The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 4
672 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Fort Duncan on the Rio Grande, at Eagle Pass, to Coffee's Bend on
the Red River, ten miles north of Dennison.
One of these forts, Fort Gates, was established on October 26 of that
year by Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel W. R. Montgomery in company
with two companies of the Eighth Infantry. It was situated on the
North Bank of the Leon River five miles above the mouth of Coryell
Creek. It was named in honor of Major C. R. Gates, 4th United States
Infantry. The immediate site was on the northern ridge of a post oak
ridge which extended from the garrison to the river. Between the post
and the river, which overflowed its banks, were marshy strips of land,
over which the prevailing summer winds carried the germs of malaria.
Owing to its location, the fort was not protected from the "northers"
during the winter.
Good building stone was abundant near the post; lumber was hauled
from Bastrop, eighty five miles away where it was sold for $25.0oo per
M., by government teams.
Water was plentiful and was of good quality and was obtained from
a stream about three hundred yards distant. Good grass for grazing
was also plentiful near the post but hay could not be procured nearer
than four miles. In 1850o, corn was purchased at from $i.oo to $1.50
per bushel.
The officers' quarters, four in number, were frame buildings covered
with oak clap-boards. Nearly all of the other buildings, such as the
hospital, store room, shops, stables, and company barracks were frames
filled in with upright posts sharpened and driven into the ground.
Fort Gates was evacuated as an army post in March, 1852, and the
post was moved to Phantom Hill which was farther west.
November 29, 1849. Fort Gates. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. R.
Montgomery, commanding two companies, 8th Infantry, 6 commis-
sioned officers, 76 men, 3 men absent, total 86.
1850, Fort Gates. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel W. R. Montgomery,
two companies there. 8th Infantry, Companies D and I.
November 26, 1851. Fort Gates. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel C. A.
Waite. Two companies, 8th Infantry, 8 officers present, 113 men pres-
ent, i officer absent, 6 men absent. Total 128 officers and men.
Beef was hard to obtain and it was necessary to pay six cents per
pound for it. R. G. Grant arrived with 70 head of cattle and 20 head
of hogs, the first herd brought to the fort.
Assistant Surgeon Johns said that the post oak woods were in such
a position that they failed to check the winds from the north in the
winter and yet obstructed the breeze in the summer. He considered
that the location on the southern bank of the river would be more
satisfactory. They suffered severely from intermittent fever.
It may be noted in the above statement of Assistant Surgeon
Johns that it was suggested that the location on the south bank of
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964, periodical, 1964; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101197/m1/22/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.