Central Texas

Last Update: 10/JULY/2006

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - Š2006 American Forts Network

Fort Parker (State Historical Park)
(1834 - 1836), near Groesbeck
A settlers' stockaded blockhouse also known as John Parker's Fort. Attacked by the Comanche in 1836, with several settlers taken captive, including Cynthia Ann Parker, who later became the mother of noted Comanche leader Quannah Parker. Reconstructed in 1936, and again in 1967, located three miles north of town, two miles south of the Navasota River.

Fort Fisher
(1837), Waco
A temporary Texas Army (Ranger) post on the banks of the Brazos River, at a former Waco Indian village site. Reconstructed in 1968, including the Colonel Homer Garrison Museum. Located nearby is the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. The town was first settled by whites in 1849.

Camp MacArthur
(1917 - 1919), Waco
A Federalized National Guard mobilization center and training camp for the 32nd Division, later becoming an infantry replacement center and demobilization center. After it closed, the lumber was sent to the border stations. A marker is located in a northwest neighborhood.

Camp Bosque
(1861), near Waco
A CSA "camp of instruction" for area recruits. Site located seven miles from town on the Bosque River.

Fort Milam (1)
(1834 - 1837 ?), near Marlin
A Texas Ranger post located near the Falls of the Brazos River, four miles southwest of town. Originally called Fort Sarahville de Viesca after the settlement. The fort was renamed in December 1835.

Located at the Falls in 1839 was the temporary Texas Ranger post Fort Burleson, also known as Fort Milam (2).

Camp Chambers (2)
(1840 - 1841), near Marlin
A temporary Texas Army encampment on the east-side of the Brazos River west of town.

Fort Gates
(1849 - 1852), Fort Gates
A Federal post built for defense against Indians, it was a stockaded fort that also served as the county seat in 1854. Originally named Camp on Leon River. The single-story barracks was octagonal-shaped with a fireplace in each side.
(NOTE: Fort Hood was established in 1942 just west of Killeen.)

Little River Fort
(1836 - 1840's), Little River
A Texas Ranger stockaded log blockhouse built for protection from Indians, located on the Leon River about one mile above the Lampasas River. Officially named Fort Smith (1) until 1837, but it was more commonly known after the settlement. The Rangers withdrew from the fort in 1837 but settlers, hunters, and adventurers continued to use it. Sometime after 1837 (probably 1841) it was named Fort Griffin (1) after Moses Griffin, a settler who maintained the post for several years. All structures were later removed in the mid to late 1840's.

Bryant Station
(1837 - 1840's), Buckholts
A trading post established as a buffer between the Indians to the west and the American settlers to the east. Only a cemetery remains.

Presidio de San Xavier de Gigedo
(1751 - 1756), near Rockdale
Also known as Presidio de San Francisco Xavier. Located south of the San Gabriel (San Xavier) River, built to protect the three Spanish missions established in the vicinity in 1747. Abandoned in 1756 for San Sabá.

Fort Sullivan
(1835), Port Sullivan
A fortified trading post built by Augustus Sullivan, located one and one-half miles east of town on the Brazos River.

Fort Tenoxtitlán
(1830 - 1860), near Cooks Point
Built by Mexico on the Brazos River at the crossing of the San Antonio - Nacogdoches Road, to thwart American settlement and trade. Abandoned by Mexican troops in 1832, but the settlers continued to use it intermittently for raids against Indians. The fort no longer exists. The history is at the Burleson County Historical Museum in Caldwell.

Fort Oldham
(1836), Cooks Point
A settlers' fort built as protection from Indians.

Camp Waul
(1862), near Brenham
A CSA training camp located seven miles from town.

Camp Brenham
(1860's), near Brenham
A CSA encampment located three miles southeast of town. Also known as Camp Randle and Woodward's Spring Camp.

Camp Berlin
(1861), near Brenham
A CSA training camp for local German settlers. Site located about ten miles from town.

Col. John Henry Moore's Fort
(1828), Round Top
A settlers' blockhouse. Originally built in La Grange but it was moved here for restoration.

Fort Woods
(1828 - 1842), West Point
A fortified house used by settlers for protection against Indians.

