Fort Hoskins
Encyclopedia
Fort Hoskins was one of three "forts" (which were actually unfortified posts) built by the U.S. Army to monitor the Coastal Indian Reservation in Oregon
in the mid- 19th century. The Fort Hoskins Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
under the supervision of then Captain Christopher C. Augur
. Fort Hoskins was finished in 1857 with then-lieutenant Philip Sheridan
in charge, and was named after Lt. Charles Hoskins, who had died in the Mexican–American War
. The fort was located about 19 miles northwest of Corvallis
. The community of Hoskins
took its name from the fort.
Fort Hoskins was garrisoned by a number of companies of soldiers throughout its short existence. Two soldiers who were stationed at the fort during the American Civil War
kept journals of their experiences: Royal A. Bensell and William M. Hilleary. Their accounts are of unmitigated boredom and dampness, but they provide a good picture of 19th-century life in the area.
Fort Hoskins played an indirectly important role in local and state history because of the leadership of several out-of-state soldiers who decided to stay in the area after they were mustered out of the army. Several placenames in the area, such as Kings Valley
, are connected with these soldiers. The fort never saw any action, though a bloodless insurrection by the natives at Yaquina Bay
was put down by the soldiers. Fort Hoskins was abandoned in 1865.
There is nothing left of the fort today except for a few recovered artifacts. Benton County
has opened the site as Fort Hoskins Historical Park.
44.674°N 123.460°W
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the mid- 19th century. The Fort Hoskins Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The post was begun in 1856 on the Luckiamute RiverLuckiamute River
The Luckiamute River is a tributary of the Willamette River, about long, in western Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of Central Oregon Coast Range and the western Willamette Valley northwest of Corvallis....
under the supervision of then Captain 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...
. Fort Hoskins was finished in 1857 with then-lieutenant Philip Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
in charge, and was named after Lt. Charles Hoskins, who had died in the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. The fort was located about 19 miles northwest of Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
. The community of Hoskins
Hoskins, Oregon
Hoskins is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. Hoskins lies west of Oregon Route 223's intersection with Hoskins Road. Hoskins is northwest of Wren and southwest of Kings Valley....
took its name from the fort.
Fort Hoskins was garrisoned by a number of companies of soldiers throughout its short existence. Two soldiers who were stationed at the fort during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
kept journals of their experiences: Royal A. Bensell and William M. Hilleary. Their accounts are of unmitigated boredom and dampness, but they provide a good picture of 19th-century life in the area.
Fort Hoskins played an indirectly important role in local and state history because of the leadership of several out-of-state soldiers who decided to stay in the area after they were mustered out of the army. Several placenames in the area, such as Kings Valley
Kings Valley, Oregon
Kings Valley is an unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the Luckiamute River and Oregon Route 223....
, are connected with these soldiers. The fort never saw any action, though a bloodless insurrection by the natives at Yaquina Bay
Yaquina Bay
Yaquina Bay is a small bay partially within Newport, Oregon, United States, located where the Yaquina River flows into the Pacific Ocean. It is traversed by the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The bay's area is about 8 km² .-See also:...
was put down by the soldiers. Fort Hoskins was abandoned in 1865.
Archeological site
The site of the fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.There is nothing left of the fort today except for a few recovered artifacts. Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
has opened the site as Fort Hoskins Historical Park.
Further reading
- Bensell, Royal A.; Barth, Gunther (ed.) (1959) All Quiet on the Yamhill: The Civil War in Oregon: The Journal of Corporal Royal A. Bensell, Company D, Fourth California Infantry.
- Brauner, David R.; Stricker, Nahani A. (2006) Fort Hoskins Illustrated: An Archaeologist Reflects.
- Hilleary, William M.; Nelson, Herbert B. and Preston, E. Onstad (ed.) (1965) A Webfoot Volunteer: The Diary of William M. Hilleary 1864-1866.
External links
- Fort Hoskins Historical Park
- Sovereigns of Themselves: A Liberating History of Oregon and Its Coast, Vol. VII, a self-published history
44.674°N 123.460°W