The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-12-10
FORT ID. A. RUSSELL.


Fort d. A. Russell, three miles
from the city of Cheyenne, is one
of the most romantic posts in the
far west. 1t lies like a grim giant
in all its grandeur and repose, and
a cluster of memories cling round
it that are at once the truth and
glamour of the plains and noun
tains. From this post many of
the principal expeditions against
the Sioux or Dakotas, Cheyennes
and Utes, have been fitted out of
late years, and the soldiers who
have marched against the red
hordes of the northwest have re-
ceived their commanders, their
supplies and their red blood from
this dim, old, brown fort. No one
would be surprised to see the
ghosts of the squadrons that have
left it wheeling round it ON the
immense plain on which it is sit
uated, and no one would thank a
chronicler to give alone the bare
record of facts connected with it.
There is something more than a
bare narrative of events due to a
fort like ID. A. Russell. 1t helped
to draw to a close the power of
the dusky horseman of the plains,
and q dim color, like the mirage
. of the deserts, partially shrouds it
in mystery.
The fort was named after Brig
adler General David A. Russell,
who poured out his life blood for
his country at Opequan river in
Virginia, September 10Th, 1864.
General John d. Stevenson, col
onel Of the 30th U. s. infantry,
erected the barracks and quarters
in the autumn of 1867 and spring
Of 1868, and many stirring events
lave occurred there since.
Colonel Bracket led a battalion
ofthe I'd cavalry from here in May,
1869, to the lonely land of Mon
tana, where the Great Spirit him
self seems to speak in whispers.
Then came the 9th infantry from
the shores of the Pacific to do
battle against the red men for the
possession of the immense north
ern domain that belongs to our
republic.
When the Yellowstone expedi-
ton was fitted out from the fort
in 1878, General Bradley led the
men of the 9th infantry to new
fields, and the soldiers of the Sd
cavalry trod the cactus-lined paths
thatlead toward the frozen regions
of the north. The 9Th cavalry
followed and the cavaliers that
had watered their horses in the
ella found new scenes beyond the
western rivers.
There was a chivalry about un-
dertaking the expedition sent out
from Russell in February, 1876,
of portions of the I'd and Sd cav
airy, against the savage men
headed by Crazy Horse. A more
dreadful scene of ruin under a
haloed sun never presented itself
than the desolation of the Dakota
and Cheyenne Indian village on
Powder river after General Rey-
nolds had destroyed it with his
mounted men on the 18th of
March, 1876. For the first time
perhaps the western Sioux and
Cheycnncs began to realize that
determined foemen were about to
bring them to an account for their
frightful atrocities.
Then came the famous cam
paign of 1876 against the north
ern Indians under General George
Crook, when the boosted men of
the Sioux and Cheyenne nations,
never before conquered, brought
blight and mildew on themselves.
They had destroyed General Gus
ter and his command, and it was
reserved for Crook and the men
of the Platte department to make
them trail their war bonnets in
the dust, and endeavor to gain
more time in making a new treaty.
The soldiers who were massacred
at Fort Phil. Kearney and on the
brown slopes of the Little Big
Horn river were avenged, and the
once proud Sioux sought an
asylum beyond the boundaries of
the American republic. Rawolle
was struck on Powder river,
Henry received a fearful wound
at Rosebud, and Won Luettwitz
lost his leg at Slim Buttes. There
is no question that this was the
hardest campaign hat has been
made in America, of late years,
the men being compelled to sub
sist on horse meat and not over
plentiful rations at that.
Then there was a pause. In
dian fury had for a time spent it
self and all seemed peaceful.
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