Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-21
fort RINCCOLD
MOST DICNIFIED
OF ARMY POSTS
Station Is Considered in
Strategic Location; 1t
Has Quiet But Inter-
esting History

(By Chaplin r. w. Rogers, U. S. A.
Nesting in the foot hills of
Starr county, lying snugly
against the banks of the SOM
bre but treacherous Rio Grande.
rubbing shoulders with the
quaint and typically Mexican
town, Rio Grande City, just
midway between Brownsville
and Laredo, is located one Of the
most dignified and stately army
rosts-Fott Ringgold, Texas. While
having enjoyed a varied but quie. carter.
if nevertheless is considered a very STRAIT
esic border post. Fort Ringgold was
established when the Rio Grande was
navigablt. boats bringing the first de
tachment OF men to Davis Landing which
later was called Ringgold Barracks. In
those early days the nearest railroad was
LAREDO something more than one hundred
miles away. while now She boasts a rail
road at Sam Fordyce. only twenty miles
away, and is soon to nave direct rail-
way connection.
Camargo Founded
Camargo. Mexico, six miles south Of
Fort Ringgold. was founded March :.
1f49. by Jose de Escandon. He then
left the town in charge Of Bias Maria
De III CARA Falcon. The first survey
and map was made for the King of Spain
in 1865. This shows a line running
north 1921 varas. (33 1-3 inches) from
the cross. the central point Of operations
in Camargo. This line then ran north
east including the Fort Ringgold reser-
vation. With the withdrawal of Texas
from Mexico and its admission TO the
United States, the original title changed
over 10 the state. In the early 4Us, H..
Clay Davis. a restless young wanderer.
drifted to that section of the country, fell
in love with the land and purchased q
large tract. He soon established a pros
porous ranch, took unto himself q wife.
and settled down to make his fortune.
First Lease Made
Captain J. Ii. LaMotte, list L. ). In
~fantry, took a small detachment of sol
diers up the Rio Grande to Davis Land
ing. now Fort Ringgold, landing October
26, 1913. Not until 1858 was the first
lease made. 4 tract 40 yards square,
surrounded by a brush fence, containing
thirty-three acres, was surveyed by X. Z.
Tr:mble. The lease was signed by Ia.
Clay Davis. owner of the land. and W.
w. chatham, representing the United
States. 'Inasmuch as solditrs had occu-
pied this tract since 1913, and had used
the necessary wood therefrom for fuel.
the government paid said ii. Clay Davis
the sum Of $4,000, and at the termination
of the Least, August 81. 1854, an ad-
ditional 1000, ~totaling in all for the six
years $1,000.
Immediately following the annexation
of Texas to the United States bandits
began to cross from Mexico. killing, loot
ing and buring at will. In re-
puIsing one Of these invasions on the
battlefield Of Palo Alto, an extensive
prairie nine miles north of Brownsville.
Major David Ringgold, 18th U. =. Ar
tillery, was killed May 5, 1916. Honor
ing Major RinggoId, the camp at Davis
Landing was called Ringgold Barracks
il 1919, and more recently designated
as Fort Ringgold.
Make Second Lease
September |. 1854. the second lease
was made. being signed by III. Clay Davis.
owner Of the land, and Lieut.. Fred
! Myers. representing the United States.
This lease operated five years terminal
ing August 81. 1889. The owner of the
land received annually 5000 which was
paid August 81 of each year. During
this period log huts were erected for use
of the troops. Early in 1888, just be
fore the close Of thi. lease, the soldiers
! were ordered further down the river
owing to the Cortina trouble. Following
! Juan y. Cortina back up the river, thy
met and defeated him at Rio Grande City
December 81, 1859. Cortina escaped
into Mexico where after but one more
raid, he contented himself in the affairs
of his own country. Troops were again
! left at the Ringgold Barracks.
Thu old lease having expired during
the absence Of the troops, Lieut.. j. W..
Alley. q. NJ. G.. arranged another lease
immediately upon the return Of the sol
diers. This one was to operate for ten
years granting the owner Of the land
$500 per year. 1t further provided that
at the end Of this ten year period, the
government had the privilege Of buying
the land for $4,000.
Troops Sent Back
Two years later the Civil War broke
and the Federal troops were taken from
the Iiinggold Barracks. Immediately
after the war troops were again sent TO
that post arriving in 1867. Col. james
W. Scully. q. NJ. g.. again released the
property from the widow Of III. Clay
Davis for a consideration of $1,000 per
year. The property was then held by
lease until 1873 when it was purchased
outright. This transaction necesSitated
the action Of the District Court TO vail
date the sale. March 80. 1878. the court
transferred from the heirs, Josefa Cara
de Salinas ct alasome $50 acres, more or
less according to the changing channel
of the Rio Grande. to the United States
government the, land now known as the
Fort Ringgold observation. The heirs
(Continued on page y