Fort Meade (1)

Fort Meade (1) (1878-1944) - First established in 1878 as Camp Ruhlen by Maj. Henry M. Lazelle, 1st U.S. Infantry, and named after Lt. George Ruhlen, quartermaster in charge of construction. Renamed Fort Meade on 30 Dec 1878 after MG George G. Meade of U.S. Civil War fame. Abandoned in 1944.

Fort Meade (1) History

Established 28 Aug 1878 as Camp Ruhlen by Maj. Henry M. Lazelle, 1st U.S. Infantry on a site selected by Lt. Gen. Phil Sheridan in present day Meade County, South Dakota. Camp Sturges was established nearby to house the troops building the post. Renamed Fort Meade on 30 Dec 1878. The Fort's mission was to control hostile Sioux Indians and protect the Black Hills mining operations.

World War II

Fort Meade served as a training camp and a POW camp during World War II. In 1944 the post was turned over to the Veterans Administration and a new hospital complex was built north of the old post.

Current Status

Currently occupied by the Veterans Administration and the South Dakota Army National Guard. Many of the old post buildings are preserved and remain today including many of the 1880s officer quarters and enlisted mens barracks.

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Location: Fort Meade, Meade County, South Dakota. Maps & Images Lat: 44.4105405 Long: -103.4671331 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 3,291'

Sources:

• 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 731

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Meade

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[[Category:Federal Installation]