North Central Texas

Last Update: 23/JANUARY/2011

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - Š2011 American Forts Network

Camp Rusk (1)
(1861), Ben Franklin
A CSA training camp located one mile west of town on the south bank of the North Sulphur River. Marker (1967) at site on Treadmill Lake.

Isaac Lyday's Fort
(1836 - 1843), near Pecan Gap
A settlers' stockaded fort built for protection from Indians. Located on the north bank of the North Sulphur River north of town at Lyday's Crossing, just east of Dial in Fannin County. Texas Rangers were posted here in 1838. Also known as Fort Lyday and Fort DeKalb.

Fort Inglish
(1837 - 1843 ?), Bonham
Replica of a stockaded settler blockhouse and three restored cabins. Served as a defense for settlers against Indians. Built by settler Bailey Inglish. Texas Rangers were posted here in 1838. The actual site is now the Bonham V.A. Center, north of East 9th Street and east of Lynn Street.

Abel Warren's Fort
(1836 - 1837, 1838 - 1843 ?), near Savoy
A civilian stockaded trading post on the Red River at Brushy Creek. Warren left for Arkansas in 1837, but the post was continued by area settlers. A new stockade was constructed in 1838. Texas Army troops were posted here at Camp Warren in 1839 - 1840.

During the Civil War the town, then known as Fort Warren, supplied Confederate Indian refugees and troops serving in Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Louisiana and Arkansas. The old town disappeared after 1876.

Camp Sherman (2)
(1861), Sherman
A temporary CSA cavalry encampment at the courthouse.

Col. Holland Coffee's Fort
(1837 - 1846), Preston
A fortified trading post built by Coffee and Silas Collville. Supplied nearby Texas Army posts and troop detachments operating in the general area. Known as Coffee's Station after 1839. Coffee died in 1846, and the post was then abandoned. Actual site is now under Lake Texoma. A marker is located at the Preston Bend Cemetery. Col. Coffee's original restored two-story log house "Glen Eden" still exists in town.

Fort Preston
(1840 - 1842 ?), Preston
A Texas Ranger post located near Coffee's Fort.

Preston Supply Depot
(1851 - 1853), Preston
A U.S. Army supply depot on the Red River. Site now under Lake Texoma.

Fort Johnston
(1840 - 1846), near Fink
A Texas Army post located opposite the mouth of the Washita River, in between Coffee's Fort and Basin Springs, just west of town. Monument (1936) at site. Also spelled Johnson in some historical sources.

Fort Fitzhugh
(1847 - 1850), near Gainesville
The first white settlement in Cooke County, located about three miles southeast of town. A stockaded set of blockhouses built by the Texas Rangers under William Fitzhugh. The settlement was still in use as a Texas Ranger post in 1860, later a CSA mustering post in 1861.

Fort Teodoro
(1750 - 1840), Spanish Fort
A fortified village built by the Taovaya Indians, with an oval stockade and dry moat, as a defense against other Plains tribes. Scene of the first severe defeat of Spanish troops by Indians in Texas in 1759. The Indian fort was later briefly occupied by the Spanish in 1762 when the Louisiana Territory was ceded by France. Spanish troops returned in 1778 after peace with the Caddos to retrieve some lost cannon. At that time this area was known as San Teodoro by the Spanish, when the fort was so named. The Taovaya Indians abandoned the site by 1840. The Indian ruins and trade artifacts were discovered in 1859 by white settlers who were ignorant of the actual history here, hence the name of the town.

Camp Red River
(1859), near Belcherville ?
A Federal encampment, probably located at or near Red River Station.

Post at Red River Station
(1862 - 1864), near Belcherville
A CSA Frontier Regiment post. Located on Salt Creek two miles south of the Red River. The settlement was first established in 1860.

Camp Jackson (2)
(1861), near Byars
A CSA (Texas Mounted Rifles) camp near the mouth of the Wichita River.

Fort Newport
(1860), Newport

Camp Wichita
(1868 - 1873, intermittent), Buffalo Springs
A Federal cavalry encampment and way station. Originally here was Camp Buffalo Springs (1867), which was abandoned due to water shortages. The troops then returned to Jacksboro to build Fort Richardson.

Camp Nowlin
(1859), near Archer City
A temporary Federal post on or near the Little Wichita River to provide escort for Indians to and from the Brazos Indian Agency.

Camp Cureton
(1862 - 1864), near Antelope
A CSA Frontier Regiment post. Located on the West Fork Trinity River west of town. A memorial (1963) was placed at the Archer County courthouse in Archer City.

Fort Richardson (State Historical Park)
(1865 - 1878), Jacksboro
A Federal cavalry post on Lost Creek, originally called Fort Jacksboro until 1867. Briefly abandoned in 1867 when the garrison was sent to Camp Buffalo Springs and Fort Belknap. The most northerly of all Federal forts built in the state after the Civil War to stop Indian raids. Used as an Indian school for a short time after it was abandoned. Maintained by the town until it became a state park in 1968. There are six original stone buildings, and a reconstructed (1936) Officers' quarters which now serves as the visitor center. The Texas National Guard now uses a portion of the original site.

