The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-08-20
SITE OF TT. LOGAN
is DEDICATED BY
ORC FINO D. A. R.
MARKER PLACED AT HISTORICAL
LANDMARK IN MEAGHER
COUNTY.
Fort Was One of Prominent Military
Posts During Monfana's Indian
War Era. Was Established in No
yember, 1860.

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That the historic old landmark
of Fort Logan, in Meagher county,
will be preserved to posterity
has been through the efforts of a
band of patriotic women, assured.
Arrangements in the hands of Orc
Elmo Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution OF Helena,
resulted in the dedication of
marker which has ben placed at
the blockhouse, now the only re-
manning building at the old MILL
tary post.
The ceremony took place Sunday,
August II. A handsome bronze tab
let, made from Montana copper, was
placed in its proper setting amid ap-
propriate and fitting ceremonies.
was presented a most interesting pro-
gram, participated in by prominent
speakers, among whom were: Gov
ernor Dixon, Ex-Governor Stewart
Congressman Scott Leavitt, Sidney
NJ Logan of Kalispell and Mrs.
Verne d. Caldwell of Billings, state
regent of the Daughters of the Am
erican Revolution. The principal adj
dress was that of Mr.. Logan who is a
son of the man in whose honor the
fort was named.
Special invitations we're sent to
Frank Day of Lewistown, who was a
blacksmith at the fort in 1880; to
Robert N. Sutherlin of Great Falls,
who founded the first newspaper in
Diamond City, in 1876 and still fol-
lows that profession at Great Falls:
also to Charles w. Cook, Of White
Sulphur Springs one of the early set
tiers In the days when the original
Camp Baker. later Fort Logan, was
first established. The wonders of
the Yellowstone park were first
brought to the people of Montana by
Mr.. Cook and David e.. Folsom The
Folsum-Cook exploration of the Up
per Yellowstone was made in 1869.
In November, 1869.
The history of Fort Logan is prob
ably more or less familiar to the older
residents of the state, and for those of
TIC plCCtAl idttpA
awaken keen interest. Camp Baker,
as it originally was called. was estab-
lished in November, 1869, upon the
recommendation OF Maj. Gen. Win
field Scott Hancock. in command of
the department OF the Dakota at the
time. Its primary establishment was
for the protection of the mines at
Diamond City and neighboring min
ing camps. 1t was maintained until
1880, at which time 1t was the head
quarters of two companies of United
States infantry. II was abandoned
by order of the war department on
October &c. 1900. The name was
changed in 1878 to Fort Logan in
honor of Captain William Logan,
who was killed on Aug. 8, 1877, by
the Nee Perces Indians under Chief
Joseph at the Battle OF the Big Hole.
This intrepid Indian fighter and hero
of many wars was shot during the ex-
element of the battle by revengeful
squaw. When his body had been re-
covered 1t was found that he had
been stripped of his uniform, scalped
and one OF his little fingers removed.
On this finger. Captain Logan wore
two rings, one mounted with various
Masonic emblems, the other q seal
ring which had been in the family for
many generations. The seal was the
family crest, of the house of Bruce of
Scotland, engraved and enameled on
a violet colored stone. 1t was a gift
from his father when he started on
his journey to America. Years later
the rings were recovered from the
Indians who attached no particular
significance to their value. The fam
lily now has them in its possession.
First Commander.
The first commanding officer of
the post was Captain George s. Hol-
lister OF the Seventh United States
infantry and the establishment was
last garrisoned by troops of the
Eighteenth infantry under command
Of Maj. Henry L. Chapman. During
its existence the post was commanded
at various times by young company
and battalion officers who afterward
gained much prominence in military
activities.
II is believed that the first white
man to set foot on the site of Fort
Logan was Captain John Mullan,
when a lieutenant in charge OF an en-
cheering party under Governor
Stevens, surveying route for rail-
way from the Mississippi river TO the
Pacific ocean. This survey was made
during the administration OF Frank
lin Pierce, fourteenth president OF the
United States, and under the direct
orders of Jefferson Davis, then sec
rotary of war, later president OF the
confederacy. Mullan and his party
camped at or near the present site
of the Fort on Sept. 90, 1853.
This, one of the memorable occas-