The Department of the Platte was a military

administrative district Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-loca ...

established by the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the southwe ...

Dakota Territory The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of No ...

Utah Territory The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah, the 45th state. ...

and a small portion of

Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...

. With headquarters in

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...

, the district commander oversaw the army's role initially along the Overland route (or

Oregon Trail The Oregon Trail was a east–west, large-wheeled wagon route and Westward Expansion Trails, emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of what ...

) to

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...

, then later the construction route of the

Union Pacific Railroad The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Paci ...

. The district also included the Montana road (or

Bozeman Trail The Bozeman Trail was an overland route in the western United States, connecting the gold rush territory of southern Montana to the Oregon Trail in eastern Wyoming. Its most important period was from 1863–68. Despite the fact that the major pa ...

) through eastern

Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...

. The district was discontinued when the Army's command was reorganized in 1898.

Headquarters

The Headquarters of the Department of the Platte was located in

downtown Omaha Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, U.S. state of Nebraska. The boundaries are Omaha, Nebraska, Omaha's 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and ...

for many years. When the headquarters was transferred to

Fort Omaha Fort Omaha, originally known as Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks, is an Indian War-era United States Army supply installation. Located at 5730 North 30th Street, with the entrance at North 30th and Fort Streets in modern-day North Omaha, ...

in 1878, the building it was located in was found unsuitable, and the headquarters were again transferred downtown.Mattes, M.J. (1998) ''Indians, Infants, and Infantry: Andrew and Elizabeth Burt on the Frontier.'' University of Nebraska Press. p. 298.

Department commanders

*Brigadier General

Philip St. George Cooke Philip St. George Cooke (June 13, 1809 – March 20, 1895) was a career United States Army cavalry officer who served as a Union General in the American Civil War. He is noted for his authorship of an Army cavalry manual, and is sometimes called ...

, March 5, 1866 *Major General Christopher C. Augur, January 23, 1867 *Brigadier General

Edward Ord Edward Otho Cresap Ord (October 18, 1818 – July 22, 1883) was an American engineer and United States Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. He commanded an army during the final days of th ...

, November 18, 1871 *Brigadier General

George Crook George R. Crook (September 8, 1828 – March 21, 1890) was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. During the 1880s, the Apache nicknamed Crook ''Nantan ...

, April 27, 1875 *Brigadier Oliver O. Howard, September 5, 1882 *Colonel

John Gibbon John Gibbon (April 20, 1827 – February 6, 1896) was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Early life Gibbon was born in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourt ...

, March 6, 1884 (temporary) *Brigadier General Oliver O. Howard, October 25, 1884 *Brigadier General

, April 28, 1886 *Brigadier General

John R. Brooke John Rutter Brooke (July 21, 1838 – September 5, 1926) was one of the last surviving Union generals of the American Civil War when he died at the age of 88. Early life Brooke was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and was educated in nearby Coll ...

, 1888 *Brigadier General John J. Coppinger, March 17, 1895

Camps, forts and posts

Idaho Territory and Idaho

Fort Hall Fort Hall was a fort in the western United States that was built in 1834 as a fur trading post by Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth. It was located on the Snake River in the eastern Oregon Country, now part of present-day Bannock County in southeastern Ida ...

(1870 - 1883)

Nebraska Territory and Nebraska

* Alkali Station (1864 - 1866) *

Beauvais Ranch Station Post Beauvais ( , ; pcd, Bieuvais) is a city and commune in northern France, and prefecture of the Oise département, in the Hauts-de-France region, north of Paris. The commune of Beauvais had a population of 56,020 , making it the most populous ...

(1864 - 1866) * Camp at Chadron (1890 - 1891) * Camp Keya Paha (1879) * Camp at Madden's Bridge (1890 - 1891) * Camp Mitchell (1864 - 1867) * Camp Red Willow (1872) * Camp Sheridan (1874 - 1881) * Camp at Stryker's Ranch (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Swallow's Ranch (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Hay Springs (1890 - 1891) * Camp near Cheney's Ranch (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Roger's Mill (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Jareho's Ranch (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Morey's Ranch (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Gordon (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Callin's Ranch (1890 - 1891) * Camp at Albany (1890 - 1891) *

Fort Beaver Valley A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

(1891) * Fort Clarke (1876 - unknown) * Fort Crook (1891 - 1948/present) * Fort Hartsuff, originally Post on the North Fork Loup River (1874 - 1881) *

Fort Kearny Fort Kearny was a historic outpost of the United States Army founded in 1848 in the western U.S. during the middle and late 19th century. The fort was named after Col. and later General Stephen Watts Kearny. The outpost was located along the Ore ...

