Camp Elizabeth, Sterling County, Texas: . An Archaeological and Archival Investigation of a u.s. Army Subpost, and Evidence Supporting Its Use by the Military and "Buffalo Soldiers 11 Maureen Brown, Jose E. Zapata, and Bruce K. Moses with contributions by Anne A. Fox, C. Britt Bousman, I. Waymle Cox, and Cynthia L. Tennis Sponsored by: San Angelo District Texas Department of Transportation Archaeological Survey Report, No. 267 Center for Archaeological Research The University of Texas at San Antonio 1998 Camp Elizabeth, Sterling County, Texas: An Archaeological and Archival Investigation of a U.S. Army Subpost, and Evidence Supporting Its Use by the Military and "Buffalo Soldiers" Maureen Brown, Jose E. Zapata, and Bruce K. Moses with contributions by Anne A. Fox, C. Britt Bousman, L Waynne Cox, and Cynthia L. Tennis Robert J. Hard and C. Britt Bousman Principal Investigators Texas Antiquities Permit No. 1866 Archaeological Survey Report, No. 267 Center for Archaeological Research The University of Texas at San Antonio ©copyright 1998 The following information is provided in accordance with the General Rules of Practice and Procedure, Chapter 41.11 (Investigative Reports), Texas Antiquities Committee: 1. Type of investigation: Archaeological and archival mitigation 2. Project name: Camp Elizabeth 3. County: Sterling 4. Principal investigator: Robert J. Hard and C. Britt Bousman 5. Name and location of sponsoring agency: Texas Department of Transportation, Austin, Texas 78701 6. Texas Antiquities Permit No.: 1866 7. Published by the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio, Texas 78249-0658, 1998 A list of publications offered by the Center for Archaeological Research is available. Call (210) 458-4378; write to the Center for Archaeological Research, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio, Texas 78249-0658; e-mail to [email protected]; or visit CAR's web site at http://www.csbs.utsa.edu/researchlcar. Abstract The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) engaged in a two-phase contract with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to complete archaeological and archival investigations of the Camp at the Head of the North Concho (41 STIll). The camp, known locally as Camp Elizabeth, was a military outpost of Fort Concho in San Angelo, Texas, and is now located approximately nine miles northwest of Sterling City along V.S. Highway 87. The camp lies within the right-of-way along V.S. 87 that will be impacted by a highway improvement project. CAR's archaeological and archival investigations confirmed the presence of the former military occupation of the camp during the late-nineteenth century. No evidence supporting a legendary presence of the Texas Rangers at Camp Elizabeth was found. Archival evidence that the Buffalo Soldiers, African-American troops, were stationed at Camp Elizabeth is presented. Archaeological excavations identified numerous features, including a farrier's shop. Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ i List of Figures .................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ....................................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1: Introduction Maureen Brown ............................................................................. '" .................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Project Background Bruce K. Moses, Cynthia L. Tennis, and Maureen Brown ................................................................... 5 Chapter 3: Research Issues Maureen Brown and Jose E. Zapata ................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 4: Archival Investigations Jose E. Zapata, 1. Waynne Cox, and C. Britt Bousman ...................................................................... 19 Chapter 5: Archaeological Investigations Maureen Brown, Bruce K. Moses, and Jose E. Zapata ...................................................................... 47 Chapter 6: Conclusions and Interpretations Maureen Brown, Anne A. Fox, Bruce K. Moses, Jose E. Zapata, and C. Britt Bousma .................... 81 References Cited ............................................................................................................................. 102 Appendix A: 1870 and 1880 Census Data .................................................................................... 112 Appendix B: Artifact Data ............................................................................................................................ 131 11 Figures 1-1. Project location ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1-2. Detail of project location .............................................................................................................................. 2 1-3. Project area, looking north/northwest. ......................................................................................................... 3 2-1. Vegetation zones in the vicinity of the project area ..................................................................................... 7 2-2. Vegetation in the project area ....................................................................................................................... 7 2-3. Plan of Camp Elizabeth as remembered by Kellis ..................................................................................... 12 2-4. TxDOT's investigations at 41ST111 .......................................................................................................... 14 4-1. Texas forts and selected communities in 1855 ........................................................................................... 20 4-2. Texas forts and selected communities in 1870 ........................................................................................... 24 4-3. Fort Concho and outposts, ca. 1875 ........................................................................................................... 35 4-4. Ft. Concho Scout Report map of the location of Camp at the Head of the North Concho ........................ 37 4-5. Texas frontier railroads and towns, ca. 1890 ............................................................................................. 41 4-6. Forts occupied by the Buffalo Soldiers ...................................................................................................... 42 4-7. Emblem of the 10th Cavalry. National Archives ....................................................................................... 43 4-8. Buffalo Soldiers of the 25th Infantry.......................................................................................................... 45 5-1. Site map showing grid in 41ST111 project area, TxDOT previous investigations, CAR's Phase I and II investigations ....................................................................................................................... 48 5-2. Site map showing TxDOTs identified Features 1-5 and CAR's excavated units within Features 1 (U77-86, and U89) and Feature 4 (U87-88) .............................................................................................. 50 5-3. Unit 73 (12 inches bs) showing interior northwest comer of Feature 1. ................................................... 53 5-4. Unit 73, profile of north wall of Feature 1 within U73 .............................................................................. 54 5-5. Feature 1, plan map .................................................................................................................................... 55 5-6. Feature 1 after excavations (looking east) ................................................................................................. 56 5-7. Feature 1, exposure of north and west walls (looking southeast) .............................................................. 56 5-8. Feature 1, exposure of the east wall and the northeast comer (looking south) ......................................... 57 5-9. Bladed area excavations showing the locations of identified anomalies A1-A70 .................................... 60 5-10. Anomalies and Features 6 and 7 identified within Bladed Area 1........................................................... 63 5-11. Anomalies and Features 5 and 9 identified within Bladed Area 2 ........................................................... 65 5-12. A29: Orange soil concentration ............................................................................................................... 66 5-13. A30: 12d cut nail with grommet and window glass ................................................................................. 66 5-14. Anomalies and Features 2, 3, 4, and 10 identified within Bladed Area 3 ................................................ 67 5-15. Anomalies and Features 1, 11, 12, and 13 within Bladed Area 4 ............................................................ 69 5-16.