On January 13, 1899, Francis E. Warren, United States senator from Wyoming, introduced a bill for the erection of a government military post near the city of Sheridan. The necessity for such a post had been brought to the attention of President; McKinley the year before and an executive order had been issued or the establishment of temporary barracks, under the supervision of General E. V. Sumner.

 In the debate, on the Warren bill the fact was brought out that there were over twenty-three thousand Indians upon the various reservations tributary to the proposed fort. These included the Fort Benton, Standing Rock. Cheyenne River. Lower Brule, Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations in the Dakotas; the Blackfoot, Flathead, Northern Cheyenne, Crow, Fort Belknap and Fort Peck Indians in Montana; the Fort Hall Indians in Idaho, and the Uinta and Uncompahge Utes in Utah.

Shortly thereafter work was   actively commenced on the erection of the post and by 1901) it had become a  well  organized  military  establishment.  In February of that year the , state of Wyoming granted  to  the most a large tract of land for the en- largement of the. reservation, taking! in  exchange other government lands.

A detachment C troops from the regular army was stationed at Mackenzie from 1900'on, for some years the 18th infantry constituted the garrison.   In  1915. at the time of the government  border   troubles,   the troops  were  removed,   since which time the post has.  until  recently, | been in charge of caretakers.  In the \ spring of 1918 a movement for its. abandonment was  inaugurated,  but during the period following the war. it, was felt that Fort Mackenzie would again be utilized as a permanent garrison.   Action  of  congress  in  materially  decreasing  the  standing  armv, however, made apparent the fact that the post would not be needed.
   

About a vear ago, through the efforts of the Wyoming delegation in Washington,  the  post   was   turned over to the  United  States  Public Health Service, for use as a hospital for  treatment  of  ex-soldiers.   Ner vous disorders, such as cases of shell shock and  other derangements  will be cared for.

Almost  immediately    after  the ^designation  of Fort Mackenzie  as a Health   Service   unit,   the  United States Public Health   Service   took: over the  post  and  in  the  spring of: this  year  Major  John  B.  Anderson of the  United  States  Medical corps arrived in Sheridan to assume command.  Major Anderson is a former health commissioner of the state of Washington and  ranks,  high  in  the |service.

Fort Mackenzie ranks as one of the most modern and substantial posts ever erected by the war department built at a cost of $1,250,-000, and the vast amount of alterations and improvements being done, will eventually result in making it one of the finest government hospi tals in the countrv. A unit capable of  caring for  one hundred men is now being completed, while eventually plans call for the enlargement of the hospital and equipment to care for three hundred.

The work of rehabilitation of the post is in charge of J. A. Kirk, superintendent of construction, who now has about 85 men at work. The reservoir has been repaired and put in excellent shape ,while the barracks are also undergoing a considerable amount of alteration. A glass enclosed walk will connect the barracks with the hospital, and wide, sunny porches for convalescents are being-installed.

The name of the new institution is to be the United States Public Health Hospital at Fort Mackenzie, and the surgeon in charge, Major John B. Anderson, reports that medical supplies and hospital equipment has now been received to a considerable extent and that the home is strong that the buildings now being remodeled, which includes only a part of those eventually to be utilized, will be in shape to receive patients by the first of the year.

Almost  immediately after  the ^designation  of Fort Mackenzie  as a Health   Service   unit,   the  United i States Public Health   Service   took: over the  post  and  in  the  spring of: this  year  Major  John  B.  Anderson of the  United  States  Medical corps arrived in Sheridan to assume command.  Major Anderson is a former health commissioner of the state of Washington  and  ranks,  high  in  the |service.

Fort Mackenzie ranks as one of the most modern and substantial posts ever erected by the war department built at a cost of $1,250,-000, and the vast amount of alterations and improvements being done,; will eventually result in making it one of the finest government hospi tals in the countrv. A unit capable ' of  caring for  one hundred men is now being completed, while eventually plans call for the enlargement of the hospital and equipment to care for three hundred.

