Fort Montgomery (Eureka) facts for kids

Fort Montgomery was a small fort built in the town of Eureka, Kansas, during the summer of 1861. Local citizens built it to protect themselves. They needed protection from attacks by some Native American groups and from soldiers fighting for the Confederate side during the American Civil War.

There was actually another fort named Fort Montgomery in Linn County, Kansas, built earlier. Both forts were named after James Montgomery (colonel). He was a famous leader who wanted Kansas to be a "free state," meaning a state where slavery was not allowed.

Building the Fort

The Fort Montgomery in Eureka was quite strong. It was built using sturdy logs. The walls had special openings, called "ports," where guns could be fired from. These openings could also be covered for extra safety.

Outside the fort, there were more defenses. These were like low walls made of logs covered with dirt. The government even provided a small cannon, which was set up outside the fort to help defend it.

However, the fort wasn't perfect. The roof leaked when it rained. Also, the floor was made of wooden planks, but it wasn't sealed well. This meant that small animals and even snakes could sometimes get inside!

Who Used Fort Montgomery?

Fort Montgomery was guarded by government scouts and local volunteers. These volunteers were part of a group called the militia. A militia is like a local army made up of citizens.

The commander of the local militia, Leander Bemis, was in charge of the fort. The government also supplied guns to the militia members.

For a while, Fort Montgomery even served as the local school. This happened after the original schoolhouse in Eureka burned down.

The Fort's Later Years

The local militia kept guarding Fort Montgomery until 1868. That year, regular soldiers from the United States Army took over the building for a short time.

After the soldiers left, the fort got a new job. It became the first office for the local newspaper, The Eureka Herald. The newspaper started on July 4, 1868.

The newspaper's editor, S. G. Mead, had to fix up the old fort. By then, it was showing many signs of wear and tear. He tried to repair its problems, but it was a tough job. In the end, he gave up. Fort Montgomery was torn down in May 1869.