A frontier stronghold in West Texas, Part 2

Fort Lancaster—In Part 1, we explored the founding of Fort Lancaster and its strategic role in protecting westward-bound travelers from Native American raids. In this second installment, we follow the fort through the upheaval of the Civil War, its abandonment, brief reoccupation, and the dangers that persisted on the Texas frontier.

With the secession of Texas from the Union in early 1861, sweeping changes reshaped the military landscape. Special Orders No. 32, issued by the Department of Texas on Feb. 24, 1861, outlined a plan to evacuate U.S. Army posts across the state, including Fort Lancaster. The garrisons were ordered to march east toward Indianola, on Matagorda Bay, where transports awaited to return them to Union-held territory.

Under these orders, troops departed in a staggered fashion, with each garrison leaving two days after the one ahead. They carried arms, ammunition, clothing, and essential supplies—limited to what the quartermaster’s wagons could transport. Special Orders No. 26 soon followed, expediting the timetable once transportation was in place.

Texas officially seceded on March 2, 1861. Even before that date, on Feb. 18, Confederate forces had already taken control of federal installations in the state following the controversial surrender by Gen. David E. Twiggs. Twiggs, commander of the U.S. Department of Texas, was dismissed from the Army on March 1 for turning over federal property without resistance.

On March 19, 1861, Fort Lancaster was officially abandoned by Union forces. But not all federal troops managed to escape the state. While Companies A, H, and I of the First U.S. Infantry successfully made their way out, others were less fortunate. On April 25, Confederate troops under Col. Earl Van Dorn captured Company K and noncommissioned staff of the Eighth Infantry at Saluria, near the Texas coast.

Maj. C.C. Sibley, leading the remaining federal troops, attempted a maritime escape using the transport Star of the West and two small schooners. But on the night of April 24, Confederate steamers loaded with artillery and 800 men intercepted the convoy in Matagorda Bay. With the ship’s pilots refusing to assist and no viable escape route, Sibley surrendered.

Despite the loss, Sibley commended his men for their loyalty. All but two took an oath not to bear arms against the Confederacy unless officially exchanged. The captured soldiers were transported to New York aboard the schooner Horace, arriving May 31, 1861. With their departure, Fort Lancaster was left silent and vacant for the next six years.

The fort's isolation did not mean the end of danger. On Oct. 1, 1867, two members of the Ninth U.S. Cavalry, part of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, were killed while escorting mail near Howard’s Well, 18 miles from the fort. The incident marked a renewed period of violence in the region.

That December, Troop K of the Ninth Cavalry stationed at Fort Lancaster came under attack by a large group of Native American warriors. The fighting raged for two days. Three soldiers were killed before the attackers were finally repelled, illustrating the persistent threat faced by those stationed along the frontier.

Violence continued in the following years. Capt. Michael Cooney and Lt. Frederick R. Vincent led Troops A and K of the Ninth Cavalry near Howard’s Well when they were ambushed on April 20, 1872. Vincent and six Native American combatants were killed in the skirmish, another reminder of the area's volatility.

From its founding in 1855 to its decline in the post-Civil War era, Fort Lancaster remained a symbol of the frontier’s harsh realities. Charged with defending a critical crossing at the Pecos River, the soldiers stationed there endured extreme heat, isolation, limited supplies, and constant threats, both human and environmental.

Today, the fort’s stone chimneys, visible from Highway 290, stand as solemn sentinels of the past. At Fort Lancaster State Historic Site, a museum and periodic living history performances help preserve the legacy of those who served in this rugged outpost. Their story is a testament to endurance, duty, and the struggle to impose order on a wild and contested landscape.