Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Fort Brown Reservation
Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023
1. Fort Brown Reservation Marker
Young officers in the Taylor occupancy included D.C. Buell, U.S. Grant, Geo. G. Meade, Geo. H. Thomas, later Civil War generals in the U.S. Army; and Braxton Bragg, T. H. Holmes, James Longstreet, J.C. Pemberton and E. Kirby Smith, future Confederate generals. In the late 1850's Robert E. Lee served here.
In March 1861, Texas Confederates under Col John S. Ford occupied the post; later C.S.A. commanders were Cols. P.N. Luckett and Aug. Buchel, Gens. H.P. Bee and J.B. Magruder. In Nov. 1863 the post was burned.
Federals under Gen. N.P. Banks had a camp of tents at Fort Brown until July 1864. After that, Gen J.S. Slaughter and Col. Ford reoccupied the post with Confederates until the war ended. Soon after the Confederates surrender at Appomatox, U.S. Gen. Philip Sheridan brought in troops for a show of force against the French in Mexico City.
In 1867-69, new permanent fort was built by Capt. Wm. A. Wainwright. City and college acquired reservation in 1948. Northern boundary International Blvd.
Erected 1964 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, Mexican-American • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1861.
Location. 25° 53.932′ N, 97° 29.56′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. Marker is at the intersection of May Street and Taylor Avenue, on the left when traveling south on May Street. The marker is located in front of the Texas Southmost College-Gorgas building on the campus of Texas Southmost College. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brownsville TX 78520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Launching Site of First U.S. Army Warplane (here, next to this marker); Post Hospital / Hospital Militar (within shouting distance of this marker); Post Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Post Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Post Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Commandant's Quarters (within shouting distance of this marker); William Crawford Gorgas (within shouting distance of this marker); History of 124th Cavalry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownsville.
More about this marker. The
Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023
2. The Fort Brown Reservation Marker is the right marker of the two markers
Also see . . . Fort Brown. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)
Fort Brown, originally called Fort Texas, was established when Zachary Taylor and the United States forces of occupation arrived on the Rio Grande on March 26, 1846, to establish the river as the southern boundary of Texas. In April 1846 Taylor built an earthen fort of 800 yards perimeter, with six bastions, walls more than nine feet high, a parapet of fifteen feet, and the whole surrounded by a ditch fifteen feet deep and twenty feet wide. Armament was four eighteen-pound guns. The Seventh Infantry, with Company I of the Second Artillery and Company E, Third Artillery, commanded by Maj. Jacob Brown, garrisoned the fort. Mexican troops led by Mariano Arista intercepted United States troops as they brought supplies from Fort Polk at Point Isabel to Fort Brown, leading to the opening battles of the war, Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, fought on May 8 and 9, 1846. On May 9 Major Brown died from injuries received during the bombardment of the fort by Mexican forces in Matamoros. Shortly after his death he was buried within the fortifications, and the post was named in his honor.(Submitted on May 10, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023
3. The view of the Fort Brown Reservation Marker from the street
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 10, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
