Camp Henderson facts for kids
Camp Henderson was a military outpost, like a small fort, built in 1864 in what was then called the District of Oregon. It was located on a stream called Crooked Creek, about five miles from where it joins the Owyhee River. This spot was quite far from other towns, about 330 miles from Walla Walla, Washington. Today, you can find the general area at the base of some cliffs on the east side of a valley, south of a historical marker on Oregon Highway 78, near Burns Junction.
Camp Henderson: A Military Outpost
In the spring of 1864, a group of soldiers from the 1st Oregon Cavalry Regiment set up this camp. They named it after James Henry Dickey Henderson. He was an important person in Oregon's history, one of the first people to represent Oregon in the United States Congress.
Why Was Camp Henderson Built?
Camp Henderson was built during a time of conflict known as the Snake War. This war involved the U.S. Army and various Native American groups in the region, including the Northern Paiute, Bannock, and Western Shoshone. The camp became a central point for military operations in southeastern Oregon during this war. Its location near Jordan Creek was important for controlling the area.
The End of Camp Henderson
Camp Henderson was used for about two years. On March 25, 1866, the military decided to close it down. Today, there are no buildings or structures left to show where the camp once stood. The only remaining signs are the names of some soldiers. They carved their names into the cliffs behind where the camp used to be, leaving a small piece of history behind.
