興(xing)武營古城(cheng)位(wei)于鹽池縣城(cheng)西(xi)(xi)北48公里(li)的(de)(de)高沙窩(wo)鎮二(er)步坑村坐落在明代兩道長城(cheng)交會處(chu)(chu)的(de)(de)低洼地上。據記載原是(shi)個(ge)(ge)廢城(cheng)。正統(tong)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(公元1444年(nian)(nian))都御史金濂始(shi)筑此城(cheng),就(jiu)其舊基(ji),設(she)都指揮守備(bei)。城(cheng)周(zhou)回(hui)三(san)里(li)八分,高二(er)丈(zhang)(zhang)五尺。池深一丈(zhang)(zhang)三(san)尺,闊二(er)丈(zhang)(zhang)。西(xi)(xi)、南二(er)門(men)及四(si)角皆(jie)有樓(lou)。據實地考察古城(cheng)略為矩形,東墻(qiang)(qiang)長610米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)長580米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),南墻(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)470米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)480米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。為黃土夯筑,基(ji)寬(kuan)12米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),殘(can)(can)高9米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右,頂(ding)部(bu)殘(can)(can)寬(kuan)3—5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夯層(ceng)厚(hou)20厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右。曾(ceng)甃有磚(zhuan)石,早(zao)年(nian)(nian)已被拆除。四(si)隅有角臺(tai),原有樓(lou),今(jin)已毀。墻(qiang)(qiang)體筑有腰(yao)墩(dun),東墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)(ge),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge)(ge),南墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge)(ge),北墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)(ge)。開西(xi)(xi)、南二(er)門(men)帶甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng),甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)40米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)見方(fang),西(xi)(xi)甕(weng)(weng)門(men)面(mian)東,南甕(weng)(weng)門(men)面(mian)西(xi)(xi)。甕(weng)(weng)城(cheng)均(jun)以疊澀磚(zhuan)拱(gong)券門(men)。甕(weng)(weng)門(men)頂(ding)部(bu)原有二(er)層(ceng)樓(lou)建(jian)筑,南門(men)是(shi)關(guan)帝廟(miao),西(xi)(xi)門(men)是(shi)財神廟(miao)。南門(men)樓(lou)和(he)鐵鑄造像毀于1958年(nian)(nian)。城(cheng)中間(jian)原置鼓樓(lou),現僅(jin)存夯筑的(de)(de)土臺(tai),臺(tai)基(ji)正方(fang)形,邊(bian)長14米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),殘(can)(can)高7米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),有磚(zhuan)拱(gong)四(si)通門(men)洞,殘(can)(can)高4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右。南甕(weng)(weng)門(men)外百米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)處(chu)(chu)有一口古井,俗城(cheng)龍踏井。興(xing)武營是(shi)長城(cheng)沿線的(de)(de)重要城(cheng)障,有“靈夏重地,平慶要藩”之稱(cheng)。
