Fort Reno, Wyoming, holds a significant place in the annals of American frontier history, serving as a crucial military outpost along the hotly contested Bozeman Trail. Established in 1865, this fort was a testament to the United States’ efforts to secure routes for gold seekers and settlers venturing into the rich territories of Montana. From its initial construction as Fort Connor to its ultimate abandonment, Fort Reno, Wyoming, played a vital, albeit often overlooked, role in the Powder River War and the expansion of the American West.
The Genesis of Fort Reno: From Connor to Reno
The establishment of Fort Reno began in the summer of 1865 when Brigadier General Patrick Edward Connor led the Powder River Expedition. This ambitious military campaign aimed to subdue hostile Native American tribes, particularly the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, who fiercely resisted encroachment on their ancestral lands. General Connor’s forces, consisting primarily of cavalry troops, erected a crude but functional military post, initially named Fort Connor, on the banks of the Powder River. This initial structure comprised a few basic log buildings and a protective stockade, designed to provide a temporary base of operations in the heart of the contested territory.
Later that year, in November 1865, the post underwent a significant change. Two companies of the Fifth U.S. Volunteer Infantry relieved Connor’s cavalrymen, taking over garrison duties. It was at this juncture that the post was officially renamed Fort Reno, honoring Major General Jesse L. Reno, a Union Army officer killed during the American Civil War. This renaming marked the fort’s transition from a temporary expeditionary camp to a more permanent fixture along the perilous Bozeman Trail, signaling its long-term strategic importance.
Fort Reno’s Strategic Role on the Bozeman Trail
In June 1866, Colonel Henry B. Carrington arrived with the 18th U.S. Infantry, initially tasked with abandoning the site and establishing new, more strategically located forts further north. However, these orders were quickly superseded, underscoring the dynamic and often shifting military priorities of the time. Instead of abandonment, Fort Reno was instructed to remain active, transforming its role into a critical way station and forwarding supply depot.
For the next two years, Fort Reno diligently stood guard over its segment of the Bozeman Trail. Its primary function was to facilitate the movement of troops, supplies, and information to the more prominent and heavily besieged Forts Phil Kearny and C.F. Smith, located further north along the trail. Without Fort Reno’s logistical support, the viability of these northern outposts would have been significantly compromised. Though smaller and less fortified than its northern counterparts, Fort Reno’s presence was a clear declaration of U.S. military intent in the region, ensuring a continuous, albeit tenuous, line of communication and supply.
Native American Interactions and the Fort’s Limited Engagements
Despite its strategic location in the heart of Native American hunting grounds, Fort Reno itself saw relatively few major engagements with the indigenous tribes. The Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors, led by influential figures like Red Cloud, primarily focused their attacks and resistance efforts on the larger and more provocative Fort Phil Kearny. This larger fort, with its extensive logging operations and constant wagon train traffic, presented a far greater perceived threat and a more lucrative target for raids and ambushes.
Consequently, while Fort Reno experienced a number of minor Indian skirmishes in its immediate vicinity, these were generally less intense and frequent compared to the relentless pressure faced by Fort Phil Kearny. The tribes understood the tactical advantage of concentrating their forces against the greatest perceived threat, leaving Fort Reno to operate with a relatively lower level of direct conflict, though always under the shadow of potential attack.
The Laramie Treaty of 1868 and Fort Reno’s Abandonment
The intense and costly resistance mounted by the Native American tribes along the Bozeman Trail eventually forced a reconsideration of U.S. policy. In the spring of 1868, after years of continuous conflict, the United States Government entered into negotiations that culminated in the Treaty of Fort Laramie. A central provision of this treaty was the agreement to abandon the Bozeman Trail forts and close the trail to all future travel by settlers and miners. This represented a significant victory for the Native American tribes and a rare instance of the U.S. government acceding to indigenous demands.
The abandonment process commenced swiftly that summer, beginning with Fort C.F. Smith, followed by Fort Phil Kearny. Finally, in late August 1868, Fort Reno was officially decommissioned and deserted. As soon as the U.S. troops withdrew, Native American warriors, asserting their control over the territory, systematically burned the fort buildings. By the time General George Crook’s troops visited the site during the Great Sioux War in 1876, less than a decade later, little remained of the once-active post—only a few adobe walls and scattered building debris stood as silent testaments to its brief but impactful existence.
Fort Reno Today: A Glimpse into the Past
Today, the original site of Fort Reno, Wyoming, has largely returned to nature, with the landscape reclaiming the ground where soldiers once stood guard. The remnants of the structures have long since faded, leaving behind a tranquil prairie. However, the historical significance of the site is not forgotten. A large stone monument, erected to commemorate the fort’s legacy, along with several interpretive signs, now mark its exact location. These markers provide valuable context for visitors, detailing the fort’s history, its role in the Bozeman Trail conflicts, and the lives of those who served there.
The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its preservation and recognition as a vital piece of American frontier history. Located approximately 12 miles northeast of Sussex, Wyoming, the grounds of Fort Reno offer a poignant opportunity for reflection on the complex narratives of westward expansion, military endeavors, and Native American resistance. It stands as a powerful reminder of a turbulent era, where cultures clashed and the fate of the American West was forged.
