Primary Sources
Crimmins, M. L. ed. "W. G. Freeman’s Report on the Eighth Military Department." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 53 (October 1949): 202-8.
W. G. Freeman’s report on the conditions of the forts, including the condition of the buildings, structures, the different departments. This part of his report contains information about Fort Mason and Fort Martin Scott.
---. "W. G. Freeman’s Report on the Eighth Military Department." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 53 (January 1950).
W. G. Freeman’s report on the conditions of the forts, including the condition of the buildings, structures, the different departments. This part of his report contains information about Fort McKavett and Fort Terrett.
---. "W. G. Freeman’s Report on the Eighth Military Department." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 53 (April 1950).
W. G. Freeman’s report on the conditions of the forts, including the condition of the buildings, structures, the different departments. This part of his report contains information about Fort Chadbourne, Fort Phantom Hill, Fort Belknap, Fort Worth, Fort Graham, Fort Croghan and Austin Depot.
Greer, James K. "The Diary of James Buckner Barry, 1860-1862." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 36 (October 1932): 144-62.
This is from the personal diary of James Buckner Barry, who writes about his life while he is in Texas. This portion of his diary is from 1860 to 1862 where he mentions the beginnings of the forts and fighting Indians to the beginning of the Civil War and when Texas seceded from the Union.
Miles, Susan. "Fort Concho in 1877." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 35 (October 1959): 29-49.
Passages taken from diaries and letters of the Grierson family in 1877. The diaries and letters tell of the sickness and deaths a Fort Concho. Mrs. Grierson is writing daily to her husband, Colonel Grierson, who is the commanding officer at Fort Concho. She writes to her husband about the daily events at the fort including about Captain Nicholas Nolan and Company A who became lost on the Staked Plains.
"Letters about the end of Fort Belknap and the Beginning of Fort Griffin." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 34 (October 1958): 141-48.
These few pages contain letters that discuss the abandonment of Fort Belknap. Letters are also included about moving the troops from Fort Belknap to Fort Griffin.
General Information
Aston, B. W., Donathan Taylor. Along the Texas Forts Trail. Texas: University of North Texas Press. 1997.
Gives the history of the forts on the Texas Forts Trail. Information includes those involved in the forts, when the forts were built and when abandoned. A brief local history of towns that grew around the forts is also given, along with tourist information.
Bender, A. B. "The Texas Frontier, 1848-1861." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 38 (October 1934): 135-48.
The frontier forts were established to protect white settlers for Indians as well as protect Indians from white settlers. The first objective was to send expedition out to find the possible and needed locations of forts. Expeditions also attempted to discover better trails and road to get from one fort to another faster.
Breeden, James O. "Health of Early Texas: The Military Frontier." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 80 (April 1977): 357-98.
The health of the soldiers suffered while on the Texas frontier. Disease and disability took its toll on the soldiers. The post physician or surgeon was kept busy on the Texas frontier. This essay gives the statistics on the illnesses and deaths of the soldiers in Texas against those stationed elsewhere.
Clarke, Fannie McAlpine. "A Chapter in the History of Young Territory." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 9 (July 1905): 51-62.
The history of the federal forts in the "young territory." Includes information on the formation of the forts. Also included is information on Indian raids on and around the forts as well as people associated with the forts.
Conger, Roger N., et al. Frontier Forts of Texas. Waco: Texian Press, 1996.
A history of some of the forts located in Texas. The forts included are Fort Belknap, Fort Bliss, Fort Brown, Fort Clark, Fort Concho, Fort Davis, Fort Mason, and Fort Sam Houston.
Frantz, Joe B. "The Significance of Frontier Forts to Texas." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 74 (October 1970): 204-05.
This is a brief description explaining why the frontier forts were important to the history and settlement of Texas.
Graham, Roy Eugene. "Federal Fort Architecture in Texas during the Nineteenth Century." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 74 (October 1970): 165-88.
Graham gives a brief history on why the forts were built. Most he writes about the architecture of the forts and includes drawings of the building plans for the structures as well as the layout plans for the entire fort. A brief discussion on what some of the buildings were used for (i.e. The pos chapel would also be used as a school.)
Holden, W. C. "Law and Lawlessness in the Texas Frontier, 1875-1890." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 44 (October 1940): 188-203.
Accounts and examples of the criminal element on the Texas frontier are recorded in this essay. With the combination of guns and liquor, many men from buffalo hunters to frontier army soldiers to the average man that has had too much to drink, attributed to the lawlessness of the frontier. Other men added to the lawlessness by "taking a town" or robbing a bank to make a name for their selves.
