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Fort Churchill was at one time considered to be Nevada's first, largest and more majestic military bases. The base was in operation between the years of 1860 to about 1869. The soldiers who were stationed here were brought in to protect the local Mining Camps, Comstock Lode and Emigrants traveling across the Pony Express. As during this time their were tensions between the Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone Indians. During this time period Gold and Silver mining was on the rise which in turn brought in many settlers from other regions which resulted in conflicts.

The real tensions began in 1859 when a couple prospectors were killed up at Black Rock. One of the three miners did actually escape to tell the story. During that same year many other parties were attacked with many men being killed in vain. These tensions would only lead to US Military involvement and a war. It was also lead to the building of the fort as winter set in during 1859 which led to hunger and severe cold. Although the white settlers offered food and built fires for the natives they were in fear of being poisoned. The Indians felt that the spirits were angry since the white settlers were misusing there land to mine and ranch. These fears would lead to desperation and more violence. In 1860 another rancher was found dead the escalations continued and every time incidents occurred the natives were blamed.

What really put the icing on the cake was in the year of 1860 when the Williams Brothers who operated a station along the Carson River kidnapped then raped two 12 year old Paiute Girls. The Paiutes and Bannock natives retaliated burning the station and killing both of the William Brothers thus rescuing both of the girls bring them back home to safety. When word was found out about this incident it did not matter to the army that this was an act of justice it was decided that we would be going to war. Even though locals had requested from the Army to provide soldiers in the region the first original request would be denied this is due to the fact that there was no soldiers left to spare due to the Civil War and the fact that crossing the High Sierras was one hell of a feat. All of this however would change after the first Battle Of Pyramid Lake transpired.

Major Ormsby along with 105 other men decided to chase down the Indians and make them pay for the incidents which occurred in 1860 including the burning of Williams Station. Little did these men know that they would pay with there lives. Miners and many of the locals volunteered outside of the station planning out a strategy desiring to make the Indians pay for killing the William Brothers three days prior to there executions. Before heading on off for war these men drank whiskey then road off on there horses to hunt down the natives with surprise they were picked off one by one. This battle would be won quite easily by the Paiutes who hid behind rocks and brush while taking advantage of the intoxicated men. The natives knew the terrain, trails and high desert well. This would lead to the loss of Major Ormsby and the Army to agree that Fort Churchill would be a necessity. Sadly during this battle 76 men died some were fathers some were just out for blood out of hatred. Some did not even know what it was they were fighting for!

This would cause an uprising and as a response the Army sent 200 soldiers and 500 volunteers banded together led by Colonel John Hays and Captain Stewart. They would march over the sierras and defeat the Indians within a months time. There were many rumors spread that the Army killed 160 plus Indians while only losing two of their own men. While the Indians claimed that they lost four men. There were so many fish tales from both ends nobody knew what to believe. After the war a fort would be build to help keep the peace and protect the trade routes of the great basin. The army built this fort under the impression that the local miners would stand for the Union in the Civil War. The soldiers prior to the forts construction stayed at Buckland Station which coincides with the history in relation to the area which ill explain further below.

When the Army agreed to build Fort Churchill they put Captain Joseph Stewart in charge of this operation. First off a suitable location would have to be found thus the fort would be built near the Carson River just a half of mile from Buckland Station. Buckland Station resided along the Pony Express Trail where supplies, whiskey, meals, water and a place for travelers to rest there head all would be provided. This also would be beneficial to the soldiers who would be dispatched at the fort who needed supplies. The fort would be named after General Sylvester Churchill who was an inspector General for the US Army. It cost at that time $180,000 to build the fort at the time it was the most expensive on the west coast and one of the largest.

The construction of the fort would sit on about 1,400 acres and the soldiers would help construct it. There was a blacksmith shop that was built we have photos of it below on this page. There was also stables for the quartermaster, dragoon and over 20 adobe buildings. There was a hospital, barracks, magazine, guard house, subsistence store and many other buildings which provided its soldiers with many amenities not found at other forts. The foundations were laid out by civilians as stone along with other building materials were brought on in. The army would hire on emigrants on the Pony Express trail to assist them. Materials were brought in via mule from the Sierras for lumber to be used in building the windows and other hardware. Since the fort was in the high desert a majority of the materials had to be brought on in from Sacramento and other nearby cities. Unlike most forts this one had no exterior walls the Guardhouse was used as a prison which would house prisoners of war or a rowdy soldier. Food was kept in storehouses and laundry was done on site. A telegraph was installed and a post office right on the Pony Express for ingoing and outgoing mail. The hospital could hold at one time 12 patients which was one of the largest buildings on site besides the headquarters office.

