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33-570: Fort Scott first hosted minor league baseball in 1891, when the "Fort Scott" team played the season as members of the independent Southwest League. The "Fort Scott Memphis Route" team became a member of the 1901 independent Missouri Valley League . The Columbus, Kansas , Galena, Kansas , Joplin Colts , Monett Railroadmen , Nevada Reds , Oswego, Kansas and Pittsburg Coal Barons teams joined Fort Scott in league play. The 1901 league records and standings are unknown. In 1902, Fort Scott continued play in

66-635: A "general hospital" (large military hospital) and prison until after the war. Following the end of the war, in October 1865 the US Army left the facilities and sold off by auction what they controlled. On January 14, 1870, the Army returned with the formation of the Post of Southeast Kansas . The Post was based at Fort Scott, but the soldiers camped along the rail tracks, and seldom used the original fort. They were sent to protect

99-505: A parade ground, and five acres (20,000 m ) of restored tallgrass prairie , inside the city of Fort Scott . It is open to visitors most days of the year. In 1842, Fort Scott was named after Winfield Scott , was established on the American frontier on the military road in eastern Kansas between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Gibson . It was established to provide protection to the rapidly increasing number of settlers, who were migrating from

132-399: A record of 35–18, as Ed Finney, Cy Mason and M. McDonald served as managers. After the two teams folded, the league discarded all games played before July 10 and restarted with a new season. The league did not return to play in 1907. The Kansas State League resumed play in 1909, but without a Fort Scott franchise. Fort Scott has not hosted another minor league team. The name and location of

165-631: A record of 49–52, the Giants finished 26.0 games behind the first place Pittsburg Miners . Harry Chapman served as manager. Fort Scott was also referred to as the "Hay Diggers" in 1905. The Muskogee Reds disbanded on August 31, causing the Missouri Valley League to end play on September 5, 1905. In 1906, the Fort Scott Giants continued minor league play, as the franchise joined the eight-team, Class D level Kansas State League . The Giants joined

198-558: The Class D level Missouri Valley League, as the Nevada, Missouri and Joplin, Missouri teams also continued play. The Coffeyville Indians , Iola Gasbags , Jefferson City Convicts , Joplin Miners , Nevada Lunatics , Sedalia Gold Bugs and Springfield Reds teams joined Fort Scott in beginning league play on May 6, 1902. The Giants placed third in the 1902 Missouri Valley League final standings, as

231-738: The Eastern United States . Fort Scott became one of a chain of forts intended to protect the new settlers from the Plains Indians, as well as to protect the Indians from the settlers' encroachment. The United States government intention to reserve permanent Indian lands west of the Missouri River gave way to the competition of settlers continuing to encroach on the Indian settlements. Fort Scott's most active days were between 1842 and 1853, although it

264-643: The Osage , who had been conducting frequent raids in the area. On April 1, 1842, some soldiers of Fort Wayne left their fort and on April 22 arrived where Fort Scott would be built, in the Osage Cuestas section of modern-day Kansas. After haggling with the Cherokees to acquire the land, the rest of Fort Wayne's garrison left the fort on May 26 and arrived at the Fort Scott site on May 30. Unlike most forts for military use,

297-449: The 1905 Class C level Missouri Valley League. In 1905, South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith on July 6. Muskogee disbanded on August 31, causing the Missouri Valley League to end on September 5. schedule Coffeyville (9–30) moved to Chanute June 23. schedule Nevada (21–39) moved to Webb City July 13, then disbanded July 16; Leavenworth disbanded July 16. schedule schedule Muskogee disbanded Aug 31, causing

330-527: The Bartlesville Indians, Chanute Browns , Coffeyville Bricks , Independence Coyotes , Iola Grays , Parsons Preachers and Pittsburg Champs in beginning league play on May 3, 1906. On June 6, 1906, the Pittsburg Champs franchise moved to Vinita, Oklahoma . On July 5, 1906, both the Fort Scott and Vinita franchised folded during the season. The Fort Scott Giants ended their final season with

363-587: The Confederate force came to the garrison was 10 miles (16 km) away at Battle of Dry Wood Creek . The site was strategically important as it was within a Southern-sympathizing area and close to the Confederate state of Arkansas and the "unstable" Indian Territory (present-day state of Oklahoma ), where many of the members of the Five Civilized Tribes were allied with the Confederates. The fort served as

