National Register Listing

Fort Duncan

Bounded by Monroe and Garrison Sts,. city limits on the S, and the Rio Grande on the W, Eagle Pass, TX

"Fort Duncan was established on the east side of the Rio Grande by order of Major General William J. Worth on March 27, 1849, when Captain S. Burbank occupied the site with companies A, B, and F of the First U. S. Infantry. It was the fifth of the cordon of posts established in 1849 to protect the frontier from Indians. Roads ran through Duncan to Forts Inge, McIntosh and Clark and to San Antonio. Mail and most supplies came from San Antonio, the closest sizable town. A few small communities on both sides of the border were also near the fort." (Historic
Forts and Missions in Texas, p.32)

A few permanent buildings were constructed at the post in 1850. In 1853, "the site of Fort Duncan had not been purchased or leased by the government, but recently a proposition has been made by the Quartermaster's Department to the proprietor, Mr. Twohig of San Antonio, to lease it for fifteen years, with the use of the timber ... on the lands belonging to him." (Southwest Historical Quarterly, Vol. 52, p. 445) There was also an abundance of stone at hand suitable for building, but no lumber. In spite of the abundance of building material, in 1853, and inspector of the fort reported the quarters to be "wretched hovels not fit for occupancy." (Southwest Historical Quarterly, Vol. 52, p. 446) This was the consequence of an 1851 directive to the commander to put up no more permanent buildings until a lease for the site was obtained.

By 1856, when Colonel Mansfield inspected the Department of Texas, the fort had become a permanent establishment, leased for twenty years at $130 per month from John Twohig of San Antonio. By this time most of the permanent buildings and quarters had been completed. The personnel assigned to the post had risen from approximately seventy to more than 350. While the quarters were now adequate to house the personnel, the 1856 inspection showed that, "quarters of the officers have been in a great degree built of stone and of their private funds, as no funds were allowed to be expended for them. The Ordnance Sergeant Thomas Durry who has a family has been obliged to built a stone house out of his private means at a cost of about 100 dolls. He asks to be refunded the same." (Southwest Historical Quarterly, Vol. LIV, p. 243)

Although originally garrisoned as an outpost to protect against Indians, the fort was significant because of the trade with Mexico which crossed at Eagle Pass and because of its location on the California road. In spite of the post's strategic location, the fort was abandoned in May, 1859. The abandonment was short, however, for Robert E. Lee ordered the fort regarrisoned in March 1860, because of the Juan Cortinas disturbances on the Rio Grande. During the Civil War, the post was known as the Rio Grande Station and served as a station for the Frontier Regiment, a unit raised by the Texas legislature. The post was a vital supply point for munitions acquired in Mexico for the Confederacy. Federal troops reoccupied Fort Duncan in 1868, and the post saw active service until 1883. In 1870 the famous Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts were organized at the post and later won national recognition under the leadership of John L. Bullis.

From 1890 to 1917, when disturbances in Mexico caused the fort to be re-garrisoned with National Guard units, the fort had a skeleton caretaking detachment. Fort Duncan was re-activated in 1917 and finally abandoned in 1922.

The city of Eagle Pass purchased the land in 1938 and the area was converted into a recreational park. Works Project Administration labor did some reconstruction and repair to the remaining post buildings.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1968, 1969

Local significance of the district:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1971.