On October 5, 1863, a group of soldiers left Fort Union in New Mexico headed to Fort Wingate. Once at Fort Wingate, they met up with two companies of the First California Volunteers, as well as Major Willis, Captain Pishon, and Doctor Charles Lieb and his wife, Mary (the first white woman to settle in Northern Arizona). The group set out from Fort Wingate on November 4, 1863 to establish a new fort in Northern Arizona—Fort Whipple.
On December 23, 1863*, the group arrived near present day Chino Valley. Major Willis, the commander of the fort, decided to stop there, despite the 25 mile distance to the placer mines on Granite Creek (present day Prescott). The fort would provide protection for the territorial government and civilian settlers.
Nearly a month passed before Governor Goodwin and his party arrived at the fort on January 22, 1864. Once they arrived, Major Willis ordered a 18 gun salute and small celebration. For the next few months, the government of the territory officially resided at the fort.
Conditions were less than perfect for these brave souls. Supplies had to be freighted from Albuquerque, New Mexico across the desert plains of Northern Arizona. Often food was in short supply. No permanent structures were erected until after the fort moved on May 18, 1864, to one mile northeast of Prescott on the bank of Granite Creek. A small group of men stayed behind at the original site which became known as Camp Clark.
During Prescott’s early days, the fort kept settlers safe from Indian attacks and served as a base of operations for military campaigns throughout the area.
*There are conflicting accounts as to the exact date. It was sometime within a few days of the date listed.
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