Category: frontier times

Fort Richardson

fort-richardson-park

(Image credit: Texas State Historical Association)

Fort Richardson was founded in 1866, following the end of the Civil War, first staffed near Jacksboro, Texas by elements of the 6th Cavalry.  It was temporarily relocated around 20 miles north to a location known as Buffalo Springs in Clay County one year later.  Buffalo Springs had the advantages of more plentiful water and timber, but was closer to the hostile tribes while also being further from supply depots in the Austin area.  Construction was begun at Buffalo Springs, but was abandoned in favor of the original Jack County location after an Indian attack and several months of drought.  The Jack County location was reestablished and consisted of about 300 acres along the Lost Creek tributary of the West Fork of the Trinity River.  Construction had to start over as the previously abandoned buildings in Jacksboro had been used for building materials by the local settlers.  Fort Richardson became the northern-most outpost in the chain of western forts.

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Buffalo Hump

Buffalo Hump was a formidable Comanche war chief, thought to have been born around 1790.  He lived until around 1870 and was one of the most influential Comanche leaders during his lifetime.  His native name was Pachanaquarship and he was a respected leader among the Comanche tribe almost his entire adult life.  His band were called the Penetekas which is roughly translated “honey eaters” and though they ranged widely in Texas, they spent a considerable amount of time in the general area that is now Abilene.

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Buffalo Soldiers in Texas

The concept of all-black regiments had originated during the Civil War when northern states organized regiments of free blacks from the north and former slaves from the south.  This concept was met with resistance in the north, which resistance is generally accepted to have been racially oriented in nature.  However, by 1863 the U. S. Colored Volunteers had been organized into a cavalry regiment, an artillery regiment and almost two dozen infantry regiments.  It is estimated that about one out of ten Union soldiers serving in the American Civil War were black.

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Fort Concho

oldfortconcho

(Image credit: Fort Concho National Historical Landmark)

Fort Concho was one of the later forts established in the frontier system, opened in 1867 after the Civil War.  It took its name from the nearby branches of the Concho River, the water system that was a critical resource in the area.  It was positioned as a replacement for Fort Chadbourne that was located about 45 miles to the north northeast.  Fort Chadbourne’s water supply had failed prior to the Civil War.

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Fort Belknap

Fort Belknap was founded in the summer of 1851 by Brig. Gen William Belknap, then commander of the Department of Texas, to provide support for the settlers against the Comanche and Kiowa tribes.  It also served to protect traditionally friendly tribes like the Tonkowa against attacks from settlers and other area tribes.  Belknap was also a waypoint on the Butterfield Overland Stage line that carried the United States Mail for a few years.  It was the northern outpost in a string of forts established from the Rio Grande to the south to the Red River to the north.  Located in Young County, it served the area for about 8 years.

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