Page 139 - Picturesque_Alamo_City_1

In its ample barracks and officers quarters are accommodations sufficient for an entire
brigade. At present the forces consist of a Brigadier General commanding the Depart-
ment of Texas. a regiment of infantry, a regiment of cavalry and a battery of artillery.
The border posts are soon to be abandoned and the entire brigade will be stationed at
this post. There are now three posts, known as the Upper Post, the Lower Post and
the New Post. North of the New Post is a target and manoeuver ground of over 1000
acres. At Leon Springs 30,000 acres have been purchased for a permanent manoeuver
ground. At this place there will be held annually the great joint maneuvers of the
regular army and the troops of all the Southern States. At that time there will proba-
bly be as many as fifteen or twenty thousand troops on the ground at one time. The
Upper Post is to the right of New Braunfels Avenue. It contains the upper parade
ground, extensive barracks for the soldiers, quarters for the officers and the offices of
the Post Commander.
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS is known as "the Quadrangle," because the
buildings are arranged so as to form a hollow square. It is in these offices that all the
business connected with the Post is conducted. An entrance through the sally-port
reveals a beautiful park, in which a good-sized herd of deer and various water birds
enjoy themselves, entirely unafraid of the passer-by. In the center of the quadrangle
is a high clock tower, from the top of which can be seen the most beautiful view of San
Antonio that is possible to obtain anywhere in the city. Days spent in traveling
through the city and its suburbs will not give the visitor anything like so adequate an
idea of the city as thirty minutes spent in this tower will give.
LOWER POST.—The Lower Post is flanked on the west and north by the
officers' quarters, among which is the residence of the General commanding the Depart-
ment of Texas. On the extensive parade grounds all the great reviews are held. Here