Fort Randall, South Dakota
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The Fort Randall Military Post was established in 1856 to help keep peace on the frontier. It was located on the south side of the Missouri River in South Dakota just below the present site of the Fort Randall Dam. The site for the fort was selected in 1856 by General William S. Harney. The fort served as a major navigation link on the river and operated for 36 years. It was named for Colonel Daniel Randall, a career Army officer who also served as Deputy Paymaster General of the Army
Its strategic location along the Missouri River made it a key fort in two lines of western frontier defense. It was the last link in a chain of forts protecting the overland route along the Platte River. It was also the first fort in a chain of forts on the upper Missouri River. The most important mission assigned to the soldiers of Fort Randall was to mount expeditions which would discipline the many Indian tribes on the plains, primarily the Teton Sioux.
After playing an important part in the Indian Wars, Fort Randall closed in 1892.
Location
Fort Randall is located in Gregory County, South Dakota at 43° 01' north latitude, 98° 37' west longitude (43.0244, -98.6242).1To Get There
- From Yankton, South Dakota, take South Dakota Route 52 for 14 Miles to the junction with South Dakota Route 50. Follow Route 50 for 40 Miles to Wagner, South Dakota. Leave Route 50, and continue straight towards Pickstown, South Dakota. This is the government city for the Randall Dam immediately to the west. Cross this dam. The Fort is below the southwestern corner of the Dam. Follow signs to the site. There are picnic and camping facilities.
References
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District (July 29, 2004) [Fort Randall Military Post]
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