Founding the Fort

Post Commanders

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On September 1, 1859, Lieutenant Eli Long and Company H, 1st US Cavalry departed Fort Riley. On September 27, they arrived at Beach's Ranch, an area in modern-day Rice County. Their duty was to escort mail to a crossing of the Arkansas River.

Over a week later, on October 7, 1859, Captain George H. Steuart and Company K, 1st US Cavalry were dispatched from Fort Riley to relieve Lieutenant Long. They completed their task and, after meeting with the Lieutenant, proceeded further west. A soldier's diary says that on October 22, 1859, the company arrived at the Pawnee Fork of the River. The location for a fort was selected and a camp was set up on the site called, "Camp on Pawnee Fork."

Captain George H. Steuart became the first Commanding Officer of what was to be known as Fort Larned.

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  Captain George H. Steuart

  October 22, 1859 to November 21, 1859

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  Lieutenant David Bell

  Nov. 26, 1859 to May 14, 1860

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  Captain Henry Wessells

  May 14, 1860 to Nov., 1860

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  Lieutenant Lloyd Beall

  Nov., 1860 to April 19, 1861