Camp Cady

Camp Cady was a former United States Army post located in the Mojave Desert of California, situated along the Mojave River. It was established in 1860 to protect travelers on the Mojave Road from attacks by Native Americans, primarily the Mojave people, although its purpose also extended to maintaining general order and security in the region.

The camp served as a vital link in the chain of military outposts designed to secure transportation routes across the American Southwest. Its location near reliable water sources along the Mojave River was strategically important for both military personnel and civilian travelers.

Camp Cady was initially garrisoned by detachments of the U.S. Army, and later by California Volunteer units during the American Civil War. These units patrolled the surrounding area, escorted wagon trains, and engaged in skirmishes with Native American raiding parties.

The post was abandoned in 1861, then reoccupied and further developed. Camp Cady reached its peak activity during the 1860s and 1870s. After the threat from Native American attacks diminished, the post was finally abandoned permanently in 1871.

Today, little remains of Camp Cady. The site is located on private land, and remnants of the adobe structures can still be found, though heavily weathered and eroded. The location serves as a reminder of the military presence that shaped the history of the Mojave Desert and the efforts to secure westward expansion in the United States.