The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 7, 1929 Page: 12 of 18
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Rockdale Reporter and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
. -yrymn^m^, - w^rjpk
P? .
.
B ®~ 2E
i ^
B * ?
ifl
| nf'ik
I' ' iJI
m
x:
■ Mil
411
Si
I
5 $
il;li
in
fll
piii
\
ill
177 ;t
t
H
J]
L ..
e Old Lin
Texas F orts
Hy WILLIAM C. STEWART
jHE leading officers of the Confed-
eracy cut their war-teeth in
r-» j Texas.
LS'—1 'i'Ho elastic line of frontier
forts, ever advancing westward, proved
a valuable training school for the men
who were to command both the gray
and the blue in the conflict between the
States.
Lee, Johnston, Forrest, Sherman,
Longstreet, and a host of other Civil
War officers saw service in Texas at
one time or another in the two decades
preceding the war.
Today all but two or three of these
forts are crumbling piles of ruins, mute
reminders of a picturesque past, when
the Indian was a national problem.
From the time when Texas became a
State until the HO’s the United States
government, maintained these outposts
to guard settlers. The line of forts drew
back during the Civil War but imme-
diately thereafter bounded forward
again. Two or four companies occupied
each fort, with commissary’ officers’
quarters, barracks, hospital and maga-
zine.
approacning travelers appeared to be a
mirage.
A soldier set fire to it the night it was
abandoned ; his reason for doing so is un-
known. Hut the tall chimneys remained
standing, gaunt and forbidding, to be
heartily cursed by many deluded travel-
of the United States when the Civil War I Uvalde county, /ort ^ncha Tom , His^,1”
broke out. He was Lieut. Richard W. Green county, X87Cl; Fort Grttln. ! returned to r ortMaMnaaj
Johnson, made a major at ChU-kamauga. coun y 18«- attend to^ersonal affairs, went h
Major Lari Van Dorn, veteran of the 18sH. holt OaUa, a«. : artinwtnn. near the national
Mexican War, was there until the Mor- 03; Fort Graham. Hill county, 1848-53; Arlington, near -
Fort Worth, Tarrant county. 1848; Fort j v\ hile there ne was oidered to
“Old I’hantom Hill"
men trouble arose.
Capt. Theodore O’Hara, author of
"«he 1‘rvouac uf tlif I)c«tl.’ was <> ( amp
Colorado officer. Gen. John 1>. Hood,
famous Texas leader in the Civil War,
Richardson. Jack county, 1867-76; Fort charge ot a battallion of marines
Elliot, in the Panhandlee, 1876. tr*-p* of the regular army and
In addition to the forts there were j to Harpers; Perry, where John Brown,<
many camps and quarters. abolitionist fame, w’as holding forth j
#11si;ii
.loiitvs of the past.” and that "pale Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Confederate leader these Port Griffin, in Shackelford coun-i ment ot - s .111 iyer j1 ®wa8
ivouas fires are lighted, and those and later governor of Virginia, Spanish ty, Vfas important as a butfalo hunting called to ’ as”1T^^°*l» ®ttere(' the con
American War leader and Governor center. mand ot the V.1)],*states I
General of Cuba; Brig. Gen. James P. Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate ret used it. April he offered]
Major, Confederate; Gen. George B. chief, then a topographical engineer, resignation anil Jetteraon Davis pj^
Crosby, Confederate. came to Texas in 1846. From San An- him in command ot the Army of Virgin
__ tonio h e advanced | seven days later.
SPM
Noted Officers of the Texas Forts
Fort Phantom Hill and Fort Belknap,
both in North Central Texas, were es-
tablished in 1851, and Fort Chadbourne,
named for Theodore L. Chadbourne, was
const rut ted the following year. Gon-
Fitzliugh Lee and Major George Thomas
were noted commanders at Chadbourne,
Fort < hadhourne, located in Runnels
county, in Central Texas, was on the
Butterfield stage lino from St. Louis to
San Francisco, and saw palmy days dur-
ing the California gold rush, only to be
abandoned during the Civil War.
Fort Concho was established in an
adjoining county, then known as Toni
Green, and was the headquarters for
cattle trail drivers and buffalo hunters.
Col, J. J. Abercrombie was the first
commander of Fort I’hantom Hill,
around which many legends have been
gloomy chimneys glow, while the griz-
zled veterans muster from tin* taps of
long ago,” waiting for their last review.
Gen. W. G. Belknap laid out Fort Belk-
nap in June, 1851, __1_______
and soon afterward
started for Indian
Territory, but died
eleven days later.