Miller, Ray. Texas Forts: A History and Guide. Austin: Capital Printing, 1985.
A brief description of all the frontier forts located in Texas. Divided into groups, Miller tells of the importance of each fort as well as those associated with the forts. Also included are pictures of the forts as they looked when the book was published.
Richardson, Rupert N, B.W. Aston, Donathan Taylor. Along Texas Old Forts Trail. Texas: University of North Texas Press, 1990.
Gives the history of the forts on the Texas Forts Trail. Information includes those involved in the forts, when the forts were built and when abandoned. A brief local history of towns that grew around the forts is also given, along with tourist information.
---. J.U. Salvant. If These Walls Could Speak: Historic Forts of Texas. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985.
Includes a short history of the forts as well as paintings of buildings located at forts. Forts Brown, McIntosh, McKavett, Lancaster, Richardson, Griffin, Concho, Davis, and Bliss are included in this book.
Fort Griffin
Cashion, Ty. A Texas Frontier: The Clear Fork Country and Fort Griffin, 1849- 1887. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1996.
Cashion attempts to downplay the extreme happenings in the Clear Fork Country and present a more balanced look at frontier life in Texas and the important role the area played in the development of West Texas.
Cashion, Ty. "(Gun) Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: A Revisionist Look at ‘Violent’ Fort Griffin." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 99 (July 1995): 81-94.
A look at the tales told about the everyday violence that occurred at Fort Griffin. Many of these tales have been exaggerated. Some court documents are able to prove that not all these stories are entirely true. Whether the stories are true or not, the author tries to create an understanding to western violence.
Clarke, Ollie E. Fort Griffin: A Brief Sketch of the Old Fort and Its Relation to the Great Southwest. Albany, Texas: the Albany Chamber of Commerce, 1935.
The history of Fort Griffin including when it was established, who commanded the fort and its abandonment. Information is also given on its connection to the area around the fort.
Crimmins, Colonel M. L. "Camp Cooper and Fort Griffin, Texas." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 17 (October 1941): 32-46.
Crimmins writes about the histories of Camp Cooper and Fort Griffin. Information about the living conditions, and the availability of resources such as food and water at the fort is given. Crimmins also talks about Indian raids that are held against the fort and surrounding areas and the people that were connected to the fort and camp.
Galbreath, Lester. Campfire Tales: True Stories of Fort Griffin and the American West. (Albany, TX: Bright Sky Press, 2005).
True stories that allow a look at what it was like to settle in or around FortGriffin. The book includes the story of the Beehive shoot-out, the raid on Elm Creek, and insights into frontier justice.
Grant, Ben O. "Life in Old Fort Griffin." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 10 (October 1934): 32-41.
Established as a military fort in 1866, Fort Griffin was also used by buffalo hunters bringing in their hides and cowboys with their cattle drives. Buffalo hunters and cowboys brought with them an element of violence to the surrounding town. Also with the town were people who lived there and made their living farming, ranching, or working in town.
Haskew, Eula. "Stribling and Kirkland of Fort Griffin." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 32 (October 1956): 55-69.
The lives of Cornelius Kincheloe Stribling and George A. Kirkland is the focus of this essay. Stribling was a cattle inspector, surveyor, lawyer, and land agent at Fort Griffin. Kirkland was a civil engineer and surveyor at Fort Griffin. Together they designed the plans for the town around Fort Griffin that could be sold to people wishing to buy land.
Rister, Carl Coke. Fort Griffin on the Texas Frontier. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1956.
Rister covers the major events during the existence of Ft. Griffin. Attention is paid to the Comanche Indians who hunted and lived there before settlement. The reasons and events leading up to the closing of the fort are also covered.
Robinson, Charles M. the Frontier World of Fort Griffin: The Life and Death of a Western Town. Spokane: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1992.
Information on the history of Fort Griffin and the town that grew up around it. Fort Griffin was a popular place. It was a place where Buffalo hunters gathered their buffalo hides and it was a place full of many different people such as Lottie Deno and Doc Holliday.
Webb, J.R. "Henry Herron, Pioneer and Peace Officer During Fort Griffin Days." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 20 (October 1944): 21-50.
This biography of Henry Herron tells some of the stories of the people that he met and things that he did while he was a deputy sheriff at Fort Griffin and in Albany.
---. "Fort Griffin." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 1 (June 1925): 15- 24.
The lonely Fort Griffin was established to protect the frontier from raiding Indians. In addition to the loneliness, poor housing and poor food supply at the fort lead to many soldiers deserting.
