興武(wu)營(ying)古城(cheng)(cheng)位(wei)于鹽池(chi)縣城(cheng)(cheng)西(xi)(xi)北(bei)(bei)48公里的(de)高沙窩鎮二(er)步坑村坐落(luo)在明代兩道(dao)長城(cheng)(cheng)交(jiao)會處(chu)的(de)低洼(wa)地(di)上。據(ju)記載原是(shi)個(ge)廢城(cheng)(cheng)。正(zheng)統九年(公元1444年)都(dou)(dou)御史金濂始(shi)筑此城(cheng)(cheng),就其舊基(ji),設都(dou)(dou)指揮守備。城(cheng)(cheng)周回三里八分,高二(er)丈五尺。池(chi)深一(yi)丈三尺,闊二(er)丈。西(xi)(xi)、南(nan)二(er)門(men)(men)及(ji)四(si)角皆(jie)有(you)(you)樓(lou)。據(ju)實地(di)考察古城(cheng)(cheng)略為(wei)矩(ju)形,東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)長610米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)長580米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)寬470米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),北(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)寬480米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。為(wei)黃土夯筑,基(ji)寬12米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),殘高9米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右(you),頂部殘寬3—5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夯層厚20厘米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右(you)。曾(ceng)甃有(you)(you)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)石(shi),早年已被拆除。四(si)隅有(you)(you)角臺(tai),原有(you)(you)樓(lou),今已毀(hui)。墻(qiang)(qiang)體(ti)筑有(you)(you)腰墩(dun),東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge),西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),南(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge),北(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)。開西(xi)(xi)、南(nan)二(er)門(men)(men)帶甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)40米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)見方(fang),西(xi)(xi)甕(weng)門(men)(men)面(mian)東(dong),南(nan)甕(weng)門(men)(men)面(mian)西(xi)(xi)。甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)均以疊澀磚(zhuan)(zhuan)拱券門(men)(men)。甕(weng)門(men)(men)頂部原有(you)(you)二(er)層樓(lou)建筑,南(nan)門(men)(men)是(shi)關帝廟,西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)是(shi)財神廟。南(nan)門(men)(men)樓(lou)和鐵鑄造像毀(hui)于1958年。城(cheng)(cheng)中間原置(zhi)鼓樓(lou),現僅存夯筑的(de)土臺(tai),臺(tai)基(ji)正(zheng)方(fang)形,邊長14米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),殘高7米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),有(you)(you)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)拱四(si)通門(men)(men)洞(dong),殘高4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右(you)。南(nan)甕(weng)門(men)(men)外(wai)百(bai)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)處(chu)有(you)(you)一(yi)口古井(jing),俗城(cheng)(cheng)龍踏井(jing)。興武(wu)營(ying)是(shi)長城(cheng)(cheng)沿線的(de)重(zhong)要城(cheng)(cheng)障,有(you)(you)“靈夏重(zhong)地(di),平慶要藩”之稱。
