Establishment of Fort Dodge - April 10, 1865
The campaign against the Kiowas, Apaches, and Arrapahoes to the south of the Arkansas River was to be led by Bvt. Brig. Gen. James H. Ford, the commanding officer of the District of Upper Arkansas. On March 17, Ford received word that large bands of Comanches, Apaches, and Kiowas were encamped on the Cimarron and Crooked Creek.
As the Civil War was drawing to a close, Major General Grenville M. Dodge, commanding officer of the Department of Missouri, issued an order to Brigadier General James H. Ford. On March 18, 1865, the order was given to establish a new post on or near the old site of Fort Atkinson. When this report was relayed to General Dodge, he ordered Ford to make arrangements to put a post at or near the site of old Fort Atkinson, an abandoned army post near the Cimarron Crossing of the Arkansas River.
On April 6, Capt. Henry Pearce left Fort Larned, Kansas, with a company of Kansas volunteers to establish the new post. He selected a site located six miles east of Fort Atkinson that both guarded the Santa Fe Trail and stood midway between the two major Indian crossings on the Arkansas River, the Cimarron and the Mulberry. The site of Fort Dodge was an old campground for wagons traveling along the Santa Fe Trail, just west of the western junction of the Wet and Dry Routes and near the middle or Cimarron Cutoff. Captain Pearce officially established the post on April 10, 1865, and named it in honor of the departmental commander, General Dodge.
With his two companies, Captain Pearce quartered the troops in tents on April 10 while preparing dugouts along the banks of the Arkansas River. The prevailing high winds of the region made a living in tents difficult and highly undesirable. As quickly as possible, the troops built and occupied dugouts.
As the Civil War was drawing to a close, Major General Grenville M. Dodge, commanding officer of the Department of Missouri, issued an order to Brigadier General James H. Ford. On March 18, 1865, the order was given to establish a new post on or near the old site of Fort Atkinson. When this report was relayed to General Dodge, he ordered Ford to make arrangements to put a post at or near the site of old Fort Atkinson, an abandoned army post near the Cimarron Crossing of the Arkansas River.
On April 6, Capt. Henry Pearce left Fort Larned, Kansas, with a company of Kansas volunteers to establish the new post. He selected a site located six miles east of Fort Atkinson that both guarded the Santa Fe Trail and stood midway between the two major Indian crossings on the Arkansas River, the Cimarron and the Mulberry. The site of Fort Dodge was an old campground for wagons traveling along the Santa Fe Trail, just west of the western junction of the Wet and Dry Routes and near the middle or Cimarron Cutoff. Captain Pearce officially established the post on April 10, 1865, and named it in honor of the departmental commander, General Dodge.
With his two companies, Captain Pearce quartered the troops in tents on April 10 while preparing dugouts along the banks of the Arkansas River. The prevailing high winds of the region made a living in tents difficult and highly undesirable. As quickly as possible, the troops built and occupied dugouts.
Fortifying the Frontier: Major General Dodge, Indian Diplomacy, and Life on the Western Kansas Plains
Immersing ourselves in the narrative of post-Civil War American history, this podcast episode brings to life the experiences and challenges faced by those who sought to tame the Western Kansas plains. The central figure, Major General Grenville Dodge, was a Civil War hero tasked with securing the frontier against the hostilities of the Plains Indian tribes. His efforts to establish peace and protect critical travel routes shaped the trajectory of westward expansion, marking a period of transformation fraught with conflict.
As the nation pushed westward, its encounter with the formidable Plains tribes prompted a complex interplay of diplomacy, negotiation, and at times, violent confrontation. This episode vividly recounts the trials of constructing and maintaining Fort Dodge, which became a crucial military stronghold amidst the volatile environment. The fort’s location and design were strategic yet contentious, setting the stage for the struggles between settlers, soldiers, and Native American tribes.
One of the episode's most compelling narratives revolves around the raids conducted by the tribes, particularly under the leadership of Kiowa Chief Satanta. Known for his physical prowess and leadership skills, Satanta's role in inter-tribal warfare and negotiations with the U.S. government highlights the nuanced and often tumultuous relationship between the Native American tribes and the encroaching settlers. His battle gear, especially the sacred sun shield and the notorious bugle, symbolized the fierce resistance against Western encroachment.
