Fort Elizabeth Meagher, named for the wife of

Thomas F. Meagher Thomas Francis Meagher (; 3 August 18231 July 1867) was an Irish nationalism, Irish nationalist and leader of the Young Irelanders in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, Rebellion of 1848. After being convicted of sedition, he was first sent ...

, secretary and former acting governor of the

Montana Territory The Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 26, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted as the 41st state in the Union as the state of Montana. Original boundaries ...

, was established in May, 1867 eight miles east of the town of Bozeman, Montana at the mouth of Rocky Creek by Brigadier General Thomas Thoroughman and Colonel Walter W. De Lacy of the

Montana Territory Volunteer Militia The Montana Territory Volunteer Militia was a Militia organized in Montana Territory in 1867 as a result of increased incidents with Native Americans. History With sharply increased settlement in Montana Territory at the end of the American Civ ...

. The post's mission was to provide settlers protection against hostile

Crow A crow is a bird of the genus '' Corvus'', or more broadly a synonym for all of ''Corvus''. Crows are generally black in colour. The word "crow" is used as part of the common name of many species. The related term "raven" is not pinned scientifica ...

and Sioux Native Americans who were expected to invade the area following the murder of

John Bozeman John Merin Bozeman (January 1835 – April 20, 1867) was a pioneer and frontiersman in the American West who helped establish the Bozeman Trail through Wyoming Territory into the gold fields of southwestern Montana Territory in the early ...

in April 1867. 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. The post was abandoned in August 1867 when nearby

Fort Ellis Fort Ellis was a United States Army fort established August 27, 1867, east of present-day Bozeman, Montana. Troops from the fort participated in many major campaigns of the Indian Wars. The fort was closed on August 2, 1886. History The fort wa ...

was built.

Notes

{{Gallatin County, Montana Elizabeth Meagher Buildings and structures in Gallatin County, Montana 1867 establishments in Montana Territory 1867 disestablishments in the United States Native American history of Montana

See also

Notes