The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-07-18
FORT RINGG0LD AN
INTERESTING POST


San Antonio. Texas-Nestling In
the foothills Of Starr county, lying
mugiy against the banks Of the somber
and treacherous Rio Grande. rubbing
shoulders with the quaint and typical
~ Mexican town, Rio Grande City, just
midway between Brownsville and La
redo. y located one Of the most digni-
hed and stately Of army posts-Fort
Ringgold, Texas Chaplain R w. Rog-
srs. who prepared the history Of this
post for the United States Army Re
craiting News, says that while having
enjoyed q varied but quiet career. II
nevertheless is considered very
strategic border post. Fort Ringgold
was established when the Rio Grande
was navigable, boats bringing the first
detachment Of men to Davis Landing
which later was called Ringgold Bar
racks In those early days the near
est railroad was at Laredo something
more than 100 miles away, while now
she boasts q railroad at Sam Fordyce.
only 20 miles away.
Camargo, Mex, six miles south Of
Fort Ringgold, was founded March 5.
17z9, by Jose de Escandon. The frst
survey and map was made for the king
Of Spain In 1765. 1t shows line run
ming north S,624 varas (33 1-8 inches)
from the cross, the~central point Of op-
eratiOns In Camargo. This line then
ran northeast including the Fort Ring.
ha ,x,tf Hpax
Of Texas from Mexico and Its admis-
sion to the United States, the original
title changed over to the state. In the
early 40s, II. Clay Davis. a restless
young wanderer. drifted to that sec
ton of the country and purchased
large tract Of land. He soon established
q prosperous ranch and settled down
to make his fortune.
Capt. J. a. La Motto, First United
States infantry, took q small detach-
ment Of soldiers up the Rio Grande to
Davis Landing, arriving on October 26,
184S. Not until 1853 was the first lease
made. A tract 400 yards square. sur
rounded by q brush fence, containing
3S acres was surveyed. The lease was
signed by H. Clay Davis. owner Of the
land. and w. w. Chairman, represent
ing the United States. ...
BandIss Gross Border.
Immediately following the anneIa-
tion Of Texas to the United States
bandits began to cross from Mexico.
killing, looting and burning at will. In
repulsing one Of these invasions on the
battlefelds Of Palo Alto, an extensive
prairie nine miles north Of Browns
vile. Maj. David Ringgold was killed
May 8, 1916. Honoring Major Ring
gold. the camp at Davis Landing was
called Ringgold Barracks In 1849, and
more recently desisnated a Fort Ring
gold.
In September. 1864, the second lease
was made, and operated fve years.
During this period log huts were erect
ed for the use Of the troops. Early In
1859 the soldiers were ordered further
down the river owing to the Cortina
trouble. The old lease having e1r
pired during the absence Of the troops,
another lease was made upon their
return. This one was to operate for
ten years, granting the owner $500 per
year. It further provided. the govern
ment had the privilege Of buying the
land for $4,000. Two years later the
Civil war started and the federal
troops were taken from the Ringgold
horro cbo Tp,pnadiataIv oPta- tha x,x~-
troops were again sent to that post,
arriving In 1857. The property was
held by lease until 1878, when 1t was
purchased outright.
In 1906. a brigade post was estab-
lished at San Antonio. Fort Ringgold
with other border posts was disman-
tied and abandoned. The property
was turned over to the Department of
the Interior. 1t was laid OF In q
town-site and about to be sold when
border disturbances again took SOL
diers to Fort Ringgold. From 1911 to
the present soldiers and National
Guardsmen have constantly been on
watch there. However, no improve
ment was made until 1917, when the
property was again turned back to the
War department. In 1918, congress
appropriated $250,OOO for the improve
ment Of the post and In the following
years other appropriations have been
sufficient to repair and improve the
post until today It is one Of the most
attractive reservations on the border.
Where Lee Lived.
The most interesting building IL the
three-room frame cottage on the hill
near the signal station. This building
was used by Robert E Lee, when he
was In command there as a colonel
just before the Civil war. The build
ing Is still in perfect state Of preser-
walton.
Many prominent and notable army
men have seen service at Fort Ring
gold. Two or three years before the
Civil war Col. Robert q. Lee and Sec
ond Lieutenant Ulysses 8. Grant were
stationed there at the same time. 1t
was strange coincidence that two
leaders Of later opposing forces should
have been In the same post at the
same time. Other prominent officers
who have seen service there are: Jef.