Wilson County News - Wilson County Sesquicentennial

Gene Maeckel
November 3, 2009 | Comment on this blog entry

This is the second of two articles about the San Patricio Trail, a travel and trade route from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, running through parts of Wilson County.

After the Texas Revolution, the San Patricio Trail had limited use, because of the unsettled conditions between Texas and Mexico. The area became lawless and a refuge for criminals and wanted individuals, making travel through this unprotected area unsafe.

During the war between the United States and Mexico, the trail returned to very active use. Gen. Zachary Taylor used it very extensively during the war to move troops and supplies in support of the military activities in action against Mexico. After military action ended, the trail began to be used as a route for wagons to transport goods from Corpus Christi through San Patricio to San Antonio.

In the 1850s, a stage line was established to carry passengers between San Antonio and Corpus Christi or Brownsville. To protect travelers along the route, the U.S. government established Fort Merrill on the Nueces River, 30 miles upstream from San Patricio. This military base provided protection from marauding Indians and the lawless individuals attempting to escape justice in South Texas.

With the advent of the American Civil War, the San Patricio Trail became a major thoroughfare for the South�s war effort. The Union had blockaded all the ports along the Gulf Coast. The Confederacy used the trail to reach the Mexican port of Matamoros to trade with foreign countries. This trade included the exchange of cotton for military supplies. Large amounts of arms and ammunition were obtained in this manner for the war effort.

After the American Civil War ended, the trail was again used by wagons to transport goods to and from South Texas. Until 1881, the trail was also used for stagecoach travel and postal service.

Stage stops along this route in Wilson County were at Fairview and the Tordilla area. In the 1870s, a stage stop was established at the Roundtree Ranch headquarters, just west of the Wilson and Atascosa county line. This stop provided a livery stable and a rest stop for the stagecoach passengers. It later became the only stage stop between Oakville and Fairview. Stages operated daily between San Antonio and Corpus Christi. At Oakville, this stage line interconnected with another stage line going to and from Brownsville.

Compiled by Gene Maeckel from archives of the Wilson County Historical Society. Visit the Web site: http://www.wilsoncountyhistory.com.

Sesquicentennial Committee members are LaJuana Newnam-Leus, 830-393-2166; Shirley and John Grammer, 830-947-3176; Maurine Liles, 830-393-4959; and Gene Maeckel, 830-484-2536.

Next Blog Entry (November 17, 2009) »

« Previous Blog Entry (October 27, 2009)

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