Cimarron Redoubt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cimarron Redoubt
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Along Clark Creek in southern Center Township, Clark County, Kansas |
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| Nearest city | Ashland |
| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | John Page |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001276 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 1978 |
The Cimarron Redoubt (also called the Deep Hole Redoubt) was a small, temporary fort built by the U.S. Army. It is located in Clark County, Kansas, near the city of Ashland. Soldiers built this fort in 1870 close to an important path that crossed the Cimarron River. After the Army stopped using it, the redoubt was used by regular people for different things, even as a post office. Today, it is no longer used and sits in farm fields in southern Center Township.
What Was the Cimarron Redoubt?
Why Were Redoubts Built?
In the late 1800s, there was a conflict called the Comanche War in southwestern Kansas. This war lasted from 1867 to 1875. To keep people safe on a busy travel route between Fort Supply and Fort Dodge, the U.S. Army built two small forts. These forts were called redoubts. A redoubt is a type of small, enclosed fort, often built quickly.
Where Were the Redoubts Located?
One redoubt was built north of the Cimarron River, and the other was built to the south. The Cimarron Redoubt was the southern one. It was made of sandbags and was built on the east side of Clark Creek. The northern fort, called the Bear Creek Redoubt, was made of earth. It was built along Bear Creek. These two forts were about fourteen miles apart. The Cimarron Redoubt is about nine miles south of Ashland. The Bear Creek Redoubt is five miles north of Ashland.
How Long Was the Redoubt Used by the Army?
Even after the main fighting ended around 1875, the Army still needed these forts. They helped keep Native Americans away from settled areas. By the late 1870s, the area became much more peaceful. The Cimarron Redoubt was no longer needed by the Army.
Life After the Army
What Happened to the Redoubt After the Army Left?
After the Army left, local people started using the Cimarron Redoubt. It became a store for a while. By 1881, it was even home to the Deep Hole post office. We don't know exactly when, but eventually, it was left empty.
Why Is the Redoubt Still Standing?
Even though many years have passed, the redoubt is still in very good condition. Tall grass now covers it, which has helped protect it from wearing away. Today, this grass-covered fort sits in the middle of a field where hay is stored. It is the only known sandbag fort in Kansas.
Why Is It a Historic Place?
In 1978, the Cimarron Redoubt was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because it was so well preserved. It was important for its role in military history. Also, archaeologists might find valuable things there if they dig. The important areas include the fort itself and some of the fields around it. The National Park Service also sees this redoubt as one of the most important sites in the Cimarron River valley.
How Was the Redoubt Built?
Who Built It and How?
Soldiers working for Captain John Page built the Cimarron Redoubt. They made it in the shape of a square, with each side being sixty feet long. A woman named Frances Roe, who was a commander's wife, lived there in January 1873. She wrote that the redoubt had many features of bigger forts. These included bastions (parts that stick out for defense), ditches around it, and a ten-foot-tall parapet (a protective wall).
What Was Inside the Fort?
Inside the fort, there were rooms for the soldiers. These rooms had strong log supports. Frances Roe helped make these rooms "clean and cheerful" for a military wife.
What Does It Look Like Today?
Today, the walls of the redoubt have worn down a bit. This is especially true along Clark Creek on the south side. The walls are now usually only about two or three feet higher than the ground around them. But even with some wear, the redoubt is still very strong. It is expected to stay mostly whole for a long time into the future.
- Roe, Frances M.A. Army Letters From an Officer's Wife. New York: Appleton, 1909.
