Fort Clark, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Clark Historic District
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Fort Clark
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 Fort Clark Historic District
Location in Texas
Fort Clark Historic District
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off US 90, Brackettville, Texas |
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| Area | 88 acres (36 ha) |
| Built | 1857 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002990 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1979 |
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Fort Clark was an important army fort in Texas. It was located near Brackettville, Texas, close to U.S. Route 90. This fort played a big role in protecting the Texas frontier. Later, it became a main base for the 2nd Cavalry Division.
The Fort Clark Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's a special place recognized for its history. Several buildings at the fort, like the Commanding Officer's Quarters, the Guardhouse, and Officers' Row, are also recognized as Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks.
Today, the area is called Fort Clark Springs, Texas. It's a community with about 1,200 people.
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Old Fort Clark Guardhouse Museum
The Old Fort Clark Guardhouse Museum is a cool place to learn about the fort's past. It's run by the Fort Clark Historical Society. The museum is inside the old guardhouse.
You can see old uniforms, weapons, and photos there. It has a special focus on African-American military units. These include the Black Seminole Scouts and the famous Buffalo Soldiers. These brave soldiers were part of the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantries.
Why Was Fort Clark Built?
The land for Fort Clark was first owned by Samuel Maverick. In 1849, two men, William H.C. Whiting and William F. Smith, saw its potential. They were surveying a road from San Antonio to El Paso. They found the Las Moras Springs (Mulberry Springs). They thought the high ground above the springs would be a great spot for a fort.
The fort was placed in a key spot along army posts in southwest Texas. These posts were set up after the Mexican War. Fort Clark's main jobs were to guard the Mexican border and protect the military road to El Paso. It also defended against attacks from Native American groups.
On June 20, 1852, the military started using the site. Soldiers from the 1st US Infantry and U.S. Mounted Rifles arrived. They first called it Fort Riley. But a general named Bennett C. Riley asked for it to be named after Major John B. Clark. Major Clark was an officer who died in the Mexican–American War. So, on July 15, 1852, it was renamed Fort Clark.
The United States officially leased the land from Samuel Maverick. By 1855, the fort had soldiers' quarters, officers' quarters, a hospital, and a large storehouse.
Brackettville: A Town Grows Near the Fort
The small village of Las Moras started in 1852. It was founded by a local merchant named Oscar B. Brackett. In 1854, Texas Rangers came to Fort Clark. They helped the regular soldiers patrol the road.
The town was renamed Brackett in Oscar's honor in 1856. In 1873, it became Brackettville when it got a post office. It was a stop on the San Antonio-El Paso stagecoach route. People said it was a very lively town, like the gold rush towns. But later, a railroad bypassed the town, and fewer travelers came through.
Fort Clark During the Civil War
The American Civil War began in 1861. On March 19, 1861, Confederate troops arrived at Fort Clark. Captain Trevanion T. Teel led 18 Confederate soldiers. They asked the Union soldiers, led by Captain George Sykes, to surrender the fort.
The Union soldiers gave up the fort without a fight. But they cut the rope on the flagpole so the Confederate flag could not be raised easily. They also set fire to their barracks as they left. Captain Sykes quickly helped put out the fire to save the buildings.
In June 1861, Confederate soldiers took over Fort Clark. But in August 1862, all Confederate troops left the fort.
On December 12, 1866, U.S. troops returned and took back the fort. More buildings were added in 1868. These included stone barracks, officer's quarters, and a long wooden stable.
Fort Clark and the Indian Wars
Fort Clark was part of a system of frontier forts. These forts helped protect settlers and control Native American groups. Other forts included Fort Griffin, Fort Concho, and Fort Davis.
The Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts were based at Fort Clark from 1870 to 1914. These Black Seminoles had protected northern Mexico for 20 years. Then, the United States Army hired them as scouts. Under Lt. John L. Bullis, the scouts were very important in the Indian campaigns. Four of these scouts even won the Medal of Honor for their bravery. A Seminole community settled near the fort in 1872. Their descendants still live in Brackettville today.
Colonel Ranald Mackenzie and the 4th US Cavalry were also based here. In 1873, General Philip Sheridan ordered Mackenzie to stop raids by groups crossing the border. On May 18, Mackenzie led a raid into Mexico. He took six companies and 20 Seminole-Negro scouts. They attacked Kickapoo, Lipan, and Apache camps. They burned lodges, killed warriors, and took prisoners and horses.
Mexico protested that the U.S. was violating its land. But Mackenzie continued his raids. As a result, attacks from Mexico into Texas greatly decreased.
Colonel William Rufus Shafter took over from Mackenzie in 1876. Shafter was also very successful in fighting Native American groups. Under Shafter, Fort Clark became home to the 10th U.S. Cavalry and the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry regiments. These were regiments of black soldiers. Native Americans called them "buffalo soldiers." The Buffalo Soldiers had a great record of service in clearing southwest Texas of hostile groups.
By the end of the 1870s, the problem with Native American raids along the border was finally under control. In 1884, the U.S. government bought the entire property for $80,000.
Fort Clark in World War II
In 1941, the 112th Cavalry Regiment trained at Fort Clark. This unit was still horse-mounted. They trained here before being sent to fight in the Pacific. Just before they left, the black 9th United States Cavalry arrived. Parts of this regiment had served at Fort Clark way back in 1875.
In 1943, the 2nd Cavalry Division was formed at Fort Clark. This was the army's last horse-mounted unit. More than 12,000 troops were stationed there. They trained until they were sent to Europe in 1944.
During the war, Fort Clark also had a German prisoner-of-war camp. In June 1944, the government decided to close Fort Clark. This was because the cavalry became fully mechanized, meaning horses were no longer used. Fort Clark was one of the last horse-cavalry posts in the country.
Fort Clark Closes Down
Cavalry training stopped at the fort in January 1944. That year, the U.S. Army ended the cavalry branch. It was combined with the armor branch, which uses tanks. The base was officially closed in 1946. Later that year, it was sold to a company that turned it into a "guest ranch."
Images for kids
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Historical marker
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Officers' quarters historical marker
