Forts of Texas

The Forts of Texas include a number of historical and operational military installations. For over two hundred years, various groups fought over access to or control over the region that is now Texas. Possession of the region was claimed and disputed by the European powers of Spain and France, and the continental countries of Mexico, the United States, the Republic of Texas, and the Confederate States of America. Ownership of specific lands were claimed and disputed by different ethnic groups, including numerous Native American tribes, Mexican residents, Anglo and African American settlers, and European immigrants. Access to and control of resources were claimed and disputed by various economic groups, including indigenous hunter/gatherers, farmers, herders, ranchers, colonists, settlers, buffalo hunters, traders, bandits, smugglers, pirates, and revolutionaries. Over the centuries, claims and disputes were enforced by Native American warriors, Spanish conquistadors, French cavaliers, Texas Rangers, local militias, and uniformed regular army regiments of Spain, Mexico, Texas, the United States, and the Confederacy.

Many military camps, barracks, fortified trading posts, palisades, stockades, blockhouses, strongholds, and fortifications were built to establish, defend, or dispute claims to the area.

Early History and Pre-History

The southwestern region of North America has been inhabited for many centuries. A major spring in Central Texas is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas of North America. There is evidence of migrations and displacements of peoples in the pre-historical era. However, no evidence has been found of fortifications built by early Native Americans. Texas derives its name from the name of a Native American tribe noted for its friendliness. The Texas state motto is "Friendship."

Exploration

The region of Texas was claimed by both royal France and imperial Spain. Both European powers mounted military expeditions to explore the region of Texas. A small number of simple fortifications were established in this era to protect both French and Spanish claims from each other, and to protect expeditionary operations from unwelcoming local inhabitants.Forts of this era include:
* Fort Saint Louis (near Inez, TX)
* Fort St. Louis de Carlorette - A fort originally built by the French, but later rebuilt, garrisoned, and defended by Native Americans. (Near Spanish Fort, TX)

Colonization

In the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries, the primary mechanism for colonization was the Spanish missions in Texas.Many Spanish missions included defensive structures to protect the missions' operations and communities. Key missions were supported by nearby Spanish army forts, called "presidios".

Missions of this period with historical connections to fortifications or military operations include:
* Mission de Nuestra Señora de la Luz del Orcoquisac (near Eminence, TX)
* Mission de Nuestra Señora de la Purisima Concepcion (in San Antonio, TX)
* Mission de San Antonio de Valero (in San Antonio, TX)
* Mission de San Francisco de la Espada (in San Antonio, TX)
* Mission de San Francisco de los Tejas (near Weches, TX)
* Mission de San José y San Miguel de Aguayo (in San Antonio, TX)
* Mission de San Juan Capistrano (in San Antonio, TX)
* Mission de San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz (near Camp Wood, TX)
* Mission de Señora de los Dolores de los Ais (near San Augstine, TX)

Presidios and forts of this period include:
* Presidio de la Bahía del Espíritu Santo (near Goliad, TX)
* Fort Bend (near Richmond, TX)
* Presidio de la Virgen de los Dolores de los Tejas (near Nacogdoches, TX)
* Presidio de San Agustín de Ahumada (near Eminence, TX)
* Presidio de San Antonio de Béjar (in San Antonio, TX)
* Presidion de San Elizario (near San Elizario, TX)
* Presidio de San Sabá (near Menard, TX)
* Presidio de San Xavier de Gigedo (near Rockdale, TX)
* Fort Maison Rouge - Jean Lafitte's pirate fort in Galveston

Texas Revolution

In the period leading up to the Texas Revolution, Mexico established some new forts in Texas to control or limit Anglo American immigration into the region. During and shortly following the Revolution, the Texians established a number of forts to defend Texas towns and cities.