興武(wu)營(ying)是長城(cheng)(cheng)沿線的(de)(de)重要(yao)(yao)城(cheng)(cheng)障,有“靈夏(xia)重地,平慶(qing)要(yao)(yao)藩”之(zhi)稱。由寧(ning)夏(xia)抵(di)榆林界凡四百(bai)里(li)(li)(li)(li),無高山疊澗可倚,則依(yi)花(hua)馬池(chi)、興武(wu)營(ying)控制(zhi)。興武(wu)營(ying)是一份寶貴(gui)的(de)(de)文化遺產(chan),屬鐵(tie)(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)。鐵(tie)(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)位于鹽(yan)池(chi)縣城(cheng)(cheng)西南36公里(li)(li)(li)(li),今屬馮記溝鄉暴記春村,東至哈巴湖(hu)林場8公里(li)(li)(li)(li),西到王沖莊(zhuang)6公里(li)(li)(li)(li),北抵(di)錢記灘5公里(li)(li)(li)(li),距鐵(tie)(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)村西500米,青山馮記溝公路經過(guo)此處。嘉靖十五年(nian)(1536年(nian)),都察(cha)院左都御史(shi)兼兵部左待郎(后(hou)為兵部尚(shang)書)劉天和(he)(he)奉命治(zhi)理三(san)邊軍務。他(ta)與中丞(cheng)張文魁(kui)“同(tong)謀修鐵(tie)(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)城(cheng)(cheng),周(zhou)回(hui)四里(li)(li)(li)(li)許,高四尋有余(yu),厚亦如之(zhi),城(cheng)(cheng)以衛泉(quan),隍以衛城(cheng)(cheng),工(gong)圖永堅。設(she)操守官領之(zhi),置兵一千(qian)五百(bai)多,馬八十六匹,兼募土人守之(zhi)”。城(cheng)(cheng)建成后(hou),結束了170年(nian)來韃靼(da)部落和(he)(he)花(hua)馬池(chi)民眾為水草爭戰的(de)(de)歷史(shi)。今考(kao)證城(cheng)(cheng)內已(yi)不(bu)見(jian)水泉(quan),當為風沙(sha)壓(ya)埋,城(cheng)(cheng)東有泉(quan),為后(hou)人所為。當年(nian)“水涌(yong)如柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),泉(quan)水甘洌(lie),日飲(yin)數萬(wan)騎弗(fu)涸(he)”的(de)(de)局面今已(yi)不(bu)見(jian),但泉(quan)水仍(reng)使百(bai)畝良田受益,居民飲(yin)水也(ye)依(yi)賴于此。北京大學(xue)地理學(xue)教授侯(hou)仁之(zhi)先生曾到鐵(tie)(tie)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)泉(quan)專程考(kao)察(cha)。
據(ju)(ju)《嘉靖(jing)寧夏新志》卷三記(ji)載:“舊有城,不詳其何(he)代何(he)名(ming),惟遺廢(fei)址一(yi)面(mian),俗(su)呼為(wei)半個(ge)(ge)城。”正統九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元1444年(nian)(nian))都御史金濂(lian)始筑此城,就其舊基,設都指揮守備。據(ju)(ju)考(kao)察,古城略為(wei)矩(ju)形,東墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)610米(mi),西(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)580米(mi),南(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)(kuan)470米(mi),北(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)寬(kuan)(kuan)480米(mi)。墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體筑有腰(yao)墩,東墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)(ge),西(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge)(ge),南(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)4個(ge)(ge),北(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)5個(ge)(ge)。南(nan)甕(weng)門(men)外百米(mi)處(chu)有一(yi)口古井(jing),俗(su)謂龍踏井(jing)。相傳有一(yi)騎(qi)(qi)士(shi)經此前(qian)去靈(ling)州,時遇日將(jiang)落山,遂向一(yi)牧(mu)民(min)詢問:“天黑前(qian)能否到(dao)靈(ling)州?”對日:“靈(ling)州距此還有百余里,你除(chu)非是神人神馬,不可(ke)能到(dao)達。”此時馬渴不得飲,于是一(yi)聲長(chang)嘶,用蹄(ti)挖地,頓(dun)出一(yi)口水(shui)(shui)(shui)井(jing),清(qing)泉自(zi)溢。牧(mu)民(min)抬頭(tou)已不見騎(qi)(qi)士(shi)。后來(lai)(lai)在甕(weng)城門(men)上修建了關(guan)(guan)帝(di)廟,鑄造(zao)關(guan)(guan)公(gong)形象,并(bing)取名(ming)龍踏井(jing)。時遇雨水(shui)(shui)(shui)較多的年(nian)(nian)份,井(jing)水(shui)(shui)(shui)自(zi)溢。當地居民(min)每逢年(nian)(nian)初一(yi)大(da)早來(lai)(lai)此觀井(jing),據(ju)(ju)說井(jing)水(shui)(shui)(shui)溢向何(he)方,何(he)方便(bian)會(hui)豐收。