Fort Assinniboine records, 1879-1906
Table of Contents
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Fort Assinniboine (Hill County, Mont.)
- Title
- Fort Assinniboine records
- Dates
- 1879-1906 (inclusive)18791906
- 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
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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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
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Outgoing Correspondence
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Description: Quartermaster's Department: copy bookDates: 1887 September- 1889 MarchContainer: Volume 1
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Description: Quartermaster's Department: copy bookDates: 1890 September- 1892 AugustContainer: Volume 2
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Description: Quartermaster's Department: copy bookDates: 1892 August- 1893 DecemberContainer: Volume 3
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1885 September- 1886 MayContainer: Volume 4
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1891 September- 1892 MarchContainer: Volume 5
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1892 September- 1893 AprilContainer: Volume 6
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1893 April-OctoberContainer: Volume 7
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1893 October- 1894 MayContainer: Volume 8
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1894 May- 1895 SeptemberContainer: Volume 9
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1902 January-DecemberContainer: Volume 10
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1902 December- 1903 SeptemberContainer: Volume 11
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1904 April-SeptemberContainer: Volume 12
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy book and indexDates: 1904 September- 1905 JulyContainer: Volume 13-13A
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Description: Miscellaneous: copy bookDates: 1905 July-DecemberContainer: Volume 14
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Description: Post index of letters sentDates: undatedContainer: Volume 15
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Description: Register of letters sent: Subsistence DepartmentDates: 1891 January- 1892 AugustContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 1
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Incoming Correspondence
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Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include W.L. Lincoln, Fort Belknap Indian Agent; George S. Hoyt, Fort Assiniboine)Dates: 1879 September, NovemberContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 2
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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, NovemberContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 3
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Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Thomas Lloyd, Fort Assiniboine)Dates: 1882 AugustContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 4
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Description: Jacob Kline, Camp MorrisDates: 1883 April-MayContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 5
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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-OctoberContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 6-10
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Description: Miscellaneous (request for stores)Dates: 1886 JuneContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 11
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Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include R.B. Gordon, Regina, Saskatchewan; Edwin C. Fields, Fort Belknap)Dates: 1887 July, OctoberContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 12
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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, AugustContainer: Box/Folder 1 / 13-14
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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 SeptemberContainer: Box/Folder 2 / 1
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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-DecemberContainer: Box/Folder 2 / 2
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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-DecemberContainer: Box/Folder 2 / 3-4
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Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Sedgwick Rice, Fort Assiniboine; R.G. Rutherford, Fort Assinniboine)Dates: 1903 August, SeptemberContainer: Box/Folder 2 / 5
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Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include Samuel Cole, Fort Assiniboine; William S. Spangler, Fort Assinniboine)Dates: 1904 April, NovemberContainer: Box/Folder 2 / 6
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Description: Miscellaneous (correspondents include M. Lesher, Fort Assiniboine; V.L. Wills, Northern Division)Dates: 1905 January-NovemberContainer: Box/Folder 2 / 7
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Description: Register of letters received [incomplete]Dates: 1879, 1881, 1887-1895Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8-10
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1889 August- 1890 AprilContainer: Volume 16
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1891 March-SeptemberContainer: Volume 17
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1892 December - 1893 JulyContainer: Volume 18
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1894 February-AugustContainer: Volume 19
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1895 January- 1901 JanuaryContainer: Volume 20
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1901 January-DecemberContainer: Volume 21
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1902 January-SeptemberContainer: Volume 22
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1903 January-DecemberContainer: Volume 23-26
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1904 April-NovemberContainer: Volume 27-28
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1904 November- 1905 FebruaryContainer: Volume 29
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Description: Register of letters receivedDates: 1905 February-OctoberContainer: Volume 30-32
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Description: Index to letters received [1:5-5]Dates: 1887 June-NovemberContainer: Oversizebox folder 3 / 1
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Description: Index to letters receivedDates: 1890 April-SeptemberContainer: Oversizebox folder 3 / 2
