October 26th, 1849 -- Camp Gates established in Coryell County

[Craig Tx]

On this day in 1849, Camp Gates, the predecessor of Fort Gates, was established by Capt. William R. Montgomery as a stockaded United States cantonment on the north bank of the Leon River above Coryell Creek, about five miles east of the site of present Gatesville.

The installation was named for Bvt. Maj. Collinson Reed Gates of New York, who won distinction in the Mexican War. The last of a cordon of posts established in 1849 to protect settlers on the frontier from Indians, the fort was also the first of the line of posts to be abandoned. It was closed in March 1852, once the Indian threat had been removed. Lt. George Pickett, later a Confederate general and leader of "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg, was stationed at Fort Gates in 1850-51.

[BEAVERMAN]

 

[Ohio Joe]

On this day in 1849, Camp Gates, the predecessor of Fort Gates, was established by Capt. William R. Montgomery as a stockaded United States cantonment on the north bank of the Leon River above Coryell Creek, about five miles east of the site of present Gatesville.

The installation was named for Bvt. Maj. Collinson Reed Gates of New York, who won distinction in the Mexican War. The last of a cordon of posts established in 1849 to protect settlers on the frontier from Indians, the fort was also the first of the line of posts to be abandoned. It was closed in March 1852, once the Indian threat had been removed. Lt. George Pickett, later a Confederate general and leader of "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg, was stationed at Fort Gates in 1850-51.

Ft. Gates on the Brazos...    Robert M. Utley makes mention of Ft. Gates in his book Frontiersmen in Blue (The United States Army and the Indian, 1848-1865) page 71

You've given it a lot of detail that's not known by many I expect. Thanks Craig 

[Craig Tx]

You're welcome!  I get blurbs from the Texas State Historical Association.  I just pass on the ones that might be of interest to the forum.

[Oldetexian]

  Every post of yours that I've read has been good solid info. Thank you for keeping 'em coming our way!