Fort Dodge (United States Army Post) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge, Kansas
Fort Dodge
Coordinates	37°43′50″N 99°56′5″W / 37.73056°N 99.93472°W / 37.73056; -99.93472
Type	Military base
Site information
Owner	Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs
Controlled by	United States
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Repurposed as the Kansas Soldiers' Home
Site history
Built	1865
Built by	U.S. Army
In use	1865-1882

Fort Dodge was once an important military post in Kansas, a state in the United States. It started as a popular camping spot for wagons traveling on the famous Santa Fe Trail. This trail was a busy trade route across the American West.

On March 23, 1865, a military leader named Major General Grenville M. Dodge suggested building a new army base. He wanted it west of another fort called Fort Larned. So, on April 10, 1865, Captain Henry Pearce and his soldiers officially set up Fort Dodge.

History of Fort Dodge

Why was Fort Dodge Built?

Fort Dodge was named after General Grenville M. Dodge. He wrote that the soldiers were upset about being sent there in winter with few supplies. They had to dig shelters into the bluffs. Because of this, they jokingly called the place "Camp Dodge." Later, when it became a permanent army post, it was named Fort Dodge.

Some people also believe the fort might have been named after Colonel Henry Dodge. He was another important figure who explored the area in 1835. However, there is no proof that he ever camped at this exact spot.

Protecting the Santa Fe Trail

The main job of Fort Dodge was to keep the Santa Fe Trail safe. This trail was used by traders and travelers. Soldiers at the fort protected people from dangers along the route, especially between Fort Dodge and Fort Lyon in Colorado.

The fort faced several attacks from Native American groups. During these raids, many horses were stolen, and some soldiers lost their lives. In June 1865, a report said that all the horses at Fort Dodge were taken in one raid.

A brave soldier named Corporal Leander Herron even received the Medal of Honor. This was for his heroic actions near Fort Dodge in September 1868.

Building the Fort

The first buildings at Fort Dodge were simple. After the Civil War, soldiers built sod houses for officers. Enlisted men lived in dugouts, which were shelters dug into the bank of the Arkansas River. One professor, Sean Creevey, says all the first homes were dugouts with canvas roofs. He believes no sod or adobe buildings were used at first.

Later, stronger buildings made of wood and stone replaced these early shelters. At its busiest, Fort Dodge had up to four companies of troops living there. In its final years, only about a dozen men remained. Their main job was to escort and protect mail carriers passing through the area.

Fort Dodge Closes and Reopens

In 1882, Fort Dodge was officially closed as a military post. A single person was left to look after the property. Many buildings were taken down or moved. However, many of the stone buildings remained standing.

People in nearby Dodge City wanted to use the old fort for a special purpose. They worked hard to turn it into a home for retired soldiers. In 1889, a federal law was passed, allowing Kansas to use the site as a soldiers' home.

In early 1890, the Kansas Soldiers' Home opened at Fort Dodge. It has been there ever since, helping veterans. Many improvements have been made over the years. Today, visitors can even tour parts of the historic site.

Images for kids

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  Sutler's Store at the fort, 1867