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History in
a Pecan Shell
Founded in late June 1851, where the present-day town of Newcastle
stands, it was named after General William G. Belknap.
When the fort's commanding officer (Captain C. L. Stephenson) ordered
essential water wells to be dug, they gave up at 66 feet and moved
the fort to springs that were flowing alongside the relatively nearby
Brazos River.
Shelter was crude at first but stone buildings eventually were built.
The fort housed four companies of soldiers and was the northern-most
anchor in the chain that spread from the Rio Grande to the Red River.
The fort did not fit the standard image of a frontier fort since it
lacked defensive works such as walls, berms or trenches. No assault
was anticipated and the troops first order of business was to pursue
bands of Indians who preyed on local settlers.
The presence of the fort bolstered confidence with settlers who arrived
in such numbers that it necessitated the organization of several neighboring
counties. The fort was on The Butterfield Overland Stage Route, which
carried passengers and mail between St. Louis to San Francisco.
In anticipation of hostilities, all Federal troops were marched to
Fort Leavenwoth, Kansas and Gen. David E. Twiggs (in San Antonio)
surrendered all U.S. property to the Confederacy in February of 1861.
The remains of the abandoned fort were occasionally occupied by Texas
Frontier troops, after the war but it was abandoned permanently in
late 1867 with the establishment of Fort Griffin - outside of Albany,
Texas (Shackleford County).
In 1936 to celebrate the Texas Centennial, some of the fort's buildings
were rebuilt and in the 1970s one of the buildings has been home to
the Fort Belknap Archives. The former infantry barracks are now in
use as a community center. |
Fort Belknap
Texas Historic Landmarks
Photos courtesy
Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Old
Fort Belknap Powder Magazine
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Old
Fort Belknap Powder Magazine plaque
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Original
stone houses in Fort Belknap
Photos courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
Camp
Belknap Confederate Memorial
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
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