Indians:
Nearest Indians are on their
reservation at Standing Rock Agency 50-60 miles south of the post.
Estimated at 6,000, composed of Upper and Lower Yanktonnais, Hunkpapa, and
Blackfeet Sioux. Fort Berthold Agency for Rees, Gros Ventre and Mandans
population estimated at 1,920, is located 122 miles to the NW by river.
How To Get There:
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park,
Mandan, ND 4 miles south of Mandan/Bismarck via ND HWY 1806, I-90 exits
155 & 153.
Fort Rice, North Dakota
1864-1878:
Established in 1864. Lat. 46
degrees 30”, longitude, 100 degrees 34’. Located on the right bank (west
side) of the Missouri River. Post office, quarters for four companies,
officers quarters, company barracks, hospital, guardhouse, library,
commissary storehouses, two cavalry stables, quartermaster stables, two
blockhouses, stockade, etc. Nearest telegraph and railroad located at
Bismarck, D.T. Climate generally dry, average temperature 42 degrees,
summer short and hot 90 to 110, winter frequently –40 below zero. Water
obtained by wagons from Missouri River.
Indians:
Nearest Indians located at Standing
Rock Agency (Sioux) and Fort Berthold Agency (Arikara, Mandan and Gros
Ventre).
How To Get There:
Fort Rice State Historic Site is
approximately 20 miles south of Ft. Lincoln State Park, ND via ND HWY 1806
Fort Stevenson, North Dakota
1867-1883:
Established in June 1867. Lat. 47
degrees 34’, longitude 101 degrees 26’. Located on the left bank of the
Missouri River, at junction with Douglas Creek. Post office located on
post. Nearest telegraph and railroad station at Bismarck, D.T., 70 miles
distant. Quarters for two companies; officer’s quarters (one single and
one double set); hospital, guard house; store house; office/armory;
commissary store house; granary; bathroom; pump house. Water obtained by
wagons from Missouri River.
Indians:
Located at Fort Berthold, 18 miles
distant, and vicinity include Arikara, Gros Ventre, and Mandans population
about 2,500.
How To Get There:
You Can't -- Located under Lake
Sakakawea, North Dakota.
Fort Stevenson State Park is located near the original site, south of
Emmet, ND on ND HWY 37 via U.S. 83.
Fort Buford, North Dakota
1866-1895:
Established in June 15, 1866. Lat.,
48 degrees longitude, 103 degrees 57’ 30”. Located on the left bank of
the Missouri River, near the mouth of the Yellowstone River. Post office
at the post, seven sets of barracks, 19 sets of officer’s quarters,
hospital, guardhouse, six storehouses, bakery two corrals with stables,
Quartermaster’s office, laundress quarters, Adjutant’s office gymnasium,
bowling alley, etc. Nearest telegraph and railroad station at Bismarck
220 miles distant, by land and 380 miles by river. Water obtained from
Missouri River by wagons. Wood furnished by contract. Climate is one of
extremes, heat of summer of short duration, nights always cool. Winter
sets in early December, and lasts until April; cold is continuous and
severe; wind and snowstorms prevail. No settlements near.
Indians:
Arikara, Mandans, Gros Ventres,
Yanktonais and Hunkpapa Sioux constantly surround the post. The Arikara
and Mandan are friendly; some of the Gros Ventre keep away at their
agency. The Yanktanais and Hunkpapa Sioux are regarded as
unfriendly.
How To Get There:
Fort Buford State Historic Site is
located approximately 22 miles SW of Williston, North Dakota off ND HWY
1804 & HWY 58.
Fort Laramie, Wyoming 1849-1890:
Established June 27, 1849. Lat. 42
degrees 12’ 38” longitude, 104 degrees 31’ 26”. Located on the left bank
of the Laramie River. Post office and telegraph station at post.
Quarters for eight companies (5 sets of barracks), officer’s quarters (11
sets), hospital, two guard houses; six store houses, stables for 144
horses; magazine; laundress’ quarters; adjutant’s office; school house;
bakery, workshop, etc. Water obtained from Laramie River in wagons.
Climate healthy. Autumn and winter mild; summer dry and sultry; spring
usually rainy. High winds throughout the year.
Indians:
At the Red Cloud Agency, 78 miles
from the post, include: Oglala and Brule Lakota Sioux, Arapaho, and
Cheyenne numbering between 5,000 to 6,000.
How To Get There:
Fort Laramie National Historic Site
is located three miles southwest of the town of Ft. Laramie, Wyoming on
U.S. 160.
