Fort Robinson: Outpost on the Plains

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Listed below are the sources found most useful in preparing this account.

Books

Bourke, John G. On the Border with Crook. London: Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington, 1892.

Brady, Cyrus T. Indian Fights and Fighters. Garden City: Doubleday, Page and Co., 1913.

Bronson, Edgar B. Reminiscences of a Ranchman. New York: McClure Co., 1908.

Bruce, Robert. The Fighting Norths and Pawnee Scouts. Privately printed, c. 1932.

Carter, William H. The History of Fort Robinson. Crawford, Nebr.: Northwest Nebraska News, 1942.

Clark, William P. The Indian Sign Language. Philadelphia: L. R. Hamersly, 1885.

DeBarthe, Joseph. The Life and Adventures of Frank Grouard. St. Joseph, Mo.: Combe Printing Co., c. 1894.

Flannery, L. G. (ed.) Volume I, John Hunton’s Diary, 1873-75. Lingle, Wyo.: Guide-Review, c. 1956.

Forrest, Earle R. and Milner, Joe E. California Joe. Caldwell, I.: Caxton Printers, 1935.

Grinnell, George Bird. The Fighting Cheyennes. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1915.

——. Two Great Scouts and Their Pawnee Battalion. Cleveland: Arthur H. Clark Co., 1928.

Hafen, Leroy R. and Young, Francis M. Fort Laramie and the Pageant of the West, 1834-1890. Glendale, Calif.: Arthur H. Clark Co., 1938.

Hyde, George E. Red Cloud’s Folk, A History of the Oglala Sioux Indians. Norman, Okla.: University of Oklahoma Press, 1937.

Lawson, Laurin L. Souvenir History of Fort Robinson. Crawford, Nebr.: Northwest Nebraska News, 1930.

McGillycuddy, Julia Blanchard. McGillicuddy Agent, A Biography of Dr. Valentine T. McGillicuddy. Stanford University, Calif: Stanford University Press, c. 1941.

Mills, Anson. My Story. Washington, D. C.: Published by the author, 1918.

Sandoz, Mari. Cheyenne Autumn. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., c. 1953.

——. Crazy Horse, the Strange Man of the Oglalas. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1942.

——. Old Jules. Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1935.

Schmitt, Martin F. (ed.) General George Crook, His Autobiography. Norman, Okla.: University of Oklahoma Press, 1946.

Periodicals and Newspapers

Nebraska History, a Quarterly Magazine. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, 1918——.

Allen, Charles W., “Red Cloud and the U. S. Flag,” XXII, No. 1 (January-March, 1941), 77-88.

Brininstool, E . A., et al. “Chief Crazy Horse, His Career and Death,” XII, No. 1 (January-March, 1929), 4-78.

Burns, Robert H. “The Newman Ranches, Pioneer Cattle Ranches of the West,” XXXIV, No. 1 (March, 1953), 21-32.

Cook, James H. “Early Days in Ogallala,” XIV, No. 2 (April-June, 1933), 86-99.

Mahnken, Norbert R. “The Sidney-Black Hills Trail,” XXX, No. 3 (September, 1948), 203-225.

Mattison, Ray H. “The Army Post on the Northern Plains, 1865-1885,” XXXV, No. 1 (March, 1954), 17-43.

——. “The Indian Reservation System on the Upper Missouri, 1865-1890,” XXXVI, No. 3 (September, 1955), 141-172.

Unthank, O. B. “Red Cloud Agency and Fort Laramie, 1867-1874,” VII, No. 1 (January-March, 1924), 27-29.

Wight, Willard E. (ed.) “A Young Medical Officer’s Letters From Fort Robinson and Fort Leavenworth, 1906-1907,” XXXVII, No. 2 (June, 1956), 135-147.

Wilson, Everett P. “The Story of the Oglala and Brule Sioux in the Pine Ridge Country of Northwest Nebraska in the Middle Seventies,” XXII, No. 1 (January-March, 1941), 15-32.

