Camp Montel, C.S.A.

Site 25 mi. West on Hy. 470, 1 mi. South. Established 1862 as part of Red River-Rio Grande defense line. Named for Captain Charles DeMontel, surveyor and colonizer of Bandera, leader of county defenses. Occupied by troops of Texas frontier regiment who furnished their own guns and mounts but often lacked food, clothing, supplies. In 1860 Bandera County's population was 399. Although all the men were needed to defend the county from Indians, many joined the Confederate and State troops. Some went to protect the Texas Coast from Union invasion. Many were assigned to defend the frontier in this region. Scouting parties and patrols managed to effectively curb Indian raids until war's end. Texas had 2,000 miles of coastline and frontier to defend from Union attack, Indian raids, marauders, bandits from Mexico. Defense lines were set to give maximum protection with the few men left in the state. One line stretched from El Paso to Brownsville. Another, including Camp Montel, had stations a day's horseback ride apart from Red River to Rio Grande. Former U.S. Forts used by scouting parties lay in a line between. Behind these lines and to the east organized militia, citizens' posses. 1964

Camp Montel, C.S.A. is a historical marker in Bandera, Bandera County, dedicated in 1963. It is one of 29 historical markers documented in Bandera County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 56 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 29.7264, -99.0727 near Bandera. The nearest cataloged historic site is Bandera County Courthouse (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Bandera's First Bank, Bandera Methodist Church, and Warren Hunter.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5019000668. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.