Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Lyon
(Fort Lyon)(Humboldt
County)
A short lived post established in March
1862 on the Bremer Ranch property on the right bank of the Mad
River, about 20 miles east Arcata. Its primary purpose was to
protect the Mad River and Redwood Creek from hostile Native Americans.
Established by Captain Charles Heffernan,
2nd California Volunteer Infantry, it was named in honor of Brigadier
General Nathaniel Lyon, who was killed on 10 August 1861 in the
Battle of Wilson's Creek, Missouri.
Although the post was never officially
designated a fort, it was referred to in orders issued by Colonel
Francis J. Lippitt, 2nd California Volunteer Infantry, and subsequent
official correspondence.