Camp Gaston facts for kids

Camp Gaston, sometimes known as Fort Gaston, was a temporary United States Army camp. It was located in Imperial County, California, about three miles west of the old Colorado River path. This spot was near modern Palo Verde, California.

The camp was active between 1859 and 1867. It was about 80 miles (130 km) up the river from Fort Yuma. It's important not to confuse this Camp Gaston with another Fort Gaston in Northern California. That other fort was in the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and was also called Camp Gaston for a short time between 1866 and 1867.

History of Camp Gaston

Camp Gaston was first set up in April 1859. It served as an important base for two companies of soldiers from the 6th Infantry. These soldiers were part of the 2nd Mohave Expedition. This expedition was a part of the Mohave War, a conflict involving the U.S. Army and the Mohave people.

After this expedition, Camp Gaston continued to be an outpost. It supported Fort Yuma, which was a larger military post. The camp was used on and off until 1867. It was located along the Colorado River in what is now the Palo Verde Valley. Soldiers could travel to it by steamboat, about 80 miles upriver from Fort Yuma. By land, it was about 45 miles away, on the west bank of the river in California.