Fort Sidney: Oasis on the Gold Rush Trail

Fort Sidney was an integral part of the formation of the town of Sidney and was an important safety measure to those traveling on the 267-mile Gold Rush trail between Sidney and to Deadwood between 1874 and 1880. Most of the supplies and freight coming to and from the gold camps traveled this trail, and thousands in gold left the Black Hills each week bound for Sidney to be shipped to various stops along the rail line. 

The Sidney barracks, now Camp Lookout, was established in 1867 several years before the Sidney to Deadwood stage came into existence after a request from the Union Pacific Railroad to the Department of the Army, to have railroad construction crews protected from native American attacks. The military had to have a name for this sub-post from Fort Sedgwick and simply named it after the highest ranking official of the railroad, Sidney Dillion. Railroad contractor and two-time Union Pacific President. 

Two years later in 1869, the post of Sidney Barracks was moved from the northern bluffs overlooking the town to just south of the railroad station, where the current Fort Sidney Museum and Commanders Home is located. In just one year, 13 buildings were erected including Officer’s Quarters, Guard house, Saddler and tailor shop, hospital building, commissary cellar, ice house, soldier’s barracks, bakery, laundress quarters, blacksmith shop, cavalry stable and saddle house. It was a large compound with gardens and planted trees that stood out against the barren backdrop of the western plains. Here are some descriptions of Fort Sidney from railroad travelers who visited the site. 

October 5, 1874
At eight this morning we arrived at Sydney (Sidney) Barracks, a military post on the plains about 200 miles from the Rocky Mountains. As the train drew near, the post looked like an oasis in the desert, with rows of young green cottonwood trees and neat houses; an irrigation ditch around the post enabled the officers to cultivate nice little gardens. About four acres are enclosed with a low palisade, all outside the boundless prairie.

1874
The rainy day was apologized by stating that railways make changes in the climate (Professor Adgassey’s theory). Currents of air by fast moving trains have some magnetic effects. Where ever the railways have been made, there is more rain and storms than formerly. “Adair, Cornelia. “My Diary, August 30 - November 5 1874.” University of Texas, Austin (1965) pg. 67-83.

1877
Frank Leslie’s illustrated trip through the west on the Union Pacific Railroad, describes Sidney and the post - “Just south of the tracks, we soon discerned a little cluster of white tents, a bare square barrack, and then the straggling outskirts of town. White tents were an encampment of Pawnee Scouts bound for the Powder River.” A later description of the depot, “...stiff officers with gold straps and buttons are stirring among the long booted and slouch-hatted civilians.” The town of Sidney is described as an “outfitting point” for those bound for the Black Hills. “The town dates its existence only so far back as the building of the railroad, whose progress was fiercely opposed at this point as at others by the neighboring tribes; and the crumbling remains of breastworks formerly raised in preparation for their raids can be seen.” Leslie, Frank and Reinhardt, Richard. “Outwest on the Overland Train.” (1967)

Frank Leslie’s party making a illustrated trip through the west on the Union Pacific Railroad described the post:

1877
1st Lt. Charles L Hammond. Co. H. 3rd Cavalry, stationed at the post stated. “A wonderful thing out there, a green spot in the yellow plains country.” Fuller, Clark. “Pioneer Paths.” (1975): pg. 122-23. Sept. 21, 1878 All the spare quarters in the barracks are filled with soldiers and the white tents of the infantry companies and two companies of cavalry on the prairie east of the post (at Sidney) make a picture that is pleasing to the martial eye and reassuring to the timid heart.” Sidney Telegraph, September 21 (1878)