Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
FORT DUBUQUE: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
The fort's defenders caught the attackers by surprise and appeared to have the battle won until artillery blasted the fort from the rear. A cavalry charge "captured" the defenders as they ran for cover. Following the brief campaign, soldiers retired to Camp Henderson, named in honor of [[HENDERSON, David B.|David B. HENDERSON]]. Before leaving, many were able to visit Dubuque where streets were decorated with flags and banners. | The fort's defenders caught the attackers by surprise and appeared to have the battle won until artillery blasted the fort from the rear. A cavalry charge "captured" the defenders as they ran for cover. Following the brief campaign, soldiers retired to Camp Henderson, named in honor of [[HENDERSON, David B.|David B. HENDERSON]]. Before leaving, many were able to visit Dubuque where streets were decorated with flags and banners. | ||
[[Category: Events]] | |||
Revision as of 00:54, 8 December 2008
FORT DUBUQUE. Scene of one of the largest mock battles ever staged in the United States. In 1884 fifty railroad cars were used to transport troops, artillery, and horses to Dubuque for what would be the largest military encampment held in the nation since the CIVIL WAR. The purpose of the exercise, according to the officers in charge, was to give the troops valuable and realistic combat practice. Every major military unit in the United States was represented. The site of the maneuvers held June 16-24 was the fairground north of town.
On a 250-foot bluff, Fort Dubuque and an extensive earthworks were constructed. Two rifle pits, each 240 feet long, were dug around the fort. A second pit along the bluffs peak hid twenty cannons. Military units, which competed for prizes in drills prior to the battle, began arriving on Monday. Three were selected to defend the fort. Seventeen units, each with 100 men, were scheduled to attack the fort on Friday.
On the day of the "battle," the attackers had to wade across muddy low lands before beginning the climb up the bluff. Blank mortar shells thundered in the air, and screams of "wounded" soldiers could be heard. Hand-to-hand "combat" occasionally broke into genuine fights.
An estimated 20,000 spectators watched the action from the amphitheater at the fairground or sites chosen on the hillsides. Chartered trains and STEAMBOATS brought the curious from all over the United States. When overloaded streetcars were unable to carry all the visitors to the fairgrounds, the determined tourists walked along the tracks in a line estimated to be two miles long. When clerks were unable to sell tickets quickly enough, the mob began crawling over the fence that was quickly flattened.
The fort's defenders caught the attackers by surprise and appeared to have the battle won until artillery blasted the fort from the rear. A cavalry charge "captured" the defenders as they ran for cover. Following the brief campaign, soldiers retired to Camp Henderson, named in honor of David B. HENDERSON. Before leaving, many were able to visit Dubuque where streets were decorated with flags and banners.