興武營是(shi)長(chang)城(cheng)(cheng)沿(yan)線的(de)(de)重要城(cheng)(cheng)障,有(you)“靈夏(xia)重地,平(ping)慶要藩”之(zhi)(zhi)稱(cheng)。由寧夏(xia)抵榆林(lin)界凡四(si)百里(li),無高山疊澗可倚,則依花(hua)馬(ma)池(chi)、興武營控(kong)制。興武營是(shi)一(yi)份寶貴的(de)(de)文化遺產,屬鐵柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)。鐵柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)古城(cheng)(cheng)位于鹽池(chi)縣城(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)南(nan)36公里(li),今(jin)屬馮記溝鄉暴記春(chun)村,東至(zhi)哈巴湖林(lin)場8公里(li),西(xi)到王沖(chong)莊6公里(li),北抵錢(qian)記灘(tan)5公里(li),距鐵柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)村西(xi)500米,青山馮記溝公路經過此(ci)處。嘉(jia)靖(jing)十五年(1536年),都(dou)察院(yuan)左都(dou)御(yu)史(shi)兼兵部左待郎(后(hou)為(wei)兵部尚書)劉天和(he)奉命(ming)治(zhi)理三(san)邊軍務。他與中丞張文魁(kui)“同謀修鐵柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)城(cheng)(cheng),周回(hui)四(si)里(li)許(xu),高四(si)尋有(you)余,厚亦如(ru)之(zhi)(zhi),城(cheng)(cheng)以衛泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),隍(huang)以衛城(cheng)(cheng),工圖永堅。設操守(shou)官領之(zhi)(zhi),置兵一(yi)千五百多,馬(ma)八十六匹(pi),兼募土人(ren)守(shou)之(zhi)(zhi)”。城(cheng)(cheng)建成后(hou),結束(shu)了170年來韃靼部落和(he)花(hua)馬(ma)池(chi)民(min)眾為(wei)水(shui)草爭戰(zhan)的(de)(de)歷史(shi)。今(jin)考證(zheng)城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)已不見(jian)水(shui)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),當為(wei)風沙壓埋,城(cheng)(cheng)東有(you)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan),為(wei)后(hou)人(ren)所(suo)為(wei)。當年“水(shui)涌(yong)如(ru)柱(zhu)(zhu),泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)水(shui)甘洌(lie),日飲(yin)數萬騎弗涸”的(de)(de)局(ju)面今(jin)已不見(jian),但(dan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)水(shui)仍使(shi)百畝(mu)良田(tian)受益,居民(min)飲(yin)水(shui)也依賴于此(ci)。北京大學地理學教授侯(hou)仁之(zhi)(zhi)先生(sheng)曾(ceng)到鐵柱(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)(quan)專程考察。
據《嘉(jia)靖(jing)寧夏新志》卷三(san)記(ji)載(zai):“舊有城(cheng)(cheng),不詳其何代何名,惟遺廢址一(yi)(yi)(yi)面,俗(su)呼為半個(ge)城(cheng)(cheng)。”正統九年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元1444年(nian))都御史金濂始筑此城(cheng)(cheng),就其舊基,設都指揮守備。據考察,古城(cheng)(cheng)略為矩形,東墻(qiang)(qiang)長610米(mi),西墻(qiang)(qiang)長580米(mi),南墻(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)470米(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)480米(mi)。墻(qiang)(qiang)體筑有腰墩,東墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge),西墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),南墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),北墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)。南甕(weng)門外百米(mi)處(chu)有一(yi)(yi)(yi)口古井(jing)(jing)(jing),俗(su)謂龍踏(ta)井(jing)(jing)(jing)。相(xiang)傳有一(yi)(yi)(yi)騎士(shi)經(jing)此前去(qu)靈(ling)州,時(shi)遇日將落山,遂(sui)向(xiang)一(yi)(yi)(yi)牧民(min)詢問(wen):“天黑前能否到靈(ling)州?”對日:“靈(ling)州距此還(huan)有百余里,你(ni)除非是神(shen)(shen)人(ren)神(shen)(shen)馬(ma),不可能到達。”此時(shi)馬(ma)渴不得飲,于是一(yi)(yi)(yi)聲(sheng)長嘶(si),用(yong)蹄挖地(di),頓(dun)出一(yi)(yi)(yi)口水井(jing)(jing)(jing),清泉自溢。牧民(min)抬頭已不見騎士(shi)。后來(lai)在甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)門上修建了關(guan)帝(di)廟,鑄造關(guan)公(gong)(gong)形象,并取名龍踏(ta)井(jing)(jing)(jing)。時(shi)遇雨水較多(duo)的年(nian)份,井(jing)(jing)(jing)水自溢。當(dang)地(di)居民(min)每(mei)逢年(nian)初一(yi)(yi)(yi)大早來(lai)此觀(guan)井(jing)(jing)(jing),據說井(jing)(jing)(jing)水溢向(xiang)何方,何方便會豐收。