Fort C. F. Smith (Fort Smith, Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort C. F. Smith Historic District
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Fort Smith, Montana |
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| Area | 307 acres (124 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000163 |
| Added to NRHP | October 10, 1975 |
Fort C. F. Smith was a military fort built by the United States Army in what is now Montana. It was set up on August 12, 1866, during a conflict known as Red Cloud's War. This fort was one of several planned to protect the Bozeman Trail. This trail was a shortcut for settlers and miners heading to gold fields. However, the Lakota (Sioux), led by Red Cloud, saw the trail as breaking an earlier agreement, the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie. The fort was used for only two years. It was abandoned in 1868 and then burned by the Lakota warriors.
Contents
History of Fort C. F. Smith
Why the Fort Was Built
The United States Army decided to build forts to protect the Bozeman Trail. Traveling on this trail had become very dangerous. Only large groups with many weapons could safely pass. Colonel Henry B. Carrington was put in charge of building these forts.
He planned Fort C.F. Smith near the Bighorn River. He also planned Fort Phil Kearny to the east and Fort Reno on the Powder River. A fourth fort was planned but never built.
Life at the Fort
The fort was first called Fort Ransom. It was later renamed to honor General Charles Ferguson Smith. The fort had a large, square fence called a stockade. This fence was 125 feet long on each side. It was made from adobe (a type of mud brick) and wood. The stockade had strong points called bastions for defense.
In 1866, about 90 to 100 soldiers from the 18th Infantry Regiment were stationed at Fort Smith. In 1867, the number of soldiers grew to 400 men from the 27th Infantry.
Important Events
In 1867, a large group of Lakota warriors attacked haycutters near the fort. About 20 soldiers were guarding the haycutters. This fight is known as the Hayfield Fight. The Lakota attack was not successful.
The Army gave up Fort C.F. Smith in 1868. This was part of a new agreement called the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.
What Remains Today
The site of Fort C.F. Smith is on private land. It is located within the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. It is just outside the modern town of Fort Smith.
Most of the fort's buildings were made of adobe. Because of this, you can still see their foundations today. They look like low mounds, about a foot or two high. If you look closely, you can see how the buildings were arranged. They were set up around the old parade ground.
A stone monument was placed in the 1930s. It stands in the middle of the old parade ground. This monument remembers the fort. There is also an old wooden sign that marks the Bozeman Trail.
Fort C.F. Smith was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. This means it is an important historical site. It is also part of the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The protected area covers about 307 acres.
