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Fiedler, L[eopold], attributed.

Fort Custer M.T.

Fort Custer, Montana Territory, [ca. 1880.]. Watercolor on paper, 11.2” x 21.75”, plus margins; signed at lower right “L. Fieldler.”.

A rare bird’s eye view watercolor of Fort Custer in Montana, created by a U.S. soldier and cavalryman.

Established in 1877 by the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars, Fort Custer was located between the Big Horn and Little Big Horn Rivers, south of present-day Hardin, Montana. Named for General George A. Custer, who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876, the post was built to subdue the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow. Lieut. Col. George Pearson Buell (1833–1883) directed the construction of the fort, commanding four companies of his own Eleventh Infantry and numerous other laborers.

Shown here situated on an elevation, the fort consists of a large parade ground encircled by barracks, officers’ quarters, paths, stables, and other buildings, including a windmill and water pump station at the upper right. As seen here, the fort had no walls. Several dozen armed troops are depicted conducting drills around an American flag on the parade ground, and a smattering of other troops are scattered throughout the camp. One solider next to a horse and a dog at middle-right is shown blowing a bugle. The fort had quarters to accommodate up to ten companies and stables enough for six cavalry troops. This image is believed to represent the fort prior to 1883. Artist Leopold Fiedler served in several U.S. infantry and cavalry units between 1866 and 1885; little else is known about him.

By the time the fort was completed most of the hostile Native Americans in the area had been relocated to reservations and their threat had declined. However, the post continued to supply troops for various Plains campaigns including the 1878 Bannock War and the 1887 uprising at the Crow Agency. The fort closed in 1898; today nothing remains but a monument.

REFERENCES: Fort Custer, Montana at legendsofamerica.com

CONDITION: Very good, minor toning, barely any wear.

Item #5646

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