[Illustration: _Officers and children in front of now-missing units
of officers' row, about 1889._ Courtesy Gen. G. W. McIver.]
Passing the sites of missing units of "Officers' Row," you reach this
two-storied frame structure which has dominated the scene since the late
summer of 1849, when it was partially completed of lumber sawed locally
by horsepower and millwork hauled overland from Fort Leavenworth. While
post headquarters--home of the commanding officer until 1867 and often
the stronghold of bachelor officers--countless notables, including
soldier, civilian, and Indian sat at its dinner and council tables. It
has been intimately associated with many historic events, among the most
dramatic of which was John "Portugee" Phillips' 236-mile, 4-day ride
through December blizzards with the news of the Fetterman disaster at
Fort Phil Kearny in 1866. Its brick-filled, clapboard walls echoing to
historic tumult and social gaiety, it early acquired the name "Old
Bedlam," which was immortalized in Gen. Charles King's novel _Laramie,
or the Queen of Bedlam_, first published in 1889. As originally
constructed, it had side wings and outside stairways. These were removed
and the present rear wing added in 1881.
[Illustration: _The cast of an amateur tableau in 1889 featured Col.
H. C. Merriam, the commanding officer._ Courtesy Col. Louis
Brechemin.]