The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-16
TELLS
HOW HELP CAME
TO DAK0TANS
Historian at University Writes
About Relief Party Com
ing 10 Fort

companies q cavalry and . wagon
train six miles long came to the re-
llsf Of North DakotanJ who were
penned up In Fort Abercrombie in
1888, according 70 Prot. o. G. Libby,
head Of the history department 1t
The university Of North Dakota.
Prot. Libby tells about It IN the fol-
lowing article, the twsnty-ninth Of
. series on the history Of North Da-
kota written Tor the Associated Press
ana IT. member nsew::papsrs'
BY o. G. Libby
Lieut.. Colonel poteler's wagon
train was reported at st. Cloud q
on the way 70 relieve the fort on No
vember q, 1852. The local press said
q that time: 'sThs train bearing
supplies for Fort Absrcrombie ar
rived last evening, escorted by two
companies Of cavalry, under conn
mand Of Lieut.. Col. retsler. The
train, which consists Of % six-mule
teams, q under charge Of Captain
Smith,. They Win remain here until
tomorrow morning when one COM
pany Of cavalry accompanies them to
the fort. A train Of 100 teams, be-
longing 70 Burbank and company Al
% goes with item. The whole cav
slcads viii b about SIX miles in
length"
During the next two months the
soldiers were busy certifying the
fort and removing all Unnecessary
buildings that might serve % cover
for IN attacking party. About 10
acres were enclosed by palisades
With three bastions. These bastions
were each two stories, the lower
story IN each bastion carrying q
mounted cannon. The well inside the
fort was connected with the river by
= tunnel % that . supply Of fresh
water was assured.
Georgetown Evaeustsd
On May IL, 1868, Georgetown was
evacuated and al the inhabitants
sought refuge in Fort Abercrombie.
The steamer international was
moored ct the north side Of the fort.
The restoration Of commerce with
Fort Garry was expected daily but
for some reason . good deal Of de-
lay supervened. No wagon train
could start until the spring grass
was far enough along to furnish food
for the oxen and horses. 1.-THE inn
portance Of keeping open the great
thoroughfare between st. Cloud and
this fort, hence to Fort Carry" said
Z correspondent Of the st. Cloud
Democrat, team hardly Be overesti-
mated. Most Of the freight Of the
Hudson's Bay company an. the Red
River Settlement passes over this
route. am told that some 500 trains
ato now IN transit, waiting Ct st.
Paul and st. Cloud until protection
can b given. Al seon % that can
be given one continuous line Of
teams WIN move upon the road"
General Siblsy's army had reached
Biz Stone Lake the latter part Of
June, 1853, and on July 8 Company
D Of the Eighth Minnesota volun-
teers left the fort for Sibley's army
with = wagon train Of supplies. On
his return march from the west
General Sibley camped near Fort
Abercrombie August 81, ct Camp
HAckett.
A comparison Of the census re-
tnnSe 81 1850 and 1856 for this
part Of the Red River valley shows
the effect Of the Indian uprising. In
1860 there wsra reported 1853 per-
sons IN the valley and IN 1885 but 30
remained there o. residents. George
town was reoecupisd early In April,
1864, . IN important stopping place
on the way TO Fort Garry.
In 1874 Fort AbercYombio was
mado re9imental headquarters for
the Seventeenth Infantry. In Au-
gust, 1876, this command was
ordered 70 Fort Yates.
On October Is, 1877, Fort Absr-
eromhia ~ ahandonod.