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Fort Assinniboine records, 1879-1906

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fort Assinniboine (Hill County, Mont.)
Title
Fort Assinniboine records
Dates
1879-1906 (inclusive)
Quantity
18 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 46 (collection)
Summary
Established by the United States Army in 1879, Fort Assinniboine served to secure the Canadian border, and enforce a policy of intimidation and containment of the Native American nations. Over its 32 years as a military post, many hundreds of soldiers garrisoned there, including African American companies from the 24th and 25th Infantries and the 10th Cavalry. Records (1879-1906) include incoming correspondence regarding the Riel Rebellion, Canadian Indians, and other topics regarding the Fort and military business. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence registers, reports, orders, and miscellany.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

On December 30th, 1878 the site was dubbed Fort Assiniboine, with one “n”; the fort retained that spelling until officially changed to Fort Assinniboine December 3, 1884. Between 1879 and 1903, Fort Assinniboine served as a key component of a national military strategy to secure the International Border with Canada with respect to an overall policy of intimidation and containment of Native American nations. It represents one of several open-planned post (fort) complexes constructed between 1877 and 1879 in Montana, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Idaho. Fort Assinniboine’s primary function was border patrol and engagement with the Cree, Metis, Blackfeet, and Sioux. Its location between the Blackfeet reservation to the west and Fort Belknap to the east, led to interaction with the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine nations as well. While fort personnel rarely engaged in battle, the fort’s role in the United States’ military and diplomatic relationships with tribes and Canada proved crucial. The mere fact of the fort’s existence undoubtedly dissuaded, or at least caused pause to consider, possible actions by Native Americans. As Fort Assinniboine personnel were charged not only with patrol, seizure, deportation, and combat, but also protection and assistance, they effectively influenced national Indian policy and impacted the lifeways of those native populations.

The size and scale of Fort Assinniboine’s military post and 220,000-acre military reservation established it as one of the most massive in the United States. The large number of soldiers stationed there over the majority of its lifetime, and the allocation of Congressional funding for upgrades, renovation, and new construction testify to the post’s primary importance in the larger military mission of containment and border control. The district stands at a critical location, chosen to secure the northern tier, to protect settlers, and to maintain International relations by thwarting what was considered unauthorized crossing of the boundary between Canada and the United States by Native Americans, mostly the Cree and Métis.

Beginning in April 1892, one or a combination of companies from the 24th and 25th Infantries or 10th Cavalry served continuously at the fort through August 1900. Formed in 1866 after the Civil War, these regiments for black enlisted men, led by white officers, were instrumental to the United States’ military campaigns and policy enforcement in the West. Not only did the troops fully participate in the military aspects during their stay, they engaged with, and in some cases, chose to remain in the surrounding communities after their service.

With the near-containment of tribal nations in the area by the late 1890s, the purpose of the post began to change. The Spanish American War’s outbreak in 1898 initiated the transfer of companies including the 10th United States Cavalry, a unit of all African American Buffalo Soldiers commanded by Lt. “Black Jack” John J. Pershing, to military action overseas. A measurably smaller number of military personnel manned the station, but continued to conduct patrols, intercede in tribal affairs, and work with and support other forts in the region. In 1903, Congress designated Fort Assinniboine a training facility, and invested in new construction and renovation at the base. However, its remoteness and harsh winters combined with shifts in military priorities thwarted the fort’s training facility role. In 1911, the United States military abandoned Fort Assinniboine and transferred it to the Department of the Interior. After 1913, some of the fort property transitioned to state ownership as an agricultural experiment station. A large amount of its acreage was set aside for Rocky Boy’s Reservation, and additional land became Beaver Creek Park.

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Content Description

Records. 1879-1906. 18 linear feet. This collection consists of the records generated through the normal activities of a military post. Included are letters to the commanding officer regarding the Riel Rebellion, activities of Native Americans north of the Candadian border, and other topics regarding the Fort and military business. The largest portion of the materials is bound volumes, including correspondence registers; orders; morning reports; court records; and other miscellaneous volumes and records.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

Included are letters to the commanding officer regarding the Riel Rebellion, Canadian Indians, and other topics regarding the Fort and military business, original copies of letters on MF 54.

