Across Nebraska

Well, last night at the Oakland Express Motel, despite the lack of AC because of a noisy fan, having the window open did give us air and eventually the room cooled down and we slept ok. And it was a good breakfast! So, it worked out. We left the motel at about 9:45am, and headed west on Rte 32 and then eventually on Rte 91 which took us across much of Nebraska, and then on Rte 2 which took us all the way to Wyomming. Both these routes were untraveled and we felt as though we had the road to ourselves much of the time. It was a lovely ride across Nebraska, greener than we were expecting. We stopped for gas and snacks and pit stops, of course, but otherwise it was uneventful except for one stop - Fort Hartsuff State Historic Park. We wanted to have at least one bit of education about the history ad culture of Nebraska (and Ellen always hopes there will be postcards!). From the Fort Hartsuff website: Located near Elyria, Fort Hartsuff is typical of Plains infantry outposts. It stood as a buffer between settlers and Native Americans, and to protect the Pawnee from the war-like Sioux, in the North Loup River Valley from 1874 to 1881. Because the main fort buildings were constructed of a lime/concrete mixture, many have survived. Acquired as a historical park in 1961, it has been restored as it was when soldiers patrolled the North Loup and Cedar river valleys and pioneered a new trail to the Black Hills gold fields in the 1870s. COVID-19 had restricted aspects of the site: no postcards, or even books for sale in the gift shop; several buildings closed. But we saw the barracks, officers residences, and a storehouse. It was just right, actually - just the right amount of time and walking.

I won't bother to label these photos - they are all from Fort Hartsuff and speak for themselves. The one exception is the painting of The Battle of the Blowout. Here is a bit about that: One thing that makes Fort Hartsuff unique began with a skirmish between soldiers at Fort Hartsuff and the Sioux. With the Fort’s location near hostile Indians, there was always the chance for conflict. Only one major battle took place in the seven years that the Fort was in existence. It occurred on April 28, 1876, and it was called “The Battle of the Blowout.” A small party of Sioux raiders stole some things from settlers near the present-day town of Burwell, including some turkeys. Some civilians pursued them, and the Indians holed up in a sandhills blowout about a mile and a half north of what is now Homestead Knolls Campground on the Calamus Lake. The civilians sent word back to the Fort and Lieutenant Charles H. Heyl, 23rd Infantry, and eight enlisted men were dispatched to pursue the Indians. When the troops arrived, it was near sundown and fearing that the Indians would escape, Lieutenant Heyl and three soldiers charged the Indian’s position. In the unsuccessful assault, Sergeant William H. Dougherty was shot in the heart and killed. The Indians escaped after nightfall, and the soldiers and civilians returned home. The unique thing about this event was that three soldiers received Medals of Honor for their gallant charge. They were Lieutenant Charles H. Heyl, Corporal Patrick Leonard, and Private Jeptha Lytton. It was very rare for an Infantry soldier to earn a Medal of Honor as such honors were usually given to Cavalry soldiers.