Southern Texas

Last Update: 14/MAY/2006

Camp Chambers (1)
(1837), near Inez
A Texas Army encampment on Arenosa Creek.

Fort St. Louis
(1685 - 1687), near Port Lavaca
A French stockaded settlement fort for 400 colonists under the leadership of René Robert Cavelier, sieur de La Salle, located on the west-side of Garcitas Creek, about five miles inland from Lavaca Bay. A temporary stockade had been erected at the mouth of the creek during the first month. About two years after La Salle was killed on an expedition inland, Indians destroyed the fort and killed all but two of the remaining settlers, who later found their way to Arkansas Post on the Mississippi River. The Spanish found the fort in ruins in 1689, and burned what was left. The Spanish later established the first Presidio la Bahía about three miles downriver in 1721 (see below). Both sites were excavated in the 1950's.

Fort Lavaca
(1862 - 1863), Port Lavaca
A CSA nine-gun battery on a bluff overlooking the bay. The guns were removed in 1863 to Fort Esperanza.

Camp Lee
(1861 - 1864), near Indianola
A briefly occupied Union mobilization point originally called Camp Powderhorn, located on Powderhorn Bayou. Troops gathered here from the inland posts to be shipped out back to the northern states. Periodically occupied by the CSA after hostilities broke out.

Fort Esperanza ? ?
(1836, 1846, 1861 - 1863), Saluria, Matagorda Island
A Confederate work (aka Fort Debray) built by slave labor in 1863 at the site of an old Spanish fort, directly across the bay from Port O'Connor. Abandoned before the Union fleet arrived. The actual site has eroded away. A CSA one-gun battery was also located just across McHenry Bayou from the town.

Originally located two miles south at the entrance to Cavallo Pass was Fort Washington, a Texan Army earthwork defense and later a temporary American post during the Mexican-American War. Rebuilt as a seven-gun battery by the CSA in 1861. Relocated in 1863 to the northern tip of the island and renamed.

Victoria Blockhouse
(1824 ? - unknown), Victoria
A Mexican settlers' blockhouse against Indian raids. The town was founded and settled by Martín de León and 41 families in 1824.

Presidio La Bahía
(1749 - 1836), Goliad
Name variations include Presidio de Nuestra Señora del Loreto de la Bahía de Espíritu Santos, Presidio de Santa Maria del Loreto de la Bahía, and Presidio de Nuestra Señora de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo. Originally located on Garcitas Creek near Port Lavaca in 1721 (wooden stockade), it was moved in 1726 to Mission Valley on the Guadalupe River (wooden stockade with a few stone structures). It was moved again in 1749 to its present site on the south bank of the San Antonio River to protect Mission de Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zuñiga (1749, almost all stone structures), restored and located in Goliad State Park (admission fee). Also part of Goliad State Park are the preserved ruins of Mission de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. Spanish troops from here participated in actions against the British in 1779 - 1781 along the Gulf Coast. In 1812 the presidio was held by forces under Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara (Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition). The original name of the town, La Bahía, was changed in 1829. The presidio was completely restored in the 1960's, and it is the finest example of a complete Spanish presidio in Texas. A museum with thousands of artifacts is in the restored Officers' quarters. Admission fee.
This was the site in March 1836 of the "Goliad Massacre", in which 342 Texans were executed by the Mexican Army. Texan forces had taken over the presidio in October 1835, strengthened its defenses, and named it Fort Defiance. Nine weeks after the massacre it was re-occupied by Texans and renamed Fort Goliad.

St. Joseph's Island Depot
(1845 - 1846), San José Island
An American supply depot established by Colonel Zachary Taylor in anticipation of the Mexican-American War. It was abandoned shortly after the war broke out and Fort Marcy was established. Located on the southern end of the island at the north-side of Aransas Pass.

Fort Kinney
(1839 - 1845 ?, 1862), Corpus Christi
A strongly fortified stockaded trading post, also called Henry Kinney's Fort (or Stockade), built by Kinney and William Aubrey. Site located at 401 North Broadway. Garrisoned by 30 men and mounted several cannon in 1844. The town was already settled when U.S. troops first arrived in 1845. The Confederate forces in this area briefly used the old fort in 1862, armed with three old guns.

