In the North Loup River Valley, near present-day Elyria, Neb., Fort Hartsuff was established in 1874 to protect area settlers and the Pawnee Tribe from potential hostile incursions. Named for Maj. Gen. George L. Hartsuff, a hero of the Civil War and the Seminole Indian War in Florida, the fort was built because confrontations between mostly Teton Sioux and local settlers in the valley were on the rise as more of the land became settled.

Nine major buildings were built of a unique lime-concrete mixture, making use of ample supplies of gravel available. To emphasize the importance of this outpost, soldiers went on an expedition all the way to the Niobrara River Valley to procure a 97-foot pine tree for use as a flagpole.

During seven years of active duty, the fort was garrisoned by a small band of about 55 soldiers. Duty at Hartsuff was considered pleasant, with dances, 4th of July celebrations and other festive events hosted for local settlers at the fort. It was, no doubt, an important hub for the local economy in the 1870s, and the fort served a purpose in providing a gathering place and entertainment opportunities.

Battle of the Blowout

Most of the time, soldiers stationed at Hartsuff kept busy scouting the Loup and Cedar rivers for hostile Sioux and helping local settlers and civil authorities hunt down horse thieves, murderers and robbers.

In the spring of 1876, a detachment from Company A, 23rd Infantry was sent to engage a band of hostile warriors that had been harassing settlers northwest of present-day Burwell. In a skirmish that ensued known as the Battle of the Blowout, Sgt. William Dougherty was killed, and three soldiers involved were awarded Medals of Honor.

As the incidences of conflict decreased, there was less need for protection, so the fort was abandoned in 1881 and sold to Union Pacific Railroad. When a railroad failed to materialize, it was sold into private hands. In 1961, Dr. Glen Auble of Ord presented the site to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as a state historical park.

All of the fort’s major buildings — including the post headquarters, officers’ quarters, barracks, hospital, stable and guardhouse — are preserved and open to the public. Today, this little gem on the Loup River is a must-see for anyone who is interested in the military and cultural history of our state. There is plenty of room for the kids to roam around the gigantic parade grounds, and the fort itself, with living history reenactments, provides a glimpse into what it was like for soldiers and settlers to live on the Plains in the 1870s.

Learn more about Fort Hartsuff at outdoornebraska.gov.