Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-21
RINGCOLD
DIGNFIED
OF ARMY Al POSTS
Continued frcmi Page One)

received the sum of $4,000. the gov
nmen paying the court costs which
were $500.
In 1906 a Brigade post was established
at San Antonio. Fort Ringgo!d with
other border posts WAS dismantled and
abandoned. The property was turned
over to the Department of Interior. 1t
was laid off in a town-site and about to
be sold when border disturbances again
took soldiers to Fort Ringgold. From
1911 to the present time soldiers and
National Guardsmen have constantly
been on watch there. However no inn
provement was made until 1917 when
the property was again turned back to
the War Department.. In 1918 Congress
appropriated $250.000 for the improve
ment Of the post and the following eyars
other appropriations have been sufficient
to repair and improve the post until to-
day it is one Of the most attractive res
ervatioGs on the border.
Present Plan Outlined
In 1873 the present plan of the post
was made. Most of the brick buildings
which now grace the post were erected
at that timt. Thanking the Parade
Ground on one side are six large brick
barracks accommodating 10 men each.
The two end barracks We're added and
completed in 1920 at q cost of $37.449
each. Wings were added to the oth'r
four at the same time ut a cost of $10,-
$50 each. Back Of these barracks are
the well arranged stables and e0rrals.
On the other sid, OF the re~ctangle is the
row Of large and comnodious brick Of
ficers' quarters dwindhng down to the
five neat frame bungalows al the end.
Headquarters building. jthe guard house.
service club and war department. theatre
stand AT one end Of the Parade Ground
while the little frame chapel and large
brick and well equipped hospital stand at
the other. Most Of thc Quartermaster
buildings are brick. The enlisted men
are housed in brick apartments As we'll
sa ten neat little bungalows. The most
interesting building is the thrte-roOm
frame cottage on the hill near the Sig
nal Station. This building was used by
Robert Lee when he was in command
there as Il Colonel just before the Civil
War. The building is vet in a perfect
state of preservation. The largest fire
occurred in 1885, when building known
as six and seven was practically de-
stroyed. Chaplain McBlain. who was
living one one side. lost his life in en-
deavoring 10 save his sixteen year old
daughter.
Ringqold Quiet Post
Fort Ringgold has been a quift post.
In 1854 a group of outlaws disguised as
Indians raided Rio Grande City and
Roma farther up the river. Col. B.. G.
Roberts. carving Special Orders No. ~,
dated Corpus Christi. Texas. May. 1874.
was directed to pursue and chastise the
miscreants. Two of the leaders were
captured and hanged TO a tree on the
highway between Roma and Rio Grande
CITY. In 1913 some 1000 Nillistas were
in Camargo. Failing to get need sup
plies they planned to cross 10 RIO
GRANGE City. The post commander and
county officials met the J,fe at the river.
induced them to think the post well
manned. and persuaded them to leave
their firearms on the other side.
This they did and returned to the other
side in the allotted time without any dis
turbance whatever.
Many prominent and notable army men
have sem service at Fort Ringgold. Two
Or three years before the Civil War Col
Robert f.. Lee and md Lieut.. Ulysses
:. Grant were stationed there al me
same time. 1t was a strange coincidence
hat two leaders of later opposing forces
,hould nave been in the same pos at the
same time. Other prominent characters
having seen service there are. Jefferson
Davis. Gen. Mccullough. Gen. Hood. 1t.
col. Sedwitch, Gen. Buell., Gen. Bee.
Admirals Semmcs and more recently
Both Generals PerShing and Harbord
serve there as lieutenants. Troops
which--haxs been stationed there since
he rehabilitation are. besides The Ma
| tional guard. 3rd Cavalry. 18th Cavalry,
| 18th Infantry. 10th Cavalry. 4th Cav
| lry. md Squadron 18th Cavalry. and al
| present the end Squadron of the I'm
Il raro1r-