Fort Scott National Historic Site, Kansas – History & Hauntings

Nestled in the heart of southeastern Kansas, the Fort Scott National Historic Site stands as a powerful testament to a pivotal era in American history. Originally established as Camp Scott on May 30, 1842, and later renamed in honor of General Winfield Scott, this strategic outpost played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s westward expansion, navigating the tumultuous years of "Bleeding Kansas," and weathering the storm of the Civil War. Today, the meticulously preserved fort offers visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and explore the complex narratives of frontier life, military operations, and the struggles that defined a nation.

In the early 19th century, a young and burgeoning United States was primarily confined to the eastern side of the Mississippi River. Recognizing the need to manage the growing tensions between white settlers and Native American tribes, the U.S. government conceived a plan to establish a line of forts stretching from the Great Lakes to New Orleans. Fort Scott, Kansas, was envisioned as one of these crucial installations, designed to enforce the promise of a "permanent Indian frontier" and maintain peace between the influx of settlers and the indigenous populations, including the Osage and various relocated Eastern tribes.

Fort Scott, Kansas, strategically positioned on a bluff overlooking the confluence of Mill Creek and the Marmaton River, filled a significant gap between Fort Leavenworth to the north and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, to the south. This placement allowed for effective communication and logistical support across the region. The fort served as home to both infantry soldiers and the dragoons, an elite unit of troops expertly trained in both mounted and dismounted combat. While the infantry focused on the essential tasks of fort construction and maintenance, the dragoons were frequently dispatched on expeditions to patrol the vast territories and address conflicts along the Santa Fe and Oregon Trails.

As settlers increasingly sought land and opportunity in the West during the 1840s, the dragoons of Fort Scott, Kansas, played a vital role in maintaining order along the vital arteries of westward expansion. In 1843, they provided essential escort services for wagon trains traversing the Santa Fe Trail. The following year, dragoons from both Fort Scott and Fort Leavenworth embarked on a mission into Pawnee territory, successfully persuading the tribe to cease hostilities against the Sioux. In 1845, their patrols extended as far west as South Pass, Wyoming, along the Oregon Trail, where they engaged in crucial parleys with various Native American tribes.

The outbreak of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) saw both infantry and dragoons from Fort Scott, Kansas, actively participating in the conflict. Some dragoons marched alongside Stephen Kearney into New Mexico and California, while others served under Zachary Taylor at the Battle of Buena Vista. Infantry soldiers from Fort Scott also fought with Taylor and participated in Winfield Scott’s arduous overland march to Mexico City. The war’s outcome resulted in the acquisition of vast new territories for the United States, further fueling westward expansion and solidifying the concept of "Manifest Destiny."

However, this rapid expansion also brought about significant challenges, particularly regarding the issue of slavery. As the frontier pushed westward, the notion of a "permanent" Indian territory quickly dissolved, and the army made the decision to abandon Fort Scott, Kansas, in 1853. Yet, the peace was short-lived. The escalating tensions over slavery in the newly acquired territories would soon draw soldiers back to the region, plunging Kansas into a period of intense conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas."

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 ignited the flames of sectionalism by allowing residents of the Kansas and Nebraska Territories to decide for themselves, through popular vote, whether their state would be free or slave. This provision triggered a massive influx of people from both sides of the slavery debate, all seeking to sway the vote in their favor. Kansas became a battleground for three distinct political factions: pro-slavers, free-staters, and abolitionists. Pro-slavery advocates championed the institution regardless of personal slave ownership, while abolitionists sought its complete eradication. Free-staters, on the other hand, were not necessarily opposed to slavery where it already existed but vehemently opposed its expansion into new territories.

This clash of ideologies soon erupted into violence, transforming Kansas into "Bleeding Kansas," a period marked by widespread destruction, psychological warfare, and bloodshed. Fort Scott, Kansas, and its surrounding area were not immune to this turmoil. After the fort’s buildings were sold at auction in 1855, the town became predominantly pro-slavery, while the surrounding countryside was largely populated by free-staters and abolitionists. This division was starkly illustrated by the existence of two hotels on the "old fort" grounds: the Fort Scott Hotel, a former officers’ quarters known as the "Free State" Hotel due to its clientele’s political leanings, and the Western Hotel, an infantry barracks that served as the headquarters for pro-slavery men.

