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Listen NowStation One — The Gate
You Are Here — Station One: The Gate
The Gate was the primary entrance into Fort Duffield. Every soldier, supply wagon, messenger, and officer passed through this point. The steep climb from West Point to the ridge was a defining hardship of daily life at the fort.
The Climb to the Fort
Historical accounts describe the ascent as steep, muddy, and exhausting. Wagons struggled, mules slipped, and men frequently stopped to rest. Civilians refused to haul goods without extra pay. The climb was a daily reminder of the fort’s isolation and strategic height.
Gate Security & Guard Duty
Because sheer cliffs protected most of Fort Duffield, the Gate was one of only two controlled entry points. Guards were posted day and night, challenging anyone approaching from below. This made the Gate a critical defensive and administrative location.
The Padlock Story
Officers at Muldraugh’s Hill became nervous about security and requested massive locks for the fort’s gates. Colonel Parkhurst, unimpressed with their anxiety, ordered the Quartermaster to send them two toy padlocks less than an inch in diameter.
“If the officers were delighted on receipt of the locks they did not laugh loud enough for us to hear them twenty‑four
miles away!”
— Bennet’s 9th Michigan Historical Sketch
The walkway leading to the historic gate of Fort Duffield.