1842

From everything I've read and know about the fort, it was designed as a military outpost for that region of America.

The fort was active from 1842-1873, most of the time the soldiers and other personnel were drilling and doing other training activities, they didn't see much action in combat. 

It was valuable to the military and the country and is now listed as a National Historic Site with the National Park Service.

There were 2 main units of personnel at Fort Scott, one being of course the dragoon regiment, now called the Calvary, the other being an infantry regiment.

After the Civil War, the fort was auctioned off piece by piece and sold to the citizens of the town that was built around the fort.  The military maintained a presence in the town until 1873 when the military left.

One of the first national cemetaries in America was commissioned in Fort Scott by President Abraham Lincoln.