The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-06-22
FORT LINCOLN
BUSY PLACEIN
CUSTERSTIME
Many Skirmishes With In.
dians Recorded BY Those
at Post in Early Day
JUST FIFTY YEARS AGO
Half Century of Progress to
Dc Reviewed at Old Fort
Next Sunday
JUST FIFTY YEARS AGO
(By Ida Nav Owcu)

guarded "Old Muddy" just south Of
! Mandan.
1t was in the old fort that General
| George Armstrong Custer, "The Boy
General" and his gallant troopers
from the 7th Cavalry were stationed
prior to the campaign which ended in
their annihilation in the battle of the
Little Big Horn fifty years ago.
1t was from the old fort that sur
vcying parties, escorted part way by
a military band, advanced the dream
of transcontinental railroad step
nearer realization.
1t will be here also that a mammot tn
Custer commemoration ceremony will
take place on Sunday, June 9th. un-
der the auspices the Bismarck AS
sociation of Commerce and the Man
dan Chamber Of Commerce when half
century Of progress will be review
ed by speakers of national note and
tribute will be paid to the men who
laid the foundations Of the states
present prosperity.
Built In 1872
Old Fort Abraham Lincoln was one
Of Gordon of military posts which
the government established to protect
the surveyors of the Northern Pacific
Railway from the Indians. In 1872
| Fort Mclean, which was very soon to
be known as Fort Abraham Lincoln.
was built on the west side Of the Mis-
souri, river opposite the point selected
as the crossing of the river by the
projected railroad.
In. Clusters time there were quar-
ters for six companies. The e.@barracks
for the enlisted men were on the side
of the parade ground nearest the
river while seven detached houses for
the officers faced the river opposite.
To the left of the parade ground was
a long granary and a guard house.
Opposite, completing the square were
the quartermaster and commissary
storehouses and the adjutant's Of
fices. Outside the garrison proper
were the stables for GOO horses. Still
farther was "Suds Row." the quarters
for the laundresses. Beyond lived the
Indian scouts and their families. A
suffers store with billiard room in
connection, barber shop and pho
tographer's studio in "a cottonwood
cabin completed the group of build
ings, all primitive and upholstered
with the exception Of Clusters home.
An older infantry garrison on the
ridge above the fort was also included
in the post.
General Terry, Stanley. Rosscr.
Captain Slaughter, Captains Kcogh,
Yates, Tom Custer, and Godfrey, Ad-
jutant Cook, Lieutenants REILLY, Crit
tenden, Calhoun, Smith. Harrington,
Sturgis and dc Rudi0 are some of the
men who sojourned at the fort at vari-
Gus times. Indians who were con-
nectcd with the story of the fort were
Rain in the Face, who is rumOred to
have eaten Captain Tom Custer S
heart after the battle Of the Little
Big Horn, his brother Iron Horse.
Running Antelope the orator, Bloody
Knife the scout. and Star-of-the
North. chief Of the Rec scouts. Char
ley Reynolds, Lonesome Charley,
Clusters favorIte scout, was familiar
character.
While the officers and their wives 5
had a pleasant social life among them
selves with picnics along the Missouri
and military balls for their diversions
the troopers beguiled the time with
such card games as Keno, Rush Rheu-
ben, Honest John and poker. One SER
gcant is said to have left the fort $20.-
600 richer for his three years on the
| frontier.
Many Skirmishcs With Indians
Many skirmishcs with the Indians
are recorded. Once when Prcsby-
terian preacher from the town Of
Bismarck was holding services at the
post che gathering WAS fired upon.
"BoOts and Saddles" was sounded and
the meeting adjourned To chase the
Indians.
| In 1874 a small war party advanced
| under flag of truce. The officer OF
the day talked to the Indians Of the
folly Of fighting the. whites. The
{ chief. . large man, fat for redskin,
rubbing his hand over his ample bulk
'muttered "Heap Wipd!" The party
rode away on fleet ponies. Later IT
was discovered that some OF the gar
rison horses had been stolen; the
long roll was sounded and a detail
! started in pursuit but soon lost the
trail. Cold Hand. the scout, recover
| ed the ponies single handed.
| After the Indians were subdued and
j after the mailing Of the silver spike
which marked the completion Of the
Northern Pacific Railway, the need
for the frontier forts passed. Old
| Fort Abraham Lincoln was abandoned
| in 1893. 1t was literally hauled away
bit by bit, by vandals.
/ The new Fort Lincoln which is To-
Gated lust out Of Bismarck was built
| in 1901 but has been vacant for many
years. For brief time during the
+; World War it was used as cOncentra-
tion point. Repeated efforts have
been made to have the splendid red
brick plant turned over to some civil
| ian or state project, but under the
! ruling Of the war department this is
| i'm nOssible.