Fort Chadbourne

Fort Chadbourne (1852-1868) - A U.S. Army post established in 1852, by Captain John Beardsley, 8th U.S. Infantry. It was named for 2nd Lt. Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne, 8th U.S. Infantry, West Point Class of 1845, who was killed 9 May 1846 at the battle of Resaca de la Palma in the Mexican War.

Fort Chadbourne History

A U.S. Army post established 28 Oct 1852, by Captain John Beardsley and companies A and K of the 8th U.S. Infantry. Intended to protect a part of the trail to Santa Fe. Built on the Butterfield Overland Mail route, it was originally called Camp on Oak Creek. It was surrendered to Confederate Col. Henry E. McCulloch on 23 Mar 1861. Fort Chadbourne was occupied briefly by United States troops after the U.S. Civil War on 25 May 1867 but lack of water forced its abandonment in 1868 and the troops were transferred to Fort Concho.

Current Status

Stabilization of the site is underway and several buildings have been restored. The site owners are donating Fort Chadbourne to the newly formed Fort Chadbourne Foundation. Fort Chadbourne is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public.

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Location: on Oak Creek near what is now U.S. Highway 277 eleven miles northeast of Bronte in extreme northeast Coke County, Texas. Maps & Images Lat: 32.0345822 Long: -100.244817 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 1962'

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 757
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 156
• Arrie Barrett, Western Frontier Forts of Texas, 1845-1861, West Texas Historical Association Year Book 7, 1931
• M. L. Crimmins, Experiences of an Army Surgeon at Fort Chadbourne, West Texas Historical Association Yearbook 15, 1939
• John Leeds Kerr and Frank Donovan, Destination Topolobampo: The Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway, San Marino, California: Golden West, 1968
• Jewell G. Pritchett, From the Top of Old Hayrick: A Narrative History of Coke County, Abilene, Texas: Pritchett, 1980

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Chadbourne
• Texas Handbook - Fort Chadbourne
• Fort Chadbourne Site]

Visited: 16 Nov 2011

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