Redwood History Basic Data

G. COMMENTS and RECOMMENDATIONS

The site of Fort Ter-Waw is now engulfed by the rapidly growing community of Klamath Glen. The site is near the line separating Sections 18 and 19, Township 13 North, Range 2 East. This is about three miles east of the boundary of Redwood National Park. The State of California has erected a historical tablet, commemorating the post, near the site. In 1946 Fred B. Rogers reported that the remains of several chimney foundations could be seen. When I visited the site on April 26, 1969, these had disappeared. [53]

Although Fort Ter-Waw is not located in Redwood National Park, it is intimately associated with a number of themes of the Park Story, and as such it constitutes an important resource. Troops from Fort Ter-Waw brought peace and order to the Klamath and protected the Yurok from encroachments by the whites; they opened a trail from the post to the mouth of the Klamath and improved the trail up the coast to Crescent City; and they defeated the Tolowa in the battle on Wau-Kell Flat.

The role of George Crook at Fort Ter-Waw and on the Klamath will be of interest to the visitor. Crook, a Civil War general and famous Indian campaigner in the West, commanded at Fort Ter-Waw for almost four years. Here he learned to understand and appreciate the Indians, faculties not possessed by most American generals who established their reputations by leading armies in the Civil War. Crook has given us some of our most enlightening and entertaining description of life among the Yurok in the late 1850s. Finally, the battle on Wau-Kell Flat was the second engagement in which this famous Indian fighter had an independent command.

The flood that destroyed Fort Ter-Waw in January 1862 is our first recorded example of the terrible devastation the Klamath is capable of inflicting.

Unless Wau-Kell Flat is acquired by the Service as previously recommended, the story of Fort Ter-Waw, George Crook, and the army on the Klamath will have to be interpreted in a Visitor Center. If Wau-Kell Flat is acquired, these elements of "Man in the Redwoods" should be interpreted there.