Old West Group

Fort Lumas was named after the man who founded the way station for the railroad in 1869. Lieutenant Thomas Lumas was a cavalry officer who was responsible to protect the railroad workers laying track.

With no Fort in the immediate area, his patrol had many miles to cover with only a few men, defending against savage Indian attacks and austere conditions. His bravery exemplified the stature of the a stout man of honor, duty, and country.

Fort Lumas is a mere outpost in the beginning. A place to rest and call home for the patrolling 4th US Cavalry. Over 300 men and horses, called this place home. Food, water, and ammunition were more valuable than gold. Little protection was afforded these men until the President ordered the 16th Ohio Dragoons to proceed to the Wyoming Territory in support of the 4th US Cavalry. The total quantity of men, horses and equipment required more protection and monies were allotted to build a small way-station Fort.

Indian attacks, on the soldiers, were frequent and the engagements brief. The hit and run tactics of the Indians were wearing thin on the unprotected soldiers. In one particular attack, Lieutenant Lumas had designed defensive positions that could place the attackers in a cross fire. The Indians attacked, suffering more losses than ever before. It was the strategic planning and staunch leadership of Lieutenant Lumas that prevented his troopers from being annihilated. It was in this attack that Lt Lumas lost his life saving fellow troopers from certain death. The men building the fort felt as if Lt Lumas would always be with them and asked permission to name the fort after him.... permission was granted immediately.

With the build up of the new fort, many frontiersman and miners began to enter the area. This influx of people into Indian land caused unsettling fear among the natives. Soon fed up with the invaders, the Indians began to increase their attacks against the trespassers.

The Yellow Sashes, a private militia formed by the Tims, Sorenson, Claridge (TSC) Trading Company, began to increase their own forms of protection and control. The President, pressured by popular discontentment with the massacres, by the Indians and the Yellow Sashes, ordered the 10th Indiana Infantry Battalion to the area via railroad, as an attachment to the 4th US Cavalry.

With the Fort built, wagon trains making treks to the area, and the track laid for the Iron Horses, more people began to influx into the area. This was added to, by more of the civilized world encroaching on the natives of the land.

With the Indian leaders gaining support of the their people, attacks were on the increase again. Also with the steady flow of people into the area, the Government urged the President to send in more troops. Troops that were battle tested, swift, and strong. Troops who could match and overcome their enemy.

Fort Lumas is often considered an insignificant, but fortified army post, with three companies of cavalry from the 4th US Cavalry and five cannon crews from the Artillery battery of the 3rd Illinois Infantry... Although, their primary units are at Fort Laramie; still, that is a few days ride... they stay, more than busy, with Indians and Rustlers.... thus leaving the local law to the Deputy Marshal in Sherman.

He sent units of the 4th and 7th US Cavalries and an artillery battery from the 3rd Illinois into the area. These units had quality horses and weapons that could match any foe. The 4th would replace the 8th at Fort Cheyenne to become the headquarters command unit in charge of Fort Lumas.