The Old Stone Fort
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:10 pm
The Old Stone Fort
By Ken Krumm, Manhattan, KS
One of the most interesting structures in Wabaunsee County is the Old Stone Fort north of Alta Vista located on private land, built in 1864. I’ve ridden past this structure countless times. However, just recently noticed this structure was an old stone fort, and not the remnants of a farm or ranch buildings. This photo was taken from Drovers Trail Road looking north. On the east and west side, trapezoidal shaped shooting points allow for the better use of a rifle inside the building. Not pictured in the photo is a horse stable on the north side of Drovers Trail Road, not built for farm or ranch service. Neither structure has the amenities for permanent occupancy of either humans or livestock. Both structures are located along the Drovers Trail; a cattle drive route to the Volland railroad station located along Old K-10.
Old Stone Fort, Wabaunsee County
So, who built the structure and why was it built? A review of the Wabaunsee Country historical documents provides little information. Records show the Old Stone Fort was built in 1864. In 1864, the United States was deeply engaged in a Civil War. During the Civil War, Kansas was exposed to three lines of danger; invasions by the regular Confederate army, attacks by the unorganized border troops, and Indian raids on the frontier.
For the people of Kansas, the Civil War meant a continuation of the border troubles. Raids were staged from Missouri, into Kansas destroying property and murdering supporters of free-statehood. These acts reached a climax in the destruction of Lawrence on August 21, 1863. The raid on Lawrence was led by William Quantrill with 450 mounted men, already responsible for the sacking of several smaller towns along the border. However, there is no indication the border troubles with Missouri or Civil War fighting were a threat to the people of Wabaunsee County.
Most likely, the Old Stone Fort was built to protect the settlers and livestock from Indian raids on the frontier. However, this doesn’t answer the question whether the Old Stone Fort was built and manned by US Cavalry Soldiers or by the farmers and ranchers for self-protection. The location of the Old Stone Fort is approximately 20 miles north of the Santa Fe Trail; the oldest of the pioneer trails in use from 1821 to 1880. The Old Stone Fort is located 20 miles south of the Kansas River. The Oregon Trail and Military Trail between Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth is located on the north side of the Kansas River. With limited troops available from Fort Riley during the Civil War and higher priorities for support elsewhere, its unlikely Fort Riley Soldiers built the Old Stone Fort. However, it is possible US Cavalry Soldiers used the Old Stone Fort while moving through the area or when assigned to protect the area due to Indian uprisings during and after the Civil War.
The Old Stone Fort was most likely built by a local resident with experience building masonry structures for the US Army. A study of the structure clearly reveals a pre-Civil War military design. There is no similar structure on Fort Riley. However, Fort Leavenworth has a similar structure built in 1827 to protect trade on the Santa Fe Trail. The location of this fort is along Grant Avenue, just north of the Grant statue. Whether the Old Stone Fort originally had a roof or not is unclear. Since the Old Stone Fort sits on a hill with clear lines of fire, its possible it was built without a roof. You can clearly see a roof on the horse stable built around the same time period.
So, were there Indian uprisings during this period of time in Kansas? A review of the early history of Alta Vista written in 1907 makes reference to the building of the Old Stone Fort and Indian uprising. It states the following:
“There is an old landmark not far from Altavista, in the shape of a stone fort, built on the farm of August Wolgast in 1864 in anticipation of a raid from the Kaw reservation. Sixty-four was a very anxious time on the border. The Kiowas and Cheyennes were on the warpath and the restlessness of the Kaws caused much apprehension among the whites. In the same year the settlers of Harveyville "hid out" in the cornfields for fear of an Indian outbreak. However, the Kaws stayed at home and the strong stone fort was not needed. It is quite a curiosity today.”
