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Caspar Collins was a 20-year-old U.S. Army second lieutenant killed in 1865. The fort where he died, the city of Casper and Casper Mountain were named in his honor — though unfortunately no one got the spelling right.

On the morning of July 26, Collins led 25 soldiers out of Platte Bridge Station to protect an incoming supply wagon train from American Indians in the area. The soldiers were still in sight of the fort when they were ambushed by overwhelming numbers of Cheyenne, Lakota and Arapaho.

Collins was among the 20 soldiers killed in the attack, known as the Battle of Platte Bridge.

Background

Collins traveled in the spring of 1862 to the Western frontier with his father, William Collins, a lawyer, Ohio senator and commander of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Young Collins enlisted in the 11th Ohio the following summer. He was stationed at Sweetwater Station, and was just passing through Platte Bridge Station at the time of his death.

Some say he was still stung by a general's words and determined to prove his bravery when he agreed to lead the detachment of the 11th Kansas Cavalry on the doomed mission.