Book Four in the Series of Eight

The book takes you to the High Plains where the fort guarded the Smoky Hill Trail. Established in 1865, Fort Wallace protected westward migrants from Indian attacks as white settlement encorached upon native hunting grounds. This military post stood at the center of conflict and progress, engaging in battle, securing the peace, and witnessing the coming of the railroad to the Plains and the West.

The book tells the story of the military post established in 1865 on the Smoky Hill Trail in far western Kansas. The outpost was built to provide protection from Indians for travelers and a stage line and later to guard the construction and operation of railroads. The troops stationed at Fort Wallace, given the location and mission, faced more Indian opposition and engaged in more battles than those at any other post in Kansas.

Oliva, a Woodston resident, is a historian specializing in Kansas and the American West. He has published numerous books and articles on the military and the trails. Thomas, a Manhattan resident, created cover artwork for each of the books in the forts series. He is a full-time artist who has received numerous national awards for his wildlife and historical paintings.

This series has been financed in part with federal funds from the National Parks Service, a division of the United States Department of the Interior, and administered by the Kansas Historical Society. The contents and opinions, however, do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Department of the Interior or the Kansas Historical Society.