Fort Howes

Fort Howes was a United States civilian's redoubt established in 1897 in Custer County, Montana in response to the murder of a sheepherder.

History
Fort Howes was established in the spring or summer of 1897 by Custer County civilians after a sheepherder named John Hoover, who worked for John Barringer and his sheep dog were murdered by several Cheyenne Warriors between April 28, and May 3, 1897, near the town of Ashland, Montana. After Hoover's body was recovered on May 27, 1897, The women and children that lived near Ashland, Montana were sent to both Sheridan, Wyoming and Miles City, Montana. The civilian men of the Ashland area began building the structure on the crest of a hill located on the Howes ranch, along Otter Creek, a tributary of the Tongue River. The walls were built with multiple spaces intended for rifles to shoot through, and one large opening was also left for the men to enter. Finally there was a wooden plank roof built over the fort. Weapons, ammunition, food, and water were stored inside. At its completion, the walls measured eight feet by ten feet, and the redoubt was named after Captain Calvin C. Howes, who owned the land that the fort stood upon. Civilian guards made up of cowboys and stock men were posted at the fort, and on multiple occasions early that summer, Howes's guards observed Cheyenne Warriors riding near, and examining the structure. Custer County Sheriff John Gibbs came to the Howes ranch and made twelve men including Captain Calvin C. Howes deputies. The group was joined by a number of cowboys, then numbering around 200 rode to Lame Deer, Montana to apprehend the Cheyenne warriors that had killed John Hoover. A contingent of United States Army soldiers from nearby Fort Keogh also traveled to Lame Deer to keep the peace. After discussing the situation with the Cheyenne's through interpreters, the guilty Cheyenne warriors were turned over to Custer County Sheriff Gibbs, and his deputies. Later the Cheyenne's were released. The anticipated "Indian uprising" did not take place, and the fort was abandoned later in the summer of 1897.

Fort Howes today
The rock walls are present at the original location and by 2014 have been standing for 117 years, although the original roof has been replaced.

Location
Fort Howes is located on private property near a county road in present-day Powder River County, Montana near the unincorporated community of Otter, Montana, and south of the present-day census designated place, Ashland, Montana. It stands at 3,297 feet (1,005 meters) above sea level, and it's coordinates are 45, 17' 00" North and 106, 08' 53" West.