Missouri Forts

American Forts: West

MISSOURI

Last Update: 08/JUNE/2010

Camp Hard Times
(1839), near Chambersburg
A state militia encampment during the so-called "Honey War" border dispute between Missouri and Iowa. It was located at the old town site of Waterloo, on the Fox River near town. The Iowans had an encampment at Farmington on the Des Moines River. The dispute was settled in Iowa's favor.

Fort Pike
(1832), near St. Francisville
A local militia fort garrisoned for only three months during the Black Hawk War. Initially known as Camp Weaver's Spring.

Spanish Fort
(1791), near Alexandria
A Spanish fort was proposed several times to be built at the mouth of the Des Moines River to prevent British (Canadian) traders from the western fur trade. It was never constructed.

Fort Clark (2)
(1832), Sublette
A MO state militia fort during the Black Hawk War. A triangular palisade with three blockhouses. The fort existed for many years after the war as a stable.

Fort Madison
(1812 - 1813), Sublette
A Federal post destroyed by the troops to prevent Indian capture.

Fort Matson
(1832), near Sublette
A MO state militia palisaded blockhouse, with a detached powder magazine and storehouse, built by Capt. Richard Matson during the Black Hawk War. It was never completed before it was abandoned. Sometimes erroneously referred to as Fort Madison by later historians. Site located at the Fort Madison Cemetery northeast of town.

François Le Sieur's Trading Post (2)
(1790's ?), Canton
A French settlers' fort and trading post reconstructed at the Center for Living History Preservation.

South River Fort
(1860's), Hannibal
A Union fort guarding the railroad bridge at South River. A reconstruction is on McMasters Ave.. The original site is now a shopping center.
(thanks to Marshall Sitrin for info)

Fort Mason
(1812 - 1814), near Saverton
A local militia fort protecting the settlement here from Indian raids. Built by Lt. John Mason. Garrisoned for a short time by regular troops from Fort Belle Fontaine.

Samuel Gilbert's Fort
(1812 - 1815), Ralls County
A settlers' blockhouse on the Salt River, on a hill northeast of Shepards or Matson Mill.

Buffalo Fort
(1812 - 1813), Louisiana
A settlers' fort located two miles southwest of town on Buffalo Creek. Built by Missouri Rangers, it was abandoned and burned in March 1813.

Clarksville Stockade
(1812), Clarksville
A temporary stockade erected by the settlers, it was abandoned after they were killed by Indians.

Fort Independence
(1813 - 1815), near Foley
A local militia fort built by the Missouri Rangers, located two miles east of town, eight miles above the mouth of the Cuivre River, opposite Cap au Gris on the Illinois-side of the Mississippi River. Also known as Cap au Gris Fort. Burned in 1813 shortly after being built, but reoccupied until the end of the war.

Fort Howard
(1812 - 1815), Old Monroe
A local militia stockaded fort with three blockhouses, built under orders from Captain Nathan Boone. Garrisoned by 60 - 70 men, and accommodating 30 families. The "Battle of the Sinkhole" occurred here in May 1815.

Captain White's Fort
(1812 - unknown), near Old Monroe
A settlers' fort located two miles south of the Cuivre River on Dog (or Big) Prairie, about two miles from Fort Howard. Attacked by Indians, killing 12 soldiers. They are buried in town.

Major Christopher Clark's Fort
(1812 - 1815), Troy
A settlers' fort located three and one half miles southeast of town.

Zadoc Woods' Fort
(1812 - 1815), Troy
A settlers' stockaded fort.

Stout's Fort
(1812 - 1815), Auburn
A local militia stockaded fort located one mile south of the old town on Fort Branch Creek. Site no longer exists.

Pond Fort
(1812 - 1815), near Wentzville
A local militia fort located on Dardenne Prairie, southwest of town. It consisted of a group of log homes in a square, south of a large pond. Site possibly still exists.

Fort Orleans (2)
(1755 - unknown), O'Fallon
A French fort.

