Fort Stanton

Fort Stanton was established in May 1855 as a staging area for sending troops to control the Apache Indians. It grew as a garrison and was manned by Union soldiers at the start of the Civil War. The Fort was suddenly abandoned and set on fire by the Union in August of 1861; however the fire was extinguished by torrential rain, and much of the fort was salvaged. Fort Stanton was subsequently occupied by Confederate troops until October 1862, when Kit Carson and five companies of New Mexico volunteers reoccupied the fort.