Fort Mitchell, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Fort Mitchell, Nebraska an Army fort in service from 1864-1867. Its location is marked by Nebraska Historical Society Marker 190 on highway NE 92 two miles west of present day, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
, just south of the junction with highway NE L79G.
First constructed northwest of Mitchell Pass
as Camp Shuman, Fort Mitchell was manned in the autumn of 1864 by Company "H" of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry
under Captain J. S. Shuman. It was named in honor of General Robert B. Mitchell, who ordered the establishment of this post to protect traffic along the Great Platte River Road
between Julesburg and South Pass
and the nearby Scott's Bluff stage station. Fort Mitchell was abandoned after the Fort Laramie peace conference of 1867.
The ground plan of Fort Mitchell consisted of a stockade
with a sally port
, firing loopholes
, and a sentinel
tower
. Today no trace of the sod
structure remains at the site west of the North Platte River
bend northwest of Scott's Bluff
.
Mitchell Pass and the city of Mitchell, Nebraska
, derive their names this military post.
Google Earth has a marker with detailed biography of the fort at the above coordinates. There is also an image of the highway marker a mile west of the fort's site, which is located at: 41.859199,-103.723292
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 15,039 at the 2010 census. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, and the 13th largest city in Nebraska....
, just south of the junction with highway NE L79G.
First constructed northwest of Mitchell Pass
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska includes an important 19th century landmark on the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. The National Monument contains multiple bluffs located on the south side of the North Platte River; it is named for one prominent bluff called Scotts Bluff, which...
as Camp Shuman, Fort Mitchell was manned in the autumn of 1864 by Company "H" of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry
11th Ohio Cavalry
The 11th Ohio Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was stationed in the Dakota and Idaho territories to protect travelers and settlers from Native American raids.- Service :...
under Captain J. S. Shuman. It was named in honor of General Robert B. Mitchell, who ordered the establishment of this post to protect traffic along the Great Platte River Road
Great Platte River Road
The Great Platte River Road was the convergence point for the Trapper's Trail, the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the California Trail, the Pony Express route, and the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Laramie across Nebraska. The Road, which extended from the Second Fort Kearny to Fort...
between Julesburg and South Pass
South Pass
South Pass is two mountain passes on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Wyoming. The passes are located in a broad low region, 35 miles broad, between the Wind River Range to the north and the Oregon Buttes and Great Divide Basin to the south, in southwestern Fremont...
and the nearby Scott's Bluff stage station. Fort Mitchell was abandoned after the Fort Laramie peace conference of 1867.
The ground plan of Fort Mitchell consisted of a stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
with a sally port
Sally port
The primary modern meaning for sally port is a secure, controlled entryway, as at a fortification or a prison. The entrance is usually protected in some way, such as with a fixed wall blocking the door which must be circumvented before entering, but which prevents direct enemy fire from a distance...
, firing loopholes
Embrasure
In military architecture, an embrasure is the opening in a crenellation or battlement between the two raised solid portions or merlons, sometimes called a crenel or crenelle...
, and a sentinel
Watchtower
A watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military, and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may...
tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
. Today no trace of the sod
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
structure remains at the site west of the North Platte River
North Platte River
The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long counting its many curves, It travels about distance. Its course lies in the U.S...
bend northwest of Scott's Bluff
Scotts Bluff National Monument
Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska includes an important 19th century landmark on the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. The National Monument contains multiple bluffs located on the south side of the North Platte River; it is named for one prominent bluff called Scotts Bluff, which...
.
Mitchell Pass and the city of Mitchell, Nebraska
Mitchell, Nebraska
Mitchell is a city in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Scottsbluff, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,831 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Mitchell is located at ....
, derive their names this military post.
Google Earth has a marker with detailed biography of the fort at the above coordinates. There is also an image of the highway marker a mile west of the fort's site, which is located at: 41.859199,-103.723292