ADAMS HILL, BATTLE OF ADAMS HILL, BATTLE OF. The so-called
battle of Adams Hill occurred on May 9, 1861, between federal
forces under Lt. Col. Isaac Van Duzer Reeve and Texas
Confederate troops under Col. Earl Van Dorn. The confrontation
took place on the military road between San Antonio and El Paso,
about fifteen miles west of downtown San Antonio. Under the
terms of the surrender of the Department of Texas, Reeve
proceeded from Fort Bliss to the Texas coast to join other
federal troops in the evacuation of Texas. His force consisted
of companies B, E, F, H, I, and K and a detachment of Company G,
Eighth United States Infantry, which represented the garrisons
of Fort Bliss, Fort Quitman, and Fort Davis. Reeve reported the
total strength of his command at 320 men, including two hospital
stewards, twelve musicians, and ten officers. Col. James V.
Bomford of the Sixth United States Infantry also accompanied the
column. Upon arriving at Fort Clark, Reeve became aware of the
Confederate internment of paroled fed