Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area
Independence Trail Region
Matagorda Island, with its historic lighthouse, was on the Texas coastline where Buffalo Soldiers might have helped with federal security after the Civil War. The safety of nearby ports like Indianola was vital, and coastal areas like on Matagorda Island needed protection for customs, trade protection, and general order, especially during Reconstruction. These were jobs the 9th Cavalry or 24th Infantry handled throughout Texas.