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series. Some material housed in oversize box. Large portion of collection contained in bound volumes housed in manuscript volumes. Some material housed in oversize box. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

2:5-5

Location of Collection

1:5-5 (Oversize Box 3)

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Outgoing Correspondence

    • Description: Quartermaster's Department: copy book
      Dates: 1887 September- 1889 March
      Container: Volume 1
    • Description: Quartermaster's Department: copy book
      Dates: 1890 September- 1892 August
      Container: Volume 2
    • Description: Quartermaster's Department: copy book
      Dates: 1892 August- 1893 December
      Container: Volume 3
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1885 September- 1886 May
      Container: Volume 4
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1891 September- 1892 March
      Container: Volume 5
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1892 September- 1893 April
      Container: Volume 6
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1893 April-October
      Container: Volume 7
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1893 October- 1894 May
      Container: Volume 8
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1894 May- 1895 September
      Container: Volume 9
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1902 January-December
      Container: Volume 10
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1902 December- 1903 September
      Container: Volume 11
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1904 April-September
      Container: Volume 12
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book and index
      Dates: 1904 September- 1905 July
      Container: Volume 13-13A
    • Description: Miscellaneous: copy book
      Dates: 1905 July-December
      Container: Volume 14
    • Description: Post index of letters sent
      Dates: undated
      Container: Volume 15
    • Description: Register of letters sent: Subsistence Department
      Dates: 1891 January- 1892 August
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
  • Incoming Correspondence

    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include W.L. Lincoln, Fort Belknap Indian Agent; George S. Hoyt, Fort Assiniboine)
      Dates: 1879 September, November
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include G.L. Turner, District of Montana; W.L. Lincoln, Fort Belknap Indian Agent; Robert B. Benham, post surgeon; Thomas H. Ruger, District of Montana; J.M. McElree, Fort Walsh)
      Dates: 1881 September, November
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Thomas Lloyd, Fort Assiniboine)
      Dates: 1882 August
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
    • Description: Jacob Kline, Camp Morris
      Dates: 1883 April-May
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include H.G. Burton, post surgeon; G.S. Hoyt, Fort Assinniboine; Louisa G. Woods, Fort Assinniboine; Carroll H. Patten, Fort Belknap; Joseph Brady, Fort Assinniboine; J.N. McIlree, Maple Creek; Lloyd Wheaton, Fort Assinniboine; John B. Rodman, Fort Assinniboine; Edward Hunter, field camp; George W. Goode, field camp)
      Dates: 1885 March-October
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6-10
    • Description: Miscellaneous (request for stores)
      Dates: 1886 June
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include R.B. Gordon, Regina, Saskatchewan; Edwin C. Fields, Fort Belknap)
      Dates: 1887 July, October
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include C.S. Otis, Fort Assiniboine; H.A. Greene, Fort Assinniboine; Charles D. Curtis, Helena; F.D. Sharp, fort Assinniboine; L.A. LeGarde, Fort Assinniboine; W.A. Nichols, U.S. Military Prison at Fort Leavenworth)
      Dates: 1888 January, August
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13-14
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include H. Foster, Ft. Assinniboine; Leslie Smith, Fort Maginnis; R.E.A. Crofton, Fort Buford, Lloyd Wheaton, Camp Poplar River; H.A. Greene, Fort Assinniboine; J.N. Coe, Fort Assinniboine; W.S. McCaskey, Fort Assinniboine)
      Dates: 1888 September
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include J.M. Hamilton, Fort Assinniboine; A.W. Greely, U.S. Signal Corps; J.N. Coe, Fort Assinniboine; C.H. Alden, Department of Dakota medical director re barracks ventilation)
      Dates: 1889 January-December
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include J.C. Kelton, Adjutant General's Office; M. Barber, Department of Dakota; Thomas M. Vincent, Adjutant General's Office; Thomas Woodruff, Department of Dakota; C. McKeever, Adjutant General's Office)
      Dates: 1890 January-December
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3-4
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Sedgwick Rice, Fort Assiniboine; R.G. Rutherford, Fort Assinniboine)
      Dates: 1903 August, September
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Samuel Cole, Fort Assiniboine; William S. Spangler, Fort Assinniboine)
      Dates: 1904 April, November
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
    • Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include M. Lesher, Fort Assiniboine; V.L. Wills, Northern Division)
      Dates: 1905 January-November
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
    • Description: Register of letters received [incomplete]
      Dates: 1879, 1881, 1887-1895
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8-10
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1889 August- 1890 April
      Container: Volume 16
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1891 March-September
      Container: Volume 17
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1892 December - 1893 July
      Container: Volume 18
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1894 February-August
      Container: Volume 19
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1895 January- 1901 January
      Container: Volume 20
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1901 January-December
      Container: Volume 21
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1902 January-September
      Container: Volume 22
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1903 January-December
      Container: Volume 23-26
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1904 April-November
      Container: Volume 27-28
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1904 November- 1905 February
      Container: Volume 29
    • Description: Register of letters received
      Dates: 1905 February-October
      Container: Volume 30-32
    • Description: Index to letters received [1:5-5]
      Dates: 1887 June-November
      Container: Oversizebox folder 3 / 1
    • Description: Index to letters received
      Dates: 1890 April-September
      Container: Oversizebox folder 3 / 2
    • Description: Index to letters received
      Dates: 1893 June- 1894 February
      Container: Oversizebox folder 3 / 3
    • Description: Index to letters received
      Dates: 1902 November- 1903 January
      Container: Volume 151
  • Reports

