Texas Forts of the Old West

Texas Forts of the Old West - Page 5

Fort Esperanza (1861-1865) - Also known as Fort DeBray, in in honor of Colonel Xavier Blanchard DeBray, commander of the Sub-Military District of Houston, this earthwork fort was located on the eastern shore of Matagorda Island. Built to guard Cavallo Pass, at the entry to Matagorda Bay, building began in December, 1861. Fort Esperanza, was also to guard Fort Washington, an 1842 small fort put up near the lighthouse on the extreme southeast corner of Matagorda Island. Esperanza was armed with nine guns including eight twenty-four-pounders and one 128-pounder, and was out of range of any weapons upon large federal vessels in the Gulf. In the end; however, that didn't stop the Federal forces from invading the pass on October, 1862. the Overmanned and over-gunned, the Confederates fled to Indianola. They returned once the federals had retreated. Union forces again invaded the next year, in November, and took over the fort, which they used as their base of operations for for the next several months. In the Spring, they were withdrawn from Matagorda Bay to participate in other campaigns.

Colonel Xavier Blanchard DeBray

The post was reoccupied in June by the Confederates who then held it until the end of the war. In 1868, the eastern walls of the fortress were destroyed by a storm and a decade later, the rest had eroded away. today, the only thing that can be seen of the location are a few outlying emplacements and rifle pits.

Fort Ewell (1852-1854) - Built on the south bank of the Nueces River on the crossing of the road from San Antonio to Laredo, Fort Ewell was established in May, 1852. It was named for Captain Richard S. Ewell, a veteran of the Mexican War. The post was commanded by Captain John Smith Simonson and garrisoned by three companies of the Mounted Riflemen. Almost immediately, reports were made that the fort was located in a poor location, being subject to flooding from the Nueces River, with little timber for construction, and poor grazing for the livestock. The few buildings that were built of adobe lacked support and attempts at gardening were unsuccessful due to lack of rainfall. Before long, most of the soldiers were often reported as sick, with scurvy being a common occurrence. During this time, numerous troops deserted the fort, and by October, 1854, it was closed. A small settlement that had grown up around the fort, called Guajoco, continued to survive for a number of years. When La Salle County was organized in 1880, Guajoco was its chief settlement. Near this site stood the first court house, a wooden building, which was later moved to La Mota Ranch. However, by 1886, its post office was closed and its residents moved on to other localities.

Fort Fisher (1837) - The fort was established on the west bank of the Brazos River in present-day Waco, Texas in February, 1837 by Captain Thomas H. Barron'scompany of Texas Rangers. Named for Secretary of War, William S. Fisher, the barracks were little more than timber shacks. It didn't take the Rangers long, however, to determine that the fort was to remote and it was abandoned the same year. Today, the post has been reconstructed and serves as a museum, as well as headquarters for a company of Texas Rangers. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is located nearby.

Fort Gates (1849-1852) - Originally called Camp Gates, the post was established by Captain William R. Montgomery on October 26, 1849, as a stockaded United States cantonment on the north bank of the Leon River above Coryell Creek, about five miles east of the site of present-day Gatesville. It was named for Brevet Major Collinson Reed Gates, who won distinction in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Built to protect the settlers from Indian attacks, the post would contain 18 buildings, including four officers' quarters, barracks, laundries, storehouses, a guardhouse, baker, blacksmith shop, and more. By 1850, the soldiers and officers numbered about 100 men. By the following year, it had grown to more than 300. In March, 1852, the Indian threat had been removed and Fort Gates was the first of the line of posts to be evacuated. Within a few years, the buildings deteriorated and there is nothing left of the fort today.

Texas soldiers.

Fort Graham (1849-1853) - The post was established in March, 1849 by Major Ripley A. Arnold and the 2nd U.S. Dragoons. It was named after either James D. Graham of the Corps of Topographical Engineers or Lieutenant Colonel William M. Graham who was killed in the Mexican War. Located near the eastern bank of the Brazos River at Little Bear Creek fourteen miles west of the present-day Hillsboro, the fort was one of eight established after the Mexican War to establish Federal authority in the new territory. The soldiers built a number of log and clapboard structures including a commissary, officers' quarters, and a stable. Civilians were hired to build a hospital, a carpenter and wheelwright shop, a blacksmith shop, three corncribs, a wagon and mule yard, and a quartermaster's storehouse.

The troops were tasked with escorting supply trains and travelers and to protect the civilians from hostile Indians. Because of its location on the upper frontier, close to the camps and villages of several Indian bands, it quickly became important as a frontier "listening post," reporting on Indian activities and serving as headquarters for several Indian agents.

By 1851, more buildings were added to the fort including two sets of quarters, a log house for the commanding officer, a second stable, a guardhouse, a bakery, and a powder magazine. However, just two years later, as the frontier moved further west, the location ceased to be strategic. The post was closed in November, 1853.

In 1936, the state bought the site and reconstructed the barracks. However, when Lake Whitney was built in the 1970s, the site was flooded. It was rebuilt once again on higher ground and now serves as a museum, located in Old Fort Park about seven miles northwest of Whitney, Texas.

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