Near New London in Ralls County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Fort Mason War of 1812 Monument
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Soldiers Serving at Fort Mason
Photographed by William E. Dexheimer, May 21, 2025
1. Fort Mason War of 1812 Monument side of marker
In March of 1812, Territorial Governor Benjamin Howard led a detachment of the first Regiment of U.S. Infantry and a Company of newly formed Rangers up the Mississippi River to establish a fort to aid in the defense of the Louisiana/Missouri Territory. Hostilities from Native American tribes in confederation with the British had increased, including the massacre of the ONeil family near Clarksville. In Howards words, the location of the fort attracted his attention, as a fine Military position, not merely as a convenient site, but as a commanding point in relation to the defense of our frontier. His stated object of the fort was, to afford, a place of deposit, for provisions; to command the pass of the Mississippi; and keep secure, the boats, necessary to carry the rangers across.
The fort was named in honor of Governor Howards wife Mary whose maiden name was Mason. Fort Mason was garrisoned by a subaltern of 20 soldiers of the First Regiment of Infantry under the command of 2nd Lieutenant John Campbell and was supported by the Company of U.S. Rangers commanded by Captain Nathan Boone.
Fort Mason was evacuated
this page online
No physical remains of the fort exist, however, based on recorded events, this monument marks its general location.
It is erected in honor of those individuals whose endurance, sacrifice, service, and bravery helped to protect the citizens of our then-young nation during the War of 1812.
First U.S. Regiment of Infantry
John Campbell, Lieutenant John A Shaw , Ensign James Glass, Corporal Henry Waggoner, Sergeant Robert Allison James Martin Peter Brandon Charles McGriffin Steven Manford William Ashby George Magnus Joseph Richards Robert Allison William Neal Henry Schults Edward Peeling John Porter William Smith James Carmickle William Richey John Summers Steven Dicks David Rood George Marks Caleb Foster John Williams Jesse Griffith Nathan Hawkins Samuel Writter David Clark Josiah Smalley John Matthews Peter Gaw Alexander Browne Richard Armstrong
Ranger company involved in the construction of Fort Mason
Nathan Boone, Captain Wm. T Lamme, 1 lieut. David McNair, 2 Lieut. David Barton, Ensign Zadock Woods, Sergeant Irvin S. Pitman Daniel Hays John Welden Richard Keer, Corporal John Davis David Baley Ebenezer Ayres Boon Hays Alexander Boldrige Charles Hanthorn Christopher Pitman John Boldrige Peter Harpole Isaac Robertson Wm. Bays Jesse Harrison Thomas Reynolds George Burnes Joseph Johnson Prospect Robbins Wm. Burnes Lewis Jones Moses Summers Alexander T Chambers John King Samuel Shaw Abraham Kanada John McNair Jesse Vanbiber James Kanada Alexander McClelland Isaac White John Colter Francis McDermed Jobe Williams Richard Downs Thomas McNair William Wells Ralph Flauherty Ezekiel McNair James Wood James Forman John McCoy Thomas Chambers Robert Green James McCoy John Gibson Joseph McConnel Robert Gray Joseph McCoy Park Hutchins Daniel McHugh Francis Howell Thomas Massie John Howell William McHan
Boones replacement Ranger Company enlisted on June 7, 1812
Nathan Boone, Captain Wm. T. Lamme, 1st Lieutenant David McNair, 2nd Lieutenant
Sergeants
J. W. Boone David Boling James Clark James Huff
Corporals
Lowry T. Hampton Evan LeMasters Moors Burbanks Enoch Carmack
Trumpeter
Thomas McNair
Privates
Nathan Barney Peter Holderman Peter Massey Peter Pugh John Barr William Hooper John McCoy John Ramsey Robert Brown John Huff Archibald McDonald Thomas Reynolds Morgan Bryan George H. Jackson William McHan Benona Sappington Dabney Burnett William Jameson David McHugh Hartley Sappington George Burns Lewis Jones Ezekiel McNair John Sappington William Burns William Keithley William Miller Samuel Shaw John Castleman William Landers Joseph Mitchell Ira Slaton Anderson Chase Benjamin LeMasters Elisha Moore Job Stark Jonathan Crow David LeMasters Joel Nolan Jonathan Stouchmen William Crow John Lewis Bryson OHara William Tomkins John Ewing Milton Lewis William Paris James Tygart William Ewing Israel Massey David Phillips Samuel Vanburkels Jesse Hetford Thomas Massey Thomas Piper Jesse Vanbibber William Wells Job Williams William Wolfe
Erected 2025
Photographed by William E. Dexheimer, March 23, 2025
2. soldiers serving at Fort Mason side of marker
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War of 1812. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1812.
Location. 39° 37.648′ N, 91° 14.677′ W. Memorial is near New London, Missouri, in Ralls County. It is on Riverview Drive north of Ash Street, on the left when traveling south. The monument stands approximately one mile south of Army Corps of Engineers Lock and Dam 22 on the Mississippi River. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 13970 Riverview Dr, New London MO 63459, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Missouri’s Mark Twain Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Cement Plant Workers (approx. 4.6 miles away); Ilasco Schools (approx. 4.6 miles away); Ilasco Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.6 miles away); "Ilasco" Walk of Memories (approx. 4.6 miles away); Ilasco Bridge (approx. 4.6 miles away); Monument to the Immigrants (approx. 4.6 miles away); Schools of Ilasco (approx. 4.6 miles away); Ilasco (approx. 4.6 miles away).
Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2026, by William E. Dexheimer of New London, Missouri. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 20, 2026, by William E. Dexheimer of New London, Missouri. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
