YES, THERE IS A FORT in Fort Stockton, Texas! Historic Fort Stockton is located on the east side of town and consists of original and reconstructed military buildings. Today the site includes Officers' Row, Guardhouse, Enlisted Men's Barracks,and the Parade Grounds. There is a visitor's Center at the East side of parade grounds.
The Guard House, one of the first buildings constructed, was completed in 1868.Military presence began here with the establishment of Camp Stockton in 1858 by troops of the 1st and 8thInfantry, US Army. This first site was southwest of the present location, near the present Courthouse.
The post protected travelers and settlers on the numerous roads and trails that made use of the abundant water supply of Comanche Springs. It was here that these trails crossed the Comanche WarTrail.
The US Army withdrew from Texas during the Civil War and abandoned Fort Stockton in 1861. Confederate troops briefly occupied the siteuntil they too, withdrew. By the end of the war little remained of this first post. InJuly 1867, Colonel Edward Hatch, Commander of the 9th Cavalry, re-established Fort Stockton at its presentlocation. The new fort was garrisoned by four companies of the 9th Cavalry, one of the new regiments created for the black men who sought security in the US Army after the Civil War. These blackenlisted men, called "buffalo soldiers" by the Indians, were commanded by white officers. The post-war fort was occupied for nineteen years (1867-1886). The fort's 960 acres were leased from civilian landowners. An additional 25 acres onComanche Creek were leased for the fort'sgarden.By the early 1880's the "Indian's" (Native Americans) was no longer a threat, and the future of the fort was limited. It was finally abandoned in 1886 as the frontier movedwest.
The Fort consisted of about 35 buildings. Two of them were built of limestone and the rest were built of adobe. Of the originalbuildings, only four remain: the Guardhouse and three of the eight Officers' Quarters.The Guardhouse, one of the first buildings completed, contains jailer's quarters, three solitaryconfinement cells, and a larger holding cell. A stone set into the south exterior wall is inscribed, "Erected 1868 by Lieut. J.L.Humfreville, Q M" (Quartermaster).Of the three remainingOfficers' Quarters, OQ #7 has been restored to its 1870's appearance. During the restoration, one room was left bare of interior plaster to reveal construction techniques unique to adobematerials. The City of Fort Stockton is committed to the acquisition, restoration and reconstruction of the Fort. Extensive archaeological excavations preceded and documented the reconstruction of the Barracksand their accompanyingKitchen/Mess Halls. Historic Fort Stockton, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, is owned by the City of Fort Stockton and managed by the Fort Stockton Historical Society.
