Forts of the Texas Frontier - Fort Richardson
There is a false image that the media has given of frontier forts, that they enclosed by tall wood palisaded fortifications with gates and large wooden structures. While there were frontier forts like that in forested areas during earlier times, by the 19th century this was not typical of frontier forts. They took a different form that can be seen when looking at the remains of the military post at Fort Richardson State Park in Jacksboro Texas.
During the 19th century many forts were built in Texas to safeguard the border and transportation routes, manage the local citizenry, and primarily to campaign against the native American Indian Tribes. The earlier Spanish/Mexican forts had been Presidios associated with the defense of settlements and missions. The American frontier forts were different. First, they usually were not intended to be permanent and so were not always associated with settlements. Second, they were not defensive. Both of these combined with the different kind of military that the Americans had meant that the frontiers forts were approached very differently.
Beginning with the annexation of Texas the American Military began the construction of these forts to establish the American power on the border and frontier in the new State of Texas. As the frontier moved westward under the pressure of the expansion of the Anglo settlers. The American Civil War interrupted this progress and the edge of the Anglo expansion was pushed back and some forts were abandoned. With the end of the Civil War the Military of the United States returned. Old forts were rebuilt and new military posts established in order to control the rebel population and push back the American Indian Tribes.
As part of the this post-war return Fort Richardson was established as the farthest north of the line of frontier forts and outposts established after the Civil War. Fort Richardson is better described as a military post than a fort because there were no fortifications. This was typical of the post-war military expansion. The center of the post was a large flat parade ground approximately the size of a modern football field. So among the important requirements when choosing a site for Fort Richardson is that it should have a large flat area around which to layout the post buildings. In the plains of North Texas that was relatively easy to find, but the site also needed some timber and a good water supply.
The original site chosen for the Fort was inadequate for the last two needs so the present site was chosen near the Lost Creek, a minor but reliable tributary of the Trinity River. The site was also conveniently close to Indian Territory.
The original Fort had between 50 and 60 buildings arranged loosely ranked around the Parade Ground. Fort Richardson was to become the largest and most important of the late 19th century Texas forts. Construction was begun in 1867. In keeping with the military’s intent that these not be permanent installations most of the buildings had lightweight construction. The two reconstructed barracks buildings (1, 7) are examples of the
picket construction used where poles were stood upright and held together with the gaps chinked with an adobe material. During the height of the Indian conflicts the large number of military personnel stationed at the Fort probably meant that many were quartered in tents. (Story continued)
