The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-10-13
HISTORY OF OLD FORT BOISE

famous old Fort Boise, the following
written by Calvin C.. Thompson for
the Sunday Oregon Journal, will be
interesting 10 the pioneers of Idaho:
The forts Of the department of the
Columbia " ere established during
three distinct periods. First, during
the early Indian war Trior to 1860;
secondly, during the civil war, and,
thirdly, duri = the Spanish Ameri-
can war excite ment, when the country
suddenly found itself face to face on
a war basis with nation whose navy
was equal to that Of its own. Other
small posts were established from
time to time for Indian defense pur-
poses, but the sc have all been aban-
doned. Since the sudden leap to
the front rank Of the ancient yet
youthful empire Of Japan, and the
American fear of trouble from that
source, new impulse has been
given TO the public demand for
better coast defenses and army orga-
nization.
Not only is the war department
planning and recommending a series
Of mines and other lines of dcfenses
along the Pacific coast, but reorgan-
ization of the army in several vital
points is being urged. Instead Of
many little garrisons hundreds of
miles apart, ar my men are recon-
mending concentration Of troops in
larger posts, located near railroad
c.nters. and the maintaining Of the
army units at full war strength.
Now that the spirit Of change, ex-
pansion and i'm provement of the
Pacific coast defenses is in the air, a
brief sketch Of the widely scattered
military posts Of the Pacific north
west will be Of interest. In all of this
vast empire, extending from the foot
OF the Rocky mountains on the east
to the. Pacific on the west, and from
California on the south to the Arctic
ocean on the north, there are but II
forts with 253 Office and SOS men. !
No fort in the de apartment is richer
IN historical interest than is Fort
Boise, located two miles from the
capital Of Idaho. To offset the in.
fluence of the Colu mbia River Fish.
ing and Trading company's post at
Fort Hall (now Po catello, Idaho),
established by Nathaniel !. Weyth.
that company's rival, the Hudson
bay company, in 1883, built mis-
cradle fort 100 So uare feet at the
mouth Of the Boise river. and named
it Fort Boise, meaning in French
wooded" Weyth's company
Iailed to make good in the western
'ur trade and sold out to the Hudson
Bay company in 1887. Old Fort
Boise fell down that year and was
,ebuilt OF adobe, was wrecked by the
1ood OF the Snake riv err in 1883 and
vas abandoned in 1854.
Military orders is sued in 1860
Erected an exploration of southern
oaho with view to selecting the
'est location Tor an army post. The
'reaking out Of the civil war caused
his order to he neglected. The gold
OF 1861 ca used SIAM
'ede of miners and settlers into
'oise valley. Orders were issued in
oos Tor the establishment Of post
.'ie "'i''hs regions. lie strategic
ocation Of old Fort Boise was early
Major Pine kney Lugen-
Gil win company Of Washington
.lrl'ory infantry and detachment
oregon cavalry, encamped near
&c sue OF Bose barracks, June 2e,
ooo' AT 'he suggestion Of John
lalley. who operated a train of pack
orses to and from the mines north
Boise mountains, the present site
the post was selected and perma.
emit improvements begun. .
o'" 's establishment until the
ooe VI 'ne bannock w2r, which
''eo WIN the famous 1000 mile
, ,ase a''er oh'ef Buffalo Horn III
',o' rort BOSE was the hot bed Of .
ldian troubles. Buffalo Horn ended
S flight and his life