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Private Henry Bach LbNA #66523

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Feb 21, 2014
Location: 6 miles West of Larned on Hwy 156
City:Larned
County:Pawnee
State:Kansas
Boxes:1
Planted by:OldCoin
Found by: Not yet found!
Last found:N/A
Last edited:Nov 18, 2017
Fort Larned National Historic Site was established by Congress in 1966. It is the most complete original fort in the Midwest. US Army presence here lasted almost 20 years, 1859 - 1876. The fort is located 6 miles west of Larned on KS Hwy. 156.

To find this letterbox you will be following the footsteps of Private Henry Bach and his shocking journey to his death by way of a blizzard at Fort Larned. Clues about what his last hours could have been like will be discovered in the letterbox. The records show Private Henry Bach, Co. B 3rd US Inf., froze to death on November 29, 1867. Officially all that is said in the records is “Body found a mile southeast of the post on November 30, 1867.”

Starting from the Sentry Box located on the southeast corner of the fort, head to the Nature Trail. You will be walking east. The park boundary line and the letterbox are about 1-mile from the parade ground.

Follow the Nature Trail east until it turns to the left(north). Continue east off-trail. Keep tree line in view. You are headed to the park boundary line where there are huge cottonwood trees.

Look for 3 metal poles – each about 5 feet tall. When you have reached the poles you have reached the park boundary line.

From this location switch back north 45 steps to a large crowned Box Elder tree. Look for the box in or around the tree. It is a box used in the commissary for mustard! Inside the box you will find out what happened to Private Bach in his own words.

The park’s hours are 8:30 – 4:30. Admission is free.


Hike length: 1 mile