Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1880-09-10
THE MAGIC MILITARY POST
RAPID PROGRESS IN BUILDING
or FORT ASSINABOINE.

The Building Thus Far ana the A0.
cation of the Post---Co1. Leo as
a Superintendent
ofNatio1al Interest
Especial Correspondence Of The Tri6une.)
THE CORNER STONE.
FORT AssINABO1NE, NJ. IT,, Aug. 25.-
The government, recognizing the impor-
tance of line of permanent posts along
our northern frontier, as means OF hold
ing in subjection the hostile tribes of In
dians, and as future international ncc-
essity, has, in the building of this post
laid the cornerstone The location of
the post IS very desirable one, from the
fact that it is in an immense valley, which
for years has been the chief thoroughfare
of the Sioux, Nez Perces and other hos
tile bands of Indians, travelling back and
forth over the boundary, stealing cattle
and horses and committing depred atlons
of every nature. It is about thirty eight
miles from the British line and about the
same distance from the Missouri river.
Seventy miles to the northwest are
the Sweet Grass mountains, resembling
somewhat an OK yoke, one end OF which
is on this side Of the line, the other on
the Queens domain. Milk river is but
three miles distant and the Bear Paw
mountains loom up in magnificent pro-
portions, sixty miles to the eastward.
Square Butte, at the base of which
SEVERAL INDIANS WERE KILLED
in battle last year, is on the trail from the
Coal Banks to the post, and on clear
day the Highwood and Belt mountains,
beyond Benton, over one hundred miles
distant, are plainly visible. The site of
the post was selected by Gen. Brooks, OF
the 3rd Infantry, in the fall Of 1878, but
not until May 9th Of the following year,
did troops arrive. The construction OF
The post began on the 24th of .Jnne, 1879,
Maj. J. G. G. Lee, in charge. The post,
from it's important location, was origin
ally designed as a sixteen company post
as a STATEN for a full regiment of In
fantry and six companies OF cavalry, but
the expense of building at this distant
point was found 50 great that the appro
priatlon for last year, viz: $100, 900, would
only admit of
BUILDING FOR SIX COMPANIES
| OF troops-fou1 of Infantry and two of
Cavalry, with the necessary storehouses
| and other needful buildings. These,
however, were found capable Of provid
| ing shelter, though in a crowded state, for
| six companies OF Infantry and two OF Cav
airy during the past winter. The In
tanlry barracks were especially crowded,
and the upper stories of many of the Of
ticers' quarters were necessarily left un.
plastered. This year congress was asked
to appropriate like sum, that the post
might be increased in size so as to pro-
vide for eight companies Of Infantry and
four companies of cavalry. This amount
WAS cut down to $4,000, with which it
is designed to add quarters, storehouses.
shops, stables, gralnery, etc.. for four
companies of Infantry, thus completing
the post for eight companies of Infantry
and two companies of Cavalry. The tol
lowing
BUILDINGS WERE ERECTED
last year after the oath of June and be-
fore the close Of navigation on the Mis-
souri one guard house, one magazine,
one bakery, TWO storehouses 200 feet
long each and large cellars, three stables,
$50 feet long each, stalls and alleys, tin
ished in the most thorough manner, three
barracks 205 feet long, each two stories
high, headquarters building, forty feet
| square. two stories high, telegraph office,
hospital a large two story Building, fin
ished in the most approved manner, with
the exception OF porches, which are be-
ing built this season, eleven buildings,
com mprising twenty sets Of quarters for Of
ticers, two buildings for laundresses quar-
ters, and nineteen outhouses, making in
all forty-six buildings completed. In adj
dition to these the stone foundations for
touc more large buildings and three small
ones were laid
THIS YEARS PROGRAMME.
This year-the following buildings will
be finished: two barracks, POS feet long
each, two stories high, furnishing quar-
ters for four companies; two blocks, 100
feet long each, two stories high, furnish
ing quarters for twelve company officers;
one building for field officers quarters,
one building fo1 two sets of co mpany Of
ticer's, one large storehouse. 26O feet long,
two stories high, one granary, 200 feet
long, one stable, $50 feet long, two shops,
and one building for laundresses quar-
| tCrS making, VIII cleVcu SulhIl uOuScS.
,wenty-three buildings to be completed
this year. The working force is about
$50 men, but in addition to the mechan
les, the soldiers are doing a large amount
of work, such as hauling brick, sand,
stone, etc. All the above a~ ~
BUILDINGS ARE OF BRICK
with the exception Of the guard house,
which is built of stone. The archite ctu-
ra! design Of the buildings is very
. uuoique, tasteful and advantageous. The
management Of such large force of
mechanics, so that they will work 20 ads
vantage requires great skill and .tlreless
exertion. Col. Lee has not only his SUI
perintendents but the laborers them
selves directly under his eye, and he has
the working on the various buildings so
completely pictured IN his mind that he
knows each hour just what has been done
and in what manner. He is the first man
at the scene of activity in the morning
and the last to leave at night. His COM
manding appearance and his cool keen
Judgment seems to have peculiarly fitted