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396-1141: The Fort Scott Giants' home minor league ballpark are not directly referenced. 1902 newspaper accounts refer to fans interacting with the "guards" present on the "grounds" at the site of the Fort Scott ballpark. The verbiage corresponds with Fort Scott being home to the Fort Scott National Historic Site . Missouri Valley League The Missouri Valley League was an American minor league baseball league which operated from 1901 through 1905. The Missouri Valley league formed in 1901 as an Independent league. The league consisted of teams in Kansas and Missouri: Columbus, Kansas , Fort Scott Memphis Route , Galena, Kansas , Joplin Colts , Monett Railroadmen , Nevada Reds , Oswego, Kansas and Pittsburg Coal Barons . 1901 league records and standings are unknown. In 1902, The teams in Nevada, Missouri , Fort Scott, Kansas and Joplin, Missouri remained. Sedalia, Missouri ; Coffeyville, Kansas ; Jefferson City, Missouri ; Iola, Kansas and Springfield, Missouri joined as

429-633: The Missouri Valley League became designated as a Class D level league. On June 23, the Coffeyville Indians, with a 9-30 record, relocated to Chanute, Kansas , where they compiled a 32–51 record. In the 1903 season, the teams in Chanute and Jefferson City folded. New teams in Leavenworth, Kansas , and Pittsburg, Kansas , formed and joined the league. The Nevada team, with a record of 21–39, relocated to Webb City, Missouri , on July 13, where their record

462-457: The average soldier, life at the fort was "monotonous". Until the permanent structures were built, soldiers had to live in tents, which lacked comfort. Aside from a few whiskey peddlers and prostitutes , few civilians lived at the fort. Officers had brought their personal slaves with them, including Captain Swords. The border with Missouri was 5.15 miles (8.29 km) east of Fort Scott. In Missouri

495-564: The fighting. During the American Civil War, the fort was renewed as a US military post. In August 1861, the Union Army took command of Fort Scott, and readied it for the war times. The United States Army also took over several blocks within the town for commissary and quartermaster functions. The Union Army rented the properties from the current civilian owners. Troops from Indiana , Iowa , Colorado , Ohio , and Wisconsin would come to

528-499: The fort did not have defensive walls or structures when first built; the wide-open area and the available artillery made an enclosed fort unnecessary. The soldiers concentrated on building structures for lodging the men, animals, and equipment. These buildings were on the edges of a 350-foot (110 m) parade ground. The post quartermaster, Captain Thomas Swords, was in charge of building Fort Scott's structures, and had to deal with

561-580: The fort, and either stayed by the fort, or traveled farther, to subjugate Missouri , Arkansas , or the Indian Territory . Fort Scott was one of the few installations that recruited and trained black soldiers for the United States Colored Troops of the Union Army. A major supply depot was situated at the fort. Confederate general Sterling Price hoped to capture the town, but the closest

594-539: The fort. On October 19, 1978, Fort Scott became a National Historic Site under the supervision of the National Park Service, encompassing 17 acres (69,000 m ). Today the fort is open throughout the year, save for Thanksgiving , Christmas , and New Year's Day . Visitation has declined in recent years. In 2005 visitation was 25,528; in 2007 it was 22,314. Surviving structures include four officers' barracks, one dragoon 's barracks, two infantry barracks,

627-401: The league became a Class C level League with eight teams. The Giants ended the season with a record of 36–89, placing eighth in the standings. Jake Bene and Lou Armstrong served as managers. The Coal Diggers finished 47.5 gamed behind the first place Iola Gasbags. The Fort Scott Giants placed fourth in the final season of the Missouri Valley League, as the league folded during the season. With

660-503: The league held no playoffs. With a record of 80-44, playing the season under manager Warren Gill , Fort Scott finished 6.0 games behind the first place Nevada Lunatics in the standings. The 1903 Fort Scott Giants continued as members of the eight–team Class D level Missouri Valley League , as the Leavenworth White Sox replaced Coffeyville in league play before folding during the season, as did Nevada. The Giants placed fifth of

693-527: The middle of the 19th century the fort served as a military base for US Army action in what was the edge of settlement in 1850. For the next quarter century, it was used as a supply base and to provide security in turbulent areas during the opening of the West to settlement, a period which included Bleeding Kansas and the American Civil War . The current national historic site protects 20 historic structures,