The fort overlooked
the Brazos River,
i n d many Argo-
j nauls on their way
: to the Gold Coast,
tired, discouraged,
! abandoned t h eir
I long trek and set-
j t led t li e r e. T h o
Brazos Indian Re-
| serve was placed a
! short (list a n c c
j sold Invest.
! Mark Rapier and
i other famous gen-
| (lemon gamblers"
stayed for a time at Belknap and en-
larged th(> store of anecdotes told this
rlay by frontiersmen. From here Gen.
Albert Sydney Johnston, to be heard
| from later in the Civil War. started to
Utah to aid in stamping out the Mormon
Rebellion. The revolt was over before he
reached Utah, but. U. S. soldiers were
stationed in that, section. Belknap was
to the Rio Grande
a n (1 crossed t h e
river at Presido, of
San Juan Bautista.
Oct. 11, 1846. en
route to Monclova,
Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston.
the hou*u> occupied by (icncral itobt. K, Leo, at Old Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, Texas, in
I860, when he was an officer nt (his fort.
Major Conies to Rescue of Ross
woven, and was succeeded by Col. Carlos
Waite, Major ('aide Sibley and
Lieut
(-. Givens.
A waning water supply caused aban-
donment of the fort in 1854. Givens bred
famous fox hounds, which were sold all
over the United States. The fort was
given its name because it could be seen
for forty or fifty miles on the bleak al-
kali mesa of Jones county and to many
abandoned during the Civil War.
Camp Colorado
Camp Colorado was established in
1856, six miles north of 1 ho Colorado
River, on the road from Fort Belknap to
Fort Mason and the following year was
moved over to Jim Ned Creek in Cole-
man county. Many prominent soldiers
were stationed at. Camp Colorado, and
only a single officer espoused the cause
It was Major who shot an Indian
about to kill Captain L. 8. Ross after
Ross had been shot in the raid on the
Comanche Indians, at which time Cyn-
thia Ann Parker was captured. The
Parker expedition, with Ross and Van
Dorn leading, was organized at Camp
Colorado.
There were a number of other impor-
tant Texas forts, with location and date
of establishment as follows: Fort Bliss,
El Paso county, 1848; Fort Davis, Jeff
Davis county, 1855; Fort Stockton,
Pecos county, 1859; Fort McKavett,
Menard, 1863; Fort Mason, Mason
county, 1848 (uncertain); Fort Clark
and Fort McIntosh, both on the border
and established in 1850; Fort Inge,
eluding Gen. Beau-
regard, who cleared
a way for the Unit-
ed States army un-
der General Win-
field Scott to ad-
vance through Cerro
Gordo Pass after the
capture of Vera
C r u z during the
Mexican war. Santa
A n n a was en-
trenched in the rocky pass which barred
the way to Mexico City. Lee and Beau-
regard found a way around, and Santa
Anna was attacked, defeated with great
losses, and driven from his stronghold.
Lee Campaigns Against the Comanches.
Advanced from captain of Topograph-
ical Engineers to Lieut.-Col. of Second
Dragoons, Lee in 1856 left San Antonio
for Fort Mason, to join Col. Albert Syd-
ney Johnston. During the same year he
camped with Major Hardee and six com-
panies on the Clear Creek fork of the
Brazos and later was at Camp Cooper in
Jones county, campaigning against the
Comanches.
In October he raced 730 miles across
the State to Ringgold Barracks, now
Fort Ringgold, at Rio Grande City, to be
a member of a general court martial.
Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston, ami
of attainments matching those of
according to Hergesheimer, "lived ii
died under a lonely and dark star—L
Mexico. He was one : sign 0f an early harassed Texas whici
)f the engineers, in- l ultimately became its symbol in
Johnston,
Epoch in Pioneer Transportation
Hy M. K. WYATT.
NCLUDED in the romantic history
of early days, is the fact that the
first overland mail route to con-
nect the east and the west of what,
is now t he United States passed through
■iouthoru part of Oklahoma and the
western part of Texas at the time tin*
route was established, in 1858.
The route was proposed and selected
by John Butterfield and his associates
who were William B. Dinsrnore, William
G. Fargo, James V. I’. Gardner, Marcus
L. Kin,von, Alexander Holland and Ham-
ilton Spencer, and was to operate in
competition with the mail route pre-
viously used which was by way of water
to the Isthmus of Panama, across Pan-
ama and then again by water to Cali-
fornia.
The passage of the mail route marked
a substantial epoch in the history of
the Southwest. The greater part of the
territory was unpeopled and those few
who were here gazed in wonder at the
fast speeding "spring wagons” carrying
conveniently four passengers and their
baggage, together with five or six hun-
dred pounds of mail matter.
