Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Gaston
(Imperial County)
Situated near present day Palo Verde on
the west bank of the Colorado River about 45 miles north of Fort
Yuma by land, Camp Gaston was established in 1859 by Captain
Henry S. Burton, 3rd Artillery, to serve as a temporary supply
post for the Hoffman Expedition in connection with the new establishment
of Fort Mojave, Arizona. Although it was abandoned as soom as
the stores were moved to the new Arizona post, it intermittently
served as an outpost of Fort Yuma and
was garrisoned from time to time by small detachments as late
as 1867. The camp was named in honor of 2nd Lieutenant William
Gaston, 1st Dragoons, who was killed in action against the Spokane
Indians on May 17, 1858. Fort Gaston in Humboldt County which
operated at the same time was also name for Lieutenant Gaston.