Fort Croghan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Croghan
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Historical Park Site
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Fort Croghan Outpost
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 Fort Croghan
Location in Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Burnet |
| U.S. Army Fort | March 13, 1849 |
| Elevation | 1,329 ft (405 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1357583 |
Fort Croghan was an important military fort built by the United States government in Texas. It was one of the first forts made to protect settlers moving into new areas. The fort was built on March 18, 1849, and was used until 1855. It was named after Colonel George Croghan.
Fort Croghan was part of a line of forts across Texas, from Fort Worth to Fort Inge. It was originally quite large, covering about 50 acres (20 hectares) near the city of Burnet, Texas. Today, a smaller part of the old fort still exists. This is thanks to the Burnet County Historical Society, which bought the land in the 1960s to save it.
Contents
Why Fort Croghan Was Built
In the 1840s, Texas joined the United States. This meant the U.S. government became responsible for protecting people settling in new areas. Many settlers were moving into Texas, looking for land. Some came from other countries. They often found that the best land near the coast was already taken. So, they had to move hundreds of miles inland.
This movement caused problems with the Native American groups who had lived in these areas for thousands of years. Groups like the Comanche and Apache were upset because settlers were moving onto their traditional hunting grounds.
To help protect the settlers, the government decided to build a chain of forts. Fort Croghan was one of these important forts.
Building the Fort
The government first thought about building Fort Croghan near a place called Holland Springs. However, the first white resident of Burnet County, Sam Holland, did not want a military post so close to his home. So, they chose a spot a few miles north on Hamilton Creek instead.
A very important reason for choosing this new spot was the water. They needed a good, clean source of water all year round for the soldiers, their animals, and for daily life.
The soldiers themselves built all the necessary buildings at the fort. These included a hospital, a bakery, living quarters for officers and enlisted men, a place to store gunpowder, stables for horses and mules, a blacksmith shop, and storage buildings. They even built a lookout post on top of Post Mountain.
In October 1849, soldiers from Company C, 8th Infantry, U.S.A. Mounted, arrived to live at the newly built fort.
Life at the Fort
Fort Croghan was made up of log cabins surrounded by a strong stockade (a fence of tall, pointed logs). It was guarded by both cavalry (soldiers on horseback) and infantry (soldiers who fight on foot).
The first commander was Captain Phillip St. George Cook. Other captains who led the fort included Captains Blake, Lee, and Sibley. Some soldiers liked the area so much that they stayed after the fort closed. Christian Dorbandt, who later became the sheriff of Burnet County, was one of them. A man named Noah Smithwick worked at the fort as an armorer, fixing weapons.
A small town quickly grew up across Hamilton Creek, right next to the fort. Merchants and other people who provided services moved there to be close to the soldiers. Logan Vandeveer and Peter Kerr were some of the first people to get contracts to supply the fort with beef and other food.
In 1852, Logan Vandeveer helped ask the Texas Legislature to create Burnet County. The town was first called Hamilton or Hamilton Valley. But in 1858, its name was changed to Burnet, just like the county.
Fort Croghan was no longer needed and was closed in December 1853. The last building from the original fort was taken down in the 1920s. As the town grew, the old fort was mostly forgotten.
Bringing Fort Croghan Back to Life
In the 1960s, a group of people who cared about the history of Burnet County formed the Burnet County Historical Society. They raised money to buy the land where the fort once stood.
Local landowners also helped by donating old historical cabins. These cabins were moved to the fort grounds and put back together. This helped create the Fort Croghan that visitors can see today.
Fort Croghan Museum and Grounds
The Fort Croghan Museum shows many historical artifacts. These include old tools, household items, and gear used in the American West.
The grounds have restored buildings with displays that show what life was like long ago. You can see a stage-stop house, a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, a powder house, and several cabins from the late 1800s. There's also a lookout house and a shop for making syrup.
Each year, "Fort Croghan Day" is held. This event shows how people lived on the frontier.
See also
- Fort Gates
- Fort Graham
- Fort Martin Scott
- Fort Duncan
