Fort Elizabeth Meagher (historical) (Gallatin County, near Bozeman, Montana)
Gallatin County, near Bozeman · Montana · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Named for the wife of Thomas F. Meagher, secretary and former acting governor of the Montana Territory, this post emerged from frontier crisis. Following the murder of John Bozeman in April 1867, Acting governor Thomas Francis Meagher commissioned Thomas Thoroughman, an ex-Confederate lieutenant colonel, a brigadier general to command the Montana Militia in spring of 1867, and commissioned Walter W. De Lacy Colonel.
The militia built the fort at Rocky Creek to defend the Gallatin Valley. The main post stockade, and a picket-post erected on the approaches to Bridger Pass, were designed to block the passes through the mountains into the valley.
Its existence was extraordinarily brief—only three months. On July 1, 1867, Acting Governor Meagher drowned in the Missouri River at Fort Benton, Montana, while receiving a shipment of ammunition for the Montana Militia. The arrival of United States Army regiments in Montana Territory from 1866 to 1867, including companies from the 2nd Cavalry, 7th Infantry, First Battalion, 13th Infantry and Second Battalion, 18th Infantry (redesignated the 27th Infantry), relieved the need for a Territorial Militia, and the volunteer post was superseded by the regular Army's Fort Ellis.
Key Facts
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Elizabeth_Meagher
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Territory_Volunteer_Militia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Francis_Meagher
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bozeman,_Montana
- https://www.legendsofamerica.com/fort-elizabeth-meagher-montana/
- https://fortwiki.com/Fort_Elizabeth_Meagher
- https://accessgenealogy.com/montana/montana-indians-and-indian-wars.htm
- https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2011/09/elizabeth-meagher.html