Military Bases

Early Military Posts

The history of military posts in America is much older than the history of the United States itself. The indigenous peo-ples of North America constructed various types of fortress-or garrison-type facilities. The Spanish, with a militarized form of colonization in the South and West, built presidios, roughly equivalent to forts, and castillos, which were more modest fortifications. Jamestown, the first permanent European settlement in North America, included a fort. Even early New York City had a fortification or protective wall (hence Wall Street), built across the island of Manhattan. During the colonial era, the British manned forts along the frontier in an attempt to provide a buffer between white settlers and Native Americans, as well as to discourage French and Spanish incursions.

After the Revolutionary War, the frontier forts changed hands as the new nation took possession. In 1783, George Washington wrote “Sentiments on a Peace Establishment,” in which he asked Congress for adequate numbers of troops to garrison the posts of the frontier, especially Fort Pitt, in Pennsylvania, and the fortress at West Point, New York, which he described as the “key to America.” In Washington's estima-tion, the posts would “awe the Indians, protect our trade, pre-vent the encroachment of our neighbors from Canada and the Floridas, and guard us at least from surprises.”

From the earliest days of the republic, military posts in all forms played an important and growing role in the nation's expansion and economic and social development. The earliest outposts were largely self-sufficient operations with the post and access roads constructed by soldiers. Road construction was probably the greatest contribution of the soldier to the settlement of the old Northwest. However, as westward expansion continued, the Army came to rely increasingly on civilians for transportation and provisions, thus giving an economic boost to the areas sur-rounding posts. In addition to providing protection and security, the posts also served as cultural centers (libraries and social gatherings), established the first schools on the frontier, provided medical care and mail service for the sur-rounding community, and became the focal point for reli-gious observances. Although some post communities eventually became metropolitan areas, it was just as likely that they did not. Typically, an area had to have other advantages as well: transportation, fertile land, and natural resources. Nevertheless, garrisons played an essential role in providing security and economic opportunities in the old Northwest and Southwest.

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