Fort Wrangell
Fort Wrangell (1868-1870, 1874-1878, 1898-1900) - A U.S. Army fort established in 1868 after the purchase of Alaska in 1867 in present day Wrangell, Wrangell Borough, Alaska. Named for Baron Von Wrangel, governor/general of Russian America 1830-1835. Abandoned in 1870 and reestablished 1874-1878 and again during the Alaska Gold Rush 1898-1900. Also known as Fort Wrangel.
Fort Wrangell History
Established by U.S. Army troops 5 May 1868, 1st Lt. (Bvt Captain) John H. Smith and a detachment of Battery E, 2nd U.S. Artillery, as a result of the U.S. purchase of Alaska in 1867. The garrison arrived aboard the steamship Oriflamme with two officers and 51 enlisted personnel. A civilian stonemason and up to five civilian carpenters were employed to assist the troops in the construction of the post.
The post was built out with a stockade and included a hospital, officer's quarters, barracks, and guardhouse. Some $26,000 was spent on the complex. On 27 Sep 1870 the army abandoned Fort Wrangell and the garrison departed aboard the steamship Newbern for Sitka . In 1871 the post was sold to local trader William King Lear for about $500.
Fort Wrangell was reestablished on 13 Aug 1874 by 2nd Lt. Alexander B. Dyer and a small detachment of the 4th U.S. Artillery totaling 1 officer and 11 enlisted personnel. The purpose of the detachment was to suppress the illicit liquor trade with the local Indians and they immediately arrested 5 civilians and held them for transport to Sitka. The post was again abandoned on 15 Jun 1877 and the garrison departed aboard the steamer California.
The post was reestablished in 1898 during the Alaska Gold Rush to provide a government presence in the region. The garrison arrived at 8:00am on 24 May 1898 led by Captain Bogaidus Eldridge with a total of 5 officers and 60 enlisted personnel. Fort Wrangell was abandoned for the last time on 12 May 1900 when the garrison departed aboard the steamship Humboldt.
Current Status
Unknown.
USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1415843
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Location: Wrangell, Wrangell Borough, Alaska. Map point is approximate. Maps & Images Lat: 56.4708333 Long: -132.3766667 |
Sources:
- 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 29-30
Links:
- North American Forts - Fort Wrangell
- City of Wrangell - Gold Rushes
- City of Wrangell - History
- Alaska's Forts
- Alaska History
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