Commander and Builder of Western Forts: The Life and Times of Major General Henry C. Merriam, 1862-1901

Foreword

Copyright © 2012 by Jack Stokes Ballard Manufactured in the United States of America All rights reserved First edition This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992 (Permanence of Paper). Binding materials have been chosen for durability. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ballard, Jack S. Commander and builder of western forts : the life and times of Major General Henry C. Merriam, 1862–1901 / Jack Stokes Ballard. — 1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-60344-260-2 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-60344-260-X (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-1-60344-633-4 (e-book) ISBN-10: 1-60344-633-8 (e-book) 1. Merriam, Henry C. (Henry Clay), 1837–1912. 2. United States. Army— Officers—Biography. 3. Medal of Honor—Biography. 4. United States— History—Civil War, 1861–1865. 5. Frontier and pioneer life—West (US). 6. Military bases—West (U.S.)—History—19th century. 7. United States. Army—Military life—History—19th century. 8. West (US)—History—19th century. 9. West (U.S.)—Biography. 10. United States. Army—African American troops—History—19th century. I. Title. F594.M525B35 2012 978'.02092—dc22 [B] 2011016692 (frontispiece) Maj. Gen. Henry C. Merriam. Courtesy National Archives. CONTENTS Foreword by W. Bart Berger vii Preface ix 1. Medal of Honor 1 2. Civil War Experience 7 3. Department of the Gulf: Command of Black Troops 19 4. Post–Civil War: The Occupation Army 36 5. On to the Rio Grande 49 6. A New Wife and Troubles on the Rio Grande 65 7. To the Pacific Northwest 86 8. Fort Laramie 111 9. Fort Logan, Colorado 130 10. Department of the Columbia: Vancouver Barracks and Alaska 155 11. The Spanish-American War 167 12. Department of the Colorado and the Idaho Mining Riots 174 13. Toward Retirement 193 14. Who Was Maj. Gen. Henry C. Merriam? 200 Appendix 207 Notes 211 Bibliography 231 Index 239 ...