Fort Edwards-- Part 3: Built to Replace Fort Johnson

From the Warsaw, Illinois, Park District.

Even after the Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812, problems with the Indians continued.

The 5th U.S. Infantry was sent to establish a fort in Illinois at the mouth of the Des Moines River.  They likely discovered the charred remains of Fort Johnson but found a more commanding view of the Mississippi River and Des Moines River.  They spent the winter and construction of the new fort in Cantonment Davis located on the ruins of Fort Johnson.

They cleared the bluff north of the old fort and built Fort Edwards, named after the territorial governor of Illinois, Ninian Edwards.  This fort was abandoned by the military in 1824 and was then used by the American Fur Company owned by John Jacob Astor.

--Brock-Perry