Fort Lancaster (1)

Fort Lancaster (1) (1855-1865) (1871-1874) - Established 20 Aug 1855 by Capt. Stephen D. Carpenter (Cullum 1051), 1st U.S. Infantry to guard the lower San Antonio - El Paso Military Road. Abandoned by Union troops in 1861 to Confederate forces at the beginning of the U.S. Civil War. Re-garrisoned by Federal troops in 1871 and abandoned in 1873 or 1874. Fort Lancaster Soldiers Quarters Ruins Fort Lancaster Soldiers Quarters Ruins History Fort Lancaster was one of the most remote posts in a chain of forts guarding the lower San Antonio - El Paso Military Road before the U.S. Civil War. It was evacuated by Federal troops 19 Mar 1861 and occupied by Confederate troops during the U.S. Civil War. The fort was reoccupied by Federal troops in 1871 and abandoned in 1873 or 1874. Current Status Fort Lancaster State Historic Site, operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife, is 81.6 total acres located west of Ozona in Crockett County. It was acquired April 16, 1968, by deed from Crockett County and private owners. In 1975, Henry Meadows donated 41 more acres of land, which included the sites of a sutler store. The site contains the ruins of 29 buildings and a cemetery. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location:Located 8 miles east of Sheffield, off Interstate 10 on US Highway 290 (Scenic Loop). Take Exit #343 and follow US Highway 290 to the park. Maps & Images Lat: 30.66676 Long: -101.69649 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 2348' Sources: Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 162 Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 153 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 767-768 Texas Handbook OnLine Publications: Lawrence John Francell, Fort Lancaster: Texas Frontier Sentinel, ISBN 0-87611-173-8 Links: North American Forts - Fort Lancaster Fort Lancaster State Historic Site TexasBob.com Visited: 9 Nov 2009 Fort Lancaster (1) Picture Gallery Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better! Fort Lancaster Entrance Sign Fort Lancaster Parade Ground Flag Pole Fort Lancaster Marker Fort Lancaster Visitor Center Stagecoach Fort Lancaster Soldier Barracks Ruins Fort Lancaster Visitor Center Fort Lancaster Wagon Parts Fort Lancaster Ruins, Texas Parks and Wildlife photo Fort Lancaster by Government Draughtsman