During the 1870s, the U.S. Army had a policy of constructing its forts from whatever materials were available locally. With plenty of lime, sand, water, and gravel in the vicinity, this policy dictated concrete buildings at Fort Hartsuff. The Blacksmith/Carpenter’s Shop is a notable exception. It was built of board and batten construction with lumber cut by the fort’s own steam-powered sawmill.Within its walls, the Blacksmith produced and repaired all manner of metal implements used by the soldiers, worked on the wagons and shod the horses and mules. Likewise, the carpenter was responsible for lumber in use here as well as the construction and repair of the fort itself. The carpenter was often called on to build the soldiers’ footlockers, which the soldier had to obtain for himself.

Blacksmith/Carpenter Shop with Stables in the background

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During the 1870s, the U.S. Army had a policy of constructing its forts from whatever materials were available locally. With plenty of lime, sand, water, and gravel in the vicinity, this policy dictated concrete buildings at Fort Hartsuff. The Blacksmith/Carpenter’s Shop is a notable exception. It was built of board and batten construction with lumber cut by the fort’s own steam-powered sawmill.



Fort Hartsuff Blacksmith/Carpenter Shop

Fort Hartsuff is one of nine state historical parks managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Construction of the Fort began in September of 1874. The Fort is named after Major General George L. Hartsuff, a Civil War veteran who died shortly before the construction of Fort Hartsuff was completed. It was a military custom to name forts after famous generals who had passed away. Three things make Fort Hartsuff unique from other Forts of this time-period.One reason was the location. The first settlers came up the North Loup River Valley in 1872 and settled between two groups of Indians that also lived in this area. To the northwest, the Lakota Sioux, a hunter/gatherer tribe, considered all the river systems that ran from northwest to southeast, including the Dismal, Calamus, Cedar and Loup River valleys their hunting grounds. The Sioux Indians lived in tepees and could pick up and move very quickly. When white settlers came and settled in their hunting grounds, the Sioux were upset. To the southeast, near the present-day town of Genoa, Nebraska lived the friendly or more peaceful, Pawnee Indians. The Pawnee lived on a 15-mile x 30-mile reservation of land granted to them by the treaty of Table Creek, signed on September 24, 1857. In that treaty, the United States government promised to protect the Pawnee in their homes, along with some monetary consideration, training, and other provisions. The Pawnee were farmers and lived in permanent earth lodges. At certain times of the year, they would leave their villages and go hunt.The Sioux and Pawnee were mortal enemies. The Sioux would come down into the area to hunt, and make raids on the Pawnee. The Pawnee, being brave warriors, would naturally retaliate and raid the Sioux. In the film “Dances with Wolves,” it was the Pawnee making a raid on the Sioux camp. When these two Indian groups would move back and forth, the settlers would get caught in between them. If a band of Indians came across a settlement, they would help themselves to horses, cows, chickens, or any livestock the settlers might have. This stealing upset the settlers.An event in January of 1874, near the present-day town of Burwell, triggered the settlers into action. Some trappers had a cabin in the area, and a small band of Sioux Indians ransacked the cabin and helped themselves to supplies. When the trappers returned and saw what had happened, they tracked the Indians north of the river and caught up with them on Pebble Creek, across the river, a couple of miles north of present-day Burwell. The trappers tried to get their supplies back, and a battle ensued. One of the trappers, Marion Littlefield, was shot in the head and killed, which ended the skirmish for the time being. It prompted the settlers of the area to petition the US government for protection. Construction of Fort Hartsuff began in September of 1874, not only to protect the settlers but in part as the fulfillment of the provision in the Table Creek Treaty with the Pawnee. The treaty stated that if the Pawnee lived on a reservation, the government would protect them from the Sioux. Fort Hartsuff became the first and only Fort built to protect one group of Indians from another.The second thing that makes Fort Hartsuff unique is its construction, and after all this time, it is still here. Most forts of this time period were made of logs, sod, adobe, or wood structures. When these forts were abandoned, it didn’t take long, and they disappeared due to fire, erosion, or people using the materials in them for other purposes. However, Fort Hartsuff was made of concrete, and so today, all nine of the original concrete buildings have been restored and furnished with period furniture. The reason concrete was chosen