Lt. Henry O. Flipper knew the frontier forts strung across Texas as well as anyone at the time. The former slave reported to Fort Sill in 1878 and then served at a series of Texas forts before being railroaded out of the service.

Born on a plantation in Georgia, Flipper was the first African-American cadet to graduate from West Point. He later became the first nonwhite officer to lead the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry and served at forts Elliott, Concho, Quitman, and Davis in Texas where he was involved in campaigns against the Comanche and Apache.

As an engineer, Flipper built roads and installed telegraph lines between forts. A ditch he designed to drain malarial swamps at Fort Sill, Okla., is still referred to as “Flipper’s Ditch.”

Credit: Photos by Gerald E. McLeod

In 1880, his skills garnered him a promotion to quartermaster and commissary at the new fort in the Davis Mountains. The following year Flipper was court-martialed when post funds went missing.

Following his dismissal, Flipper went on to a distinguished career in surveying and mining engineering. He passed away in 1940 at age 84 and is buried in his hometown of Thomasville, Ga.

After a review of his case by the Army and Department of Justice, President Bill Clinton pardoned Lt. Flipper in 1999. Soon afterward a bronze bust of Flipper was placed in the theatre lobby at Fort Davis National Historic Site.

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Day Trips: Lt. Henry O. Flipper

A version of this article appeared in print on Apr 29, 2016 with the headline: Day Trips: Lt. Henry O. Flipper

This article appears in April 29 • 2016.

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.