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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.
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FTEJON_140721_004.JPG: The Camels of Fort Tejon
In 1856 the US Army started an experiment using camel [sic] for supply transport in the southwest. The camels proved ill suited to the American southwest. In November 1859 a civilian contractor turned over 28 camels to the Army at Fort Tejon.
The post quartermaster cared for the camel herd until 1861 when the herd was transferred to the Los Angeles Depot. With the possible exception of an unsuccessful messenger service in September 1860, the camels were never used in military operations. The "Camel Corps" mentioned in many writing [sic] never existed.
Dedicated September 27, 2003
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Peter Lebeck Chapter 1866 and Platrix Chapter #2,
E Clampus Vitus
FTEJON_140721_007.JPG: Camel Trail Terminus
Fort Tejon
Jefferson Davis, "Father of National Highways," as Secretary of War 1853-57 sponsored the importation of 33 camels for transporting military supplies to the west coast. The camel trail survey ran from San Antonio, Texas to Fort Tejon which marks the western terminus, part of the Jefferson Davis Highway. The army camel corps arrived at this fort in November, 1857, with Lt. Edward F. Beale in command.
FTEJON_140721_010.JPG: The first and only "Camel Brigade" of the United States Army commanded by Lt. Edward E. Beale 1857-1861.
San Antonio, Texas to Fort Tejon, California.
FTEJON_140721_013.JPG: Peter Lebeck
Killed by a bear October 17, 1837.
In memory of a pioneer of whom only conjecture can speak.
Dedicated October 14, 1972
FTEJON_140721_020.JPG: Fort Tejon
This military post was established by the United States Army on June 24, 1854, to suppress stock rustling and for the protection of Indians in the San Joaquin Valley. As regimental headquarters of the First Dragoons, Fort Tejón was an important military, social, and political center. Camels for transportation were introduced here in 1858. The fort was abandoned September 11, 1864.
Historical Landmark No. 129
FTEJON_140721_027.JPG: Boots and Saddles: The US Army on the Western Frontier
FTEJON_140721_031.JPG: Edward Fitzgerald Beale
FTEJON_140721_052.JPG: Model 1841 Mountain Howitzer
FTEJON_140721_054.JPG: The Post That Strayed
FTEJON_140721_069.JPG: Tejon Military Reserve
FTEJON_140721_081.JPG: "That a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the two races until the Indian race becomes extinct, must be expected; while we cannot anticipate this result with but painful regret, the inevitable destiny of the race is beyond the power and wisdom of man to avert."
-- California Governor Peter H. Burnet, Annual Message, 1851
FTEJON_140721_087.JPG: The Inevitable Destiny
FTEJON_140721_094.JPG: People of the Water
FTEJON_140721_105.JPG: People of the Mountains
FTEJON_140721_116.JPG: Fort Tejon USA
FTEJON_140721_120.JPG: Keeping the Peace
FTEJON_140721_123.JPG: To Arms!
FTEJON_140721_146.JPG: Officers and Gentlemen
A Dragoon's Life
FTEJON_140721_149.JPG: Officers and Gentlemen
FTEJON_140721_151.JPG: A Dragoon's Life
FTEJON_140721_157.JPG: "That Noble Brute"
FTEJON_140721_165.JPG: "I cannot sufficiently express my admiration of that noble brute, the camel, and I look forward confidently to the day when they will be found in use in all parts of the country."
-- Edward F. Beale, Report to the Secretary of the Army, 1857
FTEJON_140721_182.JPG: Band Quarters
Built in 1855, this building was headquarters for the 1st Dragoons and the regimental band. At that time, regimental bands might have as many as 20 men and one or two chief musicians. Usually hired under special contracts, band members earned an average monthly salary of $14 to $16.
FTEJON_140721_269.JPG: Kitchen:
Conveniently located behind the barracks, this structure housed a mess hall and a kitchen with a wood-burning range. Meals were served on a strict schedule, and the menus offered little variety.
FTEJON_140721_316.JPG: Parlor
FTEJON_140721_325.JPG: Kitchen
FTEJON_140721_327.JPG: Dining Room
FTEJON_140721_336.JPG: Basement
FTEJON_140721_340.JPG: Adult Bedroom
FTEJON_140721_355.JPG: Child and Servant's Bedroom
FTEJON_140721_374.JPG: Barracks:
The second barracks building was designed to shelter 50 to 80 enlisted men. Between 1900 and 1940, it was used as a farm building and housed a blacksmith shop in the western end. In the 1950s an earthquake brought the structure down.