Bourke, John G. “Mackenzie’s Last Fight with the Cheyennes,” Journal of the Military Service Institution, XI, No. 42 (January, 1890), 29-49; No. 43 (March, 1890), 198-221.

Northwest Nebraska News (Crawford, Nebr.), June 18, 1936.

Omaha Weekly Bee (Omaha, Nebr.), 1874-1878.

Documents

Baker, Marvel L., Johnson, Leslie E., and Davis, Russell L., “Beef Cattle Research at Fort Robinson,” University of Nebraska College of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Station, Miscellaneous Publication No. 1, April, 1952.

Brackett, Albert G., “The Sioux or Dakota Indians,” Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1877, Senate Miscellaneous Documents, No. 46, 44th Congress, 2d. Session.

Report of the Secretary of War (1875), House Executive Documents, No. 1, Part 2, 44th Congress, 1st Session.

Report of the Secretary of War for 1879, House Executive Documents, No. 1, Part 2, 46th Congress, 2d. Session.

Reports on Indian Arms, Annual Report of the Chief of Ordnance for 1879, Appendix V. Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office, 1879.

U. S. National Archives, Microfilm, Nebraska State Historical Society

U. S. War Department

Camp Sheridan, Nebraska:

Orders, 1874-1881

Letters Sent, 1874-1875

Letters Received, 1874

Medical History of Camp Sheridan, Nebraska, 1874-1881

Post Returns, Camp Sheridan, Nebraska, January 1876-April 1881

Fort Robinson:

Selected Letters Sent, 1884-1900, Record Group 98

Selected Post Orders, 1874-1897, Record Group 98

Selected Documents from Medical History of Post, Record Group 98

Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, Document File 563-AGO-1874, Record Group 94

Records of the Adjutant General’s Office, Document File 4163 (Sioux War)—1876, Record Group 94

Records of U. S. Army Commands, Selected Documents, Sioux Expedition, 1874, Record Group 98

Bureau of Indian Affairs:

Letters Received, Red Cloud Agency, 1871-1880, Record Group 75

Selected Documents, Letters Received, Spotted Tail Agency 1875-1880. Letters Sent, Spotted Tail Agency, 1865-1881, Record Group 75

Manuscripts

Eli S. Ricker Collection: Interviews, Statements, Letters, Notes, Mss., Nebraska State Historical Society

Notebook kept by Dr. V. T. McGillycuddy, M.D., while a member of the Yellowstone and Big Horn Expedition May 26 to December 13, 1876 and notes kept by his wife Fanny at Camp Robinson December 13, 1876-February 22, 1877 and with the army on an expedition to the Black Hills, February 23-April 11, 1877, typed copy, Nebraska State Historical Society.

FOOTNOTES

[1]Lt. Gen. P. H. Sheridan to Gen. W. T. Sherman, March 3, 1874, Office of the Adjutant General, Records of the War Department, Document File 563-AGO-1874 (National Archives and Record Service, Record Group 94, Ms., microfilm). Hereafter these documents will be cited as NARS, RG 94.

[2]Located in Wyoming on the Platte River just west of the Nebraska line near the present town of Henry, Nebraska.

[3]During the buffalo hunt the Sioux discovered and defeated a hunting party of their traditional Pawnee enemies on August 5, 1873. The site of the Battle of Massacre Canyon is near the present town of Trenton, Nebraska.

[4]Sitting Bull of the South (or Sitting Bull the Oglala), head soldier of the Kiyuksa Oglala band, is not to be confused with the Sitting Bull (the Hunkpapa) of Custer Battle fame.

[5]Man Afraid of His Horses (the elder) led the Hunkpatila band. Both he and his son were prominent in affairs at Red Cloud Agency. For a detailed discussion of the position of these and other Indian leaders, see George E. Hyde, Red Cloud’s Folk (Norman, Okla., 1937).

