Fort Meade & The Black Hills

[bradandlaurie]

Fort Meade & The Black Hills

By Robert Lee

Lee's book 'Fort Meade & The Black Hills' is an essential library item for anybody interested in the history of the Army in the Black Hills during the frontier era. This book does not go greatly into the events of the 1876 Sioux War since the Fort Meade wasn't actually established until after the Little Bighorn. What it does do is tell the story of the establishment of the fort and it does devote some attention to the role the 7th Cavalry had in the post's history.

There is one chapter dedicated to the sad saga of the fall of Major Marcus Reno in an incident involving Ella Sturgis. From reading this book you can conclude that Reno had bad judgement in becoming overly fond of Ella. When you consider that Ella's father, Colonel Samuel D. Sturgis, held Reno personally responsible for the death of his son James G. Sturgis at the Little Bighorn then Reno's judgement with his personal relations seems questionable.

There are brief mentions of two other officers of the 7th that were at the Little Bighorn and who also served at Fort Meade. These two would be Frederick Benteen and Charles DeRudio. It does not go at length into their activities at Fort Meade but does mention that Benteen was one of the few who came to Reno's defense during the court-martial proceedings.

The book does go at some length into the fort's participation in the events around Wounded Knee and various other incidents in the Dakotas. Lee does take a fairly objective position about Wounded Knee pointing out the confusion and charged atmosphere leading up to the bloody confrontation. He does not take sides in his description other than to paint a picture of both sides stumbling blindly into a tragedy.

The book covers the fort's history right up to the final closure as a regular army post. The post of instrumental in the transition from mounted cavalry to mechanized cavalry. I think the real reason why most people would want to read this book is to see how Fort Meade fit into the great picture of the closing frontier.

'Fort Meade & The Black Hills', Robert Lee, 1991, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-8032-7961-2

["Hunk" Papa]

Lee's book will probably be a great favorite of the Custer Association of Great Britain as a number of British born members of the surviving 7th Cavalry, including the notorious Peter Thompson, had notable associations with Fort Meade.
I visited the Fort in 2006 and its museum has a number of interesting displays.

Hunk

[bradandlaurie]

Laurie and I regularly travel out to Fort Meade. There are a lot of buildings on the grounds that date from when the early days of the post. This is still an active post for the South Dakota National Guard but it is still easily accessible, not typical for most military posts these day. The military cemetary is little more difficult to find but worth looking through. Bear Butte is also a relatively short drive away and worth a visit. We just try to not time our visits during 'Bike Week' in Sturgis. We have no problem with the bikers, generally a very friendly lot, but the roads around the post tend to be absolutely jammed during the motorcycle rally! Allegedly the worlds-largest biker bar is just down the road from Sturgis going to Fort Meade. The traffic bike traffic during the rally can sometimes rival the worst traffic jams I've ever seen!

["Hunk" Papa]

Yes, the whole Fort Meade complex is well worth a visit because as you say, it is all easily accessible. Anyone who finds themselves in the vicinity of Fort Meade really should visit Bear Butte. I found it to be a most beautiful place, without an overly commercial aspect and Bear Butte itself gave me a kind of eerie feeling with its haunting resonance and the trees and bushes covered with gifts of tobacco for the grandfathers. I would certainly go there again.

Hunk

[Treasuredude]

I was out at Fort Meade yesterday. I was running around taking grave photos of the 7th. Here's a shot of Bear Butte as seen from the Old Fort Meade Cemetery.



And yes, the Full Throttle Saloon is just down the road from Ft. Meade...

www.fullthrottlesaloon.com/

[bradandlaurie]

Beautiful shot Treasuredude! Yeah, I couldn't remember the name of the place. All I could remember was a traffic jam worthy of downtown Minneapolis on a Monday morning. Hey! I can make out one of the old cavalry stables near the middle of the picture, a little below Bear Butte! Again, a great shot!