FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS

Yesterday I had to go over to FT. Leavenworth to take care of some business. I had work there back in the early 2000’s and Angela has never been on a Army post so I thought we would do some looking around.

Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi River, has served the needs of our nation since 1827.

Col. Henry Leavenworth, with the officers and men of the 3rd Infantry Regiment from Jefferson Barracks at St. Louis, Mo., established an Army post on the west bank of the Missouri river instead of the east bank where he was directed to.  As an experienced commander he knew the significance of using terrain that favored his mission.  Therefore he chose the formidable terrain on what is now the Kansas side of the river.

Fort Leavenworth played a key roll in the country's westward expansion and served as a forward destination for tens of thousands of Soldiers, surveyors, emigrants, Native Americans, preachers and settlers who passed through.

Officer Housing

Thomas W. Custer House

Then we went over to the National Cemetery it is very interesting to read and see all the markers.

The oldest known burial at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery is that of Clarinda Dale who died Sept. 21, 1844. She was originally interred in the old Fort Leavenworth Arsenal Cemetery. The oldest known military grave is that of Captain James Allen, 1st U.S. Dragoons, who died in August 1846. Like Miss Dale, Capt. Allen was originally buried in Fort Leavenworth Arsenal Cemetery and later moved to the national cemetery. In 1886, soldiers originally buried at Fort Craig, New Mexico, were re-interred at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery to facilitate completion of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Following the close of the Indian Wars and resettlement of Native Americans, the Army closed or consolidated many of its small military outposts in the West. As a result, between 1885 and 1907, the federal government vacated numerous military post cemeteries and re-interred nearly 2,000 remains at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

 

After the cemetery we drove over U.S.D.B  or  

United States Disciplinary Barracks. Military prison.

There is a lot more to see and do,we will come back when the weather warms up.

ONE DAY CLOSER TO THE DREAM