San Antonio de Bexar: A Guide and History Page: 27
vi, 166 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 27 cm.View a full description of this book.
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NOTES ON MILITARY AFFAIRS.
Capt. Sellers returned with the troops (Co. D, 10th Infantry) in August, 1875.
Capt. Wilson, April, 1877, Co. E, 10th Infantry.
Major McMillen, December 12th, 1877, in command of four companies of the
2nd Artillery at Camp Guilford Bailey (the lower portion of the present "old"
post) with Capt. Patterson and Company A, 20th Infantry, stationed in town.
Capt. Patterson and his Company were transferred to Fort Brown in June,
1880.
Col. Shafter, June, 1880, six Companies, 1st Infantry, afterwards transferred to
Fort Davis.
Capt. Dickey, December, 1890, Co. E, 22nd Infantry, afterwards transferred to
New Mexico.
Col. Otis, October, 1883, two Troops, 8th Cavalry, increased by four companies,
16th Infantry. Col. Otis was transferred with the 8th Cavalry to Dakota in
October, 1887. Captain Lancaster, commanding Battery "F," 3rd Artillery,
arrived in December, 1882 Capt. Lancaster was relieved in November,
1886, by Capt. Burbank-the Battery remaining here.
Col. Smith, May, 1888, the 16th Infantry left for Utah and were replaced by six
Companies of the 19th Infantry.
Col. Black, May, 1890, 19th Infantry leaves and are replaced by six Companies,
23rd Infantry; four troops, 3rd Cavalry and one Battery of Light Artillery.
These troops, with the Battery of Artillery before mentioned, now constitute
the Garrison of the Post of San Antonio.
Some Further Notes on Military Affairs.
Perhaps it is because of the Wars and rumors of Wars which have made up
so much of the life of San Antonio in the past, that everything military is popular
with its citizens. It is purposed in the following article to trace the history of
the present huge establishment from its birth in humble surroundings, thence
through a checkered career of weary wanderings to its final abode on Govern-
ment Hill.
That San Antonio is a natural strategic point, has been recognized by
Aboriginals, Spanish, French, Mexicans, Texans and both the National and Con-
federate Governments; thus its development has been but a natural growth,
sometimes aided, and sometimes impeded, by local influences.
From the end of the seventeenth century, Spanish troops had marched and
counter-marched in the valley and across the country, taking promiscuous quar-
ters, as occasion demanded and opportunity offered. The French traversed the
country in 1714, and somewhat disturbed the sleepy security of the Spanish
soldiers, but nothing came of the raid. What a country Texas must have been
in those days for rapid campaigning ! Little need for tents or much baggage.
Unlimited forage and game made the Quartermaster's office, in the olden time,
almost a sinecure. Enough Indians to keep the troops on the qui vive, an occa-
sional lack of water or perhaps an excess from swollen streams, together with a
more frequent scarcity of corn, were the chief impediments to the annexations of
their Catholic and Christian Majesties of Spain and France,-Catholic truly in
their territorial views.27
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Corner, William. San Antonio de Bexar: A Guide and History, book, 1890; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth143549/m1/65/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas Health Science Center Libraries.