Fort Dalles

Infobox Military Structure
name= Fort Dalles
partof=
location= The Dalles, Oregon


caption=The Surgeon’s Quarters of Fort Dalles
type= Military base
built= 1850
builder= Major Tucker
materials= wood
height=
used= 1850-1867
demolished= 1867
condition=
ownership=
controlledby= United States Army
garrison= 9th Infantry
commanders= George Wright
occupants=
battles=
events=

Fort Dalles was a United States Army outpost located on the Columbia River at the present site of The Dalles, Oregon, in the United States. Built when Oregon was a territory, the post was used mainly for dealing with wars with Native Americans. The post was first known as Camp and then Fort Drum. [http://www.wascochs.org/ Main page.] Wasco County Historical Society. Retrieved on February 26 2008.]

Construction

In the fall of 1849 United States Army troops arrived in the new Oregon Territory.Horner, John B. (1921). "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". The J.K. Gill Co.: Portland. p. 122-123] This Rifle Regiment established a military base at The Dalles on the Columbia River. Built in 1850, the log fort was constructed under the supervision of Major Tucker. Prior to the arrival of federal troops, the location had been used as a post by the militia of the Oregon Provisional Government under the command of Henry A. G. Lee during the Cayuse War and was named Fort Lee and Fort Wascopam.Corning, Howard M. "Dictionary of Oregon History". Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.] The post was built at the site of the former Wascopam Mission operated by the Methodist Mission.

New buildings were built from 1856 to 1858 under the direction of the commander Captain Thomas Jordan at a cost of nearly $500,000. In 1858, the log fort was torn down and a new fort was constructed under the command of Colonel George Wright. Wright was in command of the 9th Infantry. The site overlooked an encampment used by Lewis & Clark in October 1805.

Operations

During the Yakima Wars Fort Dalles served as operational headquarters for the Army.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The City at The Dalles
work = Settling the Oregon Country
publisher = End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
date =
url = http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/road2oregon/sa20dalles.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-05 ] The garrison had eight companies of troops assigned during this time. After these wars the post was downgraded to a quartermaster’s depot in 1861. A fire burned down the officer’s quarters in 1866. Fort Dalles was then abandoned in 1867.

Legacy

The Surgeon’s Quarters built during the Yakima Wars still stands and is the home to the Rorick House Museum in The Dalles. The Fort Dalles Surgeon's Quarters is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered one of Oregon's finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings, Fort Dalles, Oregon
work = Soldier and Brave
publisher = National Park Service
date =
url = http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/soldier/sitec14.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-06-10 ]

References