reoccupied after the Civil War until 1869. Confederacy The Confederate States Army took control of Fort Mason on March 29, 1861. In 1862, the CSA held 215 men prisoner, who were transferred to Austin in 1862. United States Army reoccupation The United States Army reoccupied the fort on December 24, 1866, under the command of General John Porter Hatch. During this period, the fort was renovated with both civilian and military labor. Indian depredations had increased during the Civil War and were worse when the army returned. The Reconstruction era of the United States left its imprint on the fort's personnel, often leading to abandonment of duty and the resulting military discipline. By January 13, 1869, 25 buildings, either unoccupied or in poor shape, remained, with less than 70 soldiers. The order to close the fort was carried out on March 23, 1869. During 1870, the state of Texas organized several companies of frontier forces. Fort Mason was reopened in September of that year as headquarters for Companies A and B, Frontier Forces, under Capt. James M. Hunter, later county judge of Mason County. The fort was closed for good in 1871. Restoration Mason citizens recycled material from the fort when building their own homes. A restoration of the fort began in 1975. Today, the fort belongs to the Mason County Historical Society. Gallery References External links Forts in Texas Texas state historic sites Buildings and structures in Mason County, Texas Populated places established in 1851 Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks Native American history of Texas Museums in Mason County, Texas Military and war museums in Texas 1851 establishments in Texas