Fort Craig facts for kids
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Fort Craig
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Socorro, New Mexico |
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| Area | 15 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Website | Fort Craig Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000414 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
Fort Craig was an important U.S. Army fort located in New Mexico. It was built along a famous old trail called El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, close to the Rio Grande river. Today, you can find its historic ruins near Elephant Butte Lake State Park in Socorro County, New Mexico. The fort covered about 40 acres (16 hectares) and played a big role in the history of the American Southwest.
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Fort Craig: A Historic Army Post
Why Was Fort Craig Built?
After the Mexican–American War ended in 1848, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty created new borders. The treaty also said the U.S. government had to stop Native American groups from raiding into Mexico.
Many groups, like the Apaches, lived in the area. They often raided settlements and travelers on both sides of the border. To protect people and follow the treaty, the U.S. Army decided to build a series of forts.
In 1849, a small group of soldiers first set up camp in Socorro, New Mexico. Then, in 1851, a fort called Fort Conrad was built. It was located near the Rio Grande river. This spot was important because it was at the start of the Jornada del Muerto. This part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro trail was very dangerous. Fort Conrad was a good place to launch military actions. However, it had building problems and was often threatened by floods. So, it only lasted a short time.
Building Fort Craig
In 1853, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment started building a new fort. It was located on a high piece of land, about nine miles downriver from Fort Conrad. The new fort was named Fort Craig. It honored Captain Louis S. Craig. He was an officer in the Mexican–American War who had been killed in 1852.
In 1854, troops from Fort Conrad moved to the new Fort Craig. Life at this distant fort was tough. Soldiers often complained about the buildings. Roofs leaked, walls crumbled, and living spaces were crowded. The dirt roofs and muddy floors made conditions even worse.
Fort Craig During the Civil War
By July 1861, Fort Craig had grown into the largest fort in the Southwest. It housed over 2,000 soldiers. That same year, new groups of soldiers called New Mexico Volunteers were formed. Their job was to deal with the threat from the Confederate Army.
In September 1861, about 100 cavalry soldiers from Fort Craig fought with Confederate rebels. This happened at Cañada Alamosa. This was one of several small battles in what was then called Confederate Arizona.
In February 1862, all five groups of New Mexico Volunteers came to Fort Craig. They came from Fort Union to help defend the fort. They waited for the Confederate army to advance up the Rio Grande.
The Battle of Valverde
Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley led about 2,500 Confederate soldiers. They were enthusiastic but didn't have much equipment. On February 7, 1862, Sibley's army marched north towards Fort Craig. They tried to avoid a direct fight on the open plain.
Fort Craig had a clever trick. On its large gravel walls, the Union Army placed "Quaker guns." These were fake cannons made of wood. They put empty soldier caps next to real cannons and real Union troops. This trick worked! Sibley decided not to attack Fort Craig directly. He also didn't have the heavy cannons needed to attack such a strong fort.
On February 21, 1862, Union troops led by Colonel Edward Canby met Sibley's Confederate army. This happened at the Battle of Valverde, a crossing of the Rio Grande just north of the fort. Both sides suffered many losses. By the end of the day, the Confederates held the battlefield. But the Union still held Fort Craig.
The Battle of Valverde is seen as a Confederate victory. However, the New Mexico Volunteers, led by Colonel Miguel Pino, found and burned the Confederates' supply wagons. This forced Sibley to march further north without the supplies he needed from Fort Craig. On February 23, 1862, the Confederate forces marched around the Union Army and headed for Albuquerque.
After the Civil War
Between 1863 and 1865, Fort Craig was the main base for U.S. Army actions against the Gila and Mimbres Apaches. The fort was permanently closed in 1885.
Fort Craig was mentioned in Dee Brown’s famous book, “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.”
Fort Craig Historic Site Today
The BLM manages a visitor center at the Fort Craig Historic Site. It is located about 105 miles (170 km) north of Las Cruces. It's also 32 miles (52 km) south of Socorro. You can find it between Exits 115 and 124 off Interstate 25. This highway runs next to the old Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which is now a National Historic Trail.
In 1894, Fort Craig was sold at an auction. Later, the property was given to the Archaeological Conservancy by the Oppenheimer family. In 1981, it was transferred to the Bureau of Land Management. Fort Craig was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Around 2004, it was discovered that some graves at Fort Craig's cemetery had been disturbed. To protect other historical remains, 67 sets of remains were carefully moved by archaeologists. They were reburied at Santa Fe National Cemetery in 2007.
