South Central Texas

Last Update: 23/JANUARY/2011

El Fortin Santa Cruz del Cíbolo
(1772 - 1782), Karnes County
A Spanish 20-man stockaded fort located on Cibolo Creek about halfway between San Antonio and Goliad. Possibly located at Panna Maria.

Camp Florilla
(1849), Wilson County
Located somewhere on the San Antonio River.

Gonzales Fort
(1827 - 1836 ?), Gonzales
A settlers' fort that provided protection against Indians, part of the De Witt Colony. It may have also been known as Green De Witt's Fort. A reconstructed log palisade is across from the Jail (Market) Plaza, at the corner of Water and St. Louis Streets. The town was first settled in 1825, but was abandoned in 1836 during the "Runaway Scrape". It was resettled later. See also De Witt's Colony from Handbook of Texas Online.

Fort Waul
(1863 - 1865), Gonzales
A stone blockhouse with earthworks built on Waldrip Hill to defend the Guadalupe River from Union gunboats. The fort was never completely finished and was abandoned before the end of the war. It was not named until after the war. The blockhouse was dismantled after the war for its stones. Earthworks still remain north of town near US 90A and US 183, currently owned by the city but undeveloped.

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

Camp Edward Clark (2)
(1861 - 1862), near Staples
A CSA "camp of instruction" located on the south bank of the San Marcos River about seven miles from San Marcos.

Presidio de San Marcos de Neve
(1808 - 1812), near San Marcos
A Spanish presidio was located on the San Marcos River at the crossing of the Old San Antonio Road, about four miles below the city. Nearly flooded out in 1808 soon after it was established, it was abandoned in 1812 due to increased Indian hostility in the area. Archaeological excavations have recently been made at the site.

Post San Marcos
(1840 - 1841), San Marcos
A Texas Army post located at San Marcos Springs at the head of the San Marcos River. Marker at Aquarena Springs Park behind the visitor center.

New Braunfels Forts
(1845 - 1847), 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 (admission fee) is on the site of Sophia's Fort. A log church was built in 1850 on the site of Zink's Fort, presently the site of the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Camp near Cibolo Creek
(1850), Guadalupe County
Located somewhere west or southwest of Seguin.

Presidio de San Antonio de Béjar (Bexar)
and The Alamo
(1718 - 1879), 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 in 1803 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. The presidio was never walled or stockaded for defense, although several plans were proposed. What became "The Alamo" (built 1755) was the former chapel of the mission. By the 1830's the entire former mission complex was referred to as such, and the Alamo then became the principal unit of walled-defense. The Presidio and the Alamo were captured by Texan forces in 1835, but in March 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). Mexican earthwork artillery siege batteries were emplaced at La Villita (at present-day South Alamo and East Nueva Streets, excavated in 1985), another on present-day Commerce Street near Navarro Street (Potrero area), one on Presa Street, and another on Soledad Street. The town returned to Texan control after the Battle of San Jacinto (April 1836). The Mexican Army returned briefly in September 1842. The U.S. Army arrived in 1845 establishing Camp at the Alamo (misspelled by one Army clerk as Camp Almus). The Alamo compound was named Fort San Antonio in 1846 and was still in use during the 1850's. It then later served mainly as the San Antonio Quartermaster Supply Depot until it was moved to Fort Sam Houston in 1879. Confederate forces occupied the post for the duration of the Civil War.
Another website from Tripod.com

Also in San Antonio is the Military Plaza (Plaza de las Armas). It once had a Spanish military barracks (built 1810), which was also used by American troops in 1846 (foundation ruins still exist). Only the Spanish Governor's Palace still survives from the colonial period. The site of Camp Crockett (2) (1846) is also in San Antonio, but its location is disputed. A marker is located at the San Pedro Park Library, but some evidence suggests that Brackenridge Park (San Antonio Zoo) may be the actual location. San Pedro Springs at San Pedro Park was the site of Army encampments in the Mexican and Civil Wars. See also Missions of San Antonio (NPS).

Also somewhere in the area were Camp Uphazy (1854) and Camp Buchanan (1855) (both undetermined locations).

Camp Edward Clark (1)
(1861), San Antonio
A temporary CSA encampment located on the Alamo Plaza.

Mission de San Francisco de la Espada
(1731 - 1824), 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 mission church is still used today.

Other Spanish missions in the area are Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción (1731 - 1824) at 807 Mission Road; San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (1720 - 1824) (with a fortified defensive tower) at 6539 San Jose Drive at Mission Road; and San Juan Capistrano (1731 - 1824) on Graf Road off of Mission Road. See also Missions of San Antonio (NPS).

Camp Conception
(1846, 1849), San Antonio
Federal Dragoon troops were posted at the Concepción Mission mentioned above, which was also used as a supply depot in 1849.

San Antonio Arsenal (1)
(1858 - 1931/1949), San Antonio
A Federal arsenal that originally provided arms and ammunition to troop units guarding the outlying settlements. The Arsenal was moved to Camp Stanley in 1931, and later became a unit of the San Antonio Ordnance Depot (see Camp Stanley listed below). The original complex continued to be used for Federal government offices after the Army finally closed the site in 1949. The site was sold in 1972, now retail stores and offices, and adjacent city parkland. Located on the San Antonio River south of Durango Blvd..

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 the San José Mission. After one month, the troops departed for Tampa, FL.

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

Powder House Hill Fort ?
(San Antonio City Cemeteries)
(1807 - 1835 ?, 1863 - 1865), San Antonio
A CSA earthwork built at or near the old Spanish garita (guard/lookout post) on Powder House Hill on the south side of present-day East Commerce Street, now the Historic City Cemetery Number Two, between South Palmetto Ave. and South Piedmont Ave., about one and one-half miles or so southeast of the Alamo compound. The Spanish powder house (18-foot square, one story) and adjacent watchtower (21-foot square, three story or 30 feet high) were built between 1807 - 1810. There are no remains. The first new city cemetery was established nearby in 1853 to replace the original Spanish/Mexican cemetery in town (Milam Park).

