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FORT LEAVENWORTH: First U.S. Fort in Kansas

© Janette Kenny

On March 7, 1827, Colonel Henry Leavenworth received orders to leave Jefferson Barracks near St. Louis with four companies of the Third Infantry and travel up the Missouri River to its big bend. He was to establish a cantonment in his name near the confluence of the Little Platte and Missouri Rivers.

Colonel Leavenworth arrived in May and explored the area. The land was fertile and there was plenty of good water. But he did not believe it was a suitable site for a military post.

After learning from the Kansa Indians that the Missouri lands were prone to floods, Colonel Leavenworth traveled twenty miles upriver and crossed the Missouri River. He wrote to the Adjutant-General that he believed it wise to establish the new frontier outpost in the Kansas Territory on the western bluffs one hundred and fifty feet above the Missouri River.

By July 11, Colonel Leavenworth had still not received the confirmation he had requested in May 8 on the new site he had chosen. He wrote again, informing the Adjutant-General that his troops had begun building temporary quarters to house four companies in the Kansas Territory.

After careful review, the General-in-Chief believed Colonel Leavenworth had acted wisely to station the cantonment on high ground and approved the site that September.

Cantonment Leavenworth encompassed 6,840 acres, extending six to seven miles along the Missouri River and spreading inland one to two miles. It was well forested, which was a benefit in the construction of the first buildings.

The frontier post served as the northern military point in the new Indian Territory as well as offering protection to tradesmen setting out on the Santa Fe Trail. But its purpose was temporarily suspended in 1829.

On May 16 of that year, Colonel Leavenworth and his troops were withdrawn from the post. Colonel Leavenworth had been appointed brigadier general and was to reassume command of Jefferson Barracks.

A detachment remained at Cantonment Leavenworth that summer, along with Kickapoo Indians. In the fall, the cantonment was garrisoned again and the Indians returned to the prairie. Dragoons began escorting freight caravans from Cantonment Leavenworth to Santa Fe.

On February 8, 1832, the Secretary of War directed in general orders No. 11 that all cantonments be called forts. On that date, the outpost was designated Fort Leavenworth.

In 1840, it is believed a missionary was hired by the U.S. Government to operate the fort's upper farm. He was most likely the first white settler and the first to break the prairie sod.

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