Fort Phantom Hill
Freeman, Martha Doty. A History of Fort Phantom Hill, The Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, Jones County Texas. Abilene: The Fort Phantom Foundation, 1999.
The history of the post on the clear fork of the Brazos River also known as Fort Phantom Hill is collected in this book. The founding and construction of the fort as well as information on the personalities associated with the fort is given. Diagrams and tables that have been recorded by the U.S. Army are used to compare Phantom Hill to other forts. The author also includes a document that contains plans that would help preserve and restore the fort.
Rister, C. C. "The Border Post of Phantom Hill." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 14 (October 1939): 3-13.
The Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos or Phantom Hill was a lonely fort. Many mysteries surround the fort such as how it got its name and when and who burned it down. After it was abandoned, it was used as a camp for troops protecting government mail.
Fort Belknap
Braly, Earl Burk. "Fort Belknap of the Texas Frontier." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 30 (October 1954): 83-114.
History of the fort with information on the people and regiments and companies associated with or stationed at the fort. Also includes a short biography of Levi Braly, who helped build Fort Belknap.
Ledbetter, Barbara A. Neal. Fort Belknap Frontier Saga: Indians, Negroes, and Anglo Americans on the Texas Frontier. (Burnet, TX: Eakin Press, 1982).
Covers the events in the everyday lives of the men, women, and children who lived at Ft. Belknap. Also includes information regarding the social and racial tension existing among the three groups. Details the Indian Raids, why the Indians raided and the ramifications of the raids.
Oneal, Ben G. "The Beginnings of Fort Belknap." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 61 (April 1958): 508-21.
Oneal writes about the history of the establishment of Fort Belknap. Also included in this essay is information about General Belknap, who selected the site for the fort. Letters from and to General Belknap have also been included.
Oneal, Ben G. "A Brief Story of the Restoration of Fort Belknap." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 29 (October 1953): 105-114.
The efforts put together to get Fort Belknap restored as a historic place.
Fort McKavett
Sullivan, Jerry M. "Fort McKavett: A Texas Frontier Post." The Museum Journal 20 (1981).
Includes information on the military significance of Fort McKavett, its reason for being there. Also covers the closing and reopening of the fort during the Civil War. Includes information such as relations with the civilian population and what military life was like at the forts.
---. "Fort McKavett, 1852-1883." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 45 (1969): 138-49.
One of seven new frontier forts established along the Texas frontier and major trails to California, Fort McKavett holds an important place in Texas frontier history. The fort was named for Captain Henry McKavett who was killed in the Mexican War. Well know Army leaders such as Colonel R. S. Mackenzie held command of the frontier fort. Abandoned in 1859 and reactivated in 1868 until 1883, the fort placed and important part in fighting against raiding Indians.
Fort Richardson
Whisenhunt, Donald W. "Fort Richardson." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 39 (October 1963): 19-27.
Fort Richardson located near Jacksboro was established to protect settlers and cattle drives from raiding Indians. The fort was named for General Israil B. Richardson. Companies from the Sixth Cavalry were used to protect the cattle trail from the fort to Abilene, Kansas. Scouting parties from Fort Richardson were used to locate raiding Indian parties.
---. Fort Richardson: Outpost on the Texas Frontier. Southwestern Studies Vol. 5 Num. 4. El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1968.
A history of Fort Richardson, one of the forts built on the Texas frontier to protect settlers from Indian raids. Those at Fort Richardson faced constant hardships form lack of supplies to fighting against Indian raids. Close to Fort Richardson the town of Jacksboro grew, just as many towns grew up around other forts.
Fort Concho
Haley, J. Evetts. Fort Concho and the Texas Frontier. (San Angelo, TX: San Angelo Standard Times, 1952).
Haley depicts life on the frontier centered on Fort Concho. He covers the time leading up to the founding of the post, its existence, and the events leading to its closing. He also includes information on Indian Raids and social issues such as racial tensions. Also covers general life at the fort and the surrounding area.
Sutton, Mary. "Glimpses of Fort Concho through the Military Telegraph." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 32 (October 1956): 122-34.
Old telegraphs found in an attic of a building that was being torn down near Fort Concho gives glimpses into the life at Fort Concho. The essay gives a brief history of the job of telegraph operator. Sutton also includes excerpts from some of the wires that had been sent. The wires inform their reader about what was going on at the fort. Some of the wires were work related while others were personal wires from family and friends.
Vaughan, John. "Fort Concho: Past and Present." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 57 (1982).
