Attack and Fortifications at Fort Laramie

Flag Pole at Fort Laramie

NPS

 From the parade groud, you can see every building still standing at fort Laramie. Use your imagination to fill in the gaps.

In its 41 years as an army post, Fort Laramie consisted of as many as 50 buildings at any given time. New ones sprang up as old ones were remodeled or disappeared. Behind you and on the right are foundations of two long buildings. These were once barracks-enlisted men’s quarters. It was this area where soldiers often trained and lined up for drill calls. 

Many people picture Fort Laramie surrounded by a palisade wall of logs. The early fur-trading posts had walls, but not the army post. Indians seldom attacked forts. A well-armed garrison was considered enough of a deterrent.

The fort was invaded only once. In 1864, a cavalry patrol reported that the area was clear of hostile Indians.

Suddenly, Indian warriors rode across the parade ground and made off with several horses. The daring raid was so swift, the cavalry never caught the horse thieves.

An officer’s wife, named Ada Vodges, recorded a stand-off with the Lakota chief, Red Cloud.

“March 25, 1869. At eight o’clock, in came Red Cloud with a thousand Indians-young, bold, and dashing warriors-with their squaws and papooses. They came in two abreast, singing at the top of their lungs, and … formed into a line of battle around one side of the garrison. …Two companies of infantry were under arms for two or three hours – Colonel Dye ordered them off, as they had no permission to come in such large numbers. One of the big chiefs mad a singular noise, and they all started for their ponies. …[They] scattered-off in all directions over [the] bluffs and plains. It was a grand sight.” – Ada Vodges