Fort Deseret

 (1866-18??) - A Mormon settler fort established during the Ute Black Hawk War in 1866 near present-day Deseret, Millard County, Utah. Abandoned as a fortification sometime after the war.

History of Fort Deseret
Established in 1866 at the direction of Brigham Young. The fort was built to protect the settlers and their livestock against hostile Indian attacks during the Ute Black Hawk War (1865-1872).

The Fort was built as a protective wall surrounding a 550-foot square area with bastions at the northeast and southeast corners. Gates were placed in the middle of each side and portholes along each wall. The wall itself was built ten feet high of adobe on a three-foot wide lava rock foundation. The wall base was three foot thick and narrowed to eighteen inches thick at the top.

The fort was built by 98 men divided into two competing teams in just ten days. In practice, it came to be used to protect the livestock at night.

Probably abandoned as a fortification after the end of the war.

Current Status
Fort Deseret State Park with a 1937 marker and remains of walls and bastions.

See Also:
 * Ute Black Hawk War (1865-1872)
 * Mormon Fortifications

Sources:
 * , page 786.
 * , page 172.
 * , page 172.

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Deseret
 * Millard County - Old Fort Deseret
 * Ghost Towns - Fort Deseret
 * Graet Basin Heritage Area - Fort Deseret
 * Wikipedia - Fort Deseret