Travel Guide New Mexico tm Fort Craig Socorro New Mexico
Fort Craig, established in 1854, was one of the largest and most important frontier forts in the West. Set in the rugged beauty of Socorro County, N.M., it was one of the eight forts situated along the primary north-south road in the Rio Grande Valley. Fort Craig played a crucial role in Indian campaigns and the Civil War. Military excursions from Fort Craig pursued such notable Apache leaders as Geronimo, Victorio and Nana. The Fort has a rich multicultural history, full of stories of courage, honor and sacrifice. The Fort was home to Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry and 38th and 125th Infantry, the predominantly Hispanic New Mexico Volunteers and New Mexico Militia, and household names like Kit Carson, Rafael Chacón and Captain Jack Crawford.Fort Craig played a significant role in 19th-century New Mexico history. The fort was situated on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road to the Interior Lands) — the 1,200-mile Spanish colonial trail from Mexico City to Santa Fe. This road served as New Mexicos lifeline with Mexico for 223 years and was recognized in 2000 as a National Historic Trail.
The New Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Craig Historic Site
Established in 1854, Fort Craig was one of the largest and most important frontier forts in the West. Set in the rugged beauty of Socorro County, New Mexico, it was one of the eight forts situated along the primary north-south road in the Rio Grande Valley. Fort Craig played a crucial role in the Civil War and Indian Wars.
This video depicts, and was created by, The New Buffalo Soldiers, a living history group from Shadow Hills, California. In November 2004, they came to New Mexico to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Fort Craig. They provided living history both in a camp and reenactments. Not only were they amazing presentations, but the group had done archival research so that they could present something that was part of the history of the 9th Cavalry at Fort Craig.
The BLM was proud to host this group, and they were moved to be at the actual site where their brothers had served and the events they depicted took place.
For more information about Fort Craig Historic site, please visit: blm.gov/nm/fortcraig.
NM True TV Fort Craig Historic Site
What remains are partial walls of the encampment. But those ruins are a path to history about the American West that would have changed drastically if not for the soldiers stationed here.
Miserable Duty
Day 49-1 Ft. Craig National Historic Site, New Mexico 2-19-18
Fort Craig was a U.S. Army fort located along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, near Elephant Butte Lake State Park and the Rio Grande in Socorro County, New Mexico. Serving at Ft. Craig was very miserable duty.
Music: So Bueno by The 126ers uploaded from YouTube free audio library.
Fort Craig New Mexico
Fort Craig was a very large Fort in its day. It was a supply fort and supplied all the smaller forts in the area. It also played a big part in the civil war. They had one of the bloodest battles of the civil war at this for.
The Road to Fort Craig (In rural New Mexico)
© (2015) Photographs by Shoshana Avigail
Music by Sheva - Od Yavo Shalom Alenu
I accidentally stumbled upon Fort Craig, which was built in 1854 and was considered one of the largest and most important forts in the West.
The fort is just south of Socorro, NM Fort Craig played a crucial role in Indian Wars along with the Civil War. Military excursions from Fort Craig pursued such notable Apache leaders as Geronimo, Victorio and Nana.
The Fort was home to Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry and 38th and 125th Infantry, the predominantly Hispanic New Mexico Volunteers and New Mexico Militia, and household names like Kit Carson, Rafael Chacón and Captain Jack Crawford.
I had no idea that the civil war stretched as far as New Mexico and that Fort Craig was used in hopes of freeing slaves. Interesting history at this location, that most American's know nothing about.
As I was walking amongst the ruins of Fort Craig, I could help but think of all of those who died, both Indians and American Soldiers.
Both sides lost too many heroic warriors.
Travel Guide New Mexico tm, Battle of Valverde , Socorro, New Mexico
Civil War reenactment groups from around the state participate in the annual Battle of Socorro - simulating the Battle of Valverde and the Confederate capture of Socorro. It is held every year on the weekend closest to February 21, the date of the historic battle, in Socorro, New Mexico and the nearby village of Escondida.
Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley led his force of 2,500 men across the Rio Grande River and up the east side of the river to the ford at Valverde, north of Fort Craig, New Mexico, hoping to cut Federal communications between the fort and military headquarters in Santa Fe. Union Col. E.R.S. Canby left Fort Craig with more than 3,000 men to prevent the Confederates from crossing the river. When he was opposite them, across the river, Canby opened fire and sent Union cavalry over, forcing the Rebels back. The Confederates halted their retirement at the Old Rio Grande riverbed, which served as an excellent position. After crossing all his men, Canby decided that a frontal assault would fail and deployed his force to assault and turn the Confederate left flank. Before he could do so, though, the Rebels attacked. Federals rebuffed a cavalry charge, but the main Confederate force made a frontal attack, capturing six artillery pieces and forcing the Union battle line to break and many of the men to flee. Canby ordered a retreat. Confederate reinforcements arrived and Sibley was about to order another attack when Canby asked for a truce, by a white flag, to remove the bodies of the dead and wounded. Left in possession of the battlefield, the Confederates claimed victory but had suffered heavy casualties. Although the Confederates would soon occupy Santa Fe, they would have to leave New Mexico within four months.
Explore Fort Selden, New Mexico
One of New Mexico's state monuments, Fort Selden is located about 20 miles north of Las Cruces. Visitors can explore the remains of this adobe frontier fort that once housed troops, including the famed Buffalo Soldiers, who protected local residents and traveling traders during the rough-and-tumble days of the Wild West. The fort was ideally located near El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Royal Road of the Interior, which went from Santa Fe to Mexico City. Learn about the special events at the fort, see the interior of the museum, and hear the cannons fire!
