DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm passin' it right along to you. There's a piece of ground in San Antonio that has seen more history change hands — sometimes peacefully, sometimes not — than most places care to admit. It started in 1858, when the United States Arsenal at San Antonio was founded on a site chosen by Captain R.
H. K. Whiteley.
The man had an eye for real estate, I'll give him that. Construction got underway in 1859, with contractors John Mc. and W. W.
Campbell running the show. Three buildings were going up when the Civil War rolled in like a thunderhead: the magazine, the office building, and the Armorer's shop. Three buildings, mid-construction, and suddenly everything changed.
In 1861, U.S. commander General David E. Twiggs surrendered all federal property in the city to state forces commanded by Ben McCulloch. All of it.
And here's the thing — those buildings weren't finished yet. So Confederate forces picked up right where the Union contractors left off and kept on building. During the war, the Arsenal became a principal supply depot for troops in South Texas and out on the western frontier.
It didn't much care who was running it; it just kept doing its job. Then in November of 1865, federal troops reoccupied the complex and assumed control of all military installations in the area. After 1873, construction of additional buildings continued, and the Arsenal grew into a central supply point for U.S. troops across the Southwest.
Buildings went up in 1877 and again in 1883, and changes were made to existing structures along the way. World War I brought another expansion program, and by 1920, that compound had swelled to forty-four buildings. Forty-four.
From three unfinished walls in 1859 to forty-four buildings standing by 1920. It had weathered a Civil War, a change of flags, and two world conflicts. The U.S.
Army deactivated the San Antonio Arsenal in 1947. Nearly ninety years of service, and then — quiet. Some places earn their rest.
What the marker says
Founded in 1858, the United States Arsenal at San Antonio was located on a site selected by Capt. R.H. K. Whiteley. Construction began in 1859 under the supervision of contractors John Me. and W.W. Campbell. Three buildings were under construction at the beginning of the Civil War: The magazine, office building, and Armorer's shop. After U.S. commander Gen. David E. Twiggs surrendered all federal property in the city to state forces commanded by Ben McCulloch in 1861, construction was continued by confederate forces. During the war the Arsenal served as a principal supply depot for troops in South Texas and on the western frontier. In November 1865 federal troops reoccupied this complex and assumed control of all military installations in the area. Construction of additional buildings continued after 1873, and this became a central supply point for U.S. troops in the southwest. In 1877 and 1883 buildings were added, and changes were made to existing structures. During World War I another building expansion program occurred,and by 1920 the compound consisted of forty-four buildings. The San Antonio Arsenal was deactivated by the U.S. Army in 1947.