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726-442: The problems of construction on the Kansas prairie, which had few trees. He had only two bricklayers and three carpenters to rely on, as there were few civilians and most of the soldiers had other duties to perform. Wood was available, but the mill was built 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away, making transport time-consuming. Swords found his efforts plagued by lack of wood, skilled labor and working equipment. Freak accidents destroyed much of

759-496: The railroads and workers from settlers. Some of the latter feared that the railroad, which had been awarded land for development by the US Government in rights-of-way, would evict them from their squatter homes. The settlers considered the troops lackeys to the railroads, and lumped both as enemies. Settlers also had some continuing conflicts with Indians and insurgents using the recent Confederate cause as excuse for robbery. By

792-526: The rising tensions that escalated in the Mexican–American War , the US Army redeployed troops to the Southwest. With Fort Scott still uncompleted, officials decided on April 25, 1850, that no more construction would be done there, after eight years and $ 35,000. By the time it was finished, it was obsolete; three years later, it was abandoned by the military in favor of the more western Fort Riley . For

825-538: The season to be shortened to September 5. South McAlester moved to Ft. Smith July 6. Fort Scott National Historic Site Fort Scott National Historic Site is a historical area under the control of the United States National Park Service in Bourbon County , Kansas , United States . Named after General Winfield Scott , who achieved renown during the Mexican–American War , during

858-427: The six remaining teams in the Missouri Valley League standings. Fort Scott ended the 1903 season with a record of 71–64, with Fred Hornaday serving as manager. After Nevada and Leavenworth had folded during the season, Fort Scott ended the season 15.5 games behind the first place Sedalia Goldbugs, who finished with a record of 86–47. The Fort Scott Giants continued Missouri Valley League play in 1904 and finished last as

891-469: The spring of 1873, the US Army withdrew the troops from Fort Scott for good. From 1873 to 1965, the buildings of the fort were left unattended, and slowly deteriorated. Many military buildings were razed and replaced with structures built for civilian use. With the Act of August 31, 1965, the National Park Service gave the city government of Fort Scott, Kansas the necessary funds and technical knowledge to restore

924-603: The two competing factions of the Bleeding Kansas conflict claimed one of the hotels at Fort Scott: Free-Soil at the Fort Scott Hotel and Pro-Slavery at the Western Hotel. Most of the residents in Fort Scott supported slavery, but those outside the town tended to the free-soil side. During this time, there were local incidents of murder and attempted arson , typical elements of the guerrilla conflicts that were prevalent in

957-399: The wood intended for the fort's construction. As a result, only one duplex of the five planned officers quarters (four duplexes and post commandant's house) was built by 1844, and the intended enlisted barracks were not completed. In his 1844 inspection of the fort, Colonel George Croghan reported that, in comparison to other frontier forts, he considered Fort Scott "above average". Due to

990-553: Was 0–4. The teams from Leavenworth and Webb City folded mid–season on July 16. In 1904, new teams in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Topeka, Kansas , formed and joined the league. After the 1904 season, the Missouri Valley League essentially reformed under a different name as five member teams formed under a new league. Joplin, Leavenworth, Sedalia, Springfield, and Topeka all joined the new 1905 Western Association . The Iola franchise folded. The Fort Scott and Pittsburg franchises remained in

1023-426: Was a grog shop that supplied soldiers, and quite a few courts-martial followed soldiers' going AWOL at the shop. The desertion rate from the fort ranged from 12 to 16%, due to boredom, irregular pay, and hatred for military life. As no combat took place near the fort, it seemed more of a frontier village than a military base. Hunting was a popular pastime; according to Captain Swords, "wolf chasing and duck hunting"

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1056-612: Was also used during the Civil War. The Cherokee of Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) were upset to have Fort Wayne in their proximity. After some delay, the US Army decided to abandon Fort Wayne and move its soldiers to a new fort to be built between Fort Leavenworth and the site. The Army both wanted to placate the Cherokee (who were supervised by the Department of Defense) and provide more defense for white settlers and other Indians against

1089-632: Was the only way one officer could tolerate the place. Two years after the army abandoned the fort, the buildings were sold by auction to civilians, with two being converted to hotels. In 1854 the Kansas–Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820 , which had kept slavery out of Kansas. Missourians in favor of slavery soon moved to Kansas to try to sway the vote of whether or not Kansas would permit slavery. Settlers from New England arrived equally determined to keep it out. Each of

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