[1] He recounts meeting a large population of natives who referred to themselves as the Pipa Aha Macav, meaning "People by the River".

The post was renamed Fort Mohave on April 28, 1859 by its first garrison commander Captain Lewis A. Armistead.

On May 19, 1863, the post was rebuilt and re-garrisoned by companies B and I of the 4th California Infantry; they were assigned to protect the travelers along the Mohave and Prescott road.

These volunteer soldiers also took up prospecting and established mining claims in the area; they did not want to leave, and many returned after being mustered out after the end of the Civil War.

Fort Mohave was garrisoned again by regular United States Army troops until September 29, 1890, when the War Department transferred the land to the Office of Indian Affairs by order of President Benjamin Harrison.