"The first mark of a soldier is constancy in enduring fatigue and hardship.  Courage is only second."

                                              -- Napoleon

These are the ruins of Battery Godfrey, constructed in 1895, which was under the command of Fort Winfield Scott, San Francisco.  Imagine being forced to look out onto the Pacific, day and night, in wait of an enemy that never showed up; while being pounded by cold wind for hours at a time.

It is a safe bet the soldiers on lookout duty spent a lot of time thinking of returning to their warm barracks and a hot meal.  The San Francisco coast is beautiful.  But the bone-chilling wind blowing in from the frigid Pacific most of the year, often combined with clouds, fog and rain; probably brought many strong men down.  Coastal weather permitting comfort without being bundled up in warm clothing is rare in these parts.