This research guide is intended to provide introductory information on the historical significance of Fort Brown located in Brownsville, Texas. The guide provides links to useful primary and secondary sources from the UTRGV University Library Special Collections as well as information about external resources.
Before it was known as Fort Brown, Fort Texas was established as a U.S. Army post in 1846. It was an earthwork fortress shaped like a six-sided star with 9' high and 15' wide walls and encircled by a moat. The fort was renamed for Major Jacob Brown (1789-1846), the commander of the U.S. 7th Infantry who was mortally wounded in the Siege of Fort Texas during the Mexican-American War.
The post played an important role during the U.S. Civil War when it was occupied first by Confederate Col. Rip Ford (1861-1863) and later by Union Gen. Nathaniel Banks (1863-1864) before the Confederacy once again seized control until the end of the war. Following the Civil War, Fort Brown was established as a permanent military base for the U.S. Army along the nation's southern border.
Fort Brown played a prominent role in military and border history due to its strategic location. It was decommissioned by the Army in 1946 and acquired by the City of Brownsville and Texas Southmost College in 1948.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 authorized the addition of Fort Brown to Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park.
This digital collection consists of maps pertaining to Fort Brown and its evolution from a military installation to a higher education institution.
The research guides compiled by UTRGV staff and students are intended to assist patrons who are embarking upon new research endeavors. Our goal is to expand their knowledge of the types of resources available on a given topic, including books, archival materials, and websites. In so doing, our compilers have taken care to include collections, digital items, and resources that may be accessed not only through UTRGV but also via other institutions, repositories, and websites.
We wholeheartedly respect the research interests of others. Therefore, please contact us if you wish to submit a resource for consideration, or if you have a question about or an issue with a specific cited resource.
Fort Brown: Sentinel on the Frontier by
As the primary U.S. military establishment at the mouth of the Rio Grande, Fort Brown became a major prize for both sides during the Civil War. Originally named Fort Texas and later renamed in honor of Major Jacob Brown, one of the first casualties in the Mexican American War, the fort was built by General Zachary Taylor in 1846, making it the first major U.S. military post built along the Rio Grande. In February 1861, Union General David Twiggs—a southern sympathizer—agreed to surrender all military sites in Texas to the Confederacy. During most of the Civil War, Confederate troops at Fort Brown served as guardians of the prosperous cotton trade to Matamoros. After May 1865, Fort Brown was re-occupied by the U.S. Army, including U.S. Colored Troops, and resumed its role as a guardian of the border. This catalog is a product of a class taught by the CHAPS Program faculty on Public History and was designed to give our students experience in developing a traveling museum exhibit for many to enjoy.
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