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Establishment of Fort Teion
General Edward Fitzgerald Beale, in his ca-
pacity of Commissioner of Indian Affairs for
California, had recommended the establishment
of a military post about 15 miles southwest of
the Sebastian Indian Reservation for the pur-
pose of protecting the friendly Indians in the
southern San Joaquin Valley. This particular
The Parade Ground Orderly's Building
location was considered advantageous since it
strategically controlled an important pass
through which stolen horses and cattle from the
San Joaquin were driven to markets in the
ing at the post, and during 1858 a Butterfield discontinued by the army. Camels in varying
Southwest. The construction of a post on the Overland Mail Station ·was established here on numbers were stationed at Fort Tejon from
Fort's present site was authorized June 24,
the line which extended from St. Louis to San November 1857, until their removal to Los
1854. Six days later detachments of the 1st U.S.
Dragoons were ordered to Fort Tejon, which Francisco. Angeles in June, 1861. Fort T ejon is one of Califor-
then became regimental headquarters for the U. S. Army Camel Corps Peter le Beck Tree nia's outstanding Historical Mon-
Dragoons. Their activities carried them over uments. The old post is one of
much of western America. It is an interesting Under the direction of U.S. Secretary of Standing in the northwest corner of the pa- the foremost remaining links in
fact that 15 of the officers who served at Fort War Jefferson Davis, camels were imported rade ground, the Peter le Beck Oak commemo- Central California to the early
Tejon during its active period later beca~e into this country in 1857. The army planned rates Fort Tejon's most intriguing mystery. American occupation period.
generals in the War Between the States. Eight to use them iri transporting supplies to isolated First mention of this tree occurs in R. S. Wil- Fort Tejon was established by -
served in the northern forces and seven with posts in the arid southwest, and for patrol use liamson's railroad route exploration report of the United States Army on Au-
the south. After its abandonment by the Army in controlling hostile Indians. A group of 28 1853. He wrote that one 9f the oaks in Grape- gust l 0, 1854, and was aban-
in 1864, Fort Tejon became a part of General camels was marched to Fort Tejon in California vine Canyon on the future site of the Fort had doned ten years later on Sep-
Beale's Tejon Ranch property, and the build- from near San Antonio, Texas, during the latter an inscription cut deeply into the wood. It -tember 11, 1864. Located in
ings of the -post were used as residences, stables part of this same year. The wagon road survey read: "Peter le Beck, killed by a X bear, Oct.
and sheds during subsequent years. party to which the camels were attached was 17, 1837." Several interesting conjectures have Grapevine Canyon, Kern County,
under the direction of General Beale. The been advanced as to the identity of the slain on Highway 99, it is 36 miles
In 1939 the State of California acquired man, but none has yet definitely established south of Bakersfield and 77
through a gift of the Tejoil Ranch Company splendid performance of the camels during this just who Peter le Beck was. miles north of Los Angeles near
five months trek moved Beale to recommend
title to five acres on which a number of the to the War Oepartment that further camels be The Fort Tejon area is noted for its speci-
Fort's original buildings stood. the small community of Lebec.
purchased. However, various factors tended to mens of Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), some of The present highway runs
Fort Tejon was the chief military, social and discredit widespread use of camels in America. which are exceptionally large. Because of the through the original area of the
political center between the San Joaquin area With the outbreak of the War Between the background of steep hillsides, the size of the
near Fresno and Los Angeles. At the height of States and the subsequent construction of trans- trees may not readily be appreciated from a old Fort. Tejon is a Spanish and
its activity there were over 20 buildings stand- continental railroads, the camel experiment was distance. Indian word meaning badger,
and was the name given to the
original Mexican land grant on
Scenes From Old Fort Teion Historical Collection
which the Fort stands by its first
owner, Ignacio del Valle.
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