Places: Fort Larned, Kansas
An early outpost on the frontier that served as a staging area for campaigns against the various tribes, a focal point for peace parleys and a base for several famous military units, including the 10th U.S. Cavalry, many buildings of this military post have been preserved for posterity.
Fort Larned, in what is now Pawnee County, Kansas, began as an army camp, the Camp on Pawnee Fork, a junction of the Pawnee and Arkansas Rivers, to guard travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. It saw so much activity with local tribes that in 1860, it was renamed Camp Alert, which with a post of about 50 soldiers, it had to be. The post was later moved upstream on the Pawnee River and renamed Fort Larned, honoring Benjamin F. Larned, a U.S. Army Paymaster who served there in the Army 1854-1862, but never at the post named in his honor. The first buildings on the site were constructed of adobe, including an officer's quarters, storehouse, barracks, guardhouse, laundress' quarters, and a hospital. The presence of the fort on the trail helped deter Native attacks to settlers crossing Kansas and heading for New Mexico territory.
During the Civil War, the post was guarded by volunteer regiments. The Confederates had plans to attack Fort Larned with the help of Kiowa and Seminole warriors, but the Natives decided to go hunting instead, forcing the Rebels to direct efforts elsewhere. The Kiowa attacked Fort Larned in 1864 and drove off over 172 horses. After 1865, all merchant wagons had to have an armed escort from Fort Larned to proceeding along the trail. General Winfield Scott Hancock met in 1867 with several Cheyenne leaders, intending to impress the Dog Soldiers with the strength of the military by attacking a combined Cheyenne and Lakota camp. The Cheyenne were not impressed and ready for war. The discussions leading to the Medicine Lodge Treaty, which began at Fort Larned in 1867 and adjourned to Medicine Lodge Creek, helped ease the tensions somewhat.
Between 1868-69, General William T. Sherman of Atlanta fame launched raids against the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Comanche tribes who didn't feel bound by the Medicine Lodge treaties and continued to use their traditional hunting range, raiding any Whites who trespassed. Sherman was able to deport many Native families of these tribes to reservations. The fort was renovated, replacing the adobe buildings with sandstone and adding features such as a bakery and meat house. During this time, the Fort also served as the headquarters of the 10th Cavalry, one of two black units known to their Comanche enemies as Buffalo Soldiers. However, by 1871, the railroad had diminished traffic on the Santa Fe Trail and Native warfare in the area was greatly decreased. The post was abandoned in 1878. A ranch owner took over the buildings, his family living in the former commanding officer's home.
In 1957, the fort was designated a National Landmark and in 1964 it became a National Park. Several buildings have been restored so that visitors can see what life on a real army outpost was like back in the day. Living history reenactments featuring the Buffalo Soldiers are also staged at the Fort.
Fort Larned, in what is now Pawnee County, Kansas, began as an army camp, the Camp on Pawnee Fork, a junction of the Pawnee and Arkansas Rivers, to guard travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. It saw so much activity with local tribes that in 1860, it was renamed Camp Alert, which with a post of about 50 soldiers, it had to be. The post was later moved upstream on the Pawnee River and renamed Fort Larned, honoring Benjamin F. Larned, a U.S. Army Paymaster who served there in the Army 1854-1862, but never at the post named in his honor. The first buildings on the site were constructed of adobe, including an officer's quarters, storehouse, barracks, guardhouse, laundress' quarters, and a hospital. The presence of the fort on the trail helped deter Native attacks to settlers crossing Kansas and heading for New Mexico territory.
During the Civil War, the post was guarded by volunteer regiments. The Confederates had plans to attack Fort Larned with the help of Kiowa and Seminole warriors, but the Natives decided to go hunting instead, forcing the Rebels to direct efforts elsewhere. The Kiowa attacked Fort Larned in 1864 and drove off over 172 horses. After 1865, all merchant wagons had to have an armed escort from Fort Larned to proceeding along the trail. General Winfield Scott Hancock met in 1867 with several Cheyenne leaders, intending to impress the Dog Soldiers with the strength of the military by attacking a combined Cheyenne and Lakota camp. The Cheyenne were not impressed and ready for war. The discussions leading to the Medicine Lodge Treaty, which began at Fort Larned in 1867 and adjourned to Medicine Lodge Creek, helped ease the tensions somewhat.
Between 1868-69, General William T. Sherman of Atlanta fame launched raids against the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Comanche tribes who didn't feel bound by the Medicine Lodge treaties and continued to use their traditional hunting range, raiding any Whites who trespassed. Sherman was able to deport many Native families of these tribes to reservations. The fort was renovated, replacing the adobe buildings with sandstone and adding features such as a bakery and meat house. During this time, the Fort also served as the headquarters of the 10th Cavalry, one of two black units known to their Comanche enemies as Buffalo Soldiers. However, by 1871, the railroad had diminished traffic on the Santa Fe Trail and Native warfare in the area was greatly decreased. The post was abandoned in 1878. A ranch owner took over the buildings, his family living in the former commanding officer's home.
In 1957, the fort was designated a National Landmark and in 1964 it became a National Park. Several buildings have been restored so that visitors can see what life on a real army outpost was like back in the day. Living history reenactments featuring the Buffalo Soldiers are also staged at the Fort.
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