Fort Chadbourne
Encyclopedia
Fort Chadbourne was a fort established by the United States Army
on October 28, 1852, in what is now Coke County, Texas
, to protect the western frontier
and the Butterfield Overland Mail
route. It was manned by the 8th U.S. Infantry. During the early days of the American Civil War
, the fort surrendered to the Confederates
on February 28, 1861, even before Fort Sumter, South Carolina
.
Fort Chadbourne, a Texas state historical site, was also added in 1973 to the National Register of Historic Places
(#73001962). The fort was established by companies A and K of the Eighth United States Infantry and named for 2nd Lt. Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne who fought and was killed in the Mexican War
in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma
.
The small community of Fort Chadbourne, Texas, is located a few miles to the southwest of the original fort.
Fort Chadborne has received $1 million to build a visitor's center in memory of Roberta Cole Johnson of Brenham
, Texas, by the executors of her estate, Charles and Joy Blake. The Blakes are members of the Concho Valley Archeological Society in San Angelo
. They also matched another $125,000 allocation to restore the Butterfield stage stop.
On September 20, 2009, Garland H. Richards, current owner of the Chadbourne Ranch, which covers parts of Coke, Runnels, Taylor
, and Nolan counties, was presented with the prestigious Harry Holt Award because of Richards' assistance to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene
. Richards presided over the annual "Round-Up for Rehab Supper" fund-raiser held at Fort Chadbourne. The award was presented by Woody Gilliland, chief executive officer of the Rehab center. It honors those in the agricultural community who support the mission of the center, which serves adults and children regardless of financial circumstance.
Texas State Senator Grady Hazlewood
, father of the farm-to-market road program, was born at Old Fort Chadbourne in 1902.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on October 28, 1852, in what is now Coke County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, to protect the western frontier
Frontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
and the Butterfield Overland Mail
Butterfield Overland Mail
The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail was a stagecoach route in the United States, operating from 1857 to 1861. It was a conduit for the U.S. mail from two eastern termini, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri, meeting Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continuing through Indian Territory, New Mexico,...
route. It was manned by the 8th U.S. Infantry. During the early days of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the fort surrendered to the Confederates
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
on February 28, 1861, even before Fort Sumter, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
Fort Chadbourne, a Texas state historical site, was also added in 1973 to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(#73001962). The fort was established by companies A and K of the Eighth United States Infantry and named for 2nd Lt. Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne who fought and was killed in the Mexican War
Mexican War
Mexican War may refer to:*Mexican War of Independence *Mexican–American War *French intervention in Mexico *Mexican Revolution *Mexican Civil War *Cristero War *Mexican Drug War...
in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma
Battle of Resaca de la Palma
At the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War,United States General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican Ejército del Norte under General Mariano Arista on May 9, 1846.-Background:During the night of May 8, following...
.
The small community of Fort Chadbourne, Texas, is located a few miles to the southwest of the original fort.
Fort Chadborne has received $1 million to build a visitor's center in memory of Roberta Cole Johnson of Brenham
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
, Texas, by the executors of her estate, Charles and Joy Blake. The Blakes are members of the Concho Valley Archeological Society in San Angelo
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
. They also matched another $125,000 allocation to restore the Butterfield stage stop.
On September 20, 2009, Garland H. Richards, current owner of the Chadbourne Ranch, which covers parts of Coke, Runnels, Taylor
Taylor County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 126,555 people, 47,274 households, and 32,524 families residing in the county. The population density was 138 people per square mile . There were 52,056 housing units at an average density of 57 per square mile...
, and Nolan counties, was presented with the prestigious Harry Holt Award because of Richards' assistance to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
. Richards presided over the annual "Round-Up for Rehab Supper" fund-raiser held at Fort Chadbourne. The award was presented by Woody Gilliland, chief executive officer of the Rehab center. It honors those in the agricultural community who support the mission of the center, which serves adults and children regardless of financial circumstance.
Texas State Senator Grady Hazlewood
Grady Hazlewood
Grady Hazlewood was a Democratic member of the Texas State Senate from 1941 to 1971, having represented the Amarillo-based District 31 in the Panhandle...
, father of the farm-to-market road program, was born at Old Fort Chadbourne in 1902.
Sources
- Davis, Charles C. "Fort Chadbourne"[]. Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. (accessed 12/21/08).