1864 Drawing by PVT. William S. Peck, 30th Wisconsin Infantry, Company D. Drawing of Fort Sully, Dakota Territory.
So why did John Thompson settle in South Dakota? Well he had already been in “DAKOTA” with General Sullys Northwest Expedition! He must have know the land was opening up again at the end of the war.
John was a Union soldier in the 30th Wisconsin Company H.
John mustered into Company H, 30th Wis. on Aug 21, 1862. John had first been in the 7th Wisconsin Infantry but had mustered out because of ill health. But as my Norwegian ancestors would say “He was of good Tronder stock and could not be kept down….don’t you know.” John was promoted to Corporal and was mustered out on Sept 20th, 1865. John’s duty was at Green Bay, West Bay and other points in Wisconsin was enforcing draft (There were riots that they had to help quell), etc., till March, 1863. Headquarters of Regiment at Camp Randall till December 26, 1862, then at Camp Reno, Milwaukee, Wis.
On April 20th, 1864 the 30th WIS INF Companies “A,” “C,” “F” and “H” (John’s company) left Milwaukee, Wis., to join General Sully’s Northwestern Indian Expedition. The 30th WIS moved from St. Louis to Fort Sully, Dakota Territory then to Fort Rice until Oct 1864. When I say “moved” I mean they built their own flat boats in St Louis and poled them up river to Fort Sully.
John Thompson also helped build Fort Rice in North Dakota! In April 1864 Col. Dill from 30th WIS took four companies of the 30th WIS, Co. A, C, H (John’s), from Wisconsin out to Dakota and up the Missouri to Fort Sully. They took on Companies F and D stayed at Fort Sully and went to the mouth of the Cannon Ball river then to Fort Rice. Reaching there on July 15th. There is also a reference to July 9th as the start of the building of Fort Rice.
John also helped rescue some pioneers! On Sept 11th 1864 Gen Sully dispatched Col. Dill and the four WIS companies to rescue a train of emigrants near the Montana Dakota boarder. They enlisted men did not have horses….they walked and maybe had a wagon or two. They reached them on Sept. 20th and returned to Fort Rice on Sept 28th.