Fort Washita

Fort Washita was established in 1842 as the southwestern-most post in the United States. (Beyond the borders to the south and west was the Republic of Texas which had recently won its independence from Mexico.) The purpose of the post was to protect the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians from the Plains Indians. For centuries the latter had used this area for hunting and were not happy with newcomers settling in the area. Troops stationed at Fort Washita from time-to-time in the 1840s included the 2nd Dragoons, the U.S. Regiment of Riflemen, the 6th Infantry, the 7th Infantry, and the 5th Infantry. During a portion of the 1850s the post served as the United States Army Field Artillery School. In the 1850s the post played host to the 2nd Artillery and at times to the 3rd Artillery and eventually to the 1st Cavalry, while the 7th Infantry was rotated in and out for differing lengths of time.

Throughout the 1840s and 1850s the post provided quarters for the United States Indian Agency to the Chickasaw and Choctaw governments. On April 16, 1861, the fort was abandoned by U.S. forces under the command of Colonel William Emory. The next day Fort Washita was occupied by Confederate forces and used during the War Between the States. For the next hundred years, the buildings were used by members of the Colbert family who were leaders of the Chickasaw Nation. The fort was acquired by the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1962 and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

For more Civil War links, visit www.civilwaralbum.com