Texas Forts

American Forts: West

TEXAS

Last Update: 10/JULY/2006

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - Š2006 American Forts Network

Fort Lyday
(1836 - unknown), Ladonia
Built for protection from Indians and continued this service until after the Civil War.

Fort Inglish
(1837 - unknown), Bonham
Replica of a stockaded blockhouse and three restored cabins. Served as a defense for settlers against Indians. Built by settler Bailey Inglish.

Abel Warren's Fort
(1836, 1860's), near Savoy
A civilian trading post on the Red River at Brushy Creek. During the Civil War, as Fort Warren, it supplied Confederate Indian refugees and troops serving in Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Louisiana and Arkansas.

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

Fort Johnston
(1840 - 1841), near Preston
A Texas Army post located opposite the mouth of the Washita River. Site now under Lake Texoma. May actually be spelled Johnson.

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. Became a Texas postal station in 1839. Coffee died in 1846. Site is now under Lake Texoma. Col. Coffee's original two-story log house "Glen Eden" still exists in town.

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

Fort (William) Fitzhugh
(1847 - unknown), near Gainesville
The first settlement in Cooke County, located about three miles southeast of town. Built by the Texas Rangers. Still in use as a Texas Ranger post in 1860, later a CSA mustering post in 1861.

Fort Teodoro
(1719 - 1778, intermittent), Spanish Fort
Originally here was the French trading post Fort St. Louis de Carlorette, built in 1719 by Bernard de la Harpe at a Wichita (Caddo) Indian village, and abandoned several years later. Rebuilt by the Indians as an oval stockade with a dry moat. Scene of first severe defeat in Texas of Spanish troops by Caddo Indians in 1750. Occupied by the Spanish in 1762 when the Louisiana Territory was ceded by France. The ruins were discovered by settlers in 1859, hence the name of the town. A website from GhostTowns.com

Camp Wichita
(1867 - 1868), Buffalo Springs
A Federal cavalry encampment. Abandoned due to water shortages. Also referred to as Fort Buffalo Springs.

Camp Cureton
(1862 - 1864), near Antelope
A CSA encampment of the Frontier Regiment. Located on the West Fork Trinity River west of town.

Fort Richardson (State Historical Park)
(1866 - 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 Wichita and Fort Belknap. The most northerly of all Federal forts in the state after the Civil War to stop Indian raids. Used as an Indian school for a short time after it was abandoned. 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. Another website (a) | Another website (b)

Fort Belknap
(1851 - 1859, 1864 - 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 (summer 1859). 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 until around 1875. There is one original building and six replicas, and a museum. Another website | Another website from USGenNet.org

Fort Griffin (3) (State Historical Park)
(1867 - 1881), Fort Griffin
A Federal post to replace Fort Belknap. Originally called Camp Wilson (1) until 1868. Located one-half mile from the south bank of the Clear Fork Brazos River, about 25 miles north of Albany. Ruins, with three restored buildings. Another website | Another website from GhostTowns.com

Camp Cooper
(1856 - 1861), near Lueders
A Federal cavalry post protecting the El Paso - Red River Trail. Located on the north bank of the Clear Fork Brazos River, five miles east of Otey's Creek. Turned over to Confederate troops in 1861, but was not regarrisoned after the war.

Camp Breckenridge
(1862 - 1864), Breckenridge
A CSA Frontier Regiment post.

Family Forts
(1860's), Eastland, Stephens, Shackelford, Young, Clay Counties
Private homes where settlers "forted up" to protect themselves during the Civil War from renegades and Indians. These included Fort Davis (2) on the Clear Fork Brazos River north of Breckenridge, and others at Picketville, Mugginsville, and Owls Head. Other nearby forts were located at the Lynch and Green Ranches in Shackelford County, Blair's Fort and Allen's Ranch in Eastland County, Buffalo Springs in Clay County, and Bragg's Ranch and Murray in Young County.

Fort Phantom Hill
(1851 - 1854, 1861 - 1865, 1871 - 1872), Nugent
Its official name was Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. It provided protection for the travel route to Sante Fe, NM, and the California gold fields. It was abandoned in 1854, then burned down. Desertions were frequent due to the monotony and loneliness. From 1858 to 1861 the site was used as a Butterfield Overland stage station. During the Civil War, Texas Rangers continued to provide protection from Indians. Later became a picket post of Fort Griffin. Three stone buildings remain; a commissary, guard house, and powder magazine. Another website (a) | Another website (b)

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 Colorado
(1856 - 1865), 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 from town. Abandoned in 1861 and occupied by Confederates until the end of the war. A reproduction is in a city park.