(1848 - 1871) *

Fort Kiowa Fort Kiowa, officially Fort Lookout and also called Fort Brazeau/Brasseaux,Lotte Govaerts, "Real Stories behind The Revenant, Part III: Fort Kiowa", Rogers Archaeology Lab/ref> was a 19th-century fur trading post located on the Missouri River bet ...

(1864 - 1866) *

Fort McPherson Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in Atlanta, Georgia, bordering the northern edge of the city of East Point, Georgia. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Ar ...

(1863 - 1880) * Fort Mirage Flats (1891) * Fort Montrose (1891) *

Fort Niobrara Fort Niobrara (1880–1906) was a military post located in north central Nebraska. History summary for Fort Niobrara Constructed along the Niobrara River after the Great Sioux War of 1876, it was part of a military strategy to surround a ...

(1880 - 1906/1911) * Post of Omaha (1862 - 1866) ** Camp Sherman or Sherman Barracks (1866 - 1869) *** Omaha Barracks (1869 - 1878) ****

(1878 - 1896/1905 - 1947) * Fort Ponca (1865 - 1866) * Post at Red Cloud Indian Agency or Camp Robinson (1874 - 1878) **

Fort Robinson Fort Robinson is a former U.S. Army fort and now a major feature of Fort Robinson State Park, a public recreation and historic preservation area located west of Crawford on U.S. Route 20 in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. The for ...

(1878 - 1948) *

Sidney Barracks Sidney may refer to: People * Sidney (surname), English surname * Sidney (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Sidney (footballer, born 1972), full name Sidney da Silva Souza, Brazilian football defensive midfielder * Si ...

(1867 - 1878) **

Fort Sidney Fort Sidney is a historic fort located in Sidney, Nebraska, United States. The 37th Infantry Regiment established "Sidney Station" at a point midway between the Platte Rivers, where the modern community of Sidney, Nebraska, now stands. Initially ...

(1878 - 1894) * Guide Rock Stockade (1870) * Gilman's Station Post (1864 - 1866) + * Junction Station Post (1864 - 1866) + * Little Blue River Station Post (1864 - 1866) * North Platte Station (1867 - 1881) + * O'Fallon's Bluffs Post (1864 - 1866) + *

Omaha Quartermaster Depot Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...

(1866 - 1947) * Pawnee Ranch Post (1864 - 1866) + *

Plum Creek Post A plum is a fruit of some species in ''Prunus'' subg. ''Prunus'.'' Dried plums are called prunes. History Plums may have been one of the first fruits domesticated by humans. Three of the most abundantly cultivated species are not found i ...

(1864 - 1866) * Post at Mullaly's Ranch Station (1864 - 1866) + * Post on the South Fork Loup River (1865) * Post at North Platte Station (1867 - 1881) + * Red Cloud Stockade (1870)

Utah Territory and Utah

* Bluff Fort (1880 - ?) * Camp Conness (1855, 1859, 1864, 1866, 1869) * Camp Dodge (1865 - 1866) * Camp Fountain Green (1866) * Camp George (1866) * Camp Murray (1885) * Camp Pace (1867) * Camp Rawlins (1870 - 1871) *

Cove Fort Cove Fort is a fort, unincorporated community, and historical site located in Millard County, Utah. It was founded in 1867 by Ira Hinckley (the paternal grandfather of Gordon B. Hinckley) at the request of Brigham Young. One of its distinctive ...

(1867 - 1880s) * Fort Bear River (1867 - unknown) * Fort Berryville (1864 - 1866) * Fort Cameron (1872 - 1883) *

Fort Deseret Fort Deseret () is a former fort located in northeastern Millard County, Utah, United States, just south of Deseret. __TOC__ Description The fort was built in 1865 during the Utah Black Hawk War to protect settlers in western Utah from the ...

(1866 - unknown) *

Fort Douglas Camp Douglas was established in October 1862, during the American Civil War, as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, to protect the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route. In ...

