San Antonio–El Paso Road facts for kids

The San Antonio–El Paso Road was a very important route for travel and trade in Texas between 1849 and 1882. It was also called the Lower Emigrant Road or the Military Road. People used this road to send mail, goods, and passengers by horse and wagon. The journey was long and tough, crossing the Edwards Plateau and the challenging Trans-Pecos region of West Texas.

Another route, the "Upper Emigrant Road," started in Austin. It went around the north side of the Edwards Plateau. This upper road met the Lower Road near Comanche Springs, which was west of the Pecos River at a place called Horsehead Crossing.

Finding the Best Path

In 1848, business people in San Antonio wanted to find a good way to get to El Paso. They hired a famous Texas Ranger named John Coffee Hays to explore a route. Hays and his team of Rangers spent about three and a half months on their trip. But they only made it as far as Presidio because they ran out of food and water.

By 1849, many people were coming to Texas. They wanted to go to California to find gold during the California Gold Rush. These "Forty-niners" were looking for ways to travel west.

A military leader, Major General William J. Worth, ordered two lieutenants, William H.C. Whiting and William Farrar Smith, to find a good road to El Paso. They were told to follow Hays' trail to Presidio and then go north along the Rio Grande River to El Paso. They reached El Paso, but they didn't think that route was good enough.

On their way back, they tried a different path. They traveled south along the Rio Grande for about 100 miles. Then, they turned east towards the Pecos River. They followed the Pecos River to the Devils River, and then followed the Devils River back to the Rio Grande. From there, they headed east to San Antonio.

The Road is Chosen

After General Worth passed away, Brigadier General William S. Harney took command of the Army in Texas. He ordered Lieutenant Smith to go on another exploration trip to El Paso. This time, Smith went with Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Johnston.

Their group was protected by a company of soldiers. Six more companies of soldiers and a group of California-bound immigrants also joined them. One of these immigrants, Robert Eccleston, wrote a journal about their journey. He described the land and how many miles they traveled each day.

The trail they followed to El Paso was very similar to the route Whiting and Smith took on their return trip. This path became known as the Lower Road or the Military Road. Later, it was officially named the San Antonio–El Paso Road.

In 1850, the biggest supply train ever to use the road left Fort Inge for El Paso. It had 340 wagons, 4,000 animals, 450 civilians, and 175 soldiers!

Protecting Travelers and Supplies

To keep people and supplies safe on the road, the Army built several forts. These forts protected against attacks from Native Americans and criminals.

Here are some of the important forts along the road:

• Fort Inge (used from 1849–1869)
• Fort Clark (used from 1852–1944)
• Fort Lancaster (used from 1855–1862, and again from 1867–1874)
• Fort Stockton (used from 1859–1862, and again from 1867–1886)
• Fort Davis (used from 1854–1862, and again from 1867–1891)
• Fort Quitman (used from 1858–1861, 1868–1877, and 1880–1882)
• Fort Bliss (started in 1849 and still in use today)

The San Antonio–El Paso Road was also used for important mail services. The San Antonio-El Paso Mail used it from 1851–1862 and again from 1866–1882. It was also part of the San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line route in 1857–1858. The famous Butterfield Overland Mail also used the Lower Road from Fort Stockton to El Paso from 1859–1861.

A Journey Along the Road

Traveling the San Antonio–El Paso Road was a long adventure. People would stop at different points along the way to rest, get water, and resupply. Here are some of the key places travelers would pass through, starting from San Antonio:

• From San Antonio to Fort Clark:

* The journey began in San Antonio. * Travelers would pass through towns like Castroville and D'Hanis. * They would cross several creeks and rivers, including the Leon River, Medina River, Seco River, Sabinal River, Rio Frio, and Nueces River. * An important stop was Uvalde, near Fort Inge. * Eventually, they would reach Fort Clark, a major military post. This part of the journey covered over 120 miles.

• From Fort Clark to Fort Hudson:

* After Fort Clark, the road continued west. * Travelers would cross Piedra Pinto and Maverick Creek. * They would reach San Felipe Springs, a vital water source. * The route involved crossing the Devil's River multiple times. * Other stops included Painted Caves, California Spring, and Willow Spring. * This section ended at Fort Hudson, another important fort. This leg was about 75 miles long.

• From Fort Hudson to Fort Lancaster:

* Leaving Fort Hudson, the road continued towards the headwaters of the Devil's River. * A long stretch led to Howard Springs. * Then, travelers would reach Live Oak Creek. * The next major stop was Fort Lancaster, about 97 miles from Fort Hudson.

• From Fort Lancaster to Fort Davis:

* From Fort Lancaster, the road crossed the Pecos River at Lancaster Crossing. * They would pass Pecos Spring and then leave the Pecos River area. * The route went through Arroyo Escondido and Escondido Spring. * A significant stop was Comanche Springs, where the Upper and Lower Roads met. * Other places included Leon Hole, Hackberry Pond, and Limpia Creek. * Finally, travelers would arrive at Fort Davis, a key fort in the mountains. This section was nearly 160 miles.

• From Fort Davis to the Rio Grande:

* After Fort Davis, the road continued through rugged terrain. * Stops included Point of Rocks, Barrel Springs, and Deadman's Hole. * Travelers would reach Van Horn's Wells and Eagle Springs. * The journey then led to the first camp on the Rio Grande River. * The next stop was Birchville. This part of the journey was about 150 miles.

• From the Rio Grande to El Paso:

* From Birchville, the road followed the Rio Grande. * It passed through historic towns like San Eleazario, Socorro, and Isletta. * The final destination was El Paso, where Fort Bliss was located. This last stretch was about 47 miles.