Camp Burleson
(1839), near Bastrop
A Texas Army post located a few miles downstream of town.

Camp Cazneau
(1840), near Pilot Knob
A temporary Texas Army post on Onion Creek.

Post of Austin
(1848 - 1852, 1865 - 1875), Austin
Austin Arsenal (1845) was first located here (on West Ave between 8th and 9th Streets). A second arsenal was built in the 1860's in an already existing 1850's era stone building (still standing) on 19th Street near Congress Ave. The Federal infantry post, also called Camp Austin (1), was established in 1848 as a 236-foot square stockade. Regarrisoned by Union cavalry after the Civil War, the post moved one mile west in 1866 and was renamed Camp Sanders. Fort Austin was the fortified capitol building (1840 - 1841) when Texas Army troops guarded against vandalism.

Fort Colorado
(1836 - 1838), near Austin
A Texas Ranger post located on Walnut Creek seven miles east of downtown. Also called Fort Coleman. Consisted of several log cabins enclosed by a stockade with two blockhouses in opposite corners.

Camp Mabry (State Military Reservation)
(1890 - present), Austin
Originally a TX National Guard summer training camp, still used today by the Army Reserve and TX National Guard. Used as a muster site for state troops during the Spanish-American War (1898). Federalized in 1917 and 1941 for Army training and as a supply center.

Austin Army Ground School
(1917 - 1919), Austin
An Army Ground School on the University of Texas campus.

Kenney's Fort
(1839 - 1842), Round Rock
A settlers' fortified home built for protection against Indians.

Black's Fort ?
(1851 - 1868), Bertram
A settlers' fort built as protection against Indians. May have been used by CSA units during the Civil War.

Fort Croghan
(1849 - 1853), Burnet
A Federal Dragoon post originally called Post on Hamilton Creek. Located on the north bank of Hamilton Creek, it was moved three and one-half miles upstream in 1849 and renamed Camp Croghan, but soon renamed again to Camp Hamilton. Given its current name in 1850. A restoration of several original log buildings and the post's parade ground are in a city park.

John Duncan's Fort ?
(1858 - 1865), Richland Springs
A settlers' fort built for protection against Indians.

Camp McMillan
(1862 - 1864), San Saba County
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post located at the mouth of Richland Creek.

Camp San Sabá
(1861 - 1864, 1868), Camp San Sabá
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post. Briefly occupied by Federal troops in 1868 before the re-establishment of Fort McKavett.
(thanks to Marshall Sitrin for additional info)

Camp Llano
(1862 - 1864), Mason County
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post located near the convergence of Rock Creek at the Llano River.

Fort Mason
(1851 - 1869, intermittent), near Mason
A Federal Dragoon post located on the west bank of Comanche Creek. It was the headquarters of the 2nd Cavalry, under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee. It was his last command in the Federal Army before the Civil War. The fort was abandoned from 1861 to 1866. Now in ruins, but the Officers' quarters has been reconstructed on Post Hill. Several homes in town were built with the stone from the fort. The museum in town on Moody Street was once a schoolhouse that was built from the fort's materials.

Fort Martin Scott
(1848 - 1853, 1861 - 1866), Fredericksburg PHOTO LINK
A Federal infantry post located on Baron's Creek two miles south of town. The German settlers in the area had already signed a treaty of friendship with the Comanches in 1847, therefore no hostile action ever occurred here. Between 1853 and 1861 it served mainly as a forage depot for other nearby posts. Occupied by Confederates 1861 - 1865. Re-occupied by Union troops briefly in 1866 before it was abandoned. The restored guardhouse is the only original building remaining. Other structures are planned for restoration. Another website

Camp Davis
(1862 - 1864), near Fredericksburg
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post located about five miles from the convergence of White Oak Creek at the Pedernales River.

Blanco Fort Houses
(1853), Blanco
Several fortified settler houses were built to protect against Indians, but none still exist.

Camp Verde
(1856 - 1869), Camp Verde
One of the locations for the U.S. Army's "Camel Corps." Abandoned by Federal troops in 1861. The CSA Frontier Regiment established a new site in 1862 about three miles from the original fort. The Confederates withdrew in 1864. The post was re-occupied by Federal troops in 1866. Only one building remains and is now part of Nowland Ranch. It is not open to the public. A restored barracks is located in town.

