During the War of 1812, this location commanded a strong view of the Mississippi River and became the site of strategically important forts. The region's first fort, Fort Johnson, was built just south of here in 1812 by Major Zachary Taylor while the United States was at war with Great Britain, but it was abandoned after one year. In 1814, Zachary Taylor, now a General, returned and built Fort Edwards, which protected traffic on the Mississippi River and controlled American Indians allied with the British. Troops remained stationed at Fort Edwards until 1824. Warsaw traced its roots to Fort Johnson and Fort Edwards, which protected settlers, and after 1824 Fort Edwards served as a trading post for the growing population. In 1833, Major John Wilcox, who had formerly been stationed at Fort Edwards, laid out and founded Warsaw.