Fort Belmont was manned by local militia under the command of Capt.
A Federal agency for the Osage and Creek Indians was located at Fort Belmont until 1864, possibly until October.
In 1861 Creek Indian leader Opothleyahola led around 10,000 followers to Kansas to escape the pursuit of Confederates in present-day Oklahoma.
Little protection was offered to them at Fort Row in Wilson County, so the survivors were moved to Fort Belmont where more than 240 refugees died during the winter of 1861/62 when the Union army was unable to provide sufficient food and shelter; their unmarked graves, including those of Opotheleyahola and his daughter, are nearby.
Thomas Carney relieved the militia from duty and Fort Belmont was permanently closed.