Fort Meade (1): Difference between revisions
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[[Camp J.G. Sturges]] was first established nearby to house the troops building the post. The troops moved to [[Camp Ruhlen]] on 28 Aug 1878 and construction began. The new post was renamed Fort Meade by Department of Dakota General Order 27 on 30 Dec 1878. The initial post construction was complete in August 1879. | [[Camp J.G. Sturges]] was first established nearby to house the troops building the post. The troops moved to [[Camp Ruhlen]] on 28 Aug 1878 and construction began. The new post was renamed Fort Meade by Department of Dakota General Order 27 on 30 Dec 1878. The initial post construction was complete in August 1879. | ||
The plan of the fort was reportedly laid out by General Sheridan pointing out the locations of the buildings with his sword as he rode around the site. The post was laid out around a central parade that was a rounded rectangle. The officer's quarters were on the south side, the enlisted barracks on the north side and the administrative buildings were at the ends with a headquarters building in the center of the north side. Nine stables, each housing 86 horses, lined the north side behind the barracks. The quartermaster had a commissary and a root cellar on the west side. Most of the early buildings were frame construction and they were replaced with stone and brick buildings over the years. | The plan of the fort was reportedly laid out by General Sheridan pointing out the locations of the buildings with his sword as he rode around the site. The post was laid out around a central parade that was a rounded rectangle. The officer's quarters were on the south side, the enlisted barracks on the north side and the administrative buildings were at the ends with a headquarters building in the center of the north side. Nine stables, each housing 86 horses, lined the north side behind the barracks. The quartermaster had a commissary and a root cellar on the west side. Most of the early buildings were frame construction and they were replaced with stone and brick buildings over the years. | ||
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Revision as of 06:28, 30 September 2010
Fort Meade (1) (1878-1944) - First established in 1878 as Camp Ruhlen by Maj. Henry M. Lazelle, 1st U.S. Infantry, and named after Lt. George Ruhlen, quartermaster in charge of construction. Renamed Fort Meade on 30 Dec 1878 after MG George G. Meade of U.S. Civil War fame. Transferred to the Veterans Administration in 1944.
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Fort Meade (1) History
Established 28 Aug 1878 as Camp Ruhlen by Maj. Henry M. Lazelle, 1st U.S. Infantry on a site selected by Lt. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan in present day Meade County, South Dakota. The Fort's mission was to control hostile Sioux Indians and protect the Black Hills mining operations.
Camp J.G. Sturges was first established nearby to house the troops building the post. The troops moved to Camp Ruhlen on 28 Aug 1878 and construction began. The new post was renamed Fort Meade by Department of Dakota General Order 27 on 30 Dec 1878. The initial post construction was complete in August 1879.
The plan of the fort was reportedly laid out by General Sheridan pointing out the locations of the buildings with his sword as he rode around the site. The post was laid out around a central parade that was a rounded rectangle. The officer's quarters were on the south side, the enlisted barracks on the north side and the administrative buildings were at the ends with a headquarters building in the center of the north side. Nine stables, each housing 86 horses, lined the north side behind the barracks. The quartermaster had a commissary and a root cellar on the west side. Most of the early buildings were frame construction and they were replaced with stone and brick buildings over the years.
World War II
Fort Meade served as a training camp and a POW camp during World War II. In 1944 the post was turned over to the Veterans Administration and a new hospital complex was built north of the old post.
Current Status
Currently occupied by the Veterans Administration and the South Dakota Army National Guard. Many of the old post buildings are preserved and remain today including many of the 1880s officer quarters and enlisted mens barracks.
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Location: Fort Meade, Meade County, South Dakota. Maps & Images Lat: 44.4105405 Long: -103.4671331 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 731
Links:
Visited: 29 Sep 2010
Fort Meade (1) Picture Gallery
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Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! |
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Fort Meade, Building 50, Guardhouse (now Post Office) -
Fort Meade, Building 64, 1929 Post Theater -
Fort Meade, Building 65, 1905 Bachelor Officer Quarters -
Fort Meade, Center of Reservation Marker
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