Powder River Telegraph Station

The Powder River Telegraph Station was a United States army telegraph repair station established in 1878 on the east bank of the Powder River in southeastern Montana Territory for the Fort Keogh to Fort Meade Telegraph line.

History
On November 1, 1878, the Powder River Telegraph Station, of the Fort Keogh to Fort Meade Telegraph line was established. On December 20, 1878, Private Leopold Hohman, of Company E, of the 5th United States Infantry Regiment assumed command of the outpost. Privates J. Broderick and L. Smith of Companies C, and H of the 5th United States Infantry Regiment, and three additional soldiers of the 2nd United States Cavalry Regiment, with one from Company B, were stationed and under the command of Hohman at the telegraph repair station. It was only a repair station, and no meteorological observations were ordered to be taken.

Two skirmishes with Native American warriors would occur near the station, and in one, the post's commander, Leopold Hohman would be wounded. In a second skirmish on April 5, 1879, an undisclosed Private of Company B, 2nd Cavalry, (one of Hohman's men), and an undisclosed Sergeant of the United States Signal Corps were ambushed by about ten Lakota Sioux Warriors. The Cavalry Private was killed, and the Signal Corps Sergeant was wounded but rode over 40 miles to Fort Keogh to inform the soldier there of the incident. The Signal Sergeant's report culminated with a patrol of about 20 men under Sergeant Thaddeus B. Glover of the 2nd Cavalry being sent out from Fort Keogh, traveling near the station, forcing the subsequent surrender and the capture of the Sioux Warriors who had made the attack.

Private Hohman would continue to command the post until the spring of 1881, when he was mustered out of the service.

Indian scout Frank Grouard, during summer 1880 when the telegraph connecting Fort McKinney was unreliable, rode regularly each week the 53 miles between the fort and the Powder River station, to carry communications. Grouard was a trusted scout whom General George Crook regarded as extremely valuable.

Powder River Telegraph Station today
The only visible remnants that soldiers occupied the station is the inscription by Private Leopold Hohman on Homan's Rock, located on top of Soldier's Mount.

Location
The Powder River Telegraph Station is located on private property in present-day Powder River County, Montana within 1 mi of the unincorporated community of Powderville, Montana, and about 34 mi north of the present-day town of Broadus, Montana.