Fort Zumwalt (Park)
(1812 - 1815), O'Fallon
Originally built as a log cabin in 1798 by Jacob Zumwalt, enlarged with two wings with portholes during the War of 1812, and then stockaded (aka Jacob Zumwalt's Fort. Sold in 1817. Some ruins remain. The Darius Heald Home (1886) is located in the park. The former state park was sold to the city in 1978.

Fort Peruque
(1861), Peruque
A Union fortified two-story blockhouse located at the end of the Wabash Railroad bridge over Peruque Creek.

François Le Sieur's Trading Post (1)
(1790's - unknown), Portage des Sioux
A French settlers' trading post. It was already established before the Spanish Portage des Sioux Fort (1).

Portage des Sioux Fort (1)
(1799 - unknown), Portage des Sioux
A Spanish fort built to counter the Americans and British.

Portage des Sioux Blockhouse (2)
(1813 - 1815), Portage des Sioux
A local militia blockhouse.

A gun battery called Fort Lookout was located on an island one mile downriver.

Louis Blanchette's Trading Post
(1769), St. Charles
A trading post built by a French-Canadian trader. The settlement was first known as Les Petites Côtes.

St. Charles Blockhouse
(1793), St. Charles
A stone blockhouse located in the town's "common fields" to protect horses and livestock from Indian raids. It was about 24 by 32 feet, with walls about 18 inches thick. Two gunports were in each wall. The still-intact structure was discovered in 2004 incorporated inside of an old barn located off of Muegge Road, prior to demolition for the new Spring Mill residential development. The structure was dismantled and relocated to the Historic Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village (admission fee) in nearby Defiance, owned and operated by Lindenwood University. When discovered it had only one story. It is not known if there was originally a second story. A conjectural thatch roof was added when reconstructed. This is the only known intact Spanish-era fortification in the greater St. Louis area.

Old Round Stone Fort
(1797 - 1805), St. Charles
A circular stone tower wind-powered gristmill constructed in 1797 by Spanish trader Antoine Roy (Roi), built of notched stone 30-feet high and 30-feet in diameter. It was located at present-day Third and Adams Streets. It was never used as a fort, but the fog of history mystified its origins. It was torn down after the Civil War.

St. Charles Post
(1804 - unknown), St. Charles
A Federal stockaded post located at the foot of Clay Street. Later used as a trading post. Site was destroyed in 1960 for a parking lot.

St. Charles Arsenal
(unknown dates), St. Charles
A state arsenal/armory once located at 314 South Second Street. It was demolished in 1961.

Fort Bunker
(1861 - unknown), St. Charles
A Union fort located on Bunker Hill (named after the war), near the present St. Charles Reservoir. A school was used as barracks, site now Mount Pleasant School. Two nearby mills were used as a hospital and a prison.

Coontz's Fort
(1812 - 1815), Cottleville
A settlers' log fort built by Colonel John Coontz and his brother Nicholas, located on Boone's Lick Road one and one-half miles east of town. The original house was built in 1800. Became a tavern after the war. Site is marked as Kountz Fort, a misspelling.

Camp Krekel
(1861), Cottleville
A Union training and muster camp.

Francis (François) Howell's Fort
(1811 - 1815), near Weldon Spring
A settlers' fort located on Howell's Prairie near Dardenne Creek, now within the August A. Busch Wildlife Area.

John Castlio's Fort
(1811 - 1815), near Weldon Spring
A settlers' fort located one and one-half miles from Howell's Fort on Howell's Prairie, near Dardenne Creek.

Daniel Morgan Boone's Fort
(1812 - 1815), Matson
A settlers' fort built by the son of the famous pioneer, with two or three blockhouses. Located in Darst's Bottom on Femme Osage Creek.

Femme Osage Fort
(1812 - 1815), Mechanicsville
A settlers' fort.

Fort Charette
(Historic Village and Museum)
(1790 - 1804), Washington
A recreation of a French settlers' fur-trading post in Spanish Upper Louisiana. Admission fee. An Anglo-American and Creole village called La Charette later grew around the old fort in 1804, but the site was later washed away by the river.

Across the river in Dutzow was Spanish Fort San Juan del Misuri (1796), a log fort built to protect settlers. There was no reference to this post after 1803.

