Camp San Carlos

Camp San Carlos (1873-1900) - A U.S. Army cavalry camp first established in 1873 on a previously occupied site on the San Carlos Apache Indian Agency, Gila County, Arizona. Abandoned in 1900. Also known as Post at San Carlos. Coolidge dam and San Carlos Lake: Camp San Carlos Site Submerged under San Carlos Lake. History of Camp San Carlos In February 1873, 1,200 Apaches were marched from Fort Grant to establish the San Carlos reservation at the confluence of the San Carlos River and the Gila River. The chosen location on a gravel terrace above the combined rivers was barren, inhospitable and could not support the population. A small detachment of soldiers remained at the new reservation and a system to supply weekly rations to the population was established. That system would last until after 1900. On 27 May 1873 during the distribution of weekly rations, an altercation between an Apache and the Indian Agent resulted in the death of Lt Jacob Almy (Cullum 2196). As a result, three companies of 5th U.S. Cavalry arrived and set up camp two days later. The offending Apache was tracked down and killed on 30 Apr, 1874 by a party under the command of Captain Hamilton. The U.S. Army camp was officially established on 29 May 1873 by I Troop, 5th U.S. Cavalry. The camp was then a sub-post of Camp Apache. The troops remained at the reservation until 26 Oct 1875. Camp San Carlos was reoccupied in 1882 as a regular garrison and became a sub-post of Fort Grant from 10 Oct 1894 to 30 Sep 1898. The military post was abandoned in July 1900. Current Status Under San Carlos Lake, Gila County, Arizona. The level of the lake varies from year-to-year and season-to-season and at times the foundations of the old town and the old camp are exposed. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location: Under San Carlos Lake, Gila County, Arizona. Map point is approximate and not visually verified. Maps & Images Lat: 33.20261 Long: -110.42947 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....' See Also: Fort Grant Camp Apache 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 46. Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 15. Nickens, Paul R. & Kathleen, Old San Carlos , Arcadia Publishing, 2008, 128 pages. Post returns available Oct 1882 - Jun 1900 at Ancestry.com (by Subscription) Links: North American Forts - Camp San Carlos "An Indian Reservation under General George Crook" (Military Affairs 12:91‑102) Visited: 4 Mar 2015