Fort Mason (Texas) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fort Mason, Texas
Fort Mason Officer's Quarters
Fort Mason Location in Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Mason
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	325
FIPS code	48-

Fort Mason was built on July 6, 1851, in what is now Mason County, Texas. It was named after George Thomson Mason, a young army officer. He died in a battle during the Mexican–American War in 1846.

Between 1856 and 1861, famous army leaders lived here. These included Albert Sidney Johnston and Robert E. Lee. The army left the fort in the 1870s. Later, in 1975, local people helped restore it. Today, you can visit the Fort Mason Museum. You can see what the officers' living quarters looked like. It's also a special Texas landmark, recognized in 1936.

The Story of Fort Mason

The U.S. Army built Fort Mason on July 6, 1851. Its main job was to protect settlers from Native American tribes. These tribes included the Kiowa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche.

Lieutenant Colonel William J. Hardee and surveyor Richard Austin Howard picked the spot for the fort. It was on Post Oak Hill, close to Comanche and Centennial Creeks. Major Hamilton W. Merrill and his soldiers, from the Second Dragoons, actually built the fort. Mason County was created in 1858 and named after the fort.

Early Interactions with Native Americans

At one point, Comanche chief Katemcy brought two white children to the fort. They were 11 and 12 years old and had been captured. Later, the children ran away from the fort to rejoin the Comanches. Chief Katemcy brought them back again.

Fort Closures and Reopening

The fort closed in January 1854. After it closed, there were reports of horse theft by Native Americans. The army then pursued the thieves.

Fort Mason reopened in 1856. Company A, First Dragoons, occupied it from March to May. Then, from January 14, 1856, different companies of the Second United States Cavalry moved in. Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston was in charge.

Famous Leaders at Fort Mason

Many soldiers who served at Fort Mason later became important generals. Some, like George H. Thomas and Philip St. George Cooke, fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War. Others, such as Earl Van Dorn and Robert E. Lee, became generals for the Confederate States Army.

Fort Mason was the last place Robert E. Lee commanded soldiers for the United States Army. Federal troops left Fort Mason on March 29, 1861. They returned after the Civil War and stayed until 1869.

Fort Mason During the Civil War

The Confederate States Army took control of Fort Mason on March 29, 1861. In 1862, the Confederate army held 215 prisoners there. These prisoners were later moved to Austin.

The Army Returns to Fort Mason

The United States Army came back to Fort Mason on December 24, 1866. General John Porter Hatch was in command. During this time, the fort was repaired and updated. Both civilians and soldiers helped with the work.

Native American raids had increased during the Civil War. They were even worse when the army returned. The period after the war, called the Reconstruction era, also affected the soldiers. Sometimes, soldiers left their duties, which led to military punishments.

By January 13, 1869, many buildings were empty or in bad shape. There were fewer than 70 soldiers left. The order to close the fort came on March 23, 1869.

Final Reopening and Closure

In 1870, the state of Texas formed new frontier forces. Fort Mason reopened in September of that year. It became the headquarters for Companies A and B of these Frontier Forces. Captain James M. Hunter was in charge. He later became a county judge in Mason County. The fort closed for good in 1871.

Restoring Fort Mason

When people in Mason built their homes, they often used materials from the old fort. A big project to restore the fort began in 1975. Today, the Mason County Historical Society owns and cares for the fort.

Images for kids

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  Fort Mason plan: The red dot indicates the location of the reconstructed officer's quarters.

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  Historical marker

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  Historical marker