[News From SheridanMedia.com]
Fort Mckenzie, Sheridan, is now a first class hospital for veterans. But it was once a real fort that is now on the National Register of Historic Places, having been added in June of 1981. According to the register, the fort’s red-brick colonial style buildings form an impressive complex. It is only equaled or surpassed by F. E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne and Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs as a homogeneous collection of historic federal buildings in Wyoming.
In an on-line interview, Thomas Hatch, VA Engineer Tech and resident historian, talked about the history of the fort. He said that in 1899, a Captain Salsman and a crew came out and built several log buildings, corrals and coal storage buildings, but it was just a temporary affair. While they were onsite they raised the flag pole and built barracks and building number 11.
A flag pole was essential at the forts. This one is at Fort Fetterman
There were two to three companies of soldiers involved in the building, but it wasn’t until 1903 that a more permanent structure was built.
Hatch said that late 1890’s were near the end of the fort era, most of the Indians were on reservations and things were mostly peaceful around Sheridan.
“Indians had been reservation for 25 years. How did they sell the idea of a fort?”
One has to remember that at the time, it had only been about 25 years since Custer had been killed, and people in Sheridan remembered how terrified they were at that time.
They were afraid the Indians leave the reservation and massacre everyone. There were not many people yet in Sheridan, and many of the population was scattered throughout area on isolated ranches.
One day a couple of Indians did leave the reservation and killed a rancher. Now word was out that the Indians were planning a massacre. This was the impetus needed to take the idea to congress. Local residents felt that they were in need of military protection.
Although the following incident happened in Nebraska, it shows how unsettled the country still was, and how people worried about an Indian uprising.
The Sheridan Post, September 4, 1902: Indian Trouble at Naper, Neb. Governor Savage Appealed to for Rifles by the Mayor.
Lincoln, Neb. Sept. 1.— Governor Savage received a telegram yesterday from Mayor Serr of Naper, Boyd county, asking for “twenty-five rifles to put down Indian uprising.” Wishing particulars and wondering why the sheriff had not been called in, the governor wired for information and received this dispatch: “Mixed bloods threatened to burn Naper; enraged because refused whiskey Saturday. Five shot eighteen shots into town no one injured. Mixed bloods threatened to rake town. We have no rifles; need rifles and side arms for twenty-five or more.’ Governor Savage said he should consult with Adjutant General Colby, but thought he would conclude to send up the rifles in care of the captain of the Lincoln company of the National guards.
Hatch continued with Fort Mackenzie’s history. “The residents said ‘there 5,000 residents and we are surrounded by Indians. There are 40,000 Indians surrounding Sheridan. We need protection.’”
Hatch felt that they must have counted Indians for a lot of miles around to get these numbers. “Frightened residents went to former Indian fighters who said that the ranchers all around Sheridan would be doomed.” Hatch said. “’We have the volume of combatants around us. We have statements from former Indian fighters saying we are doomed.’ How did they prove it? They doctored the maps and brought the reservation within 30 miles of Sheridan.”
Looking at the maps, Congress said, let’s send some troops out. They sent people out and decided it was a great location for a fort. There was water, open range for horses, and a healthy environment.
In the September 30, 1903, Sheridan Post Supplement it said this:
Fort Mackenzie is now under construction upon the government reservation two miles from Sheridan, is destined to become one of the most important and beautiful posts in the United States. When the buildings now in course of erection, and those contemplated are completed, it will be a four-troop post. All of the buildings are faced with pressed brick, and the finishing and interior furnishings are the best that are made.
The permanency of the buildings and their arrangement upon the campus lead one to believe that it is the aim of the department to ultimately make of Fort Mackenzie a regimental post, and friends of the new fort are earnestly working to accomplish that end.
Fort Mackenzie was located at Sheridan, primarily because of the superior climatic, resourceful and social conditions surrounding our city. Upon the abandonment of Fort Custer in 1897, on account of bad water and sanitary conditions surrounding that garrison, the first thought was to establish post at the Little Horn River, in southern Montana. When the officers came to look over the field the idea presented itself to them that Sheridan, with its unlimited supply of good water, good mountain scenery and pure air, agriculture, churches and schools, would be the ideal location. Accordingly, General E. V. Sumner, the commander of the department of the Colorado, under orders from the War Department, in October, 1898, made report upon the conditions in the vicinity of Sheridan.
