Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-07-23
GROUND WAS HISTORIC.
Scene Of Grand Army E~ncampment at
Lisbon was one Of Historic Interest.

Hull. "a. !. IsduSiiiiA Va 1<iSbOh,
writes the following for the Free
Press.
There were probably but a few of
the .old boys who gathered at the
Fourteenth Annual Encompment of
the G. A. r. who knew that they were
tenting on the old camping grounds of
the soldiers of the various expeditions
of pioneers who were the advance
guard of northwestern development.
A short distance southeast of Lisbon
is Camp Hayes. located by General
Sibley in 1868. in his expedition aginst
the murderous Sioux Indians, who
mastered the early Minnesota settlers
in 60. Sibley's army celebrated the
Fourth of July. 1868. at Camp Hayes,
and left a large liberty pole standing
on the camp grounds. The Sibley trail
crosses Just north of lakewood ceme-
terry, and a few miles northwest lies
Camp Wharton. located by General
SlDlty IN " u ~ SuoAu UAA
attacks by the redskins, awaiting the
arrival of a supply train from Alex
andria.
On the morning of July 18th. 1863,
a soldier was killed here and buried
Just northwest of the camp. His grave
is still distinct.
Overlooking the beautiful Sheyenne
Valley south of Lisbon is n of the
fortified camps of the overland Oregon
immigrants whose trail passes south
of town. Here doubtless many a req
skin bit the dust. On the BruntOn
farm is a fortified camp erected to
guard belated trains who hauled sup
plies to Fort Ransom, and overland
immigrants. South of the city runs
the Fort S~isseton and Fort Totten
military road and just north of town
is the Fort Abercrombie and Rort
Ransom military road.
These two, with the Oregon trail,
were the great lines of travel which
the early pioneers of northwestern
commonwealth builders trod in their
steady onward march. The Oregon
trail was the great transcontinantal
| route. Along these thoroughfares
many an honored soldier wearing the
blue tramped, camped and enjoyed the
repast of hard tack and army beans
and some left their skeletons bleach
ing in the sun.
The west bank of the river. once stood
a large Sioux village. and their garden
today is a fine field of macaroni wheat.
In Timber Coulee' nea the cheese
factory, Hon. Don ~Stevenson's train
Of freighters got showed in and left
all their oxen to perish. The yokes and
chains were picked up by our early
settlers.
At Brnuton's ford was also a larger
Sioux Camp and garden. the remains
still visible, and at the old Sioux Fort
on Jonathan Watkins farm occurred
many q bloody battle between the
Sioux and their enemies, the Chip
pcwas. At the 'a>t one about Goo
Chippewa braves were slain AMI the
survivors chased back five miles TO the
Horseshoe" where the squaws, pa.
pooses and ponies were parked, and
the fiendish Sioux massacred the
whole band of over 800.
The first post office established in
North Dakota was located at Owego
in this county. At Fort Ransom stands
a large granite rock covered with the
, hieroglyphics of a race that preceded
the Indians and about a mile and q
half south is the plainly marked site
of a very ancient city laid out in plots
, streets and alley in the form Of
beasts, birds and reptiles.
One of the characteristics Of Ameri
can progress is that the great lines Of
steel are laid along the pathway O
, the explorer and pioneer, and cities
; are builded on the sites of those o
, the preceding race. At Lisbon this i
> strongly exemplified. The wigwams o
I the Indians stood on the camp of tn
, Ihins, and our Houses are built of tn
, spot where Indian papooses first say
the light of day.