[6]J. J. Saville to Gen. J. E. Smith, February 9, 1874, NARS, RG 94.

[7]Omaha Weekly Bee, February 18, 1874.

[8]S. V. Benet, Acting Chief of Ordnance, to Adjutant General, U. S. Army, February 16, 1874, NARS, RG 94.

[9]Companies B and G, Third Cavalry and Companies A, C, E, I, M and K, Second Cavalry, made up the cavalry battalion. Companies B, C, F, H, and K, Eighth Infantry, Companies B and K, Thirteenth Infantry, and Company F, Fourteenth Infantry, composed the infantry battalion.

[10]As a result the expedition returned via a different route. Later the road between Fort Laramie and Red Cloud Agency was partially relocated and necessary bridges built.

[11]Camp Robinson: Company G, Third Cavalry; Company H, Eighth Infantry; Company F, Fourteenth Infantry; Companies B and K, Thirteenth Infantry.

[12]Band chiefs and “soldiers” (camp police) had authority only in their own camp. The four men selected to have supreme authority during the annual tribal encampment were not chiefs but prominent warriors. For a discussion of some of the differences in authority between chiefs and prominent warriors, see Hyde, op. cit., pp. 308-315.

[13]Lt. Gen. P. H. Sheridan to Gen. W. T. Sherman, March 3, 1874, NARS, RG 94.

[14]“Record of the Medical History of Post [Fort Robinson], Medical Department, U. S. Army” (Ms. copy), Tablet No. 31, Ricker Collection, Nebraska State Historical Society.

[15]Hyde, op. cit., pp. 221, 222; J. J. Saville to Hon. E. P. Smith, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, October 24, 1874 and Capt. W. H. Jordan to Gen. George D. Ruggles, October 29, 1874, NARS, RG 94.

[16]General Orders No. 13, February 21, 1876, Fort Robinson, Nebraska Selected Post Orders, 1874-97, U. S. Army Commands, Records of the War Department, NARS, RG 98.

[17]About eight hundred more Sioux were hunting south of the Platte River.

[18]Capt. H. M. Lazelle to Gen. John E. Smith, April 6, 1874, NARS, RG 94.

[19]A. G. Brackett, “The Sioux or Dakota Indians,” Smithsonian Institution, Annual Report, 1876, pp. 466-474.

[20]Interview by Judge E. S. Ricker with George Colhoff, Tablet No. 17, Ms, Ricker Collection, Nebraska State Historical Society.

[21]The names of Camp Robinson and Red Cloud Agency, and Camp Sheridan and Spotted Tail Agency were frequently employed as synonyms because of the proximity of the military posts to the respective agencies; hence a group surrendering at Red Cloud Agency could also be spoken of as surrendering at Camp Robinson.

[22]W. P. Clark, The Indian Sign Language (Philadelphia, 1885), p. 296.

[23]Before becoming a scout for the army Grouard had lived for several years in the camps of the hostiles Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. His later action in leading soldiers in the campaigns was unfavorable to his former friends. It has been suggested that he therefore had reason to fear Crazy Horse.

[24]General Crook to Gen. E. D. Townsend, Adjutant General, September 5, 1877, NARS, RG 94.

[25]The death of Crazy Horse is a complex event and both eyewitness descriptions and reconstructions of it vary in detail. This account is a brief summary rather than an analysis.

[26]In the fall of 1877 New Red Cloud Agency was located on the Missouri River in Dakota Territory at the mouth of Yellow Medicine Creek.

[27]Notebook kept by Dr. V. T. McGillycuddy, M.D., while a member of the Yellowstone and Big Horn Expedition May 26 to December 13, 1876 and notes kept by his wife Fanny at Camp Robinson December 13, 1876-February 22, 1877 and with the army on an expedition to the Black Hills, February 23-April 11, 1877, typed copy, Nebraska State Historical Society. See entry for December 13, 1876.

