Jones County, Texas - History - Fort Phantom HIll *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************** The Western Enterprise Anson, Jones County, Texas Thursday, August 26, 1933 50th Anniversary Edition ROBERT E. LEE WAS NOT A PHANTOM HILL by Hybernia Grace Rumors that Robert E. Lee was at one time stationed at Fort Phantom HIll continue to travel in spite of evidence to the contrary. According to records on file in the U.S. War Department Lee was at no time stationed at Fort Phantom Hill. These military records show that from November 1851 to September 1852, he was stationed at Baltimore, Maryland. He was transferred in September 1852 to West Point, New York where he remained until April 1854. Since Fort Phantom Hill was not established until 14 November 1851, and was abandoned on 6 April 1854, it was impossible for Lee to have been stationed at this post. Lee did not come to Texas until 1856. For a time after his arrival he was stationed at Fort Brown. On 9 April 1856 he took command of Camp Cooper, an Indian Reservation in Shackelford County, and remained there until 1859 when he returned to Washington. On 20 February 1860 Lee returned to Texas assuming command of the Department of Texas. This position he held until 12 December 1860. It is probably that Lee has been in Jones County many times. Letters to his wife tell of trips made south from Camp Cooper. We would expect him to travel along the old military road since it was the only road through the country. This road passed through Phantom Hill cutting across the southeast part of the country. Albert Sidney Johnston is also said to have been in command of Phantom Hill. Government records show that Johnston was paymaster in the United States army during the time troops occupied Phantom Hill. In the discharge of his duty he visited the fort every two months. His headquarters was Austin. General Johnston, with his clerk, negro driver and negro cook, rode in a covered ambulance drawn by four mules, and carried gold in a chest to pay the soldiers in the frontier forts he visited. He was accompanied by a forage wagon and an escort of dragoon for protection against the Indians. Others tell that Joseph E. Johnston was at Phantom Hill. Government records show he was at San Antonio with the Topographical Engineers when this fort was established and was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained until after Phantom Hill was abandoned. Major George H. Thomas is also reputed as founding Phantom Hill, but he did not come to Texas until two years after the fort had been abandoned. He was an instructor at West Point from 1851 to 1854. Government records give the following as commanding officers with dates of residence: Brev. Lieut. [John Joseph] Abercrombie was in command from 14 November 1851, when the fort was built until 27 April 1852 Lieut. Col. Carlos A. Waite was in command from 27 April 1852 to 24 September 1853 Bvt. Major H.[Henry] H.[Hopkins] Sibley was in command from 24 September 1853 - 26 March 1854 First Lieut. [Newton] C. Givens was in command 26 March 1854 till 6 April 1854 when the fort was abandoned.