Sunday, October 7, 2007

Custer's History at Fort Abraham Lincoln

Our visit to Fort Abraham Lincoln, 7 miles south of Mandan,N.D., on route 1806 in September opened up the pages of history to which we had little knowledge. The Fort was originally called Fort Mckean and was established on June 14,1872, by the 6th Cavalry under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Huston. Historical InfoSecond BlockhouseOfficer's QuartersWest BlockhouseDescription of Blockhouses and PalisadesView from the Bluff At the Commissary Storehouse - reconstructed in 1992,now a bookstore, located close to the entrance of the park you can catch a guided tour of the Custer home replica built in 1989. The original Commanding Officers quarters was built in the summer of 1873 for George and Elizabeth Custer. They lived in their new home until a fire claimed it in February 1874. Another new home was constructed the summer of 1874; the same Victorian style used in the first and common for the time period. Several original family articles were seen on display during our tour. Original CurtainLiving Room FireplaceBay WindowElizabeth's PianoOriginal Serving TrayDining RoomKitchen of the Custer HomeBasement of the Custer HomeIn the StudyCuster BedGeorge and Elizabeth Custer with servant "Lieutenant Colonel- General" George Armstrong Custer arrived before his wife at the Fort, with the 7th Cavalry, in the Fall of 1873, to ensure the expansion of the railroad in the Dakota Territories. It became a very important outpost with 6 companies or 650 Infantry and Cavalry soldiers keeping things going from 1873 - 1891. The men were Irish or German immigrants. The physical traits of no more than 165 lbs. and short stature to protect the health of the horses. George had the distinction by those who knew him of being an eccentric. On many an occasion he would warn wife Elizabeth, or one of the servants of his trips down the banister in the entry-way. They would leave the front door open for him to land out on the front porch. What a ride! When we finished at the Custer home we headed off to the re-constructed barracks to see what the common living space would have looked like in an era when they lived so far away from civilization. Soldier BarracksGun RackCook StoveWash BasinsMess Hall Our guide Diane, an Native American ,raised with 2 sisters by her mother away from the Kansas Reservation, shared her heritage with us. She called herself an apple..."Red on the outside, white on the inside". Leader of the Flock She spoke of the beliefs of historians about what went on at the "Battle of Little Big Horn", June 25th-26th,1876, the way the remains of the soldiers were treated after death. It is believed that Custer had an Indian woman since he was not dismembered in the same manner as the other soldiers who lost their lives that day. The only injury other than gun shot suffered by Custer was punctured ear-drums. This interpreted to mean that he "didn't listen" to what he was told in life so they made it impossible for him to hear in the next life... North Dakota has many areas of interest so if you get a chance to take an extended vacation I would recommend hitting the I-94 from one end of the state to the other for a delightful excursion.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just read a book about the Battle of Little Bighorn and Custer. It was fascinating because it told the story from both sides. The author didn't think much of Custer and his staff.

It would have been neat to see the Fort after having read that book.

CDGardens said...

Yes, I have heard that Custer was not well liked but tolerated. Either you liked him or you didn't. ;)

He over estimated his ability to be successful in the decision to try to dominate the huge gathering
of Native Americans at Little Big Horn.

Hope you can get out that direction sometime to check it out for yourself.

I hope you clicked on the pictures to make them bigger so you could see more detail. It also would take you to some other pictures that I didn't publish...

Anonymous said...

This is a really great post. I love it when places such as this allow photos so that the experience can be shared visually.

CDGardens said...

Debo- Thanks for sharing my experience through the pictures. I like showing others what I have seen. Glad you stopped by.

Anonymous said...

I do love all the pictures in the posts. So much easier to relate to the information you are reading. Loving it.

CDGardens said...

Arthur - Words can paint pictures in the minds eye but I too like seeing what is being referred to in the blog. Thanks for your visit.

ditokach said...

Hello, What great pictures. I was your guide on your tour and was quite surprised to see myself. I love it, but I have one correction. The harpist on the post was actually General Custer's younger sister Margaret. She was married to Lt. Calhoun. Again I thank you. Hope you had fun.
Your guide,Dianne

CDGardens said...

ditokach - Thank you for stopping by. For some reason I wasn't notified of your comment until today. I should have looked before...Glad you have clarified the identity of the harpist for me. Yes Dianne, we most definitely had a good time. Thank you again!