Fort Craig was a U.S. Army fort located along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, near Elephant Butte Lake State Park and the Rio Grande in Socorro County, New Mexico. The Fort Craig site was approximately 1,050 feet east-west by 600 feet north-south and was located on 40 acres.
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This is where the key battle for the Soutwest took place during the Civil War, not Glorietta Pass. Do walk the land with the brochure in you hand and see for yourself where the following took place.
This fort was the quartermaster center for the AZ/NM Territory and was stocked for the outlying forts with food, rifles, powder and cannon, This was the key to holding the southwest for the Union.
The Confederate States Army unit under General Sibley moved up the Rio Grande from Mesilla, north of El Paso and Confederate Capital for the Soutwest Terrritories. The ultimate goal was the gold and silver mines of California and Colorado and holdiing Denver, securring not only funding but access to horses and establishing control of the West. To reach Denver, they had to capture Ft. Craig and get the provisions and weapons from Ft. Craig to complete their mission. Their supply line was too long, they had too little.
Their first attack was from east of the river and they were unable to breach the fort on the west side. They had to retreat their bivwack on the eastern side of the Rio Grande. On Google topographical maps you can see the mesa behind whick they camped. Repeated attacks failed, General Sibley then broke camp, and marched appearing to be on his way to Albuquerque and Sante Fe.
Instead this was a ruse and instead he moved past the next mesa and bend in the river, hoping that Ft Craig would have let down their guard, he attacked from the NNW. This too failed. Meanwhile, he sent 400 Texans north as the advance to the infantry and, after securing Albuquerque and Santa Fe, they sought to secure Glorietta Pass. Their attemt failed at the first and reinforcements arrived; However, a greater reinforcement of Union Troops drove them off the field of battle, siezed the relief suplies that came with 1000 soldiers and killed 400 relief horses.
Failure at Ft. Craig spelled eventual defeat to the Confederates. This was the decisive battle in...
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If you are traveling along I-25 or near the Bosque del Apache this is a great stop and highly recommended. It is a short 10 minute drive off I-25 and well worth the trip.
The views of the Rio Grande Valley and a nearby volcanic mesa are stunning in themselves. The trails are very well maintained and offer not only a glimpse into the history of the American West, but also some stunning vistas of the present.
There are generally very few people here, and the facilities are very well maintained. There are a mix of covered and open picnic areas with tables and well maintained site built restrooms (not port-a-potties).
The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable of the history of the area, and the gift shop has a well stocked...
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Ft Craig is a short drive down a dusty road off interstate 25 but that drive takes you back in history and really makes you appreciate the sacrifice by everyone that served there. It is quiet and isolated and there isn't a great deal to see now but what is there speaks volumes. There is a map and BLM brochure available as well as well placed markers for a self-guided tour. Bathrooms and water are also available even when the visitor center is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Make the side trip and see one of the frontier's lesser...
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