- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Location
- Louisville, KY
Fort Towson is a ruined former U.S. Army post located near the town of Fort Towson in Choctaw County, Oklahoma. The post is once again constructed in an open-style post that was so common in the west prior to and following the American Civil War. The post was established on the recommendation of General Winfield Scott that a new fort be established in the Indian Territory. Construction began in 1824 under the command of Maj. Alexander Cummings of the U.S. 7th Infantry. The fort was named after Paymaster General of the Army Nathaniel Towson who also saw extensive action and built a name for himself during the War of 1812.
The post helped maintain order in the Indian Territory by keeping the peace among settlers and indians as well as keeping a watchful eye for bandits in the region. However, in 1829 Fort Towson was abandoned until a year later when the post was reopened as Camp Phoenix in order to once again maintain the peace between indians and the region's settlers. Within a year the post was once again named Fort Towson. With its reestablishment Fort Towson became one of the most active posts in the Indian Territory and multiple new buildings were built to house and support it's troops. During that time the fort was garrisoned by elements of the 3rd U.S. Infantry under Major Stephen Kearney who would go on to command the "Army of the West" during the Mexican-American War. Prior to and during the Mexican-American War more buildings were built at the post using stone foundations. Some of these buildings included multiple enlisted barracks, multiple officers quarters, storerooms, a hospital, a magazine and a school. All of these buildings surrounded the central parade ground. During the Mexican-American War the fort was used as a staging area for troops and supplies.
Following that war and the end of hostilities with Mexico the fort was seen as more of a secondary post. In 1854 the U.S. Army officially abandoned Fort Towson for the final time and for the rest of the decade the post's buildings were used by indian agents. A fire broke out in the late 1850's destroying many of the buildings at Fort Towson but some survived. With the outbreak of the American Civil War the abandoned fort was recongized as useful by Confederate troops. Small militia units quickly garrisoned the fort at the onset of the war but it was not until 1863 that Confederate troops would fully garrison the post. In 1864 Confederate Major General Samuel B. Maxey made Fort Towson the headquarters of the Indian Territory. In February of 1865 Maxey turned over his command to Brig. General Stand Watie who would use Fort Towson to the same capacity. Fort Towson would never fire a shot in anger during the war and it was at the nearby village of Doaksville that Watie surrendered his forces on June 23, 1865.
Following the war in 1865 the fort was once again abandoned. The remaining buildings fell into disrepair and over time turned to ruins. It was not until 1967 that the state of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Historical Society purchased the land in order to preserve what is left of Fort Towson. In 1970 the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today Fort Towson is ran by the Oklahoma Historical Society as the Old Fort Towson State Historic Site. Visitors to the fort can walk the original parade ground and tour the old ruins of the fort. There is also a small visitors center that houses artifacts from Fort Towson. The ruins of the nearby settlement of Doaksville where Stand Watie surrendered his forces are also open to the public. Fort Towson is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-5pm and is free of charge to visit.
http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Towson
http://www.okhistory.org/sites/forttowson?full
Also be sure to check out all other "Forgotten Forts" threads in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/
The post helped maintain order in the Indian Territory by keeping the peace among settlers and indians as well as keeping a watchful eye for bandits in the region. However, in 1829 Fort Towson was abandoned until a year later when the post was reopened as Camp Phoenix in order to once again maintain the peace between indians and the region's settlers. Within a year the post was once again named Fort Towson. With its reestablishment Fort Towson became one of the most active posts in the Indian Territory and multiple new buildings were built to house and support it's troops. During that time the fort was garrisoned by elements of the 3rd U.S. Infantry under Major Stephen Kearney who would go on to command the "Army of the West" during the Mexican-American War. Prior to and during the Mexican-American War more buildings were built at the post using stone foundations. Some of these buildings included multiple enlisted barracks, multiple officers quarters, storerooms, a hospital, a magazine and a school. All of these buildings surrounded the central parade ground. During the Mexican-American War the fort was used as a staging area for troops and supplies.
Following that war and the end of hostilities with Mexico the fort was seen as more of a secondary post. In 1854 the U.S. Army officially abandoned Fort Towson for the final time and for the rest of the decade the post's buildings were used by indian agents. A fire broke out in the late 1850's destroying many of the buildings at Fort Towson but some survived. With the outbreak of the American Civil War the abandoned fort was recongized as useful by Confederate troops. Small militia units quickly garrisoned the fort at the onset of the war but it was not until 1863 that Confederate troops would fully garrison the post. In 1864 Confederate Major General Samuel B. Maxey made Fort Towson the headquarters of the Indian Territory. In February of 1865 Maxey turned over his command to Brig. General Stand Watie who would use Fort Towson to the same capacity. Fort Towson would never fire a shot in anger during the war and it was at the nearby village of Doaksville that Watie surrendered his forces on June 23, 1865.
Following the war in 1865 the fort was once again abandoned. The remaining buildings fell into disrepair and over time turned to ruins. It was not until 1967 that the state of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Historical Society purchased the land in order to preserve what is left of Fort Towson. In 1970 the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today Fort Towson is ran by the Oklahoma Historical Society as the Old Fort Towson State Historic Site. Visitors to the fort can walk the original parade ground and tour the old ruins of the fort. There is also a small visitors center that houses artifacts from Fort Towson. The ruins of the nearby settlement of Doaksville where Stand Watie surrendered his forces are also open to the public. Fort Towson is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-5pm and is free of charge to visit.
http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Towson
http://www.okhistory.org/sites/forttowson?full
Also be sure to check out all other "Forgotten Forts" threads in the Forgotten Forts Series Index (Link Below)
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/