Site of Camp Concordia and Fort Bliss

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. The U.S. Army had a history with El Paso long before the Civil War, but when the war ended and the soldiers came back, they found their old post, Fort Bliss at Magoffinsville, in no shape to call home.

Conditions were undesirable, the marker says, and that's the kind of polite understatement that tells you things were probably pretty rough. So in 1868, the garrison packed up and moved to a new location, out on land that was then part of the Concordia Ranch. They named the new post Camp Concordia, and they got to work.

Two barracks went up, along with other adobe structures, the kind of buildings that blend right into the West Texas earth. Now, the Army being the Army, they didn't leave the name alone for long. By 1869, Camp Concordia had been renamed Fort Bliss, carrying that old familiar name to its new home.

But here's where the story takes a turn. Despite the fresh start, the living conditions remained poor. The post stayed active, soldiers making do, until 1876, when the troops were withdrawn.

You might think that was the end of it. It wasn't. Within a year, they came back.

This place, right here, was the third of six sites where the U.S. Army planted its flag in the El Paso area. Six times, in different spots, trying to get it right.

What the marker says

When the U.S. Army returned to this area after the Civil War, conditions proved undesirable at the prewar post, Fort Bliss at Magoffinsville. In 1868 the garrison moved to this location, then part of the Concordia Ranch. The new post was named Camp Concordia. Two barracks and other adobe structures were built. In 1869 the camp was renamed Fort Bliss. Despite poor living conditions it remained active until 1876. Troops were then withdrawn, only to return within a year. This is the third of six sites of U.S. Army posts in the El Paso area. 1982