Fort Marcy
(1846 - 1857), Corpus Christi
Established by Colonel Zachary Taylor in 1846 after the Mexican-American War broke out. An unnamed troop encampment was first established in 1845 as the first troops arrived from St. Joseph's Island Depot. Earthwork (sand and shell) batteries were built along the bay near the present-day Visitors Center (1201 North Shoreline), and were also later repaired and reused by the Confederates in 1862, which were armed with the three guns transferred from Kinney's Fort, plus three additional guns found elsewhere. A supply depot was built nearby in 1849, and served as the post headquarters in 1852.

Camp Corpus Christi (1850 - 1852) was established in rented quarters in town. It was regarrisoned during Reconstruction (1869 - 1870), and again in 1880 - 1881.
The site of the original Corpus Christi Lighthouse was at Buffalo and Upper North Broadway. It was used as a powder magazine during the Civil War and was dismantled in 1878.

Camp Semmes
(1846, 1862 - 1865), Mustang Island
Originally located here in 1846 was the American Mustang Island Fort. Rebuilt and renamed as a CSA gun battery in 1862, also known as Fort Aransas (a). It was located near the Aransas Pass Lighthouse (1855), which was shelled by Union ships in 1863. The site of the fort probably no longer exists, contrary to a local marker on "Bunker Hill", because the channel shifted south in 1875.

Fort Shell Bank
(1862 - 1864), Shellbank Island
A CSA earthwork battery. Also known as Fort Aransas (b).

¤ TEMPORARY HARBOR DEFENSES of CORPUS CHRISTI

¤ Port Aransas Military Reservation
(1942 - 1944), Port Aransas, Mustang Island
A two-gun 155mm battery on Panama mounts was located south of the south jetty, which had replaced a temporary field-positioned 105mm howitzer battery.
(some additional info provided by Bill Gaines of the CDSG)

Fort Lipantitlán (State Historical Park)
(1831 - 1835, 1842), near San Patricio
A Mexican adobe fort located on the Nueces River three miles west of town. Built to prevent new American settlers from arriving in Texas. It was captured by Texan forces in November 1835. Mexican troops unsuccessfully attacked the fort in 1842.

Camp Casa Blanca
(1849, 1852), near Sandia
A Federal supply post on the south-side of the Nueces River at the old townsite of Casa Blanca, about 25 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. Regarrisoned by Dragoons in 1852 and renamed Camp Merrill.

Fort Merrill
(1850 - 1855), near George West
A Federal infantry post located at the Nueces River crossing of the San Antonio - Corpus Christi Road. Served as protection for settlers from Indians.

Camp Jackson (2)
(1861 - 1864), near Kingsville
A CSA encampment on the King Ranch, also called Camp King's Ranch.

Camp Boveda
(1846, 1863), near Riviera
An American encampment on Los Olmos Creek two miles east of town, established by Colonel Zachary Taylor during the Mexican-American War. Occupied again in 1863 by Union forces intercepting Confederate wagon trains bound for Mexico.

Fort Polk
(Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Park)
(1846 - 1850), Port Isabel
An American fort and supply depot in support of Fort Brown during the Mexican-American War. It was a six-sided fort with two sides open to the shore. The lighthouse was built on the site in 1852. The marine transfer station (deep draft to shallow draft) was located on Brazos Island. It was destroyed by a hurricane sometime after the Civil War. Port Isabel Historical Museum.

Camp Witherall
(1861), Boca Chica
Federal troops from various posts in southern Texas gathered here to be shipped out back to the northern states at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Fort Brazos Santiago
(1861 - 1865), near Boca Chica
A CSA battery at the entrance to Brazos Santiago Pass on Brazos Island. Used by the Union in 1863 - 1864 when Brownsville was occupied.

¤¤ TEMPORARY HARBOR DEFENSES of PORT ISABEL

¤¤ Port Isabel Military Reservation
(1942 - 1944), South Padre and Brazos Islands
A two-gun 155mm battery was proposed to be located here. Several 37mm AA guns may have been located in the area. This defense was never officially activated.
(info provided by Bill Gaines of the CDSG)

Fort Brown (2)
(1846 - 1906, 1913 - 1946), Brownsville
An American earthen star-shaped fort originally named Fort Texas and then Fort Taylor. The construction of this fort by Colonel Zachary Taylor helped precipitate the onset of the Mexican-American War. Renamed in 1846 for Major Jacob Brown who died defending it during a Mexican attack. Brownsville Barracks was built in 1848 adjacent to the fort. Briefly abandoned in 1859 for Fort Duncan. Occupied by the Confederates from 1861 to 1863, regained by the Union from 1863 to 1864, recaptured by the CSA again until 1865. Reoccupied by Union forces after the war ended. Two bastions of the original fort still remain on the Riverview Municipal Golf Course. A new fort and barracks were built in 1867 adjacent to the original site, but were destroyed by a hurricane that same year. It was rebuilt again in 1869. The fort was abandoned in 1906 after conflicts with the local citizens. Regarrisoned in 1913 during border troubles with Mexico. Many of the original 1869 buildings are still in use today by the University of Texas - Brownsville, and by Texas Southmost College.