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Description: Index to letters receivedDates: 1893 June- 1894 FebruaryContainer: Oversizebox folder 3 / 3
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Description: Index to letters receivedDates: 1902 November- 1903 JanuaryContainer: Volume 151
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Reports
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1880 April-OctoberContainer: Volume 33
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1880 October- 1881 AprilContainer: Volume 34
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1881 September- 1882 MarchContainer: Volume 35
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1882 March-SeptemberContainer: Volume 36
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1883February-JuneContainer: Volume 37
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1883 October- 1884 JanuaryContainer: Volume 38
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1884 March-NovemberContainer: Volume 39-40
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1884 November- 1885 AprilContainer: Volume 41
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1885May-AugustContainer: Volume 42
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1885 August- 1886 JanuaryContainer: Volume 43
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1886 January-JuneContainer: Volume 44-45
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1886 November- 1887 FebruaryContainer: Volume 46
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1887May-OctoberContainer: Volume 47-48
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1887 December- 1888 MarchContainer: Volume 49
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1888 March-NovemberContainer: Volume 50-51
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1889 February-NovemberContainer: Volume 52-55
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1889 November- 1890 FebruaryContainer: Volume 56
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1890 May-OctoberContainer: Volume 57-58
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1890 October- 1891 JanuaryContainer: Volume 59
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1891 January-NovemberContainer: Volume 60-63
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1891 November- 1892 FebruaryContainer: Volume 64
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1892 February-DecemberContainer: Volume 65-68
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1893 June-NovemberContainer: Volume 69-70
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1894 February-JulyContainer: Volume 71-72
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1894 October- 1895 MarchContainer: Volume 73
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1895 March-SeptemberContainer: Volume 74
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1895 September- 1896 FebruaryContainer: Volume 75
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1896 February-DecemberContainer: Volume 76-77
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1897 January-NovemberContainer: Volume 78-79
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1897 November- 1898 AprilContainer: Volume 80
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: daily [telegrams removed to Box 2, Folder 10]Dates: 1898 April-JuneContainer: Volume 81
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1899 June- 1900 AugustContainer: Volume 82
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1900 August- 1901 OctoberContainer: Volume 83
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1901 October - 1902 JuneContainer: Volume 84
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1902 October- DecemberContainer: Volume 85
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1902 December- 1903 MarchContainer: Volume 86
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1903 May-NovemberContainer: Volume 87-88
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1903 November- 1904 JanuaryContainer: Volume 89
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1904 January-DecemberContainer: Volume 90-91
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1905 February-DecemberContainer: Volume 92-95
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: dailyDates: 1906 July-SeptemberContainer: Volume 96
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Description: Consolidated morning reports: Camp OtisDates: 1887 June, 1901 SeptemberContainer: Volume 97
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Miscellany
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Description: Duty rosterDates: 1902 January- 1905 July, 1901Container: Volume 98
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Description: Duty rosters [dates overlap]Dates: 1902 January- 1905 July, 1901Container: Volume 99
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Description: Endorsement bookDates: 1881 March- 1884 April, 1901Container: Volume 100
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Description: General Order #18Dates: 1906 July 25Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1A
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Description: Post orders: general and specialDates: 1880 October- 1882 DecemberContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 1
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Description: Post orders: generalDates: 1883 January- 1887 JuneContainer: Box/Folder 4 / 2-3
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Description: Post orders: generalDates: 1887 June- 1888 JuneContainer: Volume 101
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Description: Post orders: generalDates: 1889 August- 1891 FebruaryContainer: Volume 102
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Description: Post orders: general [dates overlap]Dates: 1902 January- 1904 FebruaryContainer: Volume 103-104
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Description: Post orders, memoranda, and circularsDates: 1883-1890Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4-5
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Description: Department of Dakota: general ordersDates: 1884-1885Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
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Description: Department of Dakota: general ordersDates: 1885Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
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Description: Department of Dakota: general orders, court martial orders, circularsDates: 1883, 1892-1893, 1905Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
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Description: Department of Dakota: special ordersDates: 1884, 1886Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3-4
