Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
ARMY POST NOTED
FOR PAST GLOR|ES
Fort Meade. S. Dak., RepIete
With Historic Memories
of Frontier Days.

Soldiers who are assigned TO Fort
Meade, S. OAK. home of the 4th
Cavalry and once one Of the largest
mounted stations in the country. have
the privilege of serving their enlist
ments in post at once pleasant as to
environment and Teplete with historic
lore-a post with a past in word,
but past in which glory and records
of momentouS events in our early from
tier history play the predominating
role. says recent issue of the United
States Army Recruiting News.
The fort established in its present
location in 1877, had its beginning a
year earlier at another location miles
distant. called Camp Sturgis. hard by
the foot of Bear Butte. one Cf the his
toric landmarks OF the South Dakota
Black Hills. In those days the frontier
was everything that the name suggests.
and a bit more, too. Camp Sturgis was
founded in 1876, the year following
Clusters famous fight. and was named
in honor of Lieut. Sturgis. who fell in
that battle At the time various Indian
tribes were still on the warpath. en-
gagged in continuous harassing forays
against the advancing tide of whites.
The followers of Chiefs Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail gave the soldiers of the
vicinity constant trouble. The new
camp was established, therefore, in the
heart OF the area of uprisings as base
from which to operate regardless OF
which way the red men should turn
next.
Troops Active Since 1874.
Although the post was not estab-
lished until 1876. loops had been ac-
tive in the surrounding territory since
1874. when Custer and his command
marched from Fort Lincoln, Nebr.. with
instructions TO order all whites out OF
the Black Hills. the area having been
previously ceded to the Blackfeet, Grow
and Sioux Indians by land grant 1t is
a moot question whether or not the ILL.,
fated general ever camped where Fort
Meade now stands. He traversed the
main ridge of the hills and came out
at a point between the present loca-
ton Of Black Hawk and Rapid City.
from where he went 10 the Little Big
Horn territory. Camp Sturgis was es-
tablished by the troops that followed
him
In contrast with the white stone
and brick barracks of the present post,
the first camp was distinguished by its
low adobe huts, designed to quarter a
single troop of cavalry. This camp
stood only a year, when Gen. Sheridan,
a cavalry leader Of proved tactical abil-
ity, who had been sent to quell the In
dams, ordered the location changed. At
about the same time the War Depart
ment ordered the new fort occupied as
a permanent post and changed the
name 10 Fort Meade.
The first organization TO occupy Fort
Meade was thesth Cavalry. In 1878
the erection of log quarters and stables
was begun The work of construction
was interrupted, however. by the neces-
sity Of sending the troops out to round
up the Cheyennes, who had left their
reservation In the Indian Territory in
September Of that year. killing as they
went
These would-be wanderers apparently
were bent on combining forces with IN
habitantS of the Red Cloud Agency and
stirring those braves 10 action against
the whites. The military personnel was
charged with preventing the Cheyennes'
entrance into the Rcd Cloud village and