Fort Sully (Fort Leavenworth) facts for kids
Fort Sully was a special kind of fort built during the American Civil War. It was an "earthwork artillery battery," which means it was a defensive position made from earth and dirt, designed to hold cannons. It was built in September and October 1864 on top of Hancock Hill, the tallest hill west of Fort Leavenworth.
The main reason Fort Sully was built was to protect Fort Leavenworth. There was a fear that Confederate soldiers, led by Major General Sterling Price, might try to attack and take over the area. Price was on a big trip through Missouri at the time, trying to capture that state. This event is known as Price's Raid.
Because Fort Sully was built as part of an already existing fort (Fort Leavenworth), it was called a "battery" instead of a "fort." It was named after General Alfred Sully, who had been at Fort Leavenworth when the Civil War started.
Protecting Fort Leavenworth
General Thomas Alfred Davies was in charge of defending Fort Leavenworth. Major Franklin E. Hunt was responsible for protecting the nearby city of Leavenworth, Kansas. Several other earthwork batteries were also set up around the city to help defend it.
A Strong Defense
Once it was finished, Fort Sully was a very strong defensive spot. Soldiers and cannons placed there could easily target any area around it. The battery had many protected places for men, cannons, and even mortars (another type of cannon). These spots were not just on the flat top of the hill but also along its steep sides.
The top of the hill where Fort Sully was built looked a bit like the sole of a foot. The widest part, at the north, was about 100 feet across. The southern part was narrower, between 25 and 75 feet wide. The whole area was about 670 feet long from north to south. Large cannons, called M1819, 24-pounder siege guns, were pulled up the steep hill from the armory at Fort Leavenworth to be used as the main weapons of Fort Sully.
End of the Threat
We don't know exactly how many soldiers were stationed at Fort Sully, but it seems there were always some troops there. The danger to Fort Leavenworth ended when General Price's forces were defeated at Westport, Missouri, on October 23, 1864.
By June 1865, only four soldiers were assigned to Fort Sully, meaning the battery was no longer actively used. Plans were made to move anything useful from Fort Sully to other parts of Fort Leavenworth.
Fort Sully Today
Today, Fort Sully is still well-preserved because the area has always been restricted. All that remains is the crater-like shape of the original earthwork construction.
You can reach the ruins of the fort by walking or riding a horse. You'll find a path behind Stanley Avenue and the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery on Fort Leavenworth. Look for a sign pointing to the Heritage Trail, which leads to the fort's ruins.
Several historical markers remember Fort Sully. You can find them at the actual site of Fort Sully, in the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery just below the fort, and at the entrance to the Frontier Military Museum. At the museum, you can even see two of the original M1819, 24-pounder siege guns that were once used at Fort Sully!