[28]“Record of the Medical History of Post,” op. cit.

[29]McGillicuddy, op. cit., entry for December 28-31, 1876.

[30]General Orders No. 23, March 24, 1877, Fort Robinson, Nebraska Selected Post Orders, 1874-97, NARS, RG 98. General Orders No. 43, December 29, 1874, Camp Sheridan, Nebraska Orders, 1874-1881, NARS.

[31]General Orders No. 16, Fort Robinson, Nebraska, January 24, 1888 give this routine:

I. Hereafter the calls of this post will be sounded as follows:

First Call	15 minutes before sunrise
March	10 minutes before sunrise
Reveille and Assembly	Sunrise
Breakfast Call	Immediately after reveille
Sick Call		7:30	A.M.
Fatigue Call		7:45	A.M.
Guard Mounting Assembly of Trumpeters		9:00	A.M.
Guard Mounting Assembly of Details		9:05	A.M.
Guard Mounting Adjutants Calls		9:10	A.M.
School Call (for children)		9:00	A.M.
Drill Call Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays		9:30	A.M.
Water Call		9:45	A.M.
Recall from Drill		10:30	A.M.
Recall from Fatigue		11:45	A.M.
1st Sergeants Call		11:45	A.M.
Dinner Call		12:00	M
Fatigue and School Call (School call for children)		1:00	P.M.
Drill Call		1:30	P.M.
Recall from Drill		3:00	P.M.
Water Call (which shall be recall for cavalry from fatigue)		3:30	P.M.
Stable Call		3:45	P.M.
Recall from Fatigue		5:00	P.M.
Retreat First Call	5 minutes before sunset
Retreat Assembly	Sunset
Tatoo First Call		8:45	P.M.
Tatoo March		8:55	P.M.
Tatoo and Assembly		9:00	P.M.
Taps		9:30	P.M.
Dress Parade	15 minutes before sunset
Dress Parade, Assembly	5 minutes after sunset
School Call for Soldiers (Saturday and Sunday excepted)		7:00	P.M.
School Call for Officers Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday		1:00	P.M.
School Call for non-com Officers Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday		10:45	A.M.
Sunday Morning Inspection		9:00	A.M.
Sunday Morning Assembly		9:00	A.M.
Signal Instruction Wednesday from 2:30 to		3:30	P.M.

[32]Telegram, Lt. Biddle to Assistant Adjutant General, Department of the Platte, October 16, 1891, NARS, RG 98. Artificer Cornelius Donovan died of a fractured skull inflicted by Sergeant of the Guard Jackson.

[33]“Record of the Medical History of Post,” op. cit.

[34]This brief summary of the Cheyenne Outbreak is not detailed; there are numerous longer descriptions and eyewitness accounts.

[35]Martin F. Schmitt, ed., General George Crook, His Autobiography (Norman, Okla., 1946), p. 226.

[36]Crawford was named for Capt. Emmet Crawford, Third Cavalry, who played a prominent role in the history of Fort Robinson. He was killed in Mexico in January 1886 while pursuing hostile Apache Indians.

[37]Col. Edward Hatch to Adjutant General, U. S. Army, April 20, 1888; Lt. A. R. Egbert to the Coroner of Dawes County, Chadron, Nebr., August 31, 1886; Endorsement, Proceedings of a Board of Survey, September 23, 1886; Major A. S. Burt to the Hon. Judge Dundy, U. S. Circuit Court, Omaha, Nebr., January 4, 1888; Fort Robinson, Nebraska, Selected Letters Sent, 1884-1900, NARS, RG 98.

[38]Veteran white officers commanded the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry regiments. Both regiments served at Fort Robinson, the Ninth during the 1880’s and 1890’s and the Tenth in the early 1900’s. Both regiments won renown during the Indian Wars.

