Fort Stanton (1)

Fort Stanton (1) (1855-1896) - First established 4 May 1855 as a temporary camp while the permanent fort was constructed by Ltc. Dixon S. Miles, 8th U.S. Infantry. Originally named Camp Garland after Col. John Garland, 8th U.S. Infantry. The permanent post was named Fort Stanton after Capt. Henry W. Stanton, 1st U.S. Dragoons, killed by hostile Apache Indians, 19 Jan 1855, near the fort location. Abandoned in 1896.

Fort Stanton Restored Admin Building

Fort Stanton Headquarters Building

Fort Stanton (1) History

Initially established in 1855 to protect settlers and to enforce treaties with Indian tribes.

Initial construction lasted several years and the Fort was damaged by changes in ownership during the U.S. Civil War. A major rebuild and updating began in 1868 and the post became a substantial facility with over 40 military structures before it closed.

U.S. Civil War

Union troops occupied the Fort at the beginning of the U.S. Civil War but abandoned it on 2 Aug 1861 as Confederate troops approached. The Confederate force only occupied the post until 10 Sep 1861 and they withdrew.

Union forces consisting of five companies of New Mexico Volunteers under Col. Kit Carson reoccupied Fort Stanton in 1862.

In 1868 the Fort was ordered rebuilt and construction continued for a number of years. Hostile Indian problems and reservation policing kept the garrison occupied until the 1880s but by the 1890s those problems were largely over. The Fort was ordered closed 28 Oct 1895 and on 17 Aug 1896 the last troops departed.

The post lay abandoned until 1899 when the Fort property became a part of the Marine Health Service as a TB treatment facility. This organization became the National Health Service in 1912 and the hospital continued in operation until 1953. In 1935 the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up a camp adjacent to the hospital and that camp functioned until the beginning of World War II.

World War II

Starting in 1941, the abandoned CCC camp formed the basis of a German prisoner of war camp. The first occupants were internees from the German Luxury Liner SS Columbus. The Fort Stanton internment camp officially closed 1 Oct 1945

The hospital became a state hospital until 1995, and then a state detention center for women until 1999 when it became a rehab center for at-risk youth.

Current Status

Became a New Mexico State Monument 11 Aug 2007. Several original stone buildings still remain, but none are open to the public. A museum and visitor center is located on the grounds and is about to move into a restored building.

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Location: Fort Stanton State Monument, Lincoln, New Mexico. Maps & Images Lat: 33.495347 Long: -105.525098 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 6,222'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 530

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Stanton
• Fort Stanton
• Wikipedia - Fort Stanton

Visited: 5 Mar 2010

Fort Stanton (1) Picture Gallery

Click on the picture to see a larger version. Contribute additional pictures - the more the better!

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  Fort Stanton Marker
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  Fort Stanton Barracks Building
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  Fort Stanton Barracks Later Converted to a TB Hospital Dining Hall
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  Fort Stanton Chapel
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  Fort Stanton Senior Officer Quarters
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  Fort Stanton Junior Officer Quarters
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  Fort Stanton Stables Exterior
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  Fort Stanton Stables Interior