Fort Sully ( South Dakota ) Fort Sully was one of the main military posts located on the east bank of the Missouri river in central Dakota built for use in the Indian Wars . There were two forts named Sully — old Fort Sully , which was in existence and occupied from 1863 to 1866 , and the later , or new Fort Sully , which was established in 1866 and was continuously occupied as a military fort until its abandonment in the fall of 1894 . Old Fort Sully . Old Fort Sully , in present day Hughes County , was built by the orders of Major General Alfred Sully in September 1863 and was named for him . It was located about eighty rods from the left ( east ) bank of the Missouri River , a short distance above the head of Farm Island and about four and one - half miles southeast of what is now the city of Pierre , South Dakota . It was square and was built of cottonwood timber taken from Farm Island . A portion of the command of General Sully in the campaigns of 1863 - 4 and 1865 against the Sioux was garrisoned at old Fort Sully . It was abandoned in the fall of 1866 on account of Its unhealthful location on the lowlands of the Missouri . Today the site is located within the Farm Island State Recreation Area . History . On the 13th day of October it was pronounced ready for a company , and its garrison marched in ; headquarters and three companies of the Thirtieth Wisconsin ; three companies of the Sixth and three of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry , all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel E . M . Bartlett of the Thirtieth Wisconsin , who , in his order assuming the command , announces that the post is to be known as Fort Sully , " in compliment to our brave commander , Brigadier General Alfred Sully , U . S . Volunteers , now commanding the District of Iowa and Dakota . " Company K . , 6th Iowa cavalry , under Captain John Logan spent the ensuing winter at Fort Sully , Dakota territory , and accompanied the command under Gen . Sully , to the Devil ' s Lake region , in July and August . Troops in the Department of the Northwest , Maj . - Gen . John Pope , U . S . Army , Commanding , District of Iowa , Northwestern Indian Expedition under Brig . - Gen . Alfred Sully : Treaty of Fort Sully . Treaty between , the United States of America and the Yanktonai Band of Dakota or Sioux Indians . Concluded at Fort Sully , October 20 , 1865 . Art . I . The Yanktonai band of Dakota or Sioux Indians , represented in council , hereby acknowledge themselves to be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction and authority of The United States , and hereby obligate and bind themselves , individually and collectively , not only to cease all hostilities against the persons and property of its citizens , but to use their influence , and , if requisite , physical force , to prevent other bands of Dakota Indians , or other adjacent tribes , from making hostile demonstrations against the Government or people of The United States . In 1866 old Fort Sully was temporarily under the command of the Department of the Platte before being assigned to the Department of Dakota in the new Division of Missouri . Fort Sully II . The later , or new Fort Sully , Established July 25 , 1866 . Its - erection was begun in July , 1866 , but it was not completed until 1868 . The site of the new fort , in present day Sully County , was much more suitable and healthful than the old Fort Sully , Indeed it was an ideal spot for a fort for defense . It stood on an elevated plateau about above a wide and beautiful valley of the Missouri . Its site was also about the same elevation above much of the surrounding prairie . This Fort Sully was for many years one of the main military forts in Dakota . Location . Fort Sully was situated on the east bank of the Missouri River , twenty miles ( 32 km ) below the mouth of Cheyenne River ; latitude 44° 30 ' north , longitude 100° 50 ' west , at an elevation above the sea of about . The nearest town is Yancton , below by river . The nearest posts are Fort Randall , below , and Fort Rice , about the same distance above . The post was about half way between the head of navigation ( Fort Benton ) and the mouth of the Missouri , and is above St . Louis . It is built on the " third terrace , " a level plateau , above low - water mark , and about the same distance below the summit level proper . On the south the surface slopes rapidly into a deep ravine , dry , except in early spring . On the west the descent is abrupt to the second terrace , a strip one hundred yards wide , on which are the stables , granary , saw - mill , smithy , interpreter ' s house , tavern , etc . Still further below was the river bottom , of varying width , frequently subject to overflow , moderately well timbered and very fertile . Here the company and hospital gardens are situated . Latitude 44 degrees , 37 minutes ; longitude , 100 degrees , 36 minutes . On the left bank of the Missouri river . Postoffice and telegraph station at post . Nearest town , Springfield , Dakota , distant by wagon road , Yankton , Dakota , ( terminus of the Dakota Southern R . R . ) , distant by land , and 351 by Missouri river ; Sioux City , Iowa , distant by land . by Missouri river . Description . The post was intended for four companies . The men ' s quarters consist of two buildings , each long by wide , placed end to end , with an interval of , which forms the sallyport . They are built of cottonwood logs , covered with pine siding , are lathed and plastered , the ceilings being high . Transverse partitions divide the buildings into dormitories , mess - rooms , kitchens , & c . The squad - rooms measure 20 by , are intended for 16 men each , allowing about air space per man . The experiment was tried for one company of removing the partitions and throwing the small rooms into one , but it was thought that this weakened the building too much . There were no wash or bath - rooms . Ablution must be performed out of doors . It was in contemplation to build a piazza for each building . The dormitories were fitted with rough wooden double bunks in two tiers . The privies , ordinary earth latrines , are 75 yards distant . The ventilation of the barracks were very defective . There were three sets of laundresses ' quarters , in a large one - story house similar to the officers ' quarters . For officers ' quarters there are nine detached frame buildings , built of pine , on brick foundations , with collars underneath . Each set has a back building of one story , as a kitchen . All the rooms are lathed and plastered . Three of the houses are one and a half stories high , and contain each four rooms , a hall , store - room , and pantry . Two cottages are of one story , while two others , of one and a half stories , are divided each into two sets of quarters of four rooms . None of these quarters have bath - rooms . The guard and prison - rooms are in the ends of the barrack building next the sally - port . The prisoners ' room is 15 by . The quartermaster ' s store - houses , two in number , measure 230 by and 120 by . The commissary ' s store - houses , also two in number , measure 228 by and 50 by . The hospital was located near the brink of the ravine , to the south of the post . History . 22nd Infantry . 7 years 1866 - 1873 1st Infantry . 4 years 1874 - 1879 11th Infantry . 9 years 1879 - 1887 In December , 1878 , Company A , Eleventh Infantry , changed station from Fort Bennett ( late Cheyenne Agency ) to Fort Sully . October 1879 At Fort Sully , D . T . , Companies A and K of the Eleventh Infantry . In December , 1879 , the headquarters , band , and Companies G and I , Eleventh Infantry , changed station from Fort Bennett to Fort Sully , D . T . February 12 , 1884 , at Fort Sully a fire , originating accidentally in the quarters of Company A , Eleventh Infantry , destroyed the quarters of Company A and the adjoining quarters of the band , Eleventh Infantry , the post guard - house , the store - room , one squad - room , orderly - room , and kitchen of Company E , Eleventh Infantry , and all except one squad - room and the mess - room of Company K , Eleventh Infantry . February 14 , Company A was transferred to Fort Bennett , temporarily , for quarters , arriving at the latter post on the same day . Distance traveled , . 12th Infantry . 12 years 1887 - 1894 On October 20 , 1894 , Major Gageby and Companies B , C , and D of the Twelfth Infantry left Fort Sully en route to Fort Niobrara , Nebraska leaving Fort Sully abandoned .