Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Cavalry Building

1868

Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023

1. Cavalry Building Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Built in 1868, it served as barracks until World War I, when it served as a quartermaster warehouse/commissary. Closed after World War II, it was leased by private industry until purchased by the junior college. The one-story brick structure has an elongated T-plan with a central entry through an arched opening, and reconstructed shed-roof porches.

Spanish:
Construido en 1868, fue un cuartel hasta fines de la I Guerra Mundial. Después fue utilizado como almacén y bodega. Se cerró siguiendo la II Guerra Mundial. Luego fue alquilado por varios negocios hasta que fuese adquirido por el colegio preparatorio. El edificio es de un piso con una planta en forma 'T." Tiene una entrada central a través de un arco abierto y porches reconstruidos.

Erected by City of Brownsville, Brownsville Heritage Complex, Preserve America and Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Forts and Castles • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1868.

Location. 25° 53.781′

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N, 97° 29.333′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Gorgas Drive and Ringgold Drive. The marker is located on the southwest side of the Cavalry building in the campus of Texas Southmost College. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 89 Gorgas Drive, 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. Fort Brown Cavalry Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Brown Commissary / Guardhouse Comisaria y Casa de la Guardia del Fuerte Brown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Commissary (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Brown Commissary/Guardhouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); African American Troops at Fort Brown (approx. 0.2 miles away); Post Morgue (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Brown Buildings 85 and 86 (approx. ¼ mile away); Post Hospital Annex (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownsville.

More about this marker. The historic Fort Brown buildings are located around the campus of the Texas Southmost College.

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
Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023

2. Cavalry Building Marker
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 14, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The western view of the Cavalry Building and Marker from the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, April 19, 2023

3. The western view of the Cavalry Building and Marker from the street

The marker is located at the far left in the photo.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.