Fort Davis
- Texas
photo: Library of Congress
Why go there?
Fort Davis is a national historic site located in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. The fort was established in 1854 to protect the settlers from hostile Indians. The fort was named after Jefferson Davis, who later became President of the Confederate States of America. The fort served as an important outpost for the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars. The 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry regiments and the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry regiments, all-black regiments (known as the buffalo soldiers), were established after the Civil War and stationed at the post. Lt. Col. Wesley Merritt led Troops C, F, H, and I of the 9th Cavalry in their first battle against the Comanche at Buffalo Wallow in 1867. The fort was finally abandoned in 1891.
