Caspar W. Collins

Caspar Weaver Collins (September 30, 1844 – July 26, 1865) was an American Union Army officer who served in the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry in the American west. He is the namesake for Fort Caspar (historically known as Fort Casper), from which Casper, Wyoming derives its name. He was the son of William O. Collins, a Colonel who had command of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Caspar Collins was killed in the Battle of Platte Bridge on July 26, 1865.

Early life Caspar Collins was born in the family home in Hillsboro, Ohio on September 30, 1844 to William and Catherine Collins. He had two sisters, Josephine and Mary.

Artwork General layout of Platte Bridge Station drawn by Caspar Collins (circa 1864).Caspar Collins' mother Catherine taught him how to draw and sketch. Throughout his travels in the West he would send letters to friends and family with depictions of the sights and people he met. He also completed images and floorplans of several of the frontier forts. His sketches were used to reconstruct the military post which would become the Fort Caspar Museum.

Battle of Platte Bridge On July 26, 1865, Lieutenant Collins took command of a small detachment from Platte Bridge Station in an attempt to reach Army supply wagons returning from Sweetwater Station near Independence Rock. Once across the bridge the unit was ambushed by members of the Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Collins and four of the soldiers with him were killed in the battle. His body was later found and taken back to Hillsboro, Ohio for burial. This photograph was put through age progression techniques to create an image of what he might have looked like at the time of his death.