Fort Towson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Towson
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Choctaw County, Oklahoma, USA |
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| Nearest city | Fort Towson, Oklahoma |
| Built | 1830 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000531 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1970 |
Fort Towson was an important military base, or outpost, for the United States Army a long time ago. It was located in what is now Choctaw County, Oklahoma, near the Kiamichi River and the Red River. This fort was named after General Nathaniel Towson. It played a big role in protecting the frontier, which was the edge of settled lands, and later helped the Choctaw people.
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Building Fort Towson
Fort Towson was first set up in May 1824. Colonel Matthew Arbuckle led its creation. It was built on the southern edge of what was called Indian Territory. Its main job was to guard the border with Spanish lands to the south.
The fort was first known as "Cantonment Towson." A military road was built in the 1820s. This road connected Fort Towson to other army forts in Arkansas. The first fort was only temporary. It had mostly tents and a few small wooden shacks. Because of this, the army left it in April 1829. The soldiers moved to Fort Jessup.
A New Fort for the Choctaw
In November 1830, the Army decided to build a stronger, permanent fort. This was because the Choctaw people were being moved. They were relocating from Mississippi under the Indian Removal Act. A new spot was chosen about 6 miles (10 km) from the first site.
The new fort was first called "Camp Phoenix." Its purpose was to protect the Choctaw Nation. In 1831, it was renamed Fort Towson. Over time, a small town grew up around the fort.
What Fort Towson Looked Like
The new Fort Towson was much more solid than the first one. The north side of the fort sat on high ground near Gates Creek. The fort itself was a rectangle, covering about half an acre of land.
Buildings Inside the Fort
The officers' living quarters were three buildings on the north side. These were made of logs and were 1.5 stories tall. They had strong limestone foundations and covered porches. These porches faced south.
Four other buildings were placed on two sides of the rectangle. They faced each other. These buildings were one story high. However, they had tall foundations, which created basements.
The buildings closest to the officers' quarters were for junior officers. They also held the quartermaster's office. This was where supplies were managed. There was also a room for fun and a school room. The last two buildings were barracks for the regular soldiers. Their kitchens and dining halls were in the basements. All the buildings were painted white. The open area in front of the buildings was used as a parade ground.
Outside the Main Area
A hospital building was on the east side. It was about 250 feet (76 meters) from the last barracks. Stables, shops, and gardens were outside the main rectangle on the east. The sutler's building was on the west. A sutler was a person who sold goods to the soldiers. The dairy and poultry yards were also on the west side. The cemetery was about 300 yards (274 meters) farther west.
Later Years and the Civil War
Fort Towson became less important after Fort Washita was built. Fort Washita was about 70 miles (113 km) to the west and opened in 1842. Fort Towson continued to have soldiers until June 1854.
At that time, the fort was given to the Choctaw Indian Agency. This agency helped manage affairs for the Choctaw people. Douglas H. Cooper was the Indian Agent in charge. In the same month, a big storm hit the fort. It blew the roofs off several buildings and caused other damage. A few years later, a fire destroyed most of the buildings. Only one barracks and the hospital were left. Today, the remaining parts of the fort are managed by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Fort Towson During the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, the Confederacy took over the fort's remaining buildings. The Confederacy had formed an alliance with the Choctaw and other tribes. They promised these tribes their own state if the Confederacy won the war.
Fort Towson became the headquarters for Confederate General Samuel B. Maxey. The very last Confederate troops were led by General Stand Watie. He was a Cherokee chief. General Watie surrendered to Union forces at Fort Towson on June 23, 1865. This marked the end of the Civil War in the area.
After the war, the fort was no longer used. Soldiers buried in the cemetery were moved to Fort Gibson. The buildings fell apart over time. Local people even took the foundation stones to use for other buildings.
Today, the site of Fort Towson is an Oklahoma Historic Site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
