41.544217, -119.026102 (See note)
According to A Guide to the Military Posts of the United States, 1789-1895 by Francis Paul Prucha, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1964, Camp McGarry was established in October of 1865, at Summit Springs near Summit Lake Nevada. It was abandoned on December 18, 1868.
Mr. Frazier agrees with the ending date, but thinks it started much later:
CAMP MCGARRY. Established September 9, 1867. Located near Summit Lake in the High Rock Canyon country of western Humboldt County, on the Applegate Cutoff to Oregon. Established to protect the emigrant route from hostile Indians. Established by Major Albert G. Bracken, 1st U.S. Cavalry. The post was a camp and was never officially designated a fort. Named for Colonel Edward McGarry, 2nd California Cavalry, and later lieutenant colonel, 32nd U.S. Infantry. Abandoned in 1868 by order of Brigadier General Edward 0. C. Ord, commanding the department, and the garrison transferred to Camp Winfield Scott. A detachment remained at the post until the public property could be disposed of, the last troops leaving on December 18, 1868. The military reservation was transferred to the Interior Department on March 25, 1871.
-Forts of the West, Robert Frazier
And here is another start date. The camp was isolated and started small.
California Volunteers established the post originally as a field camp on November 23, 1865, while they protected the stage road from California to Idaho. At first it was simply called Camp Summit Lake. As part of the Army's policy "to make the posts as temporary and cheap as possible," it was decided it would be sufficient to use "tents and huts constructed by the troops." Regulars of the 9th Infantry relieved the Volunteers in 1866 and the post took on a permanent look. Rock buildings were laid out around a rectangular parade ground. Even more status was achieved when headquarters for the District of Nevada was shifted from Fort Churchill to McGarry, a more central location. About the same time the area was reorganized and then McGarry became headquarters of the District of Summit Lake—a two-fort district that included Fort Bidwell, just across the California line to the west. This distinction was short-lived. An inspecting team, probably after a dusty ride across the inhospitable High Rock Canyon wastes, decided that McGarry was too isolated. The headquarters shifted to Bidwell.
-Old Forts of the Far West, Herbert Hart, 1965
The Nevada State Historic Preservation Office tells us:
Camp McGarry was a U.S. Army installation on the Old Applegate Trail, and operated from 1865 to 1868. At that time, it was the largest military reservation in Nevada, at 75 square miles. It had a barracks, mess hall, officer's quarters, and 100-horse stone barn. In 1866, Camp McGarry was made headquarters of the district of Nevada. In autumn 1868, troops were moved to Camp Winfield Scott, north of Paradise Valley, Nevada, and Camp McGarry was abandoned. In 1871, the land transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and was eventually used as an American Indian reservation.
Camp McGarry was named after
Edward McGarry, a Brevet Brigadier General in the Union Army during the American Civil War. In 1867 he showed up for a military parade in Tubac, Arizona in a state of intoxication. Instead of being disciplined, McGarry was reassigned to San Francisco, California where, on the last day of 1867, he was found lying on the floor of his room at the Occidental Hotel in a pool of his own blood, his throat cut and an open pen knife by his side. He was 45 years old.
Camp McGarry was on the stage line between Idaho and California.
STAGE LINE
CALIFORNIA TO IDAHO!
THE CALIFORNIA AND IDAHO
Stage Line Leaves Oroville and
RUBY, SILVER, and BOISE CITIES, IDAHO
Every other day, on arrival of the Sacramento mails, making the trip
IN FOUR DAYS!
Carrying the united States Mails and Express. Returning leaves Rudy, Silver, and Boise cities every other day for California, connecting at Oroville, the Railroad terminus, for Sacramento.
This line runs via Big Meadows, Susanville, Granite Creek, Black Rock, Fort McGarry (Summit Lake) Pueblo Camp, C. F. Smith (White Horse) and Camp Lyon. At Big Meadows it connects each way, daily, with Stage Line to Indian Valley, without delay to passengers.
Fare from Chico to Ruby or Silver City - $60
Fare from Oroville to Ruby or Silver City - $62
Fare from Sacramento to Ruby or Silver City - $68
Fare from San Francisco to Ruby or Silver City - $73
Passengers are allowed 30 lbs. of baggage. Extra baggage or freight from Chico to Ruby or Silver City, 30 cents per pound; to Boise City 10 per cent additional.
-Weekly Butte Record, August 4, 1866
The location of a military camp or fort (the latter being thought of as more permanent) in your area meant an opportunity to bid on supplying them with what they needed-- food for both soldiers and animals.