Fort Belknap
(1851 - 1859, 1861, 1864 - 1867/1875), near Newcastle
Originally called Camp Belknap (1), located on the north bank of the Salt (Red) Fork Brazos River. The post was renamed and then moved two miles downriver in 1851, about three miles south of the present-day town. This was a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. Abandoned for Camp Cooper in early 1859 for lack of water. Located closer to town was Camp Van Camp (1) (summer 1859) (1936 monument at site). The CSA Texas Mounted Rifles briefly occupied the fort in 1861. During the Civil War, Camp Belknap (2) (1862 - 1864) was nearby and used by Texas Rangers and the CSA Frontier Regiment to continue providing protection from Indians. The Rangers moved to Fort Belknap from 1864 to 1867, when regular Army troops took over. The fort was discontinued as a permanent post in 1867, again for lack of water, but was still used sporadically as a campsite until around 1875. There is one original building and six replicas, and a museum. See also Handbook of Texas Online

Post at Brazos Indian Agency
(1859), near Graham
Federal troops from Fort Belknap fortified the Brazos Indian Agency with a stockade during trouble with white settlers. Located three miles east of town.

Camp Breckenridge
(1862 - 1864), near Breckenridge
A CSA Frontier Regiment post on Gonzales Creek six miles above its confluence with Hubbard Creek.

Camp Kenney
(1874 - 1875), Stephens County
A Texas Ranger patrol post located at the head of Gonzales Creek in the southern part of the county.

Pioneer Settler Forts
(1862 - 1867), Eastland, Stephens, Shackelford, Young, Clay Counties
Several private homes or blockhouses along the frontier where settlers "forted up" to protect themselves during the Civil War from renegades and hostile Indians. These included:
C.C. Blair's Fort (1860 - 1865) in Eastland County west of Desdemona. A stockaded 12-cabin complex.
Fort Davis (2) (1864 - 1867) in Stephens County on the north side of the Clear Fork Brazos River south of Woodson, about 15 miles below Camp Cooper. A stockaded complex of 20 log houses. A stone house, built previous to the war, still exists as a hunting lodge.
Owls Head Fort in Stephens County on the north side of the Clear Fork Brazos River somewhere near the mouth of Hubbard Creek.
Stone Ranch Fort (built 1856) in Throckmorton County on the south side of the Clear Fork Brazos River east of Walnut Creek.
Fort Clark (2) on the Young-Stephens County line on the north side of the Clear Fork Brazos River near Eliasville.
George Bragg's Ranch Fort (aka Fort Bragg) in Young County on the south bank of Elm Creek east of Elbert. Attacked by Indians in October 1864.
Fort Murrah in Young County on the north side of the Brazos River south of Megargel.

Other "forts" were probably also located at Picketville (aka Fort Picketville) in Stephens County, and Mugginsville in Shackleford County.
Other nearby "forts" were located at the Lynch and Green Ranches in Shackelford County, Allen's Ranch in Eastland County, and one at Buffalo Springs in Clay County.

Camp Shirley
(1860's), near De Leon
A private family "fort" used on occasion by Texas Rangers as a campsite. Also known as Fort Shirley. A lone chimney still exists on the northeastern bank of Flat Creek, north of town east of TX 16. According to tradition one family is said to have moved from Blair's Fort to Fort Shirley.
(thanks to James Hammond for providing info)

Camp Salmon
(1862 - 1864), near Scranton
A CSA Frontier Regiment encampment located near Sloan's Ranch on a branch of Hubbard Creek, on the Callahan-Eastland county line.

Camp Pecan (2)
(1862 - 1864), Callahan County
A CSA Frontier Regiment post on the Pecan Bayou, on the road between Camp Cooper and Camp Colorado.

Camp Colorado
(1856 - 1865, 1869), near Coleman
A Federal post originally built on Mulewater Creek, six miles north of the Colorado River, near Rockwood. It was moved 22 miles north in 1857 to Jim Ned Creek nine miles northeast of Coleman. Abandoned in 1861 and then occupied intermittently by Confederate forces until the end of the war. A reproduction of the post is in a city park.

Camp Pecan (1)
(1850 - 1856), near Brownwood
A Federal encampment on the Pecan Bayou.

Camp Collier
(1862 - 1864), Brookesmith
A CSA Frontier Regiment encampment. Located at Vaughn's Springs on Clear Creek.

Camp Sherman (1)
(1839 ?), near Mullin
A Texas Ranger post located on the east bank of Pecan Bayou.

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. Located on the north bank of the Leon River, about five miles above Coryell Creek. The single-story barracks was octagonal-shaped with a fireplace in each side. Only rock ruins remain at the site.

