The Department of the Platte was a military administrative district established by the U.S. Army on March 5, 1866, with boundaries encompassing Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

, Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

, Dakota Territory

Dakota Territory

The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...

, Utah Territory

Utah Territory

The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....

 and a small portion of Idaho

Idaho

Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....

. With headquarters in Omaha

Omaha

Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...

, the district commander oversaw the army's role initially along the Overland route (or Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...

) to Salt Lake City, then later the construction route of the Union Pacific Railroad

Union Pacific Railroad

The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....

. The district also included the Montana road (or Bozeman Trail

Bozeman Trail

The Bozeman Trail was an overland route connecting the gold rush territory of Montana to the Oregon Trail. Its most important period was from 1863-1868. The flow of pioneers and settlers through territory of American Indians provoked their resentment and caused attacks. The U.S. Army undertook...

) through eastern Wyoming

Wyoming

Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...

. The district was discontinued when the Army's command was reorganized in 1898.

Headquarters

The Headquarters of the Department of the Platte was located in downtown Omaha

Downtown Omaha

Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. The boundaries are 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline...

, Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

 for many years. When the headquarters was transferred to Fort Omaha

Fort Omaha

Fort Omaha, originally known as Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks, is an Indian War-era United States Army supply installation. Located at 5730 North 30th Street, with the entrance at North 30th and Fort Streets in modern-day North Omaha, Nebraska, the facility is primarily occupied by ...

 in 1878, the building it was located in was found unsuitable, and the headquarters were again transferred downtown.

Department Commanders

• Brigadier General Philip St. George Cooke
  Philip St. George Cooke
  Philip St. George Cooke was a career United States Army cavalry officer who served as a Union General in the American Civil War. He is noted for his authorship of an Army cavalry manual, and is sometimes called the "Father of the U.S...
  
  , 5 Mar 1866
• Major General Christopher C. Augur
  Christopher C. Augur
  Christopher Columbus Augur was an American military officer, most noted for his role in the American Civil War. Although less well known than other Union commanders, he was nonetheless considered an able battlefield commander.-Early life:Augur was born in Kendall, New York. He moved with his...
  
  , 23 Jan 1867
• Brigadier General Edward Ord
  Edward Ord
  Edward Otho Cresap Ord was the designer of Fort Sam Houston, and a United States Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War. He commanded an army during the final days of the Civil War, and was instrumental in forcing the surrender of Confederate...
  
  , 18 Nov 1871
• Brigadier General George Crook
  George Crook
  George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
  
  , 27 Apr 1875
• Brigadier Oliver O. Howard
  Oliver O. Howard
  Oliver Otis Howard was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War...
  
  , 5 Sept 1882
• Colonel John Gibbon
  John Gibbon
  John Gibbon was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
  
  , 6 Mar 1884 (temporary)
• Brigadier General Oliver O. Howard
  Oliver O. Howard
  Oliver Otis Howard was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War...
  
  , 25 Oct 1884
• Brigadier General George Crook
  George Crook
  George R. Crook was a career United States Army officer, most noted for his distinguished service during the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.-Early life:...
  
  , 28 April 1886
• Brigadier General John R. Brooke
  John R. Brooke
  John Rutter Brooke was a major general in the United States Army during both the American Civil War and the Spanish American War...
  
  , 1888
• Brigadier General John J. Coppinger, 17 Mar 1895

Nebraska Territory and Nebraska

• Alkali Station(1864 - 1866)
• Beauvais Ranch Station Post (1864 - 1866)
• Camp at Chadron (1890 - 1891)
• Camp Keya Paha(1879)
• Camp at Madden's Bridge (1890 - 1891)
• Camp Mitchell (1864 - 1867)
• Camp Red Willow(1872)
• Camp Sheridan
  Camp Sheridan
  Camp Sheridan was established originally as the Post at Spotted Tail Indian Agency, near the Spotted Tail Agency in northwestern Nebraska in March 1874. In 1875, the garrison moved into permanent structures on the west fork of Beaver Creek, 12 miles upstream from the White River, near Hay Springs,...
  
   (1874 - 1881)
• Camp at Stryker's Ranch (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Swallow's Ranch (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Hay Springs (1890 - 1891)
• Camp near Cheney's Ranch (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Roger's Mill (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Jareho's Ranch (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Morey's Ranch (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Gordon (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Callin's Ranch (1890 - 1891)
• Camp at Albany (1890 - 1891)
• Fort Beaver Valley (1891)
• Fort Clarke (1876 - unknown)
• Fort Crook
  Offutt Air Force Base
  Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
  
   (1891 - 1948/present)
• Fort Hartsuff, originally Post on the North Fork Loup River (1874 - 1881)
• Fort Kearny
  Fort Kearny
  Fort Kearny was a historic outpost of the United States Army founded in 1848 in the western U.S. during the middle and late 19th century. The outpost was located along the Oregon Trail near present-day Kearney, Nebraska, which took its name from the fort .-Origins and various missions of the...
  