The work of rehabilitation of the post is in charge of J. A. Kirk, superintendent of construction, who now has about 85 men at work. The reservoir has been repaired and put in excellent shape ,while the barracks are also undergoing a considerable amount of alteration. A glass en-closed walk will connect the barracks with the hospital, and wide, sunny porches for convalescents are being-installed.

 

 

CAPACITY OF VETERANS HOSPITAL HERE SOON TO BE OVER 800 PATIENTS

Fort Mackenzie Facility Ideally Located for Purpose.

(K.Kenan)

 

The Veterans Hospital in Sheridan has an unlimited view of the whole Big Horn Mountains. It was in the early 1900’s that the government built an army two miles from Sheridan, the post know as Fort Mackenzie. (web masters note, actual date was 1889).

The hospital has 74 building consisting of 17 wards, residences for the staff and their families, machine shops, a greenhouse and number other buildings.

 

At the present time there are 483 patients with plans going ahead to increase this number to 602 within the next three months. This number will make it one of the larger government hospitals.

 

The wards and residences are constructed of red brick and are grouped around a circular paved driveway. The cement walk that follows the circle is like a silver ribbon through the velvet smooth lawns that front the buildings.

 

Many acres were given over to farming by the patients who raise all kinds of produce such as potatoes, corn, beans and most other fresh vegetables in season.

 

It was interesting to learn that the hospital purchases water galls of bulk milk and 11 gallons of bottled mail each day and that 480 dozen eggs are used per week. Other supplies being purchased in quart jars.

 

Recreational facilities for patients are the most up to date that can be had. There is the baseball diamond entirely seeded to lawn the pans for the diamond being obtained from the New York Giants. There are four fine clay tennis courts and by the way., these courts have developed some mighty fine players among the patients who every once in a while are serious contenders for championship Olympic honors in the Sheridan tournaments.

 

The recreation hall has courts for the playing of basketball, handball and volleyball as well as a splendidly equipped gymnasium. There is a second hall that is reserved for the birthday and other parties of the patients as well as for games of ping pong, shuffle boards and other amusements.

 

 

The latest talking pictures are held three times a week for the amusement of the patients. Margaret Kirkpatrick is the recreational director and E. Kennedy the physical director.

 

The hospital has its own supply with a pipe line running direct from the Big Horn mountains for a distance of 20 miles to the hospital. All the water goes through, chlorinating plants, so there is no danger of contamination.

 

Mrs. A. Castor, the chief dietian and prepares the menus for all of the meals. In January of this year, the cost of food per capita was 40cents a day at the hospital.

Other features of the hospital are the greenhouse, laundry, slaughterhouse and the library. In the library there are 5,000 volumes and all the latest magazines. Mrs. U. W. Simpson is the librarian.

 

Dr. Soper was one of the first physicians, he came to Sheridan in 1923 and remained until 1928 at which time he was transferred to a hospital in Georgia where he remained until 1933 when he was again placed in charge of the Sheridan hospital. Other physicians were Dr. Sanantoine, director of the 6 doctors on the staff.

Virgina Oakley, chief nurse, Dr. Floyd Croup, dental head; Graham Walker, pharmacist; W.B. Eckersor in charge of physical therapy and Carl Black, supply officer.

(web masters note) my mother, Ina Mae Mann from Wayne County IL. moved to Fort McKensie in 1931 with her sister and brother in law, Neena Inskeep McLin and Dr. Tom McLin. She graduated from Sheridan High School. (see data base and stories of SHS.) She is now 94, spends summer in Sheridan and we drive around Ft. McKensie often. Any one want pictures? She has many stories, especially how she was warned to stay away from the TB building. In those days they didn’t know how TB was spread.

 

SOME FT MACKENZIE REMINISCENCES

In the spring of 1958 the Adjutant General, Maj Gen Esmay, called from Cheyenne and said that Section 16 at the Fort had been declared excess by GSA (General Services Administration) and that we could have first choice. I was instructed to inspect it and report back to him. CW4 Wayne Shannon, our administrative warrant, and I reported into Building 1 and announced our mission. It took some time to determine the location of Section 16...the Fort sets right in the middle of it!

