Central ND News

On June 17, 1867, a battalion of the 10th U.S. Infantry arrived at the site of Fort Ransom to begin constructing a military post established to protect overland travel from Minnesota to Montana.

According to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, Fort Ransom was established as a defensive post to secure overland travel routes between Minnesota and Montana during a period of intensified westward expansion. It was named in honor of Major General Thomas E.G. Ransom, a Union officer who died in the Civil War. Today, while the layout of the original buildings and the dry moat remain visible at the site, no physical structures of the twelve-foot high sod and log stockade survive, marking the fort’s transition from active use to a preserved historic landmark.

Prairie Public reports that a battalion from the 10th U.S. Infantry, commanded by Brevet Major George H. Crosman, arrived at the site on June 17, 1867, after marching from Fort Wadsworth in southern Dakota Territory. Upon arrival, they immediately began constructing a defensive enclosure using an earthen breastwork to create a fortified perimeter. The breastwork was completed by August 1867, enclosing a square layout that would later include various military structures, forming the operational hub of the post.

As reported by the State Historical Society of North Dakota, construction of Fort Ransom utilized oak logs harvested from the nearby Sheyenne River Valley, pointing to the use of local natural resources for frontier military needs. The buildings were methodically arranged within a square earthen fortification measuring approximately 350 by 400 feet. Additionally, a large area—ten square miles—surrounding the post was formally designated as the Fort Ransom Military Reservation, giving the garrison control over significant regional land in Dakota Territory.

The State Historical Society serves as the primary agency for preserving and interpreting North Dakota’s historical resources, including Fort Ransom. The organization oversees a wide network of historic sites, museums, and cultural programs offering educational materials, tours, and research opportunities.