Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail, Kansas – Legends of America
The Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail, etched into the Kansas landscape in 1867, stands as a silent testament to a pivotal era of American expansion. Initially forged as a military artery, it soon evolved into a vital conduit for civilian traffic, playing a crucial role in connecting settlements, facilitating trade, and enabling westward migration. Its significance endured until the iron horse of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad reached Dodge City in 1872, forever altering the region’s transportation landscape.
A Nation Rebuilds and Expands
In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States turned its gaze westward, embarking on an ambitious endeavor of nation-building. Railroads snaked across the plains, connecting distant communities and fueling economic growth. Simultaneously, the government grappled with the complex and often fraught relationship with Native American tribes, a challenge often simplistically referred to as the "Indian problem."
This period witnessed a resurgence in military presence in the West. Cavalry regiments were bolstered, funding for western army posts increased, and some of the nation’s most capable military minds were assigned to the forts that dotted the Old West. These forts served as symbols of federal authority, protectors of settlers, and strategic outposts in the ongoing conflicts with Native American tribes.
A Lifeline Across the Prairie
The Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail was born out of necessity, initially serving as a supply route between Fort Hays, a crucial railhead, and Fort Dodge, situated approximately 75 miles to the southwest. The trail provided a vital link for transporting essential provisions, military equipment, and personnel between the two forts.
Beyond its military function, the trail quickly became an important access point for emigrants and traders venturing towards the Santa Fe Trail, a well-established commercial route that stretched southwestward to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail effectively served as a connecting spur, funneling travelers and goods onto the broader network of westward expansion.
From Military Road to Postal Route
The trail’s significance expanded further when the U.S. Postal Department recognized its potential for mail delivery. Following the relocation of the railhead from Fort Harker to Hays, the Postal Department contracted the Barlow & Sanderson Company, a prominent stagecoach operator, to initiate mail service from Hays to Santa Fe, New Mexico, beginning on November 1, 1867.
Barlow & Sanderson, heeding the government’s call, established a stagecoach line that traversed the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail before continuing along the Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail to Santa Fe. Stages departed from each terminus three times a week, with a one-way journey taking approximately four and a half days. This mail route remained operational until the summer of 1868, when the railhead shifted to Sheridan, prompting the relocation of the stage headquarters to Pond Creek Station.
Military Movements and Winter Campaigns
Beyond its role as a mail route, the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail teemed with military activity, particularly during the fall of 1868 as General Philip Sheridan orchestrated his winter campaign against the Southern Plains tribes. The trail became a crucial artery for troop movements, supply convoys, and communication between Fort Hays and Fort Dodge, playing a vital role in the military’s efforts to subdue Native American resistance.
A Journey Through the Landscape
The Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail, stretching approximately 75 miles, began at Fort Hays and meandered southwestward. The route was not without its challenges, marked by varied terrain, unpredictable weather, and the constant threat of encounters with Native American tribes.
-
Five Mile Hollow: The trail’s first notable landmark was Five Mile Hollow, situated about four and a half miles southwest of Hays City. The hollow, named for its distance from the city, offered a reliable source of water and ample grazing for livestock, quickly becoming a popular roadside campsite. In November 1871, tragedy struck when a wagon train was caught in a severe snowstorm, resulting in the death of at least one man who succumbed to the elements while desperately trying to start a fire within a wagon.
-
Lookout Station: Approximately one mile southwest of Five Mile Hollow, the trail intersected the Smoky Hill Trail, near Lookout Station. Established by the Butterfield Overland Despatch in 1865, Lookout Station was intended to provide a secure rest stop for travelers. However, in April 1867, the station was attacked by Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. The raiders burned the building, stole its stock, and nailed the cook to the barn before setting it ablaze. The station was rebuilt in 1868. Today, a Butterfield Overland Dispatch marker designates the site.
-
Billy Dixon’s Camp: Continuing for about four miles, the trail reached the Smoky Hill River, where the camp of buffalo hunter Billy Dixon once stood. Constructed in the fall of 1870, the camp consisted of a small picket house and a dugout. Encouraged by freighters and hunters, Dixon established a small store where travelers could purchase supplies and whiskey. However, Dixon, more interested in buffalo hunting, hired a man named Billy Reynolds to manage the store. In 1871, Reynolds absconded with the goods and money, leaving the building abandoned.
-
Big Timbers Creek: Approximately eight miles further along the trail lay Big Timbers Creek, which provided water and grazing for travelers. A small community called Hampton was established here, and a post office opened in 1877. Monty Leach, the first postmaster, also established a store. However, the town declined with the arrival of the railroad in 1886.
-
Walnut Creek: About seven miles southwest of Big Timbers, the trail crossed Walnut Creek, the site of a trading post and the townsite of Alexander. While Alexander remains a small community, there are no visible remnants of the original trading post, save for a historical marker.
-
Pawnee Fork: The trail continued through Rush County, clipping the northwest corner of Pawnee County, and into Ness County and Ness City. The trail then headed southwest through Hodgeman County to the Pawnee Fork. The crossing was challenging, often with high waters. In April 1867, General Hancock’s troops built a permanent log bridge across the stream.
-
Duncan’s Crossing: In December 1869, John O’Loughlin established a trading post at Pawnee Fork, also operating a toll bridge. O’Loughlin and James Brannan constructed dugouts to provide lodging for soldiers, buffalo hunters, and freighters. Later, George Duncan purchased the site, renaming it Duncan’s Crossing.
-
Buckner Creek: Thirteen miles southwest of Duncan’s Crossing, the trail reached what was referred to as the middle branch of the Pawnee and named Buckner Creek in honor of Captain Simon Buckner. This crossing also had a toll bridge. Here, mail couriers transferred the mail to other couriers headed to Fort Larned before continuing to Fort Dodge.
-
Sawlog Creek: Another 13 miles distant, the trail came to Sawlog Creek, first identified as the south branch of the Pawnee Fork. The crossing got the name "Sawlog" due to the large amount of timber that lined its banks.
-
Fort Dodge: Another 12 miles beyond, travelers finally reached their destination at Fort Dodge.
The Railroad’s Arrival and the Trail’s Legacy
In 1872, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad reached Dodge City, marking a turning point in the region’s transportation history. The military gradually ceased its reliance on the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail, as the railroad offered a faster, more efficient means of transporting supplies and personnel.
However, the trail did not disappear entirely. For several years, it continued to be used by hunters, freighters, traders, and settlers, who found it a convenient route for reaching various destinations.
Today, the Fort Hays-Fort Dodge Trail stands as a reminder of a bygone era. Historical markers have been erected along its route, and in some locations, the faint traces of wagon ruts can still be discerned, whispering stories of westward expansion, military campaigns, and the lives of those who traversed this historic path.