Fort Phantom Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Phantom Hill
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Fort Phantom Hill entrance
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 Fort Phantom Hill
Location in Texas
Fort Phantom Hill
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Abilene, Texas |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1851 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001367 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1972 |
Fort Phantom Hill was an important military post in Texas. It was used by the United States Army and later by the Confederate States Army. You can find its ruins near the Clear Fork of the Brazos River in Jones County, Texas.
The fort was active for a short time from 1852 to 1853. It was then used again from 1856 until the 1890s. Today, it's a fascinating historic site.
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Discovering Fort Phantom Hill's Past
Fort Phantom Hill was first set up on November 14, 1851. Five companies of soldiers from the 5th Infantry built it. Brevet Lt. Colonel John Joseph Abercrombie led these troops.
Just one year later, the fort became a well-organized military post. In September 1853, Henry Hopkins Sibley took command.
Life at the Fort
Life at Fort Phantom Hill was very tough for the soldiers. The conditions were difficult. Because of this, the military decided to leave the fort. They abandoned it in November 1853.
The troops finally left on April 6, 1854. Soon after they left, a big fire broke out. It destroyed most of the wooden walls and grass roofs. These buildings made up the large fort.
Luckily, some parts of the fort survived the fire. Several stone buildings, stone chimneys, and stone foundations are still there today. A painting from that time shows what Fort Phantom Hill looked like before the fire.
A Stop for Stagecoaches
In 1858, the fort ruins found a new purpose. They became a stop for the Southern Overland Mail route. This was also known as the Butterfield Stagecoach line.
It served as Way Station No. 54. Stagecoaches used this stop until 1861.
Fort Phantom Hill During the Civil War
The fort was used again during the American Civil War. The Confederacy's Frontier Battalion used it. After the Civil War, in 1871, it became a smaller outpost.
It was linked to Fort Griffin near Albany, Texas. This was during the time of the Indian campaigns. Fort Phantom Hill was part of a chain of frontier forts. Other forts included Fort Concho, Belknap, and Richardson.
A Town Grows and Fades
After 1875, a town started to grow around the fort's ruins. At first, it was a place for buying and shipping buffalo hides. Soon, it grew into a town with over 500 people.
By 1880, census records show more than 546 people lived there. The town even had a hotel and other things common in West Texas towns.
Fort Phantom Hill also briefly served as the county seat for Jones County. But later, residents moved the county seat to the town of Anson. By the 1890s, Fort Phantom Hill was mostly abandoned.
Exploring the Ruins Today
Today, visitors can still explore Fort Phantom Hill. You can imagine what life was like there in the 1850s. People tried to settle the wild West Texas land.
Some people, like Major John Joseph Abercrombie, didn't think it was a good place for a fort. He was a West Point graduate. He commanded the fort from its start until April 1852.
Lieutenant Clinton Lear, who managed supplies, even said he couldn't imagine "that God ever intended white man to occupy such a barren waste" as Phantom Hill.
Preserving the Past
The Fort Phantom Hill land has been owned by the Guitar family since 1928. John Guitar of Abilene bought it then. His grandson, Jim Alexander, bought the property in 1969.
In 1997, Mr. Alexander gave the land to the Fort Phantom Foundation. This helps make sure the site is protected for a long time. It also makes it easier for the public to visit.
Today, Fort Phantom Hill is one of the best-preserved historic sites in Texas. You can still see stone chimneys and other parts of the old fort. The site covers about 22 acres. You can explore an intact stone powder magazine, a stone guardhouse, and a nearly complete commissary or warehouse.
Fort Phantom Hill Lake
Fort Phantom Hill Lake is also known as Lake Fort Phantom Hill. It is located on Elm Creek in Jones County. This is about 15 miles north of Abilene.
The lake was created in 1938. It covers an area of about 4,213 acres. Its deepest point is about 66 feet.
Lake Conditions
The water level in the lake can change a lot. Sometimes, it stays low for long periods. The water is often cloudy or muddy. It can look reddish in the upper parts of the lake.
Fish Species
Many types of fish live in Fort Phantom Hill Lake. The most common fish include largemouth bass and white and hybrid striped bass. You can also find blue and flathead catfish, white crappie, and freshwater drum.
Images for kids
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Magazine
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Texas Historical Marker
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Texas Historical Marker north of Clyde
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Guard House
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Chimney remnants