Fort Ellis, Montana 1867-1886:
(Montana Column under Col. John
Gibbon Left here April 1, 1876)
Established August 27, 1867. Lat.
45 degrees 40’ 15” longitude, 110 degrees 59’ 4”. Located on the eastern
end of the Gallatin Valley, on the left bank of the east Gallatin River.
Post office, and telegraph station located in the town of Bozeman, Montana
three miles distant. Quarters for about 400 men, three log buildings;
seven officer'’ quarters, hospital, guardhouse, ordinance storehouse,
commissary, Quartermaster’s storehouse, two granaries, four stables,
bakery, laundress quarters, library, sawmill, workshops, etc. Water
obtained from Gallatin River by wagons. Wood obtained in vicinity under
contract. Climate dry and pure, very cold in winter and cool and pleasant
in summer.
Indians:
Crow Indians numbering about 3,500
are on their reservation on the Yellowstone River. Agency is about 35
miles distant. A new agency is being built about 100 miles east of the
post on the Big Rose Bud, near its junction with the Yellowstone River.
Bands of Bannocks, Nez Perce, Snakes and Pend d’Oreilles pass in the
vicinity of the post during hunting season. All peaceably disposed.
How To Get There:
The fort stood one mile northeast of
Bozeman, Montana on U.S. 86. Historic sign marks original site. Nothing
remains.
Fort Shaw, Montana 1867-1891:
(Montana Column left here March
17, 1876)
Established July 1867. Lat. 47
degrees 30’ 33” long. 111 degrees 48’ 19”. Located on the right bank of
Sun River, 83 miles north of Helena, MT. Post office and telegraph
station at the post. Quarters for 400 men and band; officer’s quarters
six double sets, commanding officer quarters, hospital, guardhouse,
storehouse, band quarters, stables, corrals, workshops, sawmill, bakery,
laundress quarters, new Commissary and Q.M. storehouse, etc. Water
obtained from Sun River. Wood supplied by contract. Climate exceedingly
dry. Much rain falls in the spring months; the snowfalls during winter
are not great, and the snow rarely lies on the ground long after a storm.
Locality is exceedingly healthy.
Indians:
The nearest are Piegans, numbering
about 3,000.
How To Get There:
Located ½ mile north of Ft. Shaw, MT
off MT HWY 200. From Great Falls take U.S. 89 west 19 miles; turn south
onto MT HWY 200 to town of Ft. Shaw. Original fort is now used as a
community school.
Camp Brown, (Fort Washakie)
Wyoming 1869-1909:
Established June 28, 1869. Lat. 43
degrees, long. 108 degrees 52’ 30”. Located on the Shoshone Indian
Reservation, in the valley of the South Fork of Little Wind River, and 15
miles distant from Wind River. Post office and telegraph station at Camp
Stambaugh, WY. Quarters for two companies; store rooms; three officer’s
quarter’s; hospital; guard house; cavalry stable; two quartermaster’s
stables; commissary; three quartermaster’s store houses; laundress’
quarters; offices; shops; sawmill, etc. Water obtained from wells, and
from ditch running through post. Wood furnished by contract. Climate
temperate and healthy.
Indians:
Shoshones, numbering about 1,200 and
Bannocks, numbering about 425 are in vicinity of the post.
How To Get There:
Fort Washakie site is 17 miles north
of Lander, WY via U.S. 87 in town of Fort Washakie.
Fort Robinson, Nebraska
1874-1948:
(Crook’s command disbanded here
after 1876 Sioux Campaign. Crazy Horse Killed Here in 1877; Cheyenne
Outbreak 1879)
Established in March 1874. Lat. 42
degrees 42’, longitude 103 24’. Located on the north bank of the White
River, 25 miles south of northern line, and 20 miles east of western line
of Nebraska. Post office at Red Cloud Agency 1 ½ miles distant.
Telegraph station located at Ft. Laramie, W.T. Quarters for five
companies; officer’s quarters (7 double sets) cavalry stable,
quartermaster’s and commissary storehouses, adjutants office, hospital,
guardhouse, bakery, offices, laundress’ quarters, workshop, etc. Water
obtained by wagon from White River. Land is poor; soil light sand loam.
Grazing good. Cottonwood and pine plentiful but of inferior quality.
Indians:
About 10,800 Oglala Sioux, 2,250
Northern Cheyenne’s and 1,820 Arapaho’s in vicinity at Red Cloud Agency.
How To Get There:
Fort Robinson State Park is located
three miles west of Crawford, NE on U.S. 20
Camp Sheridan, Nebraska
1874-1881:
Established in September 1874. Lat.
