The Civil War Muse

Fort Montgomery

Tour Stop

Directions: A replica of Fort Montgomery [ Waypoint = N38 08.566 W94 49.071 ] is located in the Mound City Historic Park at 700 Main Street in Mound City, Kansas 66506.

• Upon leaving the John Brown State Historic Site in Osawatomie, take Main Street east about 0.4 miles and turn right (south) onto 6th Street.
• After going under US Highway 169, the road changes to Kansas Highway 7.
• Stay on Kansas Highway 7 for about 27.5 miles and you will reach Mound City, Kansas.
• Turn left (east) onto W Main Street / Kansas Highway 52.
• Fort Montgomery is about 0.2 miles ahead at the intersection of Main Street and 7th Street.
• The replica of Fort Montgomery [ Waypoint = N38 08.566 W94 49.071 ] is located in the southwest corner of the Mound City Historic Park.

Description: The Mound City Historic Park is under the direction of the Mound City Historical Society. The park is a collection of 11 structures, many moved from various locations in Linn County. The structures contain artifacts that tell stories of Linn County from the 1840s to 1950. The park is accessible for self-guided tours at all times. Each structure has an attached plaque explaining the significance of the structure. The park is staffed on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00 PM from May through the second weekend in October, and at other times by appointment.

You are looking at a replica of Fort Montgomery, the fortified home of James Montgomery, a free-state leader. James Montgomery emigrated to Mound City, Kansas in 1854 and soon became a leader of the free-state movement there. In Mound City he would raise a company of men to provide protection to free-state settlers in the area. Soon Montgomery began to use this company to conduct raids against pro-slavery men in both Kansas and Missouri. In retaliation, pro-slavery men would burn his home in Mound City. This led him to build a fortified cabin which became known as Fort Montgomery.

When Charles Jennison arrived in Mound City in 1857, he joined Montgomery's company and participated in the raids across the border. Together they would be referred to as “the scourges of the border” and were the infamous Kansas Jayhawkers.

The placard on Fort Montgomery has the following text:

Fort Montgomery

Replica built in 2000

Original cabin/fort built in 1855 five mile west of Mound City

The original building was the second cabin owned by James Montgomery as the first one was burned by pro-slavery Missouri Border Ruffians.

The logs were placed vertically on the building and were so tightly fit together that bullets could not penetrate the walls. The family slept in the loft. The cabin had a cellar used to shelter fugitive slaves and was also an escape for Colonel Montgomery through a tunnel that went into the mound that was located near the structure.

James Montgomery was a minister and a school teacher who came to the Kansas Territory in 1854 from Ohio to fight for the abolition of slavery.

Colonel Montgomery was the free-State leader of a group of men called the “immortal fifty” who with their Sharp's rifles and proficient horsemanship became known as the Kansas Jayhawkers. They were a force in the “bleeding Kansas” era of 1854 – 1861.

Colonel Montgomery served in the Civil War and led colored troops in South Carolina.

He worked with Harriet Tubman on raids.

He fought in the battle at Minecreek.

He died at his cabin/fort west of Mound City in 1871 where he farmed and lived with his wife and seven children. He is buried in the National Cemetery in Mound City, grave #76.

Replica built by community donations.

 

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