Cannon Bastion
This image from Harper's New Monthly Magazine shows Fort Abercrombie as looked in 1860. Notice that there are no walls or blockhouses to protect the fort. In 1862, when troops stationed at Fort Abercrombie got word of the attacks by Dakota warriors on settlements in Minnesota, they quickly set to work constructing a cordwood stockade around the perimeter of the fort.
Albert M. Wright was a 14-year-old boy who fled to Fort Abercrombie with his family during the time of the siege. He described the appearance of the fort with its cordwood stockade.
Fort Abercrombie at this time, was a Fort only in name,
it consisted of a lot of buildings built around a square,
no fortifications, and the only thing in the shape
of defence was a breast-work of Cordwood built around
the flag staff which stood in the center of the square,
inside of which were placed three, twelve pound,
Howitzers, the only guns the Fort contained.
-Albert M. Wright
This hand-drawn map of Fort Abercrombie shows
the cordwood stockade and cannon bastions as they
looked
this page online
This sketch from December 1862 shows the cordwood stockade in the foreground. By late February 1863, the cordwood stockade and cannon bastions had been
replaced by palisade walls and blockhouses.
Erected by State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1862.
Location. 46° 26.72′ N, 96° 43.041′ W. Marker is in Abercrombie, North Dakota, in Richland County. Marker can be reached from Broadway North (County Highway 4) south of Abercrombie Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 935 Broadway North, Abercrombie ND 58001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Carpenter Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Ferry Crossing (within shouting distance of this marker); Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Quartermaster Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Guardhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Commissary Storehouse (about 300 feet away, measured
Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2021, by Connor Olson of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