Tribune was outspoken in its condemna-
tion of the route and labeled it. as "one
ol the greatest swindles ever perpetrat-
ed upon the country by the slavehold-
ers.”
The criticism was answered by the
postmaster general, who told of the
failure of other routes, lie said that
repeated failure of the mail to and from
Salt Lake City was difficult, due to
crossing the Rocky Mountains in the
deep snow and that the Albuquerque
route was also cold and disagreeable for
passengers. The southern route, cross-
ing the Indian Territory and by way of
El Paso, was described by him as being
"safe, comfortable and'certain through-
out every season of the year."
by a chain of living
can never be broken.”
Americans which
Spring Wagons Carry Mail.
The line was equipped at first with
the famous Concord spring wagons.
Later more commodious coaches were
used which carried from six to nine pas-
sengers on the inside and one to ten
on the outside. The teams usually con-
sisted of four horses or mules, but on
the more difficult stretches additional
animals were used.
Travelers paid dearly for a trip over
the marked but unimproved Southwest-
ern Trail. The through fare eastward
was $100.00, and from St. Louis or
Memphis to the Golden Gate
was
dinn Territory and Texas with scarcely
a mishap; though occasionally coaches
were attacked by Comanche and Apache
Indians.
A few years prior to the outbreak of
the war between the States this route
was one of continuous criticism and ef-
forts were made to change it to a more
northerly route or to get the contract
cancelled. This was finally accomplish-
ed in 1863.
igif
f:
w
Route Proposed.
The route which wits selected was
nearly 11,800 miles long and was in the
form of a semi-circle from St. Louis,
Mo., to San Francisco, Cal. From St.
Louis the route went 160 miles due west
to Tipton, Mo., thence south to Spring-
field, Mo., over the Ozark mountains to
Fayetteville, Ark., thence to Fort Smith,
where the mail from Memphis was met.
The route then proceeded through the
Choctaw country to Boggy Depot and
crossed Red River into Texas at Col-
bert's Ferry. It passed directly west
through Sherman, Gainesville, Fort
Belknap, Fort Chadbourne, Texas, and
oil to El Paso, Texas; from there it went
into New Mexico, Arizona and- on to
California, where it turned north to
Los Angeles and San Francisco.
A six-year contract was given Butter-
field and his associates, starting Sep-
tember 15, 1857. Nine bids were re-
ceived, from which the Butterfield
Stations Provided.
The route was
named the "Over-
land Pacific.” and
at intervals of ten
and twenty miles
along the long
st ret dies relay sla-
t ions were provided
and wells of water
sunk. At these
places mail could
be collected or de-
posited and fresh
teams and drivers
secured.
The first of the
mail coaches left
St. Louis and San
Francisco simul-
taneously. Under
the contract the
trip was to be
made in less than
twenty-five days.
The first mail
from the east came
through in 28 days and 23 hours. The
first mail from the west made a little
better time and came through in 23 days
and four hours. This "fast” schedule so
(dated Mr. Butterfield that he at once
telegraphed the president of the United
States, James Buchanan. The message
read: "The Overland Mail arrived today
at St. Louis front San Francisco in
Trails Tortuous and Dangerous.
Drivers of the Overland Mail guided
their four strong horses, or mules, over
rough desert land, through tortuous
trails, fording dangerous streams, un-
aware that they were t he betting target
of the big men of
A';'
the East.
It was in 1858
that a wager was
made between
Thomas Janes of
the Wells Fargo
Express Company
and Commodore
Vanderbilt that
the Overland Mail,
leaving St. Louis
on Marc h 14,
would make better
time on its route
to the Pacific
coast than the
"Northern Lights,"
a ship that; sailed
from New York on
March 10. The lat-
ter only carried
passengers as far
as the Isthmus of
Panama, where
mail route of almost 3,000 miles, to hisj
New York friends, made the acquain
tanco of Captain Harrison, commande
of a big liner and also well known ill
New York commercial circles.
The meeting look place at a dinner!
of prominent. New Yorkers. As was cus
tomary when Butterfield was one of a
party, the conversation veered aroiin
to the new West and the Overland Mail
Texas mules, used chiefly in handlinj
the mails, came in for t heir share of in
terest. Captain Harrison, not to be outs
done by bragadocio talk, after smokin
and listening in silence till he
weary of mule talk and the glories
an unknown country, called attentio
to his enormous 20,000-ton steamer,
marking in a casual and off-hand man
ner that his vessel could go all the wa
round South America and make fast
time than any mule or animal on foot.
“Later mnre commodious conches wore used, which carried from six to nine passengers.'
route was given preference by Postman- twenty-three days and four hours. The
ter General Brown, who did not escape
severe criticism at the hands of those
who opposed the southern route and ad-
vocated a more direct route that, would
carry the mail through Salt Lake City,
or by way of Albuquerque. The Chicago
stage brought through six passengers.”
