Fort Abraham Lincoln is best known as the place where Gen. George Custer's troops ate, slept and fatefully prepared for a lost battle. But in the midst of U.S. soldiers throughout the frontier years were brave men of a different background: American Indian scouts who helped them navigate the Dakota landscape.

It's these men depicted in grainy black and white photos beside names like Bloody Knife and Bob Tail Bull who are featured in Fort Abraham Lincoln's newest exhibit.

The exhibit officially opened Saturday morning, and a trail was dedicated in the scout's honor that afternoon. Located on one end of the fort's replica cabins, the exhibit features panels with descriptions of the different scouts and their exploits.

The Ft. Abraham Lincoln Foundation intends to expand it in the future, possibly with artifacts from the American Indian scout era.

Matt Schanandore, assistant director foundation, said the idea for the new exhibit occurred about a year and a half ago when the foundation found out it would be getting a grant from the state tourism department.

Schanandore said many ideas were considered, but that a tribute to the American Indian scouts was finally selected.

"Obviously, Custer will always be the main draw, but this will be a valuable addition to the story told at Ft. Abraham Lincoln," he said.

About two dozen people braved the morning rain storms to attend a dedication ceremony that featured a troop of late-1800s era Army reinactors, and well as traditional American Indian prayers and songs.

"This is something that should have been done a long time ago," said Al Johnson, the park's frontier military interpretive director.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli@bismarcktribune.com.)