Fort Simple facts for kids

Fort Simple was a small fort built in Topeka, Kansas. It was built in 1864 during the American Civil War. The fort was made to protect Topeka from attacks. Topeka was the capital of Kansas, but it had no defenses. It was named "Fort Simple" after the war ended.

Why Fort Simple Was Built

In 1864, a Confederate general named Sterling Price led a large group of soldiers into Missouri. This event is known as Price's Raid. People in Kansas worried that Price's army might attack their state, especially the capital city, Topeka. Even though Topeka had been the state capital since 1861, it didn't have any forts or strong defenses. Earlier attacks by guerrilla groups, like the one in Lawrence, Kansas in 1863, showed how vulnerable the state was. So, plans were made to build a fort to protect Topeka.

Building the Fort

On October 8, 1864, the governor of Kansas, Thomas Carney, called up the state militia. Some soldiers were sent to fight Price's army in Missouri. But a special group of 292 men stayed behind to guard Topeka. This group was called the "home regiment." They had one cannon, which was likely a small, movable gun called a mountain howitzer.

The home regiment, led by Major Andrew Stark, built Fort Simple. They chose a spot in the middle of 6th and Kansas Avenues in Topeka's business area. This location was on top of a ridge, giving them a good view of the surrounding land. The temporary State Capitol building was also nearby.

How Fort Simple Looked

Fort Simple was a round fort. Its walls were made from cottonwood logs. These logs were 16 feet long and split in half. The rough, bark side of the logs faced outwards. The logs were pushed into the ground so that about 10 feet of them stood above the ground. The fort was about 40 to 50 feet wide. A flagpole stood in the center.

The cannon was kept inside the fort. Openings were cut into the north, south, east, and west sides of the fort so the cannon could be moved and fired. There were also many small openings, called notches, for soldiers to fire their rifles through. Some people said there were two notches between each log, so one soldier could shoot standing up and another could shoot kneeling down. The only way to get into Fort Simple was through a wooden gate on its west side. The fort did not have a roof, so it was open to the sky.

Defending Topeka

The home regiment guarded Topeka while other Kansas soldiers fought Price's army. On the evening of October 23, news reached Topeka that the Union forces had been defeated in the Battle of Westport. This battle happened near what is now Kansas City, Missouri. Everyone in Topeka panicked, expecting an attack. About 350 armed men stayed in the fort and trenches all night, ready to defend the city. But the next morning, a horseman arrived with good news: Price's army had actually been defeated!

After the War

Fort Simple was used to protect Topeka until near the end of the Civil War. After the war, the city council decided the fort was no longer needed. In April 1867, they decided it was an old, ugly structure and had it torn down.

In 1929, a bronze plaque was placed at the corner of 6th and Kansas Avenues to remember Fort Simple. However, this plaque was removed in 1995 during construction and was never put back.