FORT HARKER

ABOUT THREE MILES SOUTHWEST IS THE SITE OF FORT ELLSWORTH, ESTABLISHED IN 1864. TWO YEARS LATER IT WAS RENAMED FORT HARKER FOR MAJ. GEN. CHARLES G. HARKER AND IN 1867 WAS MOVED TO THE SITE OF PRESENT KANOPOLIS. WHEN THE UNION PACIFIC REACHED HERE IN 1867 THE FORT BECAME A STARTING POINT FOR STAGE LINES TO SANTA FE AND A FREIGHTING AND SUPPLY DEPOT FOR SOUTHERN AND WESTERN FORTS. THIS REGION WAS IN THE HEART OF THE INDIAN COUNTRY. MARAUDING PLAINS TRIBES KEPT TROOPS FROM THE FORT ALMOST CONSTANTLY IN THE FIELD. HERE GENERAL SHERIDAN PLANNED HIS WINTER CAMPAIGN OF 1868-1869 WHICH FINALLY SUBDUED THE SOUTHERN INDIANS. OTHER FAMOUS GENERALS, INCLUDING GRANT, SHERMAN, HANCOCK, MILES AND CUSTER, VISITED OR WERE QUARTERED AT HARKER. SOLDIERS WERE STATIONED AT THE FORT UNTIL 1873. SOME OF THE BUILDINGS ARE STILL USED IN KANOPOLIS.