Fort Dalles

Fort Dalles (1848-1867) - Originally established from a stockade by volunteer troops at the Dalles in Jan 1848. The post was originally called Fort Lee for Major Henry A.G. Lee of the Oregon Rifles. Established was established by two companies of Mounted Riflemen it was called Fort Wascopan. In April 1853 Camp Drum became Fort Drum and in July 1853 it was designated Fort Dalles. Substantially rebuilt in 1856. Last garrisoned from 22 Mar to 22 May 1867. On 28 Mar 1877 the military reservation was transferred to the Interior Department. This regular military fort was used during various Indian disturbances from 1850-66.

1857 Plan of Fort Dalles

The restored Surgeon's Quarters at Fort Dalles. The only remaining fort building.

Fort Dalles History

After treaties signed with the Indians at Walla Walla in 1855 failed the fort was rebuilt in 1856 and served as a regimental headquarters for the recently activated 9th U.S. Infantry under the command of Col. George Wright. Fort Dalles became a major military depot for Fort Walla Walla and Fort Simcoe and a central point for military activities in eastern Washington and Oregon during the ensuing Yakima War.

Fort Dalles was designed by architect Louis Scholl who also designed Fort Simcoe. The fort consisted of frame buildings laid out in a semi-circle and was not stockaded. The construction at the fort came under criticism for being overly extravagant especially in the construction of the carpenter-gothic Commanding Officer's quarters and quarters for the other officers.

Commanders:

• (1850-185?) Lt. J. J. Woods, 1st U.S. Artllery
• (185?-1852) Lt. John B. Gibson
• (1852-1853) Bvt. Maj. Benjamin Alvord
• (1853-1855) Maj. Gabriel J. Rains[1][2]
• (1855-1856) Bvt. Maj. Granville Haller

Current Status

The 1856 surgeons quarters have been restored and are open for view, it is the only remaining original building. A museum and store are housed in a period building.

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Location: 500 West 15th St The Dalles, Oregon 97058 On Mill Creek in the west part of the community of the Dalles in Wasco County, Oregon. Maps & Images Lat: 45.596211 Long: -121.197535 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation:

Sources:

• McArthur, Lewis A. & McArthur, Lewis L., Oregon Geographic Names, Oregon Historical Society Press; 7 edition (December 2003), 1073 pages, ISBN 0875952771, ISBN 978-0875952772, page 366
• Oregon Military History, Forts-Camps-Roads
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 133
• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 664
• Frazer, Robert W. (editor), Mansfield on the conditions of The Western Forts, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1963, ISBN 0-8061-1083-X, page 175-179, plan J (24)
• Knuth, Priscilla, Picturesque Frontier: The Army's Fort Dalles, 2nd Edition, Oregon Historical Societ Press, 1987, ISBN 0-87595-140-6

Links:

Visited: 11 Oct 2005

Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  Fort Dalles Sign, John Stanton 11 Oct 2005
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  Fort Dalles Museum, John Stanton 11 Oct 2005