Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-10-13
CHAPTER II.
FORT RICE IN 1871.

TORT RICE was the intermediate
post between Forts Sully and Ste
yensOn. 1t was located in latitude
49, Al north. Longitude from
Greenwich 1907 80 west on the
right bark of the Missouri river. Owing
10 the inconsistency of the channel and
other causes, the distances between different
places on its banks are %variously estimated
hence the position of Fort Rice as regards
the other points on the river has not been
we'll as%certained, and has been stated diff
ferently by different authorities. To Sioux
CITY, then the nearest railway terminus, it
was about 1886 miles-.tO the mouth of the
Cannon Ball, the nearest stream IF size
below, it was held to be ten miles. and to
the mouth of Hart river-the next good
sized stream above, it was thought to be
fifty miles.
Fort Sully was held to be 275 miles be-
low by river. and Fort Stevenson, about, by
river $50 miles. Both of those forts were on
the opposite side of the river. The ruins
of old Fort Clarke and of the village
formerly occupied by the Gros Ventres
and Mandans were 12O miles above on the
SAME side of the river. The Rice military
reservation was taken from the lands of
the Onkpapas. one of the hostile tribes of
the Sioux nation. The fort was situated
about 800 yards from the margin of the
river, and at an elevation of thirty-five feet
above low water mark.
Fort Rice was established in 1854. The
iirst buildings we're of cottonwood logs
with roofs of earth. They were con-
structed by the 3Oth Regiment of Wiscon-
sin Infantry. This regiment had been
captured during the war of the rebellion,
ard released on their parole of honor, not
to fight against the southern confederacy.
Galvanized Yankees" they we're called,
and with part of the 9Th Iowa Cavalry, and
5Oth Wisconsin Infantry were sent to the
northwest after the Minnesota massacre to
fight Indians, and garrison the Missouri
river forts. While building Fort Rice. the
troops were constantly besieged by the
Indians, and numbers were killed daily
in the camp, until the walls of the fort
were constructed, and afterward. not a
day passed while they were cutting tim
Der on the river banks to get ready the
logs for the quarters, that some of the men
engaged in chopping trees, or some of the
men who were on guard, were not killed
by the Indians who were massed among
the hills on the west. The post cemetery,
which was located on a neighboring knoll,
was quickly populated, and it often
ehanced that funeral parties who were
carrying the slain to their resting places,
were attacked by mounted warriors. Sew
eral are said to have been captured and
put to death by slow torture in plain view
of their comrades in the fort, apparently
with the design of provoking them to come
to the rescue. but the troops were so
greatly outnumbered by the Indians that
they were compelled to remain on the de-
~fensive, and to 90 out to give battle to the
hordes of demoniac savages, would have
led to the determination of the entire COM
mand.
The places where these vag execu-
tons took place, were marked by monu-
ments of stone, with the names of the un-
fortunates lettered thereon, and were terri
Ole reminders to the later inmates of the
tort, as to what fate await them should
they be taken prisoners. To add to the
horrors of the situation of those the un.
happy volunteers, their term of service ex-
PRED, but they were not permitted to go
nome. Indeed. they could not have done
so, as the country between Rice and Sully
was overrun by the Sioux and to attempt
the journey meant certain death. A num-
Der are said to have committed suicide,
and others are said to have become insane
from nostalgia. The 1st United States In
fantryand 1st, 4th, 18th and 31st Regiments
volunteer in fantry were also on duty there.
Also the I'd and 9th Minnesota infantry
md one regiment of Minnesota's cavalry.
In 1853 the fort wasrebuilt, the old log quar-
We're erected on the old site. 1t was then
Rarrisonb dy the 31st and 22d us. Infan-
ny, afterward relieved by the 18th U. S. In
Fantry.
IN 1871, l counted three hundred graves
Pl murdered men, in the post cemetery, all
Pr them neatly marked with wooden head.
poards. bearing the name and number of
lie regiment. with date of death, and the
eg"nd, "Killed by Indians" There were
ESQ numerous graves of wives and child
en- of officers and enlisted men, and Of
civilians and scouts. the former having
Peeh employees at the fort. or on the steam
Roats that brought up supplies for the
"f'S in summer. In the center of the
rounds was a platform Of boards, raised
!" 1our poles, upon which wrapped in
ahkets, lay the remains of Bear Bite, an
PKp apa chief who in his old age became
friend of the white man. He died in his
'epcc near the fort in 1868. On his death
'a he prOpehisied that droves of the pale
"'s would Overrun the country, and drive
~ Indians still further westward. Send
IL Tor the great chiefs of his nation, he
o"hselled them to cultivate friendship
'th the whites, as the only way to preserve
'elr tribes from determination. He then
mt for the c%ommandeLo of the post and
SKed that his body might be placed in the