Fort Abercrombie, between Fargo and Wahpeton, was abandoned on this date in 1877. It was the first military post on North Dakota soil when it was thrown together in 1857. It was abandoned two years later, and then reoccupied the following year. At first it consisted of four wooden buildings, a small brick storehouse, a sawmill and stables. But it had no well, no stockades, and no bastions.

In March 1862, Captain John Vander Horck, a St. Paul grocer, came to the fort with seventy-eight volunteers comprising Company D. They found only 2,000 rounds of ammunition fit their guns, so Vander Horck requisitioned for more. But, it still hadn’t arrived by August when Dakota Indians laid siege to the fort for one month.

Source:
Rolfsrud, Erling N. The Story of North Dakota. Alexandria MN: Lantern Books. 1963. p 113-117.

This text and audio may not be copied without securing prior permission from North Dakota Public Radio.