Fort Harker (Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Harker |
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Fort Harker guardhouse (2014)
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| Location | Kanopolis, Kansas, USA |
| Built | 1866-1867 |
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Fort Harker, located in Kanopolis, Kansas, was an important military base for the United States Army. It was active from November 17, 1866, until October 5, 1872. This fort was named after General Charles Garrison Harker, a brave soldier who died during the American Civil War. Fort Harker took the place of an older base called Fort Ellsworth, which was about one mile away. Fort Harker became a key place for sending supplies to other military posts further west. It was one of the most important army stations west of the Missouri River.
Contents
A Look Back: Fort Harker's Story
The Start: Fort Ellsworth
Before Fort Harker, there was Fort Ellsworth. It was set up in August 1864, where two important trails met: the Fort Riley-Fort Larned Road and the Smoky Hill Trail, near the Smoky Hill River. Fort Ellsworth was the main office for the army in the Upper Arkansas area.
Soldiers at Fort Ellsworth rode patrols to keep wagon trains safe from conflicts with Native American tribes. The fort also played a big role in sending supplies to other US Army bases further west. It connected supply lines from Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley in the east to Fort Zarah, Fort Larned, Fort Dodge, Fort Hays, and Fort Wallace in the west. After two years, the fort needed better buildings and more space.
Building a New Fort
On November 17, 1866, General Winfield S. Hancock ordered a new fort to be built. He was the commander of the Division of the Missouri. This new fort would replace Fort Ellsworth and be about one mile northeast of the old one. Building might have started even before the official order. Fort Ellsworth already had many skilled workers like carpenters and masons in September 1866. Most of the new fort was likely finished by the summer of 1867. In June 1867, the old Fort Ellsworth buildings were torn down. The land was sold and became the town of Ellsworth, Kansas.
Soon after the fort was built, the railroad arrived! The Union Pacific Eastern Division finished its line to Fort Harker in July 1867. The train tracks went right through the fort, and a station was built nearby. Two large warehouses were built next to the tracks. These became the main way for the fort to get its supplies. By the end of 1867, Fort Harker had enough space for four army companies, a supply depot, and over 75 buildings.
A Tough Summer: The Cholera Outbreak of 1867
In the summer of 1867, a serious illness called Asiatic cholera spread at the fort. It affected soldiers from the 38th Infantry who were stationed there. The disease might have come with them from St. Louis, Missouri, where cholera was also spreading.
The first case at Fort Harker was found on June 28. Within days, people started to die from the illness. It quickly spread to other soldiers, civilians at the fort, and settlers nearby. One report said that 58 civilians were buried in June alone. The illness continued through 1867. By the end of the year, official records showed 392 cases and 24 deaths among white troops. Among black troops, there were 500 cases and 22 deaths.
Soldiers in Action: Indian War Campaigns
No battles were ever fought right at Fort Harker. However, the soldiers stationed there were very busy. They were involved in the ongoing Indian Wars, which were conflicts between the United States Army and Native American tribes on the Great Plains. In 1867, troops from Fort Harker escorted more wagon trains than soldiers from any other frontier fort after the Civil War.
Once the railroad reached the fort in 1867, the need for escorts began to move further west. By 1868, Fort Harker's main job changed. It became a huge supply center and a place where troops gathered before going on missions.
In the fall of 1868, General Philip Henry Sheridan moved his main command office to Fort Harker. From there, he led campaigns against Native Americans during the winter of 1868-1869. On August 25, 1869, Colonel Joseph G. Tilford came to Fort Harker. He commanded two groups of General George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry. After staying at the fort for the winter, Tilford and his cavalry began a campaign in February 1870. In May 1870, General Custer and the rest of the 7th Cavalry passed through Fort Harker. They were on their way to Fort Hays to engage Native Americans further west.
The Fort Closes Down
By 1871, Fort Harker was not as important in the Indian Wars. Many Native Americans had moved from the area, and the conflicts were happening further west. Also, more railroads were built, making the fort less important for distributing supplies.
In March 1872, the 15th Infantry soldiers at Fort Harker moved to Fort Union. On April 5, the remaining companies of the 5th Infantry also left. Official orders to close Fort Harker arrived on April 8, 1872. Soldiers from the 5th Cavalry left on May 7. Only a small group of two officers and five soldiers from the 5th Infantry stayed behind. The base was completely empty by October 5, 1872.
Where Fort Harker Was Located
Fort Harker was built where the town of Kanopolis, Kansas is today.
Visiting the Fort Harker Museum
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Fort Harker Guardhouse;
Fort Harker Officers' Quarters |
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Fort Harker officers' quarters (2014)
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| Location | East side of Colorado St along Ohio Ave, Kanopolis, Kansas, USA |
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| Built | 1866-1867 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000497; 74000834 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972; November 20, 1974 |
The Ellsworth County Historical Society takes care of three of the original buildings from Fort Harker. They have turned them into a museum to remember both Fort Ellsworth and Fort Harker. These buildings include the Fort Harker Guardhouse and the Fort Harker Commanding Officers' Quarters. Both of these are listed on the National Register of Historic Places because they are so important. Another building, the Junior Officer's Quarters, is also part of the museum.
The museum also has a train depot with exhibits about salt mining and life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Another Junior Officer's Quarters building is now a private home.
See also
- Hodgden House Museum Complex, in Ellsworth, also operated as a museum by the Ellsworth County Historical Society