    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1880 April-October
      Container: Volume 33
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1880 October- 1881 April
      Container: Volume 34
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1881 September- 1882 March
      Container: Volume 35
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1882 March-September
      Container: Volume 36
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1883February-June
      Container: Volume 37
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1883 October- 1884 January
      Container: Volume 38
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1884 March-November
      Container: Volume 39-40
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1884 November- 1885 April
      Container: Volume 41
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1885May-August
      Container: Volume 42
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1885 August- 1886 January
      Container: Volume 43
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1886 January-June
      Container: Volume 44-45
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1886 November- 1887 February
      Container: Volume 46
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1887May-October
      Container: Volume 47-48
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1887 December- 1888 March
      Container: Volume 49
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1888 March-November
      Container: Volume 50-51
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1889 February-November
      Container: Volume 52-55
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1889 November- 1890 February
      Container: Volume 56
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1890 May-October
      Container: Volume 57-58
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1890 October- 1891 January
      Container: Volume 59
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1891 January-November
      Container: Volume 60-63
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1891 November- 1892 February
      Container: Volume 64
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1892 February-December
      Container: Volume 65-68
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1893 June-November
      Container: Volume 69-70
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1894 February-July
      Container: Volume 71-72
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1894 October- 1895 March
      Container: Volume 73
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1895 March-September
      Container: Volume 74
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1895 September- 1896 February
      Container: Volume 75
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1896 February-December
      Container: Volume 76-77
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1897 January-November
      Container: Volume 78-79
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1897 November- 1898 April
      Container: Volume 80
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily [telegrams removed to Box 2, Folder 10]
      Dates: 1898 April-June
      Container: Volume 81
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1899 June- 1900 August
      Container: Volume 82
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1900 August- 1901 October
      Container: Volume 83
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1901 October - 1902 June
      Container: Volume 84
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1902 October- December
      Container: Volume 85
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1902 December- 1903 March
      Container: Volume 86
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1903 May-November
      Container: Volume 87-88
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1903 November- 1904 January
      Container: Volume 89
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1904 January-December
      Container: Volume 90-91
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1905 February-December
      Container: Volume 92-95
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily
      Dates: 1906 July-September
      Container: Volume 96
    • Description: Consolidated morning reports: Camp Otis
      Dates: 1887 June, 1901 September
      Container: Volume 97
  • Miscellany

