Click image to enlarge
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Information signs for Fort Lugenbeel, Fort Rains, and Fort Cascades, and for the North Bank Railroad.
Image taken February 26, 2005.
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The Forts (or Blockhouses) of the Cascades Rapids ...
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Throughout history four different forts or blockhouses existed along a rough stretch of the Columbia River Gorge between Hamilton Island and Cascade Locks, known as the "Cascade Rapids".
The Cascade Rapids were four and one-half miles long, with early history dividing the reach was into two sections, the "Upper Cascades" and the "Lower Cascades". Later years included a "Middle Cascades". The total fall of the river from the head of Upper Cascades to the bottom of Lower Cascades was 45 feet at high water and 36 feet at low water.
The first fort was Fort Gilliam, established in 1848 and located at the upper end of the portage as a supply depot for the Cayuse Indian Wars.
Next came
Fort Cascades, built in 1855 at the lower end of the rapids, and built to defend the portage.
Fort Rains was located at the lower end of the portage around the "Upper Cascades".
The last fort built was
Fort Lugenbeel, located at the upper end of the section.
Today, Fort Rains and Fort Lugenbeel, and the earlier Fort Gilliam, exist only as archaeological sites on present U.S. Army Corp of Engineer land. The location of Fort Cascades is a National Historic Site.
Models of Fort Cascades, Fort Rains, and Fort Lugenbeel can be seen at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington.
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Withdrawal of the Military ...
"The Army evacuated Fort Cascades on June 11, 1861. The post was reoccupied on August 25 but again evacuated on November 6 (Anonymous 1878). These moves were the logical outcome of the exigencies facing the federal forces with the firing on Fort Sumpter on April 12, 1861, by the Confederates. The sobering debacle of Bull Run in July convinced the Union leaders that the war was to be of long duration. Critical to mounting the anticipated assault on the rebel capital of Richmond, Virginia, or of attempting to split the Confederacy by driving down the Mississippi was bringing experienced troops into action. In the fall of 1861, the Union generals began wholesale withdrawal of officers and enlisted men at garrisons scattered across the American West. Fort Umpqua, Fort Yamhill, and Fort Hoskins in Oregon were among those abandoned; so, too, were the three blockhouses at the Cascades evacuated."
Source:
Beckham, Dr., "This Place is Romantic and Wild", An Historic Overview of the Cascades Area, Fort Cascades, and the Cascades townsite, Washington Territory, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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Forts (Blockhouses) of the Columbia River ...
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Forts of the Cascade Rapids
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- Fort Gilliam ...
- Fort Cascades or "Lower Blockhouse" ...
- Fort Rains or "Middle Blockhouse" ...
- Fort Lugenbeel or "Upper Blockhouse" ...
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Fort Gilliam ...
Fort Cascades or "Lower Blockhouse" ...
The first true "fort" established at the "Cascades" was
Fort Cascades, built in 1855 by the U.S. Army. Fort Cascades took five weeks to build and was established on September 30, 1855. It was located on the north bank of the Columbia below the present site of today's Bonneville Dam.
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Model, Fort Cascades, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Note: sign leaning on model is not correct sign.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
Information sign,
Click image to enlarge
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Fort Rains or "Middle Blockhouse" ...
The Army next established Fort Rains (also seen spelled "Raines"), a blockhouse built in October 1855 to defend the Middle Cascades. The location of this structure was on the north bank of the Columbia above the present site of the Bonneville Dam.
Lewis and Clark's
"Great Shoot" was at the head of a portage located on the Washington side of the Columbia, at
Ashes Lake, which ended at the location of Fort Rains.
Fort Rains was named for Major Gabriel Rains, under whose orders the fort was built.
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Click image to enlarge
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Model, Fort Rains, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Note: sign leaning on model is not correct sign.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
Information sign,
Click image to enlarge
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Fort Lugenbeel or "Upper Blockhouse" ...
On March 26, 1856, Indians attacked the white settlements at the Cascades. Settlers took refuge at
Fort Rains and Bradford's Store. The
Fort Cascades was burned to the ground. The settlers were rescued by Lt. Sheridan who arrived March 27, 1856. Gunfire was exchanged the rest of the 27th and 28th, with the Indians surrendering late in the evening on March 28, 1856.
After this battle, Fort Cascades was rebuilt and another blockhouse,
Fort Lugenbeel, was added to protect the Upper Cascades. Fort Lugenbeel was located on the north bank of the Columbia, on a hill, across from
Little Ashes Lake. Presumably Fort Lugenbeel was named after Major Pinckney Lugenbeel, who, in 1856 was a captain in the 9th Infantry and was engaged in the defense of Fort Cascades.
In 1862 Major Lugenbeel became Commander at the Army Post, Vancouver Barracks.
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Click image to enlarge
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Model, Fort Lugenbeel, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
Information sign,
Click image to enlarge
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"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...
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The early 1900s was the "Golden Age of Postcards", with the "Penny Postcard" being a popular way to send greetings to family and friends. The postcards now have become a image of history.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, October 30, 1805 ...
Clark, October 31, 1805 ...
Clark, November 1, 1805 ...
Clark, November 2, 1805 ...
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