CONTACTS ADVERTISED
The Quartermaster and Commissary at Camp McGarry (Summit Lake) advertise proposals for the furnishing of supplies. Here is a chance for our business men.
-Chico Weekly Courant, September 15, 1866
Of course, forms had to be filled out in triplicate. It was the government, after all.
PROPOSALS FOR HAY
Office of the A. C. S.
Camp McGarry, Nev. June 30, 1867
SEALED PROPOSALS, in "Triplicate," will be received at this office till twelve o'clock, M. on Saturday, August 10, 1867, for furnishing the Subsistence department at this post with HAY, for "Beef Cattle," as follows:
Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) Pounds good Merchantable Upland or Red Top Hay, free from weeds or wire grass, to be delivered well baled in bales of not less than Two Hundred (200) pounds each.
Bidders will express their price in U.S. Currency, per ton or pound, at which hay will be delivered. The party or parties to whom this contract is awarded will pay for this advertisement.
James A. Hall, Capt. 1st U.S. Cav., A.C.S.
-Chico Weekly Courant, July 26, 1867
Clever!
INDIAN STRATEGY.--The Sage Brush says that on the fifth of July three soldiers from camp McGarry, Summit Lake„Nevada, on their way to Susanville with the post mail, were victimized out of their horses in the following: manner: They took be trail leading from the point where it turns into Granite Creek Meadows, for the purpose of proceeding thence direct to Buffalo Station, and had reached the mountains above the latter place, when finding the descent too rough and rocky, two soldiers gave their horses in charge of the third, and went down the mountain to look out a road. The Piutes passing that way, and in search of something to devour,. took advantage of the position, called out lustily to the soldier in charge of the horses, in imitation of his comrades, and without making themselves visible, succeeded in drawing him away from his animals. By a quick movement en echelon, Mr. Indian effected a change of proprietorship, and rode exultingly away, leaving the troops to find their way into Buffalo as best they could, which place they reached about midnight.
-Wilmington Journal, August 10, 1867
Maybe these were the same dudes that got tricked out of their horses.
HOMICIDE -- The Humboldt Register gives the particulars of a homicide committed at Granite Creek Station, west of Black Rock, on the 24th of July. Two soldiers from Camp McGarry called at the station in the absence of the proprietor, George Jackson, and helped themselves to liquor. Afterwards Jackson returning found the soldiers there and intoxicated. He refused to give them any more, and they abused him in severe language. He knocked one down, and they left for camp, got their guns, and came back to fight. After some words and threatenings, Jackson armed himself with a Spencer rifle and shot one of the soldiers, named Daniel Sweeny, as he was rushing upon him with his gun ready to fire. The other soldier, Edward Bates, immediately fled to camp. After an examination before Judge Berry, Jackson was discharged, fully exonerated - R. R. Reveille
-Daily Union Vedette, August 15, 1867
Not everyone was happy when the camp was abandoned.
REMOVAL of CAMP STORES.--Frank Drake of Susanville has contracted with Government to remove the stores from Camp McGarry to Camp C. F. Smith. This will be effected in about one month, when Camp McGarry will be abandoned. In this connection the Sage Brush remarks : " It is quite possible that Government has greater need of troops elsewhere than in this section of country, but the border settlers, all the way from Pyramid Reservation north to Camp Bidwell, will then be left without protection, save that which they are able to do with their own hands. It seems to us that the Commander of this Department cannot fail to see the necessity of a permanent military post somewhere in this section of country. One company of United States Cavalry will render the lives and property of the border settlers comparatively secure, while in their absence they are daily at the mercy of the savages.
-San Francisco Daily Chronicle, December 26, 1868
Where was Camp McGarry anyway? The USGS map shows the camp at the coordinates listed above. However, The Nevada Historical Marker No. 162 which is located here says "CAMP MCGARRY - Here on the old Applegate Trail was an army fort manned from 1865 to 1868."
So who is right, and who is wrong?
Actually, both are correct.
An unusual feature there was the use of underground passages connecting the barn, mess hall, and barracks . Another unusual trait, it had a summer and winter location. The harsh winter conditions at Summit Lake forced the camp to move to what become known as Soldier Meadows, just north of the Black Rock Desert. Remnants exist at both locations. However, Summit Lake site is not accessible to the public it being a part of the Summit Lake Indian Reservation. The southern encampment is now the headquarters of the Soldier Meadows Guest Ranch.
-https://tipurdy.org/camp-mcgarry-nevada/