The information quoted below concerns some of the early history of Fort Lyon, Colorado, and appeared in the 1870 Government Printing Office Publication, Circular No 4, War Department Surgeon General's Office, Washington, December 5, 1870, "A REPORT OF BARRACKS AND HOSPITALS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF MILITARY POSTS."
FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY
Report of Assistant Surgeon H. R. Tilton, United States Army
Fort Lyon is situated on the north bank of the Arkansas River, in latitude 38 degrees 5' 36" north, longitude west from Greenwich 103 degrees 3' 30", and is about 4,000 feet above sea-level. The reservation on which the post is situated has not been declared. A little over nine square miles is held reserved.
The nearest spurs of the Rocky Mountains are 115 miles west. Fort Wallace is 115 miles to the northeast. The town of Kit Carson, on the Kansas Pacific railroad, is 55 miles to the northeast. Las Animas, a small town on the opposite bank of the river, lies one mile to the west.
The geological formation is sandstone of the lower cretaceous period. Eight miles distant, limestone of a later period, very rich in fossils, are found. Coal, of poor quality, has been discovered on Rule Creek, ten miles from the post.
Over 1,000 acres are under cultivation within ten miles of the post. The land is irrigate by a small canal leading from the Purgatory River, a small steam emptying into the Arkansas, two and a half miles west of the Fort. Large crops of cereals, vegetables, and melons are raised. Wild plums, currants, and gooseberries grow on the Purgatory River bottoms, and wild grapes are found in great abundance on both streams.
The following animals have been killed or seen within 40 miles of the post, viz: buffalo, prong horned antelope, elk, black-tailed deer, white-tailed deer, American panther, wild cat, white and gray badgers, raccoon, gopher, prairie dog, beaver, kangaroo rat, Norway rat, porcupine, muskrat, mule-rabbit, sage hare, and wild horse.
Birds seen are the golden eagle, bald eagle, pigeon, sparrow and fish hawks, prairie falcon, great horned owl, burrowing owl, woodpecker, kingfisher, robin, bluebird, mocking bird, sky-lark, sparrow, red-winged blackbird, meadow-lark, raven, magpie, turtle-dove, wild heron, blue heron, killdeer, plower, wild goose, and ducks of several kinds.
The climate is mild; the nights are always pleasant. Average temperature is 49 degrees F.; extremes 108 degrees F., and 22 degrees F, a difference of 50 degrees F. between the morning and 2 P.M., has been observed, though very seldom. The average humidity is 56.25. Annual rain-fall is 11 inches. Snows are selfdom more than three inches in depth, and rapidly disappear.
(I have a history of Fort Lyon from 1826 when the Bent Brothers, William, Charles, Robert, and George, with their companion, Ceran St. Vrain, built a stockade of adobe and logs on the Arkansas River at the site. If anyone is interested I could probably scan the documents and send them.)
Thank-you, Roberta Hasui
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Littleton, CO