Vaughan’s essay is about the restoration of Fort Concho. It describes the efforts that were used to get funding to restore the fort and make it a historic place.
---. "General Mackenzie and Fort Concho." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 17 (October 1941): 16-31.
Crimmins writes about Mackenzie’s life and how he fought against the Indians. There are letters written by Mackenzie included in the essay. Also included is information about while Mackenzie was stationed at Fort Concho. The layout of Fort Concho is included.
Fort Chadbourne
Crimmins, Colonel M. L. "Experiences of an Army Surgeon at Fort Chadbourne." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 15 (October 1939): 31-9.
Story of Dr. Ebenezer Swift who served as Fort Chadbourne as an Army Surgeon from 1852-1856.
The Presidios
Moorhead, Max L. The Presidio, Bastion of the Spanish Borderlands. Norman, OK. : University of Oklahoma Press, 1975.
An account of the presidios under Spanish rule. This book covers the origin and development of the presidios and their evolution till the Mexican war for independence. Includes information on the Presidio de San Saba.
Pace, Robert and Frazier, Donald. Frontier Texas: History of a Borderland to 1880. (Abilene, Texas: State House Press, 2004).
This book is an account of the years 1780 and 1880. It contains information on all the forts in the Texas forts trail as well as the presidio de San Saba.
Chipman, Donald E. Spanish Texas 1519-1821 (Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1992).
The book covers the role of the Spanish in settling Texas between the years 1519 and 1821. The author details the founding and abandonment of the Presidio San Luis de Las Amarillas (San Saba) and other presidios in the hope to put more emphasis on the period of Spanish Colonization in Texas History.
The Indians
Ball, Durwood. Army Regulars on the Western Frontier 1848-1861. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001.
The frontier army’s first duty was to enforce the United States Indian Policy. To enforce the Indian policy meant battles between the army and Indians. From Texas to Kansas to California, the army had a large area to enforce.
Newcome, William W. The Indians of Texas: From Prehistoric to Modern Times. (Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1972).
This book covers Native American civilization in Texas prior to and during the period of colonization. It includes information on the Indian raids during the 1800s.
Prucha, Francis Paul. The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians. (: University of Nebraska Press, 1995).
Contains information on the governments Indian Policy during the time of settlement and well as information about the Republic of Texas Indian Policy.
Wallace, Edward S. "General Ranald Slidell Mackenzie-Indian Fighting Cavalryman." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 56 (January 1953): 378- 96.
The life of Ranald Slidell Mackenzie is discussed in this essay. While serving in the U.S. Army, he helped to control the Indian population in Texas. Wallace gives information on Mackenzie’s life and of his military successes.
Military
Corder, Jim W. Hunting Lieutenant Chadbourne. Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press, 1993.
Hunting Lieutenant Chadbourne is about Corder’s search for information on Second Lieutenant Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne. Corder writes abut his search for Chadbourne using many different sources such as the work done by Susan Miles, who had searched for information on Chadbourne many years before. Corder while expressing his thoughts and research process, give what information he was able to collect about Lieutenant Chadbourne. Fort Chadbourne was named after Lieutenant Chadbourne.
Smith, Thomas T. The Old Army in Texas: A Research Guide to the U.S. Army in Nineteenth-Century Texas. Austin: Texas Stat Historical Association, 2000.
This guide gives a brief description on the "old U.S. Army’s" position against fighting Indians in Texas. Also gives lists of the commanders of the forts and camps in Texas. Also lists of U.S. Army sites in Texas and Post Garrisons. A summary of the army’s combat actions in the Indian wars of Texas.
Tate, Michael L. The Frontier Army in the Settlement of the West. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1999.
Though an important job of the frontier army was to protect settlers form Indian attacks, it was not the only thing the army did. Frontier army doctors provided information on native vegetation and animal life on the frontier. They also gave detailed information on the Indian tribes: customs, languages, and daily life. The army improved the trails going west, making the journey slightly easier. The army provided communication in delivery of U.S. mail as well as putting up telegraphs lines. The army acted as frontier lawman, helped build the towns that grew up beside the forts. They held many different jobs than just fighting the Indian.
Utley, Robert M. Frontier Regulars: The United States Army and the Indian 1866- 1891. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1973.
Discusses the creation of the Regular Army after the Civil War. Information about regulations, fort life and even uniforms is given. Major battles, adversaries and commanders of the army are talked about to represent some of what the army had to do and face. One of the major responsibilities of the army was to fight and control the Indians on the frontier.