42 degrees 52’, Long. 102 degrees 36’. Located on the east bank of the
west fork of Beaver Creek, a tributary of White River. Post is about 13
miles south of the northern line of Nebraska. Post Office at Spotted Tail
Agency ¼ mile distant. Telegraph station at Ft. Laramie, 125 miles
distant. Quarters for three companies; seven sets of officer’s quarters,
quartermaster’s storehouse, commissary storehouse, temporary hospital,
sawmill, carpenter’s & blacksmiths shop, guardhouse, corral-shed stables,
etc. Water is hauled in barrels from Beaver Creek. Wood supplied by
contract. Climate is good & but dry.
Indians:
The Indians in the vicinity are
Brule Lakota Sioux at Spotted Tail Agency, numbering about 8,000.
Disposition at present, friendly.
How To Get There:
Nothing remains of original post.
Located on private property northeast of Chadron, NE, off U.S. 20.
Fort Fetterman, Wyoming
1867-1886:
(Wyoming Column under Gen. George
Crook left here May 29, 1876)
Established
July 19, 1867. Lat. 42 degrees 49’ 8”, long. 105 degrees 27’ 3”. Located
at the junction of La Prele Creek and the North Platte River. Nearest
post office located at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming 75 miles distant. Telegraph
station located at the post. Quarters for 300 men; officer’s quarters;
quarters for commissary and ordnance sergeants; hospital; guard house; two
store houses; stables; corral; offices; theater; root house; ice house;
magazine; granary; bake house; work shops; saw mill; laundress’ quarters;
employees quarters etc. Water obtained by wagon from the Platte River.
Wood supplied buy contract. Health of locality very good. Severe weather
from January until April with considerable snow fall and frequent hail
storms. July and August very warm. Average temperature approx. 44
degrees.
Indians:
Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho live in
vicinity of the post.
How To Get There:
Fort Fetterman State Historic Site
is located 7 miles northwest of Douglas, WY, on U.S. 93; Exit 140 off
I-25.
Fort Benton, Montana 1869-1881:
Re-established in July 1869. Lat.
47 degrees 49’ 38”, long. 110 degrees 39’ 48”. Located in the town of
Fort Benton, M.T. at the head of Missouri River navigation. Post office
located in town. Telegraph station at Fort Shaw. Two buildings
consisting of officer’s quarters and laundress quarters. Other buildings
rented in town: officer’s quarters, log field officer’s quarters; company
quarters and commanding officer’s office; log quartermaster’s office;
carpenter’s and blacksmith’s shops; log hospital; guardhouse;
quartermaster’s store house. Water obtained from Missouri River. Wood
supplied by contract.
Indians:
Nearest living at Special Agency at
Ft. Belknap on Milk River 95 miles from the post. Consisting of Gros
Ventre numbering about 950; Assinniboines, about 3,500; Piegans,
Blackfeet and Bloods also range over vicinity.
How To Get There:
The ruins of Old Fort Benton are
preserved in the city park of Fort Benton, Montana via U.S. 83 & Montana
HWY 80.
Fort Bridger, Wyoming 1857-1890:
Established in 1857. Lat. 41
degrees 18” 12”, long. 110 degrees, 23’ 30”. Located on Black’s fork a
tributary of the Green River. Post office and telegraph station at the
post. Quarters for three companies; officer’s quarter’s, seven sets;
non-commissioned staff and band quarters, two buildings; hospital;
laundress’ quarter’s; store room; guard house; and three store houses.
Water obtained from Black’s Fork running through post. Wood supplied by
contract. Temperate climate. Severe weather begins about mid December and
continues until April with frequent snowstorms and high winds. Average
temperature 42 degrees. Locality healthy.
Indians:
Nearest tribe are Utes on
Reservation 75 miles south. Shoshones are located 125 miles north on the
Wind River.
How To Get There:
Fort Bridger State Historic Site is
located three miles off I-80, Exit 34; 30 miles south of Evanston, WY.
Fort Hall, Idaho 1870-1883:
Established in May 1870. Lat. 43
degrees 3’, long. 112 degrees 7’. Located in Lincoln Valley on northeast
edge of the Shoshone and Bannock Indian Reservation. Post office located
at Corbett’s station 12 miles distant. Telegraph office at post.
Quarters for one company. Officer’s quarters-four sets; commissary and
quartermaster’s storerooms; hospital; guard house; bakery; corral and
stable; offices; laundress’ quarters; workshop etc. Water obtained from
local springs. Wood supplied by contract. Climate generally pleasant,
though subject to wide temperature ranges.