Forts of this period include:
* The Alamo - Previously Mission de San Antonio de Valero (in San Antonio, TX)
* Fort Anáhuac (near Anahuac, TX)
* Fort Houston (near Houston, TX)
* Fort Defiance - Later known as Fort Goliad - Previously Presidio la Bahía (near Goliad, TX)
* Fort Lipantitlan (near Mathis, TX)
* Presidio de San Antonio de Béjar (in San Antonio, TX)
* Fort Tenoxtitlan (near Cooks Point, TX)
* Fort Terán (near Rockland, TX)
* Fort Travis (near Galveston, TX)

Mexican-American War

Following US annexation of the Republic of Texas, the US and Mexico did not have a mutual agreement as to the border between Mexico and the new State of Texas. The US Army established a number of new forts along the border, and military disputes in this area eventually led to the Mexican-American War.

Forts of this period include:
* Fort Brown (in Brownsville, TX)
* Fort Polk (near Port Isabel, TX)
* Fort Sabine (near Sabine, TX)

Civil War

Texas forts garrisoned by the US Army were abandoned or surrendered at the start of the American Civil War. Some were re-garrisoned by local Texas forces in order to maintain defenses against Indian incursions. Several camps were opened by the Confederate States Army for recruiting or training.

Only a few forts were specifically garrisoned to be prepared for conflicts between the Confederates and the Union army and navy. These included:
* Fort Caney (near Sargent, TX)
* Fort Esperanza (on Matagorda Island, TX)
* Fort Griffin (near Sabine Pass, TX)
* Fort Grigsby (near Port Neches, TX)

Additionally, there were extensive earthwork fortications and batteries defending Galveston, which changed hands several times during the war.

Defense from Indians

Interference or resistance from local inhabitants was a concern going back to the first explorations by France and Spain. This was especially of concern to Anglo American settlers in the Nineteenth Century as they pushed the frontier ever westward. While Native Americans of coastal regions and East Texas were relatively easily assimilated, displaced, or eliminated, some Native American tribes were more actively resistant. This was most famously true for the Comanche and Apache tribes.In the Nineteenth Century, one of the key organizations for protecting Anglo American settlements was the Texas Rangers. The Rangers operated a number of posts in Texas that were traditionally referred to as forts, though they lacked the kinds of heavy defenses associated with traditional military fortifications.

There were essentially three periods of concern. In the mid Eighteenth Century, the US Army was concerned with protecting settlements and towns in eastern, central, and south Texas from Indian interference. During the Civil War, local Texas militias, law enforcement, and civilians were concerned with protecting the entire settled portion of the state from intereference from both Indians and Mexican bandits. In the late Eighteenth Century, the US Army was concerned with protecting settlements and towns in west Texas from Indians. In the latter period, several Texas forts were garrisoned with units of the US Army's famed Buffalo Soldiers.

Several of the most famous generals from both sides of the American Civil War were stationed at Texas forts while serving in the US Army during the first period.

Forts of these periods include:
* Bent's Fort, also known as Adobe Walls (near Stinnett, TX)
* Fort Belknap (Near Newcastle, TX)
* Fort Bliss (near El Paso, TX)
* Fort Chadbourne (near Fort Chadbourne, TX)
* Fort Cibolo (near Shafter, TX)
* Fort Clark (near Brackettville, TX)
* Fort Colorado (in Austin, TX)
* Fort Concho (in San Angelo, TX)
* Fort Croghan (in Burnet, TX)
* Fort Davis (near Fort Davis, TX)
* Fort Duncan (near Eagle Pass, TX)
* Fort Elliott (near Mobeetie, TX)
* Fort Ewell (near Artesia Wells, TX)
* Fort Gates (near Gatesville, TX)
* Fort Graham (Under Lake Whitney. Partial historical reconstruction near Whitney, TX)
* Fort Griffin (Near Albany, TX)
* Fort Hancock (near Fort Hancock, TX)
* Fort Holland (near Valentine, TX)
* Fort Inge (near Uvalde, TX)
* Fort Lancaster (near Sheffield, TX)
* Fort Leaton (near Presidio, TX)
* Fort Lincoln (near D'Harris, TX)
* Fort Martin Scott (near Fredericksburg, TX)
* Fort Mason (near Mason, TX)
* Fort McKavett State Historic Site (near Fort McKavett, TX)
* Fort McIntosh (Laredo, TX)
* Fort Merrill (near Dinero, TX)
* Fort Parker (near Groesbeck, TX)
* Fort Phantom Hill (Near Abilene, TX)
* Fort Quitman (near McNary, Texas)
* Fort Richardson (Near Jacksboro, TX)
* Fort Ringgold (near Rio Grande City, TX)
* Fort D. A. Russell (near Marfa, TX)
* Sophienburg or Princess Sophia's Fort (in New Braunfels, TX)
* Fort Stockton (in Fort Stockton, TX)
* Fort Terrett (near Roosevelt, TX)
* Fort Worth

