Fort Hancock
Fort Hancock (1881-1895) - Established 15 Apr 1881 as Camp Rice by 1st Lt. S.L. Woodward, Co. K, 10th U.S. Cavalry as a subpost of Fort Davis. Name changed, 14 May 1886, to Fort Hancock for Maj. Gen Winfield Scott Hancock. Abandoned 5 Oct 1895.
History
Camp Rice was first established 6 miles northwest of Fort Quitman, moved to a location on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and finally moved to the higher ground still along the railroad. Four years later it was renamed Fort Hancock. The function was to protect the local area against hostile Indians and bandits coming across the Rio Grande.
Current Status
Only markers remain and their location does not match the expected and old map locations of Camp Rice or Fort Hancock.
Location: East of the town of Fort Hancock, Hudspeth County, Texas. Map pin locations approximate.
Lat: 31.29986 Long: -105.84399 Elevation: 3' Bing, Google
GPS Locations:
31.30276, -105.87851
31.27459, -105.83319
Sources:
- Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 151.
- Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 160.
- 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 764.
- The Texas Handbook Online.
Links:
Picture Gallery
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Fort Hancock Marker Locale, Chili Pepper Field in Background
Related
10th U.S. Cavalry, Camp Rice, Fort Davis, Fort Hancock, Fort Quitman, Forts of the West, New or Updated Forts and Camps, Tour Guide to Old Western Forts,