Located about one and one-half miles upstream on the Rio Grande was Union Fort Montgomery (1864), a three-gun series of interconnected redoubts. Camp Belknap (1) (1846) was located on the Rio Grande about 15 miles east, towards Boca Chica.

Fort Ringgold
(1848 - 1906, 1913 - 1917, 1941 - 1944), Rio Grande City
First known as Post at David's Landing, then Camp Ringgold until 1849, then as Ringgold Barracks until 1878. Briefly abandoned for Camp Hudson near Juno in 1859. Abandoned in 1861 to the Confederates. Held by the Union from 1863 to 1864, and not reoccupied again by Union forces until after the war ended. Rebuilt in 1869 near the original site. New frame and brick structures replaced the original adobe structures by 1886. Many of these buildings still exist on the east-side of town on US 83. A portion of the reservation is presently used by the local school system.

Located just downriver was Confederate Camp Benavides (1860's), a temporary cavalry encampment.

Camp Drum
(1851 - 1852), Zapata
A Federal artillery camp located south of town, opposite the Salado River, seven miles from Guerro, Mexico. Camp Bugle was built by the Dragoons concurrently on the same site. The site is now under the waters of the Falcon Resevoir.

Old Stone Fort (2)
(1835 - unknown), San Ygnacio
Built to protect the townspeople from Indian raids. The walls, eight feet high and two and one-half feet thick, are still in good shape.

Los Ojuelos Blockhouse
(1857 - 1860's), near Mirando City
A blockhouse was built to protect the settlers and the spring from Indian attacks. Site on private property.

Laredo Presidio ?
(1755 ?), Laredo
A Spanish presidio may have previously been located at the site of Fort McIntosh.

Fort McIntosh
(1849 - 1946), Laredo
A Federal infantry post first called Camp Crawford (2) until 1850. Abandoned to the Confederates from 1861 to 1865. Rebuilt as a permanent post in 1868, one-half mile below the original site. Some of the buildings still remain, in use by Laredo Junior College, including the guardhouse, chapel, warehouse, and commissary.

Of interest in town is the Nuevo Santander Museum on Washington Street, and the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum at 1000 Zaragoza Street on San Agustin Plaza, commemorating the short-lived and unsuccessful "Republic of the Rio Grande" (1839 - 1841).

Fort Ewell
(1852 - 1854, 1859, 1864), near Encinal
A Federal Dragoon adobe fort on the south bank of the Nueces River, about 25 miles southeast of Cotulla, at the river crossing of the San Antonio - Laredo Road. Moved to higher ground in 1854 before being abandoned. Confederates occupied the site in 1864 as a supply depot.

Fort Duncan (1)
(1849 - 1865, 1868 - 1883, 1894 - 1927), Eagle Pass
A Federal infantry post originally named Camp Eagle Pass (1) until 1850 when permanent quarters were built. The CSA Frontier Regiment established Rio Grande Station (aka Camp Rio Grande) nearby in 1861 after the fort was abandoned by Federal troops. Confederate cavalry used the fort during most of the Civil War. The last official surrender of Confederate troops occurred here in July 1865. Re-occupied by Federal troops in 1868. Abandoned in 1883 because the government could not make a deal to purchase the land. A Cavalry post was established nearby in 1886 called Camp at Eagle Pass (2) or Post at Eagle Pass, as a subpost of Fort Clark to protect the border. The original site was rebuilt and regarrisoned in 1894 after purchase. The first military cross-country flight made a stop here in 1911. During World War II, the country club (former barracks) became the Officers' Club for the Eagle Pass Army Air Force Advanced Flying School. Some original buildings still remain in the park.

Camp Rabb
(1862 - 1864), near Eagle Pass
A Texas Ranger / CSA Frontier Regiment post located northeast of town at the crossing on Elm Creek of the Eagle Pass - San Antonio Road.

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