Fort Martin Scott

Fort Martin Scott (1848-1853) (1866) - Established 5 Dec 1848 by Captain Seth Eastman (Cullum 562), 1st U.S. Infantry as Camp Houston and renamed in December 1849 for Major Martin Scott who was killed during the Mexican War at the battle of Molino del Rey, 8 Sep 1847. Sketch of what Fort Martin Scott looked like. Reconstructed Officers Quarters, Bldg. B. Fort Martin Scott Original Guard House. History The fort was one of 8 established after the Mexican War along the then western frontier. These forts were built under the command of Gen. George Mercer Brooke and served to establish Federal authority along the frontier. The forts were Fort Inge (1849-1869), Fort Lincoln (1) (1849-1852), Fort Martin Scott (1848-1866), Fort Croghan (1) (1849–1855), Fort Gates (1849-1852), Fort Graham (1849-1853), and Fort Worth (1849-1853). The fort was originally constructed to protect the Northern end of the Fredricksburg - San Antonio Road against the hostile Commanche Indians. German settlers had concluded a treaty with the Comanches in 1847 and there were no attacks on the fort. The fort was occupied by Federal troops from 1848-1853 and reoccupied by Federal troops after the U.S. Civil War in September 1866 but abandoned in December of that year. Current Status The fort site is owned by the city of Fredericksburg and operated by the Gillespie County Historical Society. The society has developed the property as a park and historic site and continues with archeological projects and historic renovations. The site has a visitor's center, two reconstructed officer's quarters, and the only remaining original building, the guardhouse. Location: On Baron's Creek 2.4 miles South of Fredericksburg, Gillespie County, Texas. Maps & Images Lat: 30.24984 Long: -98.84730 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 1,632' GPS Locations: 30.24984, -98.84730 Fort Martin Scott Sources: Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 769. Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 155 Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 163 Links: North American Forts - Fort Martin Scott The Texas Handbook OnLine - Fort Martin Scott Visited: 11 Oct 2007 Picture Gallery Entrance marker Texas Historical Marker at Fort Martin Scott Mac Burnett our guide Close up of reconstructed Officers Quarters, Bldg. B. Inside Officers Quarters, Bldg. B. Baron's Creek behind Fort Martin Scott Cells inside the restored Guardhouse Officer of the day room in the Fort Martin Scott Guardhouse Well at Fort Martin Scott Plan of Fort Martin Scott Parade ground at Fort Martin Scott