Fort Reading

Fort Reading (1852-1856) (1866-1867) - A U.S. Army post established 26 May 1852 during the California Gold Rush by 1st Lt. Nelson H. Davis, Company E, 2nd U.S. Infantry and named for Major Pierson B. Reading. The garrison was withdrawn on 1 Apr 1856 and intermittently occupied until 13 Jun 1867. Abandoned on 6 Apr 1870.

Fort Reading Roadside Marker

Fort Reading Site View from Marker

History of Fort Reading

Established as a two company post on the west side of Cow Creek during the California Gold Rush to protect the mining district from hostile Indians. The creek was prone to flooding when the rains came and the fort was often flooded during the rainy season.

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Location: On Dersch road 0.6 mi E of intersection of Deschutes and Dersch Rds, 6 mi NE of Anderson, Shasta County, California. The location shown is the site of the roadside marker. Maps & Images Lat: 40.476554 Long: -122.229992 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 400'

Sources:

• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 32
• Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 29
• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 84
• Frazer, Robert W. (editor), Mansfield on the conditions of The Western Forts, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1963, ISBN 0-8061-1083-X

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Reading
• California Military History
• Fort Tours

Visited: 4 Aug 2009

Picture Gallery

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  Cow Creek Bridge Near Fort Reading Location
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  Cow Creek Near Fort Reading Location
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  Fort Reading Marker