Fort McKavett

Fort McKavett (1852-1859)(1868-1883) - Established by 5 companies of the 8th U.S. Infantry in March of 1852 to protect frontier settlers and travelers on Upper El Paso Road. First known as Camp San Saba, the camp was later renamed for Capt. Henry McKavett, killed at the battle of Monterey on 21 Sep 1846. The fort was abandoned Mar 1859 and reoccupied Apr 1868.

Fort McKavett History

Much of the post was in ruins when Fort McKavett reopened in 1868, and the troops lived in tents for the next year or two while the facilities were rebuilt under the command of Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie. The completed fort had four barracks, twelve officers' quarters, a magazine, a hospital, a guardhouse, a bakery, two storehouses, a post office, three stables, a headquarters building, a forage house, and a thirty-acre garden. Supplies for the fort were hauled by wagon from San Antonio.

First Sergeant Emanuel Stance of the 9th U.S. Cavalry, stationed at Fort McKavett in 1868, was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor in the Indian Wars. By the close of the Indian Wars, ten more Medals of Honor would be awarded to Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th U.S. Cavalry.

By 1880, the fort was no longer needed and was abandoned 30 Jun 1883.

Fort McKavett State Historical Park opened in 1968, and many of the buildings were acquired by the state and restored.

Fort McKavett was once called by General William T. Sherman "the prettiest post in Texas."

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Location: The park is located 23 miles west of Menard, Texas. Take US Highway 190 west of Menard for 17 miles, then go south on FM 864 for 6 miles to the park.

Maps & Images

Lat: 30.82918 Long: -100.10407

Multi Maps from ACME
Maps from Bing
Maps from Google
Elevation: 2155'

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 768
Texas State Park
History

Links:

Publications:

M. L. Crimmins, Fort McKavett, Texas, Southwestern Historical Quarterly 38, July 1934
Menard County Historical Society, Menard County History-An Anthology, San Angelo: Anchor, 1982
Vertical Files, Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin

Visited: 9 Nov 2009