This article is about a commanding military officer's house in San Antonio, Texas. For the commanding military officer's house in El Paso, Texas, see Pershing House (Fort Bliss).
Following the end of the American Civil War, the United States Department of War accepted an offer from San Antonio for three parcels of land on which the United States Army would construct Fort Sam Houston. The site and its surrounding area would come to be known as Government Hill.[3] Edward Braden Construction began work on the project in 1876. Architect Alfred Giles designed the general staff quarters, as well as the commanding general's quarters, now known at Pershing House.[3] Constructed in 1881 at a cost of $17,076 (equivalent to $457,000 in 2020), it was originally designated as "Quarters No. 6, Staff Post".[6] The 10,830 square feet (1,000 m2), two-story house has eleven rooms, six full bathrooms and one half bath.[FN 1] In various phases during the 20th century, improvements included an enclosed porch and upgrades to plumbing, electricity and air conditioning.[8]
While under its original name, the house would become the residence of 16 succeeding commanding officers. They were some of the most accomplished leaders in the United States Army prior to their being given charge of the base. The first occupant of the house was Major General Christopher C. Augur, a West Point graduate and veteran of several military conflicts, including the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.[9][10] Numerous Medal of Honor recipients have resided there.[11]
The house has been referred to by its current name since John J. Pershing served as the base commanding officer in 1917, following his participation in the Pancho Villa Expedition.[12] He was at Fort Sam Houston only two months before being given charge of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe.[13] Pershing held the rank of General of the Armies. The only other American to hold that rank was George Washington.[13] The names of all the occupants from 1881 through 1973 appear on two brass-plated plaques that were initially created in the 1950s by Julia Cotton White, wife of General Isaac D. White, who was then serving as commanding officer. She presented them as a gift to Fort Sam Houston, and they were kept up to date by succeeding residents at least through 1973 when the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[6]
Presided over the trial of black soldiers following the Houston riot of 1917, and ordered the verdicts kept secret, with no appeals. Relieved of command May 1918
World War II, commander U.S. Army and Marine Corps forces during the Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific, and the Seventh Army on the Western Front in Europe.
Multiple tours of duty in San Franicsco, Hawaii and China; Assistant to the Special Representative of China envoy General George C. Marshall. 1966 Commanding General, 32d Artillery Brigade, in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
^ abcManguso, John. "Fort Sam Houston". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
^"The Red River War | TSLAC". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
^ abc"Pershing, John Joseph". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
^Wooster, Robert. "Christopher Columbus Augur". Handbook of Texas online. Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
^"Gen. Frank Wheaton". Lincoln County Leader. 21 August 1903. p. Image 7, cols 3–4. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
^"American War Hero Stamps". U.S. Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2022.; "John Leonard Hines". United States Army. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
^Blumenson, Martin. "General Lucas at Anzio". U. S. Army Center of Military History. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
^"Retired Army General Dies". The Kilgore News Herald. 15 December 1968. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2022.;"Guy S. Meloy". ANC. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2022.