Erected sometime in the late spring of 1864, Fort Homestead perched on a small hill leased from the Homestead Mining Co. overlooking Gold Hill and Virginia City, right over a V&T railroad tunnel. While it may have been under the supervision of local militia groups, it was never an official U.S. Army "fort" and was mainly used, it would seem, to celebrate various events by shooting off its cannons, although there was a certain amount of both quasi-military and civilian activities taking place there.
Every fort needs a cannon or two, and Fort Homestead was no exception. You never knew when the Confederate Army might attack.
A UNION GUN
The news that we are now daily receiving from the East is too big for the calibre of the gun on the hill. Consequently a subscription was taken up yesterday to purchase a brass gun of a size and voice adequate to speak to the people in ringing tones, whenever tidings of great joy shall flash across the land. One hundred and twenty-five dollars have been subscribed and the gun has been ordered.
-Gold Hill Daily News, May 12, 1864
HOW ABOUT THAT GUN ?
A long time ago, a subscription was taken up in this town for the purchase of a cannon. Since that time we have heard nothing about it. The public would like to hear a " report" from that gun.
-Gold Hill Daily News, June 29, 1864
We're going to have all the makings of a very fine fort.
A LIBERTY POLE.
There was a jolly time yesterday afternoon at our local Fort, on the occasion of the raising of a really handsome Liberty Pole. A large number of our town people participated in the raising. About four o'clock the pole was properly set and secured, when the cannon "Kearsarge" belched forth a salute to the beautiful Sanitary Banner as it unfurled from the masthead of the pole with a stiff breeze, from the northward. Several guns were tired in honor of the occasion, when cheers upon cheers were given for the flag, for Gen. Grant, and for Gen. Sheridan, and the glorious war news which had just appeared in our paper. The company then refreshed themselves upon sundry baskets of champagne, and other comforts. J. H. Mills, Esq., being present, was called upon for a speech, to which he responded in a few feeling and very appropriate remarks upon the beautiful emblem of our nationality, and the importance of standing by the flag and the Union of our fathers. After Mr. Mills concluded, he was honored with three cheers by the crowd. Cheers were also given for "Fort Homestead" and Mr. Lyford, the proprietor. This name was adopted as the proper one for our local Fort—and in the future it will always be known by it. The occasion was a very pleasant and agreeable one to all who participated in the Liberty Pole raising.
-Gold Hill Daily News, September 23, 1864
The Civil War was still raging at this point.
A FEDERAL SALUTE.--
Yesterday afternoon, after the Nevada Territorial Volunteers returned from their visit to Silver City, Fort Homestead gave them a Federal salute of thirteen guns, which was duly appreciated by the troop ascending the hill by way of the tunnel road and returning the compliment by a number of rousing cheers. After which. they again returned to town and refreshed themselves. As each one of the troop was armed with a carbine, a sword, and two revolvers, we feel certain that they would make it very hot for any company of rebels that would invade the Territory.
-Gold Hill Daily News, September 28, 1864
ATTENTION, COMPANY "A" !
Company A. of the Gold Hill Home Guards, will meet for drill at Fort Homestead, next Friday evening, instead of the armory.
-Gold Hill Daily News, October 12, 1864
Most of the "action" seen at the Fort was using the cannon to announce various newsy items.
SALUTE
On the reception of the news of our admission as a State., the flags of the town were flung to the breeze, and the gun at Fort Homestead rattled forth the news to the enfranchised people.
-Gold Hill News, October 21, 1864
If you heard the cannon go off, you knew something important had just happened.
GUNS AT MIDNIGHT.