for construction was the frequent prairie fires that occurred back then, which left few trees in the area. When construction on the Fort began, those who worked on it said that they could look out and see only one tree. There was some timber on islands in the river and in the steeper walled canyons north of the Fort where prairie fires didn’t burn. One such canyon was Jones Canyon, about six miles north of the Fort. This is where they cut trees and hauled them back to the Fort. They had a steam-powered sawmill and cut the trees into lumber to be used for framing doors and windows and as rafters for the roofs. They also cut cedar shingles for the roofs. However, there was not enough lumber in the area to construct an entire fort. There was a good supply of gravel in the area, and they could get lime from the Beebe Ranch about 30 miles to the south of the building site, near present-day Cotesfield. These materials could be used to make a lime concrete, called grout. They used a little cement in the mixture, but they had to travel to Grand Island to get the cement, as Grand Island was as far as the railroad went at the time. It was a five day round trip with mules or horse-drawn wagons. The third thing that makes Fort Hartsuff unique began with a skirmish between soldiers at Fort Hartsuff and the Sioux. With the Fort’s location near hostile Indians, there was always the chance for conflict. Only one major battle took place in the seven years that the Fort was in existence. It occurred on April 28, 1876, and it was called “The Battle of the Blowout.” A small party of Sioux raiders stole some things from settlers near the present-day town of Burwell, including some turkeys. Some civilians pursued them, and the Indians holed up in a sandhills blowout about a mile and a half north of what is now Homestead Knolls Campground on the Calamus Lake. The civilians sent word back to the Fort and Lieutenant Charles H. Heyl, 23rd Infantry, and eight enlisted men were dispatched to pursue the Indians. When the troops arrived, it was near sundown and fearing that the Indians would escape, Lieutenant Heyl and three soldiers charged the Indian’s position. In the unsuccessful assault, Sergeant William H. Dougherty was shot in the heart and killed. The Indians escaped after nightfall, and the soldiers and civilians returned home. The unique thing about this event was that three soldiers received Medals of Honor for their gallant charge. They were Lieutenant Charles H. Heyl, Corporal Patrick Leonard, and Private Jeptha Lytton. It was very rare for an Infantry soldier to earn a Medal of Honor as such honors were usually given to Calvary soldiers.The Fort was abandoned on May 1,1881, due to the fact that the railroad had extended into the valley and the threat of hostilities with the Indians had ended.It was purchased in 1897 and transformed into a farm headquarters by private investors. It was later donated to the State of Nebraska in 1961 by Glen and Lillian Auble. When the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission obtained the site in 1961, some buildings were in better shape than others, and restoration began. The original walls that were left were kept in place, and new walls were poured around them to fill in the gaps. It was named to the National Register of Historical Places in 1978. Because of its size and condition, Fort Hartsuff is one of the most complete forts of this time period anywhere in the country.

Fort Hartsuff stood as a buffer between settlers and Native Americans. It also provided protection to the Pawnee from the Sioux in the North Loup River Valley from September 1874 to May 1881. Because the main fort buildings were constructed of a lime/concrete mixture, many have survived. The Fort is named after Major General George L. Hartsuff. When the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission obtained the site in 1961, restoration began. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Because of its size and condition, Fort Hartsuff is one of the most complete forts of this time period anywhere in the country.

Most of the buildings at Fort Hartsuff are arranged around the 500' x 500' Parade Grounds. This area was where the posting of the colors and retreat, roll call, the changing of the guard, exercises, drills and recreation, such as baseball, were conducted. The lone feature on the parade ground was the ninety-seven foot tall flagpole. This pole was a Ponderosa Pine cut near present-day Long Pine, Nebraska (located northwest of the fort about 80 miles). ‘Officer’s Row’ was part of the trail from Grand Island, Nebraska to Deadwood Dakota Territory.Most visitors expect to see a stockade surrounding a fort (tall wooden walls). Fort Hartsuff is typical of Plains Army posts of the period, which did not have stockade walls. By the 1870’s the United States Army realized that the Plains Indians preferred not to attack massed groups of soldiers. Instead, they wisely focused on individuals or small groups, so that success was more assured; therefore stockades were not needed to protect forts.