The soldiers also planted gardens to grow there own fruits and veggies this was all possible with the Carson River nearby. The hay came from Virginia City just as Beef and Barley came from California. The store on base sold many items some of them included honey, olives, canned goods, treats, clothing and much more. Overtime however the water in this part of the Carson made it hard to grow crops as it was full of pollutants from local mining. Life within the fort was boring many soldiers became deserters. Some of the soldiers hung around fishing, playing cards and getting drunk. Some soldiers visited Virginia City which they were able to enjoy the saloons and brothels in there spare time. The fort even had there own theater group and a small theater that boasted shows on Saturdays. Life was very simple in these parts and there was little socialization outside of the fort. Even with the telegraph the lines were down so for some soldiers life here was frustrating. Was the fort truly needed when we look back at history what the Natives did was justified when it came to two little girls who were raped and they paid the price for protecting their people which was the whole basis for the war to began with. The fort seen little action and during its 9 years only ONE soldier was killed! The fort at its peak held 200 soldiers it was also a Union Supply Depot in the Civil War. It would be abandoned in 1869 where the Buckland family would purchase the Forts buildings from the Army for $750 at an auction!

Samuel Buckland married Eliza in 1860 and were pioneer ranchers who operated Buckland Station. Prior to this Samuel was a gold miner and cattle herder who came out to the west around 1850. Buckland Station is a two story white house that was built out of remnants from Fort Churchill and would become a more permanent structure in the region. It would also be used as an inn, watering stop for horses and supply store. The ranch would provide vegetables and hay to the local miners. They also provided the locals with Livestock from their ranch. What really is unique about the Bucklands is they were some of the first emigrants that came to this region only to settle in the region. Very few made a life here this was due to how dangerous life was in these parts.

There is somewhat a dreary history when it comes to the Buckland's. For example they had 9 children only 3 of them had survived. Eliza who was washing her feet dropped a pitcher into the bowl she was washing her feet in which cut her so bad she bled to death. After the death of Eliza it broke Samuel's heart thus his health began to fail and he passed on a short time after. Another story I read states that Samuel burned to death caused by a lighted candle that he kept near his bedside however if that were true then it certainly didn't occur at Buckland Station since today it is fairly well preserved.

The Bucklands would be buried within the Forts Cemetery which at one time was the burial ground for many soldiers who were exhumed and reburied at Carson Cities Lone Mountain Cemetery. Today there are still a few remaining soldiers buried amongst the Buckland Family as its white picket fence is overshadowed by the Camel Mountain Range off in the distance. There is a certain amount of sadness that surrounds this location although it is full of history it is also full of tragedy. The natives in the mid 1800's may have even cursed this land that the white settlers had claimed for there own. Many hands had changed ownership of Buckland Station and its surrounding lands.

In 1932 the state of NV acquired 200 acres of the land and deeded the property to DAR. In 1961 the fort and surrounding properties were once again acquired as a state historic site and that same year a National Historic Landmark. The fort ruins would be partially restored as Masons make new adobe blocks each year. Without the masonry work the entire fort would disappear due to the harsh weather of the high desert.

In 1994 the state park service acquired over 3000 acres of land east of the fort and Buckland Station. This corridor connects Fort Churchill with the Lahontan State Recreation Area which is full of desert wildlife. Also Lake Lahontan at one time was an ancient sea that filled the great basin where even Ichthyosaurus lurked a creature that was larger then a school bus. Today train tracks run through the fort and the area is vast as well as alluring. The Californian Trail and Pony Express can still be visited today surrounding this fort which holds allot of history of what once was. All that remains are its ghost of the past and ruins that slowly erode in the sands of time. Buckland Station and its Cemetery remind us of a great pioneer who witnessed a war and the birth of the United States military presence in NV just outside there doorstep.

Lord Rick
Founder
Author, Producer and Talk Show Host


            

         




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