- Joined
- Jun 21, 2012
- Location
- Louisville, KY
Fort Union, located in Mora County, New Mexico is a ruined adobe and brick fortification along with a seperate earthwork fortification. Originally begun as a post in 1851 the post was established by Lt Col Edwin Sumner who would go on to serve as a general for the Union Army during the American Civil War. The post, located on the Santa Fe Trail, was to serve as headquarters for troops stationed in the New Mexico Territory as well as the main supply depot. The original post was constructed mostly of timber and mud.
At the outset of the American Civil War Fort Union was garrisoned by Federal troops however because of the open nature of the post Union commanders in the territory under the command of Col. Edward Canby immediately began preparing for hostilities by beginning construction on a second earthern fort near the first Fort Union. This fort would be completed for the most part within that same year. This massive 8-point star fort housed new barracks and officers quarters as well as supply warehouses and other structures necessary to the troops.
When Confederate Brig. General Henry Sibley began his New Mexico Campaign in early 1862 troops at Fort Union were put on high alert. Following the Battle of Valverde and the capture of Santa Fe by Confederate troops the majority of Federal troops at Fort Union were redeployed to stop the Confederate advance. Following the Battle of Glorieta Pass in late March of 1862 and due to Sibley losing the bulk of his supplies Fort Union was no longer in danger.
The earthern fort would continue to be garrisoned through 1862 and most of 1863 however it did suffer from multiple design flaws. Like the first Fort Union the timber used to construct buildings quickly rotted. During the rainy season the buildings leaked and the floors quickly turned to mud. The fort also became its own worst enemy when dealing with the terrain. If enemy artillery had been placed on the nearby ridges surrounding the fort located in the valley they could have simply shelled the fort into submission by using the elevation and terrain to shoot into the fort with the forts guns not having the range to return fire. Because of these flaws yet another Fort Union was planned and construction began in 1863.
The third Fort Union was mostly constructed of stones, brick, and adobe. This post consisted of multiple structures and took on the open post look as there was no longer a threat of Confederate attack. The post was constructed near the earthern fort and featured many buildings including new barracks for the troops, officers quarters, a hospital and multiple other structures. The earthern fort was to be occupied in time of an attack with the 1st and original Fort Union being transformed into a supply and ordinance depot. The third Fort Union would continue service through the end of the war with none of the 3 forts having ever been subjected to enemy attack during the American Civil War.
The fort would continue service following the war with it being downsized greatly in the 1880s with the advancement of railroads in the region and the demise of the Santa Fe Trail. In early 1891 the fort was abandoned and because the post was actually built on private land it was taken over by private owners. It would not be until 1956 that the third Fort Union would become Fort Union National Monument with the earthern Civil War-era fort being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. There is no longer any trace of the original Fort Union.
Today the site, ran by the NPS, is open to visitors all year for a $3.00 fee. There is over a mile trail that weaves between different ruined structures identifying each with various signs and monuments. Visitors can also tour the old earthern fort as well. The Glorieta Pass Battlefield is also nearby if you want to make around an hour trip to it.
Also remember to check out all other "Forgotten Forts" in the Series Index (Link Below)
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/
At the outset of the American Civil War Fort Union was garrisoned by Federal troops however because of the open nature of the post Union commanders in the territory under the command of Col. Edward Canby immediately began preparing for hostilities by beginning construction on a second earthern fort near the first Fort Union. This fort would be completed for the most part within that same year. This massive 8-point star fort housed new barracks and officers quarters as well as supply warehouses and other structures necessary to the troops.
When Confederate Brig. General Henry Sibley began his New Mexico Campaign in early 1862 troops at Fort Union were put on high alert. Following the Battle of Valverde and the capture of Santa Fe by Confederate troops the majority of Federal troops at Fort Union were redeployed to stop the Confederate advance. Following the Battle of Glorieta Pass in late March of 1862 and due to Sibley losing the bulk of his supplies Fort Union was no longer in danger.
The earthern fort would continue to be garrisoned through 1862 and most of 1863 however it did suffer from multiple design flaws. Like the first Fort Union the timber used to construct buildings quickly rotted. During the rainy season the buildings leaked and the floors quickly turned to mud. The fort also became its own worst enemy when dealing with the terrain. If enemy artillery had been placed on the nearby ridges surrounding the fort located in the valley they could have simply shelled the fort into submission by using the elevation and terrain to shoot into the fort with the forts guns not having the range to return fire. Because of these flaws yet another Fort Union was planned and construction began in 1863.
The third Fort Union was mostly constructed of stones, brick, and adobe. This post consisted of multiple structures and took on the open post look as there was no longer a threat of Confederate attack. The post was constructed near the earthern fort and featured many buildings including new barracks for the troops, officers quarters, a hospital and multiple other structures. The earthern fort was to be occupied in time of an attack with the 1st and original Fort Union being transformed into a supply and ordinance depot. The third Fort Union would continue service through the end of the war with none of the 3 forts having ever been subjected to enemy attack during the American Civil War.
The fort would continue service following the war with it being downsized greatly in the 1880s with the advancement of railroads in the region and the demise of the Santa Fe Trail. In early 1891 the fort was abandoned and because the post was actually built on private land it was taken over by private owners. It would not be until 1956 that the third Fort Union would become Fort Union National Monument with the earthern Civil War-era fort being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. There is no longer any trace of the original Fort Union.
Today the site, ran by the NPS, is open to visitors all year for a $3.00 fee. There is over a mile trail that weaves between different ruined structures identifying each with various signs and monuments. Visitors can also tour the old earthern fort as well. The Glorieta Pass Battlefield is also nearby if you want to make around an hour trip to it.
Also remember to check out all other "Forgotten Forts" in the Series Index (Link Below)
http://www.civilwartalk.com/threads/forgotten-forts-series-index.80901/