Hell in a Very Small Place: A Short Military History of Fort McDowell

This talk covers the military history of Camp (later Fort) McDowell from its inception in 1865 to its closing in 1890. Why was the post built on the Verde River at a location more than 50 miles from the nearest settlement? What was life like for the typical soldier and cavalryman? What important roles did officers’ wives play at such posts? How did the creation of the post influence the eventual settlement of the Salt River Valley by the United States? What was it like to undertake a patrol in the desert during the summer? How did local Native American groups react to the creation of the post?

Len Marcisz, noted historian and Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, is our speaker.