Fort Tularosa

Fort Tularosa (1872-1874) - A U.S. Army fort first established in 1872 in present day Aragon, Catron County, New Mexico. Named after Tularosa Creek. Abandoned in 1874.

History of Fort Tularosa

Established on 30 Apr 1872 by Captain Frederick W. Coleman, 15th U.S. Infantry, to protect the newly opened Apache Warm Spring Reservation and agency.

The post was constructed mostly of log huts with earth roofs although there were frame buildings (barracks, granary and hospital) and the officer's quarters were made of adobe.

Fort Tularosa may have temporarily moved to Old Horse Springs, 18 miles away but sources differ on this.

The post was abandoned on 26 Nov 1874 with the removal of the Apache to Ojo Caliente, Arizona.

The abandoned fort and the town were later attacked by the Apache under Victorio in May 1880. A small force of 25 dismounted cavalry (black "Buffalo Soldiers") was sent to protect the settlers under the command of Sergeant George Jordan. The soldiers and the settlers took refuge in the old fort on 14 May 1880 and successfully held off the attackers until reinforcements arrived the next day. Sergeant George Jordan later received the Medal of Honor for his leadership in organizing and conducting the defense of Fort Tularosa. Victorio was forced to flee into Mexico where he was killed later in 1880 by Mexican force.

Current Status

No remains near present day Aragon in Catron County, New Mexico.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 932882

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Location: Aragon, Catron County, New Mexico. Maps & Images Lat: 33.88111 Long: -108.53833 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 6,676'

See Also:

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 531.
• Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 105.
• Frazer, Robert W., Forts of the West, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman OK, 1965, ISBN 0-8061-1250-6, page 105.

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Tularosa
• New Mexico History - Fort Tularosa
• Wikipedia - Battle of Fort Tularosa
• Black Past - Battle of Tularosa (14 May 1880)

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