Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Fort Bliss

Fort Bliss, located near El Paso, Texas was and is an important stronghold for the United States Army. Opened in 1854 by a War Department order of 1848, Fort Bliss protected the frontier from Apache Indians and the wagon trains to California gold fields. Today, Fort Bliss houses the U.S. Army Defense Center, which trains troops to operate anti-aircraft artillery and guided missiles.

Fort Bliss, named after President Zachery Taylor's son-in-law Lieutenant Colonel William Bliss, covers some fifty square miles. The reservation's firing ranges in Texas and New Mexico extend about 1,177,000 acres.

Violence on the border in 1853 brought home the need for troops in the El Paso area. In January 1854, Lieutenant Edward P. Alexander with four companies of the Eighth Infantry took up quarters in buildings owned by James W. Magoffin at Magoffinville. As soon as his command was able it built a post on land leased from Magoffin. This post (called Fort Bliss by order of March 8, 1954) was located on the present Magoffin Avenue centering the 2100 block.

In the spring of 1860 only a single company of the Eighth Infantry was stationed at Fort Bliss with Captain T.G. Pitcher commanding. When Texas left the Union in 1861 all military properties were surrendered to the commission of the state of Texas. Union troops were soon ordered to march to the Gulf Coast leaving the property to James W. Magoffin and the public funds to Simeon Hart, for the area. With Confederate occupancy only a guard detachment was left at Fort Bliss eventually causing the fort to fall in disrepair.

In May, 1881 the first passenger train reached El Paso crossing the military reservation. Narrowly restricted between the river and the hills, the track proved to be too small, so in 1890 Congress authorized the War Department to sell the Fort Bliss property on the river and to purchase a new site.

The land on the Mesa east of town was purchased in 1890 and new quarters and barracks were ready for occupation in October, 1893. Colonel H.M. Lazell was in command of the first contingent to be housed at the present Fort Bliss.

The garrison of Old Fort Bliss evacuated May 31, 1894 and entrained for Fort Clark.

The great era of building forts in the United States ended with the Civil War. In the 20th century older forts have tended to become historic relics. Most forts have become army posts used as education, training, experimental work, or adminis-tration centers.

From protecting the frontier from Indians in the late 1800's to protecting the cities and other targets from enemy aircraft or missiles, Fort Bliss has and does play an important role in the defense of the people of the United States.