   (1848 - 1871)
• Fort Kiowa
  Fort Kiowa
  Fort Kiowa was an 19th century American Fur Company trading post on the Missouri River near Oacoma, South Dakota. Fort Kiowa was the destination of Hugh Glass' several hundred mile crawl. The site is now underwater....
  
   (1864 - 1866)
• Fort McPherson
  Fort McPherson
  Fort McPherson was a U.S. Army military base located in East Point, Georgia, on the southwest edge of the City of Atlanta, Ga. It was the headquarters for the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, Southeast Region; the U.S. Army Forces Command; the U.S. Army Reserve Command; the U.S...
  
   (1863 - 1880)
• Fort Mirage Flats (1891)
• Fort Montrose (1891)
• Fort Niobrara (1880 - 1906/1911)
• Post of Omaha (1862 - 1866)
  • Camp Sherman or Sherman Barracks (1866 - 1869
    • Omaha Barracks (1869 - 1878)
      • Fort Omaha
        Fort Omaha
        Fort Omaha, originally known as Sherman Barracks and then Omaha Barracks, is an Indian War-era United States Army supply installation. Located at 5730 North 30th Street, with the entrance at North 30th and Fort Streets in modern-day North Omaha, Nebraska, the facility is primarily occupied by ...
        
         (1878 - 1896/1905 - 1947)
• Fort Ponca (1865 - 1866)
• Post at Red Cloud Indian Agency or Camp Robinson (1874 - 1878)
  • Fort Robinson
    Fort Robinson
    Fort Robinson is a former U.S. Army fort and a present-day state park. Located in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska, it is west of Crawford on U.S. Route 20.- History :...
    
     (1878 - 1948)
• Sidney Barracks (1867 - 1878)
  • Fort Sidney
    Fort Sidney
    Fort Sidney is a historic fort located in Sidney, Nebraska, United States. The 37th Infantry Regiment established "Sidney Station" at a point midway between the Platte Rivers, where the modern community of Sidney, Nebraska, now stands. Initially the installation was a block house on a bluff with...
    
     (1878 - 1894)
• Guide Rock Stockade (1870)
• Gilman's Station Post (1864 - 1866) +
• Junction Station Post (1864 - 1866) +
• Little Blue River Station Post (1864 - 1866)
• North Platte Station (1867 - 1881) +
• O'Fallon's Bluffs Post (1864 - 1866) +
• Omaha Quartermaster Depot(1866 - 1947)
• Pawnee Ranch Post (1864 - 1866) +
• Plum Creek Post(1864 - 1866)
• Post at Mullaly's Ranch Station (1864 - 1866) +
• Post on the South Fork Loup River (1865)
• Post at North Platte Station (1867 - 1881) +
• Red Cloud Stockade (1870)

Utah Territory and Utah

• Bluff Fort (1880 - ?)
• Camp Conness (1855, 1859, 1864, 1866, 1869)
• Camp Dodge (1865 - 1866)
• Camp Fountain Green (1866)
• Camp George (1866)
• Camp Murray (1885)
• Camp Pace (1867)
• Camp Rawlins (1870 - 1871)
• Cove Fort (1867 - 1880s),
• Fort Bear River (1867 - unknown)
• Fort Berryville (1864 - 1866)
• Fort Cameron (1872 - 1883)
• Fort Deseret
  Fort Deseret
  Fort Deseret was built in 1865 during the Utah Black Hawk War to protect settlers in western Utah from the attacks of local Utes. Due to U.S. Army obligations in the Civil War, local settlers were advised to take measures to defend themselves, resulting in the construction of the fort. The...
  
   (1866 - unknown)
• Fort Douglas(1862 - 1991)
• Fort Duchesne
  Fort Duchesne, Utah
  Fort Duchesne is a census-designated place in Uintah County, Utah, United States. The population was 621 at the 2000 census, a slight decrease from the 1990 figure of 655...
  