The episode also delves into the delicate and dangerous process of negotiating for the release of captive settlers, bringing forth a sobering reality of frontier life. The listener is introduced to Mary Matthews, whose personal account of her capture and ransom provides an intimate perspective on these historical events. Her harrowing story, along with the broader narratives of settler and Indian relations, underscores the episode’s exploration of the intricate dynamics at play on the American frontier.
Through the various chapter summaries and transcript samples, the episode paints a picture of a time where survival and sovereignty were constantly at odds. It encapsulates the spirit of an era that was as treacherous as it was formative, offering insights into the life and conflicts that defined the edge of the American frontier. The intricacies of Indian relations during the post-Civil War era, the struggle of settlers, and the leadership of figures like Kiowa Chief Satanta, all come together to weave a rich tapestry of Western history.
In summary, the podcast episode "Fortifying the Frontier: Major General Dodge, Indian Diplomacy, and Life on the Western Kansas Plains" serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of those who shaped the narrative of the Wild West. It is a story of resilience, diplomacy, and the indomitable human spirit that forged a nation amidst the untamed expanses of the American frontier.
As the nation pushed westward, its encounter with the formidable Plains tribes prompted a complex interplay of diplomacy, negotiation, and at times, violent confrontation. This episode vividly recounts the trials of constructing and maintaining Fort Dodge, which became a crucial military stronghold amidst the volatile environment. The fort’s location and design were strategic yet contentious, setting the stage for the struggles between settlers, soldiers, and Native American tribes.
One of the episode's most compelling narratives revolves around the raids conducted by the tribes, particularly under the leadership of Kiowa Chief Satanta. Known for his physical prowess and leadership skills, Satanta's role in inter-tribal warfare and negotiations with the U.S. government highlights the nuanced and often tumultuous relationship between the Native American tribes and the encroaching settlers. His battle gear, especially the sacred sun shield and the notorious bugle, symbolized the fierce resistance against Western encroachment.
The episode also delves into the delicate and dangerous process of negotiating for the release of captive settlers, bringing forth a sobering reality of frontier life. The listener is introduced to Mary Matthews, whose personal account of her capture and ransom provides an intimate perspective on these historical events. Her harrowing story, along with the broader narratives of settler and Indian relations, underscores the episode’s exploration of the intricate dynamics at play on the American frontier.
Through the various chapter summaries and transcript samples, the episode paints a picture of a time where survival and sovereignty were constantly at odds. It encapsulates the spirit of an era that was as treacherous as it was formative, offering insights into the life and conflicts that defined the edge of the American frontier. The intricacies of Indian relations during the post-Civil War era, the struggle of settlers, and the leadership of figures like Kiowa Chief Satanta, all come together to weave a rich tapestry of Western history.
In summary, the podcast episode "Fortifying the Frontier: Major General Dodge, Indian Diplomacy, and Life on the Western Kansas Plains" serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of those who shaped the narrative of the Wild West. It is a story of resilience, diplomacy, and the indomitable human spirit that forged a nation amidst the untamed expanses of the American frontier.
Forts Location: (GPS:N37.730399 W99.937003)
The post rested on the north bank of the Arkansas River on a narrow meadow approximately one-fourth of a mile wide. To the north, the location of the fort was overlooked by a bluff. The bluff made of limestone rose from seventy to eighty feet above the elevation of the fort's location. To the north of this bluff, a series of prairie ravines blended into the open plains.
A factor of significant consideration in selecting the site was the availability of water. Under sustained attack, it would be necessary to have continual access to water. Thus the dugouts were placed as close to the river bed as possible. By choosing to build on the narrow meadow, the military surrendered the option of commanding the high ground which circled the post, except on the southern or riverside. Indians later utilized this plateau to attack the garrison before preparations to receive the assault could be made by the men defending the fort. The shallow ravines to the north of the bluff were equally helpful to the Indians. Through the beds of these ravines, they could easily approach the plateau without being detected by the soldiers below.
A factor of significant consideration in selecting the site was the availability of water. Under sustained attack, it would be necessary to have continual access to water. Thus the dugouts were placed as close to the river bed as possible. By choosing to build on the narrow meadow, the military surrendered the option of commanding the high ground which circled the post, except on the southern or riverside. Indians later utilized this plateau to attack the garrison before preparations to receive the assault could be made by the men defending the fort. The shallow ravines to the north of the bluff were equally helpful to the Indians. Through the beds of these ravines, they could easily approach the plateau without being detected by the soldiers below.
