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Posted 01/19/2019 3:57 pm
Fort Leavenworth Kansas since 1827
Gateway to the West - Oregon & Santa Fe Trails Medal
I can't find out when this medal was minted and who may have the designer initials HH. Any help would be appreciated. I do believe this is a somewhat scarce medal as I can only find one other on the internet.
Fort Leavenworth at Leavenworth, Kansas is the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi. Although known for its role in the expansion of the American frontier and as the only US military maximum security prison, Fort Leavenworth's most important role began in 1881 when Gen. William T. Sherman established the School of Application for Cavalry and Infantry. That school evolved into the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and has graduated officers such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley and George S. Patton.
Fort Leavenworth History
Fort Leavenworth, first known as Cantonment Leavenworth, was established by Henry Leavenworth on the Missouri River on May 8, 1827. Fort Leavenworth was the first settlement in Kansas territory.
Sitting on the bluffs overlooking the western bank of the Missouri River, the fort initially served as a quartermaster depot, arsenal, and troop post, and was dedicated to protecting the fur trade and safeguarding commerce on the Santa Fe Trail.
The post was evacuated in May, 1829 and occupied by Kickapoo Indians until it was re-garrisoned in the fall of 1829.
The name of the post was changed to Fort Leavenworth on February 8, 1832.
Fort Leavenworth quickly became a primary destination for thousands of soldiers, surveyors, and settlers who were passing through on their way to the vast West.
During these early years, soldiers from Fort Leavenworth protected wagon trains hauling supplies over the Santa Fe, Oregon and other trails to most forts, posts and military camps of the West, some as far as the Pacific Ocean.
Military expeditions from Fort Leavenworth under General Albert Sidney Johnston also assisted in 1857-58 with bringing the Mormons in Utah under Brigham Young back under federal control.
During the Civil War, thousand of recruits were recruited and mustered out from Camp Lincoln at Fort Leavenworth.
Between 1861 and 1865, the regular army formed the foundation on which volunteer forces were built. Fort Leavenworth was considered a rich prize by Confederate General Sterling Price who advanced towards the fort in 1864. Before reaching the fort, however, he was defeated in the battle of Westport, Missouri on October 23, 1864.
Railroads stretching towards the west came under increasing attack by the Plains Indians during the Civil War. Because the western posts were undermanned, Confederate prisoners were called upon to help fight the hostile Indians. Five of these regiments were outfitted at Fort Leavenworth.
For the next 30 years, Fort Leavenworth became the chief base of operations on the Indian frontier, their primary mission - to control the American Indian tribes on the Western plains.
Fort Leavenworth was directly involved in the Indian Wars through 1878, when Chief Joseph's Nez Perce tribe was detained at the fort after their defeat in 1877.
Buffalo Soldier Monument at Fort Leavenworth
A 13-foot bronze monument of a Buffalo Soldier astride his horse was dedicated in 1992 by Gen. Colin L. Powell. Eddie Dixon was the sculptor.
In 1866, the U.S. Congress authorized the formation of four black regiments - the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments and the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments. The 10th Cavalry Regiment was formed at Fort Leavenworth under the command of Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson on September 21, 1866. In western Kansas, the Kiowa encountered the soldiers of the 10th, and finding them to be valiant opponents, termed them the "Buffalo Soldiers."
In time, the term was used for the black soldiers in four regiments. The Buffalo Solders left Fort Leavenworth to win repeated honors on the plains and in the west. In 1898 the Buffalo Soldiers fought in Cuba winning praise from Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders for their critical role in the battle for Santiago.
Gateway to the West - Oregon & Santa Fe Trails Medal
I can't find out when this medal was minted and who may have the designer initials HH. Any help would be appreciated. I do believe this is a somewhat scarce medal as I can only find one other on the internet.
Fort Leavenworth at Leavenworth, Kansas is the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi. Although known for its role in the expansion of the American frontier and as the only US military maximum security prison, Fort Leavenworth's most important role began in 1881 when Gen. William T. Sherman established the School of Application for Cavalry and Infantry. That school evolved into the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and has graduated officers such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley and George S. Patton.
Fort Leavenworth History
Fort Leavenworth, first known as Cantonment Leavenworth, was established by Henry Leavenworth on the Missouri River on May 8, 1827. Fort Leavenworth was the first settlement in Kansas territory.
Sitting on the bluffs overlooking the western bank of the Missouri River, the fort initially served as a quartermaster depot, arsenal, and troop post, and was dedicated to protecting the fur trade and safeguarding commerce on the Santa Fe Trail.
The post was evacuated in May, 1829 and occupied by Kickapoo Indians until it was re-garrisoned in the fall of 1829.
The name of the post was changed to Fort Leavenworth on February 8, 1832.
Fort Leavenworth quickly became a primary destination for thousands of soldiers, surveyors, and settlers who were passing through on their way to the vast West.
During these early years, soldiers from Fort Leavenworth protected wagon trains hauling supplies over the Santa Fe, Oregon and other trails to most forts, posts and military camps of the West, some as far as the Pacific Ocean.
Military expeditions from Fort Leavenworth under General Albert Sidney Johnston also assisted in 1857-58 with bringing the Mormons in Utah under Brigham Young back under federal control.
During the Civil War, thousand of recruits were recruited and mustered out from Camp Lincoln at Fort Leavenworth.
Between 1861 and 1865, the regular army formed the foundation on which volunteer forces were built. Fort Leavenworth was considered a rich prize by Confederate General Sterling Price who advanced towards the fort in 1864. Before reaching the fort, however, he was defeated in the battle of Westport, Missouri on October 23, 1864.
Railroads stretching towards the west came under increasing attack by the Plains Indians during the Civil War. Because the western posts were undermanned, Confederate prisoners were called upon to help fight the hostile Indians. Five of these regiments were outfitted at Fort Leavenworth.
For the next 30 years, Fort Leavenworth became the chief base of operations on the Indian frontier, their primary mission - to control the American Indian tribes on the Western plains.
Fort Leavenworth was directly involved in the Indian Wars through 1878, when Chief Joseph's Nez Perce tribe was detained at the fort after their defeat in 1877.
Buffalo Soldier Monument at Fort Leavenworth
A 13-foot bronze monument of a Buffalo Soldier astride his horse was dedicated in 1992 by Gen. Colin L. Powell. Eddie Dixon was the sculptor.
In 1866, the U.S. Congress authorized the formation of four black regiments - the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments and the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments. The 10th Cavalry Regiment was formed at Fort Leavenworth under the command of Colonel Benjamin H. Grierson on September 21, 1866. In western Kansas, the Kiowa encountered the soldiers of the 10th, and finding them to be valiant opponents, termed them the "Buffalo Soldiers."
In time, the term was used for the black soldiers in four regiments. The Buffalo Solders left Fort Leavenworth to win repeated honors on the plains and in the west. In 1898 the Buffalo Soldiers fought in Cuba winning praise from Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders for their critical role in the battle for Santiago.
Edited by TNG
01/19/2019 4:04 pm
01/19/2019 4:04 pm
