Milnor in Sargent County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Camp Buell State Historic Site

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2023

1. Camp Buell State Historic Site Marker

Inscription. About 2,000 feet northwest of this marker is the site of one of many overnight camps made by Gen. Henry Sibley and his army during his Northwest Indian campaign into Dakota Territory in 1863.

Summer that year was especially hot and dry with overwhelming dust and a drought. Soldiers made camp here on July 3 after a grueling 18-mile march along their journey from Camp Parker to Devils Lake. The troops and mules were exhausted, and their ambulances were filled with collapsing men. Camp Buell was a welcome resting point for the night. A shallow lake nearby contained water so "green and thick" that a quart of "vegetal matter" could be skimmed off a kettle of the muck, according to troop diaries.

These types of small military camps were often named for an officer. This camp was named for Maj. Salmon Buell, a battalion commander in the 1st Regiment, Minnesota Mounted Rangers. Others also stayed at this place, including the 3rd Illinois Volunteer Calvary during Gen. Alfred Sully's 1865 campaigns.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.

Location. 46° 14.919′ N,

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97° 27.401′ W. Marker is in Milnor, North Dakota, in Sargent County. It is at the intersection of County Road 10 and Old ND 13, on the left when traveling east on County Road 10. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14052-14094 County Road 10, Milnor ND 58060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Red River Valley.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Col. Cornelius Hagerman Forman (approx. 13.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 13.1 miles away).

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2023

2. Camp Buell State Historic Site Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 64 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.