Presidio of San Sabá facts for kids
The Presidio of San Sabá was an old Spanish fort built near what is now Menard, Texas. It stood by the San Saba River. This fort was the second one built in that spot.
The first fort, called the Presidio San Luis de las Amarillas, was started in April 1757. At the same time, a church, Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá, was also built a few miles away. Both the fort and the church were first protected by wooden fences.
But on March 16, 1758, about 2,000 Comanche and Wichita warriors attacked. They destroyed the church but did not attack the fort.
About a year later, Colonel Diego Ortiz Parrilla led a military trip against these groups. However, his forces were defeated in the Battle of the Twin Villages. This battle happened at a large Wichita village near the Red River. Because of this loss, Colonel Parrilla was removed from his command. Captain Felipe de Rábago y Terán took his place.
Building a Stronger Fort
Captain Rábago quickly started to replace the temporary wooden fence with a strong stone fort. The new fort was shaped like a rectangle, about 300 feet (91 meters) by 360 feet (110 meters).
Its walls were 5 feet (1.5 meters) thick and stood 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) high. The fort also had two watchtowers with six small cannons. About 90 soldiers, called soldados de cuera (leather-jacket soldiers), lived at the fort. Another 30 soldiers were stationed at a nearby church, Mission San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz.
In 1766, an inspection report said the soldiers did not have enough equipment. They also had only 100 horses ready for use.
Life at the Fort
The Comanche and Wichita groups never broke through the fort's walls. But they constantly bothered the soldiers. They attacked patrols, supply wagons, and people looking for food. This made life at the fort very difficult.
Conditions got so bad that Captain Rábago left the fort without permission in June 1768. He moved the soldiers, women, and children to the safer Mission San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz. Because of this, he was also removed from his command. Captain Manuel Antonio de Oca became the new leader.
Captain Oca returned to the fort in early 1770. But like the captain before him, he abandoned it for good later that same year. Even though some said the fort was useless, its presence on the San Sabá River helped a lot. It greatly reduced Comanche attacks on Spanish churches and towns around San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.
What Happened to the Fort?
When settlers arrived in the 1800s, they used stones from the fort's walls. They built houses, barns, and animal pens with them.
In 1936, parts of the fort were rebuilt. This was done as part of the Texas Centennial celebration. Today, the City of Menard, Texas, takes care of the site.
See also
In Spanish: Presidio de San Sabá para niños
