Fort Abercrombie's quartermaster storehouse was constructed sometime between 1866 and 1868 and held tools, clothing, footwear, kitchen utensils, and other non-food supplies. Along with the commissary storehouse, it stood next to a road that ran along the north side of the fort, where supplies were brought in. The road passed through the west gate and continued to Fort Totten, and through the east gate to the ferryboat crossing over the Red River. At a frontier army fort, the quartermaster department distributed non-food supplies, supplied fuel for heating and cooking, operated and maintained supply wagons, provided feed and forage for horses, mules, and oxen, and oversaw the construction and upkeep of fort buildings. A cavalry quartermaster sergeant wore the typical short uniform jacket used by mounted troops in the 1860s, along with a red sash as a symbol of senior noncommissioned rank, and carried a curved saber and a carbine sling.