(1862 - 1991) * Fort Duchesne (1886 - 1910) * Fort Gunnison (1861 - 1867?) * Fort Kanab (1865 - 1870) * Fort Meeks (1869 - 1870) * Fort Montezuma (1879 - 1884) * Fort Pierce (1866 - 1870?) * Fort Thornburgh (1881 - 1882) ** New Fort Thornburgh (1882 - 1884) * Fort Union (1853 - 1870s) * Fort Walker (1853 - 1869) ** Fort Hamilton (1869 - ?) * Fort Wah-Wiep (1869 - 1870) * Grouse Creek Fort (1878) * Kamas Fort (1868 - 1870) * Ogden Station (1878) * Panguitch Fort (1865 - 1868) * Rock Fort (1865 - unknown) * Sage Bottom Fort (1867 - unknown)

Wyoming Territory and Wyoming

(Wyoming Territory was transferred from the

Department of Dakota A subdivision of the Division of the Missouri, the Department of Dakota was established by the United States Army on August 11, 1866, to encompass all military activities and forts within Minnesota, Dakota Territory and Montana Territory. The Depa ...

on July 25, 1868) * Big Pond Station (1860s) + * Black Butte Station (1860s) + * Camp Bridger Pass (1867) + * Camp Devin (1878) * Camp Elkins (1892) * Camp Hat Creek (1876 - 1877) * Camp Marshall (1862 - 1866) * Camp Medicine Butte (1885 - 1887) * Camp on the Snake River (1879 - 1883) * Camp Pilot Butte (1885 - 1899) * Camp Stambaugh * Cheyenne Depot or Camp Carlin (1867 - 1890) * Dug Springs Station (1860s) + * Duck Lake Station (1860s) + *

Fort Bridger Fort Bridger was originally a 19th-century fur trading outpost established in 1842, on Blacks Fork of the Green River, in what is now Uinta County, Wyoming, United States. It became a vital resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon Trail, Ca ...

(1843 - 1878, 1880 - 1890) *

Fort Caspar Fort Caspar was a military post of the United States Army in present-day Wyoming, named after 2nd Lieutenant Caspar Collins, a U.S. Army officer who was killed in the 1865 Battle of the Platte Bridge Station against the Lakota and Cheyenne. Found ...

(1866 - 1867) * Fort David A. Russell (1867 - 1930) *

Fort Fetterman Fort Fetterman was constructed in 1867 by the United States Army on the Great Plains frontier in Dakota Territory, approximately 11 miles northwest of present-day Douglas, Wyoming. Located high on the bluffs south of the North Platte River, it ...

(1867 - 1882) * Fort Fred Steele * Fort Halleck (1862 - 1866) * Fort LaClede (1863 - 1869) *

Fort Laramie Fort Laramie (founded as Fort William and known for a while as Fort John) was a significant 19th-century trading-post, diplomatic site, and military installation located at the confluence of the Laramie and the North Platte rivers. They joined ...

(1834 - 1890) *

Fort Phil Kearny Fort Phil Kearny was an outpost of the United States Army that existed in the late 1860s in present-day northeastern Wyoming along the Bozeman Trail. Construction began in 1866 on Friday, July 13, by Companies A, C, E, and H of the 2nd Battalion, ...

first called New Fort Reno and Fort Carrington (1866 - 1868) * Fort Rawlins (1868 - unknown) * Fort Connor (1865) ** Fort Reno (1866 - 1868) *

Fort McKinney A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

(1876 - 1894) * Fort Sanders (1866 - 1882) * Camp at Wind River Indian Agency (1868) ** Camp Augur (1869) *** Camp Brown (1870) ****

Fort Washakie Fort Washakie was a U.S. Army fort in what is now the U.S. state of Wyoming. The fort was established in 1869 and named Camp Augur after General Christopher C. Augur, commander of the Department of the Platte. In 1870 the camp was renamed Camp ...

(1871 - 1909) * Pine Grove Station (1860s) + * Point of Rocks Station (1860s) + *

Rock Creek Station Rock Creek Station was a stagecoach and Pony Express station in southeastern Nebraska, three miles northeast of the present-day village of Endicott. The site is preserved as Rock Creek Station State Historical Park. History Rock Creek Station ...

(1860 - unknown) * Rock Springs Station (1860s) + * Salt Wells Station (1860s) + * Sulpher Springs Station (1860s) + * Washakie Station (1860s) +

References

{{coord, 42, N, 104, W, region:US_type:adm1st, display=title Platte 1866 establishments in the United States 1898 disestablishments in the United States