page_title: Fort Washita
section_title: The Mexican–American War
hierarchical_section_title: Fort Washita / History / The Mexican–American War
caption_attribution_description: English: Small section of Indian Territory map Area around Fort Washita/Hatsburg(Hatsboro), Indian Territory. Copyright 1887 by Wm. M. Bradley &amp; Bro. (1890)
context_page_description: Fort Washita is the former United States military post and National Historic Landmark located in Durant, Oklahoma on SH 199. Established in 1842 by General Zachary Taylor to protect citizens of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations from the Plains Indians it was later abandoned by Federal forces at the beginning of the American Civil War. Confederate troops held the post until the end of the war when they burned the remaining structures. It was never reoccupied by the United States military. After years in private hands the Oklahoma Historical Society bought the fort grounds in 1962 and restored the site. Today the Fort Washita Historic Site and Museum is a tourist attraction and hosts several events throughout the year.
context_section_description: When the Mexican–American War began in May 1846 activity increased dramatically at Fort Washita.  As a United State military post near Texas the fort served as a staging point for the war.  Traffic on the Texas Road heading south increased during and after the war.  During the war years the average garrison of 150 troops increased to almost 2000 troops.  During this era Fort Washita served as the site of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Agencies.  The Mexican–American War ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848.
  The Chickasaws met at Boiling Spring near Fort Washita in 1846 and adopted a constitution.  They met again at Boiling Spring on October 13, 1848 and created a more formal constitution, creating their own government separate from the Choctaws.  As the Chickasaws moved into their own country near and west of Fort Washita they increasingly needed protection from the fort against the plains Indians.
  The temporary log barracks was replaced after the construction of the south barracks from limestone in 1849.
  Commanded by Dixon S. Miles in late 1849 and early 1851.
  Major Daniel Ruggles served at Fort Washita from 1849 to 1851 after the Mexican–American War and eventually commanded the fort.  He was popular, and the small settlement west of the fort was named Rugglesville after him.  It was sometimes called Rucklesville and later Hatsboro.
  Shortly after the Mexican–American War the 2nd Artillery Regiment, commanded by Colonel Braxton Bragg and made famous at the Battle of Buena Vista, was assigned to the fort.  Bragg was later a General in the Confederate Army.
caption: 1887 map of Fort Washita and Hatsboro(Hatsburg)
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