The vast and dry Trans-Pecos region was a difficult obstacle for Indian, Spanish, and Anglo travelers in western Texas. Fort Davis, constructed in the 1850s to help protect emigrants headed for the California gold fields, continued to guard the San Antonio-El Paso road after the Civil War and became the hub of the United States Army's last major Indian campaign in Texas. For the soldiers stationed in the diverse region, the rugged environment presented special challenges, from guarding the narrow trails through the mountains to the difficult crossings of the Pecos River.
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