First Crossing of Devils River facts for kids
The First Crossing of Devils River was an important spot where the San Antonio–El Paso Road crossed the Devils River. This historic crossing was about 10 miles west of San Felipe Springs, right where San Pedro Creek meets the Devils River. It was also about 2.5 miles southeast of Painted Caves, a well-known camping spot on California Creek. Today, this original crossing point and the valley leading to it are underwater, covered by Lake Amistad.
A Journey Through History
In 1849, a military group and people heading to California used this road. One traveler, Robert A. Eccleston, wrote about his journey in his diary. He described what it was like to reach the Devils River crossing.
Robert Eccleston's Diary Entry
On July 10, 1849, Eccleston wrote about their travel:
Tuesday, July 10th. We started from the campground this morning at 6 1/2 O'clock and crossed the river. .... We understand that we were to camp at a pond 8 miles distant. ... We found no water pond of any description at 8 miles. We travelled on through a gorge between and came to the River Styx, or as it is commonly called, Devils River. There was no pasture here at all and our waggons stood directly in the road. On one side there was a perpendicular elevation of rocks, some 40 feet high, on the other side a steep sloping bank. The only good thing that can be said of this place is that we had plenty of good water to drink and a fine place to bathe. The Devils River at this place runs over a solid bed of rock, and the water is from 1 to 2 feet deep and so clear that the smallest thing can be seen at the bottom. It is over 100 feet across as the road runs. The opposite bank is somewhat steep but the descent on this side easy.
Eccleston's words help us imagine what the crossing looked like back then. He noted the clear, shallow water and the rocky banks.
The Stagecoach Station
Later, in 1879, a stone building stood at this crossing. It was a stagecoach station, a place where stagecoaches could stop. Burr G. Duval mentioned this station in his diary, "Journal of a Prospecting Trip to West Texas in 1879." This shows that the First Crossing of Devils River remained an important stop for travelers for many years.