Most of the buildings at Fort Hartsuff are arranged around the 500' x 500' Parade Grounds. This area was where the posting of the colors and retreat, roll call, the changing of the guard, exercises, drills, and recreation, such as baseball, were conducted. The lone feature on the parade ground was the ninety-seven-foot tall flagpole

Fort Hartsuff Parade Grounds

As the name implies, the guardhouse is the building that housed the guard detail. The guard detail was chosen from among the men in what was sometimes a fierce competition. While guard duty meant walking sentry duty, it also meant exemption from other fatigue details. Soldiers competing for guard detail were judged on the appearance of their dress uniform and mastery of drill. In addition to housing the guard, the guardhouse also served as a prison. There were 4 different prison rooms. The garrison prison room was a minimum security room used for members of the post garrison being confined for minor rule infractions. The general prison room was for civilian prisoners or deserters from other posts, being detained at Fort Hartsuff. The dark cell room was for a member of the post garrison who committed more serious infractions such as drunk and disorderly or gambling. The dark cells were small wood boxes where you could not stand up or move around much. In the winter you would get a blanket and a slop jar. In the summer you just got a slop jar. There was a 14 ft x 23 ft exercise pen with a latrine in the corner on the back of the building. The prisoners were allowed to exercise about a half-hour in the morning and evening and to empty their slop jars. The Commanding Officer determined their length of sentence. The ordnance storeroom held all rifles, ammunition, and related items when they were not being used by troops in the field. Sometimes the troops at Fort Hartsuff helped local law enforcement catch outlaws. One such event happened on July 27, 1879, when a detachment of soldiers led by Captain Munson helped some U.P. Railroad detectives capture Doc Middleton, a local horse thief.

As the name implies, the guardhouse is the building that housed the guard detail. The guard detail was chosen from among the men in what was sometimes a fierce competition. While guard duty meant walking sentry duty, it also meant exemption from other fatigue details. Soldiers competing for guard detail were judged on the appearance of their dress uniform and mastery of drill.



Fort Hartsuff Guardhouse

The post headquarters was the administrative nerve center for the daily activities at the fort. The Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Commissary Sergeant and Quartermaster each had an office in the building. It was there that duty rosters, orders, requisitions and the like were written. Copies of all official documents sent to the Department of the Platte Headquarters in Omaha were kept here. Likewise all orders and documents coming from Omaha were received here. The mail also came to this building.The post headquarters now houses the park office and gift shop. A film on the history of Fort Hartsuff is available for viewing.

The post headquarters was the administrative nerve center for the daily activities at the fort. The Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Commissary Sergeant, and Quartermaster each had an office in the building. It was there that duty rosters, orders, requisitions, and the like were written. The post headquarters now houses the park office and gift shop. A film on the history of Fort Hartsuff is available for viewing. 

Fort Hartsuff Post Headquarters

If Post Headquarters was the brain of the fort, then the barracks was the heart. Most of the forty to sixty enlisted men stationed at the post lived here. When viewed today with very few people in it, the barracks seem huge. However, when filled with a full company of soldiers, the barracks would seem crowed with a decided lack of privacy.The attached dining hall is where the enlisted men were fed. The non-commissioned officers (Sergeants and Corporals) ate at separate tables and set their table with nicer furnishings such as tablecloths and special Company and Regimental marked china.On the left wall as you enter the dining hall, you will find a piece of Plexiglas. This Plexiglas serves two purposes. It allows you to see the lath and plaster construction used in all the inhabited buildings, and secondly it protects the signature of Lee Herron, a Medal of Honor recipient. He was the Chief Engineer in charge of the steam powered sawmill at Fort Hartsuff during its construction. He signed his name on a 1926 visit.