Rumors of cut backs and possible elimination have always been a part of life there at the VA and in 1958 Congress was actively looking for ways to cut the military and associated activities. To say that our visit caused some excitement is understatement of the first order!

Mr Shannon and I figured that it was more likely the part of Section 16

occupied by the Remount Station, closed out some six years previous and since used as a work center by the Forest Service. This was confirmed on follow up and since we had just finished converting the Armory stables and riding hall into a shop and vehicle storage area we didn't want or need another horse barn. The USFS is still there.

(Meanwhile, back at the Fort.... before leaving...the temptation to shake things up a little more was not to be ignored. We indicated that we might be back up to pick out our quarters and unit area before the Cheyenne gang moved in!)

THE POST CEMETERY The original area turned over by the Army for the hospital included the two sections (1280 acres) of the Military Reservation immediately West of the post to support farming operations designed for patient therapy and supplemental food supplies. The farming activities were phased out by about 1955 and the two sections reverted to the Army.  Since the Guard had sufficient training areas the land went surplus and the Rice Ranch was the successful bidder.

The old Post Cemetery inadvertently went with the sale. I mowed it several times each summer and a patient from the hospital cared for the graves.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

On several occasions contact was made with the Superintendent of the Custer Battlefield National Cemetery relative to reinternment. This is normal procedure for remote burials and abandoned cemeterys. The Custer people were not very interested and indicated that permission of all the heirs would have to be obtained before they could take any action.

In April 1961 we were finishing up our week-long Annual General Inspection by the Inspector General's Office out of 5th Army, Chicago. Our IG was a Colonel Shannon and on completion of our out-briefing he asked if I could take him to the Fetterman Monument which was Army property on his inspection itinerary. (It has since been given to the State.) Returning to Sheridan he said his next inspection was the National Cemetery at Sturgis! Before he left we visited the abandoned Ft Mackenzie Cemetery and within two weeks all graves were reinterred to Custer.(l May 1961)

The graves are in Section B, Indian Wars, very close to the Battlefield Museum. There are sixteen. Twelve military, a QM civilian employee, and three infants.

They cover nearly all units stationed there from 1898 to 1913. Units from the 4th, 10th, llth, and 18th Infantry Regiments and the 10th Cavalry (Black). Hospital Corps and a QM Corps are also represented..

In making inquiries relative to this 100th Anniversary it was discovered that the Ft Mackenzie Cemetery and these burials are not on the National Military Cemetery Register. A situation soon to be corrected according to Cemetery personnel at the Battlefield.

Grave B 1087 is 1st Sgt S. Stropshire, Ret., Co H, 10th Cavalry. This man has to have a notable history. The two black Calvary Regiments, the 9th and 10th, were front line on the frontier from the Civil War on and probably have the best records of the Indian Wars. It was the 10th that saved Teddy Roosevelt at San Juan Hill in the Spanish American War, A First Sergeant in that outfit had to be an exceptional soldier. A follow-on project.

The post records are available on microfilm for a starter and from past experience there is an amazing amount of material available on anything the Army's ever done.

 

 

 

Name

Bennet, J.G. Conaway, E.

Rank  Org (Co./Unit)

Erwin. Jas

Harrington, Jas. H.  Co. H, 18th Infantry

Jelly Moritz,          Co. I, 11 Infantry Scott, R.D.            Cpl   Co. L, 10lh Infantry Shropshire, S.    1st Sgt. U.S. Retired Trentham, W.E. -     Co. L, 10th Infantry

USQMC

Witaker, John J. -

Wells, Win. T.  -  Co C, 10th Cavalry

Wilson, H.J.    -  Wagoner, Co.H, 101 Cavalry-Wert, Herbert   -  Co. C, 4th Infantry

B-1184 B-1183 B-1I88

(All reinterred May 1, 1961 to Custer National Cemetery

 

 

 

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