[39]Col. D. Perry to Adjutant General, Department of the Platte, Omaha, Nebraska, April 2, 1897, NARS, RG 98.

[40]All graves in the post cemetery were removed to Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Nebraska, when the Army turned the post over to the United States Department of Agriculture.

[41]When Capt. Anson Mills directed construction of new buildings at Camp Sheridan in 1875 Spotted Tail told him he knew troops were to be permanently stationed at his agency because “when they put rocks under their houses they are going to stay.” (Anson Mills, My Story [Washington, 1918], p. 163.)

[42]“Camp Robinson, Nebraska,” Report on the Hygiene of the United States Army (Washington, 1875), Surgeon-General’s Office, Circular No. 8, pp. 366-367.

FORT ROBINSON
1874-1954

High-resolution Version

This plan shows major buildings constructed. Buildings shown in black are still standing; those in outline are no longer in existence.

1 Bachelor Off. Qtrs.	1909
2, 3, 10, 12, 14 Office Qtrs.	1891
4 Off. Qtrs., Museum	1887
4-9 Office Qtrs.	1887
4C & 7C Garages	1936
11-13 Relocated NCO Qtrs.	1902
15, 16, 19 Office Qtrs	1909
17 Cmdg. Off. Qtrs.	1909
18 Cmdg. Off. Qtrs.	1891
20 Post Hosp.	1910
21 Barracks	1909
22 Cav. Barracks	1891
24-26, 28-30 Cav. Barracks	1887
27 Fire Station	1910
31 Flag Pole Relocation	1930
32 Post Hq., Museum	1905
33 Crazy Horse Monument	1934
34 Flag Staff	1890
35 Levi Robinson Monument	1934
36 Cav. Barracks	1889
37 Post Trader	1874
38 Barracks	1909
39 Admin. Bldg.	1883
40 Comdg. Off. Qtrs.	1884
40A Post Chapel, WWII
41 Comdg. Off. Qtrs.	1875
42, 43 Off. Qtrs.	1874
44-47 Off. Qtrs.	1875
48 CCC Swimming Pool	1935
49 Bandleader’s Qtrs	1886
101 Post Gym., Museum	1904
102 Post Hosp.	1885
103-106 Cav. Stables	1908
108-109 Cav. Stables	1891
109 Animal Handling Chute	1942
110, 111, 113, 118 Cav. Stables	1887
112, 117 Cav. Stables	1895
114 Blacksmith Shop, Museum	1904
115 Blacksmith Shop, Museum	1906
119, 121 Stable Guard	1908
122 Hosp. Stwd. Qtrs	1885
123 Vet. Hosp. Annex	1941
124 Vet. Hosp. Annex	1909
125 Hospital	1875
126 Infantry Barracks	1876
128 Infantry Barracks	1874
129 Infantry Barracks	1882
130 Non-Com Qtrs.	1888
131 Non-Com Qtrs	1890
132, 133 Non-Com Qtrs.	1886
134 Non-Com Qtrs	1902
135 Non-Com Qtrs
136 Tailor-Saddler Shops	1874
137 Cavalry Barracks	1874
138 Adjutant’s Office	1874
139 Guard House	1884
140 Guard House	1874
141 Commissary Stores	1874
142 Laundresses’ Qtrs.	1874
143 Quartermaster Shops	1874
144 Storehouse	1884
145 Bakery	1874
146 Carpt. & Paint Shops	1874
147 Shops	1884
148 RR Station	1886
149, 150 Non-Com. Qtrs.	1897
151, 153, 155 Cavalry Stables	1874
152 Magazine	1874
154 Ordnance Stores	1874
157, 158 Quartermaster Stores	1874
159 Butcher Shop	1874
160 Veterinary Hosp.	1905
161 Ice House
162 QM Lumber Stores	1891
163 QM Corral & Stables
164 Laundry	1907
170, 171 Vet. Wards	1942
172 Tennis Courts	1935
173 Post Office	1943
174 Post Exchange	1942
175 Recreation Hall—WAC
176 Mess Hall—WAC
177 Barracks—WAC
178 Hay & Grain Shed	1933
179 Stallion Stable	1930
201 Magazine	1894
202 QM Wagon Shed	1892
203 QM Stable	1892
204 Water Tanks	1884
205 Post Chapel	1893
206 Gun Shed	1894
207 QM Pack Train Stable	1892
209 QM Wagon Shed	1896
210 QM Shed
211 Packers’ Qtrs.	1895
212 Saddler’s Qtrs.	1887
213 Teamsters’ Qtrs.	1892
214 Wheelwright’s Qtrs.	1895
215 Carpenters’ Qtrs	1909
218 Hay Shed	1906
219 Hay Shed	1897
220 Granary	1895
221 Granary Addition	1941
222 QM Stores	1900
223 QM Stores	1892
224 Guard House	1892
225 Concession (Post-Fort)
226 Comm. Stores	1892
227 Eng. Equip. Shed	194?
227 Site of Coal Shed	1896
228 Blacksmith Shop	1884
229 Wheelwright’s Shop	1884
230 Ord. Stores	1899
231 Lumber Shed	1942
232 Oil House	1900
233 Concession (Post-Fort)
234 Bakery	1906
235 Meat Market	1900
236 Carpenter Shop	1882
237 Electric Shop
238 Saddler & Paint Stables
239 QM Shop	1906 & 1931
240 Paint Storage	1945
241 Wagon Shed	1929
242 Shop	1944
243 Band Barracks	1886
244 Implement Shed	1930
245 Oil Storage	1945
246 Post Garage	1930
247 Transportation Stable	1928
248 Eng. Off. & Warehouse	1942-1943
249 Lumber Sheds	1942-1943
250 Coal Apron	1942
251 10 Unit Kennels	1942
252 80 Unit Kennels	1942
253 Office-Canine
254 School-Canine
255 Hay Shed 1929
256 Saw Mill (Old Pumphouse)
257 Saw Mill
258 Vet. Isolation Hosp.	1928
259 School & Drilling Shed	1942
260 Transformer Sub-Station	1909
261 Mess Hall—Canine
262-264 Barracks-Canine
302 Water Towers	1889, 1903
304 Broodmare & Shipping Stable	1928
305 Sale Barn	1936
307 Sleeping Qtrs.
308 Assembly & Mess Hall	1931
309 NCO Qtrs	1902
310 Pest House	1901
311 Hosp. Stwd. Qtrs.	1910

