjeant of the guard for the futer Immediately bfore Nine Oclock [PM] is to take a patrole party & Throughly patrole evry Soldiers Room & Hutt in the garrison & see there is no Irregularities Commited = as also that every soldier repair to his Own quarters for Rest…