About twelve o'clock last night, our local battery, Fort Homestead, belched forth an unusual noise, considering the time, and which startled most of the denizens of our usually sober and quiet town from their slumbers. Many of them arose, dressed themselves, and went forth into the street to inquire the cause--not knowing but that Piutes were making a raid into the neighborhood, led on, perchance. by that noble and immortalized brave, the strategic "Josephus." who figured so conspicuously with Captain Wallace in his Piute hunt at Walker Lake not long since. But our people were disappointed in their surmise. RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG BOTH TAKEN !"--that's what's the matter. The news of this great event was received at our office in the early part of the evening, but there was not enough of it to get out an extra, so we told a few of our friends of the glorious event. as it was too good to keep to ourselves, and they got on a patriotic rampage, and fired a national salute at midnight in honor of the cheering and bully news.
-Gold Hill Daily News, April 4, 1865
BOOMING OF CANNON
After our Extra was issued this morning the steam whistles of a hundred mills in and about Virginia started a simultaneous steam solo, the church and fire bells soon joined in the chorus, blacksmiths brought their anvils in requisition, citizens their guns and pistols, and all united in a grand salute. The shouting of the overjoyed populace, mixed with the continual roaring of guns, was expressive of the sublime happiness everybody experienced. The music of the steam was soon taken up by all the mills in Gold Hill, and for a short time, amid the booming of the cannon on Fort Homestead, Gold Hill was truly jubilant over the bully news. At Silver City and Dayton national salutes have also been fired, and the people are decidedly jolly and happy. [Lee had just surrendered and the Civil War was over]
-Gold Hill Daily News, April 10, 1865
Or, something very sad had just happened.
FUNERAL OBSEQUIES IN GOLD HILL, APRIL 19th, 1885.
The public demonstration in Gold Hill yesterday, in honor of the burial of our late and dearly beloved President and head of the Nation, far exceeded expectations, and was participated in by almost everybody. Never before was such a large turn-out of people witnessed here--and never was a more solemn and deep-felt demonstration beheld anywhere. Every mine and mill was closed; every store. saloon, shop. and place of business was shut from ten until four o'clock. Nearly every house and cabin, had its token of mourning hung out on its front ; and almost every person, of both sexes, had on sable tokens of sorrow. The Flags of our town, which were more numerous than we ever saw before, were all tastefully decorated and hung at half-mast. Everything and everybody betokened the deep sorrow which pervaded our citizens. The gun on Fort Homestead pealed forth its solemn discharge every half hour from sun-up to sun-down ; and from ten until four o'clock, the bells of the Episcopal and Catholic churches tolled their solemn knell.
-Gold Hill Daily News, April 20, 1865
It's not unthinkable to surmise that alcohol may have been involved here.
CANNON BURSTED.
The six-pounder cannon at Fort Homestead bursted last evening, and flew all to pieces. This cannon was cast about three years ago at one of our Gold Hill foundries, and mounted on a very heavy carriage. It has been in use on Fort Homestead ever since, when-ever news of a glorious Union victory over rebellion has been received ; when ever occasion has arrived for a public demonstration of a patriotic or a Union political purpose. Its voice has made more noise and music than any other similar implement, within the time of usefulness, used for a similar purpose in all the land of Washoe. Its name was "The Kearsarge," christened in honor of a glorious naval event recorded in the history of our late rebellion. But the "Kearsarge" is no more ! May her fragments be gathered up and preserved as mementoes sacred in the history of Gold Hill during a period that appealed to the loyalty, the patriotism, and the generous liberality of the people of our mountain town. Mr. Louis Wagner, an old man-of-war's man, who has had charge of the cannon--and who, if there was anything on earth he seemed to set his affections upon or to take a particular pride in, it was in bestowing his attentions to keeping the Kearsarge always in good trim and good voice. But on this occasion he was absent, and the firing devolved upon others, who, instead of the usual 'charge' of about a pound of powder. doubled the quantity. and owing to a want of proper experience, it is supposed, failed to drive the wadding home, so that there must have been a good deal of air between it and the powder, and when tired, it being done by a slow fuse, the cannon went all to pieces, hurling fragments of solid iron in every direction into the air and deep into the earth underneath. Solid masses of iron, almost as heavy as a hundred pound shell, flew over the town in several directions. One piece, weighing ninety-four pounds, actually went hurling through the air a distance of a quarter of a mile and struck through the plank sidewalk in front of the office of the Yellow Jacket Mining Company, on Main street. This fragment, nearly two feet long, is now on exhibition in the barroom of the Vesey House. The cannon carriage was also entirely demolished, the heavy oak timbers, axle and wheels being wrenched and broken into many pieces. This terrible explosion occurred without striking and injuring any person whatever, although there were eight or ten persons standing within forty feet of it.
