Transactions of the Regional Archeological Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: 2011 Page: 21
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Williams focused his research on interviews with old time ranchers of the area, the
geography of the area south of Sterling City, and the diary of the expedition. He had his project
published in the 1959 edition of The Southwestern Historical Quarterly and according to the
Director of the State Historical Association at the time, he spoke of Williams' essay favorably by
stating " Williams research should make a national monument out of the valley of the North
Concho."13 If his thesis is correct, it is highly probable that the first military forces to traverse
across the present Sterling County area were Coronado and his men. Given the fact that Tower
Hill is easily accessible, is the highest point of the surrounding landscape, and would offer an
excellent sentry post, it might be plausible that the procurement was first used by Europeans
under the command of this legendary Spanish explorer to scout the surrounding area for any
glistening shimmers of the cities made of gold.
In 1993, archeologist Andy Cloud visited the site and reported that, there had been
artifacts of Spanish origin found around Tower Hill.14 This may indicate a type of proof that the
site was used long before Texas or American troops began arriving in the region.
During the Republic of Texas days, 1836-1845, Texas Rangers were beginning to
infiltrate into the Concho country. It is said that the famous Jack Hays was in a large scale Indian
battle near present day Paint Rock'5 , but it was not until after the Mexican-American War that
both the Texas Rangers and the American Army began to establish outposts as far west as
present day Sterling County. A Ranger encampment known as Head of the North Concho was
established eleven miles northwest of Sterling City in 1852 and is today locally referred to as
Camp Elizabeth.16 That same year, the U.S. military established Camp Joseph E. Johnston near
present day Water Valley and is now known as Camp Concho.'7
Tower Hill is located only about twelve miles from Head of the North Concho and may
have served as a type of picket post for the Rangers.'8 However, there has been no evidence that
has yet to be discovered to prove that theory. During the Civil War, West Texas became a hostile
environment with numerous Indian tribes using the status-quo of the time to their advantage, in
trying to shove back the Anglo settlements that had moved further westward. Though Camp
Concho was still marked on military maps of the time, there is no indication of Head of the
North Concho or a camp in the Tower Hill area.19 Nonetheless, it is known from the muster rolls
of the Texas Rangers that Head of the North Concho was still in operation until 1863, when it
was ordered by the State of Texas, to abandon all frontier outposts that were not necessarily
needed for the protection of the more populated counties to the east such as Mason, Brown, and
San Saba.20
Since Tower Hill was correctly labeled on an 1867 military map, it is possible that after
the Civil War, the army knew the landmark well. This might indicate that the Texas troops that
were protecting the frontier during the war may have used the hill during that time period, but
after 1867, it was no longer needed. An article written by W.F. Kellis in 1936 for The Sterling
Courier states that "In the early 80's [1880's], some cowboys found eleven old muzzle-loading
gun barrels...one of these old gun barrels was loaded."2' Of these eleven muskets, two are on
display at the private museum of Sterling City resident Kay Davis, whose deceased husband was
an avid historian and archeologist.
21
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Transactions of the Regional Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: Index to Volumes 1-57 [1965-2024] (Book)
Index to the proceedings of the regional archeological symposium including separate lists by subject, title, author, and volume along with subject categories, a map of regions, and Texas county abbreviations.
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Robertson, Pinky. Transactions of the Regional Archeological Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: 2011, book, 2012; Midland, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1661492/m1/27/?rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies.