05/10/2023
They served at Fort Towson. . .
Born on October 6, 1809, in New York, James H. Taylor graduated on July 1, 1830 from West Point and received the rank of a brevet second lieutenant. During December of 1833 he was listed on the Fort Towson Post Returns as being on duty at West Point. Taylor did not appear at the fort before being reassigned that May to Fort Gibson. But he found himself at Fort Towson during September of 1834. Though that October he was briefly stationed farther west at Camp Wash*ta, Taylor was at Fort Towson until late 1835. It was at this time tragedy struck. On October 17, 1835, Taylor drowned while attempting to cross the Cossatot River. The Fort Towson commander wrote to the young man’s father, “Lieut. Taylor was a very excellent officer, and most highly esteemed by all those who have been associated with him.”
