Category:Fort Davis: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mNo edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
{{Clr}} | {{Clr}} | ||
==The First Fort Davis (1854-1862)== | ==The First Fort Davis (1854-1862)== | ||
The first Fort Davis was initially commanded by Ltc. [[Washington Seawell]] and manned by 6 companies of the [[8th U.S. Infantry]]. Ltc. Seawell commanded the first Fort Davis for most of the years between 1854 and | The first Fort Davis was initially commanded by Ltc. [[Washington Seawell]] and manned by 6 companies of the [[8th U.S. Infantry]]. Ltc. Seawell commanded the first Fort Davis for most of the years between 1854 and 1860. The fort was a large and important post in the southwest and often contained more than 400 officers and enlisted men. In 1861 the fort was abandoned by Union forces and occupied by units of the [[2nd Texas Mounted Rifles]]. In Aug 1862 Union forces regained control of the fort but did not occupy it until 1867, well after the conclusion of the [[U.S. Civil War]]. | ||
==The Second Fort Davis (1867-1891)== | ==The Second Fort Davis (1867-1891)== | ||
The fort was reoccupied in Jun 1867 by four troops of the [[9th U.S. Cavalry]] under Ltc. [[Wesley Merritt]]. At that point in time the [[9th U.S. Cavalry]] was composed of white officers and Negro enlisted men. Col. Merritt began the construction of a new stone fort on a plan that envisioned a row of 19 officers quarters facing a row of 6 barracks across a 500 foot long parade ground with supply and | The fort was reoccupied in Jun 1867 by four troops of the [[9th U.S. Cavalry]] under Ltc. [[Wesley Merritt]]. At that point in time the [[9th U.S. Cavalry]] was composed of white officers and Negro enlisted men. Col. Merritt began the construction of a new stone fort on a plan that envisioned a row of 19 officers quarters facing a row of 6 barracks across a 500 foot long parade ground with supply and administrative buildings on either end. The new fort was located closer to the mouth of the canyon that had contained the original fort.<br> | ||
Construction on the new fort was halted in March of 1869 and only 2 barracks and 10 sets of officers quarters were built and occupied. Few stone buildings were constructed. Additional facilities were built during the 1880's to house increasing troop levels and by 1890 more than 60 buildings and such amenities as an ice plant, gas street lamps and a water system were in place. | Construction on the new fort was halted in March of 1869 and only 2 barracks and 10 sets of officers quarters were built and occupied. Few stone buildings were constructed. Additional facilities were built during the 1880's to house increasing troop levels and by 1890 more than 60 buildings and such amenities as an ice plant, gas street lamps and a water system were in place. | ||
==Fort Davis Commanders¹== | |||
{|border="1" | {|border="1" | ||
|-valign="top" | |-valign="top" | ||
| Line 105: | Line 79: | ||
|[[8th U.S. Infantry]] | |[[8th U.S. Infantry]] | ||
|Jan. 23, 1861—Apr. 13, 1861. | |Jan. 23, 1861—Apr. 13, 1861. | ||
|- | |||
|colspan="4"| | |||
---- | |||
|- align="top" | |- align="top" | ||
|[[Reuben E Mays]] | |[[Reuben E Mays]] | ||
| Line 115: | Line 92: | ||
|[[2nd Texas Mounted Rifles|2nd Texas Mtd Rifles]] | |[[2nd Texas Mounted Rifles|2nd Texas Mtd Rifles]] | ||
|August 1861—August 1862. | |August 1861—August 1862. | ||
|- | |||
|colspan="4"| | |||
---- | |||
|- align="top" | |- align="top" | ||
|[[Wesley Merritt]] | |[[Wesley Merritt]] | ||
| Line 459: | Line 439: | ||
|} | |} | ||
|} | |} | ||
'''¹from Utley''' | |||
==Current Status== | ==Current Status== | ||
Fort Davis National Historic Site was established on July 14, 1963 and is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. | Fort Davis National Historic Site was established on July 14, 1963 and is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. | ||
Revision as of 16:05, 5 January 2007
Fort Davis (1854-1862)(1867-1891) - Established on the order of General Persifor F Smith on 23 Oct 1854 and named after the then Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis. The fort provided protection for the San Antonio - El Paso road which was a major link on the southern route to California.
The First Fort Davis (1854-1862)
The first Fort Davis was initially commanded by Ltc. Washington Seawell and manned by 6 companies of the 8th U.S. Infantry. Ltc. Seawell commanded the first Fort Davis for most of the years between 1854 and 1860. The fort was a large and important post in the southwest and often contained more than 400 officers and enlisted men. In 1861 the fort was abandoned by Union forces and occupied by units of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles. In Aug 1862 Union forces regained control of the fort but did not occupy it until 1867, well after the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War.
The Second Fort Davis (1867-1891)
The fort was reoccupied in Jun 1867 by four troops of the 9th U.S. Cavalry under Ltc. Wesley Merritt. At that point in time the 9th U.S. Cavalry was composed of white officers and Negro enlisted men. Col. Merritt began the construction of a new stone fort on a plan that envisioned a row of 19 officers quarters facing a row of 6 barracks across a 500 foot long parade ground with supply and administrative buildings on either end. The new fort was located closer to the mouth of the canyon that had contained the original fort.
Construction on the new fort was halted in March of 1869 and only 2 barracks and 10 sets of officers quarters were built and occupied. Few stone buildings were constructed. Additional facilities were built during the 1880's to house increasing troop levels and by 1890 more than 60 buildings and such amenities as an ice plant, gas street lamps and a water system were in place.
Fort Davis Commanders¹
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
¹from Utley
Current Status
Fort Davis National Historic Site was established on July 14, 1963 and is administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
|
{"selectable":false,"width":"500"} |
Location: Located just north of the town of Fort Davis in west Texas off Hwy 17 and 118. Maps & Images Lat: 30.598616 Long: -103.892233 |
Links:
Sources:
- Utley, Robert M., Fort Davis: National Historic Site Texas, National Park Service Historical Handbook Series 38, Washington, D.C. 1965
Visited: 23 May 1986
Picture Gallery
|
Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! |
-
Fort Davis Hospital, 1986 -
Fort Davis Officer's Row, 1986
This category currently contains no pages or media.