Camp Ives
(1859 - 1861), near Camp Verde
A Federal cavalry outpost of Camp Verde, located on Turtle Creek four miles north of Camp Verde. Abandoned by the Federals in 1861, and then used by the Confederates intermittently during the Civil War.

Camp Prisontown
(1862 - 1864), near Camp Verde
A CSA stockaded POW camp located on a bluff overlooking Verde Creek, two miles downriver from Camp Verde.

Camp Bandera
(1860's), near Bandera
A CSA outpost located on the Medina River.

Camp Montel
(1862 - 1864), Bandera County
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post on Seco Creek.

Camp Clark (2)
(1861 - 1862), San Marcos
A CSA "camp of instruction" located on the south bank of the San Marcos River.

Camp Prairie Lea
(1861), Prairie Lea
A CSA "camp of instruction" for recruits.

New Braunfels Forts
(1845), New Braunfels
German settlers built two log blockhouses, Zinkenburg (aka Nicolaus Zink's Fort) at Zink Street and Castell Ave., and Sophienburg (aka Princess Sophia's Fort) at Academy and Hill Streets, as defense against Indian attacks. Sophia's Fort replaced Zink's Fort but was never completely finished, and it was destroyed by a storm in 1886. The Sophienburg Museum is on the site of Sophia's Fort. Admission fee.

Gonzales Fort
(1827 - unknown), Gonzales
A settlers' fort that provided protection against Indians. A reconstructed log palisade is across from Jail (Market) Plaza, at the corner of Water and St. Louis Streets. The town was first settled in 1825.

Fort Waul
(1863 - 1865), Gonzales
Built to defend inland areas of the state from Union gunboats on the Guadalupe River. Records do not indicate whether or not the fort was ever completely finished, however earthworks remain near US 90A and US 183.

El Fortin Santa Cruz
(1772 - unknown), Karnes County
A Spanish 20-man stockaded fort located on Cibolo Creek about halfway between San Antonio and Goliad. Possibly located at Panna Maria.

Presidio de San Antonio de Béjar (Bexar)
and The Alamo
(1718 - 1885 ?), San Antonio
Built to protect Mission de San Antonio de Valero (originally San Antonio de Padua in 1716) from Indians. In 1722 it was moved two miles downstream directly across from the mission. The mission was secularized in 1793 and later garrisoned by Spanish / Mexican troops in addition to the Presidio. The troops came from the pueblo of San José y Santiago del Alamo in Coahuila, Mexico. What became "The Alamo" (1755) was the former chapel of the mission. By the 1830's the entire former mission complex was referred to as such. The Presidio and the Alamo were captured by Texan forces in 1835, but in 1836 the Mexican Army (5000 troops), now occupying the Presidio, defeated and killed all 189 Texan defenders holed up in the Alamo during a 13-day battle (with 1500 Mexican deaths). The city returned to Texan control after the Battle of San Jacinto. (San Antonio 1836 website). The complex was named Fort San Antonio in 1846 and was still in use during the 1850's. It served mainly as a supply depot until Fort Sam Houston was established in 1876.
Another website (a) | Another website (b) | Another website (c)

Also in San Antonio is Military Plaza (Plaza de las Armas). It once had a Spanish military barracks, which was also used by American troops in 1846. Only the Governor's Palace still survives from the colonial period. The site of Camp Crockett (1846) is also in San Antonio. See also Missions of San Antonio

Camp Edward Clark
(1861), San Antonio
A temporary CSA encampment located on the Alamo Plaza.

Mission de San Francisco de la Espada
(1731 - unknown), San Antonio
Ruins of a fortified Spanish mission compound located on Espada Road at the southern limit of the city on the San Antonio River. The restored church is still used today.
Other Spanish missions in the area are Nuestra Seńora de la Purisima Concepcion (1731) at 807 Mission Road; San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (1720) at 6539 San Jose Drive at Mission Road; and San Juan Capistrano (1731) on Graf Road off of Mission Road. See also Missions of San Antonio.