Fort Fisher
(1837), Waco
A temporary Texas Ranger post on the west bank of the Brazos River, at a former Waco Indian village site. Abandoned due to its poor location for defense. Reconstructed in 1968 as 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 Waco
(1855), Waco
A Federal encampment.

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.

Connor's Station
(1848, 1860), Navarro County
An Army troop detachment was posted here on Richland Creek.

Fort Graham
(Fort Graham Preservation Society)
(1849 - 1853), near Whitney
A Federal Dragoon post, originally named Camp Thornton. Located on the east bank of the Brazos River at Little Bear Creek. A stone barracks was reconstructed in 1936. The site was inundated by Lake Whitney after 1953, including the barracks. Site was maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers from 1953 - 1982, and again since 2002, after a twenty year interlude maintained by the county. The stone barracks building was removed from the lake area in 1983 by the Hill County Historical Society and placed at a new site onshore as a museum (Old Fort Park). Also here are ruins of Towash Village, an early Texan settlement. An Anadarko Indian village (José Maria) was also here at the time of the fort.

Fort Smith (2)
(1846 - 1847), Itasca
A Texas Ranger post built for protection from Indians, located on the headwaters of Richland Creek. Monument (1936) at site. The Iverson School was later built on the site.

Camp Henderson
(1854 - unknown), Cleburne
A Texas Ranger post. The town was named in 1867.

Fort Spunky
(1847 - 1860 ?), near Nemo
A Torrey and Brothers Company trading post operated by Charles Barnard, located north of town (on Squaw Creek ?) at what was once called Barnardsville. Federal troops may have been posted here at one time, which was known for its occasional lawlessness. See also Torrey Trading Houses from Handbook of Texas Online

Camp Wolters
(Lake Mineral Wells State Park)
(1925 - 1946, 1951 - 1975), near Mineral Wells
Initially a Texas National Guard summer training site on 7500 acres, it was Federalized in 1940 as an infantry replacement center. Re-opened in 1951 as the Wolters Air Force Base to train Aviation Engineers. Became the U.S. Army's primary helicopter training base in 1956. Renamed Fort Wolters in 1963. NIKE missiles were emplaced here 1960 - 1968 (DF-70). The Army transferred helicopter training to Fort Ruckman, Alabama in 1973. After closing, part of the reservation became Lake Mineral Wells State Park (opened 1981), and the main cantonment area became the Mineral Wells Education Center of Weatherford College. See also Handbook of Texas Online || Fort Wolters Tour - Then and Now from Fort Wolters Chapter, VHPA

Fort Worth
(1849 - 1853), Fort Worth
A Federal Dragoon post originally called Camp Worth. Site moved to higher ground in 1849 due to flooding. Built to protect settlers from Indian attacks. It was abandoned for Fort Belknap as the frontier moved west. Settlers used the abandoned fort to establish the town. The site of the fort is at Houston and Belknap Streets. A plaque is on the Criminal Courts Building.

Camp Bowie (2)
(1917 - 1919), Fort Worth
A Federalized National Guard mobilization center and training camp for the 36th Division, later becoming an infantry replacement center and a demobilization center. Site located three miles north of the city in the Arlington Heights area.
(NOTE: not to be confused with Camp Bowie (3) (1940 - 1946/present) located in Brownwood.)

Camp Taliaferro
(1917 - 1919), Fort Worth
A WWI Army aviation camp associated with Carruthers Army Air Field in Benbrook.

Capt. Jonathan Bird's Fort
(1841 - 1842), Arlington
Texas Rangers were briefly located here on the West Fork Trinity River at a stockaded blockhouse with several cabins. Also known as Fort Bird. A treaty was signed here in September 1843 between nine Indian tribes and the Republic of Texas demarkating a line between the Indians and the white settlers. The town of Birdsville was settled in 1842. Located south of Euless. Marker located on South Main Street at the Silver Lake Gun Club.

Middleton Johnson's Station
(1845 - unknown), Arlington
A civilian trading post at "Mary Le Bone Springs" (aka Marrow Bone Springs) located just south of the city.

Dallas Encampment
(1861 - 1862), Dallas
A large CSA complex of several campsites at the present-day Texas State Fairgrounds, each camp named for the company commanders.

Camp Cabell
(1898), Dallas
A temporary training camp during the Spanish-American War.

Camp John Dick
(1918 - 1919), Dallas
A WWI Army aviation camp associated with Love Army Air Field (1914), located at the state fairgrounds.

Convair Plant AAA Defenses
(1954 - 1957), Dallas
The Army emplaced several 75mm Skysweeper AA gun batteries around the Convair Plant No. 4 (now Lockheed) (DF-60) as part of the continental air defense gun site program during the early days of the Cold War.

Camp Wilcox
(1858), unknown location
Located somewhere on the East Fork Trinity River.

Dr. William P. King's Fort
(1840 - unknown), Kaufman
A settlers' fort on a hilltop overlooking King's home. The town was first settled by 40 families led by King. The original name of the town was Kingsboro until 1852.

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Towns:

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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