Fort Mason, Texas

When Texas seceded in 1861, Robert E. Lee was stationed at Fort Mason in Texas in command of the Second US Cavalry. The fort is located northwest of Austin and San Antonio, built in 1851.

The post has a pre-Civil War connection to the conflict in that some twenty junior and field grade officers were stationed there who went on to become generals during the war including John Bell Hood, Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston, Earl van Dorn, Fitzhugh Lee, Kirby Smith and William J. Hardee on the Confederate side.

Twelve became Union generals including George H. Thomas.

The only remaining structure from Fort Mason is the officers quarters. Many of the homes surrounding the site were built of stone from the fort.

In 1862, the Confederates held 215 prisoners there under the suspicion of being Unionists.

During the course of the war, Indian attacks became more frequent.

Texas' Fort Mason. --Old B-Runner

Lee Has Hard Time Getting Out of Texas

From the Feb. 1, 2011, Texas Tribune.

At the time of Texas's secession, February 1, 1861, US Army Colonel Robert E. Lee was stationed at Fort Mason (in Mason County) as commander of the US Second Cavalry.

With war approaching, he was ordered back to Washington, DC, and departed the fort on Feb. 13th only to be waylaid in nearby San Antonio and practically held a prisoner.

He donned civilian attire and had to continually remind the Texans that he was also a Virginian. He eventually was allowed to continue his journey, despite being provoked by Texans trying to get him to take an oath of allegiance to the South.

War Fever, Indeed. --Old B-Runner