HistoricSiteMarkers
Early RepublicCivil War

Old San Pedro Springs

San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

Marker Inscription

Old San Pedro Springs--near this site--noted camping spot 5 miles from city. Used by U.S. Army, Mexican War, 1846-48. Often scene of summer picnics and political speeches, 1850's. On surrender to confederate Texas of all federal troops in state, it was site of prisoner of war camp for a short time. For Quarters, prisoners built dugouts and brush arbors. Later, campsite for confederate soldiers moving toward western frontier, for troops of Arizona-New Mexico campaign, for units coming from the Rio Grande to new assignments, and for raw recruits in camps of instruction.

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

The springs at Old San Pedro, five miles from the city, were a favored camping ground long used by U.S. troops during the Mexican War of 1846–48 and by picnickers and stump-speakers in the 1850s. When federal forces in Texas surrendered to the Confederacy in 1861, the site briefly held prisoners of war in dugouts and brush arbors. Thereafter it served as a staging camp for Confederate soldiers bound for the western frontier, the Arizona–New Mexico campaign, and camps of instruction for raw recruits.

Why it matters

A single watering hole outside San Antonio witnessed two of the era's defining conflicts, showing how the same frontier landscape served army after army across the mid-19th century.

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Related events

  • · Mexican-American War
  • · Surrender of Federal forces in Texas

Themes & tags

Mexican-American WarCivil WarFrontier HistoryLandmark

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