Fort Keogh
From birchyHistory
(→Timeline) |
|||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
| refnum = 78001680<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> | | refnum = 78001680<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | + | [[File:StiefflerFtKeoghClrCrpd.jpg]] | |
| − | [[File: | + | |
'''Fort Keogh''' is a former [[United States Army]] post located on the western edge of today's [[Miles City, Montana]]. It is situated on the south bank of the [[Yellowstone River]] at the mouth of the Tongue River. | '''Fort Keogh''' is a former [[United States Army]] post located on the western edge of today's [[Miles City, Montana]]. It is situated on the south bank of the [[Yellowstone River]] at the mouth of the Tongue River. | ||
| Line 56: | Line 55: | ||
The ''Miles City Chamber of Commerce'' web site noted: | The ''Miles City Chamber of Commerce'' web site noted: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
| − | According to the diaries kept by George Miles, the nephew of the Colonel who traveled with his uncle, a man named | + | According to the diaries kept by [[George Miles]], the nephew of the Colonel who traveled with his uncle, a man named [[Matt Carrol]] set up some barrels under a tarp and started selling [[whiskey]]. When Colonel Miles got tired of having his guard house filled to overflowing--whiskey causing him, Miles said, more trouble than the Indians--he ordered Carrol and the other purveyors of liquor to leave the military reservation. |
| − | An employee of Carrol's, one John Carter, rode east on his big | + | An employee of Carrol's, one [[John Carter]], rode east on his big bay horse until he was the required two miles away, beyond the edge of the reservation. He found a flat spot along the [[Yellowstone River|Yellowstone]], built a crude log hut out of driftwood and started selling whiskey. The soldiers soon found the place, other merchants followed, and Miles City was born. |
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
| − | Milestown was at first almost nothing but rowdy; many a drunken soldier emerged from its saloons. About a year after settling in the area, General Miles moved the fort to the present location just a couple of miles southwest of the original site. He hoped that the extra distance from the town would slow the unruliness. | + | Milestown was at first almost nothing but rowdy; many a drunken soldier emerged from its saloons. About a year after settling in the area, General Miles moved the fort to the present location just a couple of miles southwest of the original site. He hoped that the extra distance from the town would slow the unruliness. However, he had also moved the military land border from what is now Hanyes Ave westward to the Tongue River, so the town picked up and moved to its current location closer to the fort. |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
[[File:Crude building under construction at Fort Keogh, Mont., ca. 1889 - NARA - 531100.jpg|thumb|right|Crude building under construction at Fort Keogh, Mont., ca. 1889]] | [[File:Crude building under construction at Fort Keogh, Mont., ca. 1889 - NARA - 531100.jpg|thumb|right|Crude building under construction at Fort Keogh, Mont., ca. 1889]] | ||
| − | |||
==20th century history== | ==20th century history== | ||
| Line 100: | Line 94: | ||
==Giant snowflake== | ==Giant snowflake== | ||
''[[Guinness World Records]]'' reports that the largest natural snowflake ever recorded, measuring 15 inches (38 cm) in diameter, fell at Fort Keogh on 28 January 1887. | ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' reports that the largest natural snowflake ever recorded, measuring 15 inches (38 cm) in diameter, fell at Fort Keogh on 28 January 1887. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:StiefflerFtKeoghClrDtl.jpg|thumb|600px]] | ||
== Timeline == | == Timeline == | ||
| − | Oct 1877: The wood contract was established at $5 (per ?cord?) for green and $6 for dry. | + | ===1877=== |
