Fort C. F. Smith (Fort Smith, Montana)
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Fort C. F. Smith Historic District
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| Nearest city | Fort Smith, Montana |
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| Coordinates | 45°17′59″N 107°54′59″W / 45.29972°N 107.91639°WCoordinates: 45°17′59″N 107°54′59″W / 45.29972°N 107.91639°W |
| Area | 307 acres (124 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| NRHP Reference # | 75000163 |
| Added to NRHP | October 10, 1975 |
Fort C. F. Smith was a military post established in the Powder River country by the United States Army in Montana Territory on August 12, 1866, during Red Cloud's War. Established by order of Col. Henry B. Carrington, it was one of five forts proposed to protect the Bozeman Trail against the Oglala Lakota (Sioux), who saw the trail as a violation of the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie . The fort was abandoned in 1868 and burned by the Sioux under Red Cloud.
The U.S. Army was ordered to build forts to protect the Bozeman trail after travel had become hazardous for any but the largest and best-armed parties. Colonel Henry B. Carrington was given command of the effort, planning Fort C.F. Smith at the crossing of the Bighorn River, Fort Phil Kearny to the east of the Bighorn Mountains, and Fort Reno on the Powder River. A fourth fort on the Clark Fork River was never built.
Originally named Fort Ransom, the post was renamed in commemoration of Gen. Charles Ferguson Smith. It included a 125-foot square made of adobe and wood for protection, with bastions for concentrated defense. Two companies of the 18th Infantry Regiment (approximately 90-100 officers and men) were stationed at Fort Smith during 1866, and during 1867 the garrison consisted of 400 men of the 27th Infantry.
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