-Gold Hill Daily News, September 20, 1866
A new cannon arrived in time to celebrate the Fourth of July.
CANNON.
A splendid six-pounder (''brass-barrelled, and of such is the Kingdom of," etc.,) is now mounted on Fort Homestead. to sound the jubilee on the Fourth. Plenty of powder, and the best gunner in the State.
-Gold Hill Daily News, June 28, 1867
They may have gone a little overboard on the size of one of their cannon, and it was beginning to annoy everyone except, apparently, the local glaziers.
OLD LANDMARK REMOVED.
The old cannon-house which was erected in the Fall of 1865 on Fort Homestead was today removed to the knoll just back of the fort. The Republicans of this town resolved in 1865 that they would have a cannon that, when fired, should be heard in five counties in this State, and for that purpose procured the "General Grant." a 34-pounder, eight and half feet in length, with a bore of five and three-quarter inches. The "General" filled the bill, and on calm days could be heard in Storey, Washoe, Lyon, Ormsby and Douglas counties. The cause of removing the cannon-house is that the gun could not be fired from the old place without doing serious damage to houses in the neighborhood. The last time it was fired from Fort Homestead it broke any number of windows in the vicinity, knocking lamps from tables as far away as Silver City. When the gun was first planted on Fort Homestead. no houses were expected to be raised near there, but things have changed since those days, and land that held but barren rocks and sagebrush is now covered with dwellings and gardens. We presume that the next time the old gun is moved it will be transferred to the top of Mount Davidson.
-Gold Hill Daily News, August 3, 1874
A communication was received from A. A. Putnam, Secretary of the citizens' meeting held last week. The communication stated that the Town Trustees, together with Z Lyford, were instructed to dispose of two old cannon belonging to the citizens of the town, and which have outgrown their usefulness as pieces of ordnance, the proceeds to be applied to relieving the wants of the poor and destitute of the town. Trustee Lemery and Marshal Kennedy were instructed to visit the different foundries and see where the cannon could be disposed of to the best advantage.
-Gold Hill Daily News, December 22, 1880
Eventually, the cannons were disposed of.
An Old Relic Gone.
One of the old cannon which stood guard at Fort Homestead in Gold Hill in the early days has been purchased for "scrap" iron. This cannon was known as the Little Giant and was cast at the Gold Hill Foundry May 30, 1888. It was two and a half feet long, with a three-inch bore and weighed 1,960 pounds,--Enterprise.
-Nevada State Journal, September 1, 1899
Nothing left, unfortunately. Some maps show it 1,300 feet to the west, which I believe is incorrect, due to the location of the V&T tunnel.
The Homestead mining claim was still shown on maps as late as 190543, but it appears never to have been patented as a mining claim. However, at some point, title of the land passed into private hands, and the site of Fort Homestead is now owned by a person living in Oregon. On June 30, 1979, the Julia C. Bulette Chapter 1864 of E. Clampus Vitus erected a rock monument with a bronze plaque to mark the site of Fort Homestead. As of the end of 2004, the site is overgrown with weeds and has been trashed. A crumbling 20th century shack sits on the property. The E. Clampus Vitus monument has been knocked over, and the plaque is missing. The vandalism may have occurred two years ago. A neighbor to the site said someone in Gold Hill had the plaque in safe keeping.
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FORT HOMESTEAD, GOLD HILL, NEVADA By David A. Davis, 2005