Fort Cameron (Beaver, Utah)
Beaver · Utah · Indian Wars
History & Significance
Although the Black Hawk War of 1865–68 had been settled, citizens of southern Utah remained concerned about Indian hostilities. Territorial Governor George L. Wood and Associate Justice Cyrus M. Hawley sent concerns to Washington, D.C., and the U.S. House Committee on Territories recommended in 1872 that a large military force be sent to Utah.
Hawley believed that establishing such a fort was the only possible way to finally bring the Mountain Meadows Massacre case to trial by affording witnesses the protection of the United States government. General Philip H. Sheridan sent four companies of troops (some 181 men) under Major John D. Wilkins to open the post in mid-1872.
Located on the north side of the Beaver River with buildings constructed from distinctive black rock, the fort included four company barracks, a guardhouse, commissary, hospital, and officers' quarters. During its eleven-year history, the fort accommodated between 215 soldiers in 1873 and 43 in 1877.
Indian hostilities had ceased and John D. Lee had been successfully brought to trial and convicted in Beaver City for his role in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. After decommissioning, the buildings were sold to John R. Murdock and Philo T. Farnsworth, who organized Murdock Academy, the Beaver branch of Brigham Young Academy, which lasted from 1898 to 1922.
Key Facts
Map
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Cameron
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=75575
- https://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/f/FORT_CAMERON.shtml
- https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/b7493355-bcb1-4d8b-9c3b-b65a99a4ee8a