FTEJON_140721_382.JPG: In Memory of Peter Lebeck
Killed by ax bear
Octr 17 1837
Dedicated April 5, 1936
FTEJON_140721_387.JPG: Peter Lebec
Although little is known about Peter Lebec, it is believed that he was killed by a grizzly bear, and buried under this tree. His epitaph was originally carved into the tree.
FTEJON_140721_401.JPG: These wells capped ... but it is not human ... the Army or ...
FTEJON_140721_414.JPG: Bakery:
Using a large brick oven, the post baker worked long hours to produce the fresh bread that was such a vital part of the dragoons' diet. While on patrol, soldiers ate a drier, unleavened bread called hardtack.
FTEJON_140721_421.JPG: Officers' Quarters:
This building housed lower-ranking officers and was divided into two sets of rooms, with a detached kitchen at the rear. The dividing wall of each set contained a fireplace.
FTEJON_140721_430.JPG: Jail:
The US Army of the 1840s and 1850s treated its prisoners harshly. Jails provided little ventilation and no heat. Despite this jail's sturdy construction, many prisoners at Fort Tejon escaped at night.
FTEJON_140721_445.JPG: Guardroom:
Guards served a twenty-four-hour shift and were required to stay in uniform even when sleeping. Traditionally, conditions for this duty were spartan -- the guard's bed was only a wooden shelf.
FTEJON_140721_451.JPG: Valley Oak:
Some of the valley oaks found at Fort Tejon are three hundred years old. A strong wind toppled this oak in the fall of 1986.
FTEJON_140721_457.JPG: Post Commissary and Ordnance:
The post commissary was located in the west end of the hospital building and issued provisions and ammunition. Officers were allowed to buy provisions here.
FTEJON_140721_466.JPG: Officers' Quarters:
The officers' quarters were sparsely furnished, but were provided with attached kitchens and deep, rock-lined "cool cellars." The officers themselves were limited in the amount of baggage they could bring to the fort.
FTEJON_140721_482.JPG: Officers' Quarters:
Archeological evidence suggests that this building was built either late in the US Army period or between 1863 and 1864 when the California Volunteers garrisoned the fort.
FTEJON_140721_518.JPG: Military Cemetery:
This cemetery holds the remains of six enlisted men who died at Fort Tejon. The grave of 1st Lt. Thomas F. Castor is believed to be near the bakery.
Wikipedia Description: Fort Tejon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
...
Fort Tejon State Historic Park
The state historic park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its original historic buildings have been documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey. Several buildings have been restored, and two are partially open to visitors. The restored barracks contain display cases of uniforms and a recreated troopers' quarters. The commanding officer's quarters have several restored and furnished rooms. Officers' quarters nearby are only stabilized in a state of arrested decay, with walls buttressed by masonry and lumber and tied together with reinforcing rods.
A quartermaster building has recently been reconstructed houses materials used in Dragoon life and Civil War reenactments. The sites of former buildings, planned for reconstruction, are marked by split rail fences along the outlines of their foundations. A park office, containing exhibits of dragoon life and restrooms, is at the east end of the parade ground near the parking lot by Interstate 5.
The park grounds include the grave site of Peter Lebeck, which is indicated with a historical marker. The nearby town of Lebec is named after him.
Fort Tejon is the site of frequent Civil War reenactments presented by the Fort Tejon Historical Association.
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I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com
and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
2014 photos: Equipment this year: I mostly used my Fuji XS-1 camera but, depending on the event, I also used a Nikon D7000.
Trips this year:
three Civil War Trust conferences (Winchester, VA, Nashville, TN, and Atlanta, GA),
Michigan to visit mom in the hospice before she died and then a return trip after she died, and
my 9th consecutive San Diego Comic-Con trip (including Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City, Sacramento, Oakland, and Los Angeles).
Ego strokes: Paul Dickson used one of my photos as the author photo in his book "Aphorisms: Words Wrought by Writers".
Number of photos taken this year: just over 470,000.
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