Fort Ringgold, Rio Grande City, Texas

Fort Ringgold has a rather disjointed history in south Texas.  Major periods of military occupation were from it's inception in 1848 to help fulfill demands of the Mexican War until 1861 when the Civil War began.  

Two companies of infantry were dispached to the Davis Landing on the Rio Grande River to protect citizens from border raids and marauding indians.  The military took up residence on a 350 acre site that would become known as Fort Davis and later Fort Ringgold.  This photo shows barracks and the parade ground.

The second period of military occupation occurred from1865 at the close of the Civil War until1906 when "military exigencies" in the Phillipines  required higher priority.

These barracks are now used as storage areas and classrooms for the RioGrande City Independent School District., which purchased the property in 1947.

On the opposite side of the parade ground are buildings used for classrooms.  The center building, with an arched collonade was the military administration building.

The final period of occupation was from 1917 during a time of border war along the Rio Grande, until 1944 when the military disposed of the property.

The building pictured here was a military hospital.

Behind the barracks, at the top of a small hill is a house occupied by Robert E. Lee in 1860.  He was stationed here to oversee military courts and to investigate the Juan Cortina insurrection.  The house is named for him for some reason that I have not yet discovered.  It was built in 1856, four years before Lee was assigned to the post and from what I've been able to learn he lived there less than a year.  Other post commanders of notoriety also occupied the home during their tenure at the fort.

The sign doesn't date the restoration project, but from appearances, it has been an ongoing project for some time.  On the day we were there, there was no apparent activity.

The house sits atop a small hill, surrounded by a chain link fence.  Photos on the Internet show the house in abject decay, which must have occurred after 1969.

According to a post by George Benoit at www.texasescapes.com who lived in the house with his family from 1961 to 1969 when all families living on the post were asked to leave.

Benoit also writes that the  original house had three rooms: a coat closet/foyer, one bedroom and a living room.  Additional bedrooms, kitchen, laundry and covered porch were added later.

Another, smaller, house a short distance from the Lee house may have been executive officers quarters, but I'm not sure that's accurate.

This building, down the hill from the Lee house and to the east of the barracks and parade ground, served several purposes.  It was an armory, jail and storage building.

This warehouse may have been serviced by a railway, but if so, it's no longer there.

There is a great deal of relatively recent history surrounding Fort Ringgold and several more intersting buildings.  These pictures were taken within a half-hour time span late one afternoon in January.  I hope to return when I can learn more about the people who served here.