Camp Ives

Camp Ives was a military outpost on Turtle Creek four miles north of Camp Verde in southeastern Kerr County. Second Lt. Wesley Owen, commanding Troop I, Second United States Cavalry, established the camp on October 2, 1859. Although built in answer to requests from area settlers for government protection against Indians, the camp saw little use. On March 13, 1860, it was evacuated temporarily when soldiers stationed there escorted Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee, then in temporary command of the Second Cavalry, to the Rio Grande. The camp was reoccupied on October 20, 1860, but remained in operation only until January 28, 1861. On that date its troops abandoned it and moved to Camp Verde in preparation for defense against Confederate occupation as Texas neared secession.