Historic Marker returns! The so called ‘Battle’ of Adams Hill May 9, 1861 By Rita Schimpff
The story of the ‘Battle’ of Adams Hill Marker is a MIA story of sorts, as this 1965 marker may have been out of sight more than in sight for history travelers.
From 1961-1965 the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the Texas Civil War Centennial Commission worked together to place monuments on Civil War battlefields across the US to honor Texas military units during the war. The first was the Texas monument in Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi which has recently been restored. The original Adams Hill marker was on a pole and placed by the THC in 1965 on Old Highway 90 near the Bexar and Medina County lines.
After much research it was determined that it had been stolen in the 1990’s or earlier. Work began to replace it in 2004 with Theresa Gold at the helm. She was a commissioner with the Bexar County Historical Commission (BCHC), and past president of the Albert Sidney Johnston Chapter 2060 United Daughters of the Confederacy in San Antonio.
Theresa submitted the request to the THC for a replacement marker. BCHC put up $750.00, The ASJ chapter UDC put up $600.00 and were both noted as the Major sponsors. Minor sponsors each contributing $50 were the Carey McNelly Wroe CofC chapter #374, Hood’s Texas Brigade Camp #153 and the Civil War Round Table. Rudy Krisch, with Alamo City Guards Camp #1325 and Air Force Village III (Blue Skies of Texas West) were noted as in-kind sponsors. Rudy owned San Jacinto Materials, and his contribution was a 10,000 pound pink granite plinth with the THC aluminum marker firmly imbedded to thwart would be thieves. He also installed it and was part of the rededication ceremony. Blue Skies offered the property at the corner of Montgomery Road and Larissa St and even held a reception after the dedication in 2007. Later, when platting issues arose during the sale of the property, Blue Skies offered to safeguard the marker until another location could be found. The marker has been stored privately by Blue Skies of Texas West since 2019.
In April 2024, I was contacted by Alan Ernst with the BCHC because our chapter was the major sponsor and asked to help find a new home for the marker. I immediately enlisted the aid of Honorary Associate UDC chapter member, John McCammon. A nearby residential community named Adams Hill was researched and found to be on property once owned by Robert Adams and where forces were camped for the ‘Battle’ on May 9, 1861. Thanks to further research by Express-News columnist, Paula Allen, It was also discovered that this community was developed almost 100 years later by Ray Ellison in 1972 and advertised as the ‘last Civil War battle in Texas”. Many of the streets are named for both Union and Confederate places. At the entrance to this subdivision is a San Antonio “pocket Park” named Adams Hill Park. After all the parties agreed, the heavy marker was moved and installed by the City Parks Department and now the park, subdivision and marker all have more context. John McCammon and I met recently and gave the marker a good cleaning.
Now as for the so called ‘Battle’ it is noteworthy that not a single drop of blood was shed and it involved several noteworthy individuals including Medal of Honor recipient Gen. Zenas Bliss, who also wrote a firsthand account of the “battle”.
Ray Ellison advertised this as the last battle in Texas, but it is more likely one of the first confrontations!
The inscription on the marker reads:
Near this site, an early armed confrontation of the Civil War ended without bloodshed. On February 16, 1861 in San Antonio, General David E. Twiggs, commander of the U.S. Army Department of Texas, surrendered all federal military property in the state to forces under command of Ben McCulloch. Possession of the San Antonio Arsenal and 20 other installations statewide transferred to Texas forces, who permitted U.S. soldiers to march to the coast and leave Texas as soon as ships could be procured. After the outbreak of hostilities in the South in April, federal troops still in Texas were declared prisoners of war. There was, however, one unit still armed and not in Confederate custody. Marching southeast from Forts Bliss, Davis and Quitman in far west Texas were six companies of the 8th U.S. Infantry, a total of 347 men under the command of Lt. Col. I.V.D. Reeve. Here near San Lucas Spring, Col. Earl Van Dorn, Confederate commander of Texas, stationed 1300 men and six field pieces to meet Reeve. Federal troops took up a defensive position on Adams Hill, a half mile in front. After a six-week march from El Paso, Reeve’s numbers were down to 270 men. On May9, Van Dorn sent a demand for surrender, but Reeve refused. Reeve rejected a second flag of truce with the same mandate. Van Dorn succeeded with his third request — that Federal officers come over, see the Confederate strength and surrender peaceably. The move brought an end to the encounter without the firing of a shot. Reeve’s men were made prisoners of war, interned and later exchanged. In February 1863, the last of the 8th U.S. Infantry left Texas in exchange for Confederate prisoners at Baton Rouge after more than 21 months of imprisonment. (2007)
From the book The Exodus of Federal Forces from Texas 1861
By J J Bowden
John McCammon, safely cleaning the recently re- installed ‘Battle’ of Adams Hill marker in San Antonio.
Albert Sidney Johnston 