Fort Dilts

Fort Dilts
Nearest city Rhame, North Dakota
Coordinates 46°16′43″N 103°46′33″W / 46.27861°N 103.77583°W / 46.27861; -103.77583Coordinates: 46°16′43″N 103°46′33″W / 46.27861°N 103.77583°W / 46.27861; -103.77583
Area 8.3 acres (3.4 ha)
Built 1864
NRHP Reference # 80002907[1]
Added to NRHP November 10, 1980

Fort Dilts was a makeshift sod fort built near Rhame, North Dakota, United States, in September 1864 to fend off attacks by Hunkpapa Sioux Indians led by Sitting Bull[2] upon an encircled wagon train of would-be gold-miners and a small military escort of convalescent soldiers.[3]

The wagon train had set out from Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, under the command of Captain James L. Fisk of the U.S. Quartermaster Corps.[4] In 1864, amidst the American Civil War, the Dakota Territory was relatively short of military protection. On September 2, the party came under attack by Sitting Bull and a group of Hunkpapa Sioux. Two days later, still harassed by the Sioux, the expedition found a suitable spot and constructed a defensive perimeter out of sod stacked 6.5 feet (2.0 m) high and 300 feet (91 m) in diameter.[3] The defenders named it Fort Dilts in honor of Corporal Jefferson Dilts, one of eight U.S. Army soldiers who had been killed, out of 50. A number of civilians also died.[4] Lieutenant Smith and fifteen others managed to reach Fort Rice, and reinforcements arrived to rescue the defenders on September 20.[3]

Fort Dilts State Historic Site has been a North Dakota historic site since 1932.[4]:2 As "Fort Dilts", it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The listing was for 8.3 acres (3.4 ha) with one contributing site and one contributing structure.[1] Remaining at the site are a sod enclosure, wagon ruts, several grave markers, and an interpretive sign.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "The US Army and the Sioux - Part 2 / Battle of the Badlands". National Park Service. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fort Dilts State Historic Site". North Dakota State Historical Society. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kurt P. Schweigert (August 1, 1980). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Fort Dilts" (PDF). and accompanying photos, five from 1979 plus an aerial photo from 1965
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