Fort Webster, New Mexico facts for kids

Fort Webster was an important fort in New Mexico. It was located in Grant County, New Mexico, near the towns of Santa Rita and San Lorenzo. This fort was used by the United States Army during two periods: from 1851 to 1853, and again from 1859 to 1860.

History of Fort Webster

The First Fort: Fort Santa Rita (1804-1838)

Before Fort Webster, there was a fort called Fort Santa Rita. The Spanish built it in 1804. Its main job was to protect the valuable copper mines near Santa Rita, in Grant County, New Mexico.

This fort had a unique triangular shape. It also featured three towers. A civilian named Manuel Elguea was in charge of building it.

However, the fort faced many attacks from the Apache people. Because of these constant attacks, the fort was left empty in 1838. This happened when the Centralist Republic of Mexico was in charge.

Later, in 1848, the land where the fort stood became part of the United States. This change happened after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed.

Fort Webster's First Location (1851-1852)

In 1851, the United States Boundary Commission took over the old fort site. They renamed it Dawson Cantonment. A cantonment is a place where soldiers live.

The next year, in 1852, the United States Army moved in. They gave the fort a new name: Gila Copper Mines Post. It was also known as Fort Webster.

Fort Webster's Second Location (1852-1853, 1859-1860)

The army decided to move Fort Webster in September 1852. They moved it about 14 miles east. The new location was on the west bank of the Rio Mimbres. This spot was about one mile west of the modern town of San Lorenzo.

The army left this second Fort Webster in December 1853. They moved to a new post called Fort Thorn.

However, Fort Webster was used again for a short time. In 1859, it was reoccupied and called Station at the Copper Mines. But it was abandoned for good in 1860.

What Happened to the Site?

The original location of Fort Santa Rita and the first Fort Webster is now gone. A very large open-pit mine, called the Chino Copper Mine, destroyed the site. This mine is still in Grant County, New Mexico.