Fort Row

Fort Row was constructed in the fall of 1861 near Coyville, Kansas, by a local mounted militia to protect against Confederate guerrilla raids. Named after Captain John R. Row, the fort featured three log blockhouses and a stockade with rifle portholes. The militia abandoned it in spring 1862 after joining the 9th Kansas Volunteers.

In January 1862, around 10,000 destitute Indians arrived at Fort Row, fleeing conflict in Indian Territory. Led by Opothleyahola, they sought refuge but found inadequate resources and assistance. Many died due to harsh conditions, with bodies disposed of in hollow logs or shallow graves. The fort was later abandoned, and its structures destroyed by floods. By spring, the Indians were moved to Fort Belmont and a U.S. Army post at LeRoy, Kansas. Fort Row's site remains unmarked, though local oral traditions describe it as littered with bones and artifacts.