Eagle Pass Honors Seminole Negro Indian Scouts Who Made History at Fort Duncan in 1870
Eagle Pass Honors Seminole Negro Indian Scouts Who Made History at Fort Duncan in 1870
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
EAGLE PASS, Texas — The City of Eagle Pass and the Consulate of Mexico at Eagle Pass honored the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts during a historical ceremony held Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the International Center for Trade, recognizing a group of men whose military service began at Fort Duncan more than 156 years ago.
The ceremony, “The Pillars of Our Legacy,” recognized the contributions of the scouts to the early development of Maverick County, the Texas-Mexico border region and United States military history.
On August 16, 1870, a group of Black Seminole men enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass, establishing what would become one of the most respected scouting units of the American frontier.
The Black Seminoles were descendants of Africans who escaped slavery and established communities with the Seminole people. Many later migrated to Mexico seeking freedom and protection before returning to Texas to serve in the United States Army.
Their enlistment at Fort Duncan occurred during a period when Maverick County was still developing. Although the county was established in 1856, it was not formally organized until September 4, 1871.
The scouts were recruited because of their knowledge of the region, their ability to track individuals across difficult terrain and their experience surviving along the frontier.
Their assignments included guiding military patrols, locating raiding parties, conducting reconnaissance and assisting Army operations throughout South Texas and other parts of the frontier.
Their service contributed to military efforts to protect settlements, ranches and transportation routes during a period of frequent conflicts along the border.
Four Seminole Negro Indian Scouts eventually received the Medal of Honor for their military actions.
Among them were Pompey Factor and John Ward, who were among the original scouts associated with Fort Duncan. Both received the Medal of Honor for their actions during an 1875 engagement at Eagle’s Nest Crossing along the Pecos River.
Isaac Payne and Adam Payne were also awarded the Medal of Honor for their military service.
Despite their accomplishments, the scouts and their families continued facing discrimination and difficulties obtaining land and permanent settlement rights.
In 1876, the Army relocated the Black Seminoles from Fort Duncan to Fort Clark near Brackettville, where many of their descendants established permanent roots. Other families eventually settled in Eagle Pass, Del Rio and communities across the Texas-Mexico border.
The original military muster roll dated August 16, 1870, identifies several of the men who enlisted at Fort Duncan, including Pompey Factor, John Ward, John Kibbett, George Washington, John Wood and John Thomasson.
Their names remain part of the historical record connecting Eagle Pass to the military operations of the American frontier.
Saturday’s ceremony was presented by the City of Eagle Pass in association with the Consulate of Mexico at Eagle Pass, and the Warren Perryman Foundation for Native American Research. State Representative Eddie Morales Jr. was the keynote speaker.
The recognition also brought attention to a part of Maverick County history that has received relatively little public attention despite its national significance.
Fort Duncan, established in 1849, played an important role in the early development of Eagle Pass. Its connection to the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts adds another chapter to the fort’s history and the contributions of African American and Native American communities to the region.
Although the scouts later served in military campaigns throughout Texas and beyond, their service as a United States Army scouting unit began in Eagle Pass.
The October 31 ceremony recognized the men whose names became part of American military history and whose contributions began at Fort Duncan in Maverick County more than a century and a half ago.
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