Fort Thorn, New Mexico facts for kids
Fort Thorn or Fort Thorne, originally called Cantonment Garland, was a settlement and military outpost. It was located on the west side of the Rio Grande river in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. This spot was northwest of where Hatch is today and west of Salem.
The fort was named after 1st Lt. Herman Thorn of the 2nd U.S. Infantry. He sadly drowned in the Colorado River in 1849. Before that, he worked as an assistant to General John Garland, who became the new commander of the Ninth Military District in New Mexico Territory in 1853.
Where Fort Thorn Was Located
Fort Thorn was built on ground that was a bit higher than the Rio Grande river, about a mile away. It was located 85 miles south of Fort Craig and 51 miles north of Fort Fillmore.
To the west of the fort, there was a wide, flat plain called a "llano" that stretched for almost 35 miles. This area had some small hills. The land between the fort and this plain was sandy, with low-growing plants like mesquite and sagebrush. The fort itself was on ground made of a mix of clay and sand.
East of the river, about five miles away, was a chain of mountains. Beyond these mountains lay the Jornada del Muerto, which was a famous desert road. This road was the main route from Santa Fe to El Paso del Norte.
Near the fort, especially during the early fall and when the river overflowed, there were many standing pools of water. These pools, along with fewer trees around them, caused a lot of sickness. Many soldiers at Fort Thorn suffered from fevers like malaria.
In 1858, a doctor named P. A. Quinan described the fort's location. He said it was on the right bank of the Rio Grande River. The fort was across the river from the Jornada del Muerto, separated by the river and the a tall mountain range. The Mexican village of Santa Barbara was also nearby.
Fort Thorn was built right next to a large marsh. The river made a big bend here, leaving a flat, crescent-shaped area that often flooded. The fort's buildings were very close to the swampiest part of this area. During the hottest months, this marsh became muddy and covered with green slime and stagnant water. This caused a lot of illness, especially fevers, among the soldiers.
During the American Civil War, in 1862, Lt. Col. Edward E. Eyer of the 1st California Volunteer Cavalry marched to Fort Thorn. He reported that the fort was three miles downriver from where the Cooke's Wagon Road met the Rio Grande. This road led west towards the Santa Rita Copper Mines. The village of Santa Barbara was also three miles downriver from the fort.
History of Fort Thorn
In November 1846, Major Philip St. George Cooke and the Mormon Battalion camped three miles above the future site of Fort Thorn. They were exploring and building a wagon road from the Rio Grande valley to Alta California. This camp was where their road, later called the Cooke's Wagon Road, left the river. Cooke noted that his camp was across the river from a settlement called San Diego.
The road they built would eventually connect to the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, another important road. After the 1849 California Gold Rush, a new road was made through a mountain pass. This road connected the Jornada del Muerto to the San Diego Crossing, then followed the west bank of the river to Cooke's Wagon Road. The Mexican village of Santa Barbara was founded along this road in 1851, near where Hatch is today.
Fort Thorn, originally named Cantonment Garland, was officially started on December 24, 1853. Captain Israel Richardson, following orders from General Garland, established it. Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry moved there from an abandoned fort called Fort Webster.
The fort was built using adobe bricks and had a surrounding wall. Only the hospital was outside this wall. The fort also had a 3.5-mile long acequia, which was an irrigation canal. This canal brought water from the Rio Grande to water the fort's farms and power a sawmill.
Fort Thorn's main job was to protect settlers and travelers from attacks by Apaches and outlaws. It also had its own post office from 1855 to 1859. One of the main groups of soldiers stationed there were companies from the Regiment of Mounted Rifles.
As mentioned, the fort was near a large marsh, and malaria became a very serious problem for the soldiers. After many complaints about the unhealthy conditions, the fort was closed in 1859.
An agency for the Apache Indians operated at the fort from 1854. It continued to operate nearby even after the fort closed in the early 1860s. The agent was Dr. Michael Steck. Apache leaders trusted him, and Army officers praised his knowledge of the land, the Indians, their language, and their customs.
During the American Civil War, a place 15 miles upriver from Fort Thorn was the site of a small battle. This was the Skirmish near Fort Thorn on September 26, 1861, between U.S. soldiers and Bethel Coopwood's cavalrymen from the Confederate Army. Later, Confederate General Sibley used Fort Thorn as a meeting point for his Sibley Expedition before he invaded northern New Mexico.
Fort Thorn Today
Most of the original site of Fort Thorn was washed away by a big flood of the Rio Grande river in 1889. This flood changed the river's path.
Fort Thorn in Film
Fort Thorn was shown in the 1950 film Two Flags West.