Construction of Soddies
By early April, crude earth dugouts had been fashioned along the north banks of the Arkansas River. Troops soon arrived at Fort Dodge to defend the modest adobe fortifications. The officers and enlisted men who served at the fort in 1865 were subjected to unusual hardship and deprivation. The troops who garrisoned Fort Dodge during the initial years of the post's existence questioned the wisdom of Captain Pearce's selection of building site.
During the first year, seventy sod dugouts were completed. The dimensions of each unit were ten by twelve feet in circumference, while the soddies were seven feet deep. The bottom five feet of depth was underground. The dwellings were topped by a two-foot ledge of sod covered with cottonwood branches, brush, and tents. The tents were of questionable value as the gusty prairie winds quickly tore them from their moorings. A shallow door was fashioned along the south side of each dugout, facing the river, and a hole was left in the roof to provide fresh air and light. Each dugout was equipped with a sod chimney for heating and cooking to protect the soldiers from inclement weather. Banks of earth were left around the inside perimeter of the dugout to be utilized as sleeping bunks. From two to four men were quartered in each unit.
During the first year, seventy sod dugouts were completed. The dimensions of each unit were ten by twelve feet in circumference, while the soddies were seven feet deep. The bottom five feet of depth was underground. The dwellings were topped by a two-foot ledge of sod covered with cottonwood branches, brush, and tents. The tents were of questionable value as the gusty prairie winds quickly tore them from their moorings. A shallow door was fashioned along the south side of each dugout, facing the river, and a hole was left in the roof to provide fresh air and light. Each dugout was equipped with a sod chimney for heating and cooking to protect the soldiers from inclement weather. Banks of earth were left around the inside perimeter of the dugout to be utilized as sleeping bunks. From two to four men were quartered in each unit.
Sanitation Practices
The location of the post and the crudeness of the dugouts left much to be desired for sanitation practices. During the spring, the river usually flooded, and underflow would invariably seep into the dugouts even if they were not submerged in floodwater. In addition, the ground on which the fort was situated was a mixture of silt and sand. The ground remained wet for some time following rains due to drainage from the high ground surrounding the post.
Unsanitary quarters resulted in exposure to the elements. Malarial fever, diarrhea, dysentery, and pneumonia were usually frequent at Fort Dodge. The monotonous diet of staples with a marked absence of fresh fruit or vegetables resulted in a prevalence of scurvy among the garrisoned men. The primary sanitation advantage of the closeness of the river was its service as a garbage dump and place of bathing for gritty soldiers willing to chance the treachery of the water's shifting sand and undertow.
Mother nature compounded the woes of the defenders during the first winter at Fort Dodge. The blizzards of 1865 were unusually severe. The troops were forced to shiver through the monotonous months with barely enough kindling to ward off the cold and cook their diet of plain food. Moreover, during much of the winter, the fort was utterly isolated as travel along the Santa Fe Trail stoped. This isolation from Fort Dodge's sister posts lasted until spring returned.
Unsanitary quarters resulted in exposure to the elements. Malarial fever, diarrhea, dysentery, and pneumonia were usually frequent at Fort Dodge. The monotonous diet of staples with a marked absence of fresh fruit or vegetables resulted in a prevalence of scurvy among the garrisoned men. The primary sanitation advantage of the closeness of the river was its service as a garbage dump and place of bathing for gritty soldiers willing to chance the treachery of the water's shifting sand and undertow.
Mother nature compounded the woes of the defenders during the first winter at Fort Dodge. The blizzards of 1865 were unusually severe. The troops were forced to shiver through the monotonous months with barely enough kindling to ward off the cold and cook their diet of plain food. Moreover, during much of the winter, the fort was utterly isolated as travel along the Santa Fe Trail stoped. This isolation from Fort Dodge's sister posts lasted until spring returned.
Fort Dodge was named for General Grenville M. Dodge. General Dodge wrote in his autobiography:
While reminiscing on the post's first year of service, several years after he had retired from the army, General Dodge suggested that the post had been named for him by disgruntled soldiers who thought him personally to blame for their discomfort while stationed at such a primitive garrison.
"Fort Dodge was named after me, not as an honor, by a command that I was sent out there in the winter, after it was too late to furnish them lumber or anything for an encampment and they had to make dugouts in the Bluffs for the purpose of wintering and the Colonel in command of the detachment wrote me that they were so mad at being sent there in the winter with so little accommodations that they had named the place Camp Dodge. This location was a celebrated crossing of the Southern Indians of the Arkansas Valley. |