By 1858, radical elements from both sides converged on the region, further escalating the violence. James Montgomery, a fervent abolitionist, emerged as a leader of free-state forces who launched raids into Fort Scott, a perceived haven for Border Ruffians, the extremist pro-slavery factions. These raids resulted in arson attempts, such as the targeting of the Western Hotel, and even loss of life, including the death of John Little, a former deputy marshal. During this tumultuous period, soldiers were periodically dispatched back to Fort Scott, Kansas, to restore order, only to see the violence reignite upon their departure. By the time the strife subsided in 1859, nearly sixty people had lost their lives, and countless others were terrorized throughout Kansas Territory. Ultimately, anti-slavery forces prevailed, and Kansas entered the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861. However, the divisions and violence that had plagued Kansas now threatened to engulf the entire nation in a full-blown civil war.

The Civil War brought the U.S. Army back to Fort Scott, Kansas, which Union commanders recognized as a strategic location in southeast Kansas for establishing a base of military operations. The fort’s strategic position allowed the army to protect Kansas against a potential Confederate invasion. Troops reoccupied many of the old fort buildings, including the stables and hospital, and began constructing new buildings and fortifications.

During the Civil War, Fort Scott, Kansas, served as a crucial central supply depot for Union armies in the West, a general hospital for soldiers in the region, and a refuge for displaced populations, including war refugees, freed slaves, and white farmers. Many of these refugees joined the Union Army, significantly diversifying its ranks. American Indian and African American regiments were recruited in the area, including the 1st Kansas Colored Infantry, the first African American regiment to engage the Confederates in combat, sworn in on the grounds of Fort Scott.

The fort’s strategic importance as a military supply depot made it a target for Confederate General Sterling Price, who launched two unsuccessful attempts to capture it during the war. The guerrilla warfare that plagued the Kansas-Missouri border further strained the military’s resources. The intense fighting between the Jayhawkers (Kansas Unionists) and the Bushwhackers (Missouri Confederates) kept the military occupied. However, the Union presence at Fort Scott, Kansas, likely spared the town from the widespread pillaging and destruction that befell other communities in the region.

Following the Civil War, the nation embarked on a path of healing and reunification, with railroads playing a pivotal role in connecting the country. Recognizing the potential for economic prosperity, town leaders in Fort Scott, Kansas, actively sought to bring a railroad line to the city. Their efforts paid off in 1869 when the first railroad reached Fort Scott. However, the construction of the railroad south of town sparked conflict with squatters who opposed the project. The military was once again called in, establishing the Post of Southeast Kansas (1869-1873) to protect the railroad workers, a rare instance of U.S. troops taking up arms against American citizens to protect business interests.

From 1842 to 1873, Fort Scott, Kansas, underwent a remarkable transformation, evolving from an isolated frontier outpost into a thriving trade center. It played a significant role in the events that shaped the United States, as the nation navigated the challenges of expansion, conflict, and war, ultimately emerging as a unified and powerful transcontinental nation.

Today, the city of Fort Scott stands as the only significant town in Kansas that originated from a U.S. Army fort established before Kansas became a territory and a state. The restored and preserved fort now serves as a National Historic Site, offering visitors a captivating glimpse into the past.

Fort Scott Hauntings

Beyond its rich historical significance, Fort Scott, Kansas, is also known for its reported paranormal activity, adding another layer of intrigue to this remarkable site.

• Fort Grounds: Numerous sightings of ghostly Civil War soldiers have been reported on the lawn and around the courtyard. Officers have also been seen in the cell blocks and stables.

• Officers’ Quarters: The Officers’ Quarters are rumored to be the most haunted buildings on the property. According to local lore, an officer accidentally shot himself while riding up to the building on the left, reportedly while showing off for his wife. The devastated woman cradled him in her arms as he died. Visitors and staff have reported feeling her presence in the quarters. The building on the left also served as the Free State Hotel during the "Bleeding Kansas" era. Later, both buildings served as an orphanage home called Goodlander’s for many years. Staff and guests have often reported hearing the sounds of children playing in the buildings.

  Fog-like apparitions have been reported emanating from the chimney in the officers’ quarters. It is said that at midnight, a ghostly figure can be seen looking out the window of the officer’s building, formerly the Free State Hotel.