In his report General Sumner pointed out that the abandonment of many military posts in the northwest, upon the call for war with Spain, had left the country, once so well guarded, practically in the hands of Indians, and the settlements of citizens at their mercy. Reference to the map will show that within easy reach of Sheridan are the following Indian reservations: Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Shoshone. Pine Ridge Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Lower Brules, Cheyenne River, and the Standing Rock. The general pointed out that protection sufficient to cover this large extent of territory was to be considered, and said that everything else being equal, economy to the government, as well as the comfort and happiness of the soldiers should not be ignored.
Hatch continued the story. “After Salsman’s troop, the next group that comes in were the black units, the Buffalo Soldiers. Everyone thought there would be race issues. But, Buffalo Soldiers were fans of the most popular games in 1890s. Baseball. They invited all comers to participate in games, so they endeared themselves to the populace. There were little to no racial issues. When they left, one article said, ‘We are losing our own.’”
During peace time, being a soldier at one of the forts could be boring. Sometimes, though, things came up to relieve the boredom.
In The Daily Enterprise, August 1, 1912, there was this article:
Fort Mackenzie Troops Start for their Yellowstone Trip. Wagon Train and Mounted Detachment Left This Morning. Orders For the Troops are Issued
Sixteen wagons with horses and mules and forty-six men comprised the wagon which left Fort Mackenzie at 8 o’clock this morning for the overland trip to the Yellowstone National Park, via Dayton and Cody. The train carried all the camp equipment and provisions to be used by troops on their trip through the park, The soldiers will catch up with the wagon train at Gardiner on August 15, when they will travel by rail from Sheridan to the park entrance that day. The following orders will govern for the trip overland and return: Personnel. Capt J. H Como, Q. M., Eighteenth Infantry, commanding. Second Lieutenants, J. S. Sullivan and T. C. Lonergan.
Included in the trip was: one wagon master, one assistant wagon master, a cook, blacksmith, hospital corps and many others including a 21 mounted detachment.
The Bozeman Trail outside of Dayton, Wyo. The troops from Fort Mackenzie would have traveled through this type of country
There were sixty six mules and thirty seven horses, mules for the wagons and horses for the soldiers to ride.
Teams will take oats for entire trip to Gardiner. Oats for journey in park and return trip to be furnished at Fort Yellowstone, or purchased at Cody. Teams will take hay for the days. Remainder to be purchased en route. Captain Como will make suitable arrangements for shelter and subsistencefor his command to and from the park. He will detail an officer to make a road sketch of the road from Fort Mackenzie to Gardiner and complete a road report.
The route overland both ways will be as followed, Fort McKenzie to Dayton, 20 miles; Dayton to Freeze out Point, 28 miles; Freeze Out Point to Shell, 35 miles; Shell to Greybull, 18 miles; Greybull to Germania (now Emblem) 20 miles; Germania to Sage Creek 35 miles; Sage Creek to Cody 8 miles; Cody to Three Bar Ranch 14 miles; Three Bar Ranch to Pahaska 15 miles; Pahaska to Hot Springs 15 miles; Hot Springs to Lake Outlet 16 miles; Lake Outlet to Mud Geyser. 8 miles; Mud Geyser to Canyon Station 12 miles; Canyon Station to Norris Station 12 miles; Norris Station to Appollinaris 13 miles; Apollinaris to Mammoth 10 miles; Mammoth to Gardiner 6 miles.
Fort Mackenzie to Gardiner, 282 miles, return 282 miles. Tour in Park 152 miles. As soon as practicable after his return to Fort Mackenzie Captain Como will submit to the adjutant a complete report of the overland trip.
The rules and regulations of the Yellowstone National Park will carefully be observed – By order of Colonel Davis K. Sheldon, Captain and Adjutant, Eighteenth Infantry Adjutant.
Old Faithful in Yellowstone
During the early 1900s, congress began closing down the smaller forts, consolidating into larger forts in large urban areas to set up military installments.
Sheridan was not one of the large urban areas. The government left only a few soldiers to maintain the buildings and grounds. The fort buildings were well built and practically brand new. Several attempts were made to repurposed, but none were really successful until after the first World War, when it became a Veteran’s Hospital, soon to celebrate 100 years.
The Fort was named for General Ranald McKenzie, (his name is Ranald with an a) hero of many Indian engagements in Texas and in Wyoming. His story will told next week.
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Last modified: November 13, 2021