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The U.S. Army buys Fort Pierre in 1855
The U.S. Army's decision to purchase Fort Pierre in 1855
from Chouteau's
American Fur Company was based partially on this painting done by Frederick Behman in
1854. In reality the old fur trade fort was a poor purchase for $45,000. The river landing
was poor, there was no building timber, fuel, or forage within close range and most of the
buildings were decayed and beyond repair. Location was its only good quality. General
William S. Harney and his force of nearly twelve hundred stayed only one winter,
abandoned the fort and relocated to a new post, Ft. Randall. The year spent at Ft. Pierre
was enough though to inspire this soldier's sonnet:
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Old Fort Pierre
O, we dont mind the marching,
Nor the fighting do we fear,
But we'll ne'er forgive old Harney
For bringing us to Pierre.
They say old Shoto built it,
But we know that isnt so,
For the man that built the bloody ranch
Is reigning down below!
soldier's sonnet
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