Fort Cap au Gris (Troy, Missouri, Missouri)
Troy, Missouri · Missouri · War of 1812
History & Significance
Missouri Rangers erected the fort upon the advice of the inhabitants of Fort Howard to observe the Indian movements on the Mississippi River. Built under the direction of Nathan Boone, son of Daniel Boone, the fort was located about 18 miles east of Troy, Missouri.
The post served as a rallying point for U.S. forces during the Upper Mississippi campaign of 1814. On July 4, Campbell's expedition left Cape au Gris with three fortified barges, or keel boats, each with a cabin and all having sails.
On August 23, 1814, another expedition led by Major Zachary Taylor of the 7th Regular Infantry was formed at Cap au Gris to recapture Fort Shelby and Prairie du Chien which had fallen to the British on July 20. The expedition consisted of 334 regulars and 8 keelboats.
Following Taylor's repulse at the Battle of Credit Island in September, the fort became a defensive anchor for the southern frontier. Although the War of 1812 had officially ended with the Treaty of Ghent in December 1814, violence persisted on the frontier because some Indigenous groups had not received news of the peace treaty while others continued resisting American expansion into their territories. The unincorporated community of Cap au Gris, Missouri today occupies the site of the old fort.
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Cap_au_Gris
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Sink_Hole
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rock_Island_Rapids
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy,_Missouri
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_au_Gris,_Missouri
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=140746
- https://www.krcu.org/2024-11-27/not-just-on-oceans-the-mississippi-river-capes-in-history
- https://familysearch.org/en/wiki/Missouri_Territory_in_the_War_of_1812