Wallace, Ernest. Ranald S. Mackenzie on the Texas Frontier. 1964. Forward David J. Murrah. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1993.
A biography of Ranald S. Mackenzie who served in the U.S. Army. He fought in the Civil War where he was wounded many times, yet continued to fight. After the Civil War he was sent to the Texas frontier where he held command at many of the forts, such as Fort Richardson and Fort Griffin. He was one of the Army’s leading Indian fighters and was given full power to control the "Indian problem."
Wilson, Aubrey A. "A Soldier of the Texas Frontier: Brevet Major Robert Patterson Wilson, United States Army." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 34 (October 1958): 82-96.
The life of Robert Patterson Wilson, who, was born in Virginia in 1840. After serving the Union in the Civil War, he joined the U.S. Regular Army. While in Texas, he was stationed at Fort Richardson, Fort McKavett, as well as other forts in Texas.
---. The U.S. Army and the Texas Frontier Economy 1845-1900. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1999.
Army money was very important to Texas. The army influenced the price for crops, supplies, transportation and communication. The army helped support local people by providing jobs, protection and income. Locals as well as the state of Texas was paid money for food supplies, animals and rent for the use of the land on which the forts were built on. The army helped to develop Texas in many different ways.
Social issues and Communication
De Arment, Robert K. Bravo of the Brazos: John Larn of Ft. Griffin Texas. (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2002)
Covers the life of a bad-man named John Larn who lived in Fort Griffin and died in Albany.
Breeden, James O. "Health of Early Texas: The Military Frontier." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 80 (April 1977): 357-98.
The health of the soldiers suffered while on the Texas frontier. Disease and disability took its toll on the soldiers. The post physician or surgeon was kept busy on the Texas frontier. This essay gives the statistics on the illnesses and deaths of the soldiers in Texas against those stationed elsewhere.
Green, Bill. The Dancing was Lively: Fort Concho, Texas a Social History, 1867-1882. (San Angelo, TX: Fort Concho Sketches Publishing Co., 1974)
A social history of the post with the emphasis placed not on military importance but on the lives of the people who formed the basis for settlement in the area. The book focuses mainly on the social life of the military families but does include relevant civilian information.
Holden, W. C. "Frontier Journalism in West Texas." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 32 (January 1929): 206-21.
As people moved west, so did the newspapers. Journalism existed in Texas during the frontier period. One frontier newspaper is the Fort Griffin Echo, the newspaper of Fort Griffin. This particular newspaper lasted three years before it shut down and move further west with the settlers.
Holden, W. C. "Law and Lawlessness in the Texas Frontier, 1875-1890." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 44 (October 1940): 188-203.
Accounts and examples of the criminal element on the Texas frontier are recorded in this essay. With the combination of guns and liquor, many men from buffalo hunters to frontier army soldiers to the average man that has had too much to drink, attributed to the lawlessness of the frontier. Other men added to the lawlessness by "taking a town" or robbing a bank to make a name for their selves.
Sutton, Mary. "Glimpses of Fort Concho through the Military Telegraph." West Texas Historical Association Year Book 32 (October 1956): 122-34.
Old telegraphs found in an attic of a building that was being torn down near Fort Concho gives glimpses into the life at Fort Concho. The essay gives a brief history of the job of telegraph operator. Sutton also includes excerpts from some of the wires that had been sent. The wires inform their reader about what was going on at the fort. Some of the wires were work related while others were personal wires from family and friends.
The Forts during the Civil War and under the Republic of Texas
Frazier, Donald S. Blood & Treasure Confederate Empire in the Southwest. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 1995.
Details both the evacuation of the Texas and territorial forts during the Civil War and the occupation of the forts by confederate troops.
Greer, James K. "The Diary of James Buckner Barry, 1860-1862." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 36 (October 1932): 144-62.
This is from the personal diary of James Buckner Barry, who writes about his life while he is in Texas. This portion of his diary is from 1860 to 1862 where he mentions the beginnings of the forts and fighting Indians to the beginning of the Civil War and when Texas seceded from the Union.
Prucha, Francis Paul. The Great Father: The United States Government and the American Indians. (: University of Nebraska Press, 1995).
Contains information on the governments Indian Policy during the time of settlement and well as information about the Republic of Texas Indian Policy.
Winders, Richard. Crisis in the Southwest: The United States, Mexico, and theStruggle over Texas. Wilmington, NC: Scholarly Resources, 2002.
Covers the area of time in which the presidios, and military fortifications were under the control of the Republic of Texas.