THE NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VANCE E. NELSON
Curator, Fort Robinson Museum
Nebraska State Historical Society
Crawford, Nebraska

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded as the State Historical Society and Library Association in 1867, the year Nebraska was admitted to the Union. It was reorganized as the Nebraska State Historical Society in 1878. It was constituted as a state organization by act of the Nebraska Legislature in 1883, and designated custodian of all public records, documents, and other materials of historical value by legislative act of 1905. It moved into its present air-conditioned, fireproof building in 1953.

The Society was created to collect and preserve the record of Nebraska and its people. It maintains archives, a library, and a museum for use of the public. It is particularly anxious to secure valuable records and materials now in private hands where they cannot be preserved.

In performing its important function, it solicits the support of all public-spirited citizens—support which can best be expressed through membership in the Society. Membership carries with it a voice in the government of the Society, including election of the members of the Executive Board. Members receive, without further payment, NEBRASKA HISTORY, published quarterly; and the HISTORICAL NEWS LETTER, issued monthly. Applicants for membership should address Marvin F. Kivett, Director, Nebraska State Historical Society, 1500 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68508.

MEMBERSHIP

Annual	$	3.00
Contributing	$	5.00
Supporting	$	25.00
Life	$	100.00

Transcriber’s Notes

Silently corrected a few typos.
Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.
In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.