DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Camp Cureton, C.S.A., out in Archer County. Now, picture a defense line stretching clear from the Red River all the way down to the Rio Grande. That was the spine of it — a long, hard line drawn across Texas during the Civil War, and Camp Cureton sat right on it.
Strategically established, the marker says, right where the Gainesville-to-Fort Belknap Road crossed the west fork of the Trinity River, about ten miles south and four miles east of what is now Archer City. The Texas Frontier Regiment patrolled this stretch frequently, keeping a watchful eye for Comanche raids. And here is where the story gets interesting, because these were not men flush with supplies and fresh horses.
They were poorly fed. They were short on horses. They were short on ammunition.
You might look at a camp like that and wonder what it could possibly accomplish. And yet — and this is the part worth sitting with — these rugged Confederates more effectively curbed Indian raids than the U.S. had before them. They protected supply trains moving through dangerous country.
They guarded against Union action along that frontier. Not with abundance. With grit.
The camp took its name from its commander, Captain Jack Cureton, a veteran of both the Mexican and Indian Wars. A man who apparently knew something about holding a line with whatever you had. The State of Texas erected this marker in 1963 as a memorial to the Texans who served the Confederacy on that frontier.
Far from the famous battles, far from the headlines of the war, they were out here — hungry, undermounted, and still standing watch.
What the marker says
Star and Wreath Strategically established during Civil War on defense line Red River to Rio Grande where Gainesville-Fort Belknap Road crossed west fork Trinity River about 10 miles south, 4 miles east of Archer City. Texas Frontier Regiment patrolled area frequently to check Comanche raids. Poorly fed, lacking horses and ammunition, these rugged Confederates more effectively curbed Indians than U.S. had, protected supply trains, guarded against Union action. Named for Capt. Jack Cureton, Camp Commander, veteran Mexican, Indian Wars. A Memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy; Erected by the State of Texas 1963.