The largest of the ranches, the 96,616-acre El Tejon was granted in 1843 and stretched as far as Caliente. It took General Edward F. Beale. several years later to consolidate all the grants. including the Fort Tejon area-

General Beale was appointed by President Millard Fillmore as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California and Nevada in 1852. Although the government had signed treaties with eleven of the war-like tribes of

Beale was successful in assembling the Kern tribes at El Tejon in 1853, and the Southern San Joaquin became relatively free from Indian troubles. Following government criticism of his expenditures, he was replaced by Colonel T. J. Henley. Beale had, however. paved the way and made possible the establishment of Fort Tejon.

It was the first of four such forts to deal with the growing bandit problem, stretching from Fort Yuma and Fort Mojave to Fort Miller. The government built its forts near Beale’s assembled Indians at Fort Tejon, and near other Indian reservations. The post for the Tejon reservation was fixed at Canada de las Uvas. five miles south of the entrance to the canyon and seventeen miles from the reservation.

The First Dragoons of the United States Army was stationed at Fort Tejon between August 10. 1854 and June 15. 1861. Barracks at the fort were under construction in 1855 while the ‘soldiers lived in tents and the officers in canvas houses. There were usually six officers. 120 dragoons, and a number of civilian employees. A dozen men were kept at Tejon Reservation to watch the Indians.

Despite many hardships and strange happenings. the political, social and economic life of the Southern San J oaquin Valley centered around Fort Tejon during the seven years the dragoons were stationed there.

The Butterfield Overland Mail made Fort Tejon its first Kern County stop on its 2600-mile St. Louis to San Francisco stage route from 1858 to 1861. John Philbin amassed a small fortune during an eighteen-month period at a small store he established at the fort. Philbin, aided by Harris Newinark, did a volume ‘of $20.000 that year and a half; but, when the troops were withdrawn. the store was sold for $50.

During the Fort’s seven-year hey-day, it became the home of the United States Army Camel Corps. When Beale arrived in Los Angeles with his caravan of animals, it was hailed there as his "circus parade." Beale proceeded northward to Fort Tejon, the western end of the Jefferson Davis Highway, and arrived at the fort in November 1857, bringing the first camels to Kern County.

American muleskinners refused to have anything to do with the beasts, just one of the numerous problems making the army camel corps at the fort unsuccessful. The army ordered the animals sold at auction, finally, and General Beak bought the remainder of the herd for his own ranch.

Fort Tejon lost its troops and its glory dimmed with the start of the Civil War. By June 1861 for all military purposes the fort was abandoned. California Volunteers manned the fort for a few years. hut it was completely deserted by 1864.

The fort, with its illustrious history, has been restored partially, and is now under the control of the State Division of Beaches and Parks. Fort Tejon is a landmark of important early happenings of Kern. and is the gathering place today for tourists, historians and those on happy outings.

This write up has not been edited by me it is as it was.

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