Camp Collins facts for kids

Camp Collins, also known as the Fort Collins Military Reservation, was a small army base in the 1800s. It was located in what is now Colorado. The camp started in the summer of 1862. Its main purpose was to protect travelers on the Overland Trail from conflicts with some Native American groups. These conflicts later became known as the Colorado War.

Camp Collins was built along the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County. It first stood near a place called Laporte. But a big flood destroyed the camp, so it had to move. The second location, further down the Poudre River, was used until 1866. This new spot eventually grew into the City of Fort Collins.

History

Laporte location (1862–1864)

The army camp officially began on July 22, 1862. It was later named after Lt. Col. William O. Collins. He was a leader of the 11th Ohio Cavalry and was in charge of Fort Laramie. The first camp at Laporte was built by soldiers from the 9th Kansas Cavalry.

The camp's main job was to protect people traveling on the Overland Trail. This trail was used by pioneers and stagecoaches. There were growing conflicts with some Plains Indians tribes. Because of these tensions, the main travel route had been moved south. Even though relations with the Arapaho and Cheyenne near the camp were mostly peaceful, the army set up the fort as a safety measure. This was due to conflicts with other tribes further east.

The camp was built near an existing settlement called Laporte. This town had been founded in 1858 by Antoine Janis and other settlers. Even though this area wasn't part of the Colorado Gold Rush, many settlers were attracted to the fertile lands along the Poudre River. The Arapaho people continued to live peacefully in villages near the mountains. This was despite losing their hunting grounds on the eastern plains in 1861.

For its first two years, the fort was a quiet place. It didn't see much direct fighting and never had protective walls. In late 1862, the 9th Kansas Cavalry was replaced by the 1st Colorado Volunteer Cavalry. In July 1863, some soldiers left to chase Ute tribes in the mountains. In April 1864, the remaining soldiers were sent to another camp. Then, in mid-May 1864, Company F of the 11th Ohio Cavalry arrived.

The biggest event at the Laporte camp happened soon after the 11th Ohio arrived. It wasn't a battle, but a huge flood on the Poudre River. This happened in early June 1864, caused by melting snow. The flood almost completely destroyed the camp. Many soldiers barely escaped with their lives.

Poudre location (1864–1867)

Because the old site was so bad, the army decided to find a new spot. A local settler named Joseph Mason suggested a new place. It was four miles downstream on the Poudre River, on high ground. This spot was safe from floods and had a good view of the area. It was also directly on the "Denver Road," which was part of the Overland Trail. This new location was also away from the saloons in Laporte.

On August 20, 1864, Colonel Collins ordered the camp to move to Mason's suggested site. The new post was called "Fort Collins." By October 22, the soldiers had fully moved in, and the Laporte site was completely empty. The new site also saw little direct fighting. However, it was close to a growing community of new settlers. Its location on the Denver Road made it a busy center for travel and trade.

The site of the new camp is now in Old Town in Fort Collins. It's between Jefferson Street and the Poudre River. The actual military area was quite large, but the camp buildings were in a small part of Old Town. The main parade ground was a 300-foot square. It was located where Willow and Linden Streets meet today. The camp had standard buildings like barracks for soldiers, officers' quarters, and stables. These buildings were made of logs. Today, a sign near the intersection shows where the original camp buildings stood. None of them are still there.

The first businesses were built nearby. This included a two-story inn owned by an early settler named "Auntie" Elizabeth Stone. Her building was moved in the 1900s to the Fort Collins Museum.

After 1865, conflicts with Native Americans decreased. This made the fort less important. In September 1866, the post was completely abandoned. It was officially closed the next year by order of General William T. Sherman.

Site of the town of Fort Collins

After the army left, local business owners and residents quickly took over the land. They used it for businesses, even though the land was still officially owned by the government until 1872. By 1869, Elizabeth Stone and Henry C. Peterson built the first flour mill on the Poudre River. They also built a 1.5-mile channel to bring water to power the mill. The first white child born in Fort Collins, Agnes Mason, was born in the old camp headquarters on October 31, 1867. In 1870, the Colorado Territorial Legislature chose this growing town as the location for the Agricultural College, which is now Colorado State University.

The military land was officially released on May 15, 1872, by the president. This allowed people to claim the land for settlement. The town of Fort Collins was officially mapped out on the former camp site in January 1873. The original map includes all the "tilted" streets in today's Old Town. The town grew quickly as an agricultural center in the 1870s. The town map was soon expanded when the Fort Collins Agricultural Colony was founded in 1873.

• Historical Contexts for the Old Fort Site, Fort Collins, Colorado, 1864-2002, Jason Marmor, June 2002 (prepared for the City of Fort Collins Advance Planning Department).
• History of Larimer County, Colorado Ansel Watrous (1911).