On the South Loup River southwest of here stood the U.S. Army’s Post South Loup Fork, a small outpost of Fort Kearney established in May 1865 by Company “E” of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry under Capt. James B. David. It consisted of a log barracks and stable enclosed by a sod wall and monitored the movements of Indians in the Loup River valleys. Sometimes called Post Connor in honor of Gen. Patrick Connor, it was garrisoned by the Iowa Cavalry until July 1865, when Company “E” of the First Nebraska Cavalry replaced them, and it was abandoned in August. In 1871 pioneer settlers from Gibbon used the log buildings for firewood. Legend later called it Fort Desolation because it was about thirty miles from any settlement, and Fort Banishment because soldiers were said to be sent there as punishment for stealing commissary whisky, though military records do not confirm this.