Mormon Fort served as military base in 1860s

Soldiers of the Old Fort reenact infantrys presence

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If positioned just right on an autumn's morning -- inside the stockade's reconstructed 14-foot-high north wall next to the flagpole where a uniquely designed United States bearing the Mormon star in the middle flutters in the breeze -- you can almost hear the nearby horses snorting and the groggy voices of the men in Company D awakening to another cool day, 138 years ago, at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park.

Company D and its detachment of 10 men were sent from Camp Eldorado along the always hot Colorado River, which is now under Lake Mohave, to ostensibly protect rancher and merchant Octavius Gass from outside renegades. However, according to historical records, the men's "assignment" actually treated them to some rest and relaxation in the more hospitable climate found at the fort amid the meadows fed by the cool waters of the Las Vegas Creek.

"Gass had a lot of influence with the Arizona legislature before the area was transferred to Lincoln County," local historian Jim Hinds said. "Back in those days, what was then Las Vegas was actually part of Paiute County, Arizona."

The fort's occupation by troops of Company D and other Army visitations at the birthplace of Las Vegas, which was created by Mormon missionaries in 1855 but abandoned two years later, are part of the brief military history associated with the 14-year-old Nevada park that is the only such state-run facility located in the downtown urban core of a Silver State city or town.

Today, a small group of die-hard enthusiasts called Soldiers of the Old Fort assemble at the 150-year-old outpost on the third Saturday of each month, except the hot months of July and August, to re-enact various aspects of the U.S. Infantry's presence there.

"We represent the soldiers that were a detachment at the fort in 1867 and 1868," said Hinds, who has played one of the make-believe soldiers for 25 years. "We can also represent the other soldiers that visited or came through the area mostly right after the Civil War. What we want to do is tell about life in the early army out here so each program focuses on some aspect of that life."

Hinds, 67, has spent many years with local preservation groups while serving as a military historian for Nellis Air Force Base. As such, his priority always has been and continues to be the old fort.

"Since this was an early military base, I want to make sure the role of the military people at the fort are not forgotten," he said. In addition, Hinds has been associated with the Preservation Association of Clark County for dozens of years.

"Our group dates back to the early '80s, but a lot of the original soldiers are gone. In fact, I'm the last one," he said.

Over the years, the Soldiers of the Old Fort branched out and used to do encampments near Red Rock Canyon.

"We were formerly called the Southern Nevada Civil War Historical Society and I became closely associated with their efforts," Hinds explained. "We used to do programs at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park twice a year. We'd alternate roles by playing the Confederate Army one time and then the Union Army. We'd have all the gear, including uniforms, tents and muzzle-loaders. We stopped going out to Spring Mountain years ago, but we're hoping to start that up again."

Hinds admits the group has dwindled in recent years, but attempts are under way to increase the ranks by recruiting more people.

One way that has helped to keep the group together and provide an incentive to boot was the city of Las Vegas' $10,000 bicentennial grant that was used to re-outfit 10 soldiers.

Putting on a woolen uniform, slipping on the boots, strapping on the leather and toting a musket doesn't come cheap.

"We found a number of people who said they wanted to join, but when they asked how much it would cost for the costume and all the equipment and we told them $1,000, they'd almost faint," Hinds said. "The musket alone is about $400 to $500 each."

Despite their number, the soldiers plug on, performing for visitors and talking about military life back then at the fort.

"Sometimes we get groups of 30 or 40 people and talk about different things," he said of the program that starts at 9 a.m. and goes to 2 p.m. "When nobody's there, we'll drill, march around, do some other things and then go home." Hinds and the troops got a boost last month when they were on parade for thousands to see.

According to the historian, some 80,000 Las Vegas residents and visitors got a glimpse of Hinds and his infantrymen in the Helldorado Parade in mid-May, but for those that didn't there's another chance to see them in their uniforms toting their muskets Saturday at the grand opening of the park's visitor center, beginning at 9 a.m.