Callaway's Fort
(1812 - 1815), Marthasville
Either a local militia fort built by the Missouri Rangers under 2nd Lt. James Callaway, OR
a settlers' two-story log fort built by Flanders Callaway, father of James.

Thomas Kennedy's Fort
(1811 - 1815), Wright City
A settlers' stockaded fort with two blockhouses, located one mile east of town on Peruque Creek. It was dismantled after the war.

Journey's Fort
(1812 - 1815), near Warrenton (?)
A settlers' fort located about 15 miles west of Pond Fort. Built by brothers Peter, Joseph, and James Journey.

Fort Clemson
(1812 - 1815), near McKittrick
A local militia fort located on the upper part of Loutre Island. Also known as Camp Clemson.

Talbot's Fort
(1812 - 1815), near McKittrick
A settlers' fort located on a bluff above Loutre Island.

Jacob Quick's Fort
(1812 - 1815), near McKittrick
A settlers' fort located at the mouth of the Loutre River in the east end of Best's Bottom.

Isaac Best's Fort
(1812 - 1814), near McKittrick
A settlers' fort located near the mouth of the Loutre River in the west end of Best's Bottom. Abandoned for Fort Clemson due to nearby Indian attacks.

McDermit's Fort
(1812 - 1815), near Big Spring (?)
A settlers' fort located up the Loutre River. Undetermined location.

Jacob Grooms' Fort
(1814), near Big Spring
A settlers' fort located eight miles up the Loutre River from its mouth.

Fort Côte sans Dessein
(1812 - 1815), near Tebbetts
A reference to two settlers' blockhouse forts located opposite the mouth of the Osage River, Joseph Thibault's (Tibeau's, Tebo's) Fort and Jean Baptiste Roi's (Roy's) Fort, about 400 yards apart with a log powder magazine between the two. They were attacked by Sauk and Fox Indians in April 1815 who attempted to burn the blockhouses. The settlers put out each attempt first with their drinking water, then their milk supply, and then with the contents of their bed chamberpots. The Indians then fled the scene.

Jefferson City Civil War Defenses
(1861 - 1863), Jefferson City
Fort Jefferson (1861 - 1863), a Union fort, undetermined location.
Camp Lillie (1861), a Union camp located one mile south of town.

Johnson's Fort
(1813 - 1815), near Jefferson City (?)
The Sauk (Sac) and Fox Indian Agency after Fort Osage was temporarily abandoned. It was a two-story blockhouse located on Little Moniteau Creek (location ?), upriver from town.

Camp Tipton
(1861), Tipton
A Union camp located at the fairgrounds.

Sturgeon Blockhouse
(1864), Sturgeon
A Union blockhouse was located here during the Civil War.

Head's Fort
(1811 - 1815), near Rocheport
A settlers' stockaded fort located on Big Moniteau Creek, a few miles north of town. Named after Moses Head, OR Captain William Head.

Fort Hempstead
(1812 - 1815), New Franklin
A settlers' stockaded fort with two blockhouses, located one mile north of town near Sulphur Creek. It was originally named Rev. David McLain's (or McClain) Fort. Renamed after Captain Stephen Hempstead of the local militia.

David Kinkead's Fort
(1812 - 1815), near Franklin
A settlers' stockaded fort with several cabins forming the walls, located about one mile west of town.

Camp Totten
(1860's), Franklin
A temporary Union camp.

Hannah Cole's Fort
(1814 - 1815), Boonville
A settlers' stockaded fort on a bluff on the eastern side of town, built after Stephen's fort was attacked and then abandoned. Hannah's husband William Cole (who was killed by Indians in 1807) was Stephen's brother.

Stephen Cole's Fort
(1812 - 1814), Boonville
A settlers' stockaded fort located one and one-half miles east of town, in what is today called "Old Fort Field". Brother-in-law to Hannah. Attacked and then abandoned for Hannah's Fort.

Camp Vest
(1861), Boonville
A Confederate camp.

