This small stone fort was established in January 1864 by a group of
volunteers from New Mexico to protect their crops from Indian raids. A
detail of Arizona Volunteers manned the site (then called Camp Lincoln),
and it officially became a military post a year later. Camp Lincoln was
established in 1864, but was abandoned when malaria broke out there. It
was located on the east bank of the Verde River, one mile north of the
Verde and Beaver Creek Junction in Yavapai County. On August 3, 1866 the
soldiers struck because of a lack of supplies and pay, most men soon deserted
and only five men remained at the post. A Company of US Army Regulars arrived
a few months later. Camp was actively employed in offensive operations
against the Apaches. The Camp was renamed Camp Verde (from Camp Lincoln)
on November 23, 1868. The post was moved in 1871 to higher ground a mile
south to improve the poor condition of the camp, and a Yavapai Reservation
was created to the North. Post was renamed Fort Verde on April 5, 1879.
The post was abandoned April 10, 1890. The fort headquarters is now a museum.
The town of Camp Verde is 49 miles south of Flagstaff on Interstate 17
then two miles east on State 79.
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you would like to know more about the author of this site, Jeffrey Scott,
feel free to visit his homepage. In
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feel free to e-mail Jeffrey
