Three miles west of Buffalo is Fort McKinney, a post which was named for Lieutenant J.A. McKinney of the 4^th Cavalry, who was killed in the Red Fork Fight, on November 25, 1876. Originally known as “Cantonment Reno” at the time of its inception, it grew into a fort of considerable proportions after a Congressional appropriation of $40,000. Several buildings, including quarters for officers and men, barns, warehouses, and mess halls were erected. At first, two companies of the 9^th Infantry were quartered at this post, but later these were withdrawn, and four troops of the 9^th Cavalry, together with their headquarters and band, were billeted there for a considerable time, followed by three companies of the 8^th Infantry and three troops of the 6^th Cavalry. In 1892, Fort McKinney came into national prominence. A force of stockman raided the country to the south of Buffalo in a desperate effort to stop wholesale cattle rustling. This episode was known as the Johnson County Invasion, and papers throughout the country headlined the spectacular effort. Outnumbered, the stockman and their gunmen were surrounded at the TA Ranch, south of Buffalo, and there they would have been massacred except for the timely arrival of troops from the fort. Troops were withdrawn from this post in 1894, and in the following year all the buildings and two sections of land were donated to the State of Wyoming by the United States Government to be used permanently as a Soldiers’ Home.

Source: WPA

Other Names: Cantonment Reno, Depot M'Kinney, Veterans' Home of Wyoming

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1:24000 Quadrangle: Buffalo

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Wyoming State Historic Site

http://www.wyomingheritage.org/fortMckinney.html

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