The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-08-12
.- a.
HISTORIC old
FORT LINCOLN
and VICINITY

Bismarck. N. D., Aug. 12.-The visit
here tomorrow of Secretary of War
Garrison, General Wood, General AL
shire and their aides on their tour of
inspection Of military posts which in
cludes Fort Lincoln. located at Bis
marck. tends to freshen the memory
of many who will remember old Fort
Lincoln which was as we'll as new
Fort Lincoln located near Bismarck,
which was for years the great military
center for the transportation of troops
and supplies for all of the great mill
tary posts north and west of here.
Fort A~ssiniboine, Mont, near where
Chief Joseph made his last stand, Fort
McGinnis, Mont, Fort Custer and Fort
Keogh, Mont; were all great posts in
those days. Those were times when
he federal government sent it's most
eminent military commanders here to
drive u the hostile Indians.
1t has eve been disputed but that
Bismarck and it's immediate vicinity Is
the most historic ground Of any part
of the northwest. Just to the south
west Of the city limits is the site of old
Fort Abraham Lincoln which was
composed of two sites. one where the
infantry RAJ stationed and the other
where the cavalry was stationed just
down the hill, and from which. the i'm
mortal General Custer with his brave
men marched on their way to eternal
glory. Right here at Bismarck and at
old Fort Abraham Lincoln, have been
entertained the most distinguished
men Of the United States army. Among
them have been President Grant and
President Hayes, Generals Sheridan,
Wesley Merritt, George A. Custer, VIM.
T. Sherman, Nelson A. Miles. Terry,
Brooks, Otis, Hoyt and others.
In those days the opening and civil
izing of the great northwest were
founded in Bismarck. 1t was the
headquarters. 1t witnessed the grand
entree of all commerce to the north
West. There were at one time thirty
seven steamboats, plying from Bis
marck. The Missouri river was then
the great artery Of commerce, and in
those days the mounted police of Can
ada that were stationed for the main
tenance of that government were
transported from Bismarck up the
Missouri river to Fort Benton. whence
they. were moved by Dull trains" to
Calgary, and other police stations in
Canada. Those were the days before
the construction of the transcontinent-
al lines of railroad which now gridiron
the northwest. The Missouri and Yell
lowstone rivers have served a great
purpose in the past. Who can predict
what great purpose they may serve In
LlkS L -" 'H"H
7 Bismarck was the battle-ground Of
the Sioux. 1t was here within a few
rods of the city limits and on the pres
ent national reserve of Fort Lincoln
that, General Sibley, when he drove
the hostile Indians across the Missouri
in 1852, halted his command, dug the
rifle pits which are still in evidence,
and fortified the present site of Fort
Lincoln. Two years later General Sul1y
camped upon and occupied the same
position with his troops when he
fought the Indians in the war of sue
cession.
It was General Merritt, one of the
greatest military men of the age, who
Bismarck for a military post,
it as a most advantageous
point and named it in honor of the
martyred president. In the past Bis
marck has always been recognized by
the greatest military minds of this
government as most important, and
whether the military history Of this
famous place is to be continued or
remains largely in the
hands Of the distinguished men who
will visit it tomorrow.