| + | Oct 1877: The wood contract was established at $5 (per ?cord?) for green and $6 for dry. 120 of the "engineers" that were building the fort leave about the 2oth for Bismarck. [[J. J. Graham]] has the contract to transport them in Mackinaws. Weather has been good, but winter is nearing. Payment vouchers are running out and a fresh Federal appropriation for the Army is anxiously looked for. | ||
| + | |||
[[5 Dec 1877]]: 4 companies of cavalry; 10 companies of infantry. Col. [[Nelson A. Miles]], [[5th Infantry]], commanding. Other nearby posts include: Forts Abraham Lincoln, Benton, Buford, Stevenson, Rice, Custer, and the Standing Rock Agency. | [[5 Dec 1877]]: 4 companies of cavalry; 10 companies of infantry. Col. [[Nelson A. Miles]], [[5th Infantry]], commanding. Other nearby posts include: Forts Abraham Lincoln, Benton, Buford, Stevenson, Rice, Custer, and the Standing Rock Agency. | ||
| Line 112: | Line 111: | ||
[[17 Dec 1877]]: Paymaster Maj. [[William Arthur]] left Bismarck with [[Lt. Thompson]] providing an escort. He will distribute payrolls to Forts Stevenson, Buford, Keogh and Custer. He probably had half a million dollars with him. | [[17 Dec 1877]]: Paymaster Maj. [[William Arthur]] left Bismarck with [[Lt. Thompson]] providing an escort. He will distribute payrolls to Forts Stevenson, Buford, Keogh and Custer. He probably had half a million dollars with him. | ||
| + | ===1878=== | ||
[[14 Jan 1878]]: Paymaster Maj. [[William Arthur]] left [[Fort Burford]] with [[Lt. Bronson]] and Co. G of the [[6th Infantry]] providing an escort. He will distribute payrolls to Forts Keogh and Custer. | [[14 Jan 1878]]: Paymaster Maj. [[William Arthur]] left [[Fort Burford]] with [[Lt. Bronson]] and Co. G of the [[6th Infantry]] providing an escort. He will distribute payrolls to Forts Keogh and Custer. | ||
| Line 132: | Line 132: | ||
Around [[8 Feb 1878]] national newspapers report that on Christmas eve past, a council was held between Sitting Bull and the British Canadian police where Major Walsh threatened the native Americans with a fine of $200 and 6 months imprisonment for killing a cow buffalo. Blaming the Americans for this meanness, Sitting Bull replied that they would be forced to hunt for food south of the border or else starve, to which Walsh advised him that he does so at his own peril. Sitting Bull said he would return to Montana and die fighting the Americans. | Around [[8 Feb 1878]] national newspapers report that on Christmas eve past, a council was held between Sitting Bull and the British Canadian police where Major Walsh threatened the native Americans with a fine of $200 and 6 months imprisonment for killing a cow buffalo. Blaming the Americans for this meanness, Sitting Bull replied that they would be forced to hunt for food south of the border or else starve, to which Walsh advised him that he does so at his own peril. Sitting Bull said he would return to Montana and die fighting the Americans. | ||
| − | Around Valentines Day [14 Feb 1878]] a Pennsylvania paper published this bigoted version of reality, erroneously claiming that Frenchman's Creek is just a few miles from Fort Keogh, predicting that the tiny garrison at Keogh would soon be slaughtered and the Indian sympathizers will be asking that they be treated kindly, when the "only way to treat them is...by simply killing off all that will not respect the kindness of the government." | + | Around Valentines Day [[14 Feb 1878]] a Pennsylvania paper published this bigoted version of reality, erroneously claiming that Frenchman's Creek is just a few miles from Fort Keogh, predicting that the tiny garrison at Keogh would soon be slaughtered and the Indian sympathizers will be asking that they be treated kindly, when the "only way to treat them is...by simply killing off all that will not respect the kindness of the government." |
