Fort McPherson (1)

Fort McPherson (1) (1863-1880) - First established in 1863 as Cantonment McKean by Maj. George M. O'Brien, 7th Iowa Cavalry, and named for Maj. Thomas Mckean. Renamed Fort McPherson in 1866 after BG James B. McPherson. Abandoned in 1880. Also known as Fort Cottonwood Springs and Fort Cottonwood.

Fort McPherson (1) History

This post was established to provide protection to travelers along the westbound trails to western destinations. At this point in Nebraska many of the westbound trails followed the same path along the Platte River including the Oregon Trail and the Mormon Trail. As the Union Pacific Railroad expanded westward the role of Fort McPherson changed to included protection of the railroad surveyors, construction crews and finally the operating trains

Established 18 Sep1863 as Cantonment McKean by Maj. George M. O'Brien and Company G of the 7th Iowa Cavalry. The post was built out to house five cavalry companies.

Current Status

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Location: Four miles south of Maxwell in Lincoln County, Nebraska. Maps & Images Lat: 41.0161111 Long: -100.5175 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 2,736'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 484
• Barnes, Jeff, Forts of the Northern Plains - Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indian Wars, Copyright 2008, Stackpole Books, ISBN 13: 978-0-8117-3496-7, ISBN 10: 0-8117-3496-X, page 68-71

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort McPherson

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