Fort Dodge was one of the most important forts on the western frontier. It was located to the east of The Caches, near Dodge City, in 1864. The first buildings were of adobe, but in 1867 good buildings were erected. Fort Dodge was not abandoned until 1882. The Soldiers’ Home at Fort Dodge was later established on a part of this military reservation.
Fort Downer was located on Downer’s Creek, about fifty miles west of Fort Hays. It was in existence between 1863 and 1868.
Fort Harker was established in 1864, near the present site of Ellsworth, with the name Fort Ellsworth. Two years later the name was changed to Fort Harker and the site moved about a mile northeast. This fort was for a long time the shipping point for freight bound for New Mexico. Fort Harker was abandoned in 1872 and the reservation opened to settlement in 1880.
Fort Wallace was established near the present town of Wallace in 1865. This was an important post during the building of the Union Pacific railroad. It was abandoned as a fort in 1882, and in 1888 the land was ordered sold.
Fort Zarah was established in 1864, about four miles east of the present city of Great Bend. It was dismantled in 1869, and the reservation was later sold.
Fort Hays was established by the National Government, in 1865, about fourteen miles southeast of the present Hays City, and was for a year known as Fort Fletcher. In 1867 a new site, about three-fourths mile from Hays City, was selected. The reservation consisted of 7500 acres. General Sheridan used Fort Hays for headquarters during the Black Kettle raid in 1868. It continued to be used as a military post until 1889. In 1900 Kansas secured the land and buildings for educational purposes. The Fort Hays Kansas Normal School and an experiment station for the Agricultural College are now located there.
Fort Henning, Fort Blair, and Fort Insley were three blockhouses erected at Fort Scott in 1861 for the purpose of guarding military stores from the Confederate forces.
Fort Lincoln was built by Lane in 1861, about twelve miles northwest of Fort Scott, for protection from the Confederate forces. It was abandoned in 1864.
Fort Aubrey was one of the forts established in 1865 by the soldiers sent to quell the Indian uprisings. It was located near the present village of Mayline in Hamilton County. It was abandoned the following year.