Soon after the discovery of gold in the South Pass region in 1867, a request was made for troops to protect the miners from Indian depredations. The request was ignored for a time, but in June 1870 a small military station was established in Smith’s Gulch, near Atlantic City and given the name of Camp Stambaugh. Two years later it was garrisoned by two companies, which were quartered in four large log buildings. The presence of these troops kept the Shoshone and Bannock Indians from a possible outbreak. On January 27, 1878, Gen. Philip H. Sheridan recommended the removal of the garrison and on August 17, 1878 the official order for the abandonment of the post was issued by the war department.
Source: History of Wyoming, Volume 1, by I. S. Bartlett, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1918
My great-grandfather and civil war veteran, Sgt Patrick McKeever (Corrigan) Karrigan, was stationed at Camp Stambaugh and was joined by his wife, Eliza Horrigan, and family of 4 children with 2 more born in camp (Stephen and my grandfather, Eugene Patrick) in May of 1871 and December of 1872.
Hello Joe.
Was your Great-Grandfather with the 2nd Cavalry? If not, which unit?
Thanks
James