Indians:
Shoshones and Bannocks numbering
approximately 1,300 live at the agency at Ross Fork, 17 miles from the
post.
How To Get There:
The original site of Ft. Hall is not
open to the public. A reconstructed replica is operated by the city of
Pocatello, ID in Ross Park. Pocatello is located at the junction of I-86
and U.S. 30.
Fort Totten, North Dakota
1867-1890:
Established in 1867. Quarters for
four companies; officers quarters, barracks, hospital, guardhouse,
magazine, bakery, offices, storehouses, cavalry two stables, etc. Nearest
telegraph and railroad located at Jamestown, D.T. 100 miles southeast.
Water hauled by wagons is obtained from near-by springs. Wood supplied by
contract. Climate healthy and very dry. Winters are generally severe
with temperatures falling to –40 degrees below zero; high winds and
snowstorms, with wind blowing with considerable form all seasons. Winter
usually sets in with November and continues through March.
Indians:
Nearest Indians are Sisseton and
Wahpeton Sioux numbering about 1,000, under charge of Indian Agent.
How To Get There:
Fort Totten State Historic Site is
located on the southeastern edge of Fort Totten, ND off U.S. 2 & ND HWY
57.
Fort Pembina, North Dakota
1870-1895:
Established on July 8, 1870. Lat. 48
degrees 56’ 46”, long. 97 degrees 12’ 30”. Located on left bank of the
Red River, three and one-half miles south of the British Possessions
(Canada). Telegraph and signal station at the post. Quarters for 200
men. Two enlisted barracks; four officer’s quarters; hospital; guard
house; store house; stable; bake house; brick magazine; work shop;
laundress’ quarters; ice house. Water obtained from Red River by wagons.
Wood supplied by contract. Climate cold. Winter sets in with November
and continues through mid April.
Indians:
Pembina band of Chippewa numbering
about 300 range in vicinity of the post. The Turtle Mountain band of
Chippewa scattered as far west as Turtle Mountain, 160 miles distant.
How To Get There:
Pembina State Museum located in
Pembina, ND interprets the local history of the area. Take exit 215, off
I-29, to 805 HWY 59.
Fort Abercrombie, North Dakota
1857-1878:
Established in 1857. Lat. 46
degrees 27’, long. 96 degrees 42’. Located on the Red River of the
North. Post office at the post. Telegraph and railroad (St. Paul and
Pacific) station at Breckenridge, Minnesota 12 miles distant. Quarters
for three companies; six officer’s quarters; hospital; guard house; four
storehouses eight stables; one officer’s stable; bakery and Quartermaster
Department quarters; laundress’ quarters; library; two magazines; root
house; bake house; ice house; work shops, etc. Water obtained from Red
River by wagons. Wood supplied by contract. Climate very cold four-five
months of the year, frequently -40 degrees below zero. Summer rising to
100 degrees in the shade; 39 degrees mean average temperature. Health of
locality excellent.
Indians:
No Indians living in vicinity of
post. Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux numbering about 1,200 live to the south
and west. Chippewas numbering about 6,000 live to the north and east.
How To Get There:
Fort Abercrombie State Historic Site
is located on the east edge of Abercrombie, ND off U.S. 75 & I-29 (south
of Fargo , ND)
Fort Yates, North Dakota
1875-1903:
Established June 6, 1875. Located
on the Missouri River, about 35 miles below Fort Rice, Dakota and 60 miles
below Bismarck, Dakota. Nearest telegraph and railroad station at
Bismarck. Barracks/laundress’ quarters; two officer’s quarters;
commanding officer’s quarters; quartermaster’s stable; two store houses;
hospital; bakery, etc. Water obtained from Missouri River by wagons. Wood
furnished by contract.
Indians:
Upper and Lower Yanktonnais,
Hunkpapa, and Black Feet Sioux belonging to this agency number about
6,000.
How To Get There:
The original site of Fort Yates is
located on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, in the town of Fort Yates,
ND. Take ND HWY 1806 south from Mandan, ND to HWY 24.
Fort Snelling, Minnesota
1820-1946:
Established in 1820. Lat. 44
degrees 52’ 46”, long. 93 degrees 11’ 30”. Located on a high
bluff between and near the junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota
Rivers. Post office and
telegraph at the post. Quarters for two companies; officer’s quarters;
chapel; magazine; guard house and prison, made of stone; hospital; store
house; stables; work shops, etc. Drinking water hauled from spring.
