[1] The fort, now a ghost town, was named for former Mississippi Governor John A. Quitman, who served as a major general under Zachary Taylor during the Mexican–American War.

[1] By 1860 the garrison had been reduced to one officer Second Lieutenant Zenas Bliss (who would retire from the Army in 1897 as a brigadier general) and 20 men.

Lieutenant Bliss and his men were ordered to march to San Antonio with other troops evacuating West Texas garrisons.

Confederate Texas troops under Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley passed through the post on their way to the New Mexico Campaign in December 1861.

The fort was inspected by troops from the California Column looking for any evidence of further Confederate activity or stragglers in 1863, but did not see any need to garrison the post.

Soldiers would complain about adobe from the walls falling into their bunks as they slept due to the poor condition of the buildings.