興武(wu)營古(gu)城(cheng)位(wei)于鹽池縣城(cheng)西(xi)(xi)北(bei)48公(gong)里的(de)高(gao)(gao)沙窩鎮二(er)步坑村坐落在明代兩道長(chang)城(cheng)交會(hui)處(chu)的(de)低洼地(di)上。據(ju)記載原(yuan)是(shi)個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)廢城(cheng)。正統九年(公(gong)元1444年)都御史金濂始筑此(ci)城(cheng),就其舊基,設(she)都指揮守備。城(cheng)周回三里八分,高(gao)(gao)二(er)丈五尺。池深(shen)一丈三尺,闊(kuo)二(er)丈。西(xi)(xi)、南二(er)門(men)(men)及四(si)角(jiao)皆有(you)(you)樓。據(ju)實地(di)考(kao)察古(gu)城(cheng)略為(wei)矩形,東墻長(chang)610米(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)(xi)墻長(chang)580米(mi)(mi)(mi),南墻寬(kuan)470米(mi)(mi)(mi),北(bei)墻寬(kuan)480米(mi)(mi)(mi)。為(wei)黃土(tu)夯(hang)筑,基寬(kuan)12米(mi)(mi)(mi),殘高(gao)(gao)9米(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右(you),頂部殘寬(kuan)3—5米(mi)(mi)(mi),夯(hang)層(ceng)厚20厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右(you)。曾甃有(you)(you)磚石,早(zao)年已(yi)被(bei)拆除。四(si)隅有(you)(you)角(jiao)臺(tai)(tai),原(yuan)有(you)(you)樓,今已(yi)毀。墻體筑有(you)(you)腰墩,東墻5個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge),西(xi)(xi)墻4個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge),南墻4個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge),北(bei)墻5個(ge)(ge)(ge)(ge)。開西(xi)(xi)、南二(er)門(men)(men)帶甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng),甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)40米(mi)(mi)(mi)見方,西(xi)(xi)甕(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)面東,南甕(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)面西(xi)(xi)。甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)均以疊澀磚拱(gong)券門(men)(men)。甕(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)頂部原(yuan)有(you)(you)二(er)層(ceng)樓建筑,南門(men)(men)是(shi)關帝(di)廟,西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)是(shi)財神廟。南門(men)(men)樓和(he)鐵鑄造(zao)像毀于1958年。城(cheng)中(zhong)間原(yuan)置鼓樓,現(xian)僅存夯(hang)筑的(de)土(tu)臺(tai)(tai),臺(tai)(tai)基正方形,邊長(chang)14米(mi)(mi)(mi),殘高(gao)(gao)7米(mi)(mi)(mi),有(you)(you)磚拱(gong)四(si)通門(men)(men)洞,殘高(gao)(gao)4米(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右(you)。南甕(weng)(weng)(weng)門(men)(men)外百米(mi)(mi)(mi)處(chu)有(you)(you)一口古(gu)井,俗城(cheng)龍(long)踏井。興武(wu)營是(shi)長(chang)城(cheng)沿線的(de)重要城(cheng)障,有(you)(you)“靈(ling)夏重地(di),平慶要藩”之稱。
