Fort Maginnis (historical) (Fergus County, near Lewistown, Montana)
Fergus County, near Lewistown · Montana · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Fort Maginnis was established in 1880, 4½ miles east of Maiden, Montana Territory, by companies of the 3rd Infantry Regiment under the command of Captain Daingerfield Parker. The fort was named for Martin Maginnis, Major of the 11th Minnesota Infantry during the Civil War, and the then U.S. Representative from Montana Territory's At-large district.
It was the last of five forts built following the defeat of Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in June 1876. Elements of the 1st United States Cavalry Regiment garrisoned the post beginning in 1881.
The post served a multifaceted role: soldiers were to protect cattle from being mistaken for buffalo by hungry Indians, encourage settlement of the Judith Basin west of the fort, and patrol the Carroll Road to keep supplies rolling between Carroll and Helena. In operation for just ten years (1880–1890), the fort protected cattle ranches and gold mines in the area, most notably Granville Stuart's DHS Ranch.
In 1885, Lieutenant Colonel James W. Forsyth of the 1st Cavalry served as the fort's commander; five years later he would command the 7th Cavalry at the Wounded Knee Massacre. Foundations and ruins remain, substantial enough to be inter-related with a plan of the fort.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Stone and foundation ruins of 1880s Army outpost
- Cemetery with period graves nearby
- Landscape of central Montana high plains where Indian Wars-era troops were stationed
- Minimal structures remaining; archaeological site character
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Maginnis
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=92697
- https://www.distinctlymontana.com/get-know-fergus-county
- https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/3749
- https://historicmt.org/items/show/340
- https://fortwiki.com/Fort_Maginnis_(1)