Fort Harker

Fort Harker served as a hub for American military presence in Central Kansas from November 1866 to October 1872. Today the site is maintained by the Ellsworth County Historical Society, which offers an interpretation of three of the original buildings of Fort Harker. The site also includes a history museum with exhibits related to Fort Ellsworth and Fort Harker. During its time as an active post, the fort was a staging ground for troops and supplies who offered protection for wagon trains and settlers in a period marked by both western expansion and the loss of land and sovereignty by Native American tribes, most of whom had been pushed west in previous decades. As a result, the troops stationed at Fort Harker conducted more missions related to protecting wagon trains than troops stationed at any other frontier fort in the post-Civil War era. The US military officially abandoned Fort Harker on October 5, 1872.

The story of Fort Harker is incomplete without first reviewing the history of neighboring Fort Ellsworth. In November 1864, Fort Ellsworth was established by the Union Army to serve as the command headquarters for the District of The Upper Arkansas during the Civil War. The fort also served as a supply depot for troops and soldiers traveling between Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth to the smaller, remote outposts in Western Kansas, such as Fort Dodge and Fort Wallace. Additionally, the soldiers posted at Fort Ellsworth patrolled and protected overland trails in the area, often coming into conflicts with area Native tribes who had been promised sovereignty over the area in exchange for accepting previous treaties. While Fort Ellsworth fulfilled critical needs in the Kansas Territory, its rapid growth incited a need for more space and updated facilities.

The order for the establishment of a new fort came down from the desk of General Winfield S. Hancock on November 17, 1866. The new post was to be constructed approximately one mile northeast of Fort Ellsworth, providing the space, facilities, and location deemed necessary to create the new post. While the order was issued in November, it has been speculated that the construction may have begun as early as September 1866 because of the inclusion of a collection of carpenters and masons on the Fort Ellsworth staff. Early start or not, the construction of the new post was completed by early June 1867. The dismantlement and sale of Fort Ellsworth took place shortly after, with land developers taking possession in late June.

Fort Harker was named in honor of General Charles Garrison Harker, who was killed in action at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in the American Civil War. Fort Harker’s noteworthiness is characterized by its usage as a staging ground for military action in the West. Shortly after the completion of Fort Harker, the Union Pacific Eastern Division finished a railroad line that connected the fort to civilization in the east and transformed it into a hub in Central Kansas. As the US continued to expand west, Fort Harker served as an essential stop for troops and supplies that not only engaged in small skirmishes against Native tribes, but also served as an extension of economic and military might into the West by supporting wagon trains. The troops stationed at Fort Harker in 1867 performed more escorts of wagon trains in one year than troops stationed at any other frontier fort in the post-Civil War era.

In late 1868, Fort Harker became the destination for General Philip Henry Sheridan’s command headquarters as it allowed him to be closer to the campaigns in the West from late 1868 to early 1869. Additionally, a forward detachment from General George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry was posted at Fort Harker, commanded by Brevet Colonel Joseph G. Tilford. Tilford and his troops set out from the fort in February 1870, followed by General Custer and the remainder of the 7th Cavalry on their way to Fort Hays.

By 1871, the U.S. Army's growing presence in the region sent a clear message to Native American leaders. The handful of tribes that sought to maintain control of their land often saw increased patrols. In addition, a series of conflicts led to small-scale skirmishes, and even Native victories resulted in little more than additional troops and pressure. The western forts supported the construction of the railroad network, something that saw the decline in overland trails which ended up reducing the need for frontier forts in Central Kansas. The Native American presence in the area declined in relation to the arrival of settlers, necessitating the reallocation of resources further west to outposts such as Fort Union. On April 8, 1872, the order was given to abandon Fort Harker, resulting in the complete abandonment of the post by October 5, 1872, with remaining troops sent further west to forts in places like New Mexico. Today the site is maintained by the Ellsworth County Historical Society, featuring three of the original buildings of Fort Harker as well as a museum sharing the history of both Fort Ellsworth and Fort Harker.

King, Marsha K. Fort Harker , Kansas State Historical Society. April 1st, 2010. Accessed May 5th, 2023. https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/fort-harker/11802.

Alexander, Kathy. Fort Harker - Protecting Kansas Pioneers, Legends of America. June 1st, 2022. Accessed May 5th, 2023. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-fortharker/.