Fort La Barge

Fort La Barge (1862-1863) - A fortified fur trading post established in 1862 during the U.S. Civil War by Joseph La Barge of the La Barge, Harkness & Company of St. Louis in the present day town of Fort Benton Chouteau County, Montana. Abandoned in 1863 and sold to the American Fur Company. Also spelled Fort LaBarge.

Fort La Barge History

Joseph La Barge arrived at Fort Benton on 17 Jun 1862 aboard his "Emilie", the first side wheeler steamboat to reach Fort Benton. La Barge established Fort La Barge as a 300' by 200' fortified trading post on the bank of the Missouri River. His wife drove the first stake and his daughter the second stake outlining the fort. The post was laid out in a "U" shape with the open end facing the river.

Joseph La Barge abandoned the post in 1863 because of difficulties with the Blackfeet Indians and sold it to the American Fur Company at nearby Fort Benton.

Current Status

A two sided marker located in the park at 10th and River Streets in the town of Fort Benton, Chouteau County, Montana.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1750083

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Location: Marker located in the park at 10th and River Streets in the town of Fort Benton, Chouteau County, Montana. Map point is marker location. Maps & Images Lat: 47.8120548 Long: -110.671286 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 2628'

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 472-473.
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2,page 72.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort La Barge

Visited: 26 Sep 2013

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