Wildmen
Copyright© 2026 by acolodude
Chapter 3: Fort Leavenworth
Monday, March 7, 1864
Captain Huneekut had directed us to the local stables, where we could board our animals and store our extra supplies. The Davenports had come up with an ingenious arrangement. They had built a shed against the outer wall of the barn and divided it into eight small storage compartments, each with a lock. The owner kept the key to each compartment.
Since the fort stood only fifty or sixty feet from their stable and barn, and sentries were stationed at the corner tower, it was unlikely anyone would attempt to break into one of the sheds.
The Davenports had offered a reward to any sentry who prevented a break-in, but Colonel Blake had told them that guarding the area was part of a sentry’s job. He suggested that providing a free meal to a sentry would be more appropriate.
We paid for two days of boarding and storage, explaining that if we stayed longer, we would pay by the day. That arrangement suited everyone.
The Davenports ran the smallest trading post in town. Richard and Yolanda were close to Dad’s age, and their son and daughter helped with the business.
The trading post was actually part of their family home, which also included their barn, stables, and a workshop where Richard and his son, Kurt, repaired wagons.
Yolanda and their daughter, Wendy, prepared lunches and dinners for local residents and travelers who couldn’t cook for themselves. Sometimes soldiers came by for a home-cooked meal, too. We planned to return there for lunch and enjoy some of Yolanda’s chicken stew.
The hotel stood next to the church, which was across from the stables and close to the fort. We hadn’t had far to walk to reach the hotel the previous evening.
After leaving the stables, we walked down the main street toward the first of the two larger trading posts. It stood on the right side of the street, near the middle of town.
A family ran the business, though it was actually a brother and sister who had married and taken over from their father. He was retired but still helped when business became especially busy. Both couples had several children who helped around the store, and the trading post was well organized.
Grandfather priced everything on our list. They had all the supplies we needed and even carried a few items we hadn’t known would be available.
We thanked them and continued down the street to the next trading post, which stood at the far end of town.
It was owned by an older man who was close to Dad’s age, perhaps even older. He employed two men and four women as clerks.
When he learned that we were only comparing prices and weren’t buying anything just yet, he became angry. He told us to either purchase something or leave.
Grandfather told him that wasn’t a good way to run a trading post.
That only made the man angrier. He said it was his business to run, told Grandfather to mind his own business, and ordered us to leave.
I knew we wouldn’t be shopping there.
As we walked back toward the Davenports’ trading post, a wagon train pulled into town. It consisted of fourteen wagons, and its arrival brought a rush of customers looking for lunch.
I volunteered to help clear tables and wash dishes. It just seemed like the right thing to do.
Wendy and Kurt were busy taking payments, serving customers, and clearing and resetting tables. Richard was taking orders for wagon repairs. Grandfather and Dad helped manage the crowd, directing people to where they needed to go and sending those with repair work to Richard.
When the rush finally ended, Yolanda insisted that we sit down and eat with the family.
Wendy sat beside me and asked about my trip so far. Kurt sat next to Dad, while Grandfather took the seat to Richard’s left.
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