Vancouver Barracks

Vancouver Barracks (1849-1947) - Established first as Columbia Barracks 13 May 1849 by Captain John S. Hatheway and two companies of the 1st U.S. Artillery in Vancouver, Clark County, Washington. Renamed Fort Vancouver (2) 13 Jul 1853 and finally named Vancouver Barracks 5 Apr 1879. Abandoned in 1947. See also Fort Vancouver (1) and Vancouver Arsenal.

History
The Treaty of 1846 established the present day boundary between the U.S. and what is now Canada, settling a long dispute between Britain and the U.S. over ownership of the Oregon Territory (Washington and Oregon). In 1849 Captain John S. Hatheway and two companies of the 1st U.S. Artillery arrived to establish a U.S. presence near the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) Fort Vancouver (1) and Fort Nisqually. The post at Fort Vancouver was called Columbia Barracks and was situated on a bluff above the HBC's Fort Vancouver (1). This post was not garrisoned until 1850 because quarters were not yet built.

In 1850 Colonel Persifor F. Smith, Commander of the Pacific Division, ordered the construction of quarters at Columbia Barracks and Captain Rufus Ingalls supervised the work. Additional buildings at Fort Vancouver were leased from the HBC. In 1853 Columbia Barracks was renamed Fort Vancouver (2).

In 1854 Colonel Joseph K.F. Mansfield conducted an inspection of the Department of the Pacific and he described the then Fort Vancouver (2) as "a beautiful site on the north bank of the Columbia River... in full view of Mounts Hood and Jefferson". His sketch of the plan of the fort is shown here.

On 14 Jul 1860 the original Fort Vancouver (1) was abandoned by the HBC and gradually deteriorated until it was destroyed by fire in 1866. On 5 Apr 1879, the U.S. Fort Vancouver (2) was renamed Vancouver Barracks.

Throughout the early history of Washington and Oregon and especially during the heyday of the Oregon Trail, Vancouver Barracks was a U.S. Army Headquarters and played a central role in the Indian Wars of the 1850's, 60's and 70's.

World War II (1941-1945)
In World War II Vancouver Barracks was used as a staging area for the Seattle Port Of Embarkation. The post included 3,019 acres, had billeting space for 250 officers and 7,295 enlisted persons.

Current Status
In 1948 Congress designated Fort Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks as a National Monument. In 1961 it became a National Historic Site and in 1996 Congress designated 366 acres that included Fort Vancouver, Vancouver Barracks and other surrounding sites as the Vancouver National Historic Reserve.

See Also:
 * Fort Vancouver (1)
 * Fort Nisqually

Sources:
 * , page 190
 * , page 838
 * , page 114-115, plan 23
 * , page 421

Links:
 * North American Forts- Vancouver Barracks
 * Wikipedia - Fort Vancouver
 * Fort Vancouver Historic Site