Fort Lookout (Kansas)

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Fort Lookout, in the northeast corner of Republic County, Kansas, was established by the US Army near the beginning of the American Civil War, in 1861. Its purpose was to protect the military road running from Fort Riley, Kansas, to Fort Kearney, Nebraska Territory. The area witnessed many attacks by Indians. Fort Lookout was perched on a high bluff overlooking the Republican River. The fort was two miles south of the Kansas-Nebraska border. [1]

Republic County, Kansas County in the United States

Republic County is a county located in the state of Kansas, south from the Nebraska state line. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,980. The largest city, and the county seat, is Belleville.

American Civil War Civil war in the United States from 1861 to 1865

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Fort Riley United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas

Fort Riley is a United States Army installation located in North Central Kansas, on the Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 101,733 acres (41,170 ha) in Geary and Riley counties. The portion of the fort that contains housing development is part of the Fort Riley census-designated place, with a residential population of 7,761 as of the 2010 census. The fort has a daytime population of nearly 25,000. The ZIP Code is 66442.

The log fort was two stories high. The second story was built at a 45-degree angle across the top of the first story, thus providing eight sides where its occupants could observe the surrounding countryside. Some of the logs had six-inch square notches cut into them for use as rifle ports. The fort had a flat roof. [2]

During the Civil War many wagon trains used the military road guarded by Fort Lookout. Some may have been attacked by Indians. By the end of the War, the threat of Indian attacks greatly diminished. In 1867 or 1868 the Army abandoned the fort, which was used by the state militia during an Indian uprising in 1868.

Until at least 1870 the local population used the fort as a place of refuge during disturbances with the Indians. After that, someone used the old fort for a home. The building was eventually abandoned and was torn down or fell down from neglect. [3]

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Kansas has always been home to many forts and military posts.

Fort Belmont, in southern Woodson County, Kansas, was built about 1860 near the town of Belmont. It was to protect the settlers there from attacks by Border Ruffians and Indians. The fort consisted of three or four officer cabins, a redoubt about a quarter of a mile to the north and a parade ground a mile to the east.

Fort Row, located on the south bank of the Verdigris River and east of the present town of Coyville, Kansas, was built in the fall of 1861, probably in October. It was built by the local mounted militia for their use. However, the fort became associated with one of the worst human tragedies of the Civil War.

The Military Division of the Missouri was an administrative formation of the United States Army that functioned through the end of the American Civil War and the Indian Wars that continued after its conclusion. It was created by the War Department on February 3, 1865, at the direction of General Ulysses S. Grant to bring all the military departments west of the Mississippi River under a single commander.

Iola, Kansas, was founded in 1859 and soon after a two-story stone building was built on the southwest corner of Jefferson and Madison streets. Davis Parsons, one of the first town settlers, built this building, which was to serve as a rallying point and defense headquarters in the event the town was threatened by Bushwhackers or Indians. The area's Indians proved reasonably peaceful and no Bushwhackers threatened the area. The stone building was not truly fortified until the Civil War began.

Fort Lane, on the crest of Mount Oread, then southwest of Lawrence, Kansas, was built by the residents of Lawrence in 1856 to serve as a lookout post to observe groups of men desiring to attack Lawrence. Lawrence was a free-state community built by northerners. From 1854 to 1861, when Kansas became a state, at times the area around Lawrence was a battleground for settlers who had come from both the northern and southern states. From this location, one could see for many miles in all directions.

Leander T. "Lee" Herron was a Corporal in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor for heroism near Fort Dodge, Kansas on September 2, 1868.

References

  1. Gertrude Sweet and J. C. Price, "Fort Lookout," in Anona Blackburn, ed., Fort Lookout Kansas Centennial: 1861-1961: Courtland, Kansas (Courtland, Kans., 1961), p. 18; Dennis Harbaugh, letter to William C. Pollard, Jr., September 8, 1992, p. 1; Blackburn and Myrtle S. Cardwell, ed., History of Republic County: 1868-1964 (N.p.: Republic County Historical Society, 1964), p. 12.
  2. "Old Fort Lookout," Superior Express Magazine, March 1904, p. 11; untitled story, The Courtland Journal , November 24, 1960, p. 4.
  3. Harbaugh, p. 1; "Old Fort Lookout," p. 11; Robert B. Roberts, Encyclopedia of Historic Forts (New York: Macmillan, n.d.), p. 297.