Fort Quitman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Quitman
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Ghost Town
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 Fort Quitman
Location in Texas
Fort Quitman
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Hudspeth |
| U.S. Army Fort | September 28, 1858 |
| Elevation | 3,458 ft (1,054 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379791 |
Fort Quitman was an old United States Army base in Texas. It was located right by the Rio Grande river. Today, it's a ghost town, meaning no one lives there anymore. The fort was named after John A. Quitman, who was a governor of Mississippi. He was also a major general during the Mexican–American War.
The fort was in southern Hudspeth County. This is south of a town called Sierra Blanca. In 1963, a special marker was put up to remember Fort Quitman's history.
Contents
Why Fort Quitman Was Built
Fort Quitman was started on September 28, 1858. Soldiers from the 8th Infantry Regiment built it. The first group of soldiers had 86 men and was led by Captain Arthur T. Lee.
Their main job was to protect the San Antonio–El Paso Road. This road was very important for travel and mail delivery. Fort Quitman became a stop for mail coaches. These coaches were part of the San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line and later the Butterfield Overland Mail.
Fort Quitman During the Civil War
By 1860, fewer soldiers were at the fort. Only one officer, Second Lieutenant Zenas Bliss, and 20 men remained. When the American Civil War began, Texas joined the Confederacy.
Lieutenant Bliss and his men were told to leave the fort. They marched to San Antonio with other soldiers from West Texas. They thought they would be sent north to join the Union side. Instead, they were captured and became prisoners of war.
Bliss was later set free in a prisoner exchange. He became a colonel in the Union army. Confederate soldiers also passed by the fort during the war. But there is no sign that they ever stayed there permanently.
Life at the Fort After the Civil War
In January 1868, soldiers returned to Fort Quitman. These included Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th Cavalry Regiment. There were also 42 infantry soldiers. They were led by Major Albert Payson Morrow.
Many of the buildings at the fort were in bad shape. They were never fully fixed. Soldiers often complained that mud bricks from the walls would fall onto their beds. People even said it was a terrible place for a military base. It was very isolated, with mountains on both sides of the river. Trying to grow food there was also very difficult.
Soldiers from Fort Quitman went on trips to fight the Apache people in the Sacramento Mountains. But these trips were not very successful. Over time, fewer and fewer soldiers were stationed at the fort.
The End of Fort Quitman
The last group of soldiers left Fort Quitman in January 1877. Later that year, an angry crowd from San Elizario burned the fort down. This happened during the San Elizario Salt War. The people were upset because they felt the government was supporting a group they didn't like.
The fort was used again for a short time from 1880 to 1882. Soldiers from the 10th Cavalry Regiment stayed there. This was during a conflict called Victorio's War.
However, the Southern Pacific Railroad was built nearby. This new railroad made the fort unnecessary. It was no longer needed to protect travelers or mail. So, Fort Quitman was finally abandoned for good.
