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- Fort Stanton
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- New Mexico Centennial
The colorful history of this southern New Mexico fort.
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Transcript
Built in 1855 in an isolated river valley in Lincoln County, Fort Stanton has a colorful and violent past that belies its tranquil setting and stately architecture. Its cast of characters is a virtual who’s who of pre-statehood notables and notorious — Kit Carson, Geronimo, Victorio, Pat Garret, and Billy the Kid among them.
Originally established to defend new settlers from raiding Apaches, Fort Stanton soon found itself in the throes of the Civil War. Union forces clashed with Texas Confederates marching through eastern New Mexico. Retreating Union troops set fire to the fort in an effort to thwart Confederate occupancy; but heavy rains saved the buildings and after a short occupation the Confederates were forced to retreat. The fort returned to its original purpose. “Kit” Carson was stationed there under orders to slay Apache men whenever possible and to take women and children h...
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