Larken Edwards, being old and unable to work and having been a steadfast friend of the Caddo Indians, was also given at the request of the Indians, land which now comprises most of the area of present day Shreveport, Louisiana.
On May 14, 1837, the following ad appeared in the Red River Gazette, a Natchitoches newspaper:
A. W. P. Ussery has the pleasure to inform friends and the public that he has taken the Fort Jesup Hotel and is now ready for company. He has a commodious house and stable and a delightful situation. In addition to the comforts of the well regulated house, the weary traveler will be regaled at night and morning by the delightful music of the Fort Jesup Band.
With the ability of Texas to maintain her independence, Fort Jesup settled down to the humdrum existence of a peaceful, frontier post. In the summer of 1838 the garrison was reduced to two companies of men and officers. In 1840 the third infantry members at Fort Jesup were ordered to Florida. This left one company of fourth infantry at Fort Jesup.
Texas threw open its doors to immigrants and daily these passed through the Fort Jesup area, to travel El Camino Real westward. Many, however, stopped in the Natchitoches-Sabine country. Texans knew that immigrants represented power, power to resist Mexico.
This peaceful existence was not to last long. There was talk of the annexation of Texas by the United States which Mexico did not want. For as long as Texas was a Republic there was a possibility that Mexico might recover this prize possession, a possession which also included the present states of New Mexico and a part of Wyoming.
As early as 1843 the United States was contemplating acquiring Texas as a state. In the meantime they had purchased the territory of New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming from Texas which did not set well with the Republic of Mexico. There was a kind of cold friendship existing between the United States and Mexico.
Late in 1843 General Zachary Taylor was ordered to the Texas-Louisiana frontier, thus early in 1844 there came to Fort Jesup the Army of Observation.
Camp Salubrity was established three miles west of Grand Ecore on the Texas Road May 18, 1844, where the fourth infantry companies were encamped. One of the young officers was Lieutenant U. S. Grant.
On May 18, 1845, General Taylor at Fort Jesup received a letter marked “Confidential” from Secretary of War, Marcey. This secretly and officially marked the beginning of the disposition of troops and the laying of plans for the war with Mexico. Marcey wrote, “I am directed by the President to cause forces now under your command and those which may be assigned, to be put into position where they may most promptly act in the defense of Texas.”