If Post Headquarters was the brain of the fort, then the barracks was the heart. Most of the forty to sixty enlisted men stationed at the post lived here. When viewed today with very few people in it, the barracks seem huge. However, when filled with a full company of soldiers, the barracks would seem crowed with a decided lack of privacy.

Fort Hartsuff Enlisted Men's Barracks

This large two-story duplex housed the post surgeon, the two lieutenants, their families (if married), personal cooks and servants. Military protocol at the time dictated a distinct separation between officers and enlisted men, with the enlisted men not even permitted to speak to an officer without permission. The special status of the officers accounts for the relative luxury of these quarters. They were the sites of many social gatherings, and it was there that visiting officers and dignitaries stayed while visiting Fort Hartsuff. On a special note, one of the servants who lived in the officer’s quarters later married an enlisted veteran of the Battle of the Rosebud. In one of the upstairs bedrooms you will find a display dedicated to her family and containing her wedding china.

This large two-story duplex housed the post surgeon, the two lieutenants, their families (if married), personal cooks, and servants. Military protocol at the time dictated a distinct separation between officers and enlisted men, with the enlisted men not even permitted to speak to an officer without permission. Visiting officers and dignitaries stayed here while visiting. 

Fort Hartsuff Officer's Quarters

Even by today’s standards the Commanding Officers Quarters is a large house. By 1870’s standards it must have seemed like a mansion. Designed and constructed as the personal home of the Commanding Officer, his family and his servants, the quarters were quite luxurious, and helped to earn Fort Hartsuff the honor of being “The most pleasant duty station in the Department of the Platte”. Officers typically hired a favorite older enlisted man to serve as his personal servant or ‘striker’. These strikers were also known as ‘dog-robbers’ because they often ate the officers’ family leftovers. The Commanding Officers’ Quarters were inhabited by Captain Samuel Munson, Co. C 9th U.S. Infantry; Captain (Brevet Colonel) John J. Coppinger, Co. A 23rd U.S. Infantry; Captain G.S. Carpenter, Co. K 14th U.S. Infantry and again by Captain Munson. The Commanding Officers’ Quarters is not open to public touring.

Even by today’s standards, the Commanding Officers Quarters is a large house. By 1870’s standards, it must have seemed like a mansion. Designed and constructed as the personal home of the Commanding Officer, his family, and his servants, the quarters were quite luxurious. They helped to earn Fort Hartsuff the honor of being “The most pleasant duty station in the Department of the Platte.”



Fort Hartsuff Commanding Officer's Quarters

Fort Hartsuff was originally designated as a two-company post with a company of infantry and a company of cavalry to be housed here. However, before construction was completed it was decided to place a single company of infantry here. Rather than waste the foundation that had already been poured for the cavalry officer’s quarters, the plans were modified to change the structure into the post-hospital. The post surgeon, with help from the hospital steward, provided medical care to area settlers, as well as the soldiers. Several babies were born here. Since the post surgeon was usually the officer with the highest level of scientific training his duties included water and soil testing, noting meteorological conditions, recording the flora and fauna of the area, and monitoring the men’s living conditions.

Fort Hartsuff was originally designated as a two-company post with a company of infantry and a company of cavalry to be housed here. However, before construction was completed it was decided to place a single company of infantry here. Rather than waste the foundation that had already been poured for the cavalry officer’s quarters, the plans were modified to change the structure into the post-hospital.



Fort Hartsuff Post Hospital

Typically 1870’s Army posts with both Infantry and Calvary were laid out so that the infantry barracks were on one side of the parade ground with a mirror image cavalry barracks on the other side. Fort Hartsuff was no exception. But when the post was downsized to a single company of infantry, the cavalry barracks was no longer needed to house the cavalry personnel. What was needed was a place to house the quartermasters and commissary material. As was the case with the post hospital, the plans were changed and the existing foundation was used to form a thirty foot by one hundred foot warehouse. Sentries were posted in and around the storehouse as the post’s remoteness and scarcity of supplies made pilferage a continual problem

Typically 1870’s Army posts with both Infantry and Calvary were laid out so that the infantry barracks were on one side of the parade ground with a mirror image cavalry barracks on the other side. Fort Hartsuff was no exception. But when the post was downsized to a single company of infantry, the cavalry barracks were no longer needed to house the cavalry personnel. What was needed was a place to house the quartermasters and commissary material. 

