Lest We Forget
Commemorative Cemetery

Visitors to the Fort Caspar Museum have no doubt noticed the small commemorative cemetery located near the entrance gates.  The eleven headstones currently there represent eleven soldiers of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry who died in the line of duty while stationed at the fort. The first marker was installed in 1970 for Private David Umphlet, of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry who died of scurvy and disease while traveling from Three Crossings Station to Fort Laramie.

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The Fort Caspar Museum Association is working with the Fort Caspar Museum to finish the commemorative cemetery by installing marble headstones representing those of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry who do not have markers yet, as well as the other regiments who suffered losses while stationed at the fort.

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The "Lest We Forget" cemetery project will be completed in phases with Phase I completed in the fall of 2023. The first regiment honored is the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Nine white marble headstones for the regiment were installed in October of 2023. A dedication ceremony to honor the nine soldiers is scheduled for June 1, 2024 at 10:00 am at the Fort Caspar Museum. More information on that can be found on the home page.

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Phase II of the project will be to honor 5 soldiers of the 6th West Virginia Cavalry. Phase II will begin in early 2024. Additional regiments honored include: 6th Michigan Cavalry, 7th Iowa Cavalry, 18th U.S. Infantry, 6th U.S. Infantry, and additional 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry headstones will close out the project. When complete, over 50 headstones will be present on the site.

 

The Fort Caspar Museum Association cordially welcomes contributions to this project, which may be made via Paypal below, or through the mail:

 

Fort Caspar Museum Association

4100 Fort Caspar Road

Casper, WY 82604

(307) 235-8462

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It is important that all soldiers who died in service to their country while stationed at our fort be acknowledged and represented in the commemorative cemetery.