DRAFT VERSION DEFENDER OF THE GATE Presidio of San Francisco, ca. 1900-1904 Image source, U.S Army Military History Institute THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO A History from 1846 to 1995 by Erwin N. Thompson Historic Resource Study Golden Gate National Recreation Area National Park Service Note: This is a preprint version without photos or maps of a Historic Resource Study of the same title printed by the National Parks Service, Denver Service Center, July, 1997 (NPS-330). This volume is not otherwise available to the general public. CONTENTS PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I: SAN FRANCISCO BAY 1842-1849 ..................................................................................13 A. American Occupation ......................................................................................................13 B. John Charles Fremont ......................................................................................................15 C. Military Government....................................................................................................... 17 D. Yerba Buena .....................................................................................................................18 E. New York Volunteers .......................................................................................................20 F. The Regular Army and the Presidio ................................................................................29 CHAPTER II: THE PRESIDIO, GROWING PAINS................................................................................31 A. The Presidio and the Army, 1849-1860...........................................................................31 B. Captain Keyes ..................................................................................................................33 C. "miserable adoby buildings"............................................................................................37 D. A Supply of Water............................................................................................................42 E. The Regulars ....................................................................................................................52 F. Military Operations, 1850s ..............................................................................................57 CHAPTER III: A FORT AT FORT POINT, 1853-1868........................................................................... 63 CHAPTER IV: THE PRESIDIO AND THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1866....................................................74 A. A Prize Above All Others................................................................................................74 B. Growing Pains..................................................................................................................79 C. San Francisco and the War...............................................................................................85 CHAPTER V: RETURN TO PEACE, 1866-1878.....................................................................................96 A. Garrison Life ....................................................................................................................96 B. Division of the Pacific and the Corps of Engineers ....................................................... 107 C. Maintaining a Fort........................................................................................................... 109 D. City and Fort.................................................................................................................... 117 E. Centennial Year ............................................................................................................... 124 F. Indian Wars...................................................................................................................... 125 CHAPTER VI: A HEADQUARTERS POST 1878-1887........................................................................ 130 A. The Division Moves to the Presidio ............................................................................... 130 B. Life at a Headquarters Post – the Men............................................................................ 133 C. The Officers..................................................................................................................... 138 D. The Animals .................................................................................................................... 146 E. Military Affairs................................................................................................................ 148 F. New Buildings and Old, 1878-1884............................................................................... 150 G. The Humphrey Report, 1884 .......................................................................................... 154 CHAPTER VII: THE PRESIDIO FOREST.............................................................................................. 175 CHAPTER VIII: "THE MOST ENJOYABLE STATION WE EVER HAD," 1887-1897......................203 A. The Commanders ............................................................................................................203 B. The Fort and the Community.......................................................................................... 205 C. The Garrison.................................................................................................................... 210 D. Social Events................................................................................................................... 217 E. Military Training............................................................................................................. 221 F. U.S. Cavalry to the National Parks, 1891-1913 ............................................................. 224 G. Melange........................................................................................................................... 229 CHAPTER IX: "ONE OF OUR LARGEST, HANDSOMEST POSTS," 1888-1897............................. 231 A. New Facilities.................................................................................................................. 231 B. Sutlers and Canteens ....................................................................................................... 240 C. Fort Point......................................................................................................................... 242 D. Tidying the Boundaries................................................................................................... 243 E. The Presidio Golf Course................................................................................................ 244 CHAPTER X: WAR AND INSURRECTION, 1898-1905 ...................................................................... 254 A. War and Insurrection, 1898-1901 ................................................................................... 254 B. Infantry Cantonment 1902-1905..................................................................................... 266 C. Boxers and China............................................................................................................ 273 CHAPTER XI: LETTERMAN GENERAL HOSPITAL ......................................................................... 276 A. A Hospital Was Needed, 1898 - 1905 ............................................................................ 276 B. The Hospital is Named, 1906-1917................................................................................ 282 C. World War I and the 'Thirties, 1917 - 1939 .................................................................... 287 D. World War II, 1940-1945................................................................................................ 292 E. War and Peace, 1946-1968.............................................................................................. 299 F. A New Hospital............................................................................................................... 306 CHAPTER XII: SAN FRANCISCO NATIONAL CEMETERY............................................................. 311 CHAPTER XIII: THE PRESIDIO GARRISON 1898-1905.................................................................... 323 A. The Garrison.................................................................................................................... 323 B. The Establishment........................................................................................................... 338 CHAPTER XIV: EARTHQUAKE 1906................................................................................................... 349 CHAPTER XV: "THE MAGNIFICENCE OF ITS LOCATION," 1907-1915........................................ 361 A. Plans and Developments................................................................................................. 361 B. Military Exercises ........................................................................................................... 370 C. Corporals, Captains, and Colonels.................................................................................. 375 D. Panama – Pacific International Exposition..................................................................... 389 E. Reduction in Strength...................................................................................................... 394 CHAPTER XVI: HARBOR DEFENSES, 1776-1970.............................................................................