Day 167 Socorro, New Mexico - Baca and other legends
Socorro is a very old time from Spaniard days, bandits, cowboys, cowboy and range wars, and one tough sheriff who rode to Reserve past Datil and had a big shoot out with scores of Cowboys who had gotten a bit out of hand and castrated a man. The western most part of the Lincoln County wars if you will. Many things over land rights, human rights, nothing different than what the Akha look for.
I spent an hour or so in the Stage Door Grill at the quaint downtown, where the atmosphere is good and the music not too loud. Everyone was having fun.
On the way across the hills though I noticed that a small rural bar was closed. Someone told me the State of New Mexico won't issue new liquor licenses so the small ones get bought out and moved to town, the license that is, leaving many small towns with no watering hole, no beer, and no place for people to go late at night. You won't find this in Oregon. So basically the government of New Mexico is killing its own small towns in a de facto PROHIBITION. Really DUMB.
Socorro has a small town plaza, many old buildings, an old church and New Mexico Tech, a mining and engineering school
Discover Socorro County, New Mexico
Discover beautiful Socorro County, New Mexico. Learn more about the Very Large Array, Festival of the Cranes, SocorroFest, New Mexico Tech, NRAO, the City of Socorro, and the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce at and
Forts of the Frontier West -- Sample Chapter: Fort Davis
Preview and Purchase Information at
OR
The opening of the West is the most colorful and romanticized period in American history, and the forts of the Western frontier were silent witnesses to this history. From the Northern Plains to the Southwest, from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, on the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon Trail, they were forerunners of settlement, bastions of refuge, centers of trade, and outposts of diplomatic and martial relations with indigenous peoples and foreign colonial powers.
Fort Smith, Fort Riley, Fort Stephen Kearny, Fort Laramie, Fort Bridger, Sutter's Fort, Fort Phil Kearny, Fort Fetterman, Fort Abraham Lincoln, Fort Union Trading Post, Fort Buford, Fort Larned, Fort Hays, Bent's Fort, Fort Garland, Fort Union, Fort Davis, Fort Craig, Fort Selden, Fort Bowie, Fort Apache
FORTS OF THE FRONTIER WEST tells the stories of these lonely and legendary posts, the people who lived there, and the events that that shaped the history of the American West.
Fort Selden NM
A trip to Fort Selden NM
lw..
Fort Union National Monument, NM
There were three Fort Unions.
The first was composed of shabby log buildings (1851-1861).
The second was a star-shaped earthwork designed to defend the Santa Fe trail threatened by the Confederacy (1861-1862). In 1863, with New Mexico securely in Federal hands, the third (and final) Fort Union, whose ruins are visible today, was constructed. This sprawling installation, taking 6 years to complete, was the most extensive in the territory.
It included not only a military post but a quartermaster depot with warehouses, corrals, shops, offices, and quarters. The supply function overshadowed that of the military and employed far more men, mostly civilians.
Throughout the 1860s and the 1870s the troops from Fort Union continued to participate in operations against the Indians. Peace was attained in 1875 albeit on white man's terms.
The supply depot continued to flourish until 1879, when the Santa Fe Railroad replaced the Santa Fe Trail. By 1891 the fort outlived its usefulness and was abandoned.
Oldest Saloon in New Mexico - Capitol Bar, Socorro, NM
The Capitol Bar, or The Cap as it's known to locals, was built in 1896 as a showcase saloon for a wine merchant in the mining town of Socorro, NM, just about an hour south of Albuquerque, NM. Since then it's also been used as a jail and court, a speakeasy and a classroom. This place is beloved by locals and stepping in is like stepping into the past. A true Western saloon, perfectly preserved and waiting for you to belly up!
Learn more about America's oldest bars in our book, Bucket List Bars: Historic Saloons, Pubs and Dives of America available at
McDonald Cementary Seven Rivers NM
Nov.10, 2013 trip.
Living Here - Ft Selden
Living Here visited the Fort Selden Historic Site and spoke with Regional Manager Leslie Bergloff and Site Ranger Nathan Stone about the history and future of the historic site.
Among the Dust of Thieves
A True story of the final days of Col. Albert Jennings Fountain . Set in the late 1800`s of Mesilla , in the New Mexico territory .
The investigation of his death that continues to this day .
1862-07 Battle of Valverde New Mexico
Battle of Valverde
Socorro County, NM
February 20th and 21st 1862
First battle in the west.
1862 (Published 9/10/2017)
Website:
Youtube:
Twitter:
Google+ Page:
My Video Game Let's Plays:
Research links:
I have done a lot of research, here are only a few of the links/reference:
The Civil War Battlefield Guide (Second Edition) by Frances H. Kennedy
Internet Links:
Wikipedia - Battle of Valverde:
This Day in History:
CWSAC Battle Summaries:
Civil War Journeys:
TSHA Texas State Historical Association:
American Legion’s Burn Pit:
The Clio.com:
Thank you civilwarmusic.net for the use of music Bonnie Blue Flag and Kingdom Coming
Special Thanks to Discerning History ( for the use of video clips and info. You folks are great!
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Socorro Historical District Scenic Byway
A central New Mexico town steeped in history spanning several of the state's significant eras. It is Native, Mexican, Spanish, cowboy. mining, high-tech... and it has the buildings and surroundings that result from such diverse influences over many centuries.
LINCOLN NEW MEXICO, BILLY THE KID, DRIVING TOUR
THIS IS A VIDEO DRIVING THROUGH LINCOLN SHOWING SOME OF THE HISTORICAL BUILDINGS WITH A SHORT EXPLANATION ON THEM .