Fort Seward, California
Encyclopedia
Fort Seward is an unincorporated community
in Humboldt County
, California
. It is located on the Eel River
3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-northwest of Alderpoint
, at an elevation of 328 feet (100 m).
A military camp called Fort Seward established during the Bald Hills War
on September 25, 1861, by Major Charles S. Lovell following a series of skirmishes with the Indians along the Eel River
. It was built on the location recommended by Lieutenant Joseph B. Collins, U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment
:
Fort Seward was later decommissioned in 1862. It was later the site where the captured Lassic
Wailaki leader during the Bald Hills War and his men where killed by local militiamen in January 1863.
A post office operated at Fort Seward from 1912 to 1972. The name honors William H. Seward
, Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located on the Eel River
Eel River (California)
The Eel River is a major river system of the northern Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. Approximately 200 miles long, it drains a rugged area in the California Coast Ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the ocean. For most of its course, the river flows northwest, parallel to the...
3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-northwest of Alderpoint
Alderpoint, California
Alderpoint is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located east-northeast of Garberville. It lies at an elevation of 472 feet . The ZIP Code is 95511. The community is inside area code 707...
, at an elevation of 328 feet (100 m).
A military camp called Fort Seward established during the Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War
Bald Hills War was a war fought by the forces of the California Militia, California Volunteers and soldiers of the U. S. Army against the Chilula, Lassik, Hupa, Mattole, Nongatl, Sinkyone, Tsnungwe, Wailaki, Whilkut and Wiyot Native American peoples.The war was fought within the boundaries of the...
on September 25, 1861, by Major Charles S. Lovell following a series of skirmishes with the Indians along the Eel River
Eel River (California)
The Eel River is a major river system of the northern Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. Approximately 200 miles long, it drains a rugged area in the California Coast Ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the ocean. For most of its course, the river flows northwest, parallel to the...
. It was built on the location recommended by Lieutenant Joseph B. Collins, U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment
U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment
The U.S. 4th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the United States Army. It has served the United States for approximately two hundred years.-Origins:...
:
- "The best position for a post is, in my opinion, on Eel River, near the head of Larrabee Creek, about sixty-five miles southeast from Fort Humboldt. It should be built immediately, and garrisoned by at least one full company, with a sufficient number of mules and riding saddles to mount a party large enough (say thirty) to follow rapidly and chastise all Indians that may commit depredations within fifty miles of it. This I believe will soon put a stop to all depredations and give ample security to the inhabitants and their property. Without a post but little can be accomplished and proper protection is almost impossible. The roads will be good for pack animals during the dry season, and the facilities for building good; that is, for small dry houses."
Fort Seward was later decommissioned in 1862. It was later the site where the captured Lassic
Lassic
Lassic also called, Las-sic, Las-Sic, Lasseck and Lassux in various Military reports and newspaper articles at the time, a Wailaki leader during the Bald Hills War.- Wailaki Leader in the Bald Hills War :...
Wailaki leader during the Bald Hills War and his men where killed by local militiamen in January 1863.
A post office operated at Fort Seward from 1912 to 1972. The name honors William H. Seward
William H. Seward
William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson...
, Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.