Fort Belmont, in southern Woodson County, Kansas

Woodson County, Kansas

Woodson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 3,309...

, was built about 1860 near the town of Belmont. It was to protect the settlers there from attacks by Border Ruffians and Indians. The fort consisted of three or four officer cabins, a redoubt about a quarter of a mile to the north and a parade ground a mile to the east.

The redoubt was an earthwork and log structure. Historian Daniel C. Fitzgerald (see Daniel Fitzgerald (writer)) visited the ruins of the redoubt and reported it to be rectangular, 150 feet by 60 teet across. The earthworks were the base of the structure. On top of the earthworks were four layers of logs. The wall was said to be fairly high. A house was built in the center of the redoubt.

Fort Belmont was manned by local militia under the command of Capt. Joseph Gunby. A Federal agency for the Osage and Creek Indians was located at Fort Belmont until 1864, possibly until October. On October 30, 1864, Gov. Thomas Carney

Thomas Carney

Thomas Carney was the second Governor of Kansas.Carney was born in Delaware County, Ohio to James and Sarah Carney. James died in 1828, and Thomas remained at home farming with his mother until age 19...

relieved the militia from duty and Fort Belmont was permanently closed. The town of Belmont was abandoned soon thereafter.