The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-03-30
FORT STEVENSON.

Wv 0Ac -
Something About that Posts.
History, Surroundings
and Prospects. ii.
Fort Stevenson was estab-
lished in June, 1867. by the mil
itary authorities, which com
pieted the chain of new posts
for the protection of the ex-
posed northwestern border. The
following information given by
Captain s -. Wainwright, of
the 22nd, U. S. I dated August
1869, and who was commanding
officer at the time we take from
the report of "Outline Descrip-
ton of U. s. Military Posts and
Stations" published by author.
ity of the War Department
dated August, 1871:
LOCATION Latitude 47o3o';.
longitude from Greenwich,
1919 80. Postoffice at the post.
The post il situated at the juct-.
tioL Of Douglass creek, with
the Missouri river. Pembina,
Dakota Territory, 275 miles dis
tant, near the line of the British
frontier, nearest town or settler
mont.
Quarters for 23s men; built of
adobe; in good condition. Off
GERS quarters, three adobe build
ings. Store houses, two, one
built of logs for quartermasters
supplies and one built of adobe,
for both quartermaster and COM
missary supplies; capacity am
pie for all the stores required at
the post. Condition good. A
new store house to be erected.
Hospital and guard house built
of adobe, one adobe building
used for offices, &C.; also two
log buildings used as temporary
quarters for storingpublic prop
erty,
Quartermaster and substance
depots arc at Saint Louis, Mis-
souri, river. The route of sup
ply is by the river which is con-
sidered the safest and and most
economical method of trans
portation to the post. Naviga-
ton generally opens in April
and closes in November.
The land in the immediate vi
cinity is not, strictly speaking
arabic at the present time; after
considerable tillage say three
or four years. it may produce
Vegetation sufficient to repay
the amount of labor and means
required. At Fort Berthold,
distant about 15miles where tho
Indians have had tho land un-
der cultivation for a number of
years, good crops of corn &c.,
are raised by the tribes residing
there. garden is being worked
for the benefit of the command.
Timber principally cottonwood.
The grazing in the vicinity of
the post good. Water abundant
at all seasons. Climate healthy.
Health Of locality excellent.
Average temperture 4lo.36."
Such was the plain statement
about Fort Stevenson 26 years
ago by ono Of the best officers
in the u. s. military service.
The first commander of the
post was Col, DeTrobiand, who
we'understand, has written a
book on his army experience, in
which Fort Stevenson comes in
for its share. In 1868, tho Unc-
papa free lance Setting Bull, not
so noted then, came in from the
Dog Den range with a small
band on his road to Fort Ber-
thold. Bull Head, the Aricaree
chief of scouts was sent out TO
interview Bull, but was pounded
over the back until he reached
the astonishsd soldiers in the
garrison. At another time the
post commander was in danger
from an ambush in the bad
lands above the fort by 40 sisse.
Etons: Their lair was betrayed
by one of ,heirown number, an
old man who wish to avoid
bloodshsd. By some strange
fate, while. returning alone on
the Totten trail the old man was
met beyond the Dog Den by
some mail carriers and soldier
escorts and murdered.