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

Fort Graham
(1849 - 1853), near Whitney
A Federal Dragoon post, originally named Camp Thornton. A 1936 reconstruction of a stone building was moved in 1983 after Lake Whitney was formed. Site maintained by the Corps of Engineers from 1953 - 1982, and again since 2002. There are also ruins of Towash Village, an early Texan settlement. An Anadarko Indian village (José Maria) was also here.

Fort Smith (2)
(1846 - unknown), Itasca
A Texas Ranger post built as protection from Indians.

Fort Spunky
(1847 - 1849 ?), Nemo
A civilian trading post possibly located north of town, but may have originally been located near Glen Rose.

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

Fort Worth
(Stockyard National Historic District)
(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 (1)
(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 (2) (1940 - 1946) located in Brownwood.)

Camp Taliaferro
(1917 - 1919), Fort Worth
A WWI Army aviation camp, probably 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. A treaty was signed here 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.

Located near here was a trading post at Mary le Bone Springs (1845).

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 Dick
(1917 - 1919), Dallas
A WWI Army aviation camp associated with Love Army Air Field.

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.

Camp Ford
(1863 - 1865), Tyler
A CSA stockaded POW camp, the largest west of the Mississippi River (6000 Union prisoners in 1864). The prisoners used caves dug into the hillsides, or mud and stick huts. A marker is on US 271 two miles northeast of town.

Fort Crawford
(1839 - 1869), Hallsville
A Texas Ranger post.

Camp Crump
(1862), Jefferson
A CSA cavalry encampment.

Mission de Seńora de los Dolores de los Ais
(1716 - 1719, 1721 - 1773), San Augustine
A Spanish mission. Abandoned in 1719 due to a French invasion, later restored and became headquarters of all East Texas missions. The Spanish later abandoned all missions in East Texas in 1773 for San Antonio. Site preserved in a city park located four blocks south of the courthouse, with a visitor center and library.

Presidio of Texas
(1716 - 1719, 1721 - 1729), Nacogdoches
A short-lived Spanish presidio east of the Angelina River. Its official name was Presidio de la Virgen de los Dolores de los Tejas. It originally protected four missions in the area. Re-established to protect seven missions in the area. It was abandoned for Los Adays in present-day Louisiana.

Old Stone Fort (1)
(1779 - 1865, intermittent), Nacogdoches
A 1936 reconstruction of a Spanish trading post and jail on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. The structure was used as the headquarters for four previous attempts to establish the Republic of Texas (1813 Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition, 1819 James Long's Republic, 1826 Fredonian Rebellion, 1832 Battle of Nacogdoches). Texas troops occupied the old fort during the Civil War. Also known as Fort Nacogdoches, it was torn down in 1902.

Lacy's Fort
(1830's), Alto
A trading post built before 1835 by an Indian agent for the Mexican government.

Cook's Fort
(1846 - unknown), Rusk
A settlers' fort built as protection from Indians, but never attacked. This was the only family living here at the time.

Fort Houston (1)
(1836 - 1841), Palestine
A Texas Army stockaded blockhouse for protection from Indians, built just after the Battle of San Jacinto. The site is now part of a historic home that has taken the fort's name. Located two miles west of town.

Mission de San Francisco de los Tejas
(Mission Tejas State Historic Park)
(1690 - 1693, 1716 - 1731), near Weches
The first Spanish mission in East Texas, built to thwart French settlement in the region. The French threat disappeared, but the mission was never prosperous. Moved to San Antonio in 1731. A reconstruction of the log chapel is located in the park. Admission fee.

Brown's Fort (1)
(1834 - unknown), Grapeland
A settlers' fortification on San Pedro Creek.

Fort Boggy
(1840 - 1841), near Leona
A local militia (Boggy and Trinity Rangers) two-story blockhouse to protect against Indians, located on the north bank of Boggy Creek, two and one-half miles north of town. Monument erected 1936.

Spanish Bluff Fort
(1805 - 1813), Antioch
The Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition captured the Spanish fort in 1812, but the Spanish recaptured and destroyed it and the town the following year. Located on the Trinity River near Midway.

Fort Terán
(1831 - 1832), near Rockland
Established to prevent illegal entry of American settlers into Mexican territory. Located three miles west of town on the south bank of the Neches River, opposite Shawnee Creek. Abandoned after the Battle of Nacogdoches.

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Lamar (location ?) (date ?) a Texas Army fort of the Republic period.
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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