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

Fort Wall

Photographed by James Hulse, August 12, 2023

1. Fort Wall Marker

Inscription. This line of volcanic stones mark part of the extensive dry stacked stone wall that surrounded the fort on three sides. The wall was 570' long on the north side, 1,560' on the east and 600' on the south. No records survived that note how tall it stood, most walls of this type were 3' to 4' tall. Hollywood movies have created the popular image of a stockade fort with block houses. In reality no federal forts in Texas had a stockade or block houses. Fort Inge was one of the rare exceptions that even had a wall of any type. When first built, the fort was without a wall, no records survive that tell when the wall was built or who built it. It is not shown on maps before the Civil War, however ones made following the federals reoccupying the fort show the wall in place. Federal troops could have built it just before the war or the Confederates could have built it during the war. A wall 2,820' long, 2' thick and 4' tall would require a huge amount of labor to quarry, haul from the hill and lay it up. Soldiers, prisoners, runaway slaves captured by the confederates or hired labor could have built the wall.

During the mid 1800's

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a dry stacked stone wall 4' tall cost about .10 a yard built by contract labor, therefore the wall could have been built for around $100. Combined with the firepower of a small mountain howitzer (a type of cannon recorded as being at the fort) on top of the hill, the wall would have provided the soldiers protection from attack. Although the fort was never attacked, Indians did ambush a convoy just south of the fort and twice crept into the corral and stole horses.

After the forts abandonment in 1869, soldiers from Fort Clark removed all useable lumber, doors and windows for use at that fort. In 1874 local farmers formed an irrigation company and pulled down the stone wall and reused the stones in a dam located just downstream from the fort. A map made in 1928 by local historian Ike Moore recorded the ruins of the fort wall and buildings. In 1961 most of the fort site was acquired as a park and was unfortunately bulldozed to clear the brush. In 1981 an archeological survey located scattered fragments of the wall line, this section was re-laid in 1984.

Erected by Fort Inge Historical Park.

Topics. This historical marker

The Fort Wall and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 12, 2023

2. The Fort Wall and Marker

is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 29° 10.761′ N, 99° 45.934′ W. Marker is in Uvalde, Texas, in Uvalde County. It can be reached from County Highway 375 half a mile south of Farm to Market Road 140. The marker is located in the Fort Inge Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Uvalde TX 78801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country.

It is also in the American Borderlands.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Fort Inge (a few steps from this marker); Brush Arbor with Tents (within shouting distance of this marker); Hospital and Commissary (within shouting distance of this marker); Drawing of Fort Inge from this point of view

The Fort Wall Marker looking toward the west image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 12, 2023

3. The Fort Wall Marker looking toward the west

(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Picket Quartermaster Storehouse (about 300 feet away); Barracks for the Soldiers (about 400 feet away); Nicolas Street School (approx. 2.3 miles away); Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Uvalde.

More about this marker. The marker is located in the Fort Inge Historical Park and it does require a small self-serve entry fee to visit. The park is only open on weekends.

Also see . . . Fort Inge. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Fort Inge (Camp Leona) is on the east bank of the Leona River a mile south of Uvalde in southern Uvalde County. The site is dominated by Mount Inge, a 140-foot volcanic plug of Uvalde phonolite basalt.

(Submitted on August 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The entrance at the Fort Wall and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 12, 2023

4. The entrance at the Fort Wall and Marker

The 1936 State of Texas marker for Fort Inge is located behind the marker at the parking area.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 337 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 13, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.