Construction of Fort Concho was assigned on December 10, 1867 to Captain David W. Porter, assistant quartermaster of the Department of Texas. Progress was slow. Porter employed civilian masons and carpenters, but also oversaw the construction of Forts Griffin and Richardson. As such, he was often not present at the fort to direct building work. In March, Porter was replaced at Fort Concho by Major George C. Cram, who built a temporary guardhouse, but he was also frequently absent from the fort. Additionally, all building materials had to be shipped in, and there was frequent bickering among the fort's officers, Huntt and Porter included. Cram was just as argumentative, and in 1868 had the regional mail line superintendent, Major Ben Ficklin, arrested. The United States Postmaster General intervened and by August, Cram was reassigned and construction was handed to Captain Joseph Rendlebrock, the 4th Cavalry's quartermaster. By the end of the year, Rendlebrock had completed the commissary, quartermaster's storehouse, and a wing of the hospital.