Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
historic FORT REARNEY
General Culver Suggests that Old Post Be
Taken Care OF
PRoWlNES lSa5.A.kNs FRONTIER LIFE
Days of Long Ago Recalled by Recent
visit 20 spot and some Prominent
Names Connected with
~ Given.

To preserve a historic spot that should /
bs sacred to the people of Nebraska and
10 the people OF all the west, and TO per-
Datuate the memory Of those gallant sol /
d.ars who In the days of long ago were
The guides and protectors of those who
s-ened the way In this great state. Ad
j-tant General Culver suggests to all pa
triotic citizens that they organize a So
ciety. purchase and rebuild old Fort Kear-
noy and make Of It a national park, ex
nctly as IL was the day General w. 4.
GheTmnn marched his soldiers out because
the citizens Of the fort. in their zeal for
the southern cause. offered insult to him
II was in 1896 that General Sherman was
sent TO inspect the fort and report to the
War department the ACCESSIBILITY OF erect
ing substantial buildings there AS Gen
eral Sherman walked down the street OF
tho little village he was Missed by the
citizens, who were generally southern SYM
pathizers. and, as a result, he recon-
mended that the fort be abandoned and
his recommendation was carried out by
the department.
General Culver's desire to rebuild the
old fort is the result OF a visit there during
the recent National Guard encampment at
Kearney He found the place still well
marked with walks and portions of the
old earthworks and around the parade
ground is a row OF large cottonwood trees.
Upon arriving at Lincoln he at once began
to look up the history OF the old fort, and
among the first things he discovered was
that the fort was not named for General
Phil Kearney, as is generally supposed,
but for his uncle General stephen Watts
kearney. who located tho site while on his
march TO the Rocky mountains from the
Missouri river.
History of Fort Kearney.
General Culver dug deep into musty
records, and a result of his labors is
given in an interview as follows:
General Stephen Watts Kearney, on his
memorable march from the Missouri river
to the Rocky mountains, designated the
precise location for the fort. and soon
thereafter the name was changed and
called Fort Kearney in his honor, instead
OF that OF his nephew, General Phil Kear-
ny, as generally supposed, but was spelled
Kearny, but through some fault of the
Postofiice or War department, the "e' was
added, making it Kearney.
No improvements were made by his
troops, but he was followed by Major Run
In the fall of 1s47, who had command Of
400 mounted rinemen from Missouri. Major
Run reached Nebraska City as winter
closed fp, and he went into winter quar-
tiers on the bluff, which bears the name
of old Fort Kearney. derived from the
troops destined for the new fort, wintering
at that place.
As soon as spring opened and the grass
was Of sufficient height to afford forage
for his horses, he resumed the march and
arrived at Fort Kearney in June of 1S4S.
The major proceeded at once to lay out
the fort, build adobe houses for his men,
construct powder magazine, plant trees
around the parade ground, which definitely
mark the place today.
Notable Men Connected with Post.
Many historical characters have COM
manded and been stationed at Fort Kear-
ney, the following being among the num-
Der:
William L. Marcy. secretary of war ir
President Folks administration under
whose order Fort Kearney was located.
Thomas Childs, who gained renown in the
fiorida indian wars and the Mexican war
Tor, which he was promoted to brtgadiel
general October II, lS47. Died october 5
Stephen Watts Kearney. who was ap
pointed from New Jersey to West Point Il
1879. Rose from captain to colonel between
that date and 1886 At the commencement
of the Mexican war was promoted to briga
der general and to major general for gal
liant and meritorious conduct in the wa
and California. Died October 81, 1S4s
Charles g. f. Run, appointed cadet from
Pennsylvania September l, 1894; lieutenan
colonel First Missouri Volunteers June Is
1886 captain Mounted Rife June, 1876; majo
1856; lieutenant colonel 1861; retired 1864
brgadier general volunteers in 1865; die,
October l, 1885. He was the first com
mander and made the first improvement
at Fort Kearney.
Lieutenant Colonel Clifton Wharton, ap
pointed from Pennsylvania 1913 and die
July, 1913.
Charles A. May, appointed from Distric
OF Columbia 1896 and promoted TO colone
for gallant and meritorious service Febru
uary, 1871, at Palo Alto and Resaca de |
Palma, Tex, and also al Buena Vista, whC
with fiaring locks, led the charge of tn
Second Dragons under order of Genera
Taylor gained the day at Resaca de |
Palma.
William Walton Morris, appointed froI
New York 1876; captain Fourth artiller
1886; major 1853; lieutenant colonel 1861; co
onel 1861; brigader general 1862 major gel
eral 1865, for faithful and meritorious serN
fees during the rebellion; died 1865.
John Porter McCown, appointed frol
Tennessee 1895; promoted from leutenaT
10 captain for gallant and meritorious sci
vice in the battle OF Sierra Gorda, Mexico
resigned in May. 1861; was major gener'