Sidney Barracks, established in 1867, was first a temporary camp with one permanent structure, a blockhouse to the north. In 1869 the fort was relocated to this site, and in 1870 its name was officially changed to Fort Sidney. Its primary service was protecting construction crews from hostile Indians while the Union Pacific was being built. In the mid-1870’s, Fort Sidney became a major strategic point on the Plains. After gold was discovered in the Black Hills, the town of Sidney and the fort became the major supply point. During the Indian troubles of 1874-1877, the trail to Fort Robinson and the Black Hills was strategically important for freight wagons and stage coaches. At the same time, Sidney was an important trail town and railhead in the cattle business of the Old West. The last Indian alarm at Fort Sidney was the most dramatic: in 1878 the Cheyenne under Dull Knife broke from their reservation in Oklahoma and fled across Kansas and Nebraska. A special train was kept ready at Sidney to be rushed either way to intercept them when they reached the Union Pacific. On October 4 the train was rushed to Ogallala, but the Cheyenne escaped into the Sandhills. The post closed in 1894, and the buildings were sold in 1899.