Water for general purposes pumped from Minnesota River by steam to two
cisterns. Wood supplied by contract. Climate considered unequalled for salubrity.
Indians:
Only remnants are Sioux tribe near
Mendota.
How To Get There:
Fort Snelling State Historic Site is
located one mile east of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, St.
Paul, MN at the junction of Minnesota Highways 5 & 55.
Bozeman Trail Forts (1866-1868)
--
Fort C.F. Smith 1866-1868:
Established on August 12, 1866 by
Captain N.C. Kinney in command of Company D & G, 27th
Infantry. Located on the right bank (south side) of the Big Horn River on
a high plateau, 91 miles from Fort Phil Kearny. The third fort along the
Bozeman Trail built to protect travelers heading to the western Montana
gold fields. Buildings include: Five officers quarters, three enlisted
barracks, guard house, teamsters quarters, Sutler’s Store, Office
storehouse, Quartermasters Storehouse, stable and corral, sawmill, 125’
square Adobe and wood stockade with bastions. Water hauled from Big Horn
River. Wood obtained locally. Supplies obtained periodically from Fort
Laramie, and Bozeman. Abandoned on July 29, 1868 under provisions of the
1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.
Indians:
Friendly Crow Indians live
and hunt in vicinity of the post. Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne living and
hunting in the vicinity are unfriendly and attacked Hay cutting detail
(Hayfield Fight) several miles northeast of the post along Battle Creek,
on August 1, 1867.
How To Get There:
Fort C.F. Smith is located just
outside of present day Fort Smith, MT on Private Land off HWY 313. Nothing
remains of original post.
Fort Phil Kearny 1866-1868:
Established July 13, 1866 along
Little Piney Creek near confluence of Big Piney and Little Piney Creek of
the Powder River. Nearest post office located at Fort Laramie 236 miles
south. The second of three forts built along the Bozeman Trail to protect
travelers heading to the western Montana gold fields. Buildings include:
Over 60 wood structures, enlisted barracks, commanding officers quarters,
six officers quarters, Quartermaster’s quarters, Quartermaster storehouse
commissary, hospital, engineer’s quarters, guardhouse, theater, Sutler’s
Store, Magazine, Laundress Quarters, mule barns, cavalry/quartermaster
stables, two saw mills, and other buildings. Post protected by an eight
foot log stockade 600’ by 800’ with blockhouses. 124’ flagpole, complete
with 36’ Garrison Flag was the first to be flown between the Platte River
and Montana. Water hauled by wagon from nearby Little Piney and Big Piney
Creeks. Wood obtained locally. Supplies obtained periodically from Fort
Laramie 236 miles south. Abandoned on July 31, 1868 under provisions of
the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, and burned by Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne.
Indians:
Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne who are
unfriendly live and hunt in the vicinity of the post. Friendly Crow
Indians living further north in Montana, visit on occasion.
How To Get There:
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
is located between Buffalo and Sheridan WY near Story, WY. Nothing
remains of original post. Future replica of stockade and some post
buildings is planned.
Fort Reno (Formerly Fort Connor)
1865-1868:
Established July 28, 1866 at site of
old Fort Connor (later changed to Fort Reno on August 14, 1868). Located
on a high plateau on the banks of the Powder River, near the mouth of Dry
Fork Creek. Buildings include: two enlisted barracks, five officers
quarters, adobe commanding officers quarters, guard house, Quartermaster
Storehouse, Mess Hall, Laundress Quarters, Barbershop, hospital, bakery,
two saw mills, Teamster’s Quarters, two Sutler’s Buildings. Eight-foot
wood stockade with bastions for protection. Water obtained by wagon from
Powder River. Wood obtained locally. Abandoned on August 18, 1868 under
provisions of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty.
Indians:
Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne live in
vicinity and hunt.
How To Get There:
Fort Reno is located near Kaycee, WY
via Route 1002 eat 17 miles to Sussex School house, ¼ mile east of school
turn north on gravel road approximately 10 miles to site which is located
on private property. Nothing remains of the post.
Sources:
Hebard, Grace Raymond & E.A.
Brininstool. THE BOZEMAN TRAIL Volume I & II. Cleveland OH, The
Arthur H. Clark Company, 1922
Sheridan, Phillip H. OUTLINE
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE POSTS OF THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI,
COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT GENERAL PHILLIP H, SHERIDAN. Bellevue NE, The Old
Army Press, 1969 (Facsimile of original printing by Headquarters Military
Division of the Missouri, Chicago IL 1876.)
