Camp on Pawnee Fork facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camp on Pawnee Fork (1859-60); Camp Alert (1860) |
|
|---|---|
| Pawnee County, Kansas | |
| Coordinates | 38°10′26″N 99°09′53″W / 38.1738°N 99.1648°W |
| Type | U.S. Army post |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | U.S. Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | September to November 1859 |
| In use | September 1, 1859, to May 1860 |
| Materials | tents, wood, sod |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Capt. George H. Steuart, Lieut. David Bell, Capt. Henry Wessels |
| Garrison | same |
The Camp on Pawnee Fork, later known as Camp Alert, was a temporary army base. The U.S. Army built it to protect a new mail station. This station was being built at a place called Pawnee Fork, along the important Santa Fe Trail. Native American tribes, like the Kiowa and Comanche, were concerned about the new station and wanted the area to remain undisturbed.
Contents
Why Was Camp Pawnee Fork Built?
The main reason for the camp was to keep the mail station safe. The Santa Fe Trail was a busy route for trade and mail. Protecting this route was very important for the U.S. Army. The first group of cavalry soldiers arrived on September 1, 1859.
Early Days of the Camp
On October 4, Captain George H. Steuart arrived with 75 more cavalrymen. This was when the camp officially got its first name: Camp on Pawnee Fork. The Army thought this spot was perfect for protecting the trail. It was in a quiet area of the Santa Fe Trail. Captain Steuart's job was to protect the mail station. He also had to escort mail trains along about 140 miles (225 km) of the trail.
Camp Alert: A New Name for a Busy Post
Later, Lieutenant David Bell's group of soldiers was made smaller. They had fewer horses, so they could not escort all the mail coaches. The soldiers spent a lot of time watching out for any trouble. Because of this constant watch, the camp's name was changed to Camp Alert on February 1, 1860.
The Camp Moves and Becomes Fort Larned
On May 4, Captain Henry Wessels became the new commander. He arrived with more troops, bringing the total number of soldiers to 160. Captain Wessels looked for an even better place for the camp. He decided to move it about 3 miles (5 km) upstream, to the west. On May 29, the camp was renamed again, becoming Fort Larned. The original site of Camp Alert was never used by the Army again.
