Fort Reynolds was a United States Army post near Avondale, Colorado during the Indian Wars and the Civil War.[1][2][3] The site is about 20 miles (32 km) east of Pueblo, Colorado.[2]
Construction began in 1867 on the 23 square mile fort, which was named for John F. Reynolds. He attended West Point and was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.[2] Facilities included barracks, a mess hall, hospital, guardhouse, store-house, laundry, a corral, supply depot, and parade grounds.[2][4] Fort Lyon, which lies 60 miles (97 km) east of Fort Reynolds was closer to the skirmishes with Native Americans, so Fort Reynolds became a supply post, staffed with about 100 soldiers.[2] In January 1868, soldiers were called from Fort Lyon and Fort Reynolds to manage citizen unrest in Trinidad, Colorado that began with a drunken brawl. That was the extent of the action seen by the Fort Reynolds post. It closed in 1872.[2]
In the 1930s, the site had remnants of camp life, including cooking utensils, weapons, buttons, and other items.[1] A stone marker is located on US-50 at mile marker 333, about one mile east of Avondale.[2]