Camp Salado
(1842), San Antonio
A Texas militia camp on Salado Creek during the Battle of Salado Creek (September 1842). Site located about six miles northeast of downtown, within the present-day reservation boundary of Fort Sam Houston.

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. Military 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 Barracks. The San Antonio Quartermaster Depot was relocated here in 1879 from the Alamo complex (see above). In 1885 the post became known as Post of San Antonio after the construction of several new barracks and Officers' quarters to accommodate twelve cavalry companies. Renamed in 1890. Permanent quarters were built beginning in 1891. 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 John Wise (1918 - 1919) was an Army Balloon School located on leased land four miles north of downtown. Camp Cushing was established on post during WWII. The post is now the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth and Sixth Armies, the Army Medical Command and the Army Medical School. Located on the main post is the Fort Sam Houston Museum and the Fort Sam Houston Medical Museum.

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 Normoyle (1917 - 1944) was located across the railroad from Kelly Air Field (1917 - present). It was an Army vocational school in 1920. It became the Quartermaster Ordnance and Engine-Replacement Depot for Kelly Field in WWII.

Camp Bullis (State Military Reservation)
(1917 - present), near Leon Springs
The southern component of the present Leon Springs Military Reservation (established in 1908, expanded in 1917), it was originally a target range and maneuver ground for the Regular Army and Texas National Guard. It became a subpost of Fort Sam Houston in 1922. A cantonment area was constructed in 1930. Became an infantry training area and Selective Service reception area by 1940. Still in use by the state guard, Army Reserve, and Federal and civil law enforcement personnel.

The northern and original component of the reservation is Camp Stanley (2) (1917 - present), originally an infantry training camp, briefly named Camp Funston before it was renamed to avoid confusion with Camp Funston in Kansas. Troop training ceased here when it became the site of the San Antonio Arsenal (2) in 1931, and was consolidated with the San Antonio Ordnance Depot in 1947 to become an ammunition storage subdepot for the Red River Arsenal.

Nearby was Camp Samuel Morse (1917 - 1918), an Army Signal Corps training camp.

Camp Cook (2)
(1842), near Von Ormy ?
A Texas Army of the Southwest temporary encampment located on the Medina River about 13 miles southwest of San Antonio.

Military Station at Castroville
(Landmark Inn State Historic Site)
(1849), Castroville
A Federal post. Of interest here is the Landmark Inn at 402 East Florence Street, which was built in 1849.

Camp Montel
(1862 - 1864), Bandera County
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post located at the head of Seco Creek. A marker is located at the Bandera County courthouse.

Camp Davant ?
(unknown dates), near Bandera Pass

Camp Verde (1)
(1856 - 1861, 1866 - 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 Camp Verde (2) in 1862 about three miles from the original post. The Confederates withdrew in 1864. The old 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 monument (1936) is on site. A restored barracks is located in town. Another website from GhostTowns.com

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 (1).

Camp Ives
(1859 - 1861), near Camp Verde
A Federal cavalry outpost of Camp Verde, located on Turtle Creek four miles north of Camp Verde (1). Abandoned by the Federals in 1861, and then used by the Confederates intermittently during the Civil War.

Fort Lincoln
(1849 - 1852), near D'Hanis
A Federal infantry post located on the west bank of Seco Creek, one mile northwest of town. Abandoned when the frontier moved further west. Texas Rangers camped at this site in 1848, and returned for a short time after the Federals left. No remaining structures. Monument (1936) at site.

Nearby, or the same site, was Camp Seco Creek (1849).

Camp Sabinal ?
(1856), Sabinal
A temporary Federal cavalry post on the west bank of the Sabinal River one mile west of town. Texas Rangers probably used the site afterward intermittently through the Civil War.

Camp Guadalupe Mountain
(1855, 1858, 1879 - 1880), near Concan
Known as Camp Guadalupe Peak in 1855.

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

Camp on Johnson's Run
(1858), Uvalde County
Located about 40 miles east of Fort Clark (1).

Camp on Turkey Creek
(1854), near Uvalde ?
Located about 42 miles northeast of Fort Duncan (1).

Camp Gardenier
(1854), near Uvalde
A temporary Army camp located about 40 miles southeast of Fort Clark (1). In use from May to July 1854.

Fort Inge
(1849 - 1861, 1866 - 1869, intermittent), near Uvalde
A Federal infantry post located two miles south of town on the east bank of the Leona River, four miles above "Woll's Crossing". Originally named Camp Leona. 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 afterward camped at the site intermittently up to 1884. Became a county park in 1961.

Located one-half mile southeast of the fort was Camp near Fort Inge (1853), used for the Mexican Border Commission party.

Camp E.B. Strong
(1855), near Uvalde
A Federal encampment on the Nueces River at "Woll's Crossing", at or near present-day US 90.
(thanks to Charles Lokey for providing location)

Camp Nueces (3)
(1862 - 1864), near La Pryor
A CSA Frontier Regiment / Texas Ranger post at the San Antonio - Eagle Pass Road crossing of the Nueces River (present-day US 57).

Camp Wood (1)
(1857, 1861 - 1867 ?, intermittent), Camp Wood
A Federal cavalry post established near the site of the old Spanish Mission de San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz (1762 - 1771). Abandoned with the outbreak of the Civil War. Texas Rangers camped here during the war until a few years after the war.

NEED MORE INFO: Undetermined locations: Camp Stuart (date ?).
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.

QUESTIONS ? Please send any corrections and/or additions to this list to:
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