Fort Brown (originally Fort Texas) was a military post of the United States Army in Cameron County, Texas, during the latter half of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. Established in 1846, it was the first US Army military outpost of the recently annexed state. Confederate Army troops stationed there saw action during the American Civil War. In the early 20th century, it was garrisoned in relation to military activity over border conflicts with Mexico. Surviving elements of the fort were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960. directed the construction of a star-shaped earthwork for 800 men called "Fort Texas" on the northern side of the Rio Grande "by the order from [[Zachary Taylor|General [Zachary] Taylor]] to command the city of Matamoros" south of the river.

The next year, the fort was besieged during the opening of the Mexican–American War. During the Siege of Fort Texas, two Americans were killed, including Major Jacob Brown and George Oakes Stevens (of Vermont) of the 2nd Dragoons. In honor of the fallen major, General Taylor renamed the post as Fort Brown. In 1849, the city of Brownsville, Texas, was established not far from the fort's grounds, after the United States had acquired Texas following the war.

Cortina

While in command at the fort, Major Samuel P. Heintzelman coordinated with John Salmon Ford in the Cortina Troubles, culminating in the Battle of Rio Grande City in 1859.

Civil War

In 1861, Confederate Colonel John "Rip" Ford occupied the fort, with a garrison there until 1863. The Confederate forces were finally driven out by Union forces under General Nathaniel P. Banks, who had his troops camped in tents erected at the fort site. This Union occupation ended in 1864, when Confederate forces under General James E. Slaughter and Colonel Ford took control of the area.

Decommission

On February 1, 1946, Fort Brown was decommissioned and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers on April 25, 1946. It was acquired by the City of Brownsville and Texas Southmost College in 1948.

Three areas that were once part of the post were designated a discontiguous National Historic Landmark District in 1960 in recognition of its historic importance. They include earthworks built in 1846; a cavalry barracks built in 1848; and a collection of buildings erected mainly between 1868 and 1870, including a hospital, morgue, barracks, commissary, colonel's house, and officers' quarters.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 authorized the addition of Fort Brown (166 acres) to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.

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File:Fort Brown earthworks.jpg|Remnants of the Fort Brown earthworks form the boundary of the Fort Brown Memorial Golf Course and the driving range.

File:Some of the buildings at Fort Brown in Brownsville, Texas LCCN2014630475.tif|Some of the buildings at Fort Brown

File:Champion Hall, which served as the medical laboratory and isolation ward at Fort Brown in Brownsville, Texas, until World War I LCCN2014630474.tif|Champion Hall, which served as the medical laboratory and isolation ward until World War I

File:Fort Brown monument.jpg|Monument to the fallen Maj. Brown

File:Fort Brown Texas Historical Marker.jpg|Texas historical marker

File:Fort Brown Texas Historical Marker Siege.jpg|Texas historical marker commemorating the siege

File:Fort Brown Historical Marker dimensions.jpg|Texas historical marker explaining the dimensions of the fort

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See also

  • List of National Historic Landmarks in Texas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Cameron County, Texas
  • Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Cameron County

References

  • Fort Brown, Handbook of Texas Online