Category:Fort Brown
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Fort Brown (1834-1836) - Named for Maj. Jacob Brown who was killed at Fort Brown (then Fort Texas) in 1846.
Early Years (1834-1836)
Mexican War (1846-1848)
In 1845 when Mexican officials rejected U.S. President James K. Polk's offer to buy western lands he ordered U.S. troops into the disputed region between Texas and Mexico increasing the likelihood that Mexican troops would cross the Rio Grande and strike the first blows.
In March 1846 General Zachary Taylor's army of 3,000 crossed the Nueces River and marched south. The army stopped at a bluff beside a bend in the river, directly across from Matamoros. Seeing the U.S. soldiers, many of the 20,000 residents fled south, leaving behind a population of about 4,000 and the Mexican army.
Fort Texas, as it was first named, was an earthen structure with walls 15 feet wide shaped into a six-sided star. The finished walls stood nine to 10 feet tall. Chief engineer Captain Joseph K.F. Mansfield followed a plan calling for hollowing out a ditch about eight feet deep and 15 to 22 feet wide, creating another defense around the fort perimeter. A draw bridge spanned the ditch, and a gate was placed at the entrance. The fort projected out to form palisades at each of the star's six points where soldiers placed cannons with barrels facing every possible approach, including Mexican gun emplacements on the opposite side of the Rio Grande. Sandbags stacked around the weapons gave added protection against incoming shells.
The provocation came as a U.S. patrol led by Captain Seth Thornton was ambushed by Mexican troops under General Anastasio Torrejon and the President asked Congress for a declaration of war which was quickly passed by both houses.
Mexican forces began a seige of the incomplete fort on 3 May 1846 bombarding the fort with artillery. The U.S. artillery replied with great effect. Lieutenant Braxton Bragg, who later became a Confederate general, directed the U.S. artillery that fired on Ampudia’s troops. Capt. Jacob Brown was killed in one of the artillery exchanges and the Fort was later named for him. Fifteen soldiers in the Fort Texas siege were later Civil War officers, including George Thomas, John Reynolds and Lafayette McClaws. Lt. Ulysses S. Grant was also part of Taylor's expedition.
Taylor had previously set out for Fort Polk at Point Isabel to strengthening its defenses, after several days he began a return march to relieve the seige at Fort Texas. Returning he was obliged to fight his way back at the battle of Palo Alto on 8 May 1846. Upon his return to Fort Brown he learned of Maj. Jacob Brown's death and named the Fort after him.
Taylor's forces move on into Mexico and eventually ended the Mexican war by capturing Mexico City on 14 Sep 1847. Fort Brown served as a supply post and way station for the Mexican expedition but saw no further action.
U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)
Location: Northeastern Houston County, Texas
- Latitude: 31.5025
- Longitude: -95.40167
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, which had come under Mexican bombardment. Taylor won the wars with Mexico and became a national hero while stationed at Fort Brown.
Zachery Taylor became a legend while occupying Fort Texas, (Fort Brown). He became know as "Old Rough and Ready". There is a lot more about this fort but these are it's main reasons for being in existence. It just seems to of been forgotten in a lot of circles.
Pages in category "Fort Brown"
The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total.