| |
 |
Fort
Belknap History in a Pecan Shell
Founded in late June 1851, where the present-day town of Newcastle
stands, it was named after General William G. Belknap.
When the
fort's commanding officer (Captain C. L. Stephenson) ordered essential water wells
to be dug, they gave up at 66 feet and moved the fort to springs that were flowing
alongside the relatively nearby Brazos River.
Shelter was crude at first
but stone buildings eventually were built. The fort housed four companies of soldiers
and was the northern-most anchor in the chain that spread from the Rio Grande
to the Red River. The fort did not fit the standard image of a frontier fort since
it lacked defensive works such as walls, berms or trenches. No assault was anticipated
and the troops first order of business was to pursue bands of Indians who preyed
on local settlers.
The presence of the fort bolstered confidence with
settlers who arrived in such numbers that it necessitated the organization of
several neighboring counties. The fort was on The Butterfield Overland Stage Route,
which carried passengers and mail between St. Louis to San Francisco.
In anticipation of hostilities, all Federal troops were marched to Fort Leavenwoth,
Kansas and Gen. David E. Twiggs (in San Antonio) surrendered all U.S. property
to the Confederacy in February of 1861.
The remains of the abandoned
fort were occasionally occupied by Texas Frontier troops, after the war but it
was abandoned permanently in late 1867 with the establishment of Fort
Griffin - outside of Albany, Texas
(Shackleford County).
In 1936 to celebrate the Texas
Centennial, some of the fort's buildings were rebuilt and in the 1970s one
of the buildings has been home to the Fort Belknap Archives. The former infantry
barracks are now in use as a community center. |
Fort
Belknap
Texas Historic Landmarks |
Old
Fort Belknap Powder Magazine
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Old
Fort Belknap Powder Magazine plaque
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Original
stone houses in Fort Belknap
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Camp
Belknap Confederate Memorial
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Fort Belknap Chronicles:Fishing
Soldier by Mike Cox
When a wagon full of soldiers rolled out of old Fort
Belknap early one spring morning in 1867 flanked by horseback troopers, while
doubtless armed, they were not starting out on a scout for Indians... |
|
|