World War I

Prior to the World War I, revolutions in Mexico led to unrest along the US border, including Mexican raids on towns in the Southwest United States. This led to garrisoning by the US Army of camps and forts all along the Rio Grande river, Texas' border with Mexico.

Forts of this period include:
* Fort Bliss (near El Paso, TX)
* Fort Brown (in Brownsville, TX)
* Fort Clark (near Brackettville, TX)
* Fort Crockett (in Galveston, TX)
* Fort Duncan (near Eagle Pass, TX)
* Fort Holland (near Valentine, TX)
* Fort McIntosh (near Laredo, TX)
* Fort Ringgold (near Rio Grande City, TX)
* Fort D. A. Russell (near Marfa, TX)
* Fort Sam Houston (in San Antonio, TX)
* Fort San Jacinto (in Galveston, TX)
* Fort Travis (on Point Bolivar, TX)

Additionally, unfortified coastal artillery stations were established at key points on the Texas coast to prevent U-boats or commerce raiders from approaching Texas ports. This included Freeport, Sabine Pass and San Luis Pass.

World War II

During World War II, the US Army opened or expanded a number of bases and airfields for training. Extensive U-Boat activity in the Gulf of Mexico led to concern about naval raids on Texas ports and coastal cities by ships and submarines of the Axis powers.

Forts of this period include:
* Fort Bliss (near El Paso, TX)
* Fort Brown (in Brownsville, TX)
* Fort Clark (near Brackettville, TX)
* Fort Crockett (in Galveston, TX)
* Fort McIntosh (near Laredo, TX)
* Fort Sam Houston (in San Antonio, TX)
* Fort D. A. Russell (near Marfa, TX)
* Fort San Jacinto (in Galveston, TX)
* Fort Travis (on Point Bolivar, TX)

Additionally, unfortified coastal artillery stations were established at key points on the Texas coast to prevent U-boats or aircraft from approaching Texas ports. This included Sabine Pass, Port Arthur, Baytown, Freeport, Port Aransas, Port Isabel, and San Luis Pass. Also, a number of camps for prisoners of war were established.

Cold War

The emergence of nuclear weapons and a period of comparative tranquility amongst Texas' inhabitants and neighbors saw the end of conventional fortifications in Texas. However, forts in Texas served a home bases for major US Army units, and also served as important training areas for the US military and her various allies during the Cold War.

Forts of this period include:
* Fort Bliss (near El Paso, TX)
* Fort Hood (near Killeen, TX)
* Fort Sam Houston (in San Antonio, TX)

Twenty-first Century

Fort Bliss and Fort Hood remain the headquarters for major American army units, and both reservations remain important training areas for US and allied forces. Fort Sam Houston remains the home for the Army Medical Department. The US Navy retains a major training center at Corpus Christi, and the US Air Force has retained a small number of bases. Defense cutbacks have closed a large number of smaller bases and camps.

Due to continuing interest in the colorful history of Texas and her people, archaeological exploration of known and recently discovered historical forts continues.

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