Fort Selden facts for kids
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Fort Selden
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Ruins of Fort Selden
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 Location in New Mexico
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| Nearest city | Las Cruces, New Mexico |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1865 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000401 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 9, 1970 |
Fort Selden was an important United States Army fort. It was located in what is now Radium Springs, New Mexico. For a long time, this spot was a popular camping ground. It was on a famous old road called the El Camino Real. In 1861, during the American Civil War, it was even a camp for the Confederate Army.
The U.S. Army built Fort Selden in 1865. Its main job was to protect settlers moving west. They needed protection from attacks by Native American groups. The fort was used until 1891. It was closed because a bigger fort, Fort Bliss, was expanded. Also, Fort Selden was falling apart and wasn't repaired.
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History of Fort Selden
The Robledo Campsite
For hundreds of years, the area where Fort Selden stands was a campsite. It was called the Paraje de Robledo. This camp was along the El Camino Real road. It was on the east side of the Rio Grande river.
The campsite was named after an old Spanish soldier. His name was Pedro Robledo. He died and was buried there in 1598. This happened during an expedition led by Juan de Oñate. People first called the spot La Cruz de Robledo because a cross marked his grave. Later, the name was shortened to Paraje Robledo.
This campsite was the last stop along the Rio Grande. After this, the Camino Real left the river. It went into a dry, dangerous area called the Jornada del Muerto. This was on the way north to Santa Fe. By the time of the American Civil War, many people lived in the Mesilla Valley. This area is around Las Cruces. They valued the rich land along the Rio Grande. But they were often attacked by the Apache people. Travelers on the Camino Real also worried about these attacks.
Camp Robledo During the Civil War
In 1861, the Confederate Army set up a post here. They called it Camp Robledo. Its purpose was to guard the northern ways into the Mesilla Valley. This valley was part of Confederate Arizona. The camp helped protect the Rio Grande area and the Jornada del Muerto.
Camp Robledo was used as a base. From here, cavalry soldiers went on patrols. They also launched operations against Fort Craig. Fort Craig and other places were held by the Union Army in New Mexico Territory.
Building Fort Selden
Fort Selden was built in Doña Ana County. It was about 12 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The fort was started in 1865 at the old Paraje de Robledo campsite. Its goal was to bring peace to the south-central part of New Mexico.
The fort was named after Colonel Henry Raymond Selden. He had served many years in New Mexico. He served before and during the American Civil War. Colonel Selden died from illness in Doña Ana County. He was buried at Fort Union in February 1865.
The main reason for the fort was to protect settlers and travelers. They needed protection in the Mesilla Valley. They faced attacks from outlaws and Mescalero Apache people. The fort was built near the Rio Grande. It was made of adobe (sun-dried brick). It housed different units of the U.S. Army. These included cavalry and infantry soldiers.
Soldiers at Fort Selden
The first soldiers at Fort Selden were from California. They were Company M, 1st Regiment of Cavalry, California Volunteers. They were there from July 1865 to August 1866. After them came companies of the 125th US Colored Infantry Regiment. These were African-American soldiers from Kentucky. They had joined the Union Army near the end of the Civil War.
Later, other units were assigned to the fort. These included the 38th Infantry Regiment, 9th US Cavalry, and 10th US Cavalry. All these units were made up of black soldiers. They were sometimes called Buffalo Soldiers. Nine Buffalo Soldiers earned the Medal of Honor while serving in New Mexico Territory. This shows their great bravery.
Douglas MacArthur's Childhood
In 1884, Captain Arthur MacArthur, Jr. was assigned as the fort's commander. He was part of the 13th Infantry. His wife and two young sons came with him. His sons were Arthur MacArthur III, age 7, and Douglas MacArthur, age 4. Douglas MacArthur later became a very famous general.
In his memories, Douglas MacArthur wrote about his time at Fort Selden. He said that he and his brother learned to ride and shoot, even before we learned to read and write. The MacArthurs lived at Fort Selden for two years. Then Captain MacArthur was moved to Fort Wingate.
The Fort Closes
By late 1886, the frontier had changed a lot. Geronimo, a famous Apache leader, surrendered. This happened to Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles in Skeleton Canyon in Arizona. This surrender marked the end of the long Indian Wars in the nation.
Because of this, the Army commander, Lt. General William Tecumseh Sherman, ordered a change. He wanted to combine six military posts in southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona. He wanted one very large base. It would be big enough for many cavalry and infantry soldiers. Sherman also ordered that this new base be near the junction of two railroads. These were the Santa Fe Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad.
For a while, Fort Selden was a top choice for this new large base. But the railroads had caused huge growth in El Paso, Texas. So, Fort Bliss was chosen instead.
By 1890, outlaws and raiding groups were no longer a big threat. Hostilities had lessened. The fort was no longer needed. Like many small forts in the American Southwest, the government decided to close it. Fort Selden was abandoned for the last time in 1891. On January 20, 1891, Lieutenant James Brett was in charge of a small group caring for the fort. He wrote the final report. It said:
"All public property from this post having been disposed of, it was abandoned on this date."
Fort Selden Historic Site Today
For many years, the ruins of Fort Selden were damaged by rain, snow, and wind. People looking for souvenirs or treasure also added to its decay. In 1963, Harry N. Bailey, who lived in the area for a long time, gave the land to the state.
In 1970, Fort Selden was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1974, it was named a New Mexico State Monument. The New Mexico Historic Sites Division oversees it today. This division is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
You can visit the ruins today. There is a special trail that explains the history. A visitor center has exhibits about life on the frontier and in the military. Fort Selden Historic Site is about 13 miles (21 km) north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. You can find it off Exit 19 of Interstate 25, near Radium Springs, New Mexico.
