Kansas Forts of the Old West

Kansas Forts of the Old West

Fort Lincoln (1861-64) – Located just a few miles west of the present-day semi-ghost town of Fulton, Kansas, Fort Lincoln was established by Union General James H. Lane in the summer of 1861. The post was located on the north side of the Osage River and consisted of a stockade and a large blockhouse. Primarily used to house Confederate prisoners, it also served as part of a border defense system of Fort Scott during the Civil War, protecting Kansas residents against attacks from Confederate forces. Later, the post’s name was changed to Fort Osaga, then to Fort Fulton.

Civil War era sketch of Fort Lincoln.

After the Battle of Drywood Creek, across the border in Vernon County, Missouri, which occurred on September 2, 1861, Lane believed that the Confederates would attack Fort Scott the next day. He ordered the town of Fulton evacuated and the citizens and troops to fall back to Fort Lincoln. However, the attack didn’t happen, and the citizens soon returned to their homes. The post was garrisoned troops under Lane’s command until January, 1864. Later the buildings were moved to Fort Scott. Fort Lincoln was located about 12 miles north of the city of For Scott, and just a few miles west of Fulton.

Fort Mann (1846-1848) - Located on the Santa Fe Trail just a few miles west of present-day Dodge City, Fort Mann was established in 1846 by master teamster, Daniel P. Mann, as a halfway station between Fort Leavenworth and Santa Fe. Though not an "official” military post, it was ordered to be built by Captain William M. D. McKissack, assistant quartermaster to the Army of the West, who was stationed in Santa Fe.

Daniel Mann, along with 40 teamsters began the construction of the post in April, 1846 on the north bank of the Arkansas River. Consisting of four flat-roofed buildings connected by a high stockade, the could only be entered through to 12” thick gates. In the center was a 6-pounder cannon, mounted on light wagon wheels for mobility.

The fortress was strategically positioned at a site on the route that all supply trains, regardless of the route they were taking to Santa Fe, would have to pass by. The wagon trains that passed by and the fort itself was often the target of hostile Indians. In June, 1947, the post was attacked by some 400 warriors and though the untrained men were able to repel the attack, the fort was soon abandoned. That summer, bands of Kiowas, Apaches, Pawnee and Comanches became more aggressive, killing 47 travelers, destroying 330 wagons and stealing some 6,500 head of stock and horses.

The post quickly fell into disrepair and supply trains were afraid for the lives. Finally, in October, regular military troops were sent to the post to rebuild and enlarge the post, as well as once again, providing protection along the trail. However, conditions at the post were deplorable with insufficient supplies and poor leadership. By the following year, the ineptness proved futile, officers were forced to resign and the troops returned to Fort Leavenworth. Two years later, Fort Atkinson was established to provide protection along the Santa Fe Trail. Fort Mann was located about three miles west of Dodge City.

Fort Montgomery - Greenwood County (1861-1868) – Built in what is present-day Eureka in Greenwood County in 1861, the fort was named in honor of Colonel James Montgomery, a free-state leader. Constructed by local citizens, the fortress was a solidly built large rectangular building with gunhole windows. It was surrounded by layers of green logs covered with earth up to the level of the gunholes. Built to protect local citizens from Indian attacks and proslavery forces, a small cannon was mounted outside. It was commanded by a local farmer named Leander Bemis, but was sometimes occupied by local militia and government scouts. In 1861, when Eureka’s school burned, classes were taught at the fort. Late in the Civil War, the fort expected a guerilla attack and the locals made themselves ready to fight. However, the attack didn’t come. In 1868, regular U.S. troops again occupied the fort, but their stay was brief. Afterwards, the post was dismantled and used for firewood. Today, all that is left is a marker on a building in Eureka at First and Oak Streets.

Fort Montgomery - Linn County (1855-1861) - The personal home of free-state leader, Colonel James Montgomery, this structure was also referred to as Fort Montgomery. After Montgomery's personal home, located just a few miles west of Mound City, Kansas had been burned to the ground by Missouri guerillas, he determined to protect himself and his family and began to build the fortress.

Along with several friends, the two-story log cabin fortress was built from oak and walnut trees on the side of a hill that had a wide range of vision. The second story contained portholes that not only provided for light and ventilation, but also as gunholes.

Fort Montgomery today, photo courtesy Digital Idiot

One feature that even few of Montgomery's friends knew about was a crude tunnel dug beneath the building that would later prove invaluable as Montgomery was able to escape a number of "posses" who were searching for him. He later joined the Civil War, where he was commissioned as a Colonel. After the war, Montgomery returned to his fortress, where he worked as a farmer until his death in 1871. Today, Montgomery's home has been rebuilt by the Mound City Community

Monument Rocks, courtesy Washburn University

Fort Monument (1865-1868) - Originally a Butterfield stage station along the Smoky Hill Trail to Colorado, troops were first sent there in November, 1865 to protect the station and travelers from Indian attacks. Formerly called Monument Station for the castle-like rocks to the north, the stage station was sometimes referred to as Antelope Station. Once the soldiers were posted their, the post was also nicknamed Fort Pyramid, once again for the monolithic rocks. The post saw one engagement on August 22, 1867 when a freight train of about 40 wagons was attacked in the early morning by several hundred Sioux and Cheyenne Indians.

Sheltered behind their wagons, the teamsters were able to withstand a siege of more than 30 hours. They were reinforced the next day by a government freight train with a detachment of soldiers and finally forced the Indians to leave. The troops were withdrawn in June, 1868. The site has no buildings remaining and can only be identified by a few low mounds where dugouts once were. It is located near the Gove County, Kansas boundary about one mile southwest of Monument Rocks.

Fort Riley (1852-Present) - See full article HERE!

Fort Scott (1842-1865) - See full article HERE!

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