興武營是長(chang)城(cheng)沿線的重(zhong)要城(cheng)障(zhang),有(you)“靈夏(xia)重(zhong)地,平慶要藩”之(zhi)稱(cheng)。由寧夏(xia)抵榆林界凡四百里(li)(li),無高山疊(die)澗可倚,則依花馬池(chi)、興武營控制。興武營是一份寶(bao)貴的文化遺產,屬(shu)鐵柱泉(quan)(quan)古(gu)城(cheng)。鐵柱泉(quan)(quan)古(gu)城(cheng)位(wei)于鹽池(chi)縣城(cheng)西南36公(gong)里(li)(li),今屬(shu)馮記(ji)溝(gou)鄉(xiang)暴記(ji)春(chun)村,東至哈巴湖林場8公(gong)里(li)(li),西到王沖(chong)莊(zhuang)6公(gong)里(li)(li),北抵錢記(ji)灘5公(gong)里(li)(li),距(ju)鐵柱泉(quan)(quan)村西500米,青山馮記(ji)溝(gou)公(gong)路經過此處。嘉靖(jing)十五年(nian)(1536年(nian)),都察(cha)(cha)院左(zuo)都御(yu)史(shi)(shi)兼(jian)兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)左(zuo)待(dai)郎(后為(wei)兵(bing)(bing)部(bu)尚書)劉天和奉命治(zhi)理(li)三邊軍務。他(ta)與(yu)中丞張文魁(kui)“同(tong)謀修鐵柱泉(quan)(quan)城(cheng),周(zhou)回(hui)四里(li)(li)許,高四尋有(you)余,厚亦如之(zhi),城(cheng)以衛(wei)泉(quan)(quan),隍(huang)以衛(wei)城(cheng),工圖永堅。設操守官領(ling)之(zhi),置兵(bing)(bing)一千五百多(duo),馬八十六匹,兼(jian)募土人(ren)守之(zhi)”。城(cheng)建成(cheng)后,結束(shu)了(le)170年(nian)來韃靼部(bu)落和花馬池(chi)民(min)眾為(wei)水(shui)草(cao)爭戰的歷史(shi)(shi)。今考證(zheng)城(cheng)內已不見水(shui)泉(quan)(quan),當為(wei)風沙壓埋,城(cheng)東有(you)泉(quan)(quan),為(wei)后人(ren)所為(wei)。當年(nian)“水(shui)涌如柱,泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)甘(gan)洌,日飲數萬騎弗涸”的局面今已不見,但泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)仍使百畝良田受(shou)益(yi),居(ju)民(min)飲水(shui)也依賴于此。北京(jing)大學地理(li)學教(jiao)授侯仁之(zhi)先生(sheng)曾到鐵柱泉(quan)(quan)專程(cheng)考察(cha)(cha)。
據《嘉靖(jing)寧夏新(xin)志(zhi)》卷三記載:“舊(jiu)有(you)(you)城,不(bu)詳其(qi)何(he)(he)(he)代何(he)(he)(he)名(ming),惟遺廢址(zhi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)面,俗呼為(wei)半(ban)個城。”正統九(jiu)年(nian)(公元1444年(nian))都(dou)御史金(jin)濂始(shi)筑此城,就其(qi)舊(jiu)基,設都(dou)指(zhi)揮守備。據考察(cha),古城略為(wei)矩形(xing),東墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長610米(mi),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長580米(mi),南墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)470米(mi),北墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)480米(mi)。墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體筑有(you)(you)腰墩,東墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)5個,西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)4個,南墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)4個,北墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)5個。南甕(weng)門(men)外百米(mi)處(chu)有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)口古井(jing)(jing),俗謂龍(long)踏井(jing)(jing)。相傳(chuan)有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)騎士經此前去靈(ling)州,時遇日(ri)(ri)將落山,遂(sui)向(xiang)一(yi)(yi)(yi)牧民(min)詢問:“天黑前能否到(dao)靈(ling)州?”對日(ri)(ri):“靈(ling)州距此還有(you)(you)百余里,你(ni)除(chu)非是神(shen)人神(shen)馬,不(bu)可能到(dao)達。”此時馬渴不(bu)得飲,于(yu)是一(yi)(yi)(yi)聲長嘶,用蹄挖地(di),頓出(chu)一(yi)(yi)(yi)口水井(jing)(jing),清泉自溢。牧民(min)抬(tai)頭已(yi)不(bu)見騎士。后來在甕(weng)城門(men)上修(xiu)建了(le)關帝廟,鑄造關公形(xing)象,并取名(ming)龍(long)踏井(jing)(jing)。時遇雨水較多的年(nian)份,井(jing)(jing)水自溢。當地(di)居民(min)每逢年(nian)初一(yi)(yi)(yi)大(da)早(zao)來此觀井(jing)(jing),據說井(jing)(jing)水溢向(xiang)何(he)(he)(he)方,何(he)(he)(he)方便會豐收。