  (1886 - 1910)
• Fort Gunnison(1861 - 1867?)
• Fort Kanab (1865 - 1870)
• Fort Meeks (1869 - 1870)
• Fort Montezuma (1879 - 1884)
• Fort Pierce(1866 - 1870?)
• Fort Thornburgh(1881 - 1882)
  • New Fort Thornburgh (1882 - 1884)
• Fort Union (1853 - 1870s)
• Fort Walker (1853 - 1869)
  • Fort Hamilton (1869 - ?)
• Fort Wah-Wiep (1869 - 1870)
• Grouse Creek Fort (1878)
• Kamas Fort (1868 - 1870)
• Ogden Station (1878)
• Panguitch Fort (1865 - 1868)
• Rock Fort (1865 - unknown)
• Sage Bottom Fort (1867 - unknown)

Wyoming Territory and Wyoming

• Big Pond Station(1860s) +
• Black Butte Station (1860s) +
• Camp Bridger Pass (1867) +
• Camp Devin (1878)
• Camp Elkins (1892)
• Camp Hat Creek (1876 - 1877)
• Camp Marshall (1862 - 1866)
• Camp Medicine Butte (1885 - 1887)
• Camp on the Snake River (1879 - 1883)
• Camp Pilot Butte (1885 - 1899)
• Camp Stambaugh
  Camp Stambaugh
  Camp Stambaugh was a U.S. army outpost in the Wyoming Territory located in the mining district near South Pass City and Atlantic City in the Wind River Mountains. It was established in June 1870 to stop hostilities between miners and Native Americans and named for First Lieutenant Charles B....
  
  
• Cheyenne Depot or Camp Carlin (1867 - 1890)
• Dug Springs Station (1860s) +
• Duck Lake Station (1860s) +
• Fort Bridger
  Fort Bridger
  Fort Bridger was originally a 19th century fur trading outpost established in 1842 on Blacks Fork of the Green River and later a vital resupply point for wagon trains on the Oregon Trail, California Trail and Mormon Trail. The Army established a military post here in 1858 during the Utah War until...
  
   (1843 - 1878, 1880 - 1890)
• Fort Caspar
  Fort Caspar
  Fort Caspar was a military post of the United States Army in present-day Wyoming, named after 2nd Lieutenant Caspar Collins, a U.S. Army officer who was killed in the 1865 Battle of the Platte Bridge Station against the Lakota and Cheyenne...
  
   (1866 - 1867)
• Fort David A. Russell(1867 - 1930)
• Fort Fetterman
  Fort Fetterman
  Fort Fetterman was a wooden fort constructed in 1867 by the United States Army on the Great Plains frontier in the Dakota Territory approximately 11 miles northwest of present-day Douglas, Wyoming. It was located high on the bluffs on the south side of the North Platte River...
  
  (1867 - 1882)
• Fort Fred Steele
• Fort Halleck
  Fort Halleck (Wyoming)
  Fort Halleck was a military outpost that existed in the 1860s along the Overland Trail and stage route in what is now the U.S state of Wyoming. The fort was established in 1862 to protect emigrant travelers and stages transporting mail between Kansas and Salt Lake City, Utah and named for Major...
  
   (1862 - 1866)
• Fort LaClede (1863 - 1869)
• Fort Laramie(1834 - 1890)
• Fort Phil Kearny
  Fort Phil Kearny
  Fort Phil Kearny was an outpost of the United States Army that existed in the late 1860s in present-day northeastern Wyoming along the Bozeman Trail. Construction began Friday July 13, 1866 by Companies A, C, E and H of the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry, under the direction of the regimental...
  
   first called New Fort Reno and Fort Carrington (1866 - 1868)
• Fort Rawlins(1868 - unknown)
• Fort Connor(1865)
  • Fort Reno
    Fort Reno (Wyoming)
    Fort Reno was a wooden fort constructed in 1865 by the United States Army on the Great Plains frontier in the Dakota Territory in present-day Johnson County, Wyoming...
    
    (1866 - 1868)
• Fort McKinney (1876 - 1894)
• Fort Sanders
  Fort Sanders (Wyoming)
  Fort Sanders was a wooden fort constructed in 1866 on the Laramie Plains in southern Wyoming, near the city of Laramie. Originally named Fort John Buford, it was renamed Fort Sanders after General William P. Sanders who died at the Siege of Knoxville during the American Civil War. This was the...
  
   (1866 - 1882)
• Camp at Wind River Indian Agency (1868)
  • Camp Augur(1869)
    • Camp Brown (1870)
      • Fort Washakie
        Fort Washakie
        Fort Washakie was a U.S Army fort in what is now the U.S. state of Wyoming. The fort was established in 1869 and named Camp Augur afterGeneral Christopher C. Augur, commander of the Department of the Platte. In 1870 the camp was renamed Camp Brown in honor of Captain Frederick H. Brown who was...
        
        (1871 - 1909)
• Pine Grove Station(1860s) +
• Point of Rocks Station (1860s) +
• Rock Creek Station
  Rock Creek Station
  Rock Creek Station was a stagecoach and Pony Express station in southeastern Nebraska, near the present-day village of Endicott.-History:Rock Creek Station was established in 1857 along the Oregon Trail and California Trail, along the west bank of Rock Creek. The station was a supply center and...
  
   (1860 - unknown)
• Rock Springs Station(1860s) +
• Salt Wells Station (1860s) +
• Sulpher Springs Station (1860s) +
• Washakie Station (1860s) +