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 was held on June 1, 2024 at the Fort Caspar Museum. You can watch a recording of the ceremony here: https://youtu.be/8hrkOHoXGGE?si=XLiSKedyuoyw6iNP

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Phase II of the project was to honor 6 soldiers of the 6th West Virginia Cavalry and 7th Iowa Cavalry. Phase II began in early 2024 and the markers were installed in September 2024.

 

Phase III of the project was to honor seven soldiers of the 6th Michigan Cavalry. Their headstones were installed in September 2025.

 

Phase IV recognized the 18th U.S. Infantry and 6th U.S. Infantry with nine headstones, and the headstone phase of the project will complete with Phase V providing additional 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry headstones.  When finished, 60 headstones will be present on the site. All stones have been ordered and are slated to be installed in Summer 2026.

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As of Summer 2026, we are currently finalizing plans for the walkway that will lead from the turnout near the headstones towards them. Commemorative bricks purchased by donors will be set inside the concrete walkway. In addition, interpretive signage telling the history of each regiment will be installed along the walkway with a reflection bench. 

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We have scheduled the Dedication Ceremony for the completed project on June 19, 2027. We encourage any descendants of our fallen soldiers to attend as well as any descendants of soldiers of the regiments honored. This event will include a full military honors service for the fallen soldiers and folded flag presentations for family of the honored dead. We are also looking for photographs of the fallen soldiers to include in a forthcoming book featuring biographies of each of the men. Please reach out to us at fcmaboard@gmail.com if you have any photographs or biographical information that may be included in the book.

 

The Fort Caspar Museum Association cordially welcomes contributions in any amount to this project, which may be made via the "Donate Now" PayPal below, or through the mail. All donations are tax deductible and support this project exclusively by providing headstones, installation, a walkway and interpretive markers for the site.

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NEW: We are now offering you the opportunity to purchase a brick that will be installed on the pathway to the commemorative cemetery, which you can personalize in honor of a loved one. Each brick is a standard size and allows for three lines of text with fifteen characters on each line. A character includes spaces and punctuation. Bricks are $150 each, and payment can be made through the "Purchase Brick" PayPal button below, or via check sent to the Fort Caspar Museum Association. Once we have received your order, we will send you the brick order form to collect your personalization information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to sponsor an entire headstone and Adopt a Soldier, the cost is $1,100. This includes the cost of the marble, all cutting and engraving, as well as installation. Donors who Adopt a Soldier will have their name (or business) recognized on permanent outdoor signage near the cemetery.

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You can mail your tax deductible donations to:

Fort Caspar Museum Association

4001 Fort Caspar Road

Casper, WY 82604

(307) 235-8462

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