C.S.A. Camp Nueces
La Pryor, Zavala County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded April 1862 near this site, to guard vital traffic as it crossed the Nueces on the San Antonio-Eagle Pass Road. A post of the Confederacy's frontier regiment, under Col. James M. Norris. Its duty was to see that cotton got through to Mexico and munitions, medicines and factory goods came north to supply the Confederacy. One of the chain of posts a day's horseback ride apart, on line from Red River to Rio Grande. Never able to relax, in constant danger of Indian raids; short of food, horses and guns, Nueces (like other frontier camps) had none of war's glory and more than its share of hardships. Located in Zavala County, created in 1858 and named for Lorenzo de Zavala. This is one of 10 counties to commemorate colonizers. Of the 254 counties, 42 have Indian, French or Spanish names. 12 honor Washington and other American patriots. 96 were named for 1836-1846 heroes of the Republic of Texas (including 15 who died in the Alamo). 23 have names of other early statesmen. 11 honor U.S. leaders in the campaign to annex Texas. 10 honor state jurists, ministers, educators, statesmen, historians. 36 are named for leading men of the southern Confederacy. 14 have names from local geography. (1983)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Founded in the spring of 1862, this Confederate frontier post guarded the crossing of the Nueces on the San Antonio-Eagle Pass Road, a lifeline that carried Southern cotton south to Mexico and manufactured goods north to the Confederacy. Manned by the frontier regiment under Col. James M. Norris, it was one of a chain of camps set a day's ride apart from the Red River to the Rio Grande. Short of food, horses, and guns and under constant threat of raids, the men here found little of war's glory and much of its hardship.
Why it matters
It reveals a rarely told side of the Civil War, where the Confederacy fought less against Union armies than against isolation, supply shortages, and the pressures of a contested Texas frontier.
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Related people
- · James M. Norris
Related events
- · American Civil War
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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