Fort Mason (Texas)
Encyclopedia
Fort Mason was established July 6, 1851 in what later became Mason County. It was named in honor of Lieut. George Thomson Mason
, United States Army
Second Lieutenant killed in the Thornton Affair
during the Mexican–American War
near Brownsville, April 25, 1846. At various times from 1856 to 1861 this was the home fort for Albert Sidney Johnston
, George H. Thomas, Earl Van Dorn
and Robert E. Lee
. The fort was abandoned by the military in the 1870s, and restored by a group of local citizens in 1975. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
in 1936 Marker number 11275 .
, Lipan Apache and Comanche
, on July 6, 1851. The site on Post Oak Hill near Comanche and Centennial creeks was chosen by Lieutenant Colonel
William J. Hardee
and surveyor Richard Austin Howard. Bevet Major Hamilton W. Merrill, along with companies A and B of the Second Dragoons, established the fort itself. Originally part of Gillespie County
, Mason County
was named for the fort when it was established in 1858. Comanche chief Katemcy at one point turned over two white captives aged 11 and 12, and again bringing them back when the captives ran away from the fort to reunite with the Comanches.
The fort was closed in January 1854, after which horse theft by native Americans was reported and pursued by the military. It was reoccupied in 1856 by Company A, First Dragoons, from March to May and was occupied by companies B, C, D, G, H, and I of the Second United States Cavalry
from January 14, 1856, with Col. Albert Sidney Johnston in command.
Among those stationed at Fort Mason before the Civil War, George H. Thomas and Philip St. George Cooke
became generals for the Union Army
, while those who became generals for the Confederate States Army included Earl Van Dorn, Fitzhugh Lee
, E. Kirby Smith, Robert E. Lee, John Bell Hood
, William J. Hardee
.
Fort Mason was Robert E. Lee's last command with the United States Army. In a letter home on January 23, 1861, Lee wrote:
Fort Mason was evacuated by Federal troops, March 29, 1861 and reoccupied after the Civil War until 1869.
took control of Fort Mason on March 29, 1861. In 1862, the CSA held 215 men prisoner, who were transferred to Austin in 1862.
. During this period, the fort was renovated with both civilian and military labor. Indian depredations had increased during the Civil War and were worse when the Army returned. The lawlessness of the Reconstruction era of the United States through the military personnel, many of who deserted or were subjected to military discipline. By January 13, 1869, there were twenty-five buildings, either unoccupied or in poor shape, and less than seventy soldiers. The order to close the fort was carried out on March 23, 1869. During 1870 the state of Texas organized several companies of frontier forces. Fort Mason was reopened in September of that year as headquarters for Companies A and B, Frontier Forces, under Capt. James M. Hunter, later county judge of Mason County. The fort was closed for good in 1871.
George Thomson Mason
George Thomson Mason was a United States Army Second Lieutenant killed in the Thornton Affair during the Mexican–American War. Mason was a scion of the prominent Mason political family of Virginia....
, United States Army
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...
Second Lieutenant killed in the Thornton Affair
Thornton Affair
The Thornton Affair, also known as the Thornton Skirmish, Thornton's Defeat, or Rancho Carricitos was a battle between the military forces of the United States and Mexico. It served as the primary justification for U.S. President James K. Polk's declaration of war against Mexico in 1846,...
during the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
near Brownsville, April 25, 1846. At various times from 1856 to 1861 this was the home fort for Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston served as a general in three different armies: the Texas Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army...
, George H. Thomas, Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn
Earl Van Dorn was a career United States Army officer, fighting with distinction during the Mexican-American War and against several tribes of Native Americans...
and Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
. The fort was abandoned by the military in the 1870s, and restored by a group of local citizens in 1975. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
in 1936 Marker number 11275 .
History
Fort Mason, Texas was established by the United States War Department as a front-line defense against KiowaKiowa
The Kiowa are a nation of American Indians and indigenous people of the Great Plains. They migrated from the northern plains to the southern plains in the late 17th century. In 1867, the Kiowa moved to a reservation in southwestern Oklahoma...
