Near Williston in Williams County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Field Officers' Quarters
Fort Buford State Historic Site
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2019
1. Field Officers' Quarters Marker
Captions: (center line, left middle, right) Sitting Bull, August 2, 1881; Crow Foot, Sitting Bull's son; Major David H. Brotherton; (top right) Harper's Weekly Illustration of Sitting Bull's band on its way to Fort Buford from Canada, June 19, 1881.
This building was constructed in 1871 as the post commanding officers' quarters. It served in that capacity until 1889, when a new commanding officers' quarters was built near the north side of the post. The single most important event that occurred in this building was the formal surrender of the Hunkpapa leader Sitting Bull. This event helped end warfare on the Northern Plains.
On July 20, 1881, Sitting Bull met in this building with Major David H. Brotherton, Fort Buford's Commanding Officer. At Sitting Bull's side was his young son Crow Foot. Sitting Bull gave his Winchester rifle to Crow Foot and then told him to give the rifle to Major Brotherton.
"I surrender this rifle to you through my young son, who I now desire to teach in this manner, now that he has become a friend of the American people. I wish to teach him the habits of the whites and to have him educated as their sons are educated. I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man in my tribe to surrender my rifle..." -- Sitting Bull, as recorded by Joe Culbertson, Indian Scout.
Erected by State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical date for this entry is July 20, 1881.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Infantry Barracks (a few steps from this marker); Telegraph Office (a few steps from this marker); Fort Buford Historic Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Parade Ground (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Buford State Historic Site (about 400 feet away); Post Trader's Complex (about 500 feet away); Powder Magazine (approx. 0.2 miles away); North Dakota Masonic Foundation (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williston.
More about this marker. This marker is on the grounds of Fort Buford State Historic Site.
Also see . . . Tataηka Iyotaηka (Sitting Bull). Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center
In May 1877, he led his band to Canada, beyond the reach of the US Army....Four years later, however, Sitting Bull found it nearly impossible to feed his people in a world where the buffalo was almost extinct. So, he moved south to surrender. (Submitted on December 2, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2019
2. Field Officers' Quarters and Marker
Photographed By Wikipedia
3. Sitting Bull and family
1881 at Ft Randall rear L–R Good Feather Woman (sister), Walks Looking (daughter) front L–R Her Holy Door (mother), Sitting Bull, Many Horses (daughter) with her son, Courting a Woman -- Wikipedia
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer
4. Dakota Territory -- Sitting Bull Indians
Crossing the Yellowstone River, near Fort Keogh, to Surrender to General Miles.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 2, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
