The Soldiers. The third class of people who came to early Kansas was the soldiers. Their presence was necessary for the protection of the few white people against the Indians. Fort Leavenworth was established by the National Government in 1827, as headquarters for the troops. This was shortly after the beginning of the Santa Fe trade. During the ’40’s this fort was used as a base of supplies for the soldiers of the Mexican War, and as an outfitting point for many of the California gold seekers and Mormon emigrants. Fort Leavenworth is to-day one of the most important of the national forts. A number of other forts were established, among them Fort Riley, Fort Dodge, Fort Scott, and Fort Hays, but all of these have been abandoned except Fort Riley.
Above is the Old Wall at Fort Leavenworth. This wall is all that remains of the original Fort. The lower picture is of the Main Parade at Fort Leavenworth at the present time.
Population of Pre-territorial Kansas. Kansas remained in possession of the Indians until 1854, when it was organized into a territory. With this date a new era began. At this time the white population consisted of about twelve hundred people, one half of them soldiers and the other half connected with the trading posts and the missions.
SUMMARY
When the country that is now Kansas became a part of the United States it was occupied by four tribes of Indians. In 1825 the Kanza and Osage tribes ceded a large part of their lands to the Government and the eastern quarter of the State was made a part of the Indian country by the Act of 1830. Following this a number of eastern tribes were removed to reservations in Kansas, where they remained until Kansas was organized as a territory, in 1854, when they were moved to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. During these years there was much travel through the State, but up to 1854 the white population numbered only about twelve hundred. These people were of three classes; traders, missionaries, and soldiers.
REFERENCES
- Prentis, History of Kansas, pp. 50-64.
- Andreas, History of Kansas, pp. 58-74.
- Gihon, Geary and Kansas, chap. II.
- Inman, The Old Santa Fe Trail.
- Elson, History of the United States, chap. II.
- Kansas Historical Collections, vol. VIII, pp. 72, 171, 206, 250; vol. IX, p. 565; vol. X, p. 327; vol. XI, p. 333; vol. XII, pp. 65, 183.
- Holloway, History of Kansas, chap. VIII.
- Blackmar, Kansas, vol. I, pp. 655-703; vol. II, p. 291.
QUESTIONS
1. What use did the white people make of Kansas during the first half of the nineteenth century?