, Lipan Apache and Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
, on July 6, 1851. The site on Post Oak Hill near Comanche and Centennial creeks was chosen by Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
William J. Hardee
William J. Hardee
William Joseph Hardee was a career U.S. Army officer, serving during the Second Seminole War and fighting in the Mexican-American War...
and surveyor Richard Austin Howard. Bevet Major Hamilton W. Merrill, along with companies A and B of the Second Dragoons, established the fort itself. Originally part of Gillespie County
Gillespie County, Texas
Gillespie County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 24,837. It is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Gillespie is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, who came to Texas in 1837. He was a Texas Ranger, an Indian fighter, a...
, Mason County
Mason County, Texas
Mason County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 4, 012. Its county seat is Mason...
was named for the fort when it was established in 1858. Comanche chief Katemcy at one point turned over two white captives aged 11 and 12, and again bringing them back when the captives ran away from the fort to reunite with the Comanches.
The fort was closed in January 1854, after which horse theft by native Americans was reported and pursued by the military. It was reoccupied in 1856 by Company A, First Dragoons, from March to May and was occupied by companies B, C, D, G, H, and I of the Second United States Cavalry
United States Cavalry
The United States Cavalry, or U.S. Cavalry, is the designation of the mounted force of the United States Army. The role of the U.S. Cavalry is reconnaissance, security and mounted assault. Cavalry has served as a part of the Army forces in every war in which the United States has participated...
from January 14, 1856, with Col. Albert Sidney Johnston in command.
Among those stationed at Fort Mason before the Civil War, George H. Thomas and Philip St. George Cooke
Philip St. George Cooke
Philip St. George Cooke was a career United States Army cavalry officer who served as a Union General in the American Civil War. He is noted for his authorship of an Army cavalry manual, and is sometimes called the "Father of the U.S...
became generals for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, while those who became generals for the Confederate States Army included Earl Van Dorn, Fitzhugh Lee
Fitzhugh Lee
Fitzhugh Lee , nephew of Robert E. Lee, was a Confederate cavalry general in the American Civil War, the 40th Governor of Virginia, diplomat, and United States Army general in the Spanish-American War.-Early life:...
, E. Kirby Smith, Robert E. Lee, John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness...
, William J. Hardee
William J. Hardee
William Joseph Hardee was a career U.S. Army officer, serving during the Second Seminole War and fighting in the Mexican-American War...
.
Fort Mason was Robert E. Lee's last command with the United States Army. In a letter home on January 23, 1861, Lee wrote:
Fort Mason was evacuated by Federal troops, March 29, 1861 and reoccupied after the Civil War until 1869.
Confederacy
The Confederate States ArmyConfederate 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...
took control of Fort Mason on March 29, 1861. In 1862, the CSA held 215 men prisoner, who were transferred to Austin in 1862.
United States Army reoccupation
The United States Army reoccupied the fort on December 24, 1866. under the command of General John Porter HatchJohn Porter Hatch
John Porter Hatch was a career American soldier who served as general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He received a Medal of Honor for gallantry in action at the September 1862 Battle of South Mountain during the Maryland Campaign.-Early life and career:Hatch was born in Oswego, N...
. During this period, the fort was renovated with both civilian and military labor. Indian depredations had increased during the Civil War and were worse when the Army returned. The lawlessness of the Reconstruction era of the United States through the military personnel, many of who deserted or were subjected to military discipline. By January 13, 1869, there were twenty-five buildings, either unoccupied or in poor shape, and less than seventy soldiers. The order to close the fort was carried out on March 23, 1869. During 1870 the state of Texas organized several companies of frontier forces. Fort Mason was reopened in September of that year as headquarters for Companies A and B, Frontier Forces, under Capt. James M. Hunter, later county judge of Mason County. The fort was closed for good in 1871.