| − | [14 Feb 1878]] The February roster for the Department of Dakota (St Paul to the Rockies, Canada to Nebraska) lists 12 companies of the 2nd Cavalry headquarted at Fort Custer with detachments at Forts Keogh, Custer and Ellis. 3rd Cavalry (4 companies) stationed at Red Cloud and New Spotted Tail agencies. 7th Cavalry, HQ at Fort Lincoln, with companies stationed at Lincoln, Totten, Rice and Standing Rock Agency. 1st Infantry, HQ at Fort Randall, companies stationed at Randall, Lower Brule and Standing Rock Agencies and Fort Sully. 3rd Infantry, HQ at Helena, troops at Fort Missoula and Camp Baker. 5th Infantry at Fort Keogh. 6th Infantry at Cheyenne Agency, 6 companies there and 4 at Fort Custer. 17th Infantry at the Standing Rock Agency, companies stationed at Forts Sisseton, Totten, Lincoln, Pembina and Snelling. 122 officers are absent from their posts (34 sick, 34 absent with leave, 80 on detached duty, 14 temporary duty, 8 recruiting, with Gen Hazen in Europe under instructions and Major Reno absent by authority). | + | [[14 Feb 1878]] The February roster for the Department of Dakota (St Paul to the Rockies, Canada to Nebraska) lists 12 companies of the 2nd Cavalry headquarted at Fort Custer with detachments at Forts Keogh, Custer and Ellis. 3rd Cavalry (4 companies) stationed at Red Cloud and New Spotted Tail agencies. 7th Cavalry, HQ at Fort Lincoln, with companies stationed at Lincoln, Totten, Rice and Standing Rock Agency. 1st Infantry, HQ at Fort Randall, companies stationed at Randall, Lower Brule and Standing Rock Agencies and Fort Sully. 3rd Infantry, HQ at Helena, troops at Fort Missoula and Camp Baker. 5th Infantry at Fort Keogh. 6th Infantry at Cheyenne Agency, 6 companies there and 4 at Fort Custer. 17th Infantry at the Standing Rock Agency, companies stationed at Forts Sisseton, Totten, Lincoln, Pembina and Snelling. 122 officers are absent from their posts (34 sick, 34 absent with leave, 80 on detached duty, 14 temporary duty, 8 recruiting, with Gen Hazen in Europe under instructions and Major Reno absent by authority). |
| + | ===1882=== | ||
| + | [[18 Oct 1882]] A "calico" dance was held in the Chappel building. The Post band played and "the tripping of the light fantastic toe" was kept up until the "wee, sma' hours". On a different page, it says there will be a "calico ball" tonight. Must be a left over slug from previous issue. | ||
| + | [[19 Oct 1882]] Maj. Maginnis cuts forces down to three companies, and increases Fort Maginnis to 13 companies. | ||
| + | [[19 Oct 1882]] A brick sidewalk between the [[Post trader]]'s store ([[Macqueen & Young]]) and the Officers' club-room has been added. [[Samuel Camp]] has been remodeling the Post trader's store rooms. [[William Bahr]] is hired away from the [[Commercial Hotel]] to run the dry goods department. | ||
| + | [[27 Oct 1882]] The wife and children of quartermaster blacksmith [[Milton Prickett]] are to arrive. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===1888=== | ||
[[3 May 1888]] [[5th Infantry]] is reassigned, will be leaving Fort Keogh and going to various forts in Texas: | [[3 May 1888]] [[5th Infantry]] is reassigned, will be leaving Fort Keogh and going to various forts in Texas: | ||
* HQ will be at [[Fort Bliss]] with B Co. (Capt. Carter & Lt. Kimball); E Co. (Capt. Ewers, Lt. Defrees & Lt. Baylies) | * HQ will be at [[Fort Bliss]] with B Co. (Capt. Carter & Lt. Kimball); E Co. (Capt. Ewers, Lt. Defrees & Lt. Baylies) | ||
| Line 146: | Line 153: | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
| − | File: | + | File:MilesCity_1876Dec_Proposed2.jpg|Proposed locations, c. December 1876 |
| + | File:StiefflerFtKeoghClrLg.jpg|Fort Keogh by [[Hermann Stieffel]] | ||
| + | File:StiefflerFtKeoghGry.jpg|Fort Keogh by [[Hermann Stieffel]] | ||
| + | File:Horse&BuggyOnFtKeoghRes.jpg|On the Fort Keogh Reservation, near the Yellowstone River, c. 1880 | ||
File:"Skating party, Ft. Keogh, Mont., about 1890." - NARA - 531106.jpg|Skating party, Ft. Keogh, Mont., about 1890. | File:"Skating party, Ft. Keogh, Mont., about 1890." - NARA - 531106.jpg|Skating party, Ft. Keogh, Mont., about 1890. | ||
| − | File: | + | File:"German Singing Society, 22nd Infantry, Ft. Keogh, May 13, 1894." An open-air songfest - NARA - 531105.jpg|German Singing Society, 22nd Infantry, Ft. Keogh, May 13, 1894 |
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| + | [[File:xxx.jpg|thumb|xxxpx|xxx]] | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