Fort Hartsuff Quartermaster's Storehouse

During the 1870s, the U.S. Army had a policy of constructing its forts from whatever materials were available locally. With plenty of lime, sand, water, and gravel in the vicinity, this policy dictated concrete buildings at Fort Hartsuff. The Blacksmith/Carpenter’s Shop is a notable exception. It was built of board and batten construction with lumber cut by the fort’s own steam-powered sawmill. Within its walls, the Blacksmith produced and repaired all manner of metal implements used by the soldiers, worked on the wagons and shod the horses and mules. Likewise, the carpenter was responsible for lumber in use here as well as the construction and repair of the fort itself. The carpenter was often called on to build the soldiers’ footlockers, which the soldier had to obtain for himself.

Even though Fort Hartsuff never housed cavalry other than an occasional visiting detail, there was still a need for horses and mules both to ride and to pull wagons. Typically thirty mules and ten horses were housed in this building. The company saddler sergeant had his quarters in a corner room. The saddler was responsible for the health of the animals as well as the maintenance and repair of the harness and leather goods on the post. Though normally exempt from field duty, the saddler could volunteer for hazardous field service. This was the case on April 28, 1876, when company saddler, Sergeant William H. Dougherty, and several other members of Company A, 23rd U.S. Infantry charged a band of entrenched Lakota Sioux Indians northwest of present-day Burwell at what has become known as the “Battle of the Blowout”. Sergeant Dougherty died instantly when he was shot in the heart. Two other enlisted men and one officer were later awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry in action.

Even though Fort Hartsuff never housed cavalry other than an occasional visiting detail, there was still a need for horses and mules both to ride and to pull wagons. Typically thirty mules and ten horses were housed in this building. The company saddler sergeant had his quarters in a corner room. The saddler was responsible for the health of the animals as well as the maintenance and repair of the harness and leather goods on the post. Though normally exempt from field duty, the saddler could volunteer for hazardous field service.


Fort Hartsuff Stables

The laundress quarters was a very active building. It housed the Commissary Sergeant, the Baker, and of course, the Laundresses and their families. Another name for the laundress quarters was “Suds Row.”The Commissary Sergeant lived in this building because it was close to the storehouse, and he was also in charge of the wagon scale that was located behind the Laundress Quarters. As was the protocol in the Army at the time, each Company was allowed one laundress for each nineteen and a half men. Each soldier paid the women a set fee per month for washing his clothes. The laundresses were the only officially employed females on the post. The officers’ wives, who generally lived on the post with their husbands, had to buy their food and supplies. The laundresses, on the other hand, in addition to their pay, were provided their quarters, fuel, one meal per day, and the services of the post surgeon. The laundresses, if not already married, often married a soldier shortly after coming to the post. These women were generally the only source of female companionship for miles around on the sparsely populated frontier. The Baker was considered one of the most important men on the post. Not only did he provide the sixty-plus loaves of bread needed to feed a company each day, but any excess bread he was able to produce, was sold to officers or local civilians. The money from these sales was contributed to the ‘Company Fund’. This fund was then used to purchase such things as seed for the company garden, special china, newspapers, and other items for the general good of the enlisted men. Fort Hartsuff was unique in that most of the inhabited buildings, such as the laundress quarters, had gravity running water. Water pressure came from a wooden supply tank on the hill behind the officers’ quarters, which was supplied by a windmill.

The laundress quarters was a very active building. It housed the Commissary Sergeant, the Baker, and of course, the Laundresses and their families. Another name for the laundress quarters was “Suds Row.”
The Commissary Sergeant lived in this building because it was close to the storehouse, and he was also in charge of the wagon scale that was located behind the Laundress Quarters.



Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park

Fort Hartsuff Blacksmith/Carpenter Shop

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