Did you know Kansas had a French connection yes the French were very interested in the Missouri – Kansas areas during the early 1700,s they even established a fort trade with the Indians the fort was called fort De.

In 1840 the secretary of war constructing a series of forts from and to organ

Chose to map out and lead the expedition was john c Fremont along with about twenty men they would make at least two expeditions traveling almost 6475 miles.

During the expeditions he had visited Kansas and wrote in his journal about Kansas as a country beautifully watered with numerous streams as well as having a rich soil of black vegetable mold well inter –pressed with wood.

Ft.Leavenworth was first know as cantonment Leavenworth the oldest active army post west of the Mississippi river and has served the United States for 179 years

Named for Colonel Henry Leavenworth the post was built over looking the bluffs of the Missouri river.

During the early 1800,s their job was to protect the wagon trails that hauled supplies and other arsnel to others forts over the Santa Fe and Oregon trails. 

As tension between Mexico and the United States increased fort Leavenworth became know as the army of the west.

About the time of the Kansas Nebraska act the fort and the men were needed to help keep control between the pro slavery bushwhackers and the free soil jayhawkers.

By 1854 the Kansas territory was becoming organized there fore the responsibility of the fort and its men change yet again.  

Governor Andrew Reeder temporarily lived and set up executives in quarters know as the rookery for a time with the coming of the civil war camp Lincoln at the fort served as a training station for the many Kansas volunteers going to fright.  

During 1861-1865 the 10th cavalry led by colonel greison of the famed buffalo soldiers which was the name given to them by the Indians.  

Today at fort Leavenworth there stands a monuments as a tribute to them

From 1866-1890 the army fought many battle with the Indians upset over the constant broken treaties by the white man and way of life

Starting in 1875 the fort was used as a military prison the prisoners produced such goods as shoes boots chairs etc.

Today it is called the disciplinary barracks and is the maximum securing prison in the dept of defense.

In 1881 the school of application for infantry and cavalry was formed by general William t Sherman command + general staff college.

For a short peried of time the fort provied weather servies and responsible for patol of the National parks whick continued until aproximately 1916.

WW1 proved the first opportunity to judge the performance of general shermans school the graduates achieved much in the planning for the americans expeditionary forces {aef}.

during ww2 as many as 19000 officers finished studies at fort leavenworth as many as 26 infantry airborne and cavalry divisions were traind at the school.

Over the years many prominent students such as George c marshall douglas mc arther william mitchell hap arther former president dwight D eisenhower general omar bradly and general george patton jr the more recent graduates include secrretary of state retired general colin powell and retired general norman schwarzkopt.

today fort leavenwprth continues to be important to the education traing and doctrine writing even though the post mission has change much during its history the challenges are no less difficult or important today.

As long as there is a need for education of our military officers leader development the fear of war and the going search for peace fort Leavenworth will continue to serve the United States proudly.