Fort Ewell
Fort Ewell (1852-1854) - Established 18 May 1852 by Ltc. William W. Loring, U.S. Mounted Riflemen, and named for Capt. Richard S. Ewell who was a veteran of the mexican war,then 1st lieutenant of the 1st U.S. Dragoons. It was commanded by Captain John Smith Simonson and occupied by three companies of the U.S. Mounted Riflemen, E, G, and I.
Fort Ewell History
Fort Ewell was located on the south bank of the Nueces River where it crossed the road from San Antonio to Laredo. The location was poorly chosen because of frequent flooding and a lack of proper building materials and forage for the animals. The fort was constructed of soft adobe walled buildings most with canvas roofs. The poor conditions, lack of food and timber, and incidences of disease caused the fort to be ordered abandoned in December 1853 and by October 1854 it was abandoned. The settlement that formed around the fort remained until the mid-1880's when it too was abandoned. Confederates occupied the site in 1864 as a supply depot.
Current Status
No physical remains are left of any buildings, as 150 years of wind and rain will wear down anything made of adobe if not managed. The site is dominated by mesquite trees and other thick brush.
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Location: Located approximately 25 miles Southeast of Cotulla, Texas on the South bank of the Nueces River where it was crossed by the old San Antonio-Laredo Road. Maps & Images Lat: 28.144357 Long: -99.032049 |
Sources:
- Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 150
- The Handbook of Texas OnLine
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