Fort Gaston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Gaston
Camp Gaston
Near Hoopa Valley, California in United States
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Type	Fort
Area	54 acres (21.85 ha)
Site information
Owner	United States Army
Site history
Built	1859 (1859)
Fate	Abandoned 1892
Garrison information
Past commanders	Captain Edmund Underwood
Occupants	Company D, 3rd Regiment California Volunteer Infantry Company K,H,F,I 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Infantry Company B, C 1st Battalion California Volunteer Mountaineers Company A, 1st Battalion of Native Cavalry, California Volunteers

Fort Gaston was a military base built in 1859. It was located in the redwood forests of the Hoopa Valley in Northern California. The fort was on the west bank of the Trinity River. It was about 14 miles from where the Trinity River flows into the Klamath River.

Today, the fort's location is part of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. Fort Gaston was part of the Humboldt Military District. Its main goals were to watch over the Hupa people and protect them from some white settlers. The fort was named after 2nd Lieutenant William Gaston. He was a soldier from the First Dragoons who died in 1858 during the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene–Paloos War.

It's important not to confuse Fort Gaston with another place called Camp Gaston. That Camp Gaston was on the Colorado River. It was also named after Lieutenant William Gaston. That camp was set up in 1859 during the Mohave War.

Fort Gaston's Story

In 1858, a person working with the Yurok tribe heard some men talking. These men planned to go to the Hupa lands to harm the Hupa people. The Yurok agent managed to stop them that time. But the Hupa people became worried. They started gathering their own weapons. They also asked for a fort to be built to protect them.

Fort Gaston was built in December 1859. Captain Edmund Underwood and 56 soldiers from the 4th US Infantry Regiment first staffed it. The fort was meant to keep an eye on the Hupa. Some people thought the Hupa were helping other tribes attack white settlers. These attacks included ambushes on mail carriers and stagecoaches during the Bald Hills War. The Hupa said they did not help their neighbors. They also refused to guide the army until 1862. It seemed they were secretly warning their neighbors.

In 1861, the district commander had an idea. He wanted to gather all the local Native American tribes at Fort Gaston. He planned to show them military drills and firepower. He hoped this would convince them to stop fighting. But his idea failed. He said he needed six companies of soldiers for the show. At that time, regular soldiers were being moved from forts in California. They were needed to fight in the Civil War.

The commander of Fort Gaston protested against moving more soldiers. He worried it would cause big problems. He said local settlers might leave the valley. They had even built a blockhouse for defense. But they would still leave if more troops were taken away.

Civil War and Volunteer Soldiers

As regular soldiers left, volunteer companies arrived. In October 1861, Company D of the 3rd Regiment California Volunteer Infantry came to Fort Gaston. They worked against Native American groups until August 1862. They had a small fight near Arcata in August 1862.

Company K of the 2nd Regiment California Volunteer Infantry arrived in December 1861. They stayed until June 1863. This company fought near the Mad River in July 1862. They also had action near Oak Camp in April 1863.

Other companies from the 2nd Regiment also served at Fort Gaston. Company H was there briefly in April 1862. Company F guarded the fort from September to November 1862. They had a skirmish at Redwood in September 1862. Company I joined the fort's soldiers in April 1862. They also stayed until June 1863. Company I was involved in a fight at Fort Gaston in August 1862. They also had an event at Little River in August 1862.

Mountaineer Battalions

Starting in June 1863, companies B and C of the 1st Battalion California Volunteer Mountaineers took over guarding Fort Gaston. Company D later joined them. These units were involved in several small fights in 1863. These included fights at Oak Camp, Thomas' Ranch, Trinity River, and Willow Creek.

On December 25, 1863, a battle happened near Fort Gaston. Native American fighters were hiding in log buildings. They fired at companies B and C of the mountaineers. The army tried to force them out using howitzers (small cannons). By nightfall, the buildings were ruined. But the Native American fighters managed to escape in the dark.

The mountaineers continued their operations in 1864. Company B had a skirmish near Boynton's Prairie in May 1864. Company C fought at the Thomas House on the Trinity River in May 1864. They also had operations in the Trinity Valley from September to December 1864. These mountaineer companies held the fort until June 1865.

Company A of the 1st Battalion of Native Cavalry, California Volunteers arrived in January 1864. They served at Fort Gaston until March 1864.

Peace was finally agreed upon with the Hupa people on August 12, 1864.

Company B of the 4th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry replaced the mountaineer soldiers. They arrived at Fort Humboldt in April 1865. They served there until they were released from duty in April 1866.

Fort's End

The fort was called Camp Gaston in January 1866. It was renamed Fort Gaston again in April 1867. The fort was finally closed in June 1892. It was then given to the Department of the Interior. The land became part of the Hupa reservation.

Fort Gaston Fish Hatchery

In 1889, the United States Fish Commission built a salmon hatchery at Fort Gaston. A hatchery is a place where fish eggs are hatched. This station was closed in 1898. It was too hard to reach.

Images for kids

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  The Bear Flag, a symbol of California.