Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road
The Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road stands as a significant historical artery, a testament to the United States’ westward expansion and its complex relationship with Native American tribes in the 19th century. Established in 1837, this road wasn’t just a pathway for troops and supplies; it symbolized the "permanent Indian Frontier," a demarcation line that stretched from the northern reaches of Fort Snelling in Minnesota down to Fort Towson in Oklahoma. The road’s primary purpose was to connect Fort Leavenworth in Kansas with Fort Gibson in Oklahoma, facilitating military control and oversight of the newly designated Indian Territory.
The Genesis of the Road: Indian Removal and Frontier Defense
The impetus for constructing the Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road was deeply rooted in the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This controversial legislation formalized the federal policy of relocating Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the eastern states to territories west of the Mississippi River. The government’s rationale was to open up land for white settlement and agriculture. However, this policy created a pressing need for a robust defense system to manage the interactions between settlers and the relocated tribes, and to prevent conflicts along the frontier.
As thousands of Native Americans, including the Creek, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Shawnee, were forcibly resettled west of Missouri and Arkansas, the lack of natural barriers and the insufficient number of troops at existing forts like Leavenworth, Gibson, and Towson became glaringly apparent. Congress recognized the urgent need to bolster the frontier defense and patrol system.
In 1834, Congress passed the Intercourse Act, aiming to regulate trade and interactions with the Indian tribes and to maintain peace on the frontiers. This act restricted white settlement in areas designated for Native Americans and outlined strict regulations for relations between white settlements and Indian country. To enforce these regulations, the U.S. military was tasked with maintaining order and preventing unauthorized incursions.
Planning and Construction
The idea of constructing a military road to connect key frontier posts gained momentum in December 1835 when the Senate directed its committee on military affairs to investigate the feasibility of appropriating funds for the project. Secretary of War Lewis Cass, in his advice to the committee, emphasized the strategic importance of such a road, highlighting the need for the U.S. to maintain a "respectable force" in the region and to have the means to transport it freely along the line of communication. Cass envisioned a practical, cost-effective road that would facilitate the movement of troops and supplies, requiring only the clearing of timber, bridging of streams, and causewaying of marshy areas.
Congress approved the Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road in 1836. To streamline the project, the longer road was divided into three sections: the northern section from Fort Snelling to Fort Leavenworth, the middle section between Fort Leavenworth and the Arkansas River, and the southern section from the Arkansas River to Fort Towson. Separate commissions were tasked with surveying each section.
In August 1837, Civil Engineer Charles Dimmock and his assistant were employed to survey the middle section, which was crucial for connecting Fort Leavenworth and Fort Gibson. Accompanied by a small dragoon escort, Dimmock and his team set out from Fort Leavenworth in September, meticulously exploring the terrain and marking the route. The survey commenced on September 27 at a point just across the Arkansas River from Fort Coffee and concluded at Fort Leavenworth on October 8. The resulting 286-mile route was carefully marked, and the commissioners recommended two locations for the establishment of new military posts to further enhance the region’s defense.
Impact and Usage
The completion of the Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road had a profound impact on the frontier. It facilitated the movement of troops, supplies, and communication between the forts, enabling the military to better control the region and enforce the government’s policies. In May 1842, Fort Scott, Kansas, was established a few miles beyond Missouri’s border on the Western military road. Soon after, infantry and dragoon troops were regularly traversing the military road. Soldiers from Fort Scott also utilized a portion of the road to reach the Santa Fe Trail in Johnson County, Kansas, where they provided escort services for Santa Fe traders’ caravans.
The road also played a vital role during the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, serving as a crucial artery for transporting soldiers and supplies to the conflict zone.
Private Benjamin Wiley, a soldier who traveled the road, described his experience in a journal entry from July 7, 1847: "This morning got an early start & marched 12 miles camped on a beautiful plain on the banks of a fine clear stream of water, with plenty of wood near at hand. This day, we saw several volunteers returning home who had gone out under General Kearney last summer. They did not look like ‘men in Buchram,’ but real ‘Rough and Readys.’"
Decline and Legacy
Fort Scott served as a frontier post for nearly 12 years until it was abandoned in 1853, just before the organization of the Kansas Territory. After the Civil War, the Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road gradually faded from memory as new transportation routes and technologies emerged. However, for over three decades, it remained an essential route for the frontier military, settlers, and other travelers.
Today, a portion of this historic road has been designated as the Frontier Military Scenic Byway. This byway stretches along the eastern edge of Kansas for approximately 167 miles, from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Scott and then onward to the Oklahoma border. It follows K-5 out of Leavenworth to I-435, then U.S. 69 and Alternate U.S. 69 to the state line.
Sites Along the Byway
The Frontier Military Scenic Byway offers a journey through time, providing visitors with a glimpse into the turbulent era of Bleeding Kansas, its territorial struggles, the Civil War, and the westward expansion of the United States. Along the route, travelers can explore a variety of historic, natural, and cultural sites, including:
- Fort Leavenworth: A historic military post that has played a significant role in American history.
- Leavenworth Landing Park: A park located on the Missouri River, commemorating the city’s history as a major transportation hub.
- Grinter Place: A historic home built by Moses Grinter, an early settler and businessman.
- National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame: A museum dedicated to the history of agriculture in the United States.
- Johnson County Museum: A museum showcasing the history of Johnson County, Kansas.
- Legler Barn Museum: A museum housed in a historic barn, displaying artifacts related to the area’s agricultural heritage.
- Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop: A living history museum that recreates the experience of traveling by stagecoach in the 1860s.
- Louisburg Cider Mill: A popular destination for cider and apple-related products.
- John Brown Museum: A museum dedicated to the life and legacy of abolitionist John Brown.
- Marais des Cygnes Massacre Park: A park commemorating the site of a massacre during the Bleeding Kansas era.
- Chouteau Trading Post: A historic trading post that played a vital role in the fur trade.
- Mine Creek Civil War Battlefield Site: A battlefield where a significant Civil War battle took place.
- Fort Scott National Historic Site and Cemetery: A preserved military fort that offers insights into frontier life and the Civil War era.
- "Big Brutus": The second-largest electric coal shovel in the world, offering a unique glimpse into the region’s mining history.
- Schermerhorn Park: A park offering recreational opportunities and natural beauty.
The Fort Leavenworth-Fort Gibson Military Road, now partially preserved as the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, stands as a tangible reminder of the complex history of the American frontier, the Indian Removal Act, and the nation’s westward expansion. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the landscapes and historical sites that shaped the United States.