TexasEscapes.com  
HOME : : NEW : : TEXAS TOWNS : : GHOST TOWNS : : TEXAS HOTELS : : FEATURES : : COLUMNS : : BUILDINGS : : IMAGES : : ARCHIVE : : SITE MAP
PEOPLE : : PLACES : : THINGS : : HOTELS : : VACATION PACKAGES
TEXAS TOWNS
Texas Escapes
Online Magazine
Texas | Texas Towns A - Z

Goforth and Retreat
Towns as Oxymoron

Goforth, TX, Hays County, 1894 postmark
Cover cancelled with Goforth, Texas 1893 postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection

As a military command, it’s fairly safe to say that “Goforth and retreat!” was never uttered as such, yet history proves that in too many cases, in too many wars, armies had indeed gone forth – and were forced to retreat.

As small communities in Texas, the two had little in common and were roughly 130 miles apart (near neighbors using Texas standards). Both towns raised cotton and both lived in the shadows of their county seats. (San Marcos and Navasota, respectively.)

Goforth did not go forth and there’s nothing left of that place but a cemetery and a historical marker. On the other hand, Retreat did retreat (or else it’s regrouping). Retreat still has a few residents, although no one is sure of just how many.

Both towns have another connection – of being included in the John Germann collection of postal covers from discontinued post offices (DPOs) in Texas.

We published our page on Goforth some years ago and it has gathered several reader’s comments, Retreat is a new entry to Texas Escapes We hope that like readers from Hays County, readers from Grimes County will contribute their stories, connections and recollections of Retreat.

Retreat, Texas, Grimes County 1850s postmark
Cover cancelled with Retreat, Texas 1850s postmark
Courtesy The John J. Germann Collection
August 5, 2015

Related Topics:

Texas Towns | Texas Ghost Towns | Texas Counties | Texas | Texas Hotels

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

Custom Search
TEXAS ESCAPES CONTENTS
HOME | TEXAS ESCAPES ONLINE MAGAZINE | HOTELS | SEARCH SITE
TEXAS TOWN LIST | TEXAS GHOST TOWNS | TEXAS COUNTIES

Texas Hill Country | East Texas | Central Texas North | Central Texas South | West Texas | Texas Panhandle | South Texas | Texas Gulf Coast
TRIPS | STATES PARKS | RIVERS | LAKES | DRIVES | FORTS | MAPS

Texas Attractions
TEXAS FEATURES
People | Ghosts | Historic Trees | Cemeteries | Small Town Sagas | WWII | History | Texas Centennial | Black History | Art | Music | Animals | Books | Food
COLUMNS : History, Humor, Topical and Opinion

TEXAS ARCHITECTURE | IMAGES
Courthouses | Jails | Churches | Gas Stations | Schoolhouses | Bridges | Theaters | Monuments/Statues | Depots | Water Towers | Post Offices | Grain Elevators | Lodges | Museums | Rooms with a Past | Gargoyles | Cornerstones | Pitted Dates | Stores | Banks | Drive-by Architecture | Signs | Ghost Signs | Old Neon | Murals | Then & Now
Vintage Photos

TRAVEL RESERVATIONS | USA | MEXICO

Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Contributors | Staff | Contact TE
Website Content Copyright Texas Escapes. All Rights Reserved