The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-08-01
l. FORT SHAW
Its AbandOnment--What II Means--The
History of the Place.
From the Rising Sum-

History OF the Place.
From the Rising Sum-.
BY order of the war department the
final abandonment of Fort Shaw was
commenced Monday, a portion of the
troops having moved out at that time
and taken up their line of march toward
Fort Buford, their point of destination
The barbarous elcments-both red and
white-which a Few years ago rendered
the establishment and maintenance of
military posts on the frontier a neces-
sity, have receded year by year in front
of the advance columns of civilization.
until they now no longer exist, or are SO
hedged in that they a be controlled by
the civil authorities without the aid Of
the military. The abandonment of Fort
Shaw c more than at first thought
is apparent. n 1t means the opening up
of homes for three or four hundred fam
lies of the garden spot OF what is es-
teemed the most fertile agricultural val
lev in Montana, and the consequent in
crease of population, wealth and stabil-
| llk Ol DUH lklNti. tll' iot'ioi 'Nh''' ~
commerce for the vast region of terri
tory which, through the enterprise and
capital of men of sagacity, is being rap
idly converted from a state OF barren.
worthless wilderness to an arabic area
capable of supporting and contributing
the wealth of its soil to tens of thousands
of free American citizen farmers Inc
sense of security which the presence Of
49,. .,..l tn thn nariy pipopnr GOT
tier will now be doubly enhanced by
their absence. AS showing conclusively
TO the newcomer that the day of the
~tomahawk and scalping knife and road
agent has at last resolved itself into a
memory. and that the security afforded
by the civil law of Montana to her cltl-
zens is as broad and efficient as is that of
any other state of the union.
The post of Fort Shaw was established
in 1867, tw%enty-four years ago, the miil,
tary up TO that time being included
within the Blackfeet, or Piegan, Indian
reservation. The present site of Sur
River was also embraced within that
reservation. Col. Reeve. commanding
the Thirteenth infantry, was the first
to occupy the post. That officer, being
retired from service, was succeeded 10y
Gen. De Trobian. The officers and mcr
. of this command were very popular witt
/; the pioneers then residing here, and t'
+ this day are generously mentioned b,
them when %recounting the thrilling in
cidents connected with the shadow!
. past. The Thirteenth remained at thu
post until 1870, when ii was relieved
by tic Seventh regiment from Utah
t commanded by Gen. Gibbons, Lieut.
Col. Gilbert second in command. Thu
!, Seventh was relieved by the Third rcgl
1 menl under command of Gen. Brooks
! The last regiment to occupy the pos
y was the Twenty fifth infantry (colorcd
commanded by Colonel Brooks. whicl
. evacuated the fort last Monday.
, The first post-traders were Taylor
u Butler; after them came Captain Pope
. then J. II. Mcknight. now of the Fails
: who was succeeded by j. W. Mcknight
! who occupied the position until las
y Monday. The post is at present 1
y charge of the quartermaster scrgcan
= and "a detail of enlisted men. Who
- these men shall have completed thei
{ mission the reservation will be trans
: ferred FROM the wal to the interior dt
: partment and placed in charge of som
= person, to be appointed by the depar'
ment. until congress shall erect IN
. manner of its final disposal.