Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-03-06

Ellis we're built. These forts. and Others
which have siOce been erected, weto
located either 10 the immediate vicinity
Of the Indian agencies or 1t strategic
points, the idea being to keep the 1n.
dlans within the limits Of the ressrva-
sions aud 40 far as possible to
isolate the various tribes and
prevent them from oombiniug TO-
gether or communicating with each
other. Since 1867 the building of these
outposts has kept pace with the progress
of the country.
OF tho ten original posts. I've have
been Abandoned; but from time to time,
as necessity has demanded, Others have
been added, SO that to-day the depart.
ment contains, including the station at
Camp Poplar river, nineteen garrisoned
posts. In the northeast is situated Fort
Pembina; Fort Smelling is the most east.
erly; in tho extreme south lies Fort Ran
dali; while the southwestern frontier 10
guarded by Fort Meade. Near the weet.
ern line Of the department lies Fort Mis-
soula, and in the extreme north.
west, and not far from the
British boundary. 10 situated Fort
Assinnabolne. since ts.creation in 1866,
no fewer than three regiments Of caval-
~. and fourteen regiments OF infantry,
have at different periods done service in
this department, and its importance 40 q
military command can readily be esti.
mated from the fact that for long time
fully one.third of the available military
force Of the United States was on dutss
within its limits-nor has it been holi.
day soldering for these troops-until
within the past year almost incessant
/ id h.
Indians, either with single bands or. as
in 1876, with the combined force
OF the Sioux nation. There bai
been campaigning through the
heat and dust of GUNNER. and during
SHOWS OF winter. Besides this, the
scouting, the escort duty, the guarding
LOT trains and the usual routine of thl
lgarrison, have combined to make thu
lot OF the officers and men alike. not al
together an enviable or happy one.
As has been remarked, department
headquarters we're established in St
Paul in April. 1867, after having been
located at Fort Smelling four or fv,
months only. Here they remained with
out change until July, 1877, when ther,
Was sudden hegira to For
Smelling in consequence Of the enact
ment of law by congress, requiring
military headquarters to be maintained
at points where the government own
buildings or barracks, unless the secre
tary cf war shall by an order in writing
otherwise direct. The quarters at th'
fort were, however, SO poor aud insult
cient that permissi vas granted to re
turn to st. Paul until suitable building
could be prepared. Two years wer'
spent ip the erection Of th,
officers quarters and othe
buildings, when the change wal
Effected and the permanent headquarter
of the department we're announced Q
Fort Smelling. Since its establishment
the department of Dakota has had bu
two commanders. Gen. A. II. Terry va
in charge from April 18th. 1866, unit
May 18th, 1859. when he was relieved b,
Msj. Gen. w. 8. Hancock, who retained
the command for little more than thre
years. On December Sd, 1872. Ger
Terry WAS second time assigned Q
commander of the department, and still
retains the position.