The president wired back, "I congratu-
late you. It is a glorious triumph for
civilization and the Union. Settlements
will soon follow the course of the road
and east and west will be bound together
$200.00. In January, 1859, the fare
eastward was raised to $200.00, but was
reduced in May to $150. The fares did
not include meals, which cost from 75
cents to $1.00 each. Passengers were
allowed to carry forty pounds of bag-
gage without extra cost.
Although the Overland Mail was
looked upon in the beginning as ex-
tremely impractical and hazardous as
compared* with the ocean route, it stead-
ily gained in favor until the Civil War
disturbances came on. Its service at
that time was considered admirable; its
schedule was one of the wonders of that
age; its coaches rumbled through In-
that carried them
on by way of another steamer to San
J* ran cisco. Janes wagered $5,000 against
a pair of racing horses owned by Van-
derbilt and valued at $10,000.
The bet created considerable notice
and a great amount of interest, but
Janes was doomed
for on April*Ti aT 10 !” lurnin* out 11,000 horse power,*
steamer docked -it ,1ff 1 ,n Per*ect readiness, steamed out of N*
f i San *r»ncIsco; al- York harbor on »*h*Ani* fim. Ever
most twenty-four hours later, on April
•!’ !e ()verland Mail came dashing into
its San rrancisco station.
, f. \n. th(' summer of 1859 John Butter-
field who never tired of telling stories
ot the great and wonderful West and
incidentally boasting of his stupendous
man of her picked crew felt a Pers0*L
interest in the great liner and the $100,*
000 bet.
Across barren prairies of the
West, up mountain sides and *
treacherous streams, raced the str
(Continued on Page 4, Column 5)
li;,
■ III liftiiiCrtn
VOIH' I
United States.” Johnston, native
Kentucky, was educated at West Poin
refused leadership of several revolutio
ary armies, offended Gen. WinfL
Scott—"Old Fuss and Feathers"—an
eventually was sent to Jackson
racks, below St. Louis. He marrie
fought in the Black Hawk "war," wetii
to New Orleans and rosigned his eomn
mission at the request of his wife, at(
"immeasurable calamity.”
Stephen F. Austin and Mr. DangerJ
field went to Louisville, told of
struggles of Texas. Johnston gave then
money. On July 13, 1836, he crossed th
Sabine River, and proceeding to Naco.
doches, met Gen. Sam Houston and of
fered Ins sword to Texas. He joined
cavalry as a private, being one of
few soldiers possessing a horse. '
Thomas J. Rusk offered him post of ad-|
jutant general. President Burnet mad
him a colonel and Houston appoint
him major. Johnston was sent to Nm
Orleans and Rusk resigned his comman
to Felix Huston. Burnet, reduced Hustoii
and put Johnston in charge of the army,|
When Johnston returned from Louis
iaim Huston challenged him to a ditelj
Johnston was wounded in the hipilurinj
the exchange of shots, and was iamefo
(Continued on Phro 4, Column 5)
ms
leans
8t 8p
nous
|he Ei
In Ma
then I
Thei
I Pa
haps
ft Bill
fnd ra
lyes,
[ulphu
i to I
Wager Stands.
Butterfield was quick to take up th(j
captain’s wager and exclaimed in excit®
meat, “I’ll bet you can’t!”
“How much will you bet?” asked Cap
lain Harrison, and he answered: "0n«j
hundred thousand dollars,” which wa
greeted by the guests with laughter and|
joking. The bet stood, howevei*. and
forfeit then and there posted. Nothin!
up to that time had ever been built
created that could surpass in speed Har-|
rison’s mammoth sea vessel.
Three months’ preparation whs n«k«
by Butterfield before launching th
spectacular cross-country race,
was granted and during that time til
owners of the Overland Mail route ppf’r
$50,000 in new equipment. New coachfi
. . | were bought and placed at a number o
t i c necessary | the stations to be held in readiness fo
< mnge was made any emergency. Only experienced driv*]
ors were selected to handle the toUfr
Texas mules. Both horses and mul®
were relieved at the relay stations.
The great Eastern steam vessel, m*n
ned by Captain Harrison, was without
a peer on the vast sea. Her 7,000 y®1*, |
of sail and her eight engines, capwlj
1C
»wk p
»rl.v da
»nted f
pt loot
F Pawn
ned t
the h
and
liC!
| This h
k
acted
th<
ei
re w
MLfi
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Cooke, John Esten. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 57, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 7, 1929, newspaper, March 7, 1929; Rockdale, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth742803/m1/12/?rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.