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 post in what is now Radium Springs, New Mexico. For a long time, this spot was a popular campground along the historic El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro trail.
In 1861, it was a camp for the Confederate Army. The U.S. Army built Fort Selden in 1865. Its main job was to protect settlers moving west from attacks by Native American groups. After the American Civil War, the fort started to fall apart. It was finally closed in 1891 because Fort Bliss was expanded and no money was spent to fix Fort Selden.
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Fort Selden: A Look Back in Time
The Ancient Robledo Campsite
For hundreds of years, the area where Fort Selden stands was known as the Paraje de Robledo. This was a well-known campsite along the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a famous old road. It was located on the east side of the Rio Grande river.
The campsite got its name from an old Spanish soldier, Pedro Robledo. He died and was buried there in 1598 during an expedition led by Juan de Oñate. People first called it La Cruz de Robledo because a cross marked his grave. Later, the name was shortened to Paraje Robledo.
This spot was the last stop along the Rio Grande before travelers on the Camino Real had to leave the river. They would then enter a dry, dangerous area called the Jornada del Muerto on their way north to Santa Fe. By the time of the American Civil War, many people lived in the Mesilla Valley near Las Cruces. They valued the rich land along the Rio Grande but faced attacks from the Apache people. Travelers also felt unsafe moving further north.
Camp Robledo: A Civil War Post
In 1861, during the American Civil War, the Confederate Army set up a post here. They called it Camp Robledo. Its purpose was to guard the northern entrances to the Mesilla Valley. This valley was part of Confederate Arizona at the time.
The camp helped protect routes along the Rio Grande and across the Jornada del Muerto. Confederate soldiers used it as a base for their cavalry patrols. They launched operations against Fort Craig and other places held by the Union army in New Mexico Territory.
Building Fort Selden for Protection
Fort Selden was built in Doña Ana County, about 12 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was established in 1865 at the old Paraje de Robledo campsite. The goal was to bring peace to the different groups living in south-central New Mexico.
The fort was named after Colonel Henry Raymond Selden. He had served many years in New Mexico Territory before and during the Civil War. Colonel Selden died in Doña Ana County on February 2, 1865, and was buried at Fort Union.
The main reason for Fort Selden was to protect settlers and travelers in the Mesilla Valley. They needed protection from outlaws and Mescalero Apache Indians. The fort was made of adobe bricks and built near the Rio Grande. It housed different groups of soldiers, including California Volunteer Cavalry and U.S. Army Infantry and Cavalry.
Brave Soldiers at Fort Selden
The first troops at Fort Selden were Company M, 1st Regiment of Cavalry, California Volunteers. They served from July 1865 to August 1866. Later, companies from the 125th US Colored Infantry Regiment arrived. These were African-American soldiers from Kentucky who joined the Union Army near the end of the Civil War.
Other units assigned to the fort included the 38th Infantry Regiment, 9th US Cavalry, and 10th US Cavalry. These regiments were all made up of black troopers, often called Buffalo Soldiers. These brave soldiers were known for their courage. Nine Buffalo Soldiers earned the Medal of Honor while serving in New Mexico Territory.
In 1884, Captain Arthur MacArthur Jr. of the 13th Infantry became the fort's commander. He lived there with his wife and two young sons, Arthur III (age 7) and Douglas MacArthur (age 4). Douglas MacArthur later became a famous general. He wrote in his memories that at Fort Selden, he and his brother "learned to ride and shoot, even before we learned to read and write." The MacArthurs stayed for two years before Captain MacArthur was moved to Fort Wingate.
The Fort's Final Years
By late 1886, the frontier was changing quickly. Geronimo, a famous Apache leader, surrendered to Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles in Arizona. This event marked the end of the long Indian Wars in the nation.
Because of these changes, the Army's commander-in-chief, Lt. General William Tecumseh Sherman, ordered a big change. He wanted to combine six military posts in southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona into one large base. He wanted a huge, one-square-mile base that could hold many cavalry and infantry units. Sherman also said the new base should be near where the Santa Fe Railroad and the Southern Pacific Railroad met in southern New Mexico.
For a while, Fort Selden was a top choice for this new large base. However, the railroads had brought amazing growth to the El Paso, Texas area. Because of this, Fort Bliss was chosen instead.
By 1890, outlaws and raiding parties were no longer a major threat. Hostilities had decreased, and Fort Selden was no longer needed. Like many small forts in the American Southwest, the government decided to close it. The fort was abandoned for the last time in 1891. On January 20, 1891, Lt. James Brett, who was in charge of a small group of caretakers, filed the final report. It stated: "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 caused harm. In 1963, Harry N. Bailey, who had 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. Then, in 1974, it was named a New Mexico State Monument. Today, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs oversees it as part of the New Mexico Historic Sites.
Visitors can explore the present-day ruins by following a special trail with information signs. A visitor center also has exhibits about life on the frontier and in the military. Fort Selden Historic Site is located 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.
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