Fort Laramie
Other Names: Fort William, Fort John
Dates used: 1834 - 1890
Location of Fort: Fort Laramie, WY
Use: Trade/Military
GPS
N: 42-12.237
W: 104-33.511
Established in 1834 as a trading post for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. It was located on the the left bank of the Laramie River, about one mile above its juncture with the North Platte and named Fort William for William Sublette, William Anderson, and William Patton. Then the fort was called Fort John for John Sarpy. Under the direction of the United States Adjutant General to establish a post there, Major Winslow F Sanderson arrived at the post and recommended the purchase of the trading post itself. The post was garrisoned in June 1849 and the name, Fort Laramie which was the popular name for the post was retained. The last troops left the post on March 2, 1890.
For more information see:
American Forts Network (internet)
Encyclopedia of Historic Forts
Forts of the West
Custer's Luck
Fighting Cheyennes
Indian Wars of the West
Sioux Indian Wars
http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/fortlar.htm
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