Fort James (Hanson County, South Dakota)
Hanson County · South Dakota · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Following disturbances near Yankton in 1863, Fort James was founded on the west bank of the James River at its confluence with Firesteel Creek. Established in September 1865 by Captain Benjamin King of the 6th Iowa Cavalry under Brigadier General Alfred Sully's orders, it served as protection from outbreaks of Native American aggression, with its troop detachments intended to reassure prospective settlers.
Initially known as Camp Near Firesteel Creek, and only became known as Fort James after its decommissioning, the post had a brief tenure. Its log and stone quadrangle served to protect stagecoaches and settlers for roughly a year before it was decommissioned on October 6, 1866.
The men used quartzite, which is plentiful along the banks of the James River around Rockport, to build Fort James, one of the only stone cavalry forts in the West. Settlers who came later scavenged most of the fort's materials for their own constructions; in 1872 a reporter from the Yankton Press noted the massive walls of the abandoned fort still standing as he travelled up the James River.
When Hanson County was organized, old Fort James became the first temporary county seat and was known as Rockport. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Key Facts
Map
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_James_(South_Dakota)
- https://history.sd.gov/docs/Complete_State_Plan_withFigures.pdf
- https://southdakotamagazine.com/hanson-county
- https://nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/sd/hanson/state.html
- https://northamericanforts.com/West/sd.html
- https://www.sdpb.org/images-of-the-past/2019-03-11/south-dakotas-military-forts
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