Station One

1. Gate access. (East and West ends of the Fort)

Garrison Size and Guard Allocation

Fort Duffield is a Union American Civil War fort located outside West Point, Kentucky. In 1862, it garrisoned approximately 950 troops under Colonel William W. Duffield’s command, though most were soon sent to the front and the fort saw little action that year. For a gate access point, a fraction of the garrison—typically a 4 to 6-man detail—would handle security at any given time. 

Standard Guard Detail Composition

a. Detail size: 4 to 6 soldiers under a corporal or sergeant

b. Duty pairing: two to three men posted, with the rest resting or managing paperwork

c. Watch shifts: two- to three-hour rotations, with at least two men paired after dusk

Physical Layout and Features

a. Sentry booth: simple log or board-and-frame lean-to, often reinforced with sandbags

b. Check station: a desk or barrel for reviewing passes, orders, and manifests

c. Armament display: rifles or muskets stacked upright beside the entrance

d. Lighting: a lantern or camp lamp hung overhead for evening inspections

e. Authority marker: nearby flagstaff hoisting the U.S. flag

Uniform and Equipment

a. Uniforms: blue frock coats or shell jackets, great coats in winter

b. Headgear: slouch hats or rain capes in inclement weather

c. Gear: cartridge boxes, bayonets fixed or ready, canteens on belts

d. Paperwork: passbooks, blank passes, and an officer’s orders book on the desk

The officers of Muldraugh Hill became very nervous though the rebel army was at Bowling Green and all of our army between so they erected the large gates at the two entrances to the Fort which were already well protected and then sent to the Colonel from massive locks to fasten them by night park cursed being in command directed the quartermaster to send them two toy padlocks less than the inch in diameter if the officers were delighted on receipt of the locks they did not laugh loud enough for us to hear them 24 miles away.