Captain Benjamin Cooper's Fort
(Boone's Lick State Historic Site)
(1812 - 1815), Petersburg
A settlers' stockaded fort with cabins for 20 families. The largest of the so-called "Boone's Lick Forts". Destroyed by a flood in 1844.

Arrow Rock Fort
(Arrow Rock State Historic Site)
(1813 - 1815), Arrow Rock
A two-story log blockhouse built as the new Osage Indian Agency after Fort Osage was temporarily abandoned. Also known as George Sibley's Fort (2).

Jesse Cox's Fort
(1814 - 1815), near Arrow Rock
A settlers' stockaded blockhouse located three miles north of town in Cox's Bottom. Also called Anderson's Fort.

William McMahan's Fort
(1811 - 1815), near Arrow Rock
A settlers' fort located on the west-side of the Missouri River, about five miles from Cooper's Fort. Located about four miles north of Arrow Rock.

William Reed's Blockhouse
(1812 - 1815), near Arrow Rock
A settlers' blockhouse. Site is now under water, in the Boone's Lick region.

Buckhart's Fort
(1812 - 1815), near Arrow Rock
A settlers' fort in the Boone's Lick region.

Fort Henry ?
(unknown dates), near Huntsville

Fort Orleans (1)
(1723 - 1728), near De Witt
Built by the French under Étienne Véniard de Bourgmont, with 40 men, located on the north bank of the Missouri River upstream of the mouth of the Grand River, near the Utz Archaeological Site, to keep out the Spanish and to gain military control of the Missouri River. It was abandoned after several Indian attacks. The exact site has most probably been lost to erosion. A marker erected by the D.A.R. is located near the river's mouth, east of town.

Van Meter (State Park)
(unknown dates), Miami
A prehistoric Indian site which includes a Missouri Indian earthwork known as "Old Fort".

Fort Mulligan
(Battle of Lexington State Historic Site)
(1861), Lexington
A Union earthwork surrounding Masonic College, built by Col. James Mulligan. Union trenches still exist at the preserved battlefield. Confederates lay seige to the town in September 1861, and the Union forces surrendered.

Fort Osage
(1808 - 1813, 1815 - 1827), near Sibley FORT WIKI
A temporary stockade which also served as the Sauk (Sac), Fox, and Osage Indian Agency. This was the first Federal fort in the interior of Louisiana Territory. Originally known as Fort (William) Clark (1) (under whose orders the fort was built) and later also as Fiery Prairie Fort, or Fort (George) Sibley (1), the Post Factor and Indian Agent. The site, northeast of town on a hill overlooking the river, was first marked as "Fort Point" in 1804 during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The fort consisted of five blockhouses, barracks, hospital, Officers' quarters, and trading post. The fort was abandoned in 1813, and the Indian Agency was moved to Arrow Rock (see above) and Little Moniteau Creek near present-day Jefferson City (see Johnson's Fort above). The Indian Agency was re-established here in 1815, regarrisoned with troops in 1816, and it remained open until 1822. The post was then used as a military storehouse until 1827, when Fort Leavenworth was built to replace the post. The post was reconstructed in the 1940's.
Another website from Graphics/Fine Arts Press

Liberty Arsenal
(1850's - 1861), Liberty
A state arsenal located south of town on the river bluff. It was attacked by pro-slavers in 1855, and attacked by secessionists in 1861.

Kansas City Civil War Camps
(1861), Kansas City
Camp Jennison (1861), undetermined location.
Camp Union (1) (1861), located at 10th and Central Streets.

Joseph Robideaux' Trading Post
(1828 - 1840's), St. Joseph
A fur trading post, the site of which is at Riverfront Park. Also known as the Black Snake Hills Post. The town was founded in 1840.

St. Joseph Post
(1863 - 1864), St. Joseph
A Union post during the Civil War.

NEED MORE INFO: French Fort le Huillier (1730) (location ?); settlers' Lester's Fort (1812) along Lower Missouri River (location ?); settlers' McCoy's Fort (1812) along the Lower Missouri River (location ?); Union cavalry Camp Hunt (1862) (location ?)

Southern Missouri - page 2

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