San Antonio Arsenal
(1858 - 1970's), San Antonio
A Federal arsenal that originally provided arms and ammunition to troop units guarding the outlying settlements. Later became a unit of the San Antonio Ordnance Depot. Sold in the late 1970's, site now retail stores.

Powder House Hill Fort
(1863), San Antonio
A CSA strong earthwork around the Arsenal.

Camp Adams
(1846, 1860's), San Antonio
Originally established by William Prescott and the TX Volunteers (Adams Rifles). Located on Salado Creek about five miles from downtown. This site was used by both sides during the Civil War.

Fort Sam Houston (4) (U.S. Army Reservation)
(1876 - present), San Antonio
This is the Army garrison post that moved from the environs of the Alamo and Military Plaza. Located on Government Hill and originally called San Antonio Quartermaster Depot. Permanent quarters were built beginning in 1891. In 1885 it became known as Post of San Antonio after the construction of several barracks and Officers' quarters to accommodate twelve cavalry companies. Renamed in 1890. Later became the headquarters post of the U.S. Fourth Army. Camp Wilson (2) (1916 - 1917) was established as a camp of instruction in the northern area of the post. The proposed name Camp Cecil Lyon was overruled by the War Department. Camp Wise (1917 - 1919) was an Army Balloon School. Camp Cushing was established on post during WWII. Located on the main post is the Fort Sam Houston Museum and the Fort Sam Houston Medical Museum. Another website.

Camp Travis (1917 - 1922) was established to the northeast of the main post, also absorbing Camp Wilson (2), as a National Army cantonment and training area for the 90th Division, and was later a demobilization center. All buildings were later removed, and the land was absorbed into the main reservation. A marker to Camp Travis is on site.

Camp Wood (2)
(Riverside Park)
(1898), San Antonio
A Spanish-American War assembly area for Army volunteer troops (the Rough Riders), located at Riverside Park (100 McDonald Street) adjacent to the state fairgrounds. The actual campsite was on the present-day golf course. The parade ground was near San Jose Mission. After one month, the troops departed for Tampa, FL.

Another camp nearby (or possibly the same site ?) was Camp Mosby (1898).

Camp Bullis (State Military Reservation)
(1917 - present), near Leon Springs
Originally named Leon Springs Military Reservation, it was a target range and maneuver ground for the Regular Army and Texas National Guard. It became a subpost of Fort Sam Houston in 1922. Still in use by the state guard, Army Reserve, and Federal and civil law enforcement personnel.

Nearby was Camp Samuel F.B. Morse (1917 - 1918), an Army Signal Corps training camp. Also nearby was Camp Stanley (1917 - present ?), originally an infantry training camp, briefly named Camp Funston before it was renamed to avoid confusion with Camp Funston in Kansas. Consolidated with the San Antonio Depot in 1947 to become an ammunition storage depot.

Fort Lincoln
(1849 - 1852), near D'Hanis
A Federal infantry post located on the west bank of the Rio Seco, two miles northwest of town. Abandoned when the frontier moved further west. Partially reconstructed, mostly ruins.

Camp Sabinal
(1856, 1860's), Sabinal
A temporary Federal cavalry post near the Sabinal River. Texas Rangers used it during the Civil War.

Camp Dix
(1862 - 1864), near Knippa
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post at Black Waterhole on the Frio River. Provided protection from Indians and bandits.

Fort Inge
(1849 - 1869), near Uvalde
A Federal infantry post located two miles south of town on the east bank of the Leona River. Provided border protection from Indians and Mexican bandits. Intermittently garrisoned between 1855 and 1861. Federal troops withdrew in 1861, and re-occupied it from 1866 to 1869. Texas Rangers used the post during the Civil War. Also called Camp Leona. PHOTO LINK

Camp Nueces (3)
(1862 - 1864), near Uvalde
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post at the crossing of the Nueces River.

Camp Wood (1)
(1857 - 1867 ?), Camp Wood
A Federal cavalry post established on the site of the old Spanish Mission de San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz (1762). Abandoned with the outbreak of the Civil War. Texas Rangers used it during the war until a few years after the war. Military Mountain, northwest of town, was so named for the lookouts posted there.

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NOTE: The use of the Texas flag for settler forts before 1836 indicates those settlers of American origin, even though Texas did not exist as a seperate nation until 1836.

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