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1879 May-NovemberContainer: Volume 105
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1879 November- 1880 MayContainer: Volume 106
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1880 November- 1881 AprilContainer: Volume 107
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1881 April-OctoberContainer: Volume 108
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1882 April-AugustContainer: Volume 109
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1882 August- 1883 FebruaryContainer: Volume 110
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1884 February- 1885 JanuaryContainer: Volume 111-112
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1885 January-DecemberContainer: Volume 113-114
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1885 December- 1886 JuneContainer: Volume 115
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1886 December- 1887 MayContainer: Volume 116
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1887 May-NovemberContainer: Volume 117
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1887 November- 1888 MayContainer: Volume 118
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1888 May-OctoberContainer: Volume 119
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1888 October- 1889 AprilContainer: Volume 120
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1889 April-OctoberContainer: Volume 121
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1889 October- 1890 MarchContainer: Volume 122
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1891 March-AugustContainer: Volume 123
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1891 August- 1892 FebruaryContainer: Volume 124
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1892 February-AugustContainer: Volume 125
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1892 August - 1893 JanuaryContainer: Volume 126
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1893 January- January 1894Container: Volume 127-128
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: January-December 1894Container: Volume 129-130
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1894 December- 1895 DecemberContainer: Volume 131-132
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1895 December- 1896 NovemberContainer: Volume 133-134
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1896 November- 1897 NovemberContainer: Volume 135-136
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1897 November- 1898 NovemberContainer: Volume 137
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1899 December- 1900 JuneContainer: Volume 138
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1900 November- 1901 NovemberContainer: Volume 139-140
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1901 November- 1902 OctoberContainer: Volume 141-142
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Description: Post guard reports: dailyDates: 1905 December- 1906 MayContainer: Volume 143
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Description: Post guard reportsDates: 1909 December- 1910 JuneContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 1
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Description: Post Council of Administrators: proceedingsDates: 1879-1886Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
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Description: Post Council of Administrators: recordDates: 1901 September- 1906 SeptemberContainer: Volume 144
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Description: Chaplain's report: Second CavalryDates: 1906 AugustContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 3
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Description: Description book of recruitsDates: 1896 June- 1907 AprilContainer: Volume 145
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Description: Field return: Third CavalryDates: 1904 DecemberContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 4
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Description: Map and plan of Fort buildings and areaDates: circa 1885Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
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Description: Military records: individualDates: 1905-1906Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6
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Description: Muster roll: 25th Infantry DetachmentDates: 1906 FebruaryContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 7
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Description: Proceedings of Board of Survey: target practice recordsDates: 1884 May- 1894 JuneContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 8
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Description: Records of company skirmish firingDates: 1887 August- 1888 AugustContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 9
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Description: Records of subsistence storesDates: 1879 September- 1891 DecemberContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 10
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Description: Roster of officers and organizationsDates: 1889 March- 1894 May, 1891Container: Box/Folder 6 / 11
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Description: Summary court recordDates: 1891 March- 1893 DecemberContainer: Volume 146
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Description: Summary court recordDates: 1898 June- 1902 DecemberContainer: Volume 147
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Description: Summary court recordDates: 1906 Janunary-OctoberContainer: Volume 148
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Description: Witnesses' statements: murder in HavreDates: 1902 AugustContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 12
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Description: Prisoners: monthly reportsDates: 1881-1883, 1902- 1903Container: Box/Folder 6 / 13
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Description: Prisoners listsDates: 1903 December- 1904 JanuaryContainer: Volume 149
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Description: Prisoners listsDates: 1905 January-JuneContainer: Volume 150
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Description: Sheet MusicDates: 1891 September- 1892 MarchContainer: Volume 152
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Description: MiscellaneousDates: 1888-1889, 1904, undatedContainer: Box/Folder 6 / 14
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Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- African Americans
- African Americans
- African Americans Soldiers
- Armed Forces--Civil Action
- Military
- Military bases
- Montana
- Native Americans
- Soldiers