FORT UMPQUA IN OREGON

[LONE GUNMAN]

HEY I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD GIVE ME THE EXACT LOCATION OF FORT UMPQUA AT THE MOUTH OF THE UMPQUA RIVER....WE HAVE BEEN TO WINCHESTER BAY AND LOOKED ACROSS THE RIVER, BUT HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE. ANY IFNO WOULD BE GREATLY APPRICIATED.
THANKS
LGP

 

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[Jeffro]

Here is what I have, good luck.

Fort Umpqua (1)
(1832 - 1850), Elkton
A British fur trading post on the south (or west) bank of the Umpqua River,

also known as (Thomas or Desportes) McKay's Fort. It was later aquired by

the Hudson's Bay Co. and moved five times, although remaining in the same

general area. The last location was opposite the mouth of Elk Creek. A

reconstruction of the stockaded post is planned in the near future.

At least the last location was well known. You should be able to find it pretty easy. The others may need a bit of looking for. HH!

 

[CWnut]

Here's what I have: Fort Umpqua was erected on the South side of the Umpqua River at Winchester Bay in 1856 at the close of the Rouge River Indian War; when the Spokane and allied Indian tribes continued to make trouble dispite a treaty signed the year before. The fort had an unusual ending. In the summer of 1862 a paymaster arrived and found the whole garrison away on a hunting trip and no signs of any Indian disturbances. His report caused the closing of the fort. The old blockhouse and soldiers' quarters were moved to Gardiner, a few miles away, as memorials. (AMERICAN FORTS--YESTERDAY AND TODAY by Bruce Grant, 1965)

 

[LONE GUNMAN]

thanks guys the first fort refered to is on a friend of mine's dads property out side of elkton, the other one, the one i am looking for is in the sand dunes on the north side of the river at winchester bay, any ideas on how to locate it.....there is nothing left, and i think they throu there trash in the river.....any help would be appriciated.
thanks
james

 

[Jeffro]

I also have this-

Fort Umpqua
(1856 - 1862), near Gardiner
Built at the end of the Rogue River War from salvaged material from Fort

Orford. Located on the north bank of the Umpqua River about two miles from

its mouth. It was closed in 1862 after the Indian troubles died down. The

old blockhouse and soldiers' quarters were later moved into town as a memorial.

This was probablt the third or fourth location though, notice the dates.

I've checked all my books, and have TONS on other forts, but Fort Umpqua is pretty skimpy on info, sorry.

Some research leads that may be of help to you-

Anything by Ralph friedman, he has lots of books about Oregon, and pretty good info, he does his research well.
Douglas County Museum and historical society, located at the Douglas county fairgrounds, right next to I-5. They have loads of invaluable info and old historical documents, journals, etc. from Douglas county. A friend of mine once told me they even have Ed Scheffeleins journal, though I've never stopped to check on that particular lost mine.

 

[LONE GUNMAN]

THAT IS THE ONE I AM LOOKING FOR, I HAVE THE OLD MAPS BUT SO MUCH HAS CHANGED, AFTER ALL THE FORT WAS BUILT ON A SAND DUNE, THE BEST WAY I FIGURE TO FIND IT IS TO FIND THE SHOOTING RANGE OR AN OLD OUT HOUSE PIT AND GO FROM THERE. HECK I CANT EVEN FIND AN OLD PICTURE OG THE FORT.
LOL
ANYWAYS THANKS FOR THE HELP
LONE GUNMAN

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Hope this helps!
The Hudson's Bay Company had an establishment in the Umpqua Valley as early as 1832, probably on Calapooya Creek. It was generally called Old Fort Umpqua. The company later had another Fort Umpqua near the present site of Elkton. During the Indian wars there was a federal establishment called Fort Umpqua north of the mouth of Umpqua River. (Oregon Geographic Names, p. 858)

Bastion of Empire: The Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Umpqua. Oakland Printing Company; 1973.
Volume recounts the history of Fort Umpqua, on the Umpqua River, built in 1836 by the Hudson's Bay Company using the trail established by McLeod a decade earlier. The volume includes a listing of the members of McLeod's exhibition and the residents of Fort Umpqua. It is footnoted and includes maps and an index.
In 1836, Hudson?s Bay Company established a trading fort, Fort Umpqua, near the modern town of Elkton. The fort closed in 1854. In the time it was operating, many Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw traded hides for goods there. There was an Indian trail from Coos River to Ash Valley and on to the Umpqua River, and upriver to the Fort.

 

[Jeffro]

OK, I found a little more info on the one you are looking for, it is actually on a map I have. You're gonna owe me one, maybe, LOL!

I know for sure that the site has been visited by the people who drew my map, and they are usually very accurate about locations.

In the text they place the site as being near Army Hill. It shows on the map as being on the old indian trade route that went all up and down the oregon coast. I see using topozone that there is a grassy area, or more stable, higher ground, right near Army hill. My best guess is it would be in this more stable area rather than the actual dunes themselves, but ya never know.

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=43.70222&lon=-124.16722

Just in case you're interested, there are 3 indian village sites due south, across the Umpqua, and two more due Northwest on the same side of the river as the fort (north side).

Keep in mind I have never been to the area, so I am going strictly by the mapmakers info, and again, I am pretty sure they have visited the site. PS-The red cross is the center of the map, not an "X marks the spot" , LOL!

I hope you find what you are looking for, HH

 

[LONE GUNMAN]

HEY THANKS ALOT FOR THE INFO.....HOPEING TO MAKE IT OUT THERE THIS SUMMER.....WILL LET YOU KNOW IF WE CAN FIND ANYTHING...HAPPY HUNTING..
LGP

 

[Jeffro]

I have what you are looking for- exact GPS coordinates for the fort, put you right on top of it. Its a five mile (or so) hike in, so be prepared for this. E-mail me, I know I'll never get to it.