From the US Internet Archives titled, A History of Kansas states:
"Even before the close of the Civil War, while the soldiers were needed elsewhere, the Indians had begun their depredations on the frontier. In 1865 and 1866 settlements were attacked in Republic and Cloud counties, stock was driven away, much property was destroyed, and a number of people were killed. The few settlers on their scattered claims were poorly armed, and, with no soldiers near to protect them, they were in constant fear of wandering tribes of hostile Indians. The next year United States troops were sent to protect the frontier. They drove the Indians back and destroyed one of their villages. This only made the red men eager for revenge, and they began an open war on all settlers, emigrant trains, traders, and travelers. Robberies and murders were committed along the whole frontier, particularly in the Republican, Solomon, and Smoky Hill valleys, and in Marion, Butler and Greenwood counties. Travel over the Santa Fe and other westward trails almost ceased and the line of settlement was pushed eastward many miles."
One of the driving factors that created the friction between the Indian tribes and the settler was the passage of the Homestead Law in 1862. This law provides that any person who is the head of a family, or who is twenty-one years of age, and who is a citizen of the United States or has declared his intention to become such, may acquire a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of public land on condition of settlement, cultivation, and occupancy as a home for a period of five years, and on payment of certain moderate fees. It also provides that the time that any settler has served in the army or navy may be deducted from the five years. Previous to 1862 settlers bought their claims of the Government. The liberal provisions of the Homestead Law attracted thousands of settlers to Kansas. Many of the newcomers were young men who had been in the US Army.
Conclusion: The Old Stone Fort was most likely built by a local resident with experience building masonry structures for the US Army to protect the residence and livestock from Indian attacks along the Drovers Trail to Volland. The Old Stone Fort served as protection from 1864 to 1871. By 1871, the Kansa Indian Reservation was overrun by settlers and the Kansa people were relocated to a tract of land next to the Osage tribe in the southern part of the state. Although this structure is one of the last remnants of the Indian Wars in Kansas, it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Address:
General Location - Approximately six miles north/northeast of Alta Vista, KS on Drovers Trail Road near the T-intersection with Old Stone Fort Road.
Directions:
From Alta Vista, KS: Travel north on Old K-10 for approximately 4 miles. Turn left on Old Stone Fort Road and travel north for 2.5 miles to the T-intersection with Drovers Trail Road.
By Ken Krumm, Manhattan, KS
One of the most interesting structures in Wabaunsee County is the Old Stone Fort north of Alta Vista located on private land, built in 1864. I’ve ridden past this structure countless times. However, just recently noticed this structure was an old stone fort, and not the remnants of a farm or ranch buildings. This photo was taken from Drovers Trail Road looking north. On the east and west side, trapezoidal shaped shooting points allow for the better use of a rifle inside the building. Not pictured in the photo is a horse stable on the north side of Drovers Trail Road, not built for farm or ranch service. Neither structure has the amenities for permanent occupancy of either humans or livestock. Both structures are located along the Drovers Trail; a cattle drive route to the Volland railroad station located along Old K-10.
Old Stone Fort, Wabaunsee County
So, who built the structure and why was it built? A review of the Wabaunsee Country historical documents provides little information. Records show the Old Stone Fort was built in 1864. In 1864, the United States was deeply engaged in a Civil War. During the Civil War, Kansas was exposed to three lines of danger; invasions by the regular Confederate army, attacks by the unorganized border troops, and Indian raids on the frontier.
For the people of Kansas, the Civil War meant a continuation of the border troubles. Raids were staged from Missouri, into Kansas destroying property and murdering supporters of free-statehood. These acts reached a climax in the destruction of Lawrence on August 21, 1863. The raid on Lawrence was led by William Quantrill with 450 mounted men, already responsible for the sacking of several smaller towns along the border. However, there is no indication the border troubles with Missouri or Civil War fighting were a threat to the people of Wabaunsee County.
Most likely, the Old Stone Fort was built to protect the settlers and livestock from Indian raids on the frontier. However, this doesn’t answer the question whether the Old Stone Fort was built and manned by US Cavalry Soldiers or by the farmers and ranchers for self-protection. The location of the Old Stone Fort is approximately 20 miles north of the Santa Fe Trail; the oldest of the pioneer trails in use from 1821 to 1880. The Old Stone Fort is located 20 miles south of the Kansas River. The Oregon Trail and Military Trail between Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth is located on the north side of the Kansas River. With limited troops available from Fort Riley during the Civil War and higher priorities for support elsewhere, its unlikely Fort Riley Soldiers built the Old Stone Fort. However, it is possible US Cavalry Soldiers used the Old Stone Fort while moving through the area or when assigned to protect the area due to Indian uprisings during and after the Civil War.
The Old Stone Fort was most likely built by a local resident with experience building masonry structures for the US Army. A study of the structure clearly reveals a pre-Civil War military design. There is no similar structure on Fort Riley. However, Fort Leavenworth has a similar structure built in 1827 to protect trade on the Santa Fe Trail. The location of this fort is along Grant Avenue, just north of the Grant statue. Whether the Old Stone Fort originally had a roof or not is unclear. Since the Old Stone Fort sits on a hill with clear lines of fire, its possible it was built without a roof. You can clearly see a roof on the horse stable built around the same time period.
So, were there Indian uprisings during this period of time in Kansas? A review of the early history of Alta Vista written in 1907 makes reference to the building of the Old Stone Fort and Indian uprising. It states the following:
“There is an old landmark not far from Altavista, in the shape of a stone fort, built on the farm of August Wolgast in 1864 in anticipation of a raid from the Kaw reservation. Sixty-four was a very anxious time on the border. The Kiowas and Cheyennes were on the warpath and the restlessness of the Kaws caused much apprehension among the whites. In the same year the settlers of Harveyville "hid out" in the cornfields for fear of an Indian outbreak. However, the Kaws stayed at home and the strong stone fort was not needed. It is quite a curiosity today.”
From the US Internet Archives titled, A History of Kansas states:
"Even before the close of the Civil War, while the soldiers were needed elsewhere, the Indians had begun their depredations on the frontier. In 1865 and 1866 settlements were attacked in Republic and Cloud counties, stock was driven away, much property was destroyed, and a number of people were killed. The few settlers on their scattered claims were poorly armed, and, with no soldiers near to protect them, they were in constant fear of wandering tribes of hostile Indians. The next year United States troops were sent to protect the frontier. They drove the Indians back and destroyed one of their villages. This only made the red men eager for revenge, and they began an open war on all settlers, emigrant trains, traders, and travelers. Robberies and murders were committed along the whole frontier, particularly in the Republican, Solomon, and Smoky Hill valleys, and in Marion, Butler and Greenwood counties. Travel over the Santa Fe and other westward trails almost ceased and the line of settlement was pushed eastward many miles."
One of the driving factors that created the friction between the Indian tribes and the settler was the passage of the Homestead Law in 1862. This law provides that any person who is the head of a family, or who is twenty-one years of age, and who is a citizen of the United States or has declared his intention to become such, may acquire a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of public land on condition of settlement, cultivation, and occupancy as a home for a period of five years, and on payment of certain moderate fees. It also provides that the time that any settler has served in the army or navy may be deducted from the five years. Previous to 1862 settlers bought their claims of the Government. The liberal provisions of the Homestead Law attracted thousands of settlers to Kansas. Many of the newcomers were young men who had been in the US Army.
Conclusion: The Old Stone Fort was most likely built by a local resident with experience building masonry structures for the US Army to protect the residence and livestock from Indian attacks along the Drovers Trail to Volland. The Old Stone Fort served as protection from 1864 to 1871. By 1871, the Kansa Indian Reservation was overrun by settlers and the Kansa people were relocated to a tract of land next to the Osage tribe in the southern part of the state. Although this structure is one of the last remnants of the Indian Wars in Kansas, it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Address:
General Location - Approximately six miles north/northeast of Alta Vista, KS on Drovers Trail Road near the T-intersection with Old Stone Fort Road.
Directions:
From Alta Vista, KS: Travel north on Old K-10 for approximately 4 miles. Turn left on Old Stone Fort Road and travel north for 2.5 miles to the T-intersection with Drovers Trail Road.
