Forts of Texas

Ownership of specific lands was claimed and disputed by different ethnic groups, including numerous Native American tribes, Mexican residents, Anglo- and African-American settlers, and European immigrants.

Access to and control of resources were claimed and disputed by various economic groups, including indigenous hunter/gatherers, farmers, herders, ranchers, colonists, settlers, buffalo hunters, traders, bandits, smugglers, pirates, and revolutionaries.

Many military camps, barracks, fortified trading posts, palisades, stockades, blockhouses, strongholds, and fortifications were built to establish, defend, or dispute claims to the area.

The United States Army established a number of new forts along the border, and military disputes in this area eventually led to the Mexican–American War.

Forts of this period include: Interference or resistance from local inhabitants was a concern going back to the first explorations by France and Spain.

In the mid 19th century, the US Army was concerned with protecting settlements and towns in eastern, central, and south Texas from Indian interference.

During the Civil War, local Texas militias, law enforcement, and civilians were concerned with protecting the entire settled portion of the state from interference from both Indians and Mexican bandits.

Albert Sidney Johnston, George Henry Thomas and Earl Van Dorn were also stationed at Fort Mason.

These included: Additionally, there were extensive earthwork fortifications and batteries defending Galveston, which changed hands several times during the war.

Prior to World War I, revolutions in Mexico led to unrest along the US border, including Mexican raids on towns in the Southwest United States.

Extensive U-boat activity in the Gulf of Mexico led to concern about naval raids on Texas ports and coastal cities by ships and submarines of the Axis powers.