Site of Camp Del Rio
Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A United State Army post was established in this area on September 6, 1876. Originally known as Camp San Felipe, it was an outpost of Fort Clark (28 mile E), one of a chain of military fortifications constructed to defend isolated settlements of the Southwest Texas frontier. General E. O. C. Ord, Commander of the department of Texas, created the camp to protect the border area from raiding parties of Indians in Mexico who entered Texas to secure horses along the Pecos and Devil's Rivers. In 1880 the San Felipe Agricultural, Manufacturing and Irrigation Company donated land at this site to the United State Government for use as a military reservation. Since the original shareholders of the firm had founded the town of Del Rio, the camp name was changed. The grounds here included officers' quarters, a hospital, bakery, quartermaster's storehouse, and barracks. Later, when it was discovered some of the structures had been built on private property, additional land was leased from the owners. Indians raids in the area had ended by 1890 and the troops were moved to other posts. Camp Del Rio was officially abandoned the next year and the land was later transferred back to the original owners. (1980)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Established as Camp San Felipe in 1876 as an outpost of Fort Clark, this U.S. Army post was one of a chain of forts defending the isolated settlements of the Southwest Texas frontier. General E. O. C. Ord created it to guard against raiding parties crossing the Pecos and Devil's Rivers. After the town of Del Rio grew up around it, the camp took the town's name; with the end of Indian raids by 1890, troops moved on and the post was abandoned in 1891.
Why it matters
Camp Del Rio marks the U.S. Army's role in the long struggle over the Texas–Mexico borderlands and the closing of the Southwest frontier.
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Related people
- · E. O. C. Ord
Themes & tags
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