Fort Belknap

Fort Belknap

Fort Belknap was a "four-company post" established on June 24, 1851 as part of the first establishment period of protective forts in Texas.  Fort Belknap had water problems and, with the Indians moving further west was abandoned for the last time in 1867.

At the time of its founding, Fort Belknap was the northern most of a chain of forts from the Red River to the Rio Grande.  Its presence allowed the settlement of the surrounding area and became the hub of many roads stretching in many directions.  Among them the Butterfield Overland Mail route from St. Louis to San Francisco.  Like the Pony Express it was not long lived (1858-61) but is one of the great stories of American perseverance and courage.  (The Butterfield Overland Mail)

Fort Belknap was the base of the expedition of Captain Marcy and Lieutenant George B. McClellan in 1852. This was Marcy's third expedition, the first two having originated at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Marcy and McClellan explored the Canadian River and discovered the headwaters of the Red River, the last segment of the southern Plains to be explored.

In the early 1850's large numbers of Regulars, often bolstered by Texas Rangers and State troops, did their best to deal with Indian raids, but success was not found until Colonel Albert S. Johnston's newly organized 2d Cavalry Regiment arrived in December, 1855 and dispersed among the forts in the chain.

The major offensive involving Fort Belknap troops was Captain Earl Van Dorn's 1858-59 Wichita Expedition, a march into Indian Territory to retaliate for raids into Texas. Van Dorn led 250 of the garrison's cavalrymen and infantrymen and 135 Indian allies northward, founded Camp Radziminski in Oklahoma as an advance base, and won victories against the Comanche in the Battle of Rush Springs, Oklahoma on October 1, 1858 and the Battle of Crooked Creek, Kansas on May 13, 1859, near present Dodge City.

Among its past commanders (1857-60) was one of my favorite civil war leaders, George H. Thomas, the "Rock of Chickamauga ".  Among fellow serving officers during this period were Robert E. Lee, Edmund Kirby Smith, John Bell Hood.  It was during his service at Fort Belknap that Thomas received his only wounds in a career spanning four wars, shot through the chin and shoulder with two arrows in a skirmish along the Salt Fork of the Brazos on Aug. 25, 1860.

At the outbreak of the civil war 19 of 36 officers of the 2nd U.S. Calvary resigned including Albert Sydney Johnson, William J. Hardee, and Robert E. Lee.  According to Wikipedia, on Jun 18, 1861 J.E.B. Stuart wrote to his wife,  "Old George H. Thomas is in command of the cavalry of the enemy. I would like to hang, hang him as a traitor to his native state."  Sort of ungrateful given that it was Thomas who recommended cadets J.E.B. Stuart and Fitzhugh Lee for assignment to the cavalry during his service as cavalry and artillery instructor at West Point 1851-54.  But, one has to admit ol' J.E.B. proved a little short of good judgement on several occasions.  How about Gettysburg, first two days?

In early 1861 Gen. David E. Twiggs ordered the gathering of all federal troops in Texas and their concentration north to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.  On Feb. 9, 1861, two months before the attack on Fort Sumter, Twiggs committed, in my opinion, one of the most egregious acts of treason in U.S. history, surrendering all U.S. forts and military equipment in Texas to the Confederate States then accepting a commission as a Major General for the Confederacy.

Fort Belknap was used by Col. James Norris' Frontier Regiment in their mission to keep a lid on the tribes as the Civil War raged and was reoccupied by the U.S. 6th Calvary Apr. 28, 1867.  In September of that year it was abandoned, superseded by Fort Griffin in Shackelford County. 

Museum & Visitor's Center

Couple of Guns

Betsy at Belknap

Elm Creek Raid

On Oct. 13, 1864 a large raiding party of Kiowa and Comanche raided the Elm Creek Valley northwest of Fort Belknap killing seven and capturing six women and children.  Later, five confederate soldiers were killed and others wounded in an ambush set up by the rear guard of retreating Indians.  At this point things become somewhat muddy.  According to the historical marker there were six women and children, and over 10,000 cattle captured in the attack.  It further states that Britt Johnson, negro slave, lost his whole family and later, retrieved his "people" from captivity.




Texasbeyondhistory states it was seven captives with Johnson's wife and two children.  Further, doubt as to Johnson's exploits in rescuing his family are given with alternative citations crediting a Comanche chief and U.S. troops.  Both sources agree Johnson died bravely and not easily six years later when caught in a fight with other teamsters hauling freight between Fort Richardson and Fort Griffin.

Historic Marker 8 miles west of Fort Belknap on Hwy 380

A marker adjacent to the historic marker commemorating three young men who died in another raid almost three years after the one above.

 Looking north from the marker toward Elm Creek

 

Betsy Basking Bashfully at Belknap