    • Description: Duty roster
      Dates: 1902 January- 1905 July, 1901
      Container: Volume 98
    • Description: Duty rosters [dates overlap]
      Dates: 1902 January- 1905 July, 1901
      Container: Volume 99
    • Description: Endorsement book
      Dates: 1881 March- 1884 April, 1901
      Container: Volume 100
    • Description: General Order #18
      Dates: 1906 July 25
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1A
    • Description: Post orders: general and special
      Dates: 1880 October- 1882 December
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
    • Description: Post orders: general
      Dates: 1883 January- 1887 June
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2-3
    • Description: Post orders: general
      Dates: 1887 June- 1888 June
      Container: Volume 101
    • Description: Post orders: general
      Dates: 1889 August- 1891 February
      Container: Volume 102
    • Description: Post orders: general [dates overlap]
      Dates: 1902 January- 1904 February
      Container: Volume 103-104
    • Description: Post orders, memoranda, and circulars
      Dates: 1883-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4-5
    • Description: Department of Dakota: general orders
      Dates: 1884-1885
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
    • Description: Department of Dakota: general orders
      Dates: 1885
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
    • Description: Department of Dakota: general orders, court martial orders, circulars
      Dates: 1883, 1892-1893, 1905
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
    • Description: Department of Dakota: special orders
      Dates: 1884, 1886
      Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3-4
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1879 May-November
      Container: Volume 105
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1879 November- 1880 May
      Container: Volume 106
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1880 November- 1881 April
      Container: Volume 107
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1881 April-October
      Container: Volume 108
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1882 April-August
      Container: Volume 109
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1882 August- 1883 February
      Container: Volume 110
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1884 February- 1885 January
      Container: Volume 111-112
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1885 January-December
      Container: Volume 113-114
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1885 December- 1886 June
      Container: Volume 115
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1886 December- 1887 May
      Container: Volume 116
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1887 May-November
      Container: Volume 117
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1887 November- 1888 May
      Container: Volume 118
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1888 May-October
      Container: Volume 119
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1888 October- 1889 April
      Container: Volume 120
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1889 April-October
      Container: Volume 121
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1889 October- 1890 March
      Container: Volume 122
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1891 March-August
      Container: Volume 123
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1891 August- 1892 February
      Container: Volume 124
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1892 February-August
      Container: Volume 125
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1892 August - 1893 January
      Container: Volume 126
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1893 January- January 1894
      Container: Volume 127-128
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: January-December 1894
      Container: Volume 129-130
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1894 December- 1895 December
      Container: Volume 131-132
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1895 December- 1896 November
      Container: Volume 133-134
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1896 November- 1897 November
      Container: Volume 135-136
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1897 November- 1898 November
      Container: Volume 137
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1899 December- 1900 June
      Container: Volume 138
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1900 November- 1901 November
      Container: Volume 139-140
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1901 November- 1902 October
      Container: Volume 141-142
    • Description: Post guard reports: daily
      Dates: 1905 December- 1906 May
      Container: Volume 143
    • Description: Post guard reports
      Dates: 1909 December- 1910 June
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
    • Description: Post Council of Administrators: proceedings
      Dates: 1879-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
    • Description: Post Council of Administrators: record
      Dates: 1901 September- 1906 September
      Container: Volume 144
    • Description: Chaplain's report: Second Cavalry
      Dates: 1906 August
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 3
    • Description: Description book of recruits
      Dates: 1896 June- 1907 April
      Container: Volume 145
    • Description: Field return: Third Cavalry
      Dates: 1904 December
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4
    • Description: Map and plan of Fort buildings and area
      Dates: circa 1885
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
    • Description: Military records: individual
      Dates: 1905-1906
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6
    • Description: Muster roll: 25th Infantry Detachment
      Dates: 1906 February
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 7
    • Description: Proceedings of Board of Survey: target practice records
      Dates: 1884 May- 1894 June
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 8
    • Description: Records of company skirmish firing
      Dates: 1887 August- 1888 August
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 9
    • Description: Records of subsistence stores
      Dates: 1879 September- 1891 December
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 10
    • Description: Roster of officers and organizations
      Dates: 1889 March- 1894 May, 1891
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 11
    • Description: Summary court record
      Dates: 1891 March- 1893 December
      Container: Volume 146
    • Description: Summary court record
      Dates: 1898 June- 1902 December
      Container: Volume 147
    • Description: Summary court record
      Dates: 1906 Janunary-October
      Container: Volume 148
    • Description: Witnesses' statements: murder in Havre
      Dates: 1902 August
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 12
    • Description: Prisoners: monthly reports
      Dates: 1881-1883, 1902- 1903
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 13
    • Description: Prisoners lists
      Dates: 1903 December- 1904 January
      Container: Volume 149
    • Description: Prisoners lists
      Dates: 1905 January-June
      Container: Volume 150
    • Description: Sheet Music
      Dates: 1891 September- 1892 March
      Container: Volume 152
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1888-1889, 1904, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 6 / 14