Kansas Forts

American Forts: West

KANSAS

Last Update: 06/JANUARY/2007

Camp Martin
(1818 - 1820, 1826 - 1861 intermittant), near Atchison
The first American post in present-day Kansas. Established on Cow Island (aka Isle au Vache or Isle de Vache) in the Missouri River south of town. Also known as Cantonment Martin, and Fort Kansas. Re-established in 1826 as Camp Croghan, and abandoned in 1832. The site was again garrisoned in 1847, 1856, and 1861.

Fort Kanses
(unknown - 1759 ?), near Fort Leavenworth
A French fort located at the mouth of Salt Creek, about 12 miles north of present-day Fort Leavenworth, and about one mile from the Kansa village known to archaeologists as "Fort Village". It was in existance in 1757, but abandoned shortly thereafter. The ruins of this post were noted by Lewis and Clark in 1804. It is possible that this may be an alternate location for Fort de Cavagnial (see below).

Fort Leavenworth (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1827 - present), Leavenworth
Previously called Cantonment Leavenworth, the palisaded fort was built to protect eastern segments of the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails, and became the main supply depot for all other western posts. Remnants of a loopholed stone wall (1827) still exist. The post was occupied by Kickapoo Indians in 1829 and was given its current name in 1832. It claims to be the oldest continually active military post west of the Mississippi River. Camp Lincoln was established here during the Civil War to train volunteers. This was the first permanent white settlement in the state, and once served as the territorial capital in 1854. The Leavenworth Arsenal was established in 1859. The Frontier Army Museum is currently located on post. The Army Prison Stockade was established here in 1875, now the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. It is now the only major military prison serving all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Established in 1881 was the School of Application for Infantry and Cavalry, now known as the Command and General Staff College. Became a major training facility in WWI. A camp for the CCC was built here in 1933.

Located here, or near here, were other posts which included Camp Bateman (1857 - 1858), Camp Magruder (1860), Camp Thompson (1858), and Fort Sully - also known as Camp Sully, a redoubt located west of the National Cemetery that protected the main post in 1865.

Fort de Cavagnial
(1744 - 1760 ?, 1764), Kansas City
Initially a small circular palisade, known as Post of the Missouri, or Fort de la Trinité. Later renamed and reconfigured as an 80-foot square palisade with bastions in each angle (two one-story and two two-story), a 30-foot by 20-foot two-story commander's house, two barracks, a guard house, and a 10-foot square powder magazine. All buildings were constructed of wooden stakes/posts covered with mud and bark. Known as Fort Cavagnolle to the British. Located on the Missouri River below the mouth of the Kansas River (across the river from present-day Kansas City Downtown Airport), it was the western-most post of New France. It was established by French traders and soldiers under Joseph Dervisseau, hoping to trade with the Spanish at Santa Fe, NM (a failure), and also with the Kansa, Wichita, and Pawnee Indians of the region. In 1758 the garrison was only one officer and seven or eight soldiers. The Spanish briefly took over the post in 1764, but it probably was already abandoned by the French before 1760. (NOTE: see also Fort Kanses listed above)

Camp at Shawnee Mission
(1857), Shawnee
A temporary Federal encampment.

Cyprian Chouteau's Post
(1820's - 1855), near Kansas City ?
An American Fur Co. post on the south bank of the Kansas River north of Turner (location ?). It was destroyed by a flood in 1826. It was rebuilt later on a new site nearby. Peter Sarpy wintered over at this post in 1836 - 1837, gathering supplies to establish Fort Jackson in Colorado.

Fort Lane
(1856 - 1857), Lawrence
Located at present-day Kansas University on Mount Oread.

Fort Wakarusa
(1855), near Lawrence
A Free-Staters' blockhouse during the Wakarusa War of 1855. Located about five miles southwest of town on the Wakarusa River.

Fort Clinton
(1840 - 1850), Clinton

Fort Defiance
(1855 - 1861 ?), Douglas County

Fort Saunders
(1856), near Clinton
A Pro-Slavers' log fort captured and burned by Free-Staters. Located about four miles southeast of town on a bluff on the east bank of Washington Creek.

Fort Titus
(1856), Lecompton
Pro-Slaver leader Col. H.T. Titus' fortified log cabin located about two miles south of town. After the burning of Lawrence it was the site of a battle between the Free-Staters and Pro-Slavers. The cabin was burned down and the fort destroyed. Located here or nearby may have been Fort Lecompton, also manned by Pro-Slavers.

Fort Simple (Old Stockade Site)
(1863 - 1866), Topeka
Also called Fort Folly. It was a roofless log stockade built by civilians for protection from Confederate raiders. It was never attacked. A plaque embedded in the sidewalk at 6th Street and Kansas Avenue marks the location.

Camp Crawford
(1868), Topeka
Created by and named after the governor after declaring a state of emergency during Indian troubles. The two legislative halls in the old state house were initially used as barracks for the volunteer force until a large tent camp extended from 2nd to 5th Streets.

Post at Topeka
(1857, 1883), Topeka
Temporary Army garrisons were maintained within the city.

Camp Leedy
(1898), Topeka
A Spanish-American War training camp located at the old Fairgrounds at 17th Street and Topeka Ave., now the Kansas Expocenter.

Fort Riley (U.S. Military Reservation)
(1853 - present), Junction City
Previously called Camp Center due to being located near the geographical center, at the time, of the United States. It was also called Camp Moon, and given its current name in 1853. It was built to protect eastern segments of the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails. Permanent buildings were constructed beginning in 1855. In 1891 the fort became a cavalry and field artillery school. Located here is the U.S. Army Cavalry Museum.

The first Territorial capital (1855) was located at Pawnee Flats, which is now within the modern military reservation. The two-story building still stands. Camp Sanger (1902 - 1903) was later established at Pawnee Flats for field maneuvers. Camp Funston (1917 - 1920), a National Army cantonment training site and demobilization center for the 89th Division, was created on the eastern side of the Fort Riley reservation. All buildings were removed by 1925. Two monuments to Camp Funston are located on Huebner Ave. Camp Whitside, a National Guard camp established at Fort Riley in 1924, was converted into the hospital cantonment during World War II. Camp Forsyth was established on the western side of Fort Riley (Republican Flats) in 1940 and was used for the Cavalry Replacement Training Center after 1941.

Camp Marysville
(1857), Marysville
A temporary Army encampment.

Camp Bull Creek
(1856), near Paola
Established by pro-slavery forces from Missouri. Quickly abandoned when they learned they were to be attacked by the Free-Staters.

Camp Halpine
(1862), Osawatomie
A temporary Civil War encampment.

Miami Valley Post
(1861 ?), Miami County
A temporary Army post on or near Miami Creek. Possibly a reference to Camp Halpine (?).

Pierre Chouteau Jr.'s Trading Post
(1834 - unknown), Trading Post
A Northwestern Co. fur post. Also called Michael Giraud's Trading Post. Became an Army post in 1842. In 1858 five Free-State men were murdered here by a pro-slavery gang from Missouri during the so-called "Marais des Cynges Massacre".

This may also be the location of Auguste Pierre Chouteau's Marais des Cygnes Post (1825) that was operated by Cyprian Chouteau and Francis Guesseau. This was also probably the site of the Federal government's fur-trade warehouse (Indian Factory) (Little) Osage River Post (1819 - 1822).

Fort Bain
(1857 - 1858), near Fulton
Built by Free-Staters on the north-side of the Little Osage River. Also known as Capt. Bain's Fort.

Fort Lincoln
(1861 - 1879), Fulton
A log stockade originally located 12 miles south at Fort Scott, used primarily as a Confederate POW camp. It was relocated in 1864 to three miles northwest of town.

Fort Scott (National Historic Site)
(1842 - 1853, 1862 - 1865, 1869 - 1873), Fort Scott
Originally called Camp Scott until 1843. Initially garrisoned by the troops from Fort Wayne, OK. Abandoned for Fort Riley and other posts when the frontier moved west, but reactivated in 1862 as a stockaded fort with three two-story log blockhouses, each with its own name; Fort Henning, Fort Insley, and Fort Blair (1). The Fort Blair Blockhouse, rebuilt in 1958, is now located in Blair Park. The post was re-occupied again in 1869, known as Post of Southeastern Kansas, to stop settlers from settling on Cherokee lands in Indian Territory, and to guard railroad construction crews. Many of the original buildings have been restored or reconstructed. The Headquarters House was restored in 1939. The former parade ground is now Carroll Plaza. The National Cemetery was established in 1862.
Located nearby in 1858 was Camp Cuyler, which lasted only one month. Located nearby in 1864 was Fort McKean, a temporary encampment occupied by Wisconsin cavalry.

Fort Humboldt
(unknown dates), Humboldt ?

Camp at Kickapoo
(1858), Allen County
A Federal encampment at the Kickapoo Indian villages.

Fort Belmont
(1860 - 1865), Buffalo
A stage station fortified by the Army during the Civil War. Site located two miles west of town.

Fort Montgomery
(1861 - 1869), Eureka
A local militia fort.

Camp Drywood
(1871), Englevale
A temporary Army post to protect the railroad south of Fort Scott.

Fort Franklin
(1856), Franklin
A blockhouse occupied by pro-slavery forces. They were attacked and defeated by free-state forces. The blockhouse was built adjacent to the town's post office.

Fort Blair (2)
(1863), Baxter Springs
Made of logs and sod-covered earthworks. Also called Fort Baxter. The "Baxter Springs Massacre" took place here in 1863. On site is a modern reconstruction.

Fort Roach
(unknown dates), Labette County
Located just south of the Neosho County line.

Special thanks to Marshall Sitrin for